The Correlation between Corneal Topographic Indices and Corneal High Order Aberrations in Keratoconus

This study was performed to investigate aberrometric changes of Keratoconus (KC) and its correlation with corneal topographic indices. In a cross sectional study, the researchers included 170 eyes of 138 candidates that were seeking corneal refractive surgery in Sohag refractive center, Sohag, Egypt and had been diagnosed as clinical KC. Patients were divided to mild, moderate, and severe KC. All eyes included in this study were subjected to corneal tomographic evaluation. Corneal aberrometry data was collected from the Sirius topography (Sirius, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Italy) over a 5-mm diameter. The collected data included Zernike coefficients for corneal aberrations, including total Root Mean Square (RMS), RMS Spherical Aberration (SA), RMS Coma, and RMS astigmatism. The study population was divided to mild, moderate, and severe KC. Mild KC cases included 58 eyes of 46 patients, moderate KC were 64 eyes of 52 patients, and severe KC were 48 eyes of 40 patients. Root mean square total was statistically significant in all groups with a higher p value in moderate KC (P = 0.001) and also was statistically significant when compared in the three groups altogether (P = 0.0001). Coma aberration was statistically significant in mild and moderate KC and when compared between the three groups (P = 0.0001). Root mean square Trefoil aberration was statistically significant only in moderate KC yet was statistically significant when compared in all groups (P = 0.0001). Root mean square astigmatism was statistically significant in mild KC only and when compared in the three groups altogether (P = 0.0001). Spherical aberration was also statistically significant in moderate and severe KC with a P value of < 0.0001 and 0.001, respectively. There was a positive correlation between posterior elevation and RMS values in mild and moderate KC while there was negative or very weak positive correlation in severe KC. There were negative correlations between the thinnest location and RMS values in nearly all variables in the three groups except weak positive correlation with RMS astigmatism in mild KC and with RMS total and coma aberration in severe KC .In conclusion corneal high order aberrations measured by the Sirius topography system had low to moderate correlation with corneal topographic indices provided by the same device in different grades of KC

The Correlation between Corneal Topographic Indices and Corneal High Order Aberrations in Keratoconus

This study was performed to investigate aberrometric changes of Keratoconus (KC) and its correlation with corneal topographic indices. In a cross sectional study, the researchers included 170 eyes of 138 candidates that were seeking corneal refractive surgery in Sohag refractive center, Sohag, Egypt and had been diagnosed as clinical KC. Patients were divided to mild, moderate, and severe KC. All eyes included in this study were subjected to corneal tomographic evaluation. Corneal aberrometry data was collected from the Sirius topography (Sirius, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Italy) over a 5-mm diameter. The collected data included Zernike coefficients for corneal aberrations, including total Root Mean Square (RMS), RMS Spherical Aberration (SA), RMS Coma, and RMS astigmatism. The study population was divided to mild, moderate, and severe KC. Mild KC cases included 58 eyes of 46 patients, moderate KC were 64 eyes of 52 patients, and severe KC were 48 eyes of 40 patients. Root mean square total was statistically significant in all groups with a higher p value in moderate KC (P = 0.001) and also was statistically significant when compared in the three groups altogether (P = 0.0001). Coma aberration was statistically significant in mild and moderate KC and when compared between the three groups (P = 0.0001). Root mean square Trefoil aberration was statistically significant only in moderate KC yet was statistically significant when compared in all groups (P = 0.0001). Root mean square astigmatism was statistically significant in mild KC only and when compared in the three groups altogether (P = 0.0001). Spherical aberration was also statistically significant in moderate and severe KC with a P value of < 0.0001 and 0.001, respectively. There was a positive correlation between posterior elevation and RMS values in mild and moderate KC while there was negative or very weak positive correlation in severe KC. There were negative correlations between the thinnest location and RMS values in nearly all variables in the three groups except weak positive correlation with RMS astigmatism in mild KC and with RMS total and coma aberration in severe KC .In conclusion corneal high order aberrations measured by the Sirius topography system had low to moderate correlation with corneal topographic indices provided by the same device in different grades of KC

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure among Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Patients at Supine versus Semi-Fowler Positions

Background: Positioning is one of the most frequently performed nursing activities in the intensive care units. However literature review documented lack of knowledge about the relationship of cerebral dynamics and different body positions among acute traumatic brain injury patients. Aim: the aim of this study is to  assess the effect of supine and semi-fowler position on cerebral perfusion pressure among patients with acute traumatic brain injuries at Cairo University Hospital as indicated by: Glasgow coma score (GCS), arterial blood gases values (ABG), oxygen saturation and vital signs (pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate). Research questions: What is the effect of supine position on cerebral perfusion pressure among patients with acute traumatic brain injuries? And what is the effect of semi fowler position on cerebral perfusion pressure among patients with acute traumatic brain injuries? Sample: Convenience sample of 39 patients admitted with acute traumatic brain injury. Design: Descriptive exploratory repeated measures study. Setting: University Hospital in Cairo. Tools: Initial acute traumatic brain injury patient’s assessment sheet, and cerebral oxygenation and physiological parameters assessment sheet for acute traumatic brain injury patients. Result: The mean age was 28.5 ±7.9 years. (74.4%) have normal body weight, (25.6%) were having cerebral contusion. Significant increase of CPP, Pao2, SaO2, SPO2, mean arterial pressure and systolic blood pressure, in 15 min post semi-fowler position assessment with a significant decrease of PaCo2. Significant decrease of pulse rate in supine position was evident. With no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure and GCS. Conclusion: Semi-fowler position was found to affect the ABG values, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, SpO2 and CPP positively.  Recommendation: Studying the effect of side lying and prone position to establish data base about the optimal body position for acute traumatic head injury patients is highly recommended with replication of this study on larger probability sample. Key words: supine position, semi-fowler position, physiological parameters, cerebral perfusion pressure, acute traumatic brain injury

Corneal Endothelial Morphology in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Aim. To investigate corneal endothelial cell morphological in children with type 1 diabetes and to determine the systemic and local factors that contribute to these changes. Methods. One hundred sixty eyes of 80 children with type 1 diabetes and 80 eyes of 40 normal children as a control during the period from July 2015 to February 2016 underwent full clinical and ophthalmologic examination. We measured the central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), ploymegathism, and pleomorphism using a noncontact specular microscope. Results. The mean age of the diabetic children was 8.22 ± 3.11 years. The mean duration of type 1 diabetes was 3.51 ± 2.23 years. The mean CCT was significantly higher: 537 ± 33.41 microns (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. The mean ECD in patients with type 1 diabetes was 3149.84 ± 343.75 cells/mm 2 (right eye), and it was significantly lower than in the control group. Furthermore, pleomorphism was significantly lower 48.73 ± 5.43% (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. The mean polymegathism was significantly higher 37.96 ± 5.61% (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. All of these changes are significantly correlated only with the duration of diabetes. Conclusions. Diabetic children have thicker corneas, lower ECD, an increased polymegathism, and a decreased pleomorphism. The duration of diabetes is the factor that affects all of these changes. To what extent these changes affect visional function on long term needs to be investigated in further studies

Asteroid hyalosis removal during phacoemulsification: an anterior approach

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of asteroid hyalosis (AH) removal by means of anterior vitrectomy through posterior capsulorhexis during phacoemulsification. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 16 eyes of 16 cataractous patients associated with AH. Phacoemulsification was performed, followed by removal of the AH through posterior capsulorhexis by means of anterior vitrectomy and before intraocular lens implantation. Patients were examined at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare the preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity and corrected visual acuity. The basic postoperative parameters at each follow-up visit were assessment of uncorrected visual acuity and corrected visual acuity and slit-lamp examination to evaluate the corneal condition and to detect any postoperative inflammation. The disappearance of AH was confirmed clinically using slit-lamp examination. Results All patients in this study showed a statistically significant improvement in postoperative visual acuity (P=0.001) at the last follow-up visit. One patient who had diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy showed deteriorated visual acuity at the last postoperative visit (P=0.2). Two patients had suboptimal best-corrected visual acuity after 6 months due to the presence of cellophane maculopathy detected clinically and using ocular coherence tomography (OCT) examination (P=0.01). Conclusion Removal of AH by means of anterior vitrectomy during phacoemulsification through a posterior capsulorhexis is safe and effective and enables the surgeon to treat undiagnosed missed retinal lesions that were not obvious preoperatively

Effect of different incision sites of phacoemulsification on trabeculectomy bleb function: prospective case-control study

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to compare superior and temporal clear corneal incisions of uneventful phacoemulsification and in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation on intraocular pressure control and the bleb morphology in eyes that have undergone previous successful trabeculectomy. Methods In this Prospective case-control study, a total of 100 eyes of 100 patients previously undergone trabeculectomy without antimetabolites, divided into two groups. Group A (temporal group) including 50 patients underwent phacoemulsification with a temporal corneal incision and group B (superior group) including 50 patients underwent phacoemulsification with a superior corneal incision. Comparisons between the two groups were performed after one year of follow-up regarding Intraocular pressure changes, bleb morphology score using the Wuerzburg bleb classification score and any added glaucoma medications. Results At the last visit, the mean intraocular pressure for the temporal group was 17.55 ± 1.47 (p = 0.51) and for the superior group was 16.90 ± 1.71 (p = 0.85); the difference between the two groups was insignificant (p = 0.21). Regarding the bleb morphology, the mean bleb morphology score in the temporal group was 10.50 ± 0.95 (p = 0.19) and for the superior group was 10.20 ± 1.06 (p = 0.01).There was an insignificant difference in the bleb grading morphology regarding both groups (p = 0.35). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that phacoemulsification whether done with a clear temporal or clear superior wound, does not affect intraocular pressure, bleb morphology or function after one year of follow-up in eyes following previous successful trabeculectomy. Furthermore, cataract surgery may be performed safely in eyes with functioning filtering blebs. Trial registration ISRCTN91835217 ‘retrospectively registered’ Date Of registration 6/6/201

BIM Automation for the Design of Building Services

Avtomatizacija BIM pri projektiranju lahko prispeva k odpravi zamudnih opravil. V nalogi predlagana metoda avtomatizira načrtovalske izračune in modeliranje 3D, s čimer projektantu prihrani čas za druga pomembna opravila. Glavni prispevek te študije je uporaba avtomatizacije BIM za projektiranje, ki odpravlja možnosti neskladij in poveča učinkovitosti sistemov za načrtovanje. Ne glede na velikost gradbenega projekta imajo sistemi strojnih in električnih sistemov "MEP" (angl. Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems) pomembno vlogo ne le pri končni uspešnosti projekta, temveč tudi pri prvotnih stroških in skupnem trajanju projekta. Ta študija primera ponazarja trenutno stanje zasebnega projekta v Egiptu, kot tudi izsledke raziskave, ki je bila izvedena v sodelovanju z enim izmed vodilnih generalnih izvajalcev v Sloveniji - "Kolektor Koling d.o.o". Skupina glavnega izvajalca ima obsežno znanje BIM iz prejšnjih projektov. Študije primerov so se osredotočile na posebne vrste načrtovanja avtomatizacije za projektiranje projekta MEP. Namen tega dela je zagotoviti pregled strategij avtomatizacije BIM za načrtovanje stavbnih sistemov. Prednosti in zaključke te študije lahko povzamemo kot skupni prihranek časa, skupne prihranke pri stroških in večjo produktivnost.BIM automation for design can contribute to the reducing of time and cost for Design. The proposed method automates design calculations and 3D drawing, saving up designer time for other important tasks. The main objective of this paper is automating the design in BIM to decrease the chance of clashes and increase the efficiency of design systems. Whatever the scale of the project, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system have a significant part in the cost and total duration of the project. This case study illustrates the current situation of the private project in Egypt, as well as the findings of the research, conducted in collaboration with one of the leading general contractors in "Slovenia" “Kolektor Koling d.o.o”. The general contractor team has extensive BIM knowledge from previous projects. The case studies concentrated on specific sorts of automation design for MEP project construction. This work intends to provide an overview of BIM automation strategies for building service design. The advantages and conclusions of this study may be summarized as total time savings, overall cost savings, and higher productivity

Multisensor Satellite Data and Field Studies for Unravelling the Structural Evolution and Gold Metallogeny of the Gerf Ophiolitic Nappe, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The gold mineralization located in the southern Eastern Desert of Egypt mostly occurs in characteristic geologic and structural settings. The gold-bearing quartz veins and the alteration zones are confined to the ductile shear zones between the highly deformed ophiolitic blocks, sheared metavolcanics, and gabbro-diorite rocks. The present study attempts to integrate multisensor remotely sensed data, structural analysis, and field investigation in unraveling the geologic and structural controls of gold mineralization in the Gabal Gerf area. Multispectral optical sensors of Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS (L8) and Sentinel-2B (S2B) were processed to map the lithologic rock units in the study area. Image processing algorithms including false color composite (FCC), band ratio (BR), principal component analysis (PCA), minimum noise fraction (MNF), and Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) were effective in producing a comprehensive geologic map of the area. The mafic index (MI) = (B13-0.9147) × (B10-1.4366) of ASTER (A) thermal bands and a combined band ratio of S2B and ASTER of (S2B3+A9)/(S2B12+A8) were dramatically successful in discriminating the ophiolitic assemblage, that are considered the favorable lithology for the gold mineralization. Three alteration zones of argillic, phyllic and propylitic were spatially recognized using the mineral indices and constrained energy minimization (CEM) approach to ASTER data. The datasets of ALSO PALSAR and Sentinel-1B were subjected to PCA and filtering to extract the lineaments and their spatial densities in the area.Furthermore, the structural analysis revealed that the area has been subjected to three main phases of deformation; (i) NE-SW convergence and sinistral transpression (D2); (ii) ~E-W far field compressional regime (D3), and (iii) extensional tectonics and terrane exhumation (D4)

Corneal Endothelial Morphology in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Aim. To investigate corneal endothelial cell morphological in children with type 1 diabetes and to determine the systemic and local factors that contribute to these changes. Methods. One hundred sixty eyes of 80 children with type 1 diabetes and 80 eyes of 40 normal children as a control during the period from July 2015 to February 2016 underwent full clinical and ophthalmologic examination. We measured the central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), ploymegathism, and pleomorphism using a noncontact specular microscope. Results. The mean age of the diabetic children was 8.22±3.11 years. The mean duration of type 1 diabetes was 3.51±2.23 years. The mean CCT was significantly higher: 537±33.41 microns (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. The mean ECD in patients with type 1 diabetes was 3149.84±343.75 cells/mm2 (right eye), and it was significantly lower than in the control group. Furthermore, pleomorphism was significantly lower 48.73±5.43% (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. The mean polymegathism was significantly higher 37.96±5.61% (right eye), in the diabetic group compared to the control group. All of these changes are significantly correlated only with the duration of diabetes. Conclusions. Diabetic children have thicker corneas, lower ECD, an increased polymegathism, and a decreased pleomorphism. The duration of diabetes is the factor that affects all of these changes. To what extent these changes affect visional function on long term needs to be investigated in further studies

New chondrite from Libya

On Saturday, 21 of May, 2006, a fall was observed and the stony meteorite was found in a small crater on an apple farm at Werdama village, near Al Beda town in Libya. Based on preliminary examinations, the authors described the meteorite as an ordinary chondrite. Further research aiming at full characteristics, classification and registration of the meteorite is in progress