Vision Impairment and Blindness in New Brunswick Nursing Homes

A vision assessment program carried out in all nursing homes examined 89.3 percent of all residents. Results provide documentation of vision loss and blindness in the sample. The data show increasing levels of vision loss and blindness with age. This study documents the contribution of such impairment to increasing levels of supervision and nursing care. It is also evident that increasing vision loss reduces mobility, thus limiting the range of physical and intellectual activities of aged persons. The major contributory factors to vision impairment are ocular and systemic diseases. The prevalence of these conditions is established. A need is demon­strated for provision of vision care in nursing homes. The study suggests that the application of available technology for vision assessment and remediation could restore or improve the visual capability of a substantial number of persons suffering from vision impairment or blindness. The presence of age related increases in intraocular pressure and previously undetected glaucoma offers preventive opportunity

Birth Outcomes in Relation to Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Stress in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous chemicals associated with risk of adverse birth outcomes. Results of previous studies have been inconsistent. Associations between PFAS and birth outcomes may be affected by psychosocial stress. OBJECTIVES: We estimated risk of adverse birth outcomes in relation to prenatal PFAS concentrations and evaluate whether maternal stress modifies those relationships. METHODS: We included 3,339 participants from 11 prospective prenatal cohorts in the Environmental influences on the Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program to estimate the associations of five PFAS and birth outcomes. We stratified by perceived stress scale scores to examine effect modification and used Bayesian Weighted Sums to estimate mixtures of PFAS. RESULTS: We observed reduced birth size with increased concentrations of all PFAS. For a 1-unit higher log-normalized exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), we observed lower birthweight-for-gestational-age z-scores of formula presented [95% confidence interval (CI): formula presented ], formula presented (95% CI: formula presented ), formula presented (95% CI: formula presented ), formula presented (95% CI: formula presented , 0.06), and formula presented (95% CI: formula presented ), respectively. We observed a lower odds ratio (OR) for large-for-gestational-age: formula presented (95% CI: 0.38, 0.83), formula presented (95% CI: 0.35, 0.77). For a 1-unit increase in log-normalized concentration of summed PFAS, we observed a lower birthweight-for-gestational-age z-score [formula presented ; 95% highest posterior density (HPD): formula presented ] and decreased odds of large-for-gestational-age (formula presented ; 95% HPD: 0.29, 0.82). Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) explained the highest percentage (40%) of the summed effect in both models. Associations were not modified by maternal perceived stress. DISCUSSION: Our large, multi-cohort study of PFAS and adverse birth outcomes found a negative association between prenatal PFAS and birthweight-for-gestational-age, and the associations were not different in groups with high vs. low perceived stress. This study can help inform policy to reduce exposures in the environment and humans. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10723

Outcomes of the Application of the Optometrists Role as Primary Health Care Workers

By education, training, and in many jurisdictions by statutory provi­sion, optometrists play a comprehen­sive role as primary health care providers. The widespread distribu­tion of optometrists in North Amer­ica and other highly developed coun­tries contribute to their ability to apply this role. Experience within service programs of the School of Optometry of the University of Wa­terloo show the role is also applicable to such diverse remote and under­developed regions as the Canadian North and various Caribbean and African countries. The high preva­lence of visual anomalies among those who are healthy and an in­creased prevalence of such anoma­lies as well as impaired visual func­tion among those in ill health result in optometrical practices being primary points of entry to the health system. The optometrist thus has considera­ble opportunity for health education, health surveillance, health mainte­nance, as well as the application of specific optometrical therapies. Documentation of optometrical activities in various service programs of the School of Optometry directed toward general and specific segments of the Canadian population demon­strate the effectiveness of this role in both rural and urban settings. The paper cites the results of the application of the Primary Health Care role with data drawn from gen­eral populations in Canada and such specific underserviced populations as the institutionalized aged, the men­tally retarded, preschool children, Canadian Eskimo, as well as small isolated Northern Ontario Communities

Control of Glare for VDT Operators: Evaluation of Different Lenses by Subjects

The widespread use of video display terminals (VDTs) in offices has been accompanied by many complaints of visual problems. A recent study by the Canadian Labour Congress on vision problems among 2,300 office workers showed that VDT operators report twice as many vision problems and require more frequent changes in lens prescription. Visual complaints have stimulated research into new means of relieving the discomfort experienced by VDT operators

GENOMIC SIGNATURES OF TYPE-2 INFLAMMATION IN COPD

Pathogenesis and treatment of chronic pulmonary disease