Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the optic nerve, retina, and retinal vessel parameters in recovered COVID-19 patients and healthy patients by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-a). Methods: In all, 156 eyes of post-COVID-19 patients and 98 eyes of subjects from a control group were enrolled in our study. BCVA, intra ocular pressure (IOP) measurement, fundus examination, and OCT images, including macular cube, OCT-RNFL, and angio-OCT 6 × 6 mm examinations, were performed for both groups. The measurements were acquired using Swept Source OCT DRI OCT Triton. In the post-COVID-19 group, 762 OCT protocols were obtained. For statistical analysis, parameters from only one eye from each subject were taken. Results: In the measured parameters, no significant differences were observed, i.e., central macular thickness (p = 0.249); RNFL (p = 0.104); FAZ (p = 0.63); and vessel density of superficial retinal vascular plexus in central (p = 0.799), superior (p = 0.767), inferior (p = 0.526), nasal (p = 0.402), and temporal (p = 0.582) quadrants. Furthermore, a slit-lamp examination did not reveal any COVID-19-related abnormalities. Conclusion: OCT examination did not detect any significant changes in morphology or morphometry of the optic nerve, retina, or the retina vessels due to COVID-19.

This study investigated vascular density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in patients with keratoconus (KC). Participants with KC and healthy controls were included and underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), keratometry, anterior segment OCT, and macular OCT-A examinations. Of the 70 subjects (mean age 42.9 ± 15.31 years), 79 KC and 47 healthy eyes were included. Significant reductions in the KC group were recorded for the FAZ area, with a mean (±SD) of 0.19 ± 0.12 vs. 0.25 ± 0.09 mm2 p < 0.001. Central vascular density in KC patients was lower compared with the controls: 6.78 ± 4.74 vs. 8.44 ± 3.33 mm−1 p = 0.049; the inner density was also decreased in the study group (13.64 ± 5.13 vs. 16.54 ± 2.89 mm−1, p = 0.002), along with the outer density (14.71 ± 4.12 vs. 16.88 ± 2.42 mm−1, p = 0.004) and full density (14.25 ± 4.30 vs. 16.57 ± 2.48) p = 0.003. Furthermore, BCVA was positively correlated with central vascular density (R = 0.42 p = 0.004, total R = 0.40, p = 0.006) and inner density (R = 0.44, p = 0.002) in patients with KC but not in controls. Additionally, we found a correlation between K2 and inner vascular density (R = −0.30, p = 0.043) and central epithelium thickness and outer density (R = 0.03, p = 0.046). KC patients had lower macular vascular density and a smaller FAZ than healthy participants. The BCVA in KC patients was correlated with the vascular density.

For 24 weeks, rabbits were fed feed containing non-oxidised or oxidised rapeseed oil. At the beginning of the experiment and every six weeks the rabbits were weighed and blood was taken. After the experiment was completed, their liver was dissected for biochemical and histological examinations. The activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotrasferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and aldolase in blood plasma and liver were determined. Enzymes of the protein and liver metabolic pathways were determined using kinetic and spectrophotometric methods. The content of fatty acids was determined by means of fatty acid methyl ester concentration measurement using gas chromatography. It was found that the applied diet with oxidised rapeseed oil caused the development of slight liver steatosis and disturbances in the activity of enzymes involved in the liver pathways, despite the fact that it was a balanced diet, and differed only in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids. The obtained results indicate that more profound oil oxidation and its increased supply in diet may result in the development of liver steatosis.

Although weight loss is recommended for obese patients, it remains questionable how much weight loss is optimal. A novel index that accurately determines the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in terms of weight loss is needed. The modified Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), presented here is unique in the literature. It is calculated based on data for anti-atherogenic, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) fractions, instead of the total HDL-C. This study investigates whether weight loss correlates with CVD risk, and whether the modified AIP allows more accurate diagnostics in obese/overweight people. According to the increase or decrease of AIP during weight loss, 52 Polish patients were subdivided into two groups: group I (increased AIP; n = 16) and group II (decreased AIP; n = 36). The patients’ body mass composition and fasting serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol)), and cholesterol in 21 lipoprotein sub-fractions were determined. Over six months, all patients reduced their body mass by about 10%. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measures between groups. Increases in large and intermediate HDL-C fractions 1 to 6 and decreases in smaller fractions 7 to 10 were observed in group II. In group I, HDL-C fractions 1 and 10 decreased, while cholesterol in other fractions increased. Increases were observed in the antiatherogenic HDL-C of 52% of group II and 4% of group I. As for atherogenic HDL-C, a decrease of 24% was observed in group II and an increase of 9% in group I. In group I, increases of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and large LDL fractions were noticed, and the reverse in group II. The results show that the modified AIP is a more accurate indicator of CVD risk than existing indices, and that uncontrolled weight reduction does not necessarily have a beneficial influence, and may adversely affect the cardiovascular system.