Diagnostic assessment of glaucoma and non-glaucomatous optic neuropathies via optical texture analysis of the retinal nerve fibre layer

The clinical diagnostic evaluation of optic neuropathies relies on the analysis of the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, false positives and false negatives in the detection of RNFL abnormalities are common. Here we show that an algorithm integrating measurements of RNFL thickness and reflectance from standard wide-field OCT scans can be used to uncover the trajectories and optical texture of individual axonal fibre bundles in the retina and to discern distinctive patterns of loss of axonal fibre bundles in glaucoma, compressive optic neuropathy, optic neuritis and non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Such optical texture analysis can detect focal RNFL defects in early optic neuropathy, as well as residual axonal fibre bundles in end-stage optic neuropathy that were indiscernible by conventional OCT analysis and by red-free RNFL photography. In a diagnostic-performance study, optical texture analysis of the RNFL outperformed conventional OCT in the detection of glaucoma, as defined by visual-field testing or red-free photography. Our findings show that optical texture analysis of the RNFL for the detection of optic neuropathies is highly sensitive and specific

Effect of prenatal maternal depression on early speech sound acquisition: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: Speech sound disorders (SSD) are the most prevalent childhood communication disorders. Many cases of SSD have an unknown origin. The study investigated the effect of prenatal maternal depression on the offspring's speech sound production. METHOD: Data from 26 mother–child dyads were included in the study. Prenatal maternal depression was assessed by a validated questionnaire during the third trimester of pregnancy. Speech sound production ability was assessed in terms of the number of atypical (non-developmental) speech errors produced in a standardized speech assessment when the children were 2-years-old. RESULTS: Six of the mothers’ questionnaires suggested depression, whereas 20 were within normal limits. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that prenatal depression uniquely accounted for 30.8% of the variance in speech sound acquisition after controlling for the child's sex and postnatal maternal depression level. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal prenatal depression was significantly associated with more atypical speech errors in the offspring at 2 years. The current findings contribute to understanding the etiology of SSD with unknown origin. At a clinical level, prenatal depression could be taken as a risk factor for SSD

Dynamic analysis of dark-light changes of the anterior chamber angle with anterior segment OCT

PURPOSE. To describe the use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) in studying the dynamic dark-light changes of the anterior chamber angle. METHODS. Thirty-seven normal subjects with open angles on dark-room gonioscopy and 18 subjects with narrow angles were analyzed. The dynamic dark-light changes of the anterior-chamber angle were captured with real-time video recording. The angle opening distance (AOD500) and trabecular iris space area (TISA500) of the nasal angle and the pupil diameter in each of the representative serial images were measured. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between AOD500/TISA500 and pupil diameter. Demographic and biometry measurements associated with the AOD difference (AOD500 (light) - AOD500 (dark)) and TISA difference (TISA500 (light) - TISA500 (dark)) were analyzed with univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS. The AOD500/TLSA500 measured in the light in the open-angle and the narrow-angle groups were 694 ± 330 μm/0.24 ± 0.10 mm 2 and 265 ±78 μm/0.10 ± 0.03 mm 2, respectively. These values were significantly greater than the AOD500/TISA500 measured in the dark (492 ± 265 μm/0.16 ± 0.08 mm 2 and 119 ± 82 μm/0.05 ± 0.04 mm 2, respectively, all with P < 0.001). The ranges of the AOD/TISA difference were 13 to 817 μm/0.011 to 0.154 mm 2, with an average of 180 μm/0.073 mm 2. Multivariate regression analysis identified a positive correlation between anterior chamber depth and the AOD/TISA difference. Fifty eyes showed significant correlations between AOD/TISA and pupil diameter, whereas one eye showed no association. Four eyes in the narrow angle group developed appositional angle closure in the dark. CONCLUSIONS. The dynamic dark-light changes of the anterior chamber angle can be imaged and analyzed with anterior segment OCT. Although the angle width generally decreased linearly with increasing pupil diameter, the differences of the angle width measured in the dark and in the light varied substantially among individuals. Copyright © Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

High prevalence and mechanism associated with extended spectrum beta-lactamase-positive phenotype in Laribacter hongkongensis

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