A Cascaded Syntactic Analyser for Basque

This article presents a robust syntactic analyser for Basque and the different modules it contains. Each module is structured in different analysis layers for which each layer takes the information provided by the previous layer as its input; thus creating a gradually deeper syntactic analysis in cascade. This analysis is carried out using the Constraint Grammar (CG) formalism. Moreover, the article describes the standardisation process of the parsing formats using XML

Glaukos iStent inject® Trabecular Micro-Bypass Implantation Associated with Cataract Surgery in Patients with Coexisting Cataract and Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension: A Long-Term Study

Purpose. To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the iStent inject device (Glaukos Corporation, Laguna Hills, CA) combined with phacoemulsification in patients with coexistent cataract and open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods. A prospective, uncontrolled, nonrandomized, interventional case series study was conducted in patients with both mild or moderate open-angle glaucoma or OHT and cataract. Patients underwent cataract surgery along with the implant of two iStent inject devices. Outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), topical hypotensive medications required, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results. 20 patients were enrolled. Mean follow-up was months. Mean baseline IOP was  mmHg with medication and  mmHg after washout. Mean end-follow-up IOP was  mmHg, representing an IOP decrease of 36.92%,  mmHg (), from baseline washout IOP. The mean number of medications was significantly reduced from to (). 45% of patients were medication-free by the end of follow-up. Mean BCVA improved significantly from to (). No complications of surgery were observed. Conclusion. The iStent inject device combined with cataract surgery served to significantly reduce both IOP and medication use in the long term in patients with coexistent open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) and cataract

Agreement and clinical comparison between a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer and an optical low-coherence reflectometry biometer

Purpose To compare measurements taken using a swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer (IOLmaster 700) and an optical low-coherence reflectometry biometer (Lenstar 900), and to determine the clinical impacts of differences in their measurements on intraocular lens (IOL) power predictions. Methods Eighty eyes of 80 patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery were examined with both biometers. The measurements made using each device were axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous depth (AQD), lens thickness (LT), mean keratometry (MK), white-to-white distance (WTW), and pupil diameter (PD). Holladay 2 and SRK/T formulas were used to calculate IOL power. Differences in measurement between the two biometers were determined using the paired t-test. Agreement was assessed through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots. Results Mean patient age was 76.3±6.8 years (range 59–89). Using the Lenstar, AL and PD could not be measured in 12.5 and 5.25% of eyes, respectively, while IOLMaster 700 took all measurements in all eyes. The variables CCT, AQD, LT, and MK varied significantly between the two biometers. According to ICCs, correlation between measurements made with both devices was excellent except for WTW and PD. Using the SRK/T formula, IOL power prediction based on the data from the two devices were statistically different, but differences were not clinically significant. Conclusions No clinically relevant differences were detected between the biometers in terms of their measurements and IOL power predictions. Using the IOLMaster 700, it was easier to obtain biometric measurements in eyes with less transparent ocular media or longer AL

Effect of pharmacological pupil dilation on measurements and iol power calculation made using the new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer

Purpose: to determine whether pupil dilation affects biometric measurements and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation made using the new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer (IOLMaster 700©; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Procedures: eighty-one eyes of 81 patients evaluated for cataract surgery were prospectively examined using the IOLMaster 700© before and after pupil dilation with tropicamide 1%. The measurements made were: axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), mean keratometry (MK), white-to-white distance (WTW) and pupil diameter (PD). Holladay II and SRK/T formulas were used to calculate IOL power. Agreement between measurement modes (with and without dilation) was assessed through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results: mean patient age was 75.17 ± 7.54 years (range: 57–92). Of the variables determined, CCT, ACD, LT and WTW varied significantly according to pupil dilation. Excellent intraobserver correlation was observed between measurements made before and after pupil dilation. Mean IOL power calculation using the Holladay 2 and SRK/T formulas were unmodified by pupil dilation. Conclusions: the use of pupil dilation produces statistical yet not clinically significant differences in some IOLMaster 700© measurements. However, it does not affect mean IOL power calculation

Tear cytokine profile of glaucoma patients treated with preservative-free or preserved latanoprost

Purpose: To determine variations in cytokine levels of glaucoma patients treated either with preservative-free latanoprost or preserved latanoprost, relative to healthy individuals. Methods: Tear samples were collected from 39 healthy subjects, 20 glaucoma patients treated with preserved latanoprost, and 20 patients treated with preservative-free latanoprost. A set of 27 inflammatory cytokines was analyzed in each group, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL9, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, eotaxin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) basic, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon (IFN)-γ, interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemo attractant protein (MCP)-1MCAF, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Cytokine concentrations were obtained by the Bio-Plex Human Cytokine Immunoassay. Non-invasive tear breakup time (NI-TBUT), tear meniscus height, corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival hyperemia and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were assessed in patients treated with preservative-free and preserved latanoprost. Results: The levels of IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, FGF basic, PDGF-BB, and TNF-α were significantly higher in patients receiving preserved latanoprost, compared to normal controls (p 0.05). Ocular surface parameters were not significantly different in both glaucoma groups, and no correlation between these clinical parameters and cytokine levels was observed. Conclusions: Treatment with preserved latanoprost has a direct impact on tear cytokine levels, whereas this effect is not observed upon preservative-free latanoprost instillation

Changes in corneal biomechanical properties after 24 hours of continuous intraocular pressure monitoring using a contact lens sensor

Objective: This study was designed to assess changes in corneal topography and biomechanics after intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring using the Triggerfish contact lens sensor (CLS). Methods: For this prospective study, 30 eyes of 30 subjects: 14 healthy subjects (G1) and 6 glaucoma patients (G2), were recruited for 24 hours of continuous IOP monitoring using the CLS. The following measurements were taken before CLS fitting and after lens removal: maximum keratometry (Kmax), mean keratometry (MK), and corneal astigmatism (Cyl) measured through Pentacam corneal topography, and the corneal biomechanical variables corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). Results: Pentacam data revealed significant changes after CLS removal in Kmax (+3.14 ± 2.46 D, p = 0.002), MK (+0.52 ± 0.63 D, p = 0.02), and Cyl (+0.48 ± 0.53 D, p = 0.019) in G1; and Kmax (+1.38 ± 1.43 D, p = 0.002) in G2. The changes observed were more pronounced in G1 than in G2 but differences were not significant. The ORA results indicated higher CH (11.35 ± 2.42 vs 8.17 ± 2.09) and CRF (10.3 ± 2.03 vs 9.1 ± 1.81) before lens fitting in G1 than G2, while no significant changes were produced after CLS removal in either group. Conclusions: The use of CLS for IOP monitoring over 24 hours caused topographic changes in both healthy subjects and glaucoma patients. No changes were produced in corneal biomechanics

Generation and characterization of a novel knockin minipig model of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder for which no cure exists. The disease is characterized by premature aging and inevitable death in adolescence due to cardiovascular complications. Most HGPS patients carry a heterozygous de novo LMNA c.1824C > T mutation, which provokes the expression of a dominant-negative mutant protein called progerin. Therapies proven effective in HGPS-like mouse models have yielded only modest benefit in HGPS clinical trials. To overcome the gap between HGPS mouse models and patients, we have generated by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing the first large animal model for HGPS, a knockin heterozygous LMNA c.1824C > T Yucatan minipig. Like HGPS patients, HGPS minipigs endogenously co-express progerin and normal lamin A/C, and exhibit severe growth retardation, lipodystrophy, skin and bone alterations, cardiovascular disease, and die around puberty. Remarkably, the HGPS minipigs recapitulate critical cardiovascular alterations seen in patients, such as left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, altered cardiac electrical activity, and loss of vascular smooth muscle cells. Our analysis also revealed reduced myocardial perfusion due to microvascular damage and myocardial interstitial fibrosis, previously undescribed readouts potentially useful for monitoring disease progression in patients. The HGPS minipigs provide an appropriate preclinical model in which to test human-size interventional devices and optimize candidate therapies before advancing to clinical trials, thus accelerating the development of effective applications for HGPS patients.This project was mainly supported by an Established Investigator Award from the Progeria Research Foundation (2014-52), and from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER, “A way to build Europe”) (SAF2016-79490-R, CB16/11/00405). Ana Barettino has a predoctoral contract from MCIU (BES-2017-079705). Work at Universidad de Murcia is supported by Fundación Seneca-Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia (20040/GERM/16). The CNIC is supported by the MCIU and the Pro-CNIC Foundation and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505).S

Non-invasive risk scores for prediction of type 2 diabetes (EPIC-InterAct) : a validation of existing models

Peer reviewe

Alcohol intake in relation to non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease and stroke: EPIC-CVD case-cohort study.

To investigate the association between alcohol consumption (at baseline and over lifetime) and non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke

Alcohol intake in relation to non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease and stroke : EPIC-CVD case-cohort study

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between alcohol consumption (at baseline and over lifetime) and non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. DESIGN Multicentre case-cohort study. SETTING A study of cardiovascular disease (CVD) determinants within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition cohort (EPIC-CVD) from eight European countries. PARTICIPANTS 32 549 participants without baseline CVD, comprised of incident CVD cases and a subcohort for comparison. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Non-fatal and fatal CHD and stroke (including ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke). RESULTS There were 9307 non-fatal CHD events, 1699 fatal CHD, 5855 non-fatal stroke, and 733 fatal stroke. Baseline alcohol intake was inversely associated with non-fatal CHD, with a hazard ratio of 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.96) per 12 g/day higher intake. There was a J shaped association between baseline alcohol intake and risk of fatal CHD. The hazard ratios were 0.83 (0.70 to 0.98), 0.65 (0.53 to 0.81), and 0.82 (0.65 to 1.03) for categories 5.0-14.9 g/day, 15.0-29.9 g/day, and 30.0-59.9 g/day of total alcohol intake, respectively, compared with 0.1-4.9 g/ day. In contrast, hazard ratios for non-fatal and fatal stroke risk were 1.04 (1.02 to 1.07), and 1.05 (0.98 to 1.13) per 12 g/day increase in baseline alcohol intake, respectively, including broadly similar findings for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Associations with cardiovascular outcomes were broadly similar with average lifetime alcohol consumption as for baseline alcohol intake, and across the eight countries studied. There was no strong evidence for interactions of alcohol consumption with smoking status on the risk of CVD events. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol intake was inversely associated with non-fatal CHD risk but positively associated with the risk of different stroke subtypes. This highlights the opposing associations of alcohol intake with different CVD types and strengthens the evidence for policies to reduce alcohol consumption.Peer reviewe