Effects of climate change on terrestrial slugs and their predators

The main objective of this PhD work is to explore potential changes in the feeding behaviour of the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum, as well as in the behaviours of some of their most important natural enemies, under climatic conditions predicted for Galicia by the last third of the century. The studied natural enemies were the carabid beetles Harpalus rufipes and Poecilus cupreus, and the slug parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. In order to achieve this general objective, different experiments were performed under laboratory controlled conditions and under semi-natural conditions. Overall, from the obtained results it should be expected that both the pest slug D. reticulatum and its natural enemies H. rufipes and P. hermaphrodita will be affected by predicted conditions of climate. Specifically, it should be expected a higher potential of D. reticulatum populations for crop damaging, and an enhanced performance of H. rufipes and P. hermaphrodita as biological control agents of D. reticulatum. In turn, these findings emphasize the importance of taking into account natural enemies and ecological interactions when modelling the response of species to climate change

Impact of Ascorbic Acid on Seed Germination, Seedling Growth, and Enzyme Activity of Salt-Stressed Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds soaked in ascorbic acid had increased germination, seedling shoot length and total chlorophyll under salt stress as compared with seeds not treated with ascorbic acid. Root length, fresh weight, dry weight, proline, and catalase activity (CAT) increased in salt stressed seedling in which seeds were not treated with ascorbic acid. In seeds treated with ascorbic acid, the salt stress effect on CAT activity was decreased. Ascorbic acid pretreatment of seeds counteracted the decrease in ascorbate oxidase (AO) induced by salt stress, but appeared to act synergistically with salt stress to decrease proline dehydrogenase. The application of ascorbic acid to fenugreek seed apparently increased antioxidant activity, leading to an increase in resistance to salt stress. Salt stress and the ascorbic acid treatment of seeds led to metabolic changes in seedlings as evidenced by changes in peroxidase (Prx) and esterase (Est) isozymes associated with increases in salt and ascorbic acid concentrations. Such changes could account for increases in seedling vigor with ascorbic acid seed treatment and the ability of the seedling to grow in the presence of a salt stress

Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy

Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED), presents in infancy or early childhood with bilateral clouding of corneas. This condition has previously been managed surgically with penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Performing PKP in pediatric patients has its own set of difficulties. More recently, there has been growing interest in treating this condition with Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). The purpose of this study is to report our experience of successfully performing DSAEK in a child with CHED

Visual Quality after Wavefront-Guided LASIK for Myopia

This study evaluated the visual quality after wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for treating myopia. Thirty-two eyes with moderate myopia (-5.78~-2.17D) and 25 eyes with high myopia (-7.78~-6.17D) were prospectively reviewed. The contrast sensitivity (CS), glare and the total higher order aberrations (HOA) were measured before and 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after LASIK. The pupil diameter was measured at day- and night-time illumination. The CS and glare at all spatial frequencies were not reduced after wavefront-guided LASIK (p<0.05) and the difference between the moderate and high myopia group was not significant. No significant correlation was found between the amounts of myopia and the postoperative CS (p>0.05). The area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) showed no correlation with the total HOA (r2=-0.071, p=0.612, between the daytime AULCSF and the total HOA with a 4 mm entrance pupil, r2=-0.176, p=0.260, between the nighttime AULCSF and the total HOA with a 6 mm entrance pupil). There was no decrease in CS and glare after wavefront-guided LASIK for myopia. In conclusion, wavefront-guided LASIK based on the individual ablation patterns is a good option for refractive surgery to improve the visual quality in both moderate and high myopia cases

Presbyopia:Effectiveness of correction strategies

Presbyopia is a global problem affecting over a billion people worldwide. The prevalence of unmanaged presbyopia is as high as 50% of those over 50 years of age in developing world populations due to a lack of awareness and accessibility to affordable treatment, and is even as high as 34% in developed countries. Definitions of presbyopia are inconsistent and varied, so we propose a redefinition that states “presbyopia occurs when the physiologically normal age-related reduction in the eye's focusing range reaches a point, when optimally corrected for distance vision, that the clarity of vision at near is insufficient to satisfy an individual's requirements”. Presbyopia is inevitable if one lives long enough, but intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors including cigarette smoking, pregnancy history, hyperopic or astigmatic refractive error, ultraviolet radiation, female sex (although accommodation is similar to males), hotter climates and some medical conditions such as diabetes can accelerate the onset of presbyopic symptoms. Whilst clinicians can ameliorate the symptoms of presbyopia with near vision spectacle correction, bifocal and progressive spectacle lenses, monovision, translating or multifocal contact lenses, monovision, extended depth of focus, multifocal (refractive, diffractive and asymmetric designs) or ‘accommodating’ intraocular lenses, corneal inlays, scleral expansion, laser refractive surgery (corneal monovision, corneal shrinkage, corneal multifocal profiles and lenticular softening), pharmacologic agents, and electro-stimulation of the ciliary muscle, none fully overcome presbyopia in all patients. While the restoration of natural accommodation or an equivalent remains elusive, guidance is gives on presbyopic correction evaluation techniques

Corneal collagen crosslinking in the treatment of infectious keratitis

Hamed Mofeez Anwar, Alaa M El-Danasoury, Ayman Nasr HashemMagrabi Eye Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaPurpose: To report the use of corneal collagen crosslinking in the treatment of infective keratitis not responding to antimicrobial therapy.Methods: Two retrospective case reports of infective keratitis treated with corneal collagen crosslinking.Results: In both cases, corneal collagen crosslinking caused a rapid resolution of the infective keratitis, leaving residual stromal scarring. Due to the density of scarring, one case required subsequent penetrating keratoplasty for visual rehabilitation.Conclusion: Corneal collagen crosslinking is a promising new technique for the management of infective keratitis not responding to antimicrobial therapy. Further elucidation of its safety and role in management of infectious keratitis is needed by way of future studies.Keywords: CCL, riboflavin, UV

Effect of the direct application of riboflavin and UVA on the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens.

To report the effect of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA) on the optical and material characteristics of a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (Visian ICL, STAAR Surgical)

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in young children: Test parameters and normative data

Objective: To standardize the results of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPS) in young children. Methodology: The study group consisted of thirty-two children, their age ranged between 3 and 12 years with no history of systemic or local inner ear disorder and not suffering from either vestibular or musculo-skeletal disorder. Full neuro-otological history was taken followed by audiological evaluation. VEMP was recorded from the sternomastoid muscle, using alternating acoustic clicks presented at 90 dB nHL, at a rate of 5 Hz, analysis time was 50 ms. Two hundred sweeps were collected, amplified and recorded with band pass filter of 10 Hz to 1.5 kHz. Results: VEMP was recorded in all children waves. PI and NI were identified in all children while PII and NII were identified in 10.7% only. Difficulties were met while trying to evaluate younger ones less than 5 years as they were restless when they were evaluated with sedation, this resulted in the absence of response due to reduced muscle tone. Differences in latencies and amplitudes should be considered as latencies were shorter and amplitudes were lesser than those obtained in adults. Conclusion: VEMP could be applied as a complementary test to evaluate saccular and inferior vestibular nerve function in children