Comparative analysis of cytokine profiles of glaucomatous tears and aqueous humour reveals potential biomarkers for trabeculectomy complications

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Palaeozoic giant dragonfies were hawker predators

The largest insects to have ever lived were the giant meganeurids of the Late Palaeozoic, ancient stem relatives of our modern dragonfies. With wingspans up to 71cm, these iconic insects have been the subject of varied documentaries on Palaeozoic life, depicting them as patrolling for prey through coal swamp forests amid giant lycopsids, and cordaites. Such reconstructions are speculative as few defnitive details of giant dragonfy biology are known. Most specimens of giant dragonfies are known from wings or isolated elements, but Meganeurites gracilipes preserves critical body structures, most notably those of the head. Here we show that it is unlikely it thrived in densely forested environments where its elongate wings would have become easily damaged. Instead, the species lived in more open habitats and possessed greatly enlarged compound eyes. These were dorsally hypertrophied, a specialization for long-distance vision above the animal in fight, a trait convergent with modern hawker dragonfies. Sturdy mandibles with acute teeth, strong spines on tibiae and tarsi, and a pronounced thoracic skewness are identical to those specializations used by dragonfies in capturing prey while in fight. The Palaeozoic Odonatoptera thus exhibited considerable morphological specializations associated with behaviours attributable to ‘hawkers’ or ‘perchers’ among extant Odonata.This work benefted from a grant of the French ‘Agence Nationale de la Recherche’ via the program ‘Investissements d’avenir’ (ANR-11-INBS-0004-RECOLNAT)JP and MP gratefully acknowledge research support from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 18-03118 SThe work of MSE was supported by US National Science Foundation grant DEB-114416

Alcohol and marijuana use while driving-an unexpected crash risk in Pakistani commercial drivers: a cross-sectional survey

Background:A significant proportion of road traffic crashes are attributable to alcohol and marijuana use while driving globally. Sale and use of both substances is illegal in Pakistan and is not considered a threat for road traffic injuries. However literature hints that this may not be the case. We did this study to assess usage of alcohol and marijuana in Pakistani commercial drivers.Methods:A sample of 857 commercial bus and truck drivers was interviewed in October 2008 at the largest commercial vehicle station in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Time location cluster sampling was used to select the subjects and a structured questionnaire was used to assess the basic demographic profile, substance abuse habits of the drivers while on the road, and reasons for usage of illicit substances while driving were recorded. Self reported information was collected after obtaining informed consent. Chi square and fisher exact tests were used to assess differences between groups and logistic regression was used to identify significant associations between driver characteristics and alcohol and marijuana use.Results:Almost 10% of truck drivers use alcohol while driving on Pakistani roads. Marijuana use is almost 30% in some groups. Statistically different patterns of usage are seen between population subgroups based on age, ethnicity, education, and marital status. Regression analysis shows association of alcohol and marijuana use with road rage and error behaviours, and also with an increased risk of being involved in road crashes. The reported reasons for using alcohol or marijuana show a general lack of awareness of the hazardous nature of this practice among the commercial driver population.Conclusion:Alcohol and marijuana use is highly prevalent in Pakistani commercial drivers. The issue needs to be recognized by concerned authorities and methods such as random breath tests and sobriety check points need to be employed for proper law enforcement

Alcohol and cannabis use as risk factors for injury – a case-crossover analysis in a Swiss hospital emergency department

BACKGROUND: There is sufficient and consistent evidence that alcohol use is a causal risk factor for injury. For cannabis use, however, there is conflicting evidence; a detrimental dose-response effect of cannabis use on psychomotor and other relevant skills has been found in experimental laboratory studies, while a protective effect of cannabis use has also been found in epidemiological studies. METHODS: Implementation of a case-crossover design study, with a representative sample of injured patients (N = 486; 332 men; 154 women) from the Emergency Department (ED) of the Lausanne University Hospital, which received treatment for different categories of injuries of varying aetiology. RESULTS: Alcohol use in the six hours prior to injury was associated with a relative risk of 3.00 (C.I.: 1.78, 5.04) compared with no alcohol use, a dose-response relationship also was found. Cannabis use was inversely related to risk of injury (RR: 0.33; C.I.: 0.12, 0.92), also in a dose-response like manner. However, the sample size for people who had used cannabis was small. Simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis did not show significantly elevated risk. CONCLUSION: The most surprising result of our study was the inverse relationship between cannabis use and injury. Possible explanations and underlying mechanisms, such as use in safer environments or more compensatory behavior among cannabis users, were discussed

Evaluating impact of Nd: YAG laser associated defects on optical quality of hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses using visualization of light propagation and USAF test targets

Background: Neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy is a well-accepted, safe, and efective measure in the treatment of posterior capsule opacifcation. However, iatrogenic intraocular lens damage is a relatively common side efect that happens due to inappropriate focusing during the procedure. This experimental study analyzes the impact of YAG-pits to obtain qualitative information. Methods: Acrylic, monofocal hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with 6.0 mm optic and the with the same power (21D) were studied. First, all measurements were done with unmodifed IOLs. Damage was intentionally created, performing YAG-pits (n=5) in the central area of the lens optic (3.0 mm) using a photodisruption laser with the same energy level of 1.8 mJ. To simulate the cruciate pattern, the 5 defects were created in a cross shape within the 3.0 mm optical zone. Afterwards, all laboratory measurements were repeated: These included the United States Air Force (USAF) resolution test chart to study the imaging performance of the IOL, light feld measurements to show the course of the rays behind the IOL and the modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements were analyzed. Results: Evaluating USAF showed that unmodifed lenses produced a sharper image. Damaged lenses led to a more blurred image and to the impression of a lower contrast with a kind of halo/glare efect. The light feld measurement showed that YAG-pits led to a kind of dispersion and scattering efect, which was higher in hydrophobic IOLs. MTF showed a deterioration in damaged hydrophilic and hydrophobic IOLs, respectively. Conclusion: Our experimental study confrms that YAG-pits can reduce imaging quality of intraocular lenses. These defects behave as a new Huygens source, distribute a spherical wave that additionally illuminate the background of the USAF target. It can be assumed that material properties of the IOL (water content, refractive index) play an important role and afect results. The impact level is strongly dependent on the number, size and position of YAG-pits within the optic. Limitation: Only monofocal IOLs have been investigated so far, further tests with various IOL optics have to follow. In addition, simulating the circular pattern of YAG capsulotomy is necessary

Evaluating impact of Nd: YAG laser associated defects on optical quality of hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses using visualization of light propagation and USAF test targets

Background: Neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy is a well-accepted, safe, and efective measure in the treatment of posterior capsule opacifcation. However, iatrogenic intraocular lens damage is a relatively common side efect that happens due to inappropriate focusing during the procedure. This experimental study analyzes the impact of YAG-pits to obtain qualitative information. Methods: Acrylic, monofocal hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with 6.0 mm optic and the with the same power (21D) were studied. First, all measurements were done with unmodifed IOLs. Damage was intentionally created, performing YAG-pits (n=5) in the central area of the lens optic (3.0 mm) using a photodisruption laser with the same energy level of 1.8 mJ. To simulate the cruciate pattern, the 5 defects were created in a cross shape within the 3.0 mm optical zone. Afterwards, all laboratory measurements were repeated: These included the United States Air Force (USAF) resolution test chart to study the imaging performance of the IOL, light feld measurements to show the course of the rays behind the IOL and the modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements were analyzed. Results: Evaluating USAF showed that unmodifed lenses produced a sharper image. Damaged lenses led to a more blurred image and to the impression of a lower contrast with a kind of halo/glare efect. The light feld measurement showed that YAG-pits led to a kind of dispersion and scattering efect, which was higher in hydrophobic IOLs. MTF showed a deterioration in damaged hydrophilic and hydrophobic IOLs, respectively. Conclusion: Our experimental study confrms that YAG-pits can reduce imaging quality of intraocular lenses. These defects behave as a new Huygens source, distribute a spherical wave that additionally illuminate the background of the USAF target. It can be assumed that material properties of the IOL (water content, refractive index) play an important role and afect results. The impact level is strongly dependent on the number, size and position of YAG-pits within the optic. Limitation: Only monofocal IOLs have been investigated so far, further tests with various IOL optics have to follow. In addition, simulating the circular pattern of YAG capsulotomy is necessary