Frequency of coexistent eye diseases and cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective We aim to quantify the co-existence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cognitive impairment or dementia. Method MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched (to June 2020). Observational studies reporting incidence or prevalence of AMD, glaucoma, or DR in people with cognitive impairment or dementia, and of cognitive impairment or dementia among people with AMD, glaucoma, or DR were included. Results Fifty-six studies (57 reports) were included but marked by heterogeneities in the diagnostic criteria or definitions of the diseases, study design, and case mix. Few studies reported on the incidence. Evidence was sparse but consistent in individuals with mild cognitive impairment where 7.7% glaucoma prevalence was observed. Prevalence of AMD and DR among people with cognitive impairment ranged from 3.9% to 9.4% and from 11.4% to 70.1%, respectively. Prevalence of AMD and glaucoma among people with dementia ranged from 1.4 to 53% and from 0.2% to 25.9%, respectively. Prevalence of DR among people with dementia was 11%. Prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with AMD, glaucoma, and DR ranged from 8.4% to 52.4%, 12.3% to 90.2%, and 3.9% to 77.8%, respectively, and prevalence of dementia in people with AMD, glaucoma and DR ranged from 9.9% to 62.6%, 2.5% to 3.3% and was 12.5%, respectively. Conclusions Frequency of comorbid eye disease and cognitive impairment or dementia varied considerably. While more population-based estimations of the co-existence are needed, interdisciplinary collaboration might be helpful in the management of these conditions to meet healthcare needs of an ageing population. Trial registration PROSPERO registration: CRD42020189484

The impact of corrected and uncorrected refractive error on visual functioning: The Singapore Malay Eye Study

10.1167/iovs.08-2164Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science5062614-262

Vision Impairment, Ocular Conditions, and Vision-specific Function: The Singapore Malay Eye Study

Ophthalmology115111973-198

Taloteknisten virtuaalimallien hyödyntäminen rakennusaikana

Insinöörityössä tutkitaan taloteknisten virtuaalimallien hyödyntämistä rakennusaikana. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten virtuaalimallit otetaan vastaan työmaalla ja miten eri urakointiyritysten talotekniikka- ja tietomalliasiantuntijat näkevät taloteknisten virtuaalimallien hyödyntämisen työmaalla. Työ toteutettiin suorittamalla tutkimus kolmella työmaalla ja haastattelemalla urakointiyritysten asiantuntijoita. Tuloksina saatiin yleiskuva siitä, miten työmaan henkilöstö kokee virtuaalimallit ja millaisia näkemyksiä urakointiyritysten asiantuntijoilla on aiheeseen. Tuloksista nähdään, että työmaalla virtuaalimallit otetaan pääsääntöisesti hyvin vastaan mutta niiden työmaakäyttöön liittyy myös haasteita. Urakointiyritysten asiantuntijat näkevät virtuaalimalleissa potentiaalia, mutta teknologia ei ole vielä tarpeeksi kehittynyttä, että niiden laajamittainen käyttö työmaalla nähtäisiin realistisena.The purpose of this final year project was to find out how Virtual Reality based 3D building services models can be used at the construction site. Two main research goals in the project were to find out what construction site workers thought about using Virtual Reality based 3D models, and what opinions the building services specialists and BIM specialists of the contracting companies have about this subject. The project studied three separate construction sites and interviewed specialists from the contracting companies. The study resulted in an overview on the attitudes of building construction site workers towards Virtual Reality based 3D models and on the opinions of building services and BIM specialists. Overall, the study showed that construction site workers see Virtual Reality based 3D building services models as a useful tool, but there are challenges in bringing the technology to the construction site. Contracting company specialists see potential in Virtual Reality based 3D building services models, but using this technology widely in construction is not realistic at the moment

Contrast sensitivity, visual field, color vision, motion perception, and cognitive impairment: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between visual function (ie, contrast sensitivity, visual field, color vision, and motion perception) and cognitive impairment, including any definition of "cognitive impairment," mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analyses. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Any settings; participants with (cases) or without (controls) cognitive impairment. METHODS: We searched 4 databases (to January 2024) and included published studies that compared visual function between cases and controls. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs were calculated where data were available. Data were sufficient for meta-analyses when cases were people with dementia. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklists were used for quality assessment. RESULTS: Fifty-one studies/69 reports were included. Cross-sectional evidence shows that people with dementia had worse contrast sensitivity function and color vision than controls: measured by contrast sensitivity (log units) on letter charts, SMD -1.22 (95% CI -1.98, -0.47), or at varied spatial frequencies, -0.90 (-1.21, -0.60); and by pseudoisochromatic plates, -1.04 (-1.59, -0.49); color arrangement, -1.30 (-2.31, -0.29); or matching tests, -0.51 (-0.78, -0.24). They also performed more poorly on tests of motion perception, -1.20 (-1.73, -0.67), and visual field: mean deviation, -0.87 (-1.29, -0.46), and pattern standard deviation, -0.69 (-1.24, -0.15). Results were similar when cases were limited to participants with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer disease. Sources of bias included lack of clarity on study populations or settings and definitions of cognitive impairment. The 2 included longitudinal studies with follow-ups of approximately 10 years were of good quality but reported inconsistent results. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In the lack of longitudinal data, cross-sectional studies indicate that individuals with cognitive impairment have poorer visual function than those with normal cognition. Additional longitudinal data are needed to understand whether poor visual function precedes cognitive impairment and the most relevant aspects of visual function, dementia pathologies, and domains of cognition

Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in the stroma predicts resistance to Trastuzumab in patients with Early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer

Purpose: The companion diagnostic test for trastuzumab has not changed much in the last 25 years. We used high-plex digital spatial profiling to identify biomarkers besides HER2 that can help predict response to trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer. Experimental Design: Fifty-eight protein targets were measured in three different molecularly defined compartments by the NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) in a tissue microarray containing 151 patients with breast cancer that received adjuvant trastuzumab as part of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group 10/05 clinical trial. Promising candidate biomarkers were orthogonally validated with quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF). RNA-sequencing data from the Neoadjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation Study (NeoALTTO) were accessed to provide independent cohort validation. Disease-free survival (DFS) was the main outcome assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using a two-sided test (α = 0.05) and multiple testing correction (Benjamini- Hochberg method, FDR < 0.1). Results: By DSP, high expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), both in the leukocyte and stromal compartments, was associated with shorter DFS in univariate analysis (P = 0.002 and P= 0.023, respectively). High a-SMA expression in the stroma was validated by QIF after controlling for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status [HR, 3.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-8.68; P = 0.029] showing recurrence on trastuzumab in the same cohort. In the NeoALTTO cohort, elevated levels of ACTA2 were predictive for shorter DFS in the multivariate analysis (HR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.14-9.05; P = 0.027). Conclusions: This work identifies a-SMA as a novel, easyto- implement biomarker of resistance to trastuzumab that may be valuable in settings where trastuzumab is combined with other therapies.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Photographic Facial Soft Tissue Analysis by Means of Linear and Angular Measurements in an Adolescent Persian Population

Objective : To obtain objective average measurements of the profile and frontal facial soft tissue to be used as a guide for aesthetic treatment goals. Methods and Materials : This observational study included 110 females and 130 males high school students aged 16-18 years. None of the subjects had any facial deformities. All of them and their parents gave consent to take part in this study. In each case, two standard photographs of profile and frontal views were taken 27 landmarks were digitized on photographs. The mean, standard deviation, and range for a total of 43 facial indices were calculated digitally by computer software. The Student’s t-test was used to compare males and females. Results : The ratio between the lower and middle facial thirds was one to one, but the height of the upper facial third was proportionally smaller than the other two-thirds in both sexes. Boys had greater nasal length, depth, and prominence than girls with statistically significant differences. Both upper and lower lips were more prominent in girls than in boys. All measurements of the chin showed sexual dimorphism characterized by greater chin height and prominence and deeper mentolabial sulcus. Boys had greater facial dimensions than girls. Mouth width, nasal base width, and intercanthal distance were significantly greater in boys. Conclusion : The labial, nasal, and chin areas showed sexual dimorphism in most of the parameters used in this study. Boys had larger faces, greater facial heights, longer nasal, labial, and chin lengths, and greater nasal, labial, and chin prominence