Biometric Indices and Their Relation with Age, Sex and Ethnicity

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of biometric indices with age, gender and ethnicity.Patients and Methods:  Three hundred and seventy patients entered the study from Basir Eye Clinic refractive assessment clinic. Sociodemographic data was gathered. Ocular parameters for both eyes and corneal curvature were measured by immersion technique and manual keratometry, respectively.Results: Axial length was significantly higher among male patients (P = 0.01) and vitreous chamber depth was significantly higher in females (P = 0.02). Axial length and vitreous chamber depth parameters were significantly higher among Arab patients (P = 0.01) compared to Persian patients and there was no other significant differences between these two groups. A significant increase in lens thickness and mean K (P < 0.001, coefficient = 0.15 and 0.023 respectively) and a significant reduction with axial length, anterior chamber depth and vitreous chamber depth (P < 0.001, coefficient = - 0.31, - 0.10 and - 0.37 respectively) were observed in correlation with the age of participants.Conclusion: There was correlation between axial length, depth of the anterior chamber, vitreous chamber depth, lens thickness and mean k with age of the participants. Male subjects and specific ethnicities such as Arab patients tend to have higher axial length values.Keywords: Axial length, anterior chamber depth, vitreous chamber depth, sex, age, Iran

Significance of intermodal freight modal choice criteria: MCDM-based decision support models and SP-based modal shift policies

This paper reviews modal choice decisions associated with intermodal freight transportation through decision support models based on the Multi-Criteria Decision-making (MCDM) techniques and modal shift policy as�sessments based on the Stated Preferences (SP) experiments. The objectives were to determine the relevant decision criteria and their relative significance, to define methods in use, and to identify respective policies that boost intermodality. Google Scholar database and manual search using identified keywords were conducted and references of the relevant articles were double-checked. Consequently, a total of 27 articles consisting of respective 18 and 9 MCDM-based and SP-based articles were reviewed in this study. The results showed that the most commonly used decision criteria were cost, CO2 emissions, delivery time, safety, reliability, flexibility, and frequency. The cost factor was assigned the highest weight in 22 articles (or 81.4%). Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was implemented in 12 out of 18 MCDM articles (or 66.6%)). Successful application of MCDM methods (both single and integrated) showed the suitability of these methods for intermodal freight modal choice decision-making. The results of SP experiments revealed that cost reduction policies are more effective than policies addressing other factors to increase the demand for intermodal transportation

A Rare Case of Concurrent Granular Corneal Dystrophy and Keratoconus

A 23-year-old female presented with progressive bilateral visual loss for the past 5 years. The patient had no history of systemic disease, surgery or medications. Complete ophthalmologic examination and topography were performed. On ophthalmic examination, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/30 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. Both corneas appeared hazy on gross examination. On slit-lamp biomicroscopy, few well circumscribed gray white discrete granular deposits in the central corneal stroma of both eyes were observed. Both corneas were thin and bulging. Corneal topography showed a pattern consistent with keratoconus. The patient was clinically diagnosed as a case of concurrent granular dystrophy and keratoconus, which is a very rare presentation

Visual Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction after Unilateral Implantation of a Diffractive Trifocal Intraocular Lens to Treat Cataract

AbstractPurpose: To assess clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction after unilateral implantation of a diffractive trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) following phacoemulsification in unilateral cataract.Patients and Methods: This retrospective case series study included six males and five females. Patients underwent phacoemulsification and unilateral implantation of a trifocal IOL (AT LISA tri 839MP, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Visual acuity was evaluated at 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Monocular and binocular contrast sensitivity and patient satisfaction were evaluated at 2 years of follow-up using 25 item National Eye Institute visual functioning questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25).Results: At 2 years, the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity was from 0.549 ± 0.32 to 0.021 ± 0.037 logMAR, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity was from 0.544 ± 0.31 to 0.018 ± 0.045 LogMAR, and uncorrected near visual acuity was from 0.52 ± 0.30 to 0.022 ± 0.045 LOGMAR showing a significant improvement in the operated eye. The VFQ-25 evaluation indicated that patients were satisfied with their outcomes. Also, Binocular contrast sensitivity measured by CSV1000 was similar to monocular contrast sensitivity.Conclusion: Unilateral implantation of trifocal intraocular lens can be considered as a safe and viable option in presbyopic patients with unilateral cataract. Keywords: Cataract; Surgery; Trifocal; Intraocular lens; Visual acuity

MICROMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENTS OF SOME PHLOMIS SPECIES FROM IRAN

Objective: Microscopic characterization of a plant is a valuable method for accurate identification of the plant powder. The plants of Phlomis genus (Lamiaceae) are mostly distributed in the north and west of Iran with about 10 endemic species. In the present investigation, microscopic characterization of some Phlomis species including Phlomis bruguieri, Phlomis rigida, Phlomis kurdica, and Phlomis olivieri were assessed along with their phytochemical contents. Methods: The powders of the mentioned plants were analyzed using Zeiss microscope attached to a digital camera. Phytochemical contents of the plants extracts including total phenol, tannin, and polysaccharide were measured as well as a radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl method. Results: The results of this study indicated that diacytic stomata, glandular trichome, stellate trichome, and crystals were the characteristic features of the examined species. Total phenol, tannins, and polysaccharides of the plants were assessed ranging 66.0-101.8 µg gallic acid equivalent in mg dry extract (µg GAE/mg EXT), 6.9-9.5 µg tannic acid equivalent in mg dry extract (TAE/mg EXT), and 512-559 µg glucose equivalent in mg dry extract (GE/mg EXT), respectively. Moreover, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of radical scavenging activity of the extracts were calculated according to the plot of inhibition percentage against different concentrations of each extract as 218.6, 112.0, 113.3, and 58.7 µg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The observed differences between Phlomis species can be applied in the accurate identification of these medicinal plants particularly in dried powdered materials regarding their microscopic characterizations and phytochemical contents.Â

Laser in Situ Keratomileusis Outcomes among Myopic and Myopic Astigmatism Patients with Thin Cornea

Purpose:To evaluate refractive results after laser in situ keratomileusis among patients with thin corneas.Patients and Methods: Three hundred and two eyes from 168 patients with thin corneas undergoing laser in situ keratomileusis in Basir Eye Clinic, Tehran, Iran, were retrospectively studied. We included patients with best corrected visual acuity of better than 6/12, age of more than 18 years, and corneal thickness of less than 499 μm.Results: The mean age of patients was 30.7 ± 8.6 years and the mean preoperative spherical equivalent was - 4.61 ± 2.37 D. The results after at least one year of follow-up were as follow: 86.6 % of patients with low myopia, 71.8 % of patients with mild myopia, 50.0 % of patients with moderate myopia and 51.8 % of patients with high myopia achieved a ± 0.5 D spherical equivalent postoperatively. General linear model indicated a significant effect for the remaining stromal bed on final uncorrected visual acuity after adjustment for age, sex, and degree of myopia. No important complication occurred.Conclusion: No important complications occurred after laser in situ keratomileusis among myopic patients with corneal thickness of less than 499 μm, and most of the patients achieved satisfactory refractive results.Keywords: Laser in Situ Keratomileusis; outcome; myopia; thin cornea; Iran

Effects of aqueous methanolic extract of Salvia limbata on antinociceptive activity and withdrawal syndrome in mice

It is quite clear that the repeated use of opioid drugs leads to physical dependence and tolerance. Dependence can be measured by evaluation of self-restraint signs from abrupt drug withdrawal or administration of a narcotic antagonist or both. Effects of some Salvia genesis, of Salvia aerial parts extract on morphine dependence were investigated in mice. After induction of dependence by morphine, distilled water was injected into the control group and different concentrations of plants aerial extract were injected into the other five groups. To assess morphine withdrawal, mice were injected with naloxone (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the 5th day. After four consecutive days of morphine injection, withdrawal syndrome was assessed by placing each mouse in a 30 cm high glass box and recording the incidence of escape jumps for 60 min. Animal receiving acute treatment with morphine displayed dependence. The animals treated with different Salvia limbata aerial (flowered browse) parts extracts concentration decreased incidence of escape jumps in number or decreased development of morphine dependence and on the other hand, addiction was observed following naloxone administration (P<0.001). Results from the present study showed that the methanolic extract from aerial parts of Salvia limbata produced a statistically significant inhibition of pain induced by hot plate latency at (500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg) i.p. dose, as compared to the control groups. A significant increase in pain threshold after 30 and 60 min of i.p. injection of extract, compared with the control groups (P<0.001). The activity was comparable to that of morphine (30 mg kg-1 i.p., p> 0.05). The anti-nociceptive activity of S. limbata increased until the 60th min as compared to morphine (P<0.05).Key words: Morphine dependence, anti-nociceptive activity, Salvia limbata, jumping, hot plate method

Comparison of Standard and Percutaneous Tracheostomy Complications in Shariati Hospital in Iran

Background: Tracheostomy is a procedure which aims at better managing patients’ airway. It can be done using two methods: standard and percutaneous. The percutaneous method is a favorable choice for critically illpatients because it is a less invasive procedure. This study compares the short-term complications of these two methods (during 7 days after the procedure).Methods: This study was a cross-sectional research performed on 50 ICU patients in need of tracheostomy.The patients were divided into two groups of percutaneous procedure (15 patients) and standard procedure(35 patients). The complications were registered in questionnaires and the data were analyzed using SPSS software (χ² test and t-test).Results: The two groups had no significant difference in age, sex, and vital signs. Average duration of the procedure was 24.4 minutes in the standard procedure (10-45 minutes) and 26.78 minutes (5-70 minutes) in the percutaneous procedure, and there was no significant difference between two groups (P = 0.814). Average bleeding during 7 days after the procedure was 44 cc (10-150 cc) in standard procedure and 24.7 cc (10-50 cc) in the percutaneous procedure, and the difference was significant (P = 0.012). The other variables were not significantly different in two groups.Conclusions: There was no difference in short-term complications between percutaneous and standard tracheostomy method should be selected considering other important factors

Constrained Topology Optimization For Additive Manufacturing Of Structural Components In Ansys®

Topology Optimization is currently the main technique to optimize an objects structural design. This method commonly produces parts that have exceedingly complex geometry. Additive manufacturing (AM) is the main manufacturing process to produce these optimized designs due to the flexibility and speed it offers. However, results of topology optimization without considering manufacturing process limits, even AM ones, may result in designs that are expensive and difficult to build. This paper presents a topology optimization filter that minimizes the effect of overhang structures. These structures are very difficult to manufacture using conventional AM techniques. In order to constrain the gradient compliances with respect to densities and converge the results towards a structure with the least amount of overhang structures, sensitivities are modified using the proposed filter. To implement the proposed filter and the base topology optimization methods ESO and SIMP, ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) is employed within the ANSYS® Workbench™ environment. The results of a case study using the different topology optimization methods are investigated. Finally, an implementation of the proposed AM filter is used to solve an MBB-beam problem. The result i

The Effect of Soft Contact Lenses on Optic Nerve Head Measurements Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of soft contact lens induced myopia and hyperopia on optic nerve head measurements of normal eyes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods:  This cross sectional study was performed on 114 emmetropic eyes of 57 participants. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including determination of best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, dry and cycloplegic refraction as well as axial length measurement. SD-OCT measurement was performed in all ayes while different levels of refraction strength were induced by wearing soft contact lenses of five different diopters (- 10.00, - 5.00, Plano, + 5.00, + 10.00). Results:  The mean measured thicknesses of retinal nerve fiber layer were 123.29 ± 10.56 micrometer, 123.17 ± 11.61 micrometer, 122.77 ± 11.61 micrometer, 123.37 ± 11.15 micrometer and 123.42 ± 11.45 micrometer in contact lens induced high myopia, moderate myopia, emmetropic, moderate hyperopia, and high hyperopia groups, respectively (P = 0.721). Also, corresponding evaluations for mean rim area (P = 0.781), mean optic disc area (P = 0.601), mean cup area (P = 0.53), and mean cup to disc area ratio (P = 0.414) showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that refractive error variation at the corneal plane caused by contact lens wear has no significant effect on thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer, disc area, cup area, rim area and mean cup to disc area ratio measured by SD-OCT.Keywords: Contact Lenses; Hyperopia; Myopia; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Optic Nerv