Repeatability of automatic measurements by a new anterior segment optical coherence tomographer combined with Placido topography and agreement with 2 Scheimpflug cameras

Purpose To evaluate the repeatability of automatic measurements by a new anterior segment optical coherence tomographer (AS-OCT) combined with Placido topography and their agreement with those provided by 2 rotating Scheimpflug cameras. Setting G.B. Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Design Evaluation of a diagnostic test instrument. Methods Unoperated eyes and eyes with previous myopic excimer laser surgery were analyzed. Three consecutive scans were acquired with an AS-OCT device (MS-39) and 1 with 2 rotating Scheimpflug cameras (Pentacam HR and Sirius). The following parameters were evaluated: simulated keratometry, posterior and total corneal power, total corneal astigmatism, corneal asphericity, thinnest corneal thickness, central epithelial thickness, corneal diameter, and aqueous depth. Repeatability was assessed using test–retest variability, the coefficient of variation (CoV), and the intraclass correlation coefficient; agreement was assessed by the 95% limits of agreement. Results The study comprised 96 unoperated eyes and 43 eyes with previous myopic excimer laser surgery. High repeatability was achieved in both groups, as shown by a CoV less than 1.0% for most parameters. The repeatability of epithelial thickness was slightly lower than that of the whole corneal thickness, although the CoV was still good (1.87% in unoperated eyes; 3.28% in post-refractive surgery eyes). Moderate repeatability was found for total corneal astigmatism measurements, with a CoV greater than 20.0%. Agreement with Scheimpflug cameras was high for aqueous depth and thinnest corneal thickness and moderate for most other parameters. Conclusion The high repeatability of automatic measurements by the new AS-OCT device supports its use in clinical practice

Validasi Metode Analisis Klorfeniramin Maleat Dan Guaifenesin Menggunakan Kromatografi Cair Kinerja Tinggi Serta Aplikasinya Dalam Sediaan Sirup

The combination of CTM and GG is often used as an active substances to relieve symptoms of cough and cold. The concentration of CTM and GG in syrup are very low, so that it need validated determination method to ensure therapeutic dose. The purposes of this study were to validate determination method of CTM and GG and to apply the method to some syrups. Determination of CTM and GG in syrup using HPLC JascoLc-Net II/ADC equipped with a UV-Visible detector at a wavelength of 270 nm. The stationary phase used was C18Li Chosphera nd the mobile phase usedwas a mixture of acetonitrile:methanol:water (15:10:75 v/v) with a flow rate of 1 mL/minutes.Validation test was conducted on precision test, accuracy, selectivity, linearity and sensitivity. The method of analysis was applied to syrups fromthree different factories. The result of this research showed that validation tests of CTM and GG met the requirements, were: % RSD of precision test for CTM was 0.18% and for GG was 0.17%; accuracy test resulted good recovery for CTM and for GG in syrups. Good selectivity; linearity with a correlation coefficient 0.999; LOD for CTM and GG were 2.40 and 3.07 µg/mL; LOQ for CTM and GG were 8.00µg/mL and 10.24 µg/mL. The level of CTM and GG in syrups were compliance with the requirements by the Indonesian Pharmacopeia Edition V

Results of Treatment for Patients With Multicentric or Bilaterally Predisposed Unilateral Wilms Tumor (AREN0534): A report from the Children’s Oncology Group

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156248/2/cncr32958_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156248/1/cncr32958.pd

A functional model and simulation of spinal motor pools and intrafascicular recordings of motoneuron activity in peripheral nerve

Decoding motor intent from recorded neural signals is essential for the development of effective neural-controlled prostheses. To facilitate the development of online decoding algorithms we have developed a software platform to simulate neural motor signals recorded with peripheral nerve electrodes, such as longitudinal intrafascicular electrodes (LIFEs). The simulator uses stored motor intent signals to drive a pool of simulated motoneurons with various spike shapes, recruitment characteristics, and firing frequencies. Each electrode records a weighted sum of a subset of simulated motoneuron activity patterns. As designed, the simulator facilitates development of a suite of test scenarios that would not be possible with actual data sets because, unlike with actual recordings, in the simulator the individual contributions to the simulated composite recordings are known and can be methodically varied across a set of simulation runs. In this manner, the simulation tool is suitable for iterative development of real-time decoding algorithms prior to definitive evaluation in amputee subjects with implanted electrodes. The simulation tool was used to produce data sets that demonstrate its ability to capture some features of neural recordings that pose challenges for decoding algorithms

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Institutional Labor Economics, the New Personnel Economics, and Internal Labor Markets: A Reconsideration

The author illustrates the utility of institutional labor economics and makes a case for a reconsideration of it. Two recent developments motivate this effort: the rise of New Personnel Economics (NPE) as a significant subfield of labor economics and the substantial shifts in work organization that have taken place since the 1990s. Understanding how and why firms have reorganized work opens the door for a renewed interest in institutional approaches. The author explains that the rules of institutional labor markets (ILMs) emerge from the competition between organizational interest groups—unions, personnel professionals, and the government—and competing views of firms’ objectives—resulting in the rise of ILMs, the slow diffusion of High Performance Work Systems, strategies used to obtain a high level of commitment from workers, the use of contingent employees, and the spread of new promotion rules in response to equal employment opportunity pressures. As such, the role of power and influence in establishing work rules is of central concern, though more conventional NPE considerations also remain important

Intraocular lens power calculation in eyes with previous corneal refractive surgery

Abstract Background This review aims to explain the reasons why intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation is challenging in eyes with previous corneal refractive surgery and what solutions are currently available to obtain more accurate results. Review After IOL implantation in eyes with previous LASIK, PRK or RK, a refractive surprise can occur because i) the altered ratio between the anterior and posterior corneal surface makes the keratometric index invalid; ii) the corneal curvature radius is measured out of the optical zone; and iii) the effective lens position is erroneously predicted if such a prediction is based on the post-refractive surgery corneal curvature. Different methods are currently available to obtain the best refractive outcomes in these eyes, even when the perioperative data (i.e. preoperative corneal power and surgically induced refractive change) are not known. In this review, we describe the most accurate methods based on our clinical studies. Conclusions IOL power calculation after myopic corneal refractive surgery can be calculated with a variety of methods that lead to relatively accurate outcomes, with 60 to 70% of eyes showing a prediction error within 0.50 diopters