scholarly journals Artificial Cornea: Past, Current, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gráinne Holland ◽  
Abhay Pandit ◽  
Laura Sánchez-Abella ◽  
Andrea Haiek ◽  
Iraida Loinaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corneal Transplantation ◽  
Artificial Cornea ◽  
Autologous Tissue ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Artificial Corneas ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
Corneal Development ◽  
Corneal Blindness

Corneal diseases are a leading cause of blindness with an estimated 10 million patients diagnosed with bilateral corneal blindness worldwide. Corneal transplantation is highly successful in low-risk patients with corneal blindness but often fails those with high-risk indications such as recurrent or chronic inflammatory disorders, history of glaucoma and herpetic infections, and those with neovascularisation of the host bed. Moreover, the need for donor corneas greatly exceeds the supply, especially in disadvantaged countries. Therefore, artificial and bio-mimetic corneas have been investigated for patients with indications that result in keratoplasty failure. Two long-lasting keratoprostheses with different indications, the Boston type-1 keratoprostheses and osteo-odonto-keratoprostheses have been adapted to minimise complications that have arisen over time. However, both utilise either autologous tissue or an allograft cornea to increase biointegration. To step away from the need for donor material, synthetic keratoprostheses with soft skirts have been introduced to increase biointegration between the device and native tissue. The AlphaCor™, a synthetic polymer (PHEMA) hydrogel, addressed certain complications of the previous versions of keratoprostheses but resulted in stromal melting and optic deposition. Efforts are being made towards creating synthetic keratoprostheses that emulate native corneas by the inclusion of biomolecules that support enhanced biointegration of the implant while reducing stromal melting and optic deposition. The field continues to shift towards more advanced bioengineering approaches to form replacement corneas. Certain biomolecules such as collagen are being investigated to create corneal substitutes, which can be used as the basis for bio-inks in 3D corneal bioprinting. Alternatively, decellularised corneas from mammalian sources have shown potential in replicating both the corneal composition and fibril architecture. This review will discuss the limitations of keratoplasty, milestones in the history of artificial corneal development, advancements in current artificial corneas, and future possibilities in this field.

scholarly journals Keratoprosthesis Surgery as an Alternative to Keratoplasty

Medicina ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vytautas Jašinskas ◽  
Paulius Rudalevičius ◽  
Arūnas Miliauskas ◽  
Darius Milčius ◽  
Ūla Jurkūnas
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Surgical Procedures ◽  
Corneal Transplantation ◽  
Corneal Transplant ◽  
Artificial Cornea ◽  
Boston Type 1 Keratoprosthesis ◽  
The Mean

Corneal transplant surgery after chemical or thermal burns has a very low success rate. Vision in these patients can be restored by using an artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis). In this report, we present 5 clinical cases of implanting a fresh corneal graft with Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis in patients with corneas inappropriate for standard corneal transplantation. The mean follow-up was 26.4 months (range, 12 to 36 months; SD, 13.1). The main measures of outcomes were visual acuity and keratoprosthesis stability. At least 1 year after the operation (5 eyes), vision acuity was >0.1 in 100% of the eyes and >0.4 in 50% of the eyes. Retention of the initial keratoprosthesis was 100%. The results of this study seem to be similar to those reported internationally. The anatomical and visual functions of the eyes were stable after keratoprosthesis implantation, though for a longer follow-up period, additional surgical procedures may be required.

History of the Study of Apocrypha in Early Medieval England

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Brandon W. Hawk
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Medieval England ◽  
Medieval Period ◽  
Early Medieval ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Early Judaism ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Early English

Literature written in England between about 500 and 1100 CE attests to a wide range of traditions, although it is clear that Christian sources were the most influential. Biblical apocrypha feature prominently across this corpus of literature, as early English authors clearly relied on a range of extra-biblical texts and traditions related to works under the umbrella of what have been called “Old Testament Pseudepigrapha” and “New Testament/Christian Apocrypha." While scholars of pseudepigrapha and apocrypha have long trained their eyes upon literature from the first few centuries of early Judaism and early Christianity, the medieval period has much to offer. This article presents a survey of significant developments and key threads in the history of scholarship on apocrypha in early medieval England. My purpose is not to offer a comprehensive bibliography, but to highlight major studies that have focused on the transmission of specific apocrypha, contributed to knowledge about medieval uses of apocrypha, and shaped the field from the nineteenth century up to the present. Bringing together major publications on the subject presents a striking picture of the state of the field as well as future directions.

Intersectionality as a Framework for Theory and Research in Feminist Psychology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah R. Warner ◽  
Stephanie A. Shields
Keyword(s):  
Social Activism ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Science Practices ◽  
Intersectionality Theory ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
History Of

Intersectionality theory concerns the interdependence of systems of inequality and implications for psychological research. Social identities cannot be studied independently of one another nor separately from the societal processes that maintain inequality. In this chapter we provide a brief overview of the history of intersectionality theory and then address how intersectionality theory challenges the way psychological theories typically conceive of the person, as well as the methods of data gathering and analysis customarily used by many psychologists. We specifically address two concerns often expressed by feminist researchers. First, how to reconcile the use of an intersectionality framework with currently-valued psychological science practices. Second, how intersectionality transforms psychology’s concern with individual experience by shifting the focus to the individual’s position within sociostructural frameworks and their social and political underpinnings. In a concluding section we identify two future directions for intersectionality theory: how psychological research on intersectionality can facilitate social activism, and current developments in intersectionality theory.

Technical Issues Related to Computerized Music Performance Assessment

2019 ◽  
pp. 854-876
Author(s):  
Daniel Massoth
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Music Assessment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Internal And External Factors

When technology is used for assessment in music, certain considerations can affect the validity, reliability, and depth of analysis. This chapter explores factors that are present in the three phases of the assessment process: recognition, analysis, and display of assessment of a musical performance. Each phase has inherent challenges embedded within internal and external factors. The goal here is not to provide an exhaustive analysis of any or all aspects of assessment but, rather, to present the rationale for and history of using technology in music assessment and to examine the philosophical and practical considerations. A discussion of possible future directions of product research and development concludes the chapter.

Dual‐hormone artificial pancreas for management of type 1 diabetes: Recent progress and future directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Infante ◽  
David A. Baidal ◽  
Michael R. Rickels ◽  
Andrea Fabbri ◽  
Jay S. Skyler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Artificial Pancreas ◽  
Future Directions

scholarly journals Value of preoperative computed tomography for meso-Rex bypass in children with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiying Wu ◽  
Ning Zhou ◽  
Lianwei Lu ◽  
Xiwen Chen ◽  
Tao Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction ◽  
Portal Vein Obstruction ◽  
Left Portal Vein ◽  
History Of ◽  
Associated Malformations ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is the most important cause of hematemesis in children. Intrahepatic left portal vein and superior mesenteric vein anastomosis, also known as meso-Rex bypass (MRB), is becoming the gold standard treatment for EHPVO. We analyzed the value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) in determining whether MRB is feasible in children with EHPVO. Results We retrieved data on 76 children with EHPVO (50 male, 26 female; median age, 5.9 years) who underwent MRB (n = 68) or the Warren procedure (n = 8) from 2013 to 2019 and retrospectively analyzed their clinical and CT characteristics. The Rex recess was categorized into four subtypes (types 1–4) depending on its diameter in CT images. Of all 76 children, 7.9% had a history of umbilical catheterization and 1.3% had leukemia. Sixteen patients (20 lesions) had associated malformations. A total of 72.4% of Rex recesses could be measured by CT, and their mean diameter was 3.5 ± 1.8 mm (range 0.6–10.5 mm). A type 1, 2, 3, and 4 Rex recess was present in 9.2%, 53.9%, 11.8%, and 25.0% of patients, respectively. MRB could be performed in patients with types 1, 2, and 3, but those with type 4 required further evaluation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of CT were 100%, 83.8%, 42.1%, 100%, and 85.5%, respectively. Conclusions Among the four types of Rex recesses on CT angiography, types 1–3 allow for the performance of MRB.

scholarly journals The Past, Present and Future of Cannabis sativa Tissue Culture

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Adrian S. Monthony ◽  
Serena R. Page ◽  
Mohsen Hesami ◽  
Andrew Maxwell P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Clonal Plants ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
History Of ◽  
Drug Type

The recent legalization of Cannabis sativa L. in many regions has revealed a need for effective propagation and biotechnologies for the species. Micropropagation affords researchers and producers methods to rapidly propagate insect-/disease-/virus-free clonal plants and store germplasm and forms the basis for other biotechnologies. Despite this need, research in the area is limited due to the long history of prohibitions and restrictions. Existing literature has multiple limitations: many publications use hemp as a proxy for drug-type Cannabis when it is well established that there is significant genotype specificity; studies using drug-type cultivars are predominantly optimized using a single cultivar; most protocols have not been replicated by independent groups, and some attempts demonstrate a lack of reproducibility across genotypes. Due to culture decline and other problems, the multiplication phase of micropropagation (Stage 2) has not been fully developed in many reports. This review will provide a brief background on the history and botany of Cannabis as well as a comprehensive and critical summary of Cannabis tissue culture. Special attention will be paid to current challenges faced by researchers, the limitations of existing Cannabis micropropagation studies, and recent developments and future directions of Cannabis tissue culture technologies.

scholarly journals Stroke prediction in patients presenting with isolated dizziness in the emergency department

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
June-sung Kim ◽  
Hong Jun Bae ◽  
Muyeol Kim ◽  
Shin Ahn ◽  
Chang Hwan Sohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Cerebrovascular Injury ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Record Review

AbstractDiagnosing stroke in patients experiencing dizziness without neurological deficits is challenging for physicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of acute stroke in patients who presented with isolated dizziness without neurological deficits at the emergency department (ED), and determine the relevant stroke predictors in this population. This was an observational, retrospective record review of consecutive 2215 adult patients presenting with dizziness at the ED between August 2019 and February 2020. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for acute stroke. 1239 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Acute stroke was identified in 55 of 1239 patients (4.5%); most cases (96.3%) presented as ischemic stroke with frequent involvement (29.1%) of the cerebellum. In the multivariate analysis, the history of cerebrovascular injury (odds ratio [OR] 3.08 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.24 to 7.67]) and an age of > 65 years (OR 3.01 [95% CI 1.33 to 6.83]) were the independent risk factors for predicting acute stroke. The combination of these two risks showed a higher specificity (94.26%) than that of each factor alone. High-risk patients, such as those aged over 65 years or with a history of cerebrovascular injury, may require further neuroimaging workup in the ED to rule out stroke.

Prevention and early help for eating disorders in young people with type 1 diabetes

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910452199417
Author(s):  
Rosie Oldham-Cooper ◽  
Claire Semple
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Young People ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Specialist Services

There is building evidence that early intervention is key to improving outcomes in eating disorders, whereas a ‘watch and wait’ approach that has been commonplace among GPs and other healthcare professionals is now strongly discouraged. Eating disorders occur at approximately twice the rate in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to the general population. In this group, standard eating disorder treatments have poorer outcomes, and eating disorders result in a particularly high burden of morbidity. Therefore, our first priority must be prevention, with early intervention where disordered eating has already developed. Clinicians working in both eating disorders and diabetes specialist services have highlighted the need for multidisciplinary team collaboration and specific training, as well as improved treatments. We review the current evidence and future directions for prevention, identification and early intervention for eating disorders in children and young people with type 1 diabetes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document