A teaser made simple: a didactic measurement of the spectral answer of a human-eye-calibrated lux meter

A simple didactic experiment has been designed and realized, in order to illustrate to undergraduate students in scientific faculties some basic concepts lying behind the fundamentals of geometrical optics. The spectral response of a human-eye-calibrated lux meter was measured using a very trivial experimental arrangement. The white light of a halogen lamp was decomposed into its spectral components through a diffraction grating, so that collecting the radiation at different dispersion angles allowed one to measure the intensity as a function of wavelength. The experiment can be used to effectively illustrate the concepts of spectral distribution, the radiometry versus photometry conversion and photopic response, and the famous historical experience by Herschel on the 'temperature of colours'

incidence and factors influencing retinal displacement in eyes treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with vitrectomy and gas or silicone oil

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Association between plasma gamma-glutamyltransferase fractions and metabolic syndrome among hypertensive patients

Among the risk factors associated to metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension shows the highest prevalence in Italy. We investigated the relationship between the newly identified serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) fractions, b-s-m-f-GGT, and risk factors associated to MetS in hypertensive patients. A total of ninety-five consecutive hypertensive patients were enrolled. GGT fractions were analysed by gel-filtration chromatography, and hepatic steatosis was evaluated by ultrasound. MetS was diagnosed in 36% of patients. Considering the whole group, b-And f-GGT showed the highest positive correlation with BMI, glucose, triglycerides and insulin, and the highest negative correlation with HDL cholesterol. While both serum triglycerides and insulin were independently associated with b-GGT levels, only triglycerides were independently associated with f-GGT. The values of b-GGT activity increased with steatosis grade (g0 = 1.19; g2 = 3.29; ratio g2/g0 = 2.75, p < 0.0001 linear trend). Patients with MetS showed higher levels of b-GGT, m-GGT and f-GGT [median (25th-75th) U/L: 3.19 (1.50-6.59); 0.55 (0.26-0.81); 10.3 (9.1-13.6); respectively] as compared to subjects presenting with one or two MetS criteria [1.75 (0.95-2.85), p < 0.001; 0.33 (0.19-0.60), p < 0.05; 8.8 (7.0-10.6), p < 0.001]. Our data point to a potential role for b-And f-GGT fractions in identifying MetS patients among hypertensive subjects, thus providing a minimally invasive blood-based tool for MetS diagnosis

The Relationship Between Blue-Fundus Autofluorescence and Optical Coherence Tomography in Eyes With Lamellar Macular Holes

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blue-fundus autofluorescence (B-FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMHs). METHODS. this was a multicenter, observational case series. Ninety-two eyes with LMH associated with the standard epiretinal membrane (ERM) or lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) were evaluated. The eyes must also present an area of increased autofluorescence on B-FAF. RESULTS. The ERM-alone group and the LHEP group differed with respect to the following variables: logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (0.13 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.17;P < 0.001), central foveal thickness (218.74 +/- 52.4 mu m vs. 187.28 +/- 50.29 mu m;P = 0.008), FAF diameter (400.78 +/- 189.36 mu m vs. 503.37 +/- 214.25 mu m;P = 0.014), outer plexiform layer (OPL) diameter (382.10 +/- 157.34 mu m vs. 550.79 +/- 228.05 mu m;P = 0.0001), and disruption of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, which was noted in only 1 and 3 eyes with ERM alone, respectively, and in 18 and 23 eyes with LHEP, respectively (P < 0.0001 for both observations). No difference was found for diameters measured at the level of the inner limiting membrane and schisis/cavitation. In both the ERM-alone group and the LHEP group, a strong correlation was found between the diameters measured on B-FAF and diameters measured at the OPL level on OCT images (P < 0.0001 for both groups). CONCLUSIONS. In eyes with LMHs, a strong correlation exists between the diameters of the holes measured with B-FAF and those measured at the OPL level with OCT. This may indicate that the loss or displacement of retinal cells containing macular pigment at the OPL level, specifically photoreceptors and/or Muller cells, is involved in this vitreomaculopathy

Primary vitrectomy for degenerative and tractional lamellar macular holes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of vitrectomy in degenerative and tractional lamellar macular holes (LMHs) by meta-analysis of published studies.METHODS: PubMed, Medline and Embase databases were searched up to May 2020. Included cohorts were divided into three groups: degenerative LMH group, lamellar hole associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) group and tractional LMH group. LHEP is likely to be associated with degenerative LMHs, but less commonly could be associated with mixed LMHs. To reduce risk of possible misclassification bias, eyes with LHEP which could not have been precisely classified by the authors, were included into the LHEP group. The primary outcome was to investigate the visual change following primary vitrectomy in the degenerative LMH and LHEP group versus the tractional LMH group. A sensitivity analysis excluding the LHEP group was also performed on the primary outcome. Mean difference (MD) in best corrected visual acuity between baseline and post-treatment was calculated, along with 95% confidence interval (CI). Rate of incidence of post-operative full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) was assessed as secondary outcome.RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included. Pooled analyses including all groups showed a significant visual improvement following vitrectomy (pre-post MD = -0.17;95%CI = -0.22,-0.12;p&lt;0.001), with no difference in visual improvement between the degenerative LMH and LHEP group and the tractional LMH group. The sensitivity analysis excluding LHEP group confirmed no difference in visual change between the degenerative LMH group (pre-post MD = -0.18;95%CI = -0.24,-0.12;p&lt;0.001) and the tractional LMH group (MD = -0.16;95%CI = -0.26,-0.07;p&lt;0.001). The incidence rate of post-operative FTMH was higher in the degenerative LMH and LHEP group than in the tractional LMH group (p = 0.002).CONCLUSION: Primary vitrectomy for LMH ensured a favorable visual outcome, with no difference in visual gain between degenerative and tractional LMHs. However, a higher incidence of post-operative FTMHs was found in eyes with the degenerative LMH subtype

Bausteine zur deutschen und italienischen Geschichte. Festschrift zum 70. Geburtstag von Horst Enzensberger

Die Festschrift zum 70. Geburtstag von Horst Enzensberger greift mit ihren Beiträgen die Forschungsgebiete des Jubilars auf. Das Spektrum reicht von der spätantiken Geschichte Italiens bis zur deutschen Mittelalterforschung im 20. Jahrhundert. Die Beiträge geben Einblick in die vielfältigen kulturellen Einflüsse und Überlagerungen auf Sizilien, in die Geschichte religiöser Orden, Praktiken und kirchlicher Strukturen sowie in die kriegerischen Auseinandersetzungen Europas. Besonders hervorgehoben werden dabei die Kontakte zwischen der italienischen Halbinsel und MitteleuropaAll the articles united in this volume on the occasion of Horst Enzensberger’s 70th anniversary refer to his manifold fields of research. The issues range from the late Antiquity in Italy to German medieval studies in the 20th century. The articles provide an insight into varied cultural influences and interactions in Sicily, into the history of religious orders, practices and ecclesiastical structures as well as into Europe’s military conflicts. Particular attention is drawn to the contacts between the Italian peninsula and Central Europ

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Background. Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods. The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results. 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p &lt; 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 \ub1 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions. This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings

Risk factors for operated carpal tunnel syndrome: a multicenter population-based case-control study

Background. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. This population-based case-control study aims to investigate occupational/non-occupational risk factors for surgically treated CTS. Methods. Cases (n = 220) aged 18-65 years were randomly drawn from 13 administrative databases of citizens who were surgically treated with carpal tunnel release during 2001. Controls (n = 356) were randomly sampled from National Health Service registry records and were frequency matched by age-gender-specific CTS hospitalization rates. Results. At multivariate analysis, risk factors were blue-collar/housewife status, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, sibling history of CTS and coexistence of trigger finger. Being relatively tall (cut-offs based on tertiles: women ≥165 cm; men ≥175 cm) was associated with lower risk. Blue-collar work was a moderate/strong risk factor in both sexes. Raised risks were apparent for combinations of biomechanical risk factors that included frequent repetitivity and sustained force. Conclusion. This study strongly underlines the relevance of biomechanical exposures in both non-industrial and industrial work as risk factors for surgically treated CTS