Health-related quality of life in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. An italian multicentre observational study

PurposeAs a progressive condition, glaucoma may impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL), due to vision loss and other factors. This study evaluated HRQoL in a cohort of patients treated for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and assessed its association with clinical features. MethodsThis was an Italian, multicentre, cross-sectional, observational study with the subgroup of newly diagnosed patients with POAG prospectively followed up for one year. Patients with previous or new diagnosis (or strong clinical suspicion) of POAG aged >18years were considered eligible. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical presentation and POAG treatments. HRQoL was measured using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Subscale and total scores were obtained and a Pearson correlation coefficient between instruments' scores calculated. ResultsA total of 3227 patients were enrolled from 2012 to 2013 and 3169 were analysed. Mean age was 66.9years. A total of 93.8% had a previous diagnosis (median duration: 8.0years). Median values for mean deviation and pattern standard deviation were 3.9 and 3.6 dB, respectively. Mean scores on most subscales of the NEI-VFQ-25 exceeded 75.0 and mean GSS subscale scores ranged between 70.8 and 79.7 (with a total mean score of 74.8). HRQoL scores on both scales were significantly inversely associated with POAG severity. ConclusionIn this large sample of Italians treated for POAG, disease severity was limited and HRQoL scores were high. QoL decreased with advancing disease severity. These findings confirm the role of vision loss in impairing QoL in POAG, underlying the importance of timely detection and appropriate treatment

Description of Diegoglossidium maradonai n. g. and n. sp. (Digenea: Alloglossidiidae) through an integrative taxonomy approach, with an amended diagnosis of the family

This paper describes Diegloglossidium maradonai n. g., n. sp. a parasite of the intestine of Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock) from La Plata River basin. The new genus is morphologically similar to members of Alloglossidiidae and Macroderoidiidae although they also share some traits observed in both families. Those families can be differentiated from each other by the combination of morphological features, including the density and distribution of the tegumental spines, the distribution of the vitelline follicles and the extent of the post-testicular space. The molecular analyses based on the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions including ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 unequivocally place the new genus in the family Alloglossidiidae which is amended based on new observed features. Diegoglossidium n. g. is characterized by a combination of characteristics, being most notably the presence of a deeply lobed ovary. Lastly, the geographical distribution and host associations of the two closely related Neotropical genera of Alloglossidiidae: Magnivitellinum and Diegoglossidium are discussed, and the host and distribution range of Magnivitellinum saltaensis is expanded into Argentina.Fil: Montes, Martin Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Arredondo, Nathalia Jaquelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Barneche, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Balcazar, Dario Emmanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Cardarella, G. Reig. Universidad Bernardo O'higgins; ChileFil: Martorelli, Sergio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Ponce de Leon, G. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Méxic

Visual field loss and vision-related quality of life in the Italian Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Study

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between visual field (VF) loss, vision-related quality of life (QoL) and glaucoma-related symptoms in a large cohort of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. POAG patients with or without VF defects or "glaucoma suspect" patients were considered eligible. QoL was assessed using the validated versions of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and glaucoma-related symptoms were assessed using the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Patients were classified as having VF damage in one eye (VFD-1), both eyes (VFD-2), or neither eye (VFD-0). 3227 patients were enrolled and 2940 were eligible for the analysis. 13.4% of patients were classified in the VFD-0, 23.7% in the VFD-1, and 62.9% in the VFD-2 group. GSS visual symptoms domain (Func-4) and GSS non-visual symptoms domain (Symp-6) scores were similar for the VFD-0 and VFD-1 groups (p = 0.133 and p = 0.834 for Func-4 and Symp-6, respectively). VFD-0 group had higher scores than VFD-2 both in Func-4 (p < 0.001) and Symp-6 domains (p = 0.035). Regarding the NEI-VFQ-25, our data demonstrated that bilateral VF defects are associated with vision-related QoL deterioration, irrespective of visual acuity

Vision-related quality of life and symptom perception change over time in newly-diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma patients.

To evaluate the change over time of vision-related quality of life (QoL) and glaucoma symptoms in a population of newly-diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Multicenter, prospective study. Consecutive newly-diagnosed POAG patients were enrolled and followed-up for one year. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 6 and 12 months from baseline. At each visit, vision-related QoL and glaucoma-related symptoms were assessed by the means of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS), respectively. Trends over time for NEI-VFQ-25 and GSS scores were evaluated with longitudinal linear mixed models. One-hundred seventy-eight patients were included in the analysis. At baseline, early to moderate glaucoma stages were associated with higher scores for most GSS and NEI-VFQ-25 items, while lower best-corrected visual acuity was associated with lower scores for 4 of the 12 NEI-VFQ-25 items. During the follow-up, all the GSS scores, the NEI-VFQ-25 total score, and 7 of the 12 NEI-VFQ-25 scores significantly improved (p &lt; 0.05). In multivariate model, higher increases of most GSS and NEI-VFQ-25 scores were modeled in patients with low scores at baseline. Vision-related QoL and glaucoma-related symptom perception significantly improved during the one-year follow-up in this population of newly diagnosed POAG patients

<i>Saccocoelioides kirchneri</i> n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from the killifish <i>Cnesterodon decemmaculatus</i> (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from Argentina, morphological and molecular description

Abstract This paper presents a new haploporid digenean that expands the number of species of Saccoccoelioides to 27. The new species, Saccocoelioides kirchneri n. sp. was collected from the intestine of Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Poeciliidae: Cyprinodontiformes) from Lago del Bosque, La Plata, Argentina. The new species possesses the diagnostic features for Saccocoelioides: a sac like ceca; the vitellarium confined in two irregular groups of follicles distributed between the ventral sucker and the anterior margin of the testis; and a uterus confined largely in the hind-body, but encroaching into the range of the ventral sucker. The new species is differentiated from the 26 congeners by the body size, pharynx size, ventral sucker size, posterior extent of ceca, posterior extent of uterus and egg size. S. kirchneri n. sp. also is supported by the molecular analysis.</jats:p

Cost-Effectiveness of Multiplexed Predictive Biomarker Screening in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

IntroductionPopulation-wide screening for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements to inform cancer therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is recommended by guidelines. We estimated cost-effectiveness of multiplexed predictive biomarker screening in metastatic NSCLC from a societal perspective in the United States.MethodsWe constructed a microsimulation model to compare the life expectancy and costs of multiplexed testing and molecularly guided therapy versus treatment with cisplatin-pemetrexed (CisPem). All testing interventions included a two-step algorithm of concurrent EGFR mutation and ALK overexpression testing with immunohistochemistry followed by ALK rearrangement confirmation with a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for immunohistochemistry-positive results. Three strategies were included: “Test-treat” approach, where molecularly guided therapy was initiated after obtainment of test results; “Empiric switch therapy,” with concurrent initiation of CisPem and testing and immediate switch to test-result conditional treatment after one cycle of CisPem; and “Empiric therapy” approach in which CisPem was continued for four cycles before start of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.ResultsThe incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for “Test-treat” compared with treatment with CisPem was $136,000 per quality-adjusted life year gained. Both empiric treatment approaches had less favorable incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. “Test-treat” and “Empiric switch therapy” yielded higher expected outcomes in terms of quality-adjusted life years and life-years than “Empiric therapy.” These results were robust across plausible ranges of model inputs.ConclusionFrom a societal perspective, our cost-effectiveness results support the value of multiplexed genetic screening and molecularly guided therapy in metastatic NSCLC

Description of Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from characid fishes in the Iguazu River Basin based on morphological and molecular evidence

Here we describe a new species of the genus Saccocoelioides found parasitizing Astyanax dissimilisGaravello & Sampaio, Psalidodon bifasciatus (Garavello and Sampaio) and Bryconamericus ikaaCasciotta, Almirón & Azpelicueta from the Iguazu National Park, Misiones province, Argentina.Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. was studied based on morphological and molecular (28SrDNA and COI mtDNA sequences) data. The COI mtDNA tree indicated that the specimenscollected from the three fish hosts are conspecific, with an intragroup p-distance of 0%. The newspecies shows an intermediate morphological configuration between the diminutive and robustforms described for Saccocoelioides by Curran (2018). Although, in the 28S rDNA tree, it is placedin a well-supported clade with the two robust species analysed (S. elongatus and S. magnus;p-distance of 1 and 2%, respectively), it differs from the robust group by the range of body size,mature egg size, oral and ventral sucker size, sucker ratio, oral sucker to pharynx ratio, and postcecal or post-testis/body length percentage. Our results led us to redefine the robust group ashaving eggs shorter or equal in length to the pharynx. Saccocoelioides miguelmontesi n. sp. the 10thspecies reported from Argentina and the 7th species within the robust group.Fil: Montes, Martin Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Croci, Yasmin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Barneche, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari, Walter Antonio Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Reig Cardarella, G.. Universidad Bernardo O? Higgins;Fil: Martorelli, Sergio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Metacercariae in the brain of Erythrinus cf. erythrinus (Characiformes: Erythrinidae) from Iguazú National Park (Argentina): Do they belong to Dolichorchis lacombeensis (Digenea, Diplostomidae)?

In Argentina, the family Diplostomidae is composed of eight genera: Austrodiplostomum Szidat & Nani; Diplostomum von Nordmann; Dolichorchis Dubois; Hysteromorpha Lutz; Neodiplostomum Railliet; Posthodiplostomum Dubois; Sphincterodiplostomum Dubois; and Tylodelphys Diesing. During a parasitological survey of fishes from the Iguazú National Park we detected diplostomid metacercariae in the brain of Erythrinus cf. erythrinus. Fish were caught using crab traps, transported alive to the field laboratory, cold-Anaesthetized and euthanized by cervical dissection. Some metacercariae were heat-killed in water and fixed in 10% formalin and others were preserved in alcohol 96% for DNA extraction. They were sequenced for the partial segment of the 28S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction was carried out using Bayesian inference and the proportion (p) of absolute nucleotide sites (p-distance) was obtained. In the 28S rDNA tree, the metacercaria sequenced grouped as Dolichorchis sp. The COI mtDNA p-distance between the metacercariae with Dolichorchis lacombeensis was 0.01. There is a small number of ITS sequences for the Diplostomidae family deposited in the GenBank. The oral sucker, ventral sucker, holdfast organ and the distance between oral and ventral suckers are larger in the adult compared with the metacercariae. Additionally, hind-body length and width are larger in the adult due to the development of the genital complex. Further studies using an integrative approach will help confirm the affiliation of other species to the genus Dolichorchis.Fil: Montes, Martin Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Croci, Yasmin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Santopolo, Lucía Grisel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Barneche, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari, Walter Antonio Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Reig Cardarella, G. F.. Universidad Bernardo O'higgins; ChileFil: Martorelli, Sergio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin