Effects of aiming lines and visual function on the golf putting alignment

Background: In golf, a player hits a ball with a club, aiming to transfer the ball successively into a series of hole cups in a course consisting of 18 (or fewer) holes. This study aimed to compare the impact of visual function and the presence and number of aiming lines on golf putting alignment between beginner and expert golfers. Methods: In this prospective comparative study, 43 participants with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of corrected distance binocular visual acuity of –0.07 ± 0.74 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, who knew their average golf scores, were divided into beginner and expert golfers. Six visual function tests were conducted to assess heterotropia, dominant eye, verification of current spectacles, static visual acuity, stereopsis, and fixation disparity. At the putting distances of 1.5 m and 3 m, alignment errors were measured five times each, using golf balls with 1 and 3 aiming line(s) and putters with 1 and 3 aiming line(s). Results: The mean ± SD of age was 48.33 ± 10.07 years for study participants overall. The accuracy of ball alignment was not affected by the career or number of aiming lines, but the putter alignment was higher for the 3-lines putter than for the 1-line putter (P < 0.05). When the number and shape of the aiming line were the same for both the ball and putter, the aiming accuracy was found to be higher. In both stereopsis and fixation disparity, the combination of putting distance and a 3-lines ball showed negative values; all other combinations showed positive values, but no statistically significant correlation was detected (all P > 0.05). Conclusions: The accuracy of golf ball alignment did not depend on the number of aiming lines and the golfer’s career. However, the predicted putting success rate and subjective satisfaction were increased when three-line golf balls and putters were used, as compared to when one-line golf balls and putters were used. How to cite this article: Kim YJ, Jin YG, Koo BY, Jang JU, Mah KC. Effects of aiming lines and visual function on the golf putting alignment. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Optom.2021 Spring; 2(1): 41-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51329/mehdioptometry12

Complete Laryngotracheal Separation Following Attempted Hanging

Laryngotracheal separation (LTS) is the most immediately life-threatening airway injury. LTS is so rare that very few otolaryngologists have experience with it. LTS is one of the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in airway diseases and its management remains to be established. We experienced a patient with complete LTS after attempted hanging. A high index of suspicion, adequate imaging, prompt airway establishment and early surgical repair are the most vital factors in managing a patient with LTS

Resting-state prefrontal EEG biomarker in correlation with postoperative delirium in elderly patients

Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with adverse outcomes in elderly patients after surgery. Electroencephalography (EEG) can be used to develop a potential biomarker for degenerative cerebral dysfunctions, including mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between preoperative EEG and POD. We included 257 patients aged >70 years who underwent spinal surgery. We measured the median dominant frequency (MDF), which is a resting-state EEG biomarker involving intrinsic alpha oscillations that reflect an idle cortical state, from the prefrontal regions. Additionally, the mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were performed before surgery as well as 5 days after surgery. For long-term cognitive function follow up, the telephone interview for cognitive status™ (TICS) was performed 1 month and 1 year after surgery. Fifty-two (20.2%) patients were diagnosed with POD. A multivariable logistic regression analysis that included age, MoCA score, Charlson comorbidity index score, Mini Nutritional Assessment, and the MDF as variables revealed that the MDF had a significant odds ratio of 0.48 (95% confidence interval 0.27–0.85). Among the patients with POD, the postoperative neurocognitive disorders could last up to 1 year. Low MDF on preoperative EEG was associated with POD in elderly patients undergoing surgery. EEG could be a novel potential tool for identifying patients at a high risk of POD

Mind Bomb 1-Expressing Intermediate Progenitors Generate Notch Signaling to Maintain Radial Glial Cells

SummaryNotch signaling is critical for the stemness of radial glial cells (RGCs) during embryonic neurogenesis. Although Notch-signal-receiving events in RGCs have been well characterized, the signal-sending mechanism by the adjacent cells is poorly understood. Here, we report that conditional inactivation of mind bomb-1 (mib1), an essential component for Notch ligand endocytosis, in mice using the nestin and hGFAP promoters resulted in complete loss of Notch activation, which leads to depletion of RGCs, and premature differentiation into intermediate progenitors (IPs) and finally neurons, which were reverted by the introduction of active Notch1. Interestingly, Mib1 expression is restricted in the migrating IPs and newborn neurons, but not in RGCs. Moreover, sorted Mib1+ IPs and neurons can send the Notch signal to neighboring cells. Our results reveal that not only newborn neurons but also IPs are essential Notch-ligand-presenting cells for maintaining RGC stemness during both symmetric and asymmetric divisions

Comparison of Remifentanil and Fentanyl for Postoperative Pain Control after Abdominal Hysterectomy

Purpose: In this randomized, double-blind study, we investigated the analgesic efficacy and side effects of continuous constant-dose infusions of remifentanil after total abdominal hysterectomy and compared it to fentanyl. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six adult female patients scheduled for elective total abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups according to fentanyl (group F, n = 28) or remifentanil (group R, n = 28) for postoperative analgesia. Patients in group F were given fentanyl intravenously with an infusion rate of fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg/hr; group R was given remifentanil with an infusion rate of remifentanil 0.05 μg/kg/ min for 2 days. Pain intensity at rest, occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), dizziness, pruritus, and respiratory depression were assessed 1 hr after arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit, at 6; 12; 24; and 48 hr postoperation and 6 hr post-infusion of the study drug. Pain was evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS; 0- 10). The time that patients first requested analgesics was recorded as well as additional analgesics and antiemetics. Results: There were no significant differences in VAS, time to first postoperative analgesics, and additional analgesics between the 2 groups. The incidences and severities of PONV and opioid related side effects were not different between the groups; however, there were 3 episodes (10.7%) of serious respiratory depression in group R. Conclusion: Continuous infusion technique of remifentanil did not reveal any benefits compared to fentanyl. Furthermore, it is not safe for postoperative analgesia in the general ward

Mind bomb 1 in the lymphopoietic niches is essential for T and marginal zone B cell development

Notch signaling regulates lineage decisions at multiple stages of lymphocyte development, and Notch activation requires the endocytosis of Notch ligands in the signal-sending cells. Four E3 ubiquitin ligases, Mind bomb (Mib) 1, Mib2, Neuralized (Neur) 1, and Neur2, regulate the Notch ligands to activate Notch signaling, but their roles in lymphocyte development have not been defined. We show that Mib1 regulates T and marginal zone B (MZB) cell development in the lymphopoietic niches. Inactivation of the Mib1 gene, but not the other E3 ligases, Mib2, Neur1, and Neur2, abrogated T and MZB cell development. Reciprocal bone marrow (BM) transplantation experiments revealed that Mib1 in the thymic and splenic niches is essential for T and MZB cell development. Interestingly, when BM cells from transgenic Notch reporter mice were transplanted into Mib1-null mice, the Notch signaling was abolished in the double-negative thymocytes. In addition, the endocytosis of Dll1 was impaired in the Mib1-null microenvironment. Moreover, the block in T cell development and the failure of Dll1 endocytosis were also observed in coculture system by Mib1 knockdown. Our study reveals that Mib1 is the essential E3 ligase in T and MZB cell development, through the regulation of Notch ligands in the thymic and splenic microenvironments

Non-randomized comparison between revascularization and deferral for intermediate coronary stenosis with abnormal fractional flow reserve and preserved coronary flow reserve.

Limited data are available regarding comparative prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus deferral of revascularization in patients with intermediate stenosis with abnormal fractional flow reserve (FFR) but preserved coronary flow reserve (CFR). From the International Collaboration of Comprehensive Physiologic Assessment Registry (NCT03690713), a total of 330 patients (338 vessels) who had coronary stenosis with FFR ≤ 0.80 but CFR > 2.0 were selected for the current analysis. Patient-level clinical outcome was assessed by major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 5 years, a composite of all-cause death, target-vessel myocardial infarction (MI), or target-vessel revascularization. Among the study population, 231 patients (233 vessels) underwent PCI and 99 patients (105 vessels) were deferred. During 5 years of follow-up, cumulative incidence of MACE was 13.0% (31 patients) without significant difference between PCI and deferred groups (12.7% vs. 14.0%, adjusted HR 1.301, 95% CI 0.611-2.769, P = 0.495). Multiple sensitivity analyses by propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting also showed no significant difference in patient-level MACE and vessel-specific MI or revascularization. In this hypothesis-generating study, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between PCI and deferred groups among patients with intermediate stenosis with FFR ≤ 0.80 but CFR > 2.0. Further study is needed to confirm this finding.Clinical Trial Registration: International Collaboration of Comprehensive Physiologic Assessment Registry (NCT03690713; registration date: 10/01/2018).S

An Obligatory Role of Mind Bomb-1 in Notch Signaling of Mammalian Development

Background. The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved intercellular signaling module essential for cell fate specification that requires endocytosis of Notch ligands. Structurally distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, Neuralized (Neur) and Mind bomb (Mib), cooperatively regulate the endocytosis of Notch ligands in Drosophila. However, the respective roles of the mammalian E3 ubiquitin ligases, Neur1, Neur2, Mib1, and Mib2, in mammalian development are poorly understood. Methodology/Principal Findings. Through extensive use of mammalian genetics, here we show that Neur1 and Neur2 double mutants and Mib2-1- mice were viable and grossly normal. In contrast, conditional inactivation of MW in various tissues revealed the representative Notch phenotypes: defects of arterial specification as deltalike4 mutants, abnormal cerebellum and skin development as jagged1 conditional mutants, and syndactylism as jagged2 mutants. Conclusions/Significance. Our data provide the first evidence that Mib1 is essential for Jagged as well as Deltalike ligand-mediated Notch signaling in mammalian development, while Neur1, Neur2, and Mib2 are dispensable.open504