The Relative Odds of Progressing by Structural and Functional Tests in Glaucoma.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of disease severity and number of tests acquired during follow-up on the relative odds of identifying progression by structural or functional tests in glaucoma.MethodsThis was an observational cohort study involving 462 eyes of 305 patients with glaucoma and 62 eyes of 49 healthy subjects. Glaucoma patients and healthy subjects were followed for an average of 3.6 ± 0.9 and 3.8 ± 0.9 years, with a median (interquantile range) of 8 (6-9) and 7 (6-8) visits, respectively. At each visit, subjects underwent visual field assessment with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) evaluation by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Slopes of change in SAP mean sensitivity and OCT RNFL thickness over time were estimated by linear regression using progressively cumulative visits over time. Cutoff values for age-related expected rates of change for each test were obtained from the healthy group. Progression by SD-OCT and/or SAP was determined if the slope of change was statistically significant and also lower (faster) than the fifth percentile cutoff calculated from the healthy group. A generalized estimating equation logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relative odds of progressing by OCT versus SAP in glaucoma eyes.ResultsEyes with less severe disease at baseline had a higher chance of being detected as progressing by SD-OCT but not by SAP, whereas an increase in disease severity at baseline increased the chance that the eye would be detected as progressing by SAP but not SD-OCT. Each 1 dB higher MD was associated with a 5% increase in the odds of detecting progression by SD-OCT versus SAP (odds ratio = 1.05 per 1 dB; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.09; P = 0.005).ConclusionsThe ability to detect glaucoma progression by SAP versus SD-OCT is significantly influenced by the stage of disease. Our results may provide useful information for guiding clinicians on the relative utility of these tests for detecting change throughout the disease continuum

Asymptotic stress field of a mode III crack growing along an elastic/elastic power-law creeping bimaterial interface

The asymptotic stress field near the tip of a crack subjected to antiplane shear loading is analysed. The crack is growing quasi-statically along an elastic/elastic power-law creeping bimaterial interface. We find there is a separable solution with the following characteristics: for n < 3, where n is the power-law creeping exponent, the asymptotic stress field is dominated by the elastic strain rates and has an inverse square root singularity, r~" 2 , where r is the distance from the current crack tip. For n > 3, the near-tip stress and strain fields has a singularity of the form r ~ ;/<n~;> . The strength of this field is completely specified by the current crack growth rate, besides material properties, and is otherwise independent of the applied load and of the prior crack growth history

Ciprofloxacin Intercalated with ZnO to Produce a Nanohybrid Used as a Delivery Machine

Ciprofloxacin (Cip) with zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH) as the precursors nanohybrid (CipN) was synthesized under an aqueous environment. The synthesis, bioactivity and the anti-bacterial activity of CipN nanoparticles has been evaluated against a wide variety of bacterial strains such as staphylococcus, streptococci, E. coli and hellcobacter. The anti-bacterial activity of CipN has a highly safe compound and may be considered for combination therapy against many bacterial strains, due to its potential synergistic effect with important antibiotics. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the basal spacing of the nanohybrid was 2.5nm, resulting in the spatial orientation of Cip molecules between the interlayers of ZnO oriented with the direction of the z-axis. SEM images indicate the confirmations of the success of the intercalations. The AFE (Atomic Forcing Electrons) shows the average size of particles found was 86nm. The FTIR study showed that the intercalated CipN spectral feature is generally similar to that of the Cip free molecule, but with bands slightly shifted. This indicates that some chemical bonding of Cip presence between the nanohybrid interlayers was slightly changed due to the formation of host–guest interaction. The nanohybrid is of mesopores type with 54.5% drug loading and enhanced thermal stability. The drug CipN nanohybrid was found to be sustained and therefore has good potential to be used as a nanohybrid drug which is more effective than the free one. The vitro bioassay study showed that the CipN has a mild effect on the hepatocyte cells, more than its counterpart, free Cip. Keywords: ZnO; nano materials; antimicrobial activity; intercalations

Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Therapy in the Arab World: A New Model of Advanced Practice

This study aimed at suggesting a new model for advanced practice in the diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy in the Arab World by presenting a comparative study between the different medical imaging techniques, the concepts, benefits, risks and medical applications of these techniques has been presented with details. Attempting For building a new model of advanced practice for the diagnostic role of  imaging and radiation therapy in the Arab World; by analyzing the current status of the imaging and radiation therapy in the Arab World, and then surveying the different medical imaging techniques. Then  to suggest a model of best practices upon the outcomes of the study

Asymmetric Macular Structural Damage Is Associated With Relative Afferent Pupillary Defects in Patients With Glaucoma

PURPOSE. We examined the relationship between relative afferent pupillary defects (RAPDs) and macular structural damage measured by macular thickness and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness in patients with glaucoma. METHODS. A cross-sectional study was done of 106 glaucoma patients and 85 healthy individuals from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. All subjects underwent standard automated perimetry (SAP) and optic nerve and macular imaging using Cirrus Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT). Glaucoma was defined as repeatable abnormal SAP or progressive glaucomatous changes on stereo photographs. Pupil responses were assessed using an automated pupillometer, which records the magnitude of RAPD (RAPD score), with additional RAPD scores recorded for each of a series of colored stimuli (blue, red, green, and yellow). The relationship between RAPD score and intereye differences (right minus left eye) in circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness, mGCIPL, macular thickness, and SAP mean deviation (MD), was examined using linear regression. RESULTS. There was fair correlation between RAPD score and asymmetric macular structural damage measured by intereye difference in mGCIPL thickness (R-2 = 0.285, P < 0.001). The relationship between RAPD score and intereye difference in macular thickness was weaker (R-2 = 0.167, P < 0.001). Intereye difference in cpRNFL thickness (R-2 = 0.350, P < 0.001) and SAP MD (R-2 = 0.594, P < 0.001) had stronger association with RAPD scores compared to intereye difference in mGCIPL and macular thickness. CONCLUSIONS. Objective assessment of pupillary responses using a pupillometer was associated with asymmetric macular structural damage in patients with glaucoma.National Institutes of Health/National Eye InstituteResearch to Prevent Blindness (New York, NY, USA)AlconAllerganPfizerMerckSantenBrazilian National Research Council-CAPESUniv Calif San Diego, Hamilton Glaucoma Ctr, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Calif San Diego, Dept Ophthalmol, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavil, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, Midlothian, ScotlandUniv Edinburgh, Dept Ophthalmol, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, Midlothian, ScotlandUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, Sao Paulo, BrazilNIH/NEI: EY021818NIH/NEI: EY11008NIH/NEI: EY14267NIH/NEI: EY019869NIH/NEI: P30EY022589CAPES: 12309-13-3Web of Scienc

Comparison of Multilocus Sequence Analysis and Virulence Genotyping of Escherichia coli from Live Birds, Retail Poultry Meat, and Human Extraintestinal Infection

the Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons The complete bibliographic information for this item can be found a

Epidemiology and natural history of central venous access device use and infusion pump function in the NO16966 trial

Background: Central venous access devices in fluoropyrimidine therapy are associated with complications; however, reliable data are lacking regarding their natural history, associated complications and infusion pump performance in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods: We assessed device placement, use during treatment, associated clinical outcomes and infusion pump perfomance in the NO16966 trial.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results: Device replacement was more common with FOLFOX-4 (5-fluorouracil (5-FU)+oxaliplatin) than XELOX (capecitabine+oxaliplatin) (14.1% vs 5.1%). Baseline device-associated events and post-baseline removal-/placement-related events occurred more frequently with FOLFOX-4 than XELOX (11.5% vs 2.4% and 8.5% vs 2.1%). Pump malfunctions, primarily infusion accelerations in 16% of patients, occurred within 1.6–4.3% of cycles. Fluoropyrimidine-associated grade 3/4 toxicity was increased in FOLFOX-4-treated patients experiencing a malfunction compared with those who did not (97 out of 155 vs 452 out of 825 patients), predominantly with increased grade 3/4 neutropenia (53.5% vs 39.8%). Febrile neutropenia rates were comparable between patient cohorts±malfunction. Efficacy outcomes were similar in patient cohorts±malfunction.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions: Central venous access device removal or replacement was common and more frequent in patients receiving FOLFOX-4. Pump malfunctions were also common and were associated with increased rates of grade 3/4 haematological adverse events. Oral fluoropyrimidine-based regimens may be preferable to infusional 5-FU based on these findings

A guided tour of asynchronous cellular automata

Research on asynchronous cellular automata has received a great amount of attention these last years and has turned to a thriving field. We survey the recent research that has been carried out on this topic and present a wide state of the art where computing and modelling issues are both represented.Comment: To appear in the Journal of Cellular Automat