A five-year retrospective study of the epidemiological characteristics and visual outcomes of patients hospitalized for ocular trauma in a Mediterranean area

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine the epidemiological characteristics and visual outcome of ocular trauma in southern Italy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All cases of ocular trauma admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of Palermo University, Italy, from January 2001–December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed for open- or closed-globe injury (OGI or CGI). Data extracted included age, sex, residence, initial and final visual acuity (VA), cause and treatment of injury, hospitalization. The injuries were classified by Ocular Trauma Classification System (OTCS) and Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT). We also referred to the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) in evaluating the final visual outcome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 298 eyes, there were 146 OGI and 152 CGI. Fifty eyes (16.8%) had an intraocular foreign body (IOFB). The annual incidence of eye injuries was 4.9 per 100,000. Most injuries occurred in men (84.6%, p < 0.0005), with an average age of 33.0 vs. 49.9 for women (p = 0.005). Cause of injury differed significantly by gender (p = 0.001) and urban vs. rural location (p = 0.009). The most frequent causes in men were outdoor activities related injuries (30.9%), work-related (25.4%), and sport-related (17.5%), and in women were home-related (52.2%) and outdoor activities related injuries (30.4%). In urban areas, road accidents were more frequent; in rural areas, work-related injuries were more frequent with a greater rate of IOFBs than in urban areas (p = 0.002).</p> <p>The incidence of OGI and CGI differed in work-related injuries (p < 0.0005), sport-related injuries (p < 0.0005), and assaults (p = 0.033). The final visual acuity was 20/40 (6/12) or better in 144 eyes (48.3%), 20/40–20/200 (6/12–6/60) in 90 eyes (30.2%), and <20/200 (6/60) or less in 46 eyes (15.5%). Eighteen eyes (6%) had a final acuity of no light perception. Of those eyes that presented with hand motion vision or better, 220 (86.6%) had a final vision of better than 20/200 (6/60). Initial visual acuity was found to be correlated with final visual acuity (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.658; p < 0.001). The likelihood of the final visual acuities in the OTS categories was correlated to that of the OTS study group in 12 of 14 cases (85.7%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This analysis provides insight into the epidemiology of patients hospitalized for ocular trauma. The findings indicate that ocular trauma is a significant cause of visual loss in this population.</p

Global importance of large-diameter trees

Aim: To examine the contribution of large‐diameter trees to biomass, stand structure, and species richness across forest biomes. Location: Global. Time period: Early 21st century. Major taxa studied: Woody plants. Methods: We examined the contribution of large trees to forest density, richness and biomass using a global network of 48 large (from 2 to 60 ha) forest plots representing 5,601,473 stems across 9,298 species and 210 plant families. This contribution was assessed using three metrics: the largest 1% of trees ≥ 1 cm diameter at breast height (DBH), all trees ≥ 60 cm DBH, and those rank‐ordered largest trees that cumulatively comprise 50% of forest biomass. Results: Averaged across these 48 forest plots, the largest 1% of trees ≥ 1 cm DBH comprised 50% of aboveground live biomass, with hectare‐scale standard deviation of 26%. Trees ≥ 60 cm DBH comprised 41% of aboveground live tree biomass. The size of the largest trees correlated with total forest biomass (r2 = .62, p < .001). Large‐diameter trees in high biomass forests represented far fewer species relative to overall forest richness (r2 = .45, p < .001). Forests with more diverse large‐diameter tree communities were comprised of smaller trees (r2 = .33, p < .001). Lower large‐diameter richness was associated with large‐diameter trees being individuals of more common species (r2 = .17, p = .002). The concentration of biomass in the largest 1% of trees declined with increasing absolute latitude (r2 = .46, p < .001), as did forest density (r2 = .31, p < .001). Forest structural complexity increased with increasing absolute latitude (r2 = .26, p < .001). Main conclusions: Because large‐diameter trees constitute roughly half of the mature forest biomass worldwide, their dynamics and sensitivities to environmental change represent potentially large controls on global forest carbon cycling. We recommend managing forests for conservation of existing large‐diameter trees or those that can soon reach large diameters as a simple way to conserve and potentially enhance ecosystem services

The importance of personal documentation for patients living with long‐term illness symptoms after pituitary surgery: A Constructivist Grounded Theory study

Abstract Introduction Despite surgical treatment, pituitary adenomas often cause long‐term illness symptoms, that profoundly impact patients' quality of life physically, psychologically and socially. Healthcare professionals often fail to recognize and discuss the ensuing problems. Personal documentation, such as symptom monitoring, reflective writing or even posts on social media, may help this patient group to manage their daily life and support communication of their care needs. Documentation strategies and the role of documentation for people with long‐term symptoms after pituitary adenoma surgery are currently unknown. Aim To examine the effects and strategies of documenting symptoms, activities and physical and emotional well‐being among people living with long‐term pituitary adenoma. Methods In this Constructivist Grounded Theory study, 12 individuals living with long‐term illness symptoms after pituitary adenoma surgery described their documentation strategies in in‐depth interviews using teleconferencing and photo‐elicitation between August and October 2020. Results Strategies for documentation included analogue and digital media. One core category (Exercising autonomy) and three categories describing processes (Gaining insight, Striving for control and Sharing) emerged from the analysis. These three interrelated processes become an expression of autonomy to manage life and make sense of chronic illness. Personal documentation is a flexible tool that is used more extensively in times of ill health and less in times of relative well‐being. Sharing documentation with healthcare professionals facilitated care planning and sharing with friends and family fostered emotional well‐being. Conclusion Personal documentation is a valuable resource for managing life after pituitary adenoma surgery. The current findings may be relevant to other chronic illnesses. Further research exploring potential tools for personal documentation is needed. Patient or Public Contribution We deliberately chose a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach for this interview study. Using Constructivist Grounded Theory, we gave people living with long‐term symptoms a voice, allowing them to freely speak about managing their illness in connection with personal documentation. The theoretical sampling approach enabled us to invite participants that could provide a broad overview of the landscape of personal documentation

Data for allometric equations of Chrysolepis sempervirens, Cornus sericea, Corylus cornuta ssp. californica, and Leucothoe davisiae.

This data set includes measurements of 40 stems of Chrysolepis sempervirens (Kellogg) Hjelmq. (bush chinquapin), 41 stems of Cornus sericea L. (redosier dogwood), 50 stems of Corylus cornuta Marsh. ssp. californica (A. DC.) E. Murray, and 40 stems of Leucothoe davisiae Torrey (Sierra laurel), as reported in Lutz et al. (2014, 2017). Nomenclature follows Flora of North America (1993+)

Shrub Consumption and Immediate Changes in Shrub Community and Spatial Patterns by Reintroduced Fire in Yosemite National Park, California, USA; Supplemental Information

Fire behavior in the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot during the Rim Fire as captured by the USFS Fire Behavior Assessment Team and reported in Ewell, C., D.F. Smith, M. Hilden, S. Greene, D. Coultrap, K. Robinson, N. Vaillant, A. Reiner, T. Norman. 2015. 2013 Rim Fire Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park Fire Behavior Assessment Team Summary Report. Each video was started based on a thermocouple trigger when the fire reached it