Formation of criminal law terms in English, Lithuanian and Norwegian

The paper deals with a detailed analysis of 20 legal terms commonly used in different categories of criminal law in English and their equivalents in Lithuanian and Norwegian languages. The legal terms were selected from the Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Penal Code of the Republic of Lithuania and the Criminal Law Acts of the Kingdom of Norway. In addition to those sources, several monolingual and bilingual dictionaries of legal terms were used. The investigated terms differ in two important aspects – they are formed in three different Indo-European languages (a West Germanic, a Baltic and a North Germanic) and they are used in three different legal systems with different law traditions. The research focuses on term formation models and seeks to reveal general tendencies and peculiarities of term formation in each of the investigated languages. The findings of the research are believed to be useful for formation of the new terms and correction/development of currently used ones, the latter being important for term formation in Lithuanian. Teaching/learning/translating legal Lithuanian, English and Norwegian are also the fields of practical application of the research findings

Update in intracranial pressure evaluation methods and translaminar pressure gradient role in glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Historically, it has been considered an ocular disease primary caused by pathological intraocular pressure (IOP). Recently, researchers have emphasized intracranial pressure (ICP), as translaminar counter pressure against IOP may play a role in glaucoma development and progression. It remains controversial what is the best way to measure ICP in glaucoma. Currently, the ‘gold standard’ for ICP measurement is invasive measurement of the pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid via lumbar puncture or via implantation of the pressure sensor into the brains ventricle. However, the direct measurements of ICP are not without risk due to its invasiveness and potential risk of intracranial haemorrhage and infection. Therefore, invasive ICP measurements are prohibitive due to safety needs, especially in glaucoma patients. Several approaches have been proposed to estimate ICP non-invasively, including transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, tympanic membrane displacement, ophthalmodynamometry, measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter and two-depth transcranial Doppler technology. Special emphasis is put on the two-depth transcranial Doppler technology, which uses an ophthalmic artery as a natural ICP sensor. It is the only method which accurately and precisely measures absolute ICP values and may provide valuable information in glaucoma

The Difference in Translaminar Pressure Gradient and Neuroretinal Rim Area in Glaucoma and Healthy Subjects

Purpose. To assess differences in translaminar pressure gradient (TPG) and neuroretinal rim area (NRA) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), high tension glaucoma (HTG), and healthy controls. Methods. 27 patients with NTG, HTG, and healthy controls were included in the prospective pilot study (each group consisted of 9 patients). Intraocular pressure (IOP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and confocal laser scanning tomography were assessed. TPG was calculated as the difference of IOP minus ICP. ICP was measured using noninvasive two-depth transcranial Doppler device. The level of significance P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results. NTG patients had significantly lower IOP (13.7(1.6) mmHg), NRA (0.97(0.36) mm2), comparing with HTG and healthy subjects, P < 0.05. ICP was lower in NTG (7.4(2.7) mmHg), compared with HTG (8.9(1.9) mmHg) and healthy subjects (10.5(3.0) mmHg); however, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The difference between TPG for healthy (5.4(7.7) mmHg) and glaucomatous eyes (NTG 6.3(3.1) mmHg, HTG 15.7(7.7) mmHg) was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Higher TPG was correlated with decreased NRA (r = −0.83; P = 0.01) in the NTG group. Conclusion. Translaminar pressure gradient was higher in glaucoma patients. Reduction of NRA was related to higher TPG in NTG patients. Further prospective studies are warranted to investigate the involvement of TPG in glaucoma management

Literature review and meta-analysis of translaminar pressure difference in open-angle glaucoma

There is increasing evidence in the literature regarding translaminar pressure difference's (TPD) role in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. The optic nerve is exposed not only to intraocular pressure in the eye, but also to intracranial pressure (ICP), as it is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space. Although pilot studies have identified the potential importance of TPD in glaucoma, limited available data currently prevent a comprehensive description of the role that TPD may have in glaucomatous pathophysiology. In this review, we present all available qualified data from a systematic review of the literature of the role of TPD in open-angle glaucoma (OAG). PubMed (Medline), OVID Medline, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and all available library databases were reviewed and subsequent meta-analysis of pooled mean differences are presented where appropriate. Five papers including 396 patients met criteria for inclusion to the analysis. Importantly, we included all observational studies despite differences in ICP measurement methods, as there is no consensus regarding best-practice ICP measurements in glaucoma. Our results show that not only TPD is higher in glaucoma patients compared with healthy subjects, it is related to structural glaucomatous changes of the optic disc. Our analysis suggests further longitudinal prospective studies are needed to investigate the influence of TPD in OAG, with a goal of overcoming methodological weaknesses of previous studies

Prevalence Rates and Risk Factors for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in the Middle East

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Current data has demonstrated the approximate distribution of primary openangle glaucoma (POAG) in patients of European, African, Hispanic, and Eastern Asian descent. However, a significant gap in the literature exists regarding the prevalence of POAG in Middle Eastern (ME) populations. Current studies estimate ME POAG prevalence based on a European model. Herein we screened 65 total publications on ME prevalence of POAG and specific risk factors using keywords: “glaucoma”, “prevalence”, “incidence”, “risk factor”, “Middle East”, “Mideast”, “Persian”, “Far East”, as well as searching by individual ME countries through PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Scopus, and Trip searches with additional reference list searches from relevant articles published up to and including March 1, 2021. Fifty qualifying records were included after 15 studies identified with low statistical power, confounding co-morbid ophthalmic diseases, and funding bias were excluded. Studies of ME glaucoma risk factors that identify chromosomes, familial trend, age/gender, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, intraocular pressure, vascular influences, optic disc hemorrhage, cup-to-disc ratio, blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus were included in this systematic review. We conclude that the prevalence of POAG in the ME is likely higher than the prevalence rate that European models suggest, with ME specific risk factors likely playing a role. However, these findings are severely limited by the paucity of population-level data in the ME. Well-designed, longitudinal population-based studies with rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria are ultimately needed to accurately assess the epidemiology and specific mechanistic risk factors of glaucoma in ME populations

Baseline structural characteristics of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer are associated with progressive visual field loss in patients with open-angle glaucoma

Aims To examine the relationship between baseline structural characteristics of the optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and functional disease progression in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) over 5 years. Methods 112 OAG patients were prospectively examined at baseline and every 6 months over a period of five years. Structural glaucomatous changes were examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Heidelberg retinal tomography-III (HRT-III), and functional disease progression with automated perimetry (Humphrey visual fields). Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the relationship between baseline structural measurements and functional disease progression. Results From baseline over a 5-year period, statistically significant increases were found in OCT disc (D) area (p<0.001), cup (C) area (p<0.001), C/D area ratio (p<0.001), C/D horizontal ratio (p<0.001), C/D vertical ratio (p = 0.018), and a decrease in superior RNFL thickness (p = 0.008). Statistically significant increases were found in HRT-III C volume (p = 0.021), C/D area ratio (p = 0.046), mean C depth (p = 0.036), C shape (p = 0.008), and height variation contour (p = 0.020). Functional disease progression was detected in 37 of the 112 patients (26 of European descent and 11 of African descent; 33%). A statistically significant shorter time to functional progression was seen in patients with larger baseline OCT D area (p = 0.008), C area (p = 0.003), thicker temporal RNFL (p = 0.003), and in patients with a larger HRT-III C area (p = 0.004), C/D area ratio (p = 0.004), linear C/D ratio (p = 0.007), C shape (p = 0.032), or smaller rim area (p = 0.039), rim volume (p = 0.005), height variation contour (p = 0.041), mean RNFL thickness (p<0.001), or RNFL cross-sectional area (p = 0.002). Conclusion Baseline ONH and RNFL structural characteristics were associated with a significantly shorter time to functional glaucomatous progression and visual field loss through the five-year period in OAG patients

Update and guidance on management of myopia. European Society of Ophthalmology in cooperation with International Myopia Institute

The prevalence of myopia is increasing extensively worldwide. The number of people with myopia in 2020 is predicted to be 2.6 billion globally, which is expected to rise up to 4.9 billion by 2050, unless preventive actions and interventions are taken. The number of individuals with high myopia is also increasing substantially and pathological myopia is predicted to become the most common cause of irreversible vision impairment and blindness worldwide and also in Europe. These prevalence estimates indicate the importance of reducing the burden of myopia by means of myopia control interventions to prevent myopia onset and to slow down myopia progression. Due to the urgency of the situation, the European Society of Ophthalmology decided to publish this update of the current information and guidance on management of myopia. The pathogenesis and genetics of myopia are also summarized and epidemiology, risk factors, preventive and treatment options are discussed in details

Ophthalmic Drug Delivery in Glaucoma—A Review

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy and medical therapy is the initial option for the treatment of this potentially blinding condition. Topical instillation of eye drops from the bottle is the most common glaucoma drug delivery form. Due to limited permeability of anterior ocular surface, natural clearance and drainage, eye drops contain large amounts of inactive ingredients. Effective penetration enhancers are known as irritants causing ocular discomfort. Although drug efficacy is determined by active ingredients, inactive agents can affect tolerance and can result in conjunctival irritation and hyperemia and influence patients’ adherence and quality of life

Evaluation of Outflow Structures In Vivo after the Phacocanaloplasty

Purpose. To evaluate the in vivo changes in Schlemm’s canal (SC) and the trabecular meshwork (TM) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) after phacocanaloplasty using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods. Ten eyes of nine patients with POAG (6 men and 3 women) who underwent phacocanaloplasty. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and use of glaucoma medications were evaluated. The main outcome measures were the area of SC and TM thickness assessed using AS-OCT before and 12 months after surgery. Results. We found statistically significant reduction in IOP (from 26.4 (8.6) mmHg to 12.9 (2.5) (p<0.05) mmHg), increase in VA from 0.7 (0.4) to 0.9 (0.2), and decrease in glaucoma medication from 2.6 (1.2) to 1.1 (1.3) at 12 months postoperatively. There was a significant increase in the SC area (3081.7 (842.8) μm2 versus 5098.8 (1190.5) μm2, p<0.001) and a decrease in mean TM thickness (91.2 (18.6) μm versus 81.3 (15.1) μm, p=0.001) after surgery. We found negative correlations between SC area and IOP before surgery (r=-0.67, p=0.03) and also between SC area before and IOP reduction 12 months after the phacocanaloplasty (r=-0.80, p=0.005). Conclusions. Our results showed statistically significant dilation of SC area and reduction of TM thickness after phacocanaloplasty in POAG patients. The degree of SC expansion was related to the IOP decrease