Significantly increased production of biobased polymers is a prerequisite to replace petroleum‐based materials towards reaching a circular bioeconomy. However, many renewable building blocks from ...wood and other plant material are not directly amenable for polymerization, due to their inert backbones and/or lack of functional group compatibility with the desired polymerization type. Based on a retro‐biosynthetic analysis of polyesters, a chemoenzymatic route from (−)‐α‐pinene towards a verbanone‐based lactone, which is further used in ring‐opening polymerization, is presented. Generated pinene‐derived polyesters showed elevated degradation and glass transition temperatures, compared with poly(ϵ‐decalactone), which lacks a ring structure in its backbone. Semirational enzyme engineering of the cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus enabled the biosynthesis of the key lactone intermediate for the targeted polyester. As a proof of principle, one enzyme variant identified from screening in a microtiter plate was used in biocatalytic upscaling, which afforded the bicyclic lactone in 39 % conversion in shake flask scale reactions.
Breaking it down: A chemoenzymatic route from (−)‐α‐pinene towards a verbanone‐based lactone, which is further used in ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) to afford pinene‐derived polyesters with enhanced thermal properties, is proposed. The active site of A. calcoaceticus cyclohexanone monooxygenase is enlarged to allow the generation of the bulky (−)‐cis‐verbanone lactone intermediate.
Strabismus is a complex disease that has various treatment approaches each with its own advantages and drawbacks. In this context, shared decisions making (SDM) is a communication process with the ...provider sharing all the relevant treatment alternatives, all the benefits, and risks of each procedure, while the patient shares all the preferences and values regarding his/her choices. In that way, SDM is a bidirectional process that goes beyond the typical informed consent. Therefore, it is known a little of the extent to which SDM influences the satisfaction with the treatment outcome along with strabismus patients. To study this correlation, an SDM-Q-9 questionnaire was provided within surgical consultations where treatment decisions were made; the SDM-Q-9 aims to assess the relationship between the post-operative patient's satisfaction and their SMD score.
The study is considered a prospective observational pilot study. Eligible patients were adult patients diagnosed with strabismus, who had multiple treatment options, were given at the right of choice without being driven into a physician's preference. Ninety-three strabismus patients were asked to fill out the SDM-Q-9 questionnaire related to their perception of SDM during the entire period of strabismus treatment. After the treatment, patients were asked to rate their satisfaction level with the surgical outcome as excellent, good, fair, and poor. Descriptive statistics and the linear regression statistical tests (Spearman, Mann Whitney U, and Kriskal-Wallis) were used as analysis tools.
The average age of the participants was 24, where 50.6% were women. The mean SDM-Q-9 score among patients was 32 (IQR = 3). The postoperative patient satisfaction was rated as being excellent by 16 (17.2%) patients, good by 38 (40.9%), fair by 32 (34.4%), and poor by 7 patients (7.5%). Data analysis by linear regression statistical tests showed a positive correlation between the SDM-Q-9 score and the patient satisfaction related to the surgery outcome (B = 0.005, p < 0.001). Criteria in assessing patients' satisfaction were age, gender, and strabismus type. A positive correlation between SDM and real satisfaction (r = 0.834, p < 0.01) was found with age, and no significant relationship was found while taking into consideration the responder's gender and the strabismus type.
Assessing patient satisfaction after choosing a treatment for strabismus method helped us evaluate the gaps in constructive dialogue that would lead to a positive outcome for both patient and clinician. The correlation between the SDM process and the patients' satisfaction with surgery outcome, adjusted by age, has been established. These findings can serve as a springboard to further communicative improvements related to the SDM process and between patients and physicians, thereby consequently leading to patients' satisfaction raise in strabismus care. The study underlines the importance of further analysis and validation of on-ground interactions among the adolescent and adult patients and the clinicians across the strabismus management trajectory. A multicentral study and its validation will follow.
BackgroundMany surgical formulas have been developed and proposed based on the experience of surgeons to improve the predictability of strabismus surgery. However, the consent among strabismus ...surgeons regarding the dose effect of the extraocular muscle (EOM) recession or resection was not achieved yet and the disagreement about the appropriate amount of strabismus surgery still exists.ObjectiveOur study aimed to propose an instrument for EOM resection (RsL) and recession length (RcL) estimation before the surgery and second to elaborate an postoperative angle of deviation (PAD) predictive model using simple potential predictors.Methods and AnalysisThe analytical prospective clinical study was conducted from April 2016 to July 2019, on a sample of 216 patients (aged between 2–58) with concomitant strabismus who underwent strabismus surgery in Clinical Republican Hospital ‘Timofei Mosneaga’and Children Hospital ‘Em Cotaga’ from Republic of Moldova. The correlations of patients’ age, strabismus type, amblyopia degree, RsL, RcL, preoperative angle of deviation (PreAD) with PAD were estimated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis, multicollinearity analysis and residual analysis were performed.ResultsThe EOM RsL was predicted using strabismus type, patient’s age, PreAD and EOM RcL. EOM RcL, in turn, was estimated by the similar covariates set, instead of RcL being RsL. PAD modelling showed the PreAD, EOM RsL and EOM RcL predictive ability for strabismus surgery outcome prediction.ConclusionIn our study, we propose four mathematical models as potential instruments for EOM RsL, EOM RcL and PAD modelling in esotropia and exotropia surgery.
To quantify the results of shared decision making in pediatric strabismus surgery from the parent perspective using the nine-item Shared Decision Making (SDM) Questionnaire and the associations of ...SDM score with parental education level; secondarily, to evaluate postoperative parental satisfaction as a function of child age, parental education level, SDM scores, and motor outcomes.
Consecutive parents of children 2-14 years of age with concomitant manifest strabismus that consented to strabismus surgery were surveyed using the SDM Questionnaire. A four-point Likert scale was used to gauge the level of postoperative satisfaction (POS). Potential predictors were estimated in multivariable regression analysis, with results adjusted for education level, children’s age, and motor outcomes.
A total of 100 parents (86 women) completed the survey and were included. Significant differences for SDM score were found between individuals with university-level versus the other three educational levels (P < 0.001 for primary and secondary levels; P = 0.017 for college or lyceum level). Categorical regression analysis showed that POS level was inversely correlated with education level and positively correlated with SDM score. Children’s age at time of surgery and postoperative motor outcome were not significantly associated with POS.
In our study cohort, SDM score was correlated with educational level. Satisfaction was greater among responders with higher SDM scores, indicating that SDM may help improve parent-reported satisfaction with treatment results.
The ongoing wars in many regions-such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas-as well as the effects of war on communities, social services, and mental health are covered in this special editorial. ...This article emphasizes the need for international efforts to promote peace, offer humanitarian aid, and address the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by war and violence.
To reveal the reasons for strabismus surgery delay and motivations for seeking surgical treatment in adulthood. Prospective survey among 91 adult patients, suffering from concomitant strabismus ...acquired in the childhood that underwent delayed strabismus surgery. The mean age of participants was 24 years (from 16 to 58 years); 48 females (52.7%), and 43 males (47.3%). Strabismus surgery has been delayed for about 20 years in adult patients who could potentially benefit of it in childhood. The most common reasons for strabismus surgery delay, reported by patients, included the following: lack of awareness about surgery (37.4%); surgery was recommended but declined by patients' parents/guardians in their childhood (6.6%); fear of surgery (17.6%); eye specialists affirmation that surgery would not lead to strabismus improvement (27.5%); previous poor surgical experience (6.6%); and non-affordability (4.4%). The main motivations for seeking strabismus surgery in adulthood among our patients were the following: appearance improvement (38.5%), strengthening of self-confidence (30.8%), better social relationship (16.5%), better job opportunities (7.7%), and advice from family and friends (6.6%). About 80% of strabismus surgery delays in teenagers and adults were caused by lack of awareness regarding strabismus surgery and even the misconception among primary health-care practitioners and some eye doctors who considered that surgery would not lead to strabismus correction. The main reasons for seeking strabismus surgery in adulthood were: esthetical ones, self-confidence strengthening, and building better social relationship. All factors mentioned below confirmed the negative impact of oculomotor disorders on patient's psychological condition. The focus on patient's individual concerns and needs was especially important for recovery and well-being of adult patients with strabismus and formed a central feature of patient centered medical approach.
To evaluate the refractive and biometry results of presbyopic refractive lens exchange (RLE) with trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes with previous myopic or hyperopic corneal laser ...vision correction (LVC).
Memira AS, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Retrospective case series.
The refractive results included the manifest refraction spherical equivalent, uncorrected near (UNVA) and distance (UDVA) visual acuities, corrected distance visual acuity, safety, efficacy, and precision. The biometry analysis included the refractive prediction error (RPE), median absolute error (MedAE), and percentage of eyes within a certain RPE range for the formulas from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) online calculator.
The study comprised 241 eyes. Six months postoperatively, 60.0% of eyes were within ±0.25 diopter (D), 80.9% within ±0.50 D, and 97.9% within ±1.00 D of emmetropia. There were no statistical differences in the mean monocular UDVA (0.87 ± 0.20 SD), safety index (0.98 ± 0.09), or efficacy index (0.81 ± 0.18) between the myopic ablation group and hyperopic ablation group. Binocularly, 85% of patients had simultaneous UDVA and UNVA of 0.9 or better and Jaeger 3, respectively. The ASCRS online calculator formulas gave different performances for previous myopic and hyperopic ablation profiles. Using optimized constants and nomogram for correcting the mean RPE improved the MedAE.
Presbyopic RLE was safe and effective in selected cases with a history of LVC. The use of optimized IOL constants and nomograms can improve the refractive precision of lens-based refractive surgery.
To compare the repeatability of keratometry between different instruments in patients with hyperosmolar tear film and a control group.
Subjects with tear-film osmolarity of 316 mOsm/L or more in ...either eye or 308 m/Osm/L or lower in both eyes were assigned to the hyperosmolar and the control group, respectively. The test eye was the eye with higher osmolarity in the hyperosmolar group and randomly chosen in the control group. The repeatability of keratometry was compared between a reflectometry device (Haag-Streit Lenstar 900), a Scheimpflug device (Oculus Pentacam HR) and two optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices (Tomey Casia SS-1000 and Heidelberg Anterion), based on two measurements from each device.
The study included 94 subjects (31 hyperosmolar and 63 controls). Both OCT devices had higher mean differences of average simulated keratometry (SimK) vs the Lenstar in both groups, though all differences in means were <0.07 D. The Casia had the highest mean vector difference of SimK astigmatism in the control group (differences in means <0.11 D). These differences of the instruments were statistically significant (
< 0.02), except for the Anterion in the control group. With all subjects, the coefficient of repeatability varied from 0.1 to 0.3 for average SimK (highest for both OCT devices) and from 0.4 to 0.7 for SimK astigmatism (highest for the Casia). Similar results were found for total corneal power (OCT devices compared to the Pentacam).
Both OCT devices show more variability in average SimK and the Casia more variability in SimK astigmatism compared to the Lenstar and the Pentacam. However, the results suggested that repeatability was not influenced by osmolarity.
To compare the refractive predictability of ray tracing IOL calculations based on OCT data versus traditional IOL calculation formulas based on reflectometry in patients with a history of previous ...myopic laser vision correction (LVC).
This was a prospective interventional single-arm study of IOL calculations for cataract and refractive lens exchange (RLE) patients with a history of myopic LVC. Preoperative biometric data were collected using an optical low coherence reflectometry (OLCR) device (Haag-Streit Lenstar 900) and two optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices (Tomey Casia SS-1000 and Heidelberg Engineering Anterion). Traditional post LVC formulas (Barret True-K no-history and Haigis-L) with reflectometry data, and ray tracing IOL calculation software (OKULIX, Panopsis GmbH, Mainz, Germany) with OCT data were used to calculate IOL power. Follow-up examination was 2 to 3 months after surgery. The main outcome measure, refractive prediction error (RPE), was calculated as the achieved postoperative refraction minus the predicted refraction.
We found that the best ray tracing combination (Anterion-OKULIX) resulted in an arithmetic prediction error statistically significantly lower than that achieved with the best formula calculation (Barret True-K no-history) (-0.13 D and -0.32 D, respectively, adjusted
= 0.01), while the Barret TK NH had the lowest SD. The absolute prediction error was 0.26 D and 0.35 D for Anterion-OKULIX and Barret TK NH, respectively, but this was not statistically significantly different. The Anterion-OKULIX calculation also had the highest percentage of eyes within ± 0.25, compared to both formulas and within ±0.50 and ±0.75 compared to the Haigis-L (
= 0.03).
Ray tracing calculation based on OCT data from the Anterion device can yield similar or better results than traditional post LVC formulas. Ray tracing calculations are based on individual measurements and do not rely on the ocular history of the patient and are therefore applicable for any patient, also without previous refractive surgery.
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