Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term visual acuity and the duration of macular detachment: findings from a prospective population-based study

Aim To report the long-term visual outcome of a multicentre prospectively recruited cohort of macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) Methods The Scottish retinal detachment study was a prospectively recruited study that recruited all incident cases of primary RRD in Scotland over a 2-year period (2007–2009). All patients with a macula-off RRD from four participating sites were invited for clinical examination at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the initial surgery. Using a joinpoint model we estimated the effect of duration of macular detachment on final visual outcome. Results In total, there were 291 patients with macula-off RRD without pre-existing retinal disease who had successful repair after one operation. 65.9% achieved a final visual acuity (VA) of 0.48 logMAR(6/18). Our model identified two time points (day 8 (95% CI 3 to 15 days) and (day 21 (95% CI 6 to 26 days)) after which there was a statistically significant worsening in final VA. Conclusions Our study suggests that the majority of patients with macula-off RRD successfully repaired with one operation will achieve a VA of 6/18 or better at final follow-up. After 8 days of macular detachment, the final visual outcome may be adversely affected and, thus, operative repair within this period is desirable. Duration of macular detachment of ≤8 days demonstrated a continuing improvement in VA for up to 1 year, a finding which was not found in macula detachments of longer duration.
Intravitreal injections at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary: analysis of treatment indications and postinjection endophthalmitis rates

Aim To report the incidence rate of acute postoperative endophthalmitis secondary to therapeutic intravitreal injections. Methods A retrospective review of all consecutive eyes after intravitreal injections was performed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. Results During the 5-year study interval, 10 208 intravitreal injections were performed. The overall incidence rate of endophthalmitis was 0.029% per injection (3 of 10 208 injections). In the three cases, in our series, the endophthalmitis occurred at an average of seven injections, which lies within the SD of the mean number of injections received by each eye in this study, suggesting approximately equal probability of infection for each eye after receiving multiple, sequential injections. Bacterial cultures and Gram stain revealed coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (n=1), moderate bacteria with negative culture (n=1) and moderate Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=1). All cases were successfully treated using either intravitreal antibiotics and steroids or pars plana vitrectomy. Best-corrected visual acuity reduction was not clinically significant at the last visit (>7 months for all cases). Conclusions Acute endophthalmitis is a rare potential complication after intravitreal injection. Further studies are required to elucidate the best prophylactic and aseptic techniques to prevent this rare complication.
Prevalence of blindness in children

Childhood blindness carries a high financial cost for the community as well as a high individual cost impacting normal motor, language and social development of the child. These factors are all compounded when the child enters the education system and adulthood. There are very little accurate data available on the prevalence of blindness in children. We have recently published the results of a capture and recapture estimate of the total blind population in Western Australia.1 This estimate was derived from three independent lists of legally blind people and is a well-validated method for the accurate determination of population sizes.2 Here, we add additional analysis of a subset of data on the children contained within the original capture and recapture lists to provide an estimate of the prevalence of blindness in those aged less than 18 years. Blind children were identified either from the voluntary register of the Association for the Blind of Western Australia (list …
The international forum of ophthalmic simulation: developing a virtual reality training curriculum for ophthalmology

Background To investigate the effect of a structured, supervised, cataract simulation programme on ophthalmic surgeons in their first year of training, and to evaluate the level of skill transfer. Methods Trainees with minimal intraocular and simulator experience in their first year of ophthalmology undertook a structured, sequential, customised, virtual reality (VR) cataract training programme developed through the International Forum of Ophthalmic Simulation. A set of one-handed, bimanual, static and dynamic tasks were evaluated before and after the course and scores obtained. Statistical significance was evaluated with the Wilcoxon sign-rank test. Results The median precourse score of 101.50/400 (IQR 58.75–145.75) was significantly improved after completing the training programme ((postcourse score: 302/400, range: 266.25–343), p<0.001). While improvement was evident and found to be statistically significant in all parameters, greatest improvements were found for capsulorhexis and antitremor training ((Capsulorhexis: precourse score=0/100, range 0–4.5; postcourse score=81/100, range 13–87.75; p=0.002), (antitremor training: precourse score=0/100, range 0–0; postcourse score=80/100, range 60.25–91.50; p=0.001)). Conclusions Structured and supervised VR training can offer a significant level of skills transfer to novice ophthalmic surgeons. VR training at the earliest stage of ophthalmic surgical training may, therefore, be of benefit.
Offloading Floating Car Data

Floating Car Data (FCD) is currently collected by moving vehicles and uploaded to Internet-based processing centers through the cellular access infrastructure. As FCD is foreseen to rapidly become a pervasive technology, the present network paradigm risks not to scale well in the future, when a vast majority of automobiles will be constantly sensing their operation as well as the external environment and transmitting such information towards the Internet. In order to relieve the cellular network from the additional load that widespread FCD can induce, we study a local gathering and fusion paradigm, based on vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. We show how this approach can lead to significant gain, especially when and where the cellular network is stressed the most. Moreover, we propose several distributed schemes to FCD offloading based on the principle above that, despite their simplicity, are extremely efficient and can reduce the FCD capacity demand at the access network by up to 95%.
Aqueous flare is increased in patients with clinically significant cystoid macular oedema after cataract surgery

Background To analyse the relationship of clinically significant cystoid macular oedema (CME after phacoemulsification to blood–aqueous barrier breakdown as determined by aqueous flare, visual acuity and retinal thickness in optical coherence tomography (OCT). Materials and methods 30 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with clinically significant CME and vision loss were included. 46 pseudophakic and 45 phakic eyes without CME served as controls. Clinical data included age, gender, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral domain OCT volume scans. Retinal thickness measuring of the foveal central subfield was determined. Aqueous flare was measured quantitatively with the Kowa FM-500 Laser Flare-Cell Meter. Results Patients with CME had significantly higher flare values compared with pseudophakic patients (p<0.0001). For patients with CME, aqueous flare values correlated significantly with BCVA (Spearman rs=0.4, p=0.041), while there was no correlation with retinal thickness. Using flare values to predict CME, receiver operating characteristic analysis returned an area under the curve of 0.976. Conclusions Aqueous flare as a marker for inflammation and breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier is increased in patients with CME after cataract surgery.
The RPGRIP1-related retinal phenotype in children

Aim To characterise the childhood retinal phenotype associated with recessive mutations in retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1), a gene that has been infrequently associated with Leber congenital amaurosis, the most severe form of childhood non-syndromic retinal dystrophy. Methods This was a retrospective case series analysis. Results Nine children (seven families) with homozygous RPGRIP1 mutations were identified. All were noted by their families to have had shaking eyes, variable eye turn and/or poor vision at or soon after birth and to be more comfortable in darkness than daylight. At the age of examination (2–7 years of age) fixation was poor or non-existent with hemeralopia, nystagmus, variable strabismus and often an oculodigital sign (6/9). Electroretinography was non-recordable. The posterior pole was grossly normal with mild vascular attenuation, but one girl did have a subtle abnormal macular reflex associated with decreased autofluorescence. Retinal pigment epithelium changes were seen in the periphery, ranging from mottling to bone spicules, and cycloplaegic refraction was hyperopic (+3 to +10 diopters). Two children were photophobic and two were developmentally delayed. One boy had oesotropia and nystagmus that decreased when hyperopic spectacles were worn. One girl decreased her nystagmus amplitude by adopting a particular gaze preference. Conclusions Recessive RPGRIP1 mutations cause a severe cone–rod Leber congenital amaurosis phenotype, often with poor or no fixation and an oculodigital sign. In the first decade of life retinal changes are clinically most evident in the periphery. Despite the typical severity of the phenotype, fixation can improve for some affected children with wear of the associated hyperopic refraction or by a null point that dampens nystagmus. Spectacle correction of high refractive errors should be encouraged.
A NEW COMBINED STETHOSCOPE CHEST PIECE

Because of the variable qualities of different cardiac murmurs, it has been evident for a considerable time that no single stethoscope chest piece is satisfactory in transmitting all the sounds produced in the heart. Ideally, a stethoscope that could be made to vary its optimal resonating qualities between wide limits in order to respond correctly to both high and low pitched sounds would be the most sensitive instrument to use. Practically, such instruments are cumbersome and complicated. For clinical uses two forms of stethoscope chest piece have been found adequate in transmitting heart sounds and murmurs, except in the rare instances in which the naked ear is more satisfactory in responding to high pitched, blowing murmurs, such as those of aortic regurgitation. These two chest pieces are the bell type, which is most useful for low pitched murmurs, and the Bowles type, which registers high pitched murmurs more accurately. The
Comparison of the ganglion cell complex and retinal nerve fibre layer measurements using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography to detect ganglion cell loss in non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic ability of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary nerve fibre layer (NFL) measurements to detect ganglion cell loss (GCL) in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), at the chronic stage. Methods This study included 10 eyes from 10 patients with NAION and 15 eyes from 15 age-matched healthy subjects. The measurements included the GCC thicknesses as average, superior and inferior, the GCC parameters as focal loss volume (FLV) and global loss volume (GLV), the NFL thicknesses as average, superior hemisphere and inferior hemisphere, and the disc parameters as rim area and rim volume. The curves for the area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) were generated to assess the ability of each parameter to detect GCL. Results The patient group had significantly lower GCC thicknesses than the control group (p<0.001, <0.001 and 0.004, for the GCC average, superior and inferior, respectively), and also significantly higher FLV and GLV measurements (p<0.001). The NFL thicknesses were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than the control subjects (p<0.001). Among all the parameters, the FLV and the GLV had the highest levels of AUROC values (1.000, 0.990, respectively). Conclusions The FLV and the GLV showed the strongest abilities to detect GCL in patients with NAION. In addition, peripapillary NFL thickness was comparable to macular GCC thickness in detecting GCL. Therefore, macular GCC scans may provide a good alternative or a complementary practice to NFL scans in the detection of GCL in patients with NAION.
Relationship between ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and optic disc/retinal nerve fibre layer parameters in non-glaucomatous eyes

Aims To determine the relationship between macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness and optic disc/retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) parameters in non-glaucomatous eyes measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods 491 non-glaucomatous Chinese aged 40–80 years were recruited from a population-based study and underwent standardised ophthalmic examination. SD-OCT was used to measure GC-IPL thickness, optic disc parameters and RNFL thickness. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between GC-IPL and optic disc/RNFL parameters. Results In univariate analyses, all RNFL parameters and rim area were significantly correlated with all macular GC-IPL parameters (p<0.001, r=0.12–0.56). In multiple regression analyses, after adjusting for age, gender, disc area, signal strength and axial length, average RNFL thickness (per µm decrease) was most strongly correlated with average GC-IPL thickness (β=−0.30, standardised β=−0.499, p<0.001) compared with other optic disc/RNFL parameters. Conclusions Our study demonstrated only fair correlations between macular GC-IPL and optic disc/RNFL parameters measured by SD-OCT. This information is important for further evaluation of macular GC-IPL thickness as an additional marker in detecting glaucomatous damage and progression.
Prevalence based epigrammatic study of oral cancer and other mucosal disorders in elderly patients visiting dental institution of Northern India

Objective : This report provides the descriptive information about the oral health among the elderly population. The objective is to assess the association of age, medical status, recent use of dental services, habits and dentures with that of oral cancer, and other mucosal disorders. Materials and Methods: Data from the interviews and clinical examination of 285 persons aged above 60 years were obtained. Patients were divided into three groups of 75 patients each with age group of 60-65 years, 66-70 years, and 71 years above, respectively. Patients were examined and questioned regarding the oral health complaints and the presence of cancer and other mucosal disorders. Results: There are no statistically significant differentiates between the three groups in terms of oral health complaint, medical status. The patients in all the three groups gave the history of consumption of betel quid/alcohol/smoking. About 22.1% patients in Group A, 18.9% in Group B, and 37.9% in Group C had associated mucosal lesion like oral cancer, growth, pigmentation, red lesion, ulcer, and white lesions. Association between deleterious habits and oral mucosal lesions was seen in 12, 15, and 16 patients in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Conclusion: The oral cancer and oral mucosal lesions were associated with oral habits and the use of faulty dentures. Age had minimal influence but coexistence of multiple conditions might further complicate the oral health.
Factors predictive of long-term visual outcomes of Group D eyes treated with chemoreduction and low-dose IMRT salvage: The Children's Hospital Los Angeles experience

Aim To evaluate clinical factors predictive of visual outcomes in Group D retinoblastoma eyes. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with Group D retinoblastoma from January 2000 to December 2009. All patients were treated with systemic chemoreduction and external beam radiation as salvage therapy when indicated. Primary outcome measure was visual acuity. Clinical factors evaluated include quadrants of subretinal fluid, extent of vitreous seeding, involvement of more/less than 50% of the macula, endophytic/exophytic tumour classification, and presence of tumour behind the lens at diagnosis. Results Fifty-two Group D eyes of 41 patients were included; 10 eyes with visual acuity better than 20/80, 32 eyes with vision worse than 20/100 and 10 eyes with indeterminate vision (fix and follow). Complete retinal detachment (p=0.002), involvement of >50% of the macula (p=0.01), and seeding >3 quadrants (p=0.05) were associated with worse visual outcome. Average follow-up was 50.0 months (range: 10–118 months). Conclusions At presentation, it is difficult to predict which Group D eyes will be salvaged with useful vision following systemic chemotherapy. The presence of complete retinal detachment, macular involvement and extensive seeding on presentation were factors associated with a worse visual prognosis in this study. These findings can guide the ophthalmologist in clinical decision making, as well as in counselling parents.
Androgenetic alopecia as an early marker for hypertension

Background and objectives The relationship between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and cardiovascular diseases has been studied by some authors in the past, although the results of epidemiological studies have been variable. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and aldosterone level in male patients with AGA. Patients and methods Sixty men were enrolled in this case-control study, 30 with a diagnosis of AGA and 30 control participants who consulted for other skin conditions. They were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Dermatology and Andrology of Benha University Hospital. Data were collected included, age, AGA score with Ebling score (I-V), serum aldosterone and serum testosterone level, blood pressure or history of hypertension, smoking, family history of AGA, and treatment. Results Patients with AGA showed significantly higher aldosterone levels and blood pressure values (P Conclusion Blood pressure screening of patients with AGA will enable earlier diagnosis of an unknown hypertension and initiation of appropriate treatment. Moreover, determination of aldosterone levels can enable early detection of individuals at risk and initiation of preventive treatment before cardiovascular disease becomes established.
Detection Of Haemagglutination–Inhibition Antibodies Against Human H 1 n 1 Strains Of Influenza A Viruses In Swine In Ibadan, Nigeria

A survey of haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies against influenza A virus was carried out on pigs sera collected at Bodija abattoir, Ibadan between December, 2001 and August 2002. Out of the 107 sera tested, 101 (94.39%) had HI antibodies to influenza A (H 1 N 1 ) human strain while the remaining 6 (5.61%) were negative. The result of this work indicates that H 1 N 1 influenza viruses are currently circulating among the pigs slaughtered in Bodija abattoir. The public health implications in terms of possible transmission contact with the pigs are discussed. The result of the HA titres obtained with turkey red blood cells (RBC) compared to that of guinea pig RBC indicated that the H 1 N 1 stains of influenza A viruses have greater avidity for turkey RBC than those of guinea pigs. This is equally of diagnostic importance Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5 (3): 278-279
Visual outcomes of surgical intervention for pseudotumour cerebri: optic nerve sheath fenestration versus cerebrospinal fluid diversion

Objective To compare visual outcomes in pseudotumour cerebri (PTC) patients who underwent either optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion (shunt) for treatment of visual loss from papilloedema. Methods Comparative case series of thirty-three patients (33 eyes) who underwent either ONSF (14 patients) or CSF shunt (19 patients) for papilloedema and vision loss. Preoperative and final postoperative visual acuity and mean deviation (MD) on automated perimetry were assessed in addition to papilloedema severity and resolution. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to evaluate differences in final visual outcomes. Results Postoperative visual acuity did not differ between ONSF (76.4 ETDRS equivalent letters) and shunt (76.4 letters), although there was a trend toward worse preoperative acuity in the ONSF cohort. Final MD was significantly better after shunt (−9.23 dB) compared to ONSF (−17.29 dB), U=52.0, p=0.036. Preoperative papilloedema was qualitatively worse in the ONSF group. Conclusions Visual acuity and MD improved after ONSF and shunt procedures in patients with severe vision loss from PTC and papilloedema. Improvement of MD in both groups was of the same magnitude (6 dB), but because the two groups were not entirely comparable, prospective comparison of the two procedures is required to establish the relative efficacy of each procedure.
Treatment outcome of osteosarcoma after bilateral retinoblastoma: a retrospective study of eight cases

Aims To analyse clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of osteosarcoma that developed in survivors of bilateral retinoblastoma. Methods Three institutions participated in this retrospective study. Among survivors of bilateral retinoblastoma who were diagnosed and treated between 1995 and 2012, 8 cases (4 male, 4 female) of osteosarcoma were identified. Medical records were thoroughly reviewed. Results Median age at diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma was 8.5 months (range 1.4–18.4 months). Treatment modalities for retinoblastoma were: enucleation+chemotherapy+radiotherapy (n=6); chemotherapy combined with focal therapy (n=1); and chemotherapy+radiotherapy (n=1). Median radiotherapy dose was 46.5 Gy (range 45–54 Gy). Median age at diagnosis of osteosarcoma was 8.9 years (range 5.4–20.3 years). Median interval between retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma was 8.2 years (range 5.0–20.0 years). Tumour locations were femur (n=5), tibia (n=1), mandible (n=1), and nasal cavity (n=1). Two patients presented with lung metastasis. Seven patients received multimodal treatment, and treatment was refused in 1 patient. After diagnosis of osteosarcoma, the patients were followed for a median of 17.3 months (range 4.4–56.4 months). The 2-year overall survival and event-free survival rates were 56.3±19.9% and 33.3±18.0%, respectively. At the time of analysis, 5 patients remained alive, and 2 of them were on therapy. Of the 3 surviving patients without evidence of disease, 2 received high dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell support. Conclusions Our data could be used as a basis for future studies aimed at reaching consensus about long term follow-up and treatment guidelines for this genetically susceptible group of patients.
Fast error diagnosis for combinational verification

We address the problem of localizing error sites in a combinational circuit that has been shown to be inequivalent to its specification. In the typical case, it is not possible to identify the error location exactly. We propose a novel diagnosis strategy of gradually increasing the level of detail in the analysis algorithm to ultimately derive a small list of potential error sites in a short time. Our techniques combine the use of simulation, BDDs, and SAT in a novel way to achieve the goal. A limitation of many previous approaches has been that they have been constrained to a specific error model. No such assumption is made in our work. We show through experimental results that these techniques are successful in that the final set of error sites derived is small, contains the actual error sites and is derived in a reasonable amount of time.