Intravitreal injections primary prevention: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE: Intravitreal injec tions (IVI) of therapeutic substances are one of the most common procedures in ophthalmol ogy and, for sure, the most feared complica tion of them is endophthalmitis. Nowadays, a precise prophylactic protocol does not exist to avoid these infections, and the role of new anti septic drops is an interesting field of research in this regard. In this article we are going to dis cuss the tolerability and the efficacy of a new antiseptic drop based on a solution of hexam idine diisethionate 0.05% (Keratosept®; Brus chettini Srl, Genoa, Italy). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a sin gle-center, case-control study, comparing the in vivo effect of hexamidine diisethionate 0.05% with povidone iodine 0.6% solution during IVI program. Ocular bacterial flora composition was analyzed with a conjunctival swab on day 0. After injection patients underwent antibac terial prophylaxis with Keratosept for 3 days or povidone iodine 0.6%. A second conjunctival swab was collected on day 4 and patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire based on the OS Di model, to investigate the ocular tolerability of the drug administered. RESULTS: Efficacy was tested on 50 patients, 25 of whom received hexamidine diisethionate 0.05% drops and the other 25 received povidone iodine 0.6% solution drops, 100 total conjuncti val swabs, 18 positive swabs before and 9 after treatment for the first group and 13 before and 5 after for the second one. Tolerability was tested on 104 patients, 55 underwent Keratosept thera py and 49 povidone iodine one. CONCLUSIONS: Keratosept demonstrated a good efficacy profile with better tolerability against povidone iodine in the analyzed sample

Efficacy of 190 mcg fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant: microperimetry and OCT real-life data

Objective: Fluocinolone acetonide is a valid alternative treatment for patients with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) with poor response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy and safety of ILUVIEN® implant in pseudophakic eyes with persistent DME. Patients and methods: This is a single-centre pilot-study of 8 patients with persistent DME treated with the ILUVIEN implant, despite previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and/or steroid treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) central retinal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP) and microperimetric data were evaluated at baseline and month 1, 3 and 6 post treatment. Results: All data are presented as mean and standard deviation. At baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months, we had BCVA of 0.26±0.22, 0.38±0.27, 0.48±0.27 and 0.46±0.24; IOP of 15.00±2.67, 15.50±3.16, 14.88±2.42 and 15.63±2.67 mmHg; macular thickness of 652±231, 487±278, 475±287 and 413±211 µm; macular sensitivity of 6.83±4.20, 6.13±3.72, 7.68±3.40 and 7.71±3.33 dB; bivariate contour elliptic area (BCEA) 95.4% 3.8±3.42, 6.06±10.06, 3.05±2.46 and 2.59±2.19°2. Conclusions: According to the results of our study, fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) is a valid therapy option despite some limitations. It has been evidenced that FAc is more effective in patients with mild central macular thickening, while in those with modest to severe central macular thickness (CMT), different therapy strategies should be considered

Double hit: mantle cell lymphoma associated with squamous cell carcinoma or chalazion? A case report

A few cases of ocular adnexal neoformations related with MCL have been reported in the literature. We present a rare case of tumour duplicity: mantle cell lymphomas (MCL) associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) localised at the level of the ocular adnexa, on left upper eye lid mass since two years of 18 mounth duration in a 57-year-old man who had previously been diagnosed with stage IV MCL for 14 months. The patient had been treated according to the R-DHAP scheme for 4 cycles, in anticipation of a possible autologous HSC transplant, which was not carried out due to a positive diagnosis at the end-of-cycle osteomedullary biopsy (BOM) check. Ophthalmological examination was performed, and afther surgical removal histological examination proved to be squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this case report is to decode the signs, symptoms and factors associated with the formation, that appear to be a chalazion, at an early stage in order to prevent the overgrowth of the mass that could invade the surrounding tissues by infiltrating them, as well as negative aesthetic outcomes of the surgery due to the excessive size of the mass, which could compromise the patient's quality of life

Physico-chemical analysis and protein fraction compositions of different quinoa cultivars

Proximate composition and physical parameters in nine quinoa cultivars were determined in order to establish differences among them and to contribute to their characterization. Faro, Pichaman, and Baer varieties cultivars were used. The aim of this research was to evaluate the physical and chemical properties and to characterize the protein fractions. All analysed properties showed significant differences between the cultivars. The physical measurements (weight, shape, size, and density) could be used for improving the technology associated with conditioning, transport, and storage of the grain. The protein content ranged from 15 to 18%, fat 6 to 8%, carbohydrates 70 to 74%, and ash from 3.5 to 4.4%, showing an outstanding nutritional profile. The relative quantity of soluble proteins (albumins and globulins) ranged from 40 to 65%, except in Faro variety cultivar, which presented 16%. The relative percentage of insoluble protein (prolamins and glutelins) ranged from 25 to 34%. The obtained information in this research could be useful in determining seed-quality, automating production, improving cultivation practices and technologies, and developing food products with enhanced nutritional qualities

Interventional Radiology Approaches for Liver Metastases from Thyroid Cancer: A Case Series and Overview of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Liver metastases (LMs) from thyroid cancer (TC) are relatively uncommon in clinical practice and their management is challenging. Interventional radiology loco-regional treatments (LRTs), including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), have been successfully employed to treat LMs from various types of cancer. METHODS: We analyzed the role of LRTs in the management of unresectable LMs from differentiated and medullary TCs performed at our institution from 2015 to 2020. A review of the available English literature regarding this topic was also performed. RESULTS: Six hepatic LRTs were performed in 4 TC patients with LMs, in 2 cases after the start of treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). A partial response was obtained in 2 patients; the diameter of the largest targeted lesion was 18 mm in both of them. The remaining procedures were performed on larger lesions and a stable disease was achieved in all but one case. Acute LRT-related complications were transient and mild. In literature, the largest studies were focused on TACE in LMs from MTC, showing good tolerance and remarkable disease control, especially in case of limited liver tumour involvement. CONCLUSION: LRTs for LMs represent a valuable option for the treatment of metastatic TC in case of isolated hepatic progression or for symptoms relief, also after the start of TKI treatment as part of a multimodal approach. The best disease control is obtained when hepatic metastatic burden is limited. These procedures are generally well tolerated; however, a cautious multidisciplinary selection of the candidates is mandatory

Dyadic Predictors of Child Body Shame in a Polish and Italian Sample

The present study aimed at assessing the predictors (related to the functioning of a parent-child dyad) of child body shame. Therefore, in the main analysis we examined relationships among child body shame, child perfectionism, child body dissatisfaction, parent body shame, parent perfectionism, and parent body dissatisfaction. In our main hypothesis we assumed that higher levels of the abovementioned parent functioning-related variables would be associated with higher child body shame after accounting for the effects of the foregoing child functioning-related variables. The analysis finally included complete data from 420 participants, i.e., a 115 Polish and 95 Italian parent-child dyad. Participants completed: (a) child: the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale for Youth, the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, the Children’s Body Image Scale/the Figure Rating Scale; (b) parent: the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale. The results of a correlational analysis show that in both the Polish and Italian samples, the higher the level of child body shame, the higher the level of the following variables: child perfectionism, child body dissatisfaction, parent perfectionism, and parent body dissatisfaction. Interestingly, the only insignificant relationship in both samples is the association between body shame in both members of the child-parent dyad. Moreover, all steps of the regressions were significant in both Polish and Italian samples. It turned out that only in the Italian sample were all predictors significantly associated with a child’s body shame (in the Polish sample there was no significant association between child’s body shame and parent’s perfectionism). To sum up, the above studies show the importance of considering the functioning of the parent-child dyad in understanding child body shame. These findings suggest that parents’ attitudes toward their bodies and their beliefs about an ideal self should be taken into account when planning interventions to improve children’s and adolescents’ attitudes toward their bodies. This is so because it is possible for children to internalize their parents’ beliefs about how to look and how critical one should be of themselves, which can result in strong body shame when they are not perfect enough against the internalized ideal. Therefore, it is also necessary to make parents aware that children’s attitude toward their body is often a reflection of parents’ attitude toward the body

Adjustment to COVID-19 Lockdown Among Italian University Students: The Role of Concerns, Change in Peer and Family Relationships and in Learning Skills, Emotional, and Academic Self-Efficacy on Depressive Symptoms

In Italy strict containment measures against COVID-19 pandemic were implemented from March to May 2020 with home confinement and schools and universities closed. Students shifted to remote learning, experienced a forced isolation from peers and an increased sharing of time and spaces with the family. The influence of these aspects on the psychological adjustment of university students is largely unexplored. This paper was aimed at investigating the role of some correlates of depressive symptoms specific to the lockdown condition experienced by young university students, namely contagion concern, perceived worsening of family, and peer relationships and perceived worsening of learning skills. Moreover, the possible mediating effects of emotional and academic self-efficacy in these relationships were examined. Data were collected from 296 Italian university students (aged 18–25 years; 83% female students) through an online survey by means of a snowball sampling methodology in May 2020. Significant depressive symptoms were reported by 67% of participants. Contagion concerns were related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of emotional self-efficacy. Worsening of learning skills was related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of academic self-efficacy. Depressive symptoms were directly related to worsening of family relationships but unrelated to worsening of peer relationships. Results are discussed in relation to the need of preventive interventions for this specific population in view of academic activities planning in the post-COVID 19 period

InGaAs/InAlAs single photon avalanche diode for 1550 nm photons.

A single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) with an InGaAs absorption region, and an InAlAs avalanche region was designed and demonstrated to detect 1550 nm wavelength photons. The characterization included leakage current, dark count rate and single photon detection efficiency as functions of temperature from 210 to 294 K. The SPAD exhibited good temperature stability, with breakdown voltage dependence of approximately 45 mV K(-1). Operating at 210 K and in a gated mode, the SPAD achieved a photon detection probability of 26% at 1550 nm with a dark count rate of 1 × 10(8) Hz. The time response of the SPAD showed decreasing timing jitter (full width at half maximum) with increasing overbias voltage, with 70 ps being the smallest timing jitter measured