Purpose to determine whether patients with Keratoconus and have evidence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. Twenty seven Saudi Arabian patients with Keratoconus were recruited in this study. We compare their results to our database which contains mtDNA deletion information for 150 Saudi healthy controls free of systemic and ocular disease including Keratoconus. None of the Keratoconus patients screened had evidence of mtDNA deletion(s). mtDNA deletion(s) were not detected in any of the patients tested here.

Core-shell-corona type triblock copolymer poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine-b-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) micelles have been selected here to direct the synthesis of mesoporous Pt-on-Pd spheres, consisting of a Pd concentrated core and a Pt shell, as established by elemental mapping. It is important to note that the size of the PS core determines the resultant size of the mesopores. A self-evaporation method has been developed to prepare swollen micelles, so as to further enlarge the pore size (similar to 40 nm).

Background: Interdisciplinary health education is one of the recommended strategies to improve health care systems as they become more complex, costly, and rely on care delivered by teams.
Objective: To improve health sciences education programs and their products through collaborative interdisciplinary co-education.

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate and compare the visual and refractive outcomes, topographic keratometry (K) and complications of Intacs and Intacs SK for mild to moderate keratoconus.

Background: Keratoconus (KC) is the most common primary ectatic disease of the cornea and a major indication for corneal transplant. To date, limited KC-associated-risk loci have been identified. Association has recently been suggested between KC and 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genomic regions of FNDC3B, COL4A3, MPDZ-NF1B, RXRA-COL5A1, LCN12-PTGDS, FOXO1, and BANP-ZNF469. These SNPs are associated with central corneal thickness (CCT), a known risk factor to KC.