An anti-TNF--α antibody mimetic to treat ocular inflammation

Infliximab is an antibody that neutralizes TNF-α and is used principally by systemic administration to treat many inflammatory disorders. We prepared the antibody mimetic Fab-PEG-Fab (FpFinfliximab) for direct intravitreal injection to assess whether such formulations have biological activity and potential utility for ocular use. FpFinfliximab was designed to address side effects caused by antibody degradation and the presence of the Fc region. Surface plasmon resonance analysis indicated that infliximab and FpFinfliximab maintained binding affinity for both human and murine recombinant TNF-α. No Fc mediated RPE cellular uptake was observed for FpFinfliximab. Both Infliximab and FpFinfliximab suppressed ocular inflammation by reducing the number of CD45+ infiltrate cells in the EAU mice model after a single intravitreal injection at the onset of peak disease. These results offer an opportunity to develop and formulate for ocular use, FpF molecules designed for single and potentially multiple targets using bi-specific FpFs

A Comprehensive Meta-analysis on Intra Ocular Pressure and Central Corneal Thickness in Healthy Children

Background: Glaucoma is the major ophthalmic public health issue and a leading basis of blindness. Elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) is still a foremost risk factor in development and progression of glaucoma. Central corneal thickness (CCT) may play as the risk factor for the progression of glaucoma, closely associated with IOP especially in pediatric age group. This study performed a pioneering investigation combining the outcomes of multiple studies using a meta-analytic approach. Methods: Nineteen published articles between 1980 and 2015 were designated by searching Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar and analyzed with random effects model while I-2 statistics employed to find out heterogeneity. Subsequently, the information statistically analyzed by Stata software ver. 11.20. Results: The mean IOP has been documented to 16.22 mmHg (95 CI: 15.48-16.97) in all races subgroups. Analyzing the data by race-based subgroups revealed the lowest IOP of 12.02 mmHg (95 CI: 11.40-12.64) in Indian children while IOP of 17.38 mmHg (95 CI: 15.77-18.98) documented in black children as the highest measurement. The mean CCT was 553.69 micrometer (95 CI: 551.60-555.78) among all races. Lowest CCT of 536.60 mm (95 CI: 531.82-541.38) has been documented in mixed Malay-Indian children whereas Chinese children ought to the highest CCT value of 557.68 mm (95 CI: 553.10-562.25). Conclusion: Findings of published studies were inconsistent when considered independently; however, meta-analysis of these results showed a significant correlation between CCT and IOP. Owing to non-uniform methods used to measure IOP and CCT in studies, data were stratified into various subgroups according to the instruments used to measure IOP and CCT

Switched Scalar Quantizers for Hidden Markov Sources.

This paper describes a new algorithm for designing Switched Scalar Quantizers for Hidden Markov sources. The design problem is cast as a nonlinear optimization problem. The optimization variables are the thresholds and reproduction levels for each quantizer, and the parameters defining the next-quantizer map. The cost function is the average distortion incurred by the system, allowing for a different distortion measure for each subsource. The next-quantizer map is treated as a stochastic map so that all of the optimization variables are continuous-valued, allowing the use of a gradient-based optimization procedure. This approach solves a major problem in the design of switched scalar quantizing systems, that of determining an optimal next-quantizer decision rule. Details are given for computing the cost function and its gradient for weighted-squarederror distortion. Simulation results are presented which compare the new system to current systems, where we see that our system performs better. It is also observed that the optimal system can in fact have a next- quantizer map with stochastic components

Unilateral Duane Retraction Syndrome Associated with Unilateral Congenital Cataract

Purpose: To report unilateral congenital Cataract in a case of ipsilateral Duane retraction syndrome. Case Report: In this case, we present a six year old girl who was referred with ocular deviation. She had a history of congenital Cataract surgery in the left eye at the age of two years. The subject had no associated systemic disease, developmental delay, or positive family history. She was finally diagnosed as having Duane retraction syndrome in the same eye. Conclusion: Duane retraction syndrome can be associated with congenital Cataract due to the matching time of gestational development of the lens to that of ocular and nonocular anomalies associated with Duane syndrome. As both of these disorders are rare, coincidence of both in the same person and the same eye by chance is a very remote possibility

Geocaching Motivations

Geocaching is a GPS-enabled treasure hunt. After only about twelve years from its birth, Geocaching has attracted over five million geocachers all around the world. The goal of this study is to understand psychological motivations of Geocaching practices within the community of worldwide geocachers. Understanding Geocaching motivations could lead to improvements in location-based games and also aid in promoting the Geocaching community. Results of two online surveys indicate a variation in Geocaching motivations

The Relationship between Metacognitive Awareness and L2 Listening Comprehension Performance in Junior High School Students

This study delved into the relationship between metacognitive awareness and second language (L2) listening comprehension performance in junior high school students. Moreover, the relationships between subcomponents of metacognitive awareness (i.e., planning, problem solving, monitoring and evaluation) and L2 listening comprehension were scrutinized. To this end, 106 junior high school students from six intact classes were selected. After selecting the participants, their level of proficiency was checked through Oxford Placement Test. Next, they were requested to answer a listening comprehension test. One week later, the Metacognitive Awareness Listening Questionnaire (MALQ) was administered to the participants. The results revealed a significantly positive relationship between L2 listening comprehension and metacognitive awareness (r = 0.316, p < .01). The results also showed the highest correlation coefficient between problem solving and listening comprehension (r = 0.374, p < .01). The results imply that EFL teachers should consider not only cognitive variables, but also metacognitive variables in EFL listening comprehension