Ocular Phantom-Based Feasibility Study of an Early Diagnosis Device for Glaucoma

Glaucoma causes total or partial loss of vision in 10% of people over the age of 70, increasing their fragility and isolation. It is characterised by the destruction of the optic nerve fibres, which may result from excessively high intraocular pressure as well as other phenomena. Diagnosis is currently reached through a combination of several checks, mainly of the eyes’ fundus, tonometry and gonioscopy. Prior to validation for human subjects, the objective of this study is to validate whether ocular phantom-based models could be used to diagnose glaucoma using an onboard system, which could, even at home, prevent the early-stage development of the pathology. Eight phantoms modelling healthy eyes and eight phantoms modelling eyes with glaucoma due to excessive intraocular pressure were measured using an onboard system, including lens and electrophysiology electronics. We measured the actual average Zr (real part of impedance) impedance of 160.9 ± 24.3 ohms (glaucoma ocular phantom models) versus 211.9 ± 36.9 ohms (healthy ocular phantom models), and an average total water volume (Vt) of 3.02 ± 0.35 mL (glaucoma ocular phantom models) versus 2.45 ± 0.28 mL (healthy ocular Phantoms). On average, we obtained 51 ohms (−24.1%) less and 0.57 mL (22.9%) of total water volume more, respectively. Normality tests (Shapiro–Wilk) for Vt and Zr indicate p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively. Since these variables do not respect normal laws, unmatched Mann–Whitney tests were performed indicating a significant difference between Vt and Zr in the healthy ocular phantom models and those modelling glaucoma. To conclude, this preliminary study indicates the possibility of discriminating between healthy eyes with those with glaucoma. However, further large-scale studies involving healthy eyes and those suffering from glaucoma are necessary to generate viable models.

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Ex vivo and in vivo study of Kowa HA-2 applanation tonometer in the measurement of intraocular pressure in cats

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n6p3647 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 3647

Author(s):

Claudia Lizandra Ricci ◽

Rogério Giuffrida ◽

Glaucia Prada Kanashiro ◽

Hilidia Stephania Rufino Belezzi ◽

Carolina De Carvalho Bacarin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intraocular Pressure ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

In Vivo Study ◽

Eye Drops ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Applanation Tonometer ◽

Ex Vivo Study ◽

Healthy Eyes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the Kowa HA-2 applanation tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) in cats. Ten healthy eyes were used in an ex vivo study in which the calibration curve for manometry vs. tonometry was determined by artificially raising the IOP in 5 mmHg increments up to 60 mmHg (10-60 mmHg). Both eyes of 10 anesthetized cats were studiedin vivo to compare manometry vs. tonometry. In the ambulatory study, 78 healthy eyes, 7 eyes with glaucoma and 20 eyes with uveitis were evaluated by tonometry, which was performed with topical anesthesia and 1% fluorescein eye drops for the formation of fluorescein semicircles. The correlation coefficient (r²) between the manometer and the Kowa HA-2 tonometer was 0.993 and the linear regression equation was y = 0.0915x + 0.0878 in the ex-vivo study. In the in vivo study, the IOP values (mean±SD, in mmHg) in manometry were 15.6 ± 1.1(14.0 – 17.5) and in tonometry were 15.5 ± 1.2(13.5 – 17.2), with no significant difference (P > 0.05) between manometry and tonometry. In ambulatory study, using the Kowa HA-2 tonometer, the IOP values (mean±SD, in mmHg) were 15.0 ± 1.5 (11.8 – 18.3) for the healthy eyes, 38.4 ± 8.1(29.6 – 53.7) for glaucomatous eyes and 10.4 ± 2.0(5.3 – 12.2) for eyes with uveitis. There was a strong correlation and accuracy between the IOP values with the manometry and the Kowa HA-2 tonometer. In the ambulatorystudy the IOP values obtained with the tonometer were compatible for animals with healthy eyes and with clinical signs of glaucoma and uveitis. We conclude that the Kowa HA-2 tonometer can be used in the measurement of IOP in cats, since it is a practical and accurate method in this species.

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Needleless Electrospinning of Polystyrene Fibers with an Oriented Surface Line Texture

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2012/473872 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Chen Huang ◽

Haitao Niu ◽

Jinglei Wu ◽

Qinfei Ke ◽

Xiumei Mo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Early Stage ◽

Fiber Surface ◽

Diameter Distribution ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Electrospinning Technique ◽

X Ray ◽

Needleless Electrospinning ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Line Texture

We have demonstrated that polystyrene (PS) nanofibers having an ordered surface line texture can be produced on a large scale from a PS solution of acetone and N,N′-dimethylformamide (2/1, vol/vol) by a needleless electrospinning technique using a disc as fiber generator. The formation of the unusual surface feature was investigated and attributed to the voids formed on the surface of jets due to the fast evaporation of acetone at the early stage of electrospinning, and subsequent elongation and solidification turning the voids into ordered lines on fiber surface. In comparison with the nanofibers electrospun by a conventional needle electrospinning using the same solution, the disc electrospun fibers were finer with similar diameter distribution. The fiber production rate for the disc electrospinning was 62 times higher than that of the conventional electrospinning. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that the PS nanofibers produced from the two electrospinning techniques showed no significant difference in chemical component, albeit slightly higher crystallinity in the disc spun nanofibers.

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Nicht kleinzelliges Lungenkarzinom bei älteren Patienten: Einfluss von Lobektomie oder sublobärer Resektion auf die Prognose

Karger Kompass Pneumologie ◽

10.1159/000504031 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 315-316

Author(s):

Khosro Hekmat

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Retrospective Studies ◽

Early Stage ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Random Effect ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Kleinzelliges Lungenkarzinom ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Random Effect Models

Background: We present a critical comparison of lobectomy and sub-lobar resection in elderly patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer using meta-analytical techniques. Methods: A literature search was conducted between the period of December 1997 to March 2019 to identify the comparative studies evaluating 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. The pooled odds ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated with either the fixed or random effect models, respectively. Results: Six retrospective studies are included in our meta-analysis for a total of 1205 patients. 843 of the individuals were treated with lobectomy, while 362 were treated with sub-lobar resection. We found no significant difference between the lobectomy and the sub-lobar resection in either of the 1-, 3-, or 5-year survival rates. Conclusions: This study suggests that in elderly individuals with stage I NSCLC, a sub-lobar resection is statistically equivalent to the lobectomy in terms of 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Further large-scale randomized studies are needed to confirm our results.

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Ex vivo and in vivo study of Kowa HA-2 applanation tonometer in the measurement of intraocular pressure in dogs

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n2p797 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 797

Author(s):

Silvia Franco Andrade ◽

Alexandre Lima de Andrade ◽

Glaucia Prada Kanashiro ◽

Danielle Alves Silva ◽

Rafael Cabral Barbero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intraocular Pressure ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

In Vivo Study ◽

Eye Drops ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Applanation Tonometer ◽

Anesthetized Dogs ◽

Ex Vivo Study ◽

Healthy Eyes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the Kowa HA-2 applanation tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) in dogs. Twenty eyes were used in an ex vivo study in which the calibration curve for manometry vs. tonometry was determined by artificially raising the IOP in 5 mmHg increments up to 60 mmHg (10-60 mmHg). Both eyes of 10 anesthetized dogs were studied in vivo to compare manometry vs. tonometry. In the ambulatory study, 168 healthy eyes, 74 eyes with glaucoma and 60 eyes with uveitis were evaluated by tonometry, which was performed with topical anesthesia and 1% fluorescein eye drops for the formation of fluorescein semicircles. The ex vivo study showed an excellent correlation coefficient (r2= 0.993) between the aneroid manometer and the Kowa HA-2 tonometer. In the in vivo study, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the IOP values by manometry and tonometry, showing the excellent accuracy of the Kowa HA-2 tonometer. In the ambulatory study using the Kowa HA-2 tonometer, the IOP values (mean±SD, in mmHg) were 15.1±1.8 (12.0 – 20.0) for the healthy eyes, 25.2±4.0 (20.0 – 38.0) for glaucomatous eyes and 10.1±2.3 (5.0 – 13.7) for eyes with uveitis. There was a strong correlation between the IOP values obtained by direct ocular manometry and those from the Kowa HA-2 tonometer. In the ambulatory study, the IOP values measured by the tonometer were compatible for healthy eyes and for eyes with glaucoma or uveitis. We conclude that Kowa HA-2 applanation tonometer is accurate and practical for IOP measurement in dogs.

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Konkurrenz zwischen Stieleiche und Buche auf Lothar-Sturmflächen | Competition between pedunculate oak and European beech on Lothar windthrow areas

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2009.0114 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 160 (5) ◽

pp. 114-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Daniel Otto ◽

Sven Wagner ◽

Peter Brang

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Early Stage ◽

Tree Height ◽

European Beech ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Test Methods ◽

Permanent Plots ◽

Pedunculate Oak ◽

Competitive Pressure ◽

Competition Index

The competitive pressure of naturally regenerated European beech (Fagus sylvatica) saplings on planted pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) was investigated on two 1.8 ha permanent plots near Habsburg and Murten (Switzerland). The plots were established with the aim to test methods of artificial oak regeneration after large-scale windthrow. On both plots, 80 oaks exposed to varying levels of competitive pressure from at most 10 neighbouring beech trees were selected. The height of each oak as well as stem and branch diameters were measured. The competitive pressure was assessed using Schütz's competition index, which is based on relative tree height, crown overlap and distance from competing neighbours. Oak trees growing without or with only slight competition from beech were equally tall, while oaks exposed to moderate to strong competition were smaller. A threshold value for the competition index was found above which oak height decreased strongly. The stem and branch diameters of the oaks started to decrease even if the competition from beech was slight, and decreased much further with more competition. The oak stems started to become more slender even with only slight competition from beech. On the moderately acid beech sites studied here, beech grow taller faster than oak. Thus where beech is competing with oak and the aim is to maintain the oak, competitive pressure on the oak must be reduced at an early stage. The degree of the intervention should, however, take the individual competitive interaction into account, with more intervention if the competition is strong.

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STUDY CLINICAL FEATURE AND RESULT OF TREATMENT PHACOMORPHIC GLAUCOMA

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2015.1.9 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 71-75

Author(s):

Van Nam Phan ◽

Ba Ken Tran

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Intraocular Pressure ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Corneal Edema ◽

Clinical Feature ◽

Anterior Chamber Angle ◽

Male Population ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Operative Complications ◽

Before And After

Purpose: Study clinical feature of phacomorphic glaucoma. To evaluate the result of treatment phacomorphic glaucoma. Method: The retrospective, interventional study on 36 cases with phacomorphic glaucoma who underwent treated at Hue Central Hospital from 6/2010 to 6/2011. Standard of research: visual, IOP, before and after surgery, accompanying lesions and post-operative complications. The surgery is considered successful when postoperative IOP less than 21 mmHg. Results: Age 50-59 presented 30.5 percent, ≥ 60 presented 91.7 percent. There was a slight female preponderance (66.7%) compared to the male population (33.3%) which implies a statistically marginally significant difference. However there was no statistical significance difference when compared by the two subgroups. Patient in country presented 61,1% and city presented 38,9%. The duration between the onset of pain and surgery from 0 to < 5 days (77.8%), from 6 to 10 (16.7%) and >10 days presented 5.5%. The preoperative intraocular pressure 35 to 45mmHg (47.2%), 46-55 (30.6%), 56-65 (13.9%) and more than 65 presented 8.3%. The visual acuity preoperation less than 1metre count finger (94.5%), less than 3 metre count finger presented 5.5%. Close anterior chamber angle presented 80.6% and shallow was presented 19.4%. Corneal edema presented 100%, iritis presented 94.4%, dilated pupil larger 5mm presented 83.3%, Synchynea iris and cataract presented 72.2%. ECCE, implantation IOL combined trabeculectomy presented 11.1%, Phaco, implantation IOL combined trabeculectomy presented 69,5%, ECCE implantation IOL presented 5.6%, Phaco, implantation IOL presented 13.8%. Postoperative visual acuity from 1/10 to 5/10 presented 72.2%, no case have VA larger than 5/10. Postoperative 3 months VA 1/10 to 5/10 presented 72.2%, larger VA 5/10 presented 8.3%. Postoperative 3 months intraocular pressure ≤ 21mmHg presented 91.7%, 22 to 24mmHg presented 8.3%, no case have IOP ≥25mmHg. Postoperative edema presented 58.3%, iritis presented 58.3%. Key words: phacomorphic Glaucoma

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Relapse After Early-Stage, Favorable Hodgkin Lymphoma: Disease Characteristics and Outcomes With Conventional or High-Dose Chemotherapy

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.20.00947 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 107-115

Author(s):

Paul J. Bröckelmann ◽

Horst Müller ◽

Teresa Guhl ◽

Karolin Behringer ◽

Michael Fuchs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽

Early Stage ◽

High Dose Chemotherapy ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

High Dose ◽

Second Line ◽

Second Line Therapy ◽

Line Therapy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

First Diagnosis

PURPOSE We evaluated disease and treatment characteristics of patients with relapse after risk-adapted first-line treatment of early-stage, favorable, classic Hodgkin lymphoma (ES-HL). We compared second-line therapy with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or conventional chemotherapy (CTx). METHODS We analyzed patients with relapse after ES-HL treated within the German Hodgkin Study Group HD10+HD13 trials. We compared, by Cox proportional hazards regression, progression-free survival (PFS) after relapse (second PFS) treated with either ASCT or CTx and performed sensitivity analyses with overall survival (OS) from relapse and Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS A total of 174 patients’ disease relapsed after treatment in the HD10 (n = 53) and HD13 (n = 121) trials. Relapse mostly occurred > 12 months after first diagnosis, predominantly with stage I-II disease. Of 172 patients with known second-line therapy, 85 received CTx (49%); 70, ASCT (41%); 11, radiotherapy only (6%); and 4, palliative single agent therapies (2%). CTx was predominantly bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP [68%]), followed by the combination regimen of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (19%), or other regimens (13%). Patients aged > 60 years at relapse had shorter second PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.0; P = .0029) and were mostly treated with CTx (n = 33 of 49; 67%) and rarely with ASCT (n = 8; 16%). After adjustment for age and a disadvantage of ASCT after the more historic HD10 trial, we did not observe a significant difference in the efficacy of CTx versus ASCT for second PFS (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.6; P = .39). In patients in the HD13 trial who were aged ≤ 60 years, the 2-year, second PFS rate was 94.0% with CTx (95% CI, 85.7% to 100%) versus 83.3% with ASCT (95% CI, 71.8% to 94.8%). Additional sensitivity analyses including OS confirmed these observations. CONCLUSION After contemporary treatment of ES-HL, relapse mostly occurred > 12 months after first diagnosis. Polychemotherapy regimens such as BEACOPP are frequently administered and may constitute a reasonable treatment option for selected patients with relapse after ES-HL.

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Optimizing Manufacturing and Osseointegration of Ti6Al4V Implants through Precision Casting and Calcium and Phosphorus Ion Implantation? In Vivo Results of a Large-Scale Animal Trial

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13071670 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1670 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wölfle-Roos JV ◽

Katmer Amet B ◽

Fiedler J ◽

Michels H ◽

Kappelt G ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ion Implantation ◽

Large Scale ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Control Group ◽

Implant Surface ◽

Precision Casting ◽

Pull Out ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Calcium And Phosphorus

Background: Uncemented implants are still associated with several major challenges, especially with regard to their manufacturing and their osseointegration. In this study, a novel manufacturing technique—an optimized form of precision casting—and a novel surface modification to promote osseointegration—calcium and phosphorus ion implantation into the implant surface—were tested in vivo. Methods: Cylindrical Ti6Al4V implants were inserted bilaterally into the tibia of 110 rats. We compared two generations of cast Ti6Al4V implants (CAST 1st GEN, n = 22, and CAST 2nd GEN, n = 22) as well as cast 2nd GEN Ti6Al4V implants with calcium (CAST + CA, n = 22) and phosphorus (CAST + P, n = 22) ion implantation to standard machined Ti6Al4V implants (control, n = 22). After 4 and 12 weeks, maximal pull-out force and bone-to-implant contact rate (BIC) were measured and compared between all five groups. Results: There was no significant difference between all five groups after 4 weeks or 12 weeks with regard to pull-out force (p > 0.05, Kruskal Wallis test). Histomorphometric analysis showed no significant difference of BIC after 4 weeks (p > 0.05, Kruskal–Wallis test), whereas there was a trend towards a higher BIC in the CAST + P group (54.8% ± 15.2%), especially compared to the control group (38.6% ± 12.8%) after 12 weeks (p = 0.053, Kruskal–Wallis test). Conclusion: In this study, we found no indication of inferiority of Ti6Al4V implants cast with the optimized centrifugal precision casting technique of the second generation compared to standard Ti6Al4V implants. As the employed manufacturing process holds considerable economic potential, mainly due to a significantly decreased material demand per implant by casting near net-shape instead of milling away most of the starting ingot, its application in manufacturing uncemented implants seems promising. However, no significant advantages of calcium or phosphorus ion implantation could be observed in this study. Due to the promising results of ion implantation in previous in vitro and in vivo studies, further in vivo studies with different ion implantation conditions should be considered.

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The effect of metabolism on the course of labor and the postpartum period in highly productive cows

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20201700256 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 00256

Author(s):

Murat Baimishev ◽

Sergey Eremin ◽

Kirill Plemyashov ◽

Hamidulla Baimishev ◽

Igor Konopeltsev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

Early Stage ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Antioxidant Systems ◽

Dry Period ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Start Up ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Duration Of Pregnancy

The purpose of the research is to determine the etiopathogenesis of reproductive dysfunction in highly productive cows. For this, one group of cows was formed on the principle of paranalogs in the amount of 37 animals inseminated in the first sexual hunt after calving, followed by taking blood samples from them using the Monovet system, considering the duration of pregnancy. During the start-up period, blood was taken 1–4 days before calving and on the first day after calving. A total of 253 blood samples were examined. Subsequently, depending on the effectiveness of insemination, animals were divided into two groups. The first group included inseminated cows after the first insemination (20 animals), the second group included 17 unfertilized cows after the first insemination. Subsequently, blood was taken from animals considering the course of childbirth and the postpartum period. Blood counts were studied according to generally accepted methods using certified equipment. The study found that at an early stage of pregnancy, cows have a significant difference in lipid metabolism and in their peroxidation, in the state of antioxidant systems compared to unstable animals. In the process of pregnancy development in cows, there is a decrease in the level of total lipids and their class, and the accumulation of products of transoxidation of lipids is reduced. In animals with retention of the placenta, a low lipid metabolism and a higher level of peroxidation were established already in the dry period. After calving, this difference increases. The obtained data can be used to develop an algorithm for the prevention of postpartum complications in cows by using substances with antioxidant properties.

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Age-Related Biology of Early-Stage Operable Breast Cancer and Its Impact on Clinical Outcome

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13061417 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1417

Author(s):

Binafsha M. Syed ◽

Andrew R. Green ◽

Emad A. Rakha ◽

David A.L. Morgan ◽

Ian O. Ellis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Early Stage ◽

Histological Grade ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Progesterone Receptors ◽

Biological Characteristics ◽

Cancer Specific Survival ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference

As age advances, breast cancer (BC) tends to change its biological characteristics. This study aimed to explore the natural progression of such changes. The study included 2383 women with clinically T0-2N0-1M0 BC, managed by primary surgery and optimal adjuvant therapy in a dedicated BC facility. Tissue micro-arrays were constructed from their surgical specimens and indirect immunohistochemistry was used for analysis of a large panel (n = 16) of relevant biomarkers. There were significant changes in the pattern of expression of biomarkers related to luminal (oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptors (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2), E-cadherin, MUC1, bcl2 CK7/8, CK18 and bcl2) and basal (CK5/6, CK14, p53 and Ki67) phenotypes, lymph node stage, histological grade and pathological size when decade-wise comparison was made (p < 0.05). The ages of 40 years and 70 years appeared to be the milestones marking a change of the pattern. There were significantly higher metastasis free and breast cancer specific survival rates among older women with ER positive tumours while there was no significant difference in the ER negative group according to age. Biological characteristics of BC show a pattern of change with advancing age, where 40 years and 70 years appear as important milestones. The pattern suggests <40 years as the phase with aggressive phenotypes, >70 years as the less aggressive phase and 40–70 years being the transitional phase.

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