Multimodale Bildgebung eines retinalen Astrozyten-Hamartoms assoziert mit angeborener Hypertrophie des retinalen Pigmentepithels [Multimodal Imaging of Retinal Astrocytic Hamartoma Associated with Congenital Hypertrophy of Retinal Pigment Epithelium]

Hamartoma is a nodular malformation, with a single or multiple malformations, it is a recognized prenatal developmental abnormality. This benign tumor lesion has the same histological components of normal parenchyma, but these components are arranged haphazardly which disrupts normal function. Hamartomas usually remain connected with the tissue of origin; as is the case with pulmonary hamartoma or the splenic hamartoma. The exact incidence of retinal astrocytic hamartoma (RAH) is not well known, but it is estimated at one case per 100 000 births per year [1]. The astrocytic hamartoma is a neuroglial tissue and produces astrocytes within the optic nerve [2], and consequently it often appears within papillary region

Awareness and practices regarding eye diseases among patients with diabetes: a cross sectional analysis of the CoDiab-VD cohort.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes is leading to a rise of eye diseases, augmenting the risk of sight-threatening complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence, awareness and practices regarding eye diseases among patients with diabetes in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. A cohort of 323 patients with diabetes completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing prevalence, awareness and practices regarding eye diseases, besides health status and quality of care measures. Descriptive analyses followed by exploratory subgroup analyses and linear regressions were performed to investigate factors associated with awareness and practices. While diabetic retinopathy was reported by 40.9% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 9.8% of patients with type 2 diabetes, 35.8% and 12.6% of all participants reported cataract and glaucoma, respectively. Awareness that diabetes could damage the eyes was reported by almost all participants; the majority was also aware of the importance of glycemic control and regular eye examination in preventing eye diseases. In contrast, only 70.5% of participants underwent an eye examination by an ophthalmologist during the past year. Eye examination was associated with better patients' awareness. Barriers mentioned by patients revealed a lack of knowledge about screening guidelines, in particular regarding the preventive nature of eye examinations. Despite high levels of awareness regarding diabetic eye diseases, a significant proportion of patients with diabetes did not report annual eye examination. Both healthcare strategic efforts targeting the promotion of regular eye examination and initiatives aiming at improving knowledge of screening guidelines should be encouraged. ClinicalTrials.gov on 9th July 2013, identifier NCT01902043 (retrospectively registered)

Effects of Microwave Heating on Sensory Characteristics of Kiwifruit Puree

The effect of microwave processing on the characteristics of kiwifruit puree was evaluated by applying various gentle treatments. Different combinations of microwave power/processing time were applied, with power among 200-1,000 W and time among 60-340 s, and various sensory and instrumental measurements were performed with the aim of establishing correlations and determining which instrumental parameters were the most appropriate to control the quality of kiwi puree. The water and soluble solids of the product, 83 and 14/100 g sample, respectively, did not change due to treatments. For sensory assessment, an expert panel was previously trained to describe the product. Fourteen descriptors were defined, but only the descriptors 'typical kiwifruit colour', 'tone', 'lightness', 'visual consistency' and 'typical taste' were significant to distinguish between kiwifruit puree samples. The instrumental analysis of samples consisted in measuring consistency, viscosity, colour and physicochemical characteristics of the treated and fresh puree. Applying intense treatments (600 W-340 s, 900 W-300 s and 1,000 W-200 s) through high power or long treatment periods or a combination of these factors, mainly affects the consistency (flow distance decreased from 5. 9 to 3. 4 mm/g sample), viscosity (increased from 1. 6 to 2. 5 Pa/s), colour (maximun ¿E was 6 U) and taste of the product. As a result, samples were thicker and with an atypical flavour and kiwifruit colour due to increased clarity (L* increased from 38 to 43) and slight changes in the yellow-green hue (h* decreased from 95 to 94). For the instrumental determinations of colour and visual perception of consistency, the most suitable parameters for quality control are the colour coordinates L*, a*, h*, whiteness index and flow distance measured with a Bostwick consistometer. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.The authors thank the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia for the financial support given throughout the Project AGL 2010-22176. The authors are indebted to the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencia, Spain) for the Grant awarded to the author Maria Benlloch. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Benlloch Tinoco, M.; Varela Tomasco, PA.; Salvador Alcaraz, A.; Martínez Navarrete, N. (2012). Effects of Microwave Heating on Sensory Characteristics of Kiwifruit Puree. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 5(8):3021-3031. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-011-0652-1S3021303158Albert, A., Varela, P., Salvador, A., & Fiszman, S. M. (2009). 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Kinetic models for colour change in kiwifruit slices during Hoy Air drying. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 4(3), 376–383.Moretti, C. L., Mattos, L. M., Machado, C. M. M., & Kluge, R. A. (2007). Physiological and quality attributes associated with different centrifugation times of baby carrots. Horticultura Brasileira, 25, 557–561.Nielsen, S. S. (2010). Food analysis laboratory manual. New York: Springer.Oraguzie, N., Alspach, P., Volz, R., Whitworz, C., Ranatunga, C., Weskett, R., et al. (2009). Postharvest assessment of fruit quality parameters in apple using both instrument and an expert panel. Posthaverst Biology and Technology., 52, 279–287.Pagliarini, E., Laureati, M., & Lavelli, V. (2010). Sensory evaluation of gluten-free breads assessed by a trained panel of celiac assessors. European Food Research and Technology, 231, 37–46.Park, E. Y., & Luh, B. S. (1985). Polyphenol oxidase of kiwifruit. Journal of Food Science, 50, 678–684.Schubert, H., & Regier, M. (2010). The microwave processing of foods. London: Woodhead.Segnini, S., Dejmek, P., & Öste, R. (1999). Relationship between instrumental and sensory analysis of texture and colour of potato chips. Journal of Texture Studies, 30, 677–690.Sinija, V. R., & Mishra, H. N. (2011). Fuzzy analysis of sensory data for quality evaluation and ranking of instant green Tea powder and granules. Food Bioprocess Technology, 4, 408–416.Soufleros, E. H., Pissa, I., Petridis, D., Lygerakis, M., Mermelas, K., Boukouvalas, G., et al. (2001). Instrumental analysis of volatile and other compounds of Greek kiwi wine; sensory evaluation and optimization of its composition. Analytical, Nutritional and Clinical Methods Section, 75, 487–500.Vadivambal, R., & Jayas, D. S. (2007). Changes in quality of microwave-treated agricultural products-a review. Biosystems Engineering, 98, 1–16.Worch, T., Lê, S., & Punter, P. (2010). How reliable are the consumers? Comparison of sensory profiles from consumers and experts. Food Quality and Preference, 21, 309–318.Zanoni, B., Lavelli, V., Ambrosoli, R., Garavaglia, L., Minati, J., & Pagliarini, E. (2007). A model to predict shelf-life in air and darkness of cut, ready-to-use, fresh carrots under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Journal of Food Engineering, 79, 586–591.Zolfaghari, M., Sahari, M. A., Barzegar, M., & Samadloiy, H. (2010). Physicochemical and enzymatic properties of five kiwifruit cultivars during cold storage. Food Bioprocess Technology, 3, 239–246

Controle alternativo de podridões pós‑colheita de framboesas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de tratamentos pré-colheita sobre a ocorrência de podridões pós-colheita e sobre os atributos de qualidade de framboesas (Rubus idaeus L.) 'Heritage'. As frutas foram pulverizadas com um dos seguintes tratamentos: água destilada (controle), 6 g L-1 de quitosana, 100 mg L-1 de dióxido de cloro, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Curtobacterium pusillum ou Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Foram realizadas colheitas aos 3, 7 e 14 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos. Após cada uma das colheitas, realizadas no estádio de maturação comercial (coloração rosa), as frutas foram inoculadas individualmente com suspensão de conídios (2x10(5) conídios mL-1) de Botrytis cinerea ou Rhizopus stolonifer. As frutas foram mantidas a 12±0,5ºC por sete dias e avaliadas quanto à incidência de podridões e quanto aos principais atributos de qualidade. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, C. pusillum e S. cerevisiae proporcionaram menor área abaixo da curva de progresso da incidência das podridões por Botrytis e Rhizopus. Os agentes de controle biológico avaliados não interferem negativamente sobre os atributos de qualidade das frutas, e, portanto, são alternativas potenciais no controle de podridões pós-colheita de framboesas

The management of acute venous thromboembolism in clinical practice. Results from the European PREFER in VTE Registry

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Data from real-world registries are necessary, as clinical trials do not represent the full spectrum of VTE patients seen in clinical practice. We aimed to document the epidemiology, management and outcomes of VTE using data from a large, observational database. PREFER in VTE was an international, non-interventional disease registry conducted between January 2013 and July 2015 in primary and secondary care across seven European countries. Consecutive patients with acute VTE were documented and followed up over 12 months. PREFER in VTE included 3,455 patients with a mean age of 60.8 ± 17.0 years. Overall, 53.0 % were male. The majority of patients were assessed in the hospital setting as inpatients or outpatients (78.5 %). The diagnosis was deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in 59.5 % and pulmonary embolism (PE) in 40.5 %. The most common comorbidities were the various types of cardiovascular disease (excluding hypertension; 45.5 %), hypertension (42.3 %) and dyslipidaemia (21.1 %). Following the index VTE, a large proportion of patients received initial therapy with heparin (73.2 %), almost half received a vitamin K antagonist (48.7 %) and nearly a quarter received a DOAC (24.5 %). Almost a quarter of all presentations were for recurrent VTE, with >80 % of previous episodes having occurred more than 12 months prior to baseline. In conclusion, PREFER in VTE has provided contemporary insights into VTE patients and their real-world management, including their baseline characteristics, risk factors, disease history, symptoms and signs, initial therapy and outcomes

Strabisme et syndrome de Williams-Beuren. Présentation de trois cas opérés [Strabismus and Williams-Beuren syndrome. Presentation of 3 operated cases]

BACKGROUND: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a developmental disorder of unknown etiology. The classical features include: 1) a supravalvular aortic stenosis, 2) "elfin" facies and 3) mental deficiency. Ocular findings can be irisabnormalities (stellate, pattern), tortuositas vasorum and, though not essential for diagnosis, strabismus is commonly found. Three cases of WBS with convergent squint which underwent surgical treatment are presented. Biopsy and histological studies were performed in two cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Strabismus onset was diagnosed before the second year of life in all three. Pre-operative esotropia (ET) was 45, 40 and 62 delta. Age at operation was respectively 52,67 and 87 months. Surgical treatment consisted in recess-resect procedures on horizontal muscles. Biopsy was performed in two cases. RESULTS: Three months after surgery, angular measurements were respectively: exotropia (XT) 6 delta, ET 2 delta, ET 10 delta. Anatomopathological findings showed normal tendon tissue. DISCUSSION: No particular motility disturbances or pattern have been found in our patients. Amount of surgery has been chosen according to routine. Amblyopia treatment could be performed as usual. Treatment in our patients with WBS has been similar to ordinary cases of strabismus. Medium-term results do not differ from other squinting patients treated with similar procedures

Retinotomies of 180 degrees or more

PURPOSE: To investigate the anatomic and functional results of large retinotomies. METHODS: The charts of 33 consecutive patients who underwent peripheral retinotomy of 180 degrees or more and silicone oil injection during vitrectomy for retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy were reviewed. Silicone oil was removed from 26 eyes (79%), but 2 hypotonic eyes (6%) required reinjection of silicone. RESULTS: After a minimum follow-up of 6 months, the retina was completely attached in 28 eyes (85%). Twenty-eight eyes (85%) achieved a final visual acuity of 5/200 or better, and seventeen eyes (51%) achieved visual acuity of 20/200 or better. Intraocular pressure did not change significantly from the initial to the final examination. At the last follow-up, hypotony (intraocular pressure < or = 5 mmHg) was seen in 1 of the 28 eyes with reattached retina (3.6%). A new macular epiretinal membrane, related to the duration of silicone oil tamponade, developed and was peeled off in 12 eyes (36%) in an additional procedure. No association could be found between the anatomic or functional results and the extent of the retinotomy. Presented herein is the largest series of retinotomies of 180 degrees or more followed up after silicone oil removal. CONCLUSION: Large retinotomy (> or = 180 degrees) in selected cases of vitreoretinal surgery seems to be an effective procedure

Partial characterization of polyphenol oxidase activity in raspberry fruits

A partial characterization of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in raspberry fruits is described. Two early cultivars harvested in May/June (Heritage and Autumm Bliss) and two late cultivars harvested in October- November (Ceva and Rubi) were analyzed for PPO activity. Stable and highly active PPO extracts were obtained using insoluble poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and Triton X-100 in sodium phosphate, pH 7.0 buffer. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of raspberry extracts under nondenaturing conditions resolved in one band (R(fl) = 0.25). Raspberry PPO activity has pH optima of 8.0 and 5.5, both with catechol (0.1 M). Maximum activity was with D-catechin (catecholase activity). followed by p-coumaric acid (cresolase activity). Heritage raspberry also showed PPO activity toward 4-methylcatechol. Ceva and Autumm Bliss raspberries showed the higher PPO activity using catechol as substrate.This work was supported by Project Nos. ALI95-0105 and ALI98-820 by Plan Nacional de Tecnología de Alimentos from Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain.Peer Reviewe

Use of laser flare photometry to assess and monitor inflammation in uveitis

PURPOSE: Laser flare photometry (LFP) is a new quantitative method for the evaluation of aqueous flare, making flare the only inflammatory parameter that can be evaluated precisely and objectively. The aim of this study was to characterize the inflammatory pattern of acute human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27)-related anterior uveitis and to determine further clinical use and limitations of LFP in posterior inflammation. METHODS: In the first part of the study, 78 episodes of HLA-B27-related acute anterior uveitis were analyzed to determine mean pretreatment (initial) flare, mean flare evolution, need for additional periocular steroids, and mean duration of an episode. In the second part of the study, the use of LFP was further tested in posterior inflammation, first by analyzing the predictive value of a subclinical LFP-detected flare increase for disease recrudescence in posterior scleritis, and then by exploring clinical applications for LFP in posterior uveitis, where LFP was essential either in the establishment of a diagnosis or in guiding therapeutic decisions. RESULTS: Mean initial flare in HLA-B27-related acute anterior uveitis was 160 +/- 22 photons/msec, and mean duration of an episode was 18.5 +/- 15 days. A 50% and 90% flare reduction occurred after 2 and 8 days, respectively. In posterior scleritis, LFP was accurate in monitoring response to systemic steroid therapy and a small flare increase was predictive for disease recrudescence in five of six cases (predictive value 0.83, sensitivity 100%). In posterior uveitis, LFP was sensitive to monitor systemic treatments and to establish a diagnosis in unclear cases by measuring the effect of a selective therapy (therapeutic trial) on the flare level. CONCLUSION: In acute anterior HLA-B27-associated uveitis, LFP represented a potential improvement in management by allowing precise adjustment of therapy. In uveitis of the posterior segment, our data confirm the validity of LFP to monitor response and adjust systemic therapy and to detect disease recurrence in patients with a sufficient pretreatment level of associated blood-aqueous barrier disruption (flare)