Analysis of neuroretinal rim distribution and vascular pattern in eyes with presumed large physiological cupping: a comparative study

Background: To investigate possible differences in neuroretinal rim distribution, vascular pattern, and peripapillary region appearance between eyes with presumed large physiological optic disc cupping (pLPC) and eyes with minimal optic disc excavation.Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive subjects with pLPC and individuals with minimal excavation (optic disc excavation within normal limits; control group). All eyes had normal visual fields and untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) = 0.6 and >= 30 months of follow-up with no evidence of glaucomatous neuropathy. for controls, VCDR was limited to <= 0.5. We compared ocular signs and characteristics related to the neuroretinal rim distribution, vascular pattern, peripapillary region appearance and disc size between groups. Whenever both eyes were eligible, one was randomly selected for analysis.Results: A total of 74 patients (mean age, 45.6 +/- 14.9 years) with pLPC and 45 controls (mean age, 44.8 +/- 11.6 years) were enrolled (p = 0.76). Median disc size and VCDR was significantly larger in eyes with pLPC compared to controls (p < 0.01). the proportion of eyes with violation of the ISNT rule, laminar dot sign, nasal shifting of the central vessels, nasal excavation and baring of circumlinear vessel was significantly greater in the eyes with pLPC compared to controls (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences regarding the proportions of eyes with peripapillary atrophy between groups (p < 0.09). Finally, disc size was significantly associated with VCDR (r(2) = 0.47, p < 0.01), with an increase of 0.21 in VCDR for each 1 mm(2) in disc area.Conclusion: Compared to normal controls, eyes with pLPC may present a higher proportion of optic nerve head findings frequently observed in glaucomatous eyes. This seems to be explained in part by the larger discs found in these eyes. We believe care should be taken while classifying them as glaucomatous or not based solely on these characteristics.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Med Olhos, Glaucoma Unit, BR-06018180 Osasco, SP, BrazilMayo Clin, Dept Ophthalmol, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Multi-site clinical assessment of Complete Revitalens MPDS in 2981 contact lens wearers across Europe and USA

(MPDS), Complete Revitalens (RevitaLens OcuTec in the US Market), for soft contact lens care in a large “real practice” setting. Method: This is an international multi-center, open-label assessment carried out in 10 countries across Europe and in the USA. Up to 10 subjects who were currently wearing soft contact lenses for at least 1 year and using a MPS as a lens care system were included at each investigational site. Results: Data were collected from 996 European and 1985 American wearers, 75% of those patients wore silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Approximately 94% found the new MPDS “somewhat more effective” to “much more effective” in keeping contact lenses feeling clean and 88% found the new MPDS to be somewhat more effective to much more effective in keeping their lenses feeling comfortable in the evening. Over 93% reported an improvement in vision clearness in the evening after approximately 1 month while using the new MPDS. Wearers with grade 2, 3 or 4 of severity decreased by 11.3, 6.4 and 9.8% over 1 month period for redness, burning and irritation, respectively. After approximately 1 month 83% of wearers declared that they would prefer to use the new MPDS. Conclusions: Over 88% felt their lenses were somewhat to much more comfortable at the end-of-day and 94% found the new MPDS to be somewhat to much more effective in keeping their lenses feeling clean compared to their previous care system.The authors wish to thank the eye care practitioners participating in this study across Europe and USA. The D'Ellis Group for the statistical support and Rafael Guerrero and Will Heydorn from Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. for their contributions in planning and coordinating the European and American branches of the study, respectively. The authors declare no proprietary or financial interest in any of the materials mentioned in this article. This study has been sponsored by Abbott Medical Optics Inc. These results were presented to the American Academy of Optometry Boston, 12-15th, 2011

Ocular dominance and visual function testing

To show the distribution of ocular dominance as measured with sensory and eye sighting methods and its potential relationship with high and low contrast LogMAR visual acuity in presbyopic subjects. Method. Forty-four presbyopes (48.5 ± 3.5 years) participated in this study. Ocular dominance was determined by eye sighting (hole-in-card) and sensorial (+1.50 D lens induced blur) methods. According to the dominance detected with each method (RE: right eye or LE: left eye), patients were classified in dominance type 1 (RE/RE), type 2 (RE/LE), type 3 (LE/RE) and type 4 (LE/LE). Results. Baseline refractive error (MSE) was RE:−0.36 ± 1.67 D and LE:−0.35 ± 1.85 D (P= 0.930). RE was the dominant eye in 61.4% and 70.5% of times as obtained from sensorial and sighting methods, respectively. Most frequent dominance was of type 1 (52.3%), in this case the RE showed statistically significant better distance low contrast LogMAR VA (0.04 LogMAR units) compared to the LE (P < 0.05 ). Conclusions. The dominance was more frequent in RE in this sample. The eye sighting and sensorial methods to define ocular dominance agreed in more than half of cases. Amount of MSE was not significantly different between dominant and non-dominant eye. But in case of right dominance, the RE presented better distance low contrast VA compared to the LE.Purpose. To show the distribution of ocular dominance as measured with sensory and eye sighting methods and its potential relationship with high and low contrast LogMAR visual acuity in presbyopic subjects. Method. Forty-four presbyopes (48.5 +/- 3.5 years) participated in this study. Ocular dominance was determined by eye sighting (hole-in-card) and sensorial (+1.50D lens induced blur) methods. According to the dominance detected with each method (RE: right eye or LE: left eye), patients were classified in dominance type 1 (RE/RE), type 2 (RE/LE), type 3 (LE/RE) and type 4 (LE/LE). Results. Baseline refractive error (MSE) was RE:-0.36 +/- 1.67D and LE:-0.35 +/- 1.85D (P = 0.930). RE was the dominant eye in 61.4% and 70.5% of times as obtained from sensorial and sighting methods, respectively. Most frequent dominance was of type 1 (52.3%), in this case the RE showed statistically significant better distance low contrast LogMAR VA (0.04 LogMAR units) compared to the LE (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The dominance was more frequent in RE in this sample. The eye sighting and sensorial methods to define ocular dominance agreed in more than half of cases. Amount of MSE was not significantly different between dominant and non-dominant eye. But in case of right dominance, the RE presented better distance low contrast VA compared to the LE.Present study has been supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) under Contract PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008. The authors declare that they do not have any proprietary or financial interests in any of the materials mentioned in this paper. The present work has been presented in part at the 8th International Conference of Optometry (CIOCV'2011) at University of Minho (9-10 April, Braga, Portugal)

Radiometric characterization of a novel LED array system for visual assessment

Light that enters the eye can be distorted due to several factors leading to a poor visual performance. The purpose of this paper is to describe and characterize the light-emitting diode (LED) display system to be used in a new device to assess visual quality under high glare conditions. The device has a central white LED and surrounding white LEDs distributed in a radial manner. Each LED is controlled independently using special designed software. The spectral power distribution and color of the LEDs were assessed at different voltage intensities to test the response in terms of output luminance and spectral distribution. It was found that the typical maximum luminance was about 2800 cd/m2 and 6 cd/m2 for the central and surrounding LEDs, respectively. Their color was found to be within the ΔE⁄ ab range of 2.6 and 0.23, respectively, if the minimum and maximum intensities are considered. The characterization of this device was proved successfully, which might indicate its usefulness in future visual assessments.This study has been funded by FEDER through the COMPTETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of projects PTDC/SAU-BEB/098391/2008, PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008 and the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011

In Vitro Hepatotoxic and Neurotoxic Effects of Titanium and Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles, Arsenic and Mercury Co-Exposure

This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Nanomaterials and Legacy Contaminants: Risks to the Environment and Human Health.Considering the increasing emergence of new contaminants, such as nanomaterials, mixing with legacy contaminants, including metal(loid)s, it becomes imperative to understand the toxic profile resulting from these interactions. This work aimed at assessing and comparing the individual and combined hepatotoxic and neurotoxic potential of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs 0.75-75 mg/L), cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs 0.075-10 μg/L), arsenic (As 0.01-2.5 mg/L), and mercury (Hg 0.5-100 mg/L) on human hepatoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. Viability was assessed through WST-1 (24 h) and clonogenic (7 days) assays and it was affected in a dose-, time- and cell-dependent manner. Higher concentrations caused greater toxicity, while prolonged exposure caused inhibition of cell proliferation, even at low concentrations, for both cell lines. Cell cycle progression, explored by flow cytometry 24 h post-exposure, revealed that TiO2NPs, As and Hg but not CeO2NPs, changed the profiles of SH-SY5Y and HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and that the cell cycle was, overall, more affected by exposure to mixtures. Exposure to binary mixtures revealed either potentiation or antagonistic effects depending on the composition, cell type and time of exposure. These findings prove that joint toxicity of contaminants cannot be disregarded and must be further explored.This research was funded by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), and by Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the framework of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029651. This work was also financed by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of projects UIDB/04750/2020 and LA/P/0064/2020. This work was also developed within the scope of the project CICECO- Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020 & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC (PIDDAC). A.T. Reis thanks the financial support of FCT through individual Grant SFRH/BPD/122112/2016. C.B. Lopes and A.C. Estrada acknowledge their research position funded by national funds (OE), through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reliability of manual segmentation of cornea, contact lens and tear film using a high-resolution OCT

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the intra/inter-session and intra/inter-observer variability of manual segmentation of thickness of the pre-lens tear film, contact lens (CL), post-lens tear film, epithelium, bowman’s layer, stroma and the whole cornea and CLs with a flat and a steep fit, using a commercial high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomographer (OCT). Two different observers obtained three repeated measures in two separate sessions. A high correlation was found between the values obtained by the two different observers, except for the thinner layers, epithelium, and Bowman’s layer. Inter-observer analysis showed a high consistency in the measurements obtained by both observers (r 2 ≥ 0.80; p < 0.001) for the thicker layers: CL, stroma, and total cornea. Intra-observer analysis of measurements obtained by each observer within the same session displayed no statistically significant differences between the three repeated measures for both observers (p > 0.05). The present results suggest that manual segmentation of anterior segment OCT images in CL wearers provides acceptable levels of repeatability between observers and between different sessions for the thinner layers, while presenting a high level of repeatability for the thicker layers.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011. Supported in part by research grants to A. Cervino from the Universitat de Valencia (UV-AE-20070225), the "Jose Castillejo" Research Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (JC2008-00078) and the Spanish Network for Research in Optometry (SAF2008-01114-E)

Modafinil induces rapid-onset behavioral sensitization and cross-sensitization with cocaine in mice: implications for the addictive potential of modafinil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)There is substantial controversy about the addictive potential of modafinil, a wake promoting drug used to treat narcolepsy, proposed as pharmacotherapy for cocaine abuse, and used indiscriminately by healthy individuals due to its positive effects on arousal and cognition. The rapid-onset type of behavioral sensitization (i.e., a type of sensitization that develops within a few hours from the drug priming administration) has been emerged as a valuable tool to study binge-like patterns of drug abuse and the neuroplastic changes that occur quickly after drug administration that ultimately lead to drug abuse. Our aim was to investigate the possible development of rapid-onset behavioral sensitization to modafinil and bidirectional rapid-onset cross sensitization with cocaine in male Swiss mice. A priming injection of a high dose of modafinil (64 mg/kg) induced rapid-onset behavioral sensitization to challenge injections of modafinil at the doses of 16, 32, and 64 mg/kg, administered 4 h later. Furthermore, rapid-onset cross-sensitization was developed between modafinil and cocaine (64 mg/kg modafinil and 20 mg/kg cocaine), in a bidirectional way. These results were not due to residual levels of modafinil as the behavioral effects of the priming injection of modafinil were no longer present and modafinil plasma concentration was reduced at 4 h post-administration. Taken together, the present findings provide preclinical evidence that modafinil can be reinforcing per se and can enhance the reinforcing effects of stimulants like cocaine within hours after administration.There is substantial controversy about the addictive potential of modafinil, a wake promoting drug used to treat narcolepsy, proposed as pharmacotherapy for cocaine abuse, and used indiscriminately by healthy individuals due to its positive effects on aro7FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)2014/24277-4sem informaçãosem informaçã

Mecanismos de fechamento angular sem bloqueio pupilar: análise de prevalência e resultados terapêuticos

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and treatment outcomes of angle-closure mechanisms other than pupillary block in a population of Brazilian patients.Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate patients who had undergone laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) due to occludable angles at a single institution between July 2009 and April 2012. An occludable angle was defined as an eye in which the posterior trabecular meshwork was not visible for >= 180 degrees on dark-room gonioscopy. Key exclusion criteria were any form of secondary glaucoma and the presence of >90 degrees of peripheral anterior synechiae. Collected data were age, race, gender, angle-closure mechanism (based on indentation goniocopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy), intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications and subsequent management during follow-up. If both eyes were eligible, the right eye was arbitrarily selected for analysis.Results: A total of 196 eyes of 196 consecutive patients (mean age 58.3 +/- 11.6 years) who underwent LPI were included. in most of the patients [86% (169 patients; 133 women and 36 men]), LPI sucessfully opened the angle. Mean IOP was reduced from 18.3 +/- 6.4 mmHg to 15.4 +/- 4.5 mmHg after LPI (p<0.01). Among the 27 patients with persistent occludable angles, the most common underlying mechanisms were plateau iris (56%) and lens-induced component (34%). Most of these patients (85%) were treated with argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI); approximately 90% showed non-occludable angles following the laser procedure (mean IOP reduction of 18.9%), with no significant differences between patients with plateau iris and lens-induced components (p=0.34; mean follow-up of 11.4 +/- 3.6 months).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, in this population of Brazilian patients, several eyes with angle closure were not completely treated with LPI. in the present large case series involving middle-age patients, plateau iris was the leading cause of persistent angle closure and was effectively treated with ALPI. A detailed eye examination with indentation gonioscopy should always be performed after LPI to rule out persistent angle closure due to non-pupillary block mechanisms.Hosp Med Olhos, Glaucoma Unit, Osasco, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilMayo Clin, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

"I am your mother and your father!": In vitro derived gametes and the ethics of solo reproduction

In this paper, we will discuss the prospect of human reproduction achieved with gametes originating from only one person. According to statements by a minority of scientists working on the generation of gametes in vitro, it may become possible to create eggs from men’s non-reproductive cells and sperm from women’s. This would enable, at least in principle, the creation of an embryo from cells obtained from only one individual: ‘solo reproduction’. We will consider what might motivate people to reproduce in this way, and the implications that solo reproduction might have for ethics and policy. We suggest that such an innovation is unlikely to revolutionise reproduction and parenting. Indeed, in some respects it is less revolutionary than in vitro fertilisation as a whole. Furthermore, we show that solo reproduction with in vitro created gametes is not necessarily any more ethically problematic than gamete donation—and probably less so. Where appropriate, we draw parallels with the debate surrounding reproductive cloning. We note that solo reproduction may serve to perpetuate reductive geneticised accounts of reproduction, and that this may indeed be ethically questionable. However, in this it is not unique among other technologies of assisted reproduction, many of which focus on genetic transmission. It is for this reason that a ban on solo reproduction might be inconsistent with continuing to permit other kinds of reproduction that also bear the potential to strengthen attachment to a geneticised account of reproduction. Our claim is that there are at least as good reasons to pursue research towards enabling solo reproduction, and eventually to introduce solo reproduction as an option for fertility treatment, as there are to do so for other infertility related purposes