Correlation between retinal function and microstructural foveal changes in intermediate age related macular degeneration

Purpose: To assess foveal microstructural changes influencing retinal sensitivity (RS) and fixation stability using microperimeter MP-1 in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 22 eyes of 22 patients (mean age: 75 ± 9.02 years) with intermediate AMD were enrolled. Retinal sensitivity and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) were obtained by microperimetry MP-1 (Humphrey 10-2 68-loci grid) under mesopic conditions. Drusen type, drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment, hyperreflective foci (HF), integrity of external limiting membrane (ELM), inner ellipsoid zone (ISel), RPE/Bruch’s mem- brane complex (RPE/B) and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analyzed in the foveal region and compared with RS and BCEA. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. Logistic regression analysis was also used to assess morphological predictor influencing RS or BCEA. Results: RS was strongly and inversely related with the presence of HF (r = −0.66, P = 0.001), integrity of ELM (r = −0.70, P < 0.001), ellipsoid zone (r = −0.45, P = 0.03). Instead, BCEA is positively related to the ellipsoid zone integrity (r = 0.45, P = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that disruption of ISel influenced fixation stability (ExpB: 9.69, P = 0.04) but not RS. Instead, the presence of HF and disruption of ELM predicted RS reduction (ExpB: 0.55, P = 0.02 and ExpB: 0.29, P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: The integrity of ELM and the presence of HF are both predictors of RS. The ELM status may be con- sidered a new biomarker of retinal function together with HF. Instead, the integrity of ISel band seems to be a more selective predictor of BCEA than RS

Circulating levels of reactive oxygen species in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and the influence of antioxidant supplementation: 6-month follow-up

The aim was to evaluate circulating levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in central macular thickness (CMT) in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) after antioxidant supplementation. Materials and Methods: A total of 68 patients (68 eyes) with NPDR were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Treated with antioxidant supplement (Group A) and untreated control group (Group B). Each tablet, for oral administration, containing pycnogenol 50 mg, Vitamin E 30 mg and coenzyme Q10 20 mg. CMT and free oxygen radical test (FORT) were analyzed at baseline (T0), 3 (T1) and 6 (T2) months in both groups. Results: In Group A, FORT levels and CMT were significantly reduced over time (P < 0.001 for both). In Group B, FORT levels were increased (P < 0.001) and CMT did not vary significantly (P = 0.81) over 3 time points. Conclusions: This is the first study showing the reduction of ROS levels in patients with NPDR thanks to antioxidant therapy. Moreover, our findings have suggested also an influence on retinal thickness

SAT: a methodology to assess the social acceptance of innovative AI-based technologies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the conceptual model of an innovative methodology (SAT) to assess the social acceptance of technology, especially focusing on artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology. Design/methodology/approach After a review of the literature, this paper presents the main lines by which SAT stands out from current methods, namely, a four-bubble approach and a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques that offer assessments that look at technology as a socio-technical system. Each bubble determines the social variability of a cluster of values: User-Experience Acceptance, Social Disruptiveness, Value Impact and Trust. Findings The methodology is still in development, requiring further developments, specifications and validation. Accordingly, the findings of this paper refer to the realm of the research discussion, that is, highlighting the importance of preventively assessing and forecasting the acceptance of technology and building the best design strategies to boost sustainable and ethical technology adoption. Social implications Once SAT method will be validated, it could constitute a useful tool, with societal implications, for helping users, markets and institutions to appraise and determine the co-implications of technology and socio-cultural contexts. Originality/value New AI applications flood today’s users and markets, often without a clear understanding of risks and impacts. In the European context, regulations (EU AI Act) and rules (EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy) try to fill this normative gap. The SAT method seeks to integrate the risk-based assessment of AI with an assessment of the perceptive-psychological and socio-behavioural aspects of its social acceptability

Citicoline in Ophthalmological Neurodegenerative Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine has been widely studied in systemic neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and brain ischemia. The rationale for the use of citicoline in ophthalmological neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, is founded on its multifactorial mechanism of action and the involvement in several metabolic pathways, including phospholipid homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, as well as cholinergic and dopaminergic transmission, all being involved in the complexity of the visual transmission. This narrative review is aimed at reporting both pre-clinical data regarding the involvement of citicoline in such metabolic pathways (including new insights about its role in the intracellular proteostasis through an interaction with the proteasome) and its effects on clinical psychophysical, electrophysiological, and morphological outcomes following its use in ophthalmological neurodegenerative diseases (including the results of the most recent prospective randomized clinical trials)

Spatial summation in the glaucomatous macula: a link with retinal ganglion cell damage

Purpose: to test whether functional loss in the glaucomatous macula is characterised by an enlargement of Ricco’s area (RA) through the application of a computational model linking retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage to perimetric sensitivity Methods: one eye from each of 29 visually-healthy subjects <40 years old, 30 glaucoma patients and 20 age-similar controls was tested with a 10-2 grid with stimuli of five different area sizes. Structural estimates of point-wise RGC density were obtained from Optical Coherence Tomography scans. Structural and functional data from the young healthy cohort were used to estimate the parameters of a computational spatial summation model to generate a template. The template was fitted with a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the latent RGC density in glaucoma patients and agematched controls. We tested two alternative hypotheses: fitting the data by translating the template horizontally (H1: change in RA) or vertically (H2: loss of sensitivity without change in RA). Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of the model fits to perimetric sensitivity were compared. 95%-Confidence Intervals were bootstrapped. The dynamic range of the functional and structural RGC density estimates was denoted by their 1st and the 99th percentile. Results: the RMSE was 2.09 [1.92-2.26] under H1 and 2.49 [2.24-2.72] under H2 (p < 0.001). The average dynamic range for the structural RGC density estimates was only 11% that of the functional estimates. Conclusions: macular sensitivity loss in glaucoma is better described by a model in which RA changes with RGC loss. Structural measurements have limited dynamic range

For a “Genealogy” of the Political Debate on 5G

We are observing in society a twofold trend in shaping the technological discourse of 5G. On one hand, there are a lot of spontaneous social movements that protest public institutions and decision-makers arguing about the perilous development of 5G for human health. On the other hand, far from the participation of citizens, governments and large ICT companies decide the destiny of the application of this novel technology arising the suspect of common people. It seems to us that the insistent emphasis on health risk and the idea of a 5G conspiracy are two sides of the same coin. But this sclerotized manifestation threatens to lose sight of the most consisting and remarkable societal aspect of 5G. This is the scope in the background of this paper. 5G represents a challenge for ethics and the value-based discus- sion on technologies since it demonstrates how important it is that the social acceptability of emerging and disruptive technologies passes through the participation of people who at the same time should form rational and shared models of judgment, reactivating the subjunctive link between democracy and science

Epiteliopatia pigmentar placóide multifocal posterior aguda

Epiteliopatia pigmentar placoide multifocal posterior aguda (EPPMPA) é um distúrbio autolimitado que afeta o epitélio de pigmentar da retina (EPR) e a coroide. Neste capítulo, vamos discutir e descrever em detalhes a epiteliopatia pigmentar placoide multifocal posterior agu- da (EPPMPA)

Visual outcomes and contrast sensitivity after bilateral implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses with +2.50 or +3.0 diopter addition: 12-month follow-up

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual acuity and contrast sensitivity after bilateral implantation of AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® +2.50 D or +3.00 D. METHODS: A total of 56 eyes with cataract had bilateral implantation of a multifocal IOL. Inclusion criteria were corneal astigmatism less than 1.0 diopters, axial length between 22.0 and 24.0 mm, and no associated ocular disease. Outcome measures recorded 12 months postoperatively were binocular uncorrected and corrected distance, intermediate and near visual acuities, and contrast sensitivity. Postoperative quality of life and patient satisfaction were assessed with the VF-14 Questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty months postoperatively, the mean uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuities, UCIVA at 60 cm, and contrast sensitivity were similar in all two groups. UCNVA were better in the +3.00 IOL group than in the +2.50 D group. Patients reported good performance for visual tasks. CONCLUSION: Apodized multifocal IOLs seem a good compromise for non-spectacles life in elderly patients; our study indicates that this solution has a good long-term stability on patients' visual function