Influence of Laser Trabeculoplasty on Combined Phacoemulsification/Kahook Dual Blade Goniotomy

Anna Barkander,1,2 Andrew S Nolan,1,2 Gauti Jóhannesson,1,3,4 Mario A Economou5,6 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Östersund Hospital, Östersund, Sweden; 3Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; 4Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; 5Division of Ophthalmology and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 6Department of Ophthalmology, Capio Sophiahemmet Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenCorrespondence: Anna Barkander, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology Umeå University, SE-901 85, Umeå, Sweden, Tel +46 63 15 30 00, Email [email protected]: To investigate the influence of laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) on subsequent surgery with combined phacoemulsification/Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy (phaco-KDB) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or intraocular hypertension.Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing phaco-KDB between 2019 and 2021 were divided into previously LTP treated and previously non-LTP treated, and LTP-treatment included argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). The primary goal was to investigate if previous LTP influenced later surgical outcome of phaco-KDB. The secondary goal was to investigate if the outcome of LTP could be predictive of the outcome of subsequent phaco-KDB. We also compared IOP- and medication reductions between LTP and non-LTP treated patients.Results: A total of 111 LTP treated patients were compared to 139 non-LTP treated patients. In LTP treated patients, surgical success of phaco-KDB was 82.9%, compared to 88.5% in non-LTP treated patients (P=0.20). Reductions in IOP and medications were similar between groups. Furthermore, within the LTP group, patients with successful LTP-treatment had a subsequent surgical success of phaco-KDB in 80.7%, compared to 83.0% in patients with unsuccessful LTP-treatment (P=0.765).Conclusion: Previous LTP treatment does not predict the outcome of phaco-KDB. Furthermore, no correlation was found between the LTP effect and a later surgical success of phaco-KDB.Keywords: laser trabeculoplasty, Kahook Dual Blade, goniotomy, glaucoma, phacoemulsificatio

Ultrafast optical control of entanglement between two quantum dot spins

The interaction between two quantum bits enables entanglement, the two-particle correlations that are at the heart of quantum information science. In semiconductor quantum dots much work has focused on demonstrating single spin qubit control using optical techniques. However, optical control of entanglement of two spin qubits remains a major challenge for scaling from a single qubit to a full-fledged quantum information platform. Here, we combine advances in vertically-stacked quantum dots with ultrafast laser techniques to achieve optical control of the entangled state of two electron spins. Each electron is in a separate InAs quantum dot, and the spins interact through tunneling, where the tunneling rate determines how rapidly entangling operations can be performed. The two-qubit gate speeds achieved here are over an order of magnitude faster than in other systems. These results demonstrate the viability and advantages of optically controlled quantum dot spins for multi-qubit systems.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure

COVID-19 related stress exacerbates common physical and mental pathologies and affects treatment (Review).

COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global public health emergency resulting in unprecedented individual and societal fear and anxiety. The stress surrounding this biothreat appears to have clinical implications in all aspects of medicine, both in mental and physical health spheres. The impact of COVID-19 related anxiety in Cardiology, Paediatrics, Oncology, Dermatology, Neurology and Mental Health and how it affects treatments is discussed. Moreover, the need for introducing novel communication and therapeutic approaches is highlighted in the new landscape of the COVID-19 era

Long term extension of a randomised controlled trial of probiotics using electronic health records

Most randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are relatively short term and, due to costs and available resources, have limited opportunity to be re-visited or extended. There is no guarantee that effects of treatments remain unchanged beyond the study. Here, we illustrate the feasibility, benefits and cost-effectiveness of enriching standard trial design with electronic follow up. We completed a 5-year electronic follow up of a RCT investigating the impact of probiotics on asthma and eczema in children born 2005-2007, with traditional fieldwork follow up to two years. Participants and trial outcomes were identified and analysed after five years using secure, routine, anonymised, person-based electronic health service databanks. At two years, we identified 93% of participants and compared fieldwork with electronic health records, highlighting areas of agreement and disagreement. Retention of children from lower socio-economic groups was improved, reducing volunteer bias. At 5 years we identified a reduced 82% of participants. These data allowed the trial's first robust analysis of asthma endpoints. We found no indication that probiotic supplementation to pregnant mothers and infants protected against asthma or eczema at 5 years. Continued longer-term follow up is technically straightforward

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin

Optical control of one and two hole spins in interacting quantum dots

A single hole spin in a semiconductor quantum dot has emerged as a quantum bit that is potentially superior to an electron spin. A key feature of holes is that they have a greatly reduced hyperfine interaction with nuclear spins, which is one of the biggest difficulties in working with an electron spin. It is now essential to show that holes are viable for quantum information processing by demonstrating fast quantum gates and scalability. To this end we have developed InAs/GaAs quantum dots coupled through coherent tunneling and charged with controlled numbers of holes. We report fast, single qubit gates using a sequence of short laser pulses. We then take the important next step toward scalability of quantum information by optically controlling two interacting hole spins in separate dots.Comment: 5 figure

Co- and post-translational translocation through the protein-conducting channel:analogous mechanisms at work?

Many proteins are translocated across, or integrated into, membranes. Both functions are fulfilled by the 'translocon/translocase', which contains a membrane-embedded proteinconducting channel (PCC) and associated soluble factors that drive translocation and insertion reactions using nucleotide triphosphates as fuel. This perspective focuses on reinterpreting existing experimental data in light of a recently proposed PCC model comprising a front-to-front dimer of SecY or Sec61 heterotrimeric complexes. In this new framework, we propose (i) a revised model for SRP-SR-mediated docking of the ribosome-nascent polypeptide to the PCC; (ii) that the dynamic interplay between protein substrate, soluble factors and PCC controls the opening and closing of a transmembrane channel across, and/or a lateral gate into, the membrane; and (iii) that co-and post-translational translocation, involving the ribosome and SecA, respectively, not only converge at the PCC but also use analogous mechanisms for coordinating protein translocation