Age, gender and COVID-19 infections

Data for ten European countries which provide detailed distribution of COVID-19 cases by sex and age show that among people of working age, women diagnosed with COVID-19 substantially outnumber infected men. This pattern reverses around retirement: infection rates among women fall at age 60-69, resulting in a cross-over with infection rates among men. The relative disadvantage of women peaks at ages 20-29, whereas the male disadvantage in infection rates peaks at ages 70-79. The elevated infection rates among women of working age are likely tied to their higher share in health- and care-related occupations. Our examination also suggests a link between women's employment profiles and infection rates in prime working ages. The same factors that determine women's higher life expectancy account for their lower fatality and higher male disadvantage at older ages

Vertical and Horizontal M-Charts and Microperimetry for Assessment of the Visual Function in Patients after Vitrectomy with ILM Peeling due to Stage 4 Macular Hole

Purpose. To examine the relationship between the morphological and functional results in eyes after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling due to stage 4 full-thickness macular hole (FTMH). Methods. The study included 22 eyes that underwent successful PPV due to FTMH. Both vertical metamorphopsia (VM) and horizontal metamorphopsia (HM) were determined using type 2 M-charts, as well as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperimetry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed before PPV and 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Results. A significant improvement of BCVA and metamorphopsia scores measured by M-charts in particular periods before surgery, 1 and 6 months after PPV, was observed. The VM scores were consistently higher than the HM scores at all assessment times. There was a correlation found between VM and BCVA and microperimetry parameters before surgery. The macular sensitivity (MS) as well as macular integrity index increased from 1 month to 6 months after PPV and were correlated with postoperative visual acuity (VA). There was a correlation found between the hole diameter and MS and P2 parameter 6 months after PPV. There was a correlation found between mean duration of symptoms of FTMH and VA and VM score. Conclusions. VM scores seem to correlate better than HM scores with preoperative BCVA, microperimetry parameters, and duration of symptoms of the FTMH. VM scores are higher after PPV than HM scores in patients with stage 4 of the FTMH. This trial is registered with NCT03701542

Kinetic and static perimetry after 16 years and additional OCT-A analysis in eyes with longlasting optic disc drusen

The aim of the study is to evaluate the progression of visual field (VF) defects over 16 years of observation and to assess abnormalities in vessels and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with optic disc drusen (ODD). Both static automated perimetry (SAP) and semi-automated kinetic perimetry (SKP) were performed in 16 eyes of 8 patients (mean age 54 years) with ODD among 26 eyes of 13 patients examined 16 years before. The area of I2e, I4e, III4e, and V4e isopters was measured in deg2. The MD and PSD parameters were estimated using SAP. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) was additionally performed in 16 ODD eyes and 16 eyes of 8 healthy subjects to estimate the RNFL thickness and vessel density of the optic nerve disc and the macula. The differences in all isopter areas of SKP and SAP parameters after 16 years were not significant. The analysis of OCT-A showed a significant reduction of the vessel density and RNFL of the peripapillary area in each segment in patients with ODD, compared with the control group. The highest reduction of RNFL was observed in the superior segment of the optic disc area (92.56μm vs 126.63μm) also the macular thickness was decreased in ODD patients, compared with the control group. In the macula, there was a significant vascular defect in the whole superficial layer and in the parafoveal deep layer. A strong significant correlation of the parafoveal deep plexus with MD and PSD parameters was detected. In conclusion, VF loss due to ODD after 16 years of the follow-up was not significant both in SKP and SAP. ODD caused a reduced vessel density and RNFL, as well as macular thickness in OCT-A. SAP parameters were influenced by parafoveal deep plexus

Pain Following the Use of Anesthesia Formulation Among Individuals Undergoing Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: To assess the pain intensity of two intracameral anesthetic solutions in patients undergoing cataract surgery and evaluate the factors influencing the patients’ postoperative activities. Methods: Sixty-two patients undergoing cataract surgery were randomized to receive the study drug – a manufactured solution of 0.02% tropicamide/0.31% phenylephrine/1% lidocaine (Mydrane) or a traditional anesthetic formulation - solution of 1% lidocaine/0.025% adrenaline as an intraocular anesthetic. The pain intensity was assessed by Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain) and Brief Pain Inventory-short form (BPI) on the next day after the surgery. Results: The mean pain score measured preoperatively with VAS Pain was 0.34 in Mydrane group and 0.09 in the reference group (p = 0.51). There were no statistically significant differences between the two anesthetic methods with respect to pain intensity during the surgery (p = 0.94) and the influence of pain during the last 24 h on activity (p = 0.79), mood (p = 0.31), social contacts (p = 0.29), sleep (p = 0.5) and the joy of life (p = 0.39). Additionally, there was no statistically significant influence of age, sex, lateralization, co-existing ophthalmological diseases (p = 0.98) and post-operative complications (p = 0.4) on the experienced pain measured during the surgery and in the last 24 h. Conclusions: New commercially available intraocular anesthetic solution (Mydrane™) seems to be as effective as off-label traditional anesthetic formulation, in reducing the pain experienced during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia

Double‐needle yamane technique using flanged haptics in ocular trauma—a retrospective survey of visual outcomes and safety

To evaluate visual outcomes and safety of the double‐needle technique using flanged haptics (Yamane technique) in patients with aphakia caused by ocular trauma at a trauma referral center. Retrospective: Consecutive interventional case series of 30 patients who underwent the Yamane technique due to posttraumatic aphakia. The double‐needle technique using flanged haptics was combined with anterior vitrectomy (group A) in 14 patients, and with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) (group B) due to retinal detachment, nucleus dislocation into the vitreous cavity, or intraocular lens (IOL) displacement in 16 patients. No intraoperative complications were noted. There was significant improvement in the visual acuity in both groups at the second postoperative visit. However, the visual acuity was significantly worse in the group treated with the Yamane technique combined with PPV. Silicone oil tamponade in PPV group was associated with worse visual acuity, whereas post lensectomy status was associated with poor visual function result in the anterior vitrectomy group. There was one case of slight IOL decentration and one retinal detachment during the postoperative follow‐up period in the group with PPV. In this case series, the Yamane technique applied in traumatized eyes was found to be an efficacious and safe procedure. Combining the Yamane technique with PPV due to posterior segment ocular trauma was associated with worse functional results in the follow‐up at three months. Further studies with longer follow‐up evaluations are required to verify long‐term complications

Exploiting scanning surveillance data to inform future strategies for the control of endemic diseases: the example of sheep scab

Scanning surveillance facilitates the monitoring of many endemic diseases of livestock in Great Britain, including sheep scab, an ectoparasitic disease of major welfare and economic burden. There is, however, a drive to improve the cost-effectiveness of animal health surveillance, for example by thoroughly exploiting existing data sources. By analysing the Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) database, this study aimed to enhance the use of existing scanning surveillance data for sheep scab to identify current trends, highlighting geographical “hotspots” for targeted disease control measures, and identifying a denominator to aid the interpretation of the diagnostic count data. Furthermore, this study collated and assessed the impact of past targeted disease control initiatives using a temporal aberration detection algorithm, the Farrington algorithm, to provide an evidence base towards developing cost-effective disease control strategies. A total of 2,401 positive skin scrapes were recorded from 2003 to 2018. A statistically significant decline in the number of positive skin scrapes diagnosed (p < 0.001) occurred across the study period, and significant clustering was observed in Wales, with a maximum of 47 positive scrapes in Ceredigion in 2007. Scheduled ectoparasite tests was also identified as a potential denominator for the interpretation of positive scrapes by stakeholders. Across the study period, 11 national disease control initiatives occurred: four in Wales, three in England, and four in Scotland. The majority (n = 8) offered free diagnostic testing while the remainder involved knowledge transfer either combined with free testing or skills training and the introduction of the Sheep Scab (Scotland) Order 2010. The Farrington algorithm raised 20 alarms of which 11 occurred within a period of free testing in Wales and one following the introduction of the Sheep Scab (Scotland) Order 2010. In summary, our analysis of the VIDA database has greatly enhanced our knowledge of sheep scab in Great Britain, firstly by identifying areas for targeted action and secondly by offering a framework to measure the impact of future disease control initiatives. Importantly this framework could be applied to inform future strategies for the control of other endemic diseases

Interfacial Tension of the Lipid Membrane Formed from Phosphatidylcholine–Decanoic Acid and Phosphatidylcholine–Decylamine Systems

Interfacial tension has been determined for phosphatidylcholine (PC)–decanoic acid (DA) and PC–decylamine (DE) membranes. PC (lecithin), DA and DE were used in the experiments; the interfacial tension values of the pure components are 1.62 × 10−3, −2.38 × 10−2 and −3.88 × 10−2 N/m (hypothetical values for DA and DE), respectively. The 1:1 complexes were formed during formation of PC–DA and PC–DE membranes. The following parameters describing the complexes were determined: the surface concentrations of the lipid membranes formed from these complexes, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$A_{3}^{ - 1}$$\end{document}; the interfacial tensions of such membranes, γ3; and the stability constants of these complexes, K

The Proper Motion of the Globular Cluster NGC 6553 and of Bulge Stars with HST

WFPC2 images obtained with the Hubble Space telescope 4.16 years apart have allowed us to measure the proper motion of the metal rich globular cluster NGC 6553 with respect to the background bulge stars. With a space velocity of (${\Pi}, {\Theta}, W$) = (-3.5, 230, -3) km s$^{-1}$, NGC 6553 follows the mean rotation of both disk and bulge stars at a Galactocentric distance of 2.7 kpc. While the kinematics of the cluster is consistent with either a bulge or a disk membership, the virtual identity of its stellar population with that of the bulge cluster NGC6528 makes its bulge membership more likely. The astrometric accuracy is high enough for providing a measure of the bulge proper motion dispersion and confirming its rotation. A selection of stars based on the proper motions produced an extremely well defined cluster color-magnitude diagram (CMD), essencially free of bulge stars. The improved turnoff definition in the decontaminated CMD confirms an old age for the cluster (~13 Gyr) indicating that the bulge underwent a rapid chemical enrichment while being built up at in the early Universe. An additional interesting feature of the cluster color-magnitude diagram is a significant number of blue stragglers stars, whose membership in the cluster is firmly established from their proper motions.Comment: version with full-page figure