Relief-topography of anterior and posterior corneal surfaces in myopic patients in the long-term follow-up period after anterior radial keratotomy

Purpose. To analyze the topographical features of the relief of anterior and posterior corneal surfaces in patients with myopia in the long-term period after anterior r adial keratotomy (ARK).Material and methods. We examined 132 patients with age-related cataracts of varying degrees of density and a history of myopia with previously performed ARK. Mean age of patients was 59.67±6.09 (from 47 to 76). In the control group, 30 patients of the same age group with myopia were examined. A comprehensive examination was performed, including optical biometry, keratotopography on the Pentacam HR device with the determination of the elevation points of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces.Results. The corneal profile differed from the correct spherical configuration in the control group. The average deviation of the profile of the anterior part of the cornea from the BFS was (–)1.41±5.10 μm, the posterior part was (–)5.12±12.25 μm (p=0.0001). The profile of the posterior corneal surface had a pronounced prolapse in the paracentral area with positive elevation values in the lower-outer segment. Negative values were found in the upper and lower sectors in the peripheral area and positive values were found in the inner and outer sectors. The corneal profile was deformed in patients after ARK. Negative elevation values in the central and paracentral area and positive elevation values in the peripheral segments corresponding to its protrusion were noted. At the same time, the relief of anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea was not regular. Prolapse from the posterior surface of the cornea in the peripheral area was more pronounced than its anterior surface (p=0.0001).Conclusion. The relief of anterior and posterior corneal surfaces in patients of the control group differs in the degree and topography of elevation. In patients after ARK, obvious topographic deformities of the anterior and posterior corneal pr ofiles were detected

Diagnostic model development for schizophrenia based on peripheral blood mononuclear cell subtype-specific expression of metabolic markers

A significant proportion of the personal and economic burden of schizophrenia can be attributed to the late diagnosis or misdiagnosis of the disorder. A novel, objective diagnostic approaches could facilitate the early detection and treatment of schizophrenia and improve patient outcomes. In the present study, we aimed to identify robust schizophrenia-specific blood biomarkers, with the goal of developing an accurate diagnostic model. The levels of selected serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) markers relevant to metabolic and immune function were measured in healthy controls (n?=?26) and recent-onset schizophrenia patients (n?=?36) using multiplexed immunoassays and flow cytometry. Analysis of covariance revealed significant upregulation of insulin receptor (IR) and fatty acid translocase (CD36) levels in T helper cells (F?=?10.75, P?=?0.002, Q?=?0.024 and F?=?21.58, P?=?2.8?×?10?5, Q?=?0.0004, respectively), as well as downregulation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression in monocytes (F?=?21.46, P?=?2.9?×?10?5, Q?=?0.0004). The most robust predictors, monocyte GLUT1 and T helper cell CD36, were used to develop a diagnostic model, which showed a leave-one-out cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66?0.92). The diagnostic model was validated in two independent datasets. The model was able to distinguish first-onset, drug-naïve schizophrenia patients (n?=?34) from healthy controls (n?=?39) with an AUC of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.64?0.86), and also differentiated schizophrenia patients (n?=?22) from patients with other neuropsychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder (n?=?68), with an AUC of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75?0.92). These findings indicate that PBMC-derived biomarkers have the potential to support an accurate and objective differential diagnosis of schizophrenia.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We are grateful to the participants and their families for their cooperation in this study. We would like to thank blood donors and the clinical centres, for the provision of biological samples, in addition, to supporting staff at the affiliated institutions. We also thank IDIVAL biobank (Inés Santiuste and Jana Arozamena) and UMCU Biobank for clinical sample and data preparation, as well as the PAFIP members for the data collection. This work was supported by the Stanley Medical Research Institute (grant number: 12T-008) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO; grant number: 40–00812–98–12154) received by IES; by grants to SB from the Stanley Medical Research Institute (SMRI) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council UK (EPSRC); and by grants to BC-F: SAF2016–76046-R and SAF2013–46292-R (MINECO) and PI16/00156 (ISCIII and FEDER)

INTERACTION BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS IN THE FIELD OF LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

The aim of the article is to outline the characteristics of interaction between higher education institutions and business organisations in the field of logistics and supply chain management in Bulgaria in different domains – research, education, and innovation. This article is based on empirical data provided by manufacturing and trading companies and logistics service providers. The research methodology includes variables measuring five aspects of interaction: motivations, barriers, success factors, forms of interaction and outcomes from the collaboration. The results suggest that most business organisations engage with HEIs to obtain knowledge, expertise and talents in order to increase their competitiveness rather than to gain financial and material support. The majority of business organisations use limited channels of interactions or do not interact with HEIs at all. Most of the relationships in the field of logistics and supply chain management are related to education activities and less related to research and innovation. However, with respect to education, the benefits are not fully obtained. While lack of time and lack of awareness what benefits can be obtained from collaboration are identified as main obstacles, higher education institution’s experience and commitment are substantial for the collaboration

Ekonomika a cudzie jazyky Cudzie jazyky a odborna jazykova vyucba v krajinach strednej a vychodnej Europy

Available from Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, under signature: A565101 / Slovenska Technicka Univerzita v BratislaveSIGLESKSlovak Republi