Optical coherence tomography angiography for choroidal neovascularization in pathological myopia and neovascular age-related macular degeneration in combination with axial myopia in comparative analysis

Background. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is currently an important method of visualization and assessment of fundus pathology in various diseases. The study of combined pathologies is not well covered.The aim: to compare OCTA features during choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in pathological myopia (PM) and in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in combination with axial myopia (nAMD + M) against the background of anti-VEGF therapy.Materials and methods. A prospective study included 70 eyes with active CNV. Comparative analysis of parameters was carried out between two groups: with PM – 47 eyes; with nAMD + M – 23 eyes.Results. 4 OCTA patterns were established in both groups: dense, loose, mixed and unidentifi able. With PM, dense pattern was found in 28 (59.57 %) eyes, loose pattern – in 16 (34.04 %), mixed pattern– in 2 (4.26 %), unidentifi able pattern – in 1 (2.13 %). In the nAMD + M group, dense pattern was rare – in 1 (4.35 %) eye, loose pattern – in 7 (30.44 %), mixed pattern – in 9 (39.13 %), unidentifi able pattern – in 6 (26.08 %). The fi rst group was characterized by a dense pattern that was found at a younger age, the second group was characterized by dense and mixed patterns. The greatest area and density of CNV were found with a loose pattern in both groups (p < 0.05). The observation period until the stabilization of CNV was achieved was longer in the loose and mixed patterns in the PM group, and in the loose and unidentifi able – in the nAMD + M group (p < 0.05). Loose and unidentifi able patterns require more injections. The halo was determined by the presence of intraretinal fluid in the retina. Conclusion. OCTA showed common features and distinctive features in the course of CNV in patients with PM and nAMD + M during anti-VEGF therapy. OCTA can be useful in assessing CNV activity and predicting the eff ect of treatment.

Association of major dietary patterns with resting metabolic rate and body fatness in middle-aged men and women: Results from a cross-sectional study

Background: The association of dietary patterns and resting metabolic rate is still unclear. Aim: To study the relationship between the major dietary patterns, resting metabolic rate, and adiposity measures in Iranian adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 270 adults aged between 18–45 years old who lived in Tehran. Dietary intakes were achieved using food frequency questionnaire. Resting metabolic rate was measured using indirect calorimetry. Anthropometric measures were recorded using body composition analyzer. Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis labeled as healthy pattern (vegetables, fruits, and fruits juices, legumes, poultry, nuts, fish, egg, low fat dairy product, olive, and olive oil), mixed pattern (non-refined cereals, vegetables, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, high fat dairy product and, pickles), Western pattern (refined cereals, red or processed meat, soft drinks, sweets and desserts, Tea and coffee, salty snacks and French fries). After adjusting for covariates higher score of the Western dietary pattern was associated with lower resting metabolic rate ( p = 0.023). There was significant decreasing difference in means for fat free mass across tertiles of mixed pattern when the first tertile was compared to the third tertile ( p = 0.046). Higher adherence to healthy pattern was associated with lower body weight ( p = 0.034), body mass index ( p = 0.021), and higher resting metabolic rate ( p = 0.033). Conclusions: Higher adherence to the Western dietary pattern was associated with a lower amount of resting metabolic rate. Also higher adherence to the healthy dietary pattern was associated with higher resting metabolic rate and lower body weight and body mass index. Further studies are required to examine the causal relationship between dietary patterns and resting metabolic rate.

Retinal autofluorescence findings after COVID-19

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of retinal autofluorescence findings in COVID-19 patients. Observational study conducted in São Paulo in 2020. Demographic, medical history, and concomitant events, as well as medications used, hospitalization details, and laboratory test results, were obtained. Patients underwent eye examination and multimodal imaging, including color, red-free, autofluorescence fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Eighteen patients had autofluorescence findings (6 females; average age 54 years, range 31 to 86 years; 26 eyes). Hyper-autofluorescence findings were present in 6 patients, Hypo-autofluorescence in 14 patients, and 6 patients had mixed pattern lesions. Retinal autofluorescence abnormalities were present in COVID-19 patients and may be secondary to primary or secondary changes caused by the SARS-CoV-2.

Evaluation of the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) in Patients Affected by Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: 6 to 12 Weeks After Discharge

The most lethal adverse effect of COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can lead to rapid death. This symptom even causes concern for patients who have recovered and have been discharged. Therefore, it is obligatory to test and monitor variations in their lungs’ function after recovery. In this study, we evaluated the pulmonary function of 64 patients with severe COVID-19, six weeks to 3 months after discharge. Pulmonary function parameters were measured by spirometry and body box according to the criteria of the American Thoracic Society and under the supervision of an adult pulmonologist. According to the forced expiratory volume (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and total lung capacity (TLC) values, it was found that 3.1% of people had an obstructive pattern, 40.63% of patients had the restrictive pattern, and 6.25% of improved individuals showed a mixed pattern. Furthermore, the study of diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) index revealed that 13.3%, 25%, and 53% of cases had mild, moderate, and severe disorders of gas exchange, respectively. In addition, determining the maximum amount of inspiratory muscles (PI max) and expiratory muscles (PE max) disclosed that the rate of these two indicators in 62.5% and 71.88% of the subjects were less than 50%, respectively. In general, the results of the present study suggest that pulmonary function test and follow-up of patients' condition are not only recommended but seems to be essential after recovery due to the large percentage of patients with the restricted pattern a few weeks after recovery.

Patterns of Forest Encroachment Behavior Based on Characteristics of Immigrants and Local Communities

This study aims to analyze the comparison of the behavioral characteristics of forest encroachers between migrants and local communities. The research method uses descriptive analysis. Sampling using the snowball sampling method. The results showed that the behavior of forest encroachment was formed based on the number of respondents from the most, namely the behavior of sustainable, mixed and unsustainable use. However, when viewed based on land area, it turns out to be inversely proportional to where the area of rubber plantations is at least 822 ha, while the area of oil palm plantations reaches 1203 ha. In addition, it should be noted that the highest land area is found in a mixed pattern. This means that local people have started to look at oil palm plantations for cultivation. Overall, based on the age that dominates the forest encroachers, the range is 31-50 years. The education of migrants is higher than that of local communities, but the pattern of encroachment of local communities is more sustainable when compared to migrants. The number of family members of immigrants is mostly in the medium category, while the number of family members of local communities is mostly in the small category. In addition, squatters whose main occupation is farmers tend to be more sustainable when compared to other occupations. Efforts to resolve the problem of forest encroachment in the Dharmasraya PFMU area can be resolved through sustainable community empowerment activities, improving the handling of encroachers, and increasing the effectiveness of PFMU management.

Patterns of Forest Encroachment Behavior Based on Characteristics of Immigrants and Local Communities

This study aims to analyze the comparison of the behavioral characteristics of forest encroachers between migrants and local communities. The research method uses descriptive analysis. Sampling using the snowball sampling method. The results showed that the behavior of forest encroachment was formed based on the number of respondents from the most, namely the behavior of sustainable, mixed and unsustainable use. However, when viewed based on land area, it turns out to be inversely proportional to where the area of rubber plantations is at least 822 ha, while the area of oil palm plantations reaches 1203 ha. In addition, it should be noted that the highest land area is found in a mixed pattern. This means that local people have started to look at oil palm plantations for cultivation. Overall, based on the age that dominates the forest encroachers, the range is 31-50 years. The education of migrants is higher than that of local communities, but the pattern of encroachment of local communities is more sustainable when compared to migrants. The number of family members of immigrants is mostly in the medium category, while the number of family members of local communities is mostly in the small category. In addition, squatters whose main occupation is farmers tend to be more sustainable when compared to other occupations. Efforts to resolve the problem of forest encroachment in the Dharmasraya PFMU area can be resolved through sustainable community empowerment activities, improving the handling of encroachers, and increasing the effectiveness of PFMU management.

Real-World Data of Tigecycline-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury Among Patients in China: A 3-year Retrospective Study as Assessed by the Updated RUCAM

Background: Tigecycline, a glycylcycline antibiotic, is increasingly used clinically for the treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, but it is also associated with hepatotoxicity. However, the incidence and risk factors of tigecycline-associated drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are unclear. We conducted this study to investigate the incidence, characteristics and risk factors of tigecycline-associated DILI in the real-world clinic setting.Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in inpatients who received tigecycline treatment from January 2018 to January 2020. Based on the biochemical criteria of DILI and the causality assessment by Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) using cases with a probable or highly probable causality grading, two clinical pharmacists and one clinician worked together to screen patients for tigecycline-associated DILI. Then patients with DILI were randomly matched by gender in a ratio of 1:2 to the remaining patients in the tigecycline cohort without biochemical abnormalities to identify risk factors.Results: A total of 973 patients from 1,250 initial participants were included. The incidence of tigecycline-associated DILI was 5.7% (55/973). Among 55 DILI patients, 10 cases presented with the hepatocellular pattern, 4 cases belonged to the mixed pattern, and 41 presented with the cholestatic pattern. Most cases reached the severity of grade 1 and 2. The rate of recovery in hepatocellular pattern, mixed pattern, and cholestatic pattern was 70.0, 50.0, and 41.5%, respectively. The proportion of the DILI cases treated with high dose (100 mg) and prolonged duration (&gt;14 days) was significantly higher than standard dose and routine duration (100.0% vs. 18.1%, p &lt; 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that high maintenance dose (OR = 1.028, p = 0.002), prolonged duration (OR = 1.208, p = 0.000), and number of hepatotoxic drugs (OR = 2.232, p = 0.000) were independent factors of tigecycline-associated DILI.Conclusion: Tigecycline was associated with liver injury, with a slightly higher incidence (5.7%) than the frequency of “frequent” (5%) defined by the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. Patients with a high maintenance dose and prolonged tigecycline regimen, as well as concomitant use of multiple hepatotoxic drugs should be paid more attention.

Residential-type urban forest design in Buana Cicalengka Raya Estate, Cicalengka District, Bandung Regency

The existence of urban forests in the middle of residential areas will provide added value for beauty, comfort, and environmental health that could increase the value of land and buildings in the residential area. Residential-type urban forests need to be well designed so that they are compatible with the type of building and match the residential environment’s conditions. The purpose of this design is to create an appealing, multi-benefit urban forest design, which includes aspects of the urban forest theme concept, zoning arrangement, and vegetation arrangement, including species composition, density, and planting pattern. The outcome of the design resulted in a residential type, urban forest design by the theme of RINDU BCR Urban Forest (Relaxation, Inspiration, and Education for Buana Cicalengka Raya). The RINDU BCR Urban Forest functions as (1) a place of relaxation, (2) seeking positive inspiration, and (3) environmental education for the community. The planting pattern design consists of four types, namely: (1) opposite line pattern; (2) zigzag line pattern; (3) single line pattern, and (4) mixed pattern. The front-facing area of the RINDU BCR Urban Forest is designed by planting tree species that have the criteria of being ornamental, providing shade and safety, having a height of more than 300 cm, and a diameter of more than 10 cm.

Interleukin-1 Links Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Pathophysiology in Mixed-Pattern Psoriasis

Autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases are characterized by an oversensitive immune system with loss of the physiological endogenous regulation, involving multifactorial self-reactive pathological mechanisms of mono- or polygenic nature. Failure in regulatory mechanisms triggers a complex network of dynamic relationships between innate and adaptive immunity, leading to coexistent autoinflammatory and autoimmune processes. Sustained exposure to a trigger or a genetic alteration at the level of the receptors of the natural immune system may lead to abnormal activation of the innate immune system, adaptive system activation, loss of self-tolerance, and systemic inflammation. The IL-1 family members critically activate and regulate innate and adaptive immune responses’ diversity and plasticity in autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory conditions. The IL-23/IL-17 axis is key in the communication between innate immunity (IL-23-producing myeloid cells) and adaptive immunity (Th17- and IL-17-expressing CD8+ T cells). In psoriasis, these cytokines are decisive to the different clinical presentations, whether as plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris), generalized pustular psoriasis (pustular psoriasis), or mixed forms. These forms reflect a gradient between autoimmune pathophysiology with predominant adaptive immune response and autoinflammatory pathophysiology with predominant innate immune response.