Pathological myopia (PM) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. We aimed to evaluate microvascular and chorioretinal changes in different stages of myopia with wide-field (WF) swept-source (SS) ...optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
This prospective cross-sectional observational study included 186 eyes of 122 patients who had undergone imaging between November 2018 and October 2020. Vessel density (VD) and vessel skeletonised density (VSD) of superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus and whole retina, as well as foveal avascular zone parameters, retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT), were calculated.
This study evaluated 75 eyes of 48 patients with high myopia (HM), 43 eyes of 31 patients with mild to moderate myopia and 68 eyes of 53 age-matched controls. Controlling for age and the presence of systemic hypertension, we found that HM was associated with decrease in VD and VSD in all layers on 12×12 mm² scans. Furthermore, HM was associated with a VD and VSD decrease in every Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid, with a larger decrease temporally (β
=-0.39, β
=-10.25, p<0.01). HM was associated with decreased RT and CT. Reduction in RT was outside the macular region, while reduction in CT was in the macular region.
Using WF SS-OCTA, we identified reduction in microvasculature and structural changes associated with myopia. Decrease in VD and VSD was greater in the temporal quadrant, and reductions in RT and CT were uneven across the retina. Further work may help identify risk factors for the progression of PM and associated vision-threatening complications.
The transmission phase across a quantum dot (QD) is expected to show mesoscopic behavior, where the appearance of a phase lapse between Coulomb peaks (CPs) as a function of the gate voltage depends ...on the orbital parity relation between the corresponding CPs. On the other hand, such mesoscopic behavior has been observed only in a limited QD configuration (a few-electron and single-level transport regime) and universal phase lapses by π between consecutive CPs have been reported for all the other configurations. Here, we report on the measurement of a transmission phase across a QD around the crossover between single-level and multilevel transport regimes employing an original two-path quantum interferometer. We find mesoscopic behavior for the studied QD. Our results show that the universal phase lapse, a longstanding puzzle of the phase shift, is absent for a standard QD, where several tens of successive well-separated CPs are observed.
Background
Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare sarcoma that primarily affects adolescents and young adults. Patients can present with many peritoneal implants. We conducted a phase ...2 clinical trial utilizing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) with cisplatin for DSRCT and pediatric-type abdominal sarcomas.
Patients and Methods
A prospective cohort study was performed on 20 patients, who underwent CRS-HIPEC procedures, with cisplatin from 2012 to 2013. All patients were enrolled in the phase 2 clinical trial. Patients with extraabdominal disease and in whom complete cytoreduction (CCR0–1) could not be achieved were excluded. All outcomes were recorded.
Results
Fourteen patients had DSRCT, while five patients had other sarcomas. One patient had repeat HIPEC. Patients with DSRCT had significantly longer median overall survival after surgery than patients with other tumors (44.3 vs. 12.5 months,
p
= 0.0013). The 3-year overall survival from time of diagnosis for DSRCT patients was 79 %. Estimated median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 14.0 months. However, RFS for patients with DSRCT was significantly longer than for non-DSRCT patients (14.9 vs. 4.5 months,
p
= 0.0012). Among DSRCT patients, those without hepatic or portal metastases had longer median RFS than those with tumors at these sites (37.9 vs. 14.3 months,
p
= 0.02). In 100 % of patients without hepatic or portal metastasis, there was no peritoneal disease recurrence after CRS-HIPEC.
Conclusions
Complete CRS-HIPEC with cisplatin is effective in select DSRCT patients. DSRCT patients with hepatic or portal metastasis have poorer outcomes.
To report the birth prevalence, risk factors, characteristics, and location of fundus hemorrhages (FHs) of the retina and optic nerve present in newborns at birth.
Prospective cohort study at ...Stanford University School of Medicine.
All infants who were 37 weeks postmenstrual age or older and stable were eligible for screening. Infants with known or suspected infectious conjunctivitis were excluded.
Infants born at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) from July 25, 2013, through July 25, 2014, were offered universal newborn screening via wide-angle digital retinal photography in the Newborn Eye Screen Test study. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal factors were obtained from hospital records. The location, retinal layer, and laterality of FH were recorded by 1 pediatric vitreoretinal specialist.
Birth prevalence of FH. Secondary outcomes included rate of adverse events, risk factors for FH, hemorrhage characteristics, and adverse events.
The birth prevalence of FH in this study was 20.3% (41/202 infants). Ninety-five percent of FHs involved the periphery, 83% involved the macula, and 71% involved multiple layers of the retina. The fovea was involved in 15% of FH cases (birth prevalence, 3.0%). No cases of bilateral foveal hemorrhage were found. Fundus hemorrhages were more common in the left eye than the right. Fundus hemorrhages were most commonly optic nerve flame hemorrhages (48%) and white-centered retinal hemorrhages (30%). Retinal hemorrhages were found most frequently in all 4 quadrants (35%) and more often were multiple than solitary. Macular hemorrhages most often were intraretinal (40%). Among the risk factors examined in this study, vaginal delivery compared with cesarean section (odds ratio OR, 9.34; 95% confidence interval CI, 2.57-33.97) showed the greatest level of association with FH. Self-identified ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino showed a protective effect (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.94). Other study factors were not significant.
Fundus hemorrhages are common among newborns. They often involve multiple areas and layers of the retina. Vaginal delivery was associated with a significantly increased risk of FH, whereas self-identified Hispanic or Latino ethnicity was protective against FH in this study. The long-term consequences of FH on visual development remain unknown.
Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and antiretroviral therapies may predispose HIV-infected children to poor physical fitness. Estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO(2) peak), maximal strength and ...endurance, and flexibility were measured in HIV-infected and uninfected children. Among HIV-infected children, anthropometric and HIV disease-specific factors were evaluated to determine their association with VO(2) peak. Forty-five HIV-infected children (mean age 16.1 years) and 36 uninfected children (mean age 13.5 years) participated in the study. In HIV-infected subjects, median viral load was 980 copies/ml (IQR 200-11,000 copies/ml), CD4% was 28% (IQR 15-35%), and 82% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Compared to uninfected children, after adjusting for age, sex, race, body fat, and siblingship, HIV-infected children had lower VO(2) peak (25.92 vs. 30.90 ml/kg/min, p<0.0001), flexibility (23.71% vs. 46.09%, p=0.0003), and lower-extremity strength-to-weight ratio (0.79 vs. 1.10 kg lifted/kg of body weight, p=0.002). Among the HIV-infected children, a multivariable analysis adjusting for age, sex, race, percent body fat, and viral load showed VO(2) peak was 0.30 ml/kg/min lower per unit increase in percent body fat (p<0.0001) and VO(2) peak (SE) decreased 29.45 (± 1 .62), 28.70 (± 1.87), and 24.09 (± 0.75) ml/kg/min across HAART exposure categories of no exposure, <60, and ≥ 60 months, respectively (p<0.0001). HIV-infected children had, in general, lower measures of fitness compared to uninfected children. Factors negatively associated with VO(2) peak in HIV-infected children include higher body fat and duration of HAART ≥ 60 months. Future studies that elucidate the understanding of these differences and mechanisms of decreased physical fitness should be pursued.
The response and recovery of aquatic ecosystems to major flooding is directly associated with the resistance and resilience of the perturbed ecosystem. In this 2-year study, we document the response ...of taxa assemblages in five tributary creeks of the Clarence River, Australia, following two sequential floods. Prior to the floods, we observed clear differences of taxa assemblages among tributaries, and clear but relatively small seasonal changes in all creeks. Flooding triggered large shifts in taxa assemblages in all creeks; however, only a few species out of the 106 taxa analysed were contributing to this pulse response. Combinations of specific water quality variables were significantly associated with the observed patterns in taxa assemblages in all but one creek. After an initial rapid recovery period, taxa compositions in all tributaries more slowly returned to resemble those before the floods. This strong resilience to major floods is most likely associated with high flushing rates, spatial and temporal refugia and life history characteristics of key biota. Overall, the results suggest that the current state of the Clarence floodplain has achieved a strong resilience to major flood disturbances, and that a shift to an alternate, potentially more desirable state may be difficult to achieve.
Topic
: Ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging of the myopic eye.
Clinical Relevance
: Myopes, and particularly high and pathologic myopes, present a unique challenge in fundoscopic imaging. Critical ...pathology is often located in the anteriormost portion of the retina, variations in posterior segment contour are difficult to capture in two-dimensional images, and extremes in axial length make simply focusing imaging devices difficult.
Methods
: We review the evolution of modalities for ophthalmic imaging (color fundus photography CFP, optical coherence topography OCT, angiography, artificial intelligence AI) to present day UWF technology and its impact on our understanding of myopia.
Results
: Advances in UWF technology address many of the challenges in fundoscopic imaging of myopes, providing new insights into the structure and function of the myopic eye. UWF CFP improves our ability to detect and document anterior peripheral pathology prevalent in approximately half of all high myopes. UWF OCT better captures the staphylomatous contour of the myopic eye, providing enhanced visualization of the vitreoretinal interface and progressive development of myopic traction maculopathy. UWF angiography highlights the posterior vortex veins, thin choriocapillaris, far peripheral avascularity, and peripheral retinal capillary microaneurysms more prevalent in the myopic eye. Researchers have demonstrated the ability of AI algorithms to predict refractive error, and great potential remains in the use of AI technology for the screening and prevention of myopic disease.
Conclusion
: We note significant progress in our ability to capture anterior pathology and improved image quality of the posterior segment of high and pathologic myopes. The next jump forward for UWF imaging will be the ability to capture a high quality ora to ora multimodal fundoscopic image in a single scan that will allow for sensitive AI-assisted screening of myopic disease.
Purpose Subscribing to color-blind racial attitudes may contribute to inequities in the delivery of oral care and affect treatment of diverse patients. The purpose of this study was to survey all ...entry-level dental hygiene students in one state to determine color-blind racial attitudes. Methods After IRB approval, a convenience sample of 220 dental hygiene students in all entry-level programs in Virginia were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. The Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS), an effective, validated measuring instrument, was used to quantify unawareness of contemporary racist ideals. Three subscales (Racial Privilege, Institutional Discrimination, and Blatant Racial Issues) were also measured by the survey. Descriptive statistics, separate one-way between-subjects ANOVA, and independent samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results One hundred and sixty (n= 160) dental hygiene students completed the survey. Independent samples t-tests revealed statistically significant differences when comparing year in program and program type. Participants in their second year of dental hygiene education had significantly lower overall CoBRAS scores compared to those in their first year of education (M = 50.76, M = 59.13, respectively; p = 0.004). Participants enrolled in a baccalaureate dental hygiene (B.S.) program had significantly lower overall CoBRAS scores compared to those enrolled in an associate (A.S.) program (M = 50.53, M = 59.54, respectively; p = 0.002). Conclusion Participants possessed moderate levels of color-blindness suggesting a need for more awareness and training early in dental hygiene education to increase delivery of culturally competent oral healthcare.
Summary
Genotype structure of Acipenser ruthenus was investigated using microsatellites and mtDNA sequence analyses of 247 specimens of 13 locations from the rivers Danube, Volga and Kuban. These ...studies were done as an essential prerequisite for the conservation of the uppermost relict sterlet population which is located in the Danube River near the border between Germany and Austria. In contrast to the Volga population, which shows weak signs of a separation in at least three sub‐populations, both microsatellite profiles and mitochondrial sequences indicate a panmictic population of Danube sterlets. Importantly, introgression of non‐native Volga sterlets and a few hybrids with Acipenser baerii were discovered. We observed approximately 23% of non‐native sterlets with complete or at least partly Volga background within the Danube sterlets. Nevertheless, approximately 77% of Danube sterlets were pure native fish. We would like to suggest using these natives for supportive breeding and stocking to avoid any possible outbreeding depressions.
The aim of this work was to study the extraction behavior of the main coffee antioxidants (caffeoylquinic acids, melanoidins and caffeine) and the antioxidant capacity, during brewing time in the ...most widely consumed coffee brew methods (filter and espresso) in coffee. Antioxidant capacity by colorimetric assays (Folin–Ciocalteau, ABTS and DPPH) and electron spin resonance spectroscopy techniques (Fremy's salt and TEMPO) were analyzed. In espresso coffee, more than 70% of the antioxidants (except dicaffeoylquinic acids, diCQA) of a coffee brew were extracted during the first 8s. In filter coffee, a U-shape antioxidants extraction profile was observed, starting later (after 75s) in Vietnam coffee than in Guatemala one, probably due to different wettability. Other technological parameters, such as turbulences and a longer contact time between water and ground coffee in filter coffeemaker, increased extraction efficiency, mainly in less polar antioxidant compounds as diCQA. In conclusion, these technological factors should be considered to optimize coffee antioxidants extraction that can be used as ingredients for functional foods.
► High water pressure increases antioxidants extraction speed in espresso coffee. ► Dicaffeoylquinic acids were released more slowly than the other antioxidants. ► U-shape antioxidants extraction profile was shown in filter coffee delayed in Robusta. ► Turbulences and longer contact time in filter coffeemaker favor extraction efficiency.
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