Structural and Functional Disorders in Glaucoma: the Prospects for Preclinical Diagnosis. Part 1. Is the Search for what Comes First Relevant?

The review analyzes the capabilities of modern technologies of structural neuroimaging of the retina, standard perimetry, and studies of ocular blood flow in the early diagnosis and management of glaucoma. The relevance of the search for those structural and functional changes that are primary in the development of glaucomatous optical neuropathy (GON) and the diagnostic method that has the greatest clinical significance is discussed. Progress in understanding the pathogenesis of glaucoma and the expansion of scientific understanding of key risk factors for the development and progression of the disease, including genetic factors, can be crucially important to substantiate new strategies for preclinical diagnosis and the development of radically new approaches to personalized and preventive glaucoma therapy. However, the search for what arises most early with in primary open-angle glaucoma — changes in structure or function — will not have clinical relevance unless you take into account the capabilities of specific methods of structural and functional neuroimaging that represent information at various levels of organization of the visual system. The search for a single primary factor in the pathogenesis of GON can lead to an erroneous exaggeration of the close relationship between the variables being studied, which in reality either does not exist as a causal relationship or is significantly less than what is supposed — the phenomenon called “illusory correlation”. The reliable diagnosis of early changes that occur before the clinical manifestation of glaucoma is most likely to be based on a combination of structural, functional, and hemodynamic indicators, aimed not only to increase the sensitivity of diagnosis in detecting the earliest events in the development of GON, but rather to dramatically improve the understanding and quality of interpretation of those markers that we own.

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Reduction of number of postoperative complications depends on quality of dressing material and wound treatment

Medsestra (Nurse) ◽

10.33920/med-05-2004-10 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 61-63

Author(s):

Larisa Katkasova ◽

Svetlana Kropotova

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Postoperative Complications ◽

Wound Treatment ◽

Postoperative Wound ◽

Speed Up ◽

Modern Technologies

Operated patients suffering from diabetes are at risk of developing postoperative complications. Modern technologies of postoperative wound treatment and modern dressings allow to avoid complications and speed up the process of postoperative wound healing.

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Structural and functional changes in the nasal and upper lip zone of adult patients with cleft lip and palate and their quality of life after the treatment in an early age.

Стоматология для всех ◽

10.35556/idr-2019-2(87)42-46 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 42-46

Author(s):

K.Yu. Kovalenko ◽

◽

M.G. Semyonov ◽

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Cleft Lip And Palate ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Early Age ◽

Upper Lip ◽

Functional Changes

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Cancer and Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment

The Oxford Handbook of Adult Cognitive Disorders ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190664121.013.4 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 60-83

Author(s):

James C. Root ◽

Elizabeth Ryan ◽

Tim A. Ahles

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Functional Neuroimaging ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Future Research ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Central Nervous System Cancer ◽

Pharmacologic Treatments

As the population of cancer survivors has grown into the millions, there is increasing emphasis on understanding how late effects of treatment impact survivors’ ability return to work/school, ability to function and live independently, and overall quality of life. Cognitive changes are one of the most feared problems among cancer survivors. This chapter describes the growing literature examining cognitive changes associated with non-central nervous system cancer and cancer treatment. Typical elements of cancer treatment are discussed, followed by a description of clinical presentation, self-reported and objectively assessed cognitive findings, and results of structural and functional neuroimaging research. Genetic and other risk factors for cognitive decline following treatment are identified and discussed, together with biomarkers and animal models of treatment-related effects. This is followed by a discussion of behavioral and pharmacologic treatments. Finally, challenges and recommendations for future research are provided to help guide subsequent research and theoretical models.

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New Orthophoto Generation Strategies from UAV and Ground Remote Sensing Platforms for High-Throughput Phenotyping

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13050860 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 860

Author(s):

Yi-Chun Lin ◽

Tian Zhou ◽

Taojun Wang ◽

Melba Crawford ◽

Ayman Habib

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Target Function ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Surface Model ◽

Flowering Date ◽

Sensing Platforms ◽

Geolocation Accuracy ◽

New Strategies

Remote sensing platforms have become an effective data acquisition tool for digital agriculture. Imaging sensors onboard unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and tractors are providing unprecedented high-geometric-resolution data for several crop phenotyping activities (e.g., canopy cover estimation, plant localization, and flowering date identification). Among potential products, orthophotos play an important role in agricultural management. Traditional orthophoto generation strategies suffer from several artifacts (e.g., double mapping, excessive pixilation, and seamline distortions). The above problems are more pronounced when dealing with mid- to late-season imagery, which is often used for establishing flowering date (e.g., tassel and panicle detection for maize and sorghum crops, respectively). In response to these challenges, this paper introduces new strategies for generating orthophotos that are conducive to the straightforward detection of tassels and panicles. The orthophoto generation strategies are valid for both frame and push-broom imaging systems. The target function of these strategies is striking a balance between the improved visual appearance of tassels/panicles and their geolocation accuracy. The new strategies are based on generating a smooth digital surface model (DSM) that maintains the geolocation quality along the plant rows while reducing double mapping and pixilation artifacts. Moreover, seamline control strategies are applied to avoid having seamline distortions at locations where the tassels and panicles are expected. The quality of generated orthophotos is evaluated through visual inspection as well as quantitative assessment of the degree of similarity between the generated orthophotos and original images. Several experimental results from both UAV and ground platforms show that the proposed strategies do improve the visual quality of derived orthophotos while maintaining the geolocation accuracy at tassel/panicle locations.

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Architectural and Urban Attractiveness of Small Towns: A Case Study of Polish Coastal Cittaslow Towns on the Pomeranian Way of St. James

Land ◽

10.3390/land10070724 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 724

Author(s):

Alicja K. Zawadzka

Keyword(s):

Small Towns ◽

Urban Life ◽

Added Value ◽

Development Policies ◽

Quality Of Urban Life ◽

Size Criterion ◽

The Town ◽

Modern Technologies

The paper presents the results of a study on the attractiveness to tourists and natives of the cultural qualities of coastal towns on The Pomeranian Way of St. James that are members of the Cittaslow network. Attention to the quality of urban life is inscribed in the development policies of towns applying to join the Cittaslow movement. In order to join the network (apart from the size criterion), towns need to meet a minimum of 50% plus one of the 72 criteria grouped into seven categories. One of the category is Quality of Urban Life Policy, so the towns applying to join Cittaslow commit themselves to actions aimed at improving the quality of urban life. The study on the attractiveness of cultural qualities of towns to tourists and natives was conducted using the author’s BRB method, whose added value is its universality and the possibility to study small towns regardless of their membership in the Cittaslow network. BRB is an acronym that stands for BUILDINGS, RELATIONSHIPS, BALANCE, and comprises three scopes of activities: BUILDINGS (iconic building and important sites where the inhabitants and the tourists are present); RELATIONSHIPS (the visual effects of the relations between the inhabitants and the town) and BALANCE (solutions that implement modern technologies). This method enables identification of places that are important to the inhabitants, where urban life takes place and which are often created with the involvement of the inhabitants. These are often the same spaces as those that attract tourists and perhaps stimulate them the desire to visit the town again (BRB—be right back). The aim of the BRB method is shown the attractiveness of small towns. The study has shown that the characteristic feature of Polish Cittaslow towns is their diversity: the architectural attractiveness of three towns is high both to tourists and natives. On the other hand, the urban attractiveness of the examined towns is an insufficient.

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AB0050 A NOVEL METHOD FOR ISOLATION OF EXOSOMES FROM SYNOVIAL FLUID

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1996 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1057.2-1057

Author(s):

Y. Liu ◽

Y. Huang ◽

Q. Huang ◽

S. Sun ◽

Z. Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Synovial Fluid ◽

Western Blot ◽

Biological Fluid ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Protein Distribution ◽

Sds Page ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Novel Method ◽

Low Levels

Background:Exosomes in synovial fluid (SF) has a close relationship with the pathogenesis of rheumatiod arthritis. As a complex biological fluid, SF presents challenges for exosomes isolation using standard methods, such as ExoquickTM kit and ultracentrifugation.Objectives:The study aims to compared the quality of exosomes separated by ExoquickTM kit (TM), ExoquickTM kit+ExoquickTC kit (TM-TC), ultracentrifugation (UC) and TM-TC+UC(TM-TC-UC) from SF.Methods:Exosomes was separated by TM, TM-TC, UC and TM-TC-UC respectively. The size and concentrations of exosomes were detected by high sensitivity flow cytometry for nanoparticle analysis. Total protein and RNA were extracted from exosomes. SDS-PAGE was used to detect the protein distribution of exosomes. Western blot was used to examine the level of albumin and exosomes marker (TSG101 and CD81).Results:There was no statistic difference in the diameters of exosomes separated by the four methods. The concentrations of exosomes in TM, TM-TC, TM-TC-UC and UC were (5.65±0.93), (3.02±1.19), (1.67±0.25) and (4.61±0.73) *109Particles/mL. The protein concentrations of exosomes separated by the four methods were consistent with the concentrations of exosomes. SDS-PAGE showed that the protein distribution of exosomes separated by the four methods were different. Low levels of albumin were detected in TM-TC and TM-TC-UC, while high levels of albumin in TM and UC. Total RNA concentrations from exosomes in TM-TC was higher than other groups.Conclusion:TM-TC can be used to obtain higher quality exosomes from SF for the study of exosome-enriched components.References:[1]Helwa I, et al, A Comparative Study of Serum Exosome Isolation Using Differential Ultracentrifugation and Three Commercial Reagents. PloS one, 2017. 12(1): p. e0170628-e0170628.Figure 1.A: SDS-PAGE showed the protein distribution of exosomes; B: the detection of albumin, TSG101 and CD81 by western blot.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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Impact of Fear of Contracting COVID-19 and Complying with the Rules of Isolation on Nutritional Behaviors of Polish Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041631 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1631 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Iwona Kowalczuk ◽

Jerzy Gębski

Keyword(s):

Eating Behaviors ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Food Product ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Online Study ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Product Consumption ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Two Factors

The aim of the study was to examine whether, and to what extent, fear of contracting Covid-19 and compliance with the mandatory rules of isolation affected Polish adults’ nutritional behaviors. The online study was carried out during the first wave of the pandemic on a sample of 926 adults. Through cluster analysis, three groups of respondents were isolated: 1. People who fear a Covid-19 infection and follow the isolation rules (FFR), 2. People moderately afraid of the disease and following the rules loosely (MFFR), 3. People who are not afraid of the infection and do not follow the rules of isolation. (NFFR). The clusters were profiled with consideration of different aspects of eating behaviors as well as socio-demographic and economic features. The results of the study show a close relationship between the level of fear of contracting Covid-19 and the degree to which isolation rules are followed. These two factors were found to have a significant impact on eating behaviors, such as food purchases, eating patterns, and levels of consumption. It was stated that the FFR group changed their eating behaviors the most in terms of food purchasing, eating habits (excluding diversity and quality of diet), and food product consumption. The greatest stability in the majority of the analyzed areas of nutritional behaviors was observed in the MFFR cluster. The NFFR group shown the greatest decrease both in regularity and quality of their meals. This group also exhibited a significant increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The results of the study can be useful in the decision making process when introducing restrictions or managing information. They also point to the need for extensive nutritional education focused on explaining the relationship between nutrition and health during a pandemic.

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