role of NF-\u3ci\u3ek\u3c/i\u3eB signaling in multiple myeloma

Genomic DNA was purified from Multiple Myeloma Cell Line JJN3, and BMF promoter region was PCR amplified and cloned into pCR 2.1 TOPO vector using One Shot® Chemically Competent E. coli. After confirmation of the clone through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction analysis, BMF promoter (2.5 Kb) was released from TOPO vector and subcloned into pGL3 promoter vector. The resulting pGL3-BMF-promoter vector was further amplified for MaxiPrep preparation. This plasmid can be used to study the regulation of BMF promoter by various transcription factors including NF-κB family members

Cyclic Esotropia: a Case Report

In this case report, two cases with diagnosis of cyclic esotropia are presented. Both patients complained of periodic alternative inside eye deviation with an interval of one day. Para- clinical tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and electroretinogram (ERG) were normal and no neurological abnormality or paralysis was detected. Patients were observed in two consecutive days to confirm the diagnosis of cyclic esotropia. Both patients underwent bilateral medial rectus recession surgery as routinely performed for non- cyclic esotropic patients, and the postoperative orthotropia with the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 was obtained in both cases. In conclusion surgical and non-surgical treatments can be used for cyclic esotropia similar to what is routinely performed for non- cyclic strabismic patients. Successful therapeutic outcomes might be obtained in such patients achieving normal binocular fusion in several days with no ocular deviation. Keywords: Cyclic; Esotropia; Treatment

Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia in Adults; a Case Report

Purpose:  The aim of this manuscript was to report the clinical characteristics of two patients suffering from acute acquired comitant esotropia presented in adulthood.Case report: Both patients reported intermittent diplopia especially during car driving before their diplopia becoming constant. They had 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity and a cyclorefraction of + 0.50 D with normal extraocular function except very mild lateral rectus underaction (< 1) in their both eyes. In alternate prism cover test, the manifest esotropia of 25 - 30 Δ was measured at both far and near distances. They did not show any signs of neurological disorders such as marked extraocular underaction or different esotropia on lateral gazes compared with esotropia in primary position. No abnormality was found on electromyography, visual field measurements and magnetic resonance imaging for both cases.Conclusion: Based on our clinical assessment, hereditary causes, mild lateral rectus underaction or inability to compensate esotropia due to decreased divergence amplitude and fusion could be considered as the probable risk factors for acute acquired comitant esotropia in adults, although the actual etiology of this disease has not been determined.Keywords: Acquired; Esotropia; Acute; Etiology; Adult; Risk factor

Guidance for Ophthalmologists and Ophthalmology Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract

Is Noncycloplegic Photorefraction Applicable for Screening Refractive Amblyopia Risk Factors?

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of noncycloplegic photorefraction (NCP) with that of cycloplegic refraction (CR) for detecting refractive amblyopia risk factors (RARFs) and to determine cutoff points. Methods: In this diagnostic test study, right eyes of 185 children (aged 1 to 14 years) first underwent NCP using the PlusoptiX SO4 photoscreener followed by CR. Based on CR results, hyperopia (≥ +3.5 D), myopia (≥ -3 D), astigmatism (≥ 1.5 D), and anisometropia (≥ 1.5 D) were set as diagnostic criteria based on AAPOS guidelines. The difference in the detection of RARFs by the two methods was the main outcome measure. Results: RARFs were present in 57 (30.8%) and 52 (28.1%) of cases by CR and NCP, respectively, with an 89.7% agreement. In contrast to myopia and astigmatism, mean spherical power in hyperopic eyes was significantly different based on the two methods (P < 0.001), being higher with CR (+5.96 ± 2.13 D) as compared to NCP (+2.37 ± 1.36 D). Considering CR as the gold standard, specificities for NCP exceeded 93% and sensitivities were also acceptable (≥ 83%) for myopia and astigmatism. Nevertheless, sensitivity of NCP for detecting hyperopia was only 45.4%. Using a cutoff point of +1.87 D, instead of +3.5 D, for hyperopia, sensitivity of NCP was increased to 81.8% with specificity of 84%. Conclusion: NCP is a relatively accurate method for detecting RARFs in myopia and astigmatism. Using an alternative cutoff point in this study, NCP may be considered an acceptable device for detecting hyperopia as well

Essays on Brand Trust

Brand Trust is defined as the “willingness of the average consumer to rely on the ability of the brand to perform its stated function” (Chaudhuri and Holbrook 2001, p. 82). Trust plays a key role in brand success by lowering customers’ purchase risk and easing their decision making. Despite the importance of brand trust, industry reports indicate alarming decline in consumer trust in brands across the world. For example, Young & Rubicam (2011) reported that the percentage of brands that customers trusted dropped from 49% in 2001 to 25% in 2010. In the meantime, despite growing managerial interest in brand trust, marketing literature lacks generalizable insights regarding antecedents and consequences of brand trust. Specifically, there is need for research to investigate the impact of marketing activities on brand trust, the implications and consequences of brand trust (and violation of brand trust), and the characteristics that explain the heterogeneity in relationships between brand trust and related concepts. I address these issues in three studies. In the first study, I examine the relationship between five marketing mix instruments (advertising, new product introduction, distribution, price, price promotion) and brand trust. Using a unique dataset that combines consumer surveys and scanner panel data on 589 leading national brands in 46 CPG categories across 13 countries, I also examine category and country level characteristics that moderate the relationships between marketing mix activities and brand trust. In the second study of this dissertation, I examine the dynamics of the most important consequence of brand trust – i.e., brand equity – and the impact of economic business cycles on brand equity. Moreover, I study category and brand level moderators that safeguard brand equity against macroeconomic fluctuations. In doing so, I use monthly data on 150 leading CPG brands in 36 categories across 17 years. In the final study, I investigate violation of brand trust. In doing so, I examine 143 product recalls in 12 European countries and focus on the impact of price promotions. Additionally, I study recall, category, and country level characteristics that explain the heterogeneity in post-recall performance and price promotion effectiveness.Doctor of Philosoph

Long-term visual outcome of congenital cataract at a Tertiary Referral Center from 2004 to 2014

AbstractPurposeTo assess the long-term visual acuity (VA) outcome after congenital cataract surgery at Imam Hossein Medical Center (Tertiary Referral Center) (2004–2014).MethodsIn this descriptive study, records of 120 patients with a history of congenital cataract surgery were studied. Those with traumatic, metabolic cataract, aged <5 years at the last visit who were not able to respond VA testing accurately and follow-up < 6 months were excluded. Cases with incomplete files were recalled and reexamined. Finally, the records of 42 patients (71 eyes) were included.ResultsIn this study, 20 males and 22 females with a mean age of 11.80 ± 6 years at their last visit were studied. Bilateral and unilateral cataract was seen in 69% and 31% of cases, respectively. Posterior and anterior subcapsular opacity was the most common (53.70%) and rarest (1.90%) type of congenital cataract, respectively. The mean age at the time of operation and surgical interval was 65 ± 66.6 (range: 1–200) and 12.9 ± 23.5 (range: 0–96) months, respectively. The most common method of refractive error correction was pseudophakia plus glasses (56.3%) with the mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.29 ± 0.28 LogMAR., The mean BCVA was 0.7 ± 0.53 LogMAR for aphakic patients correcting by glasses. In our study, amblyopia (56%), glaucoma (23.90%), and posterior capsular opacity (16.40%) were observed during their follow-ups on an average of 76 ± 65 months (median: 60, range: 6–240). Unilateral cataract, aphakia, nystagmus, female gender, and strabismus were risk factors of VA loss.ConclusionBased on our results, 56% of cases showed amblyopia. It could be due to late operation (especially in unilateral cases), longer surgical interval between two eyes, and no compliance of amblyopia therapy. Early detection through screening may reduce the rate of amblyopia. Refractive errors, visual acuity, amblyopia, glaucoma, posterior capsular opacity, and compliance of amblyopia therapy should be checked regularly at follow-up visits

Amblyopia Treatment Knowledge Cognition of Iranian Practitioners in 2012.

Background: Amblyopia is considered as one of the most prevalent vision problems in pediatrics age (1-5%). Recently, new methods in amblyopia treatment were reported in Amblyopia Treatment Study (ATS’).The objective of this study was to recognize amblyopia treatment knowledge of Iranian ophthalmologists and optometrists which are responsible for amblyopia treatment in our and other countries.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed during the Iranian Society of Ophthalmology annual meeting in Tehran in 2012 through questionnaire containing demographic information and 20 closed-answer questions based on ATS results. The questions were classified into seven categories and the sum of correct scores was 100. Optometrists and pediatric ophthalmologists were considered as the group 1 (153 participants), other practitioners (general ophthalmologists and other subspecialists) were regarded as the group 2 (256 participants). Criteria for inadequate, fair and good knowledge were considered by scores of &lt; 50, 50 to 70, and &gt;70 respectively.Results: Overall, 409 out of a total of 600 questionnaires were completed (response rate: 68.1%).  Mean scores of the group 1 were significantly higher than the group 2 in all 7 categories of questions and in 5 of them the differences were statistically significant. The worst and best scores were related to prescription of atropine (12%) and visual acuity improvement with glasses alone (93%), respectively. Scores for other questions were about 50%. There was no relationship between practice status and the number of referral amblyopic cases per week with the level of knowledge. In all categories except prescription of Atropine and recurrence, mean scores of females were more than the male participants.Conclusion: knowledge about amblyopia therapy seems to be overall inadequate and should be improved by more education. We suggest paying more attention to new modified methods of amblyopia treatment and increased discussion of such method in annual and CME meetings