bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THICKNESS OF THE MACULA, RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER, AND GANGLION CELL–INNER PLEXIFORM LAYER IN THE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Shin Il-Hwan , Lee Woo-Hyuk , Lee Jong-Joo , Jo Young-Joon , Kim Jung-Yeul 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To determine the repeatability of measuring the thickness of the central macula, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD-OCT) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration.

Methods:
One hundred and thirty-four eyes were included. The measurement repeatability was assessed by an experienced examiner who performed two consecutive measurements using a 512 × 128 macular cube scan and a 200 × 200 optic disk cube scan. To assess changes in macular morphology in patients with age-related macular degeneration, the patients were divided into the following three groups according to the central macular thickness (CMT): A group, CMT < 200 μm; B group, 200 μm ≤ CMT < 300 μm; and C group, CMT > 300 μm.

Results:
Measurement repeatability was assessed using test–retest variability, a coefficient of variation, and an intraclass correlation coefficient. The mean measurement repeatability for the central macular, retinal nerve fiber layer, and GC-IPL thickness was high in the B group. The mean measurement repeatability for both the central macula and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was high in the A and C groups, but was lower for the GC-IPL thickness. The measurement repeatability for GC-IPL thickness was high in the B group, but low in the A group and in the C group.

Conclusion:
The automated measurement repeatability for GC-IPL thickness was significantly lower in patients with age-related macular degeneration with out of normal CMT range. The effect of changes in macular morphology should be considered when analyzing GC-IPL thicknesses in a variety of ocular diseases.
QUANTIFICATION OF INTRARETINAL HARD EXUDATES IN EYES WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY
Authors: Srinivas Sowmya , Nittala Muneeswar G. , Hariri Amirhossein , Pfau Maximilian , Gasperini Julie , Ip Michael , Sadda SriniVas R. 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To evaluate the reproducibility of intraretinal hard exudate (HE) quantification from spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images of eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods:
Cases with diabetic macular edema were enrolled. The area of HE obtained by B-scan segmentation was compared with the area obtained by en face segmentation.

Results:
The mean ± SD for the HE area was 1.78 ± 1.37 mm2 with B-scan segmentation and 0.72 ± 0.82 mm2 with the automated en face analysis tool; the absolute difference was 1.01 ± 0.64 mm2. There was excellent correlation in total HE area between the two methods (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001). The HE volume was 0.06 ± 0.07 mm2. The correlation between HE volume and en face HE area was high (r = 0.95, P < 0.001). Intergrader reproducibility yielded excellent agreement with an intraclass correlation coefficient value of 0.99 (95% CI 0.994–0.999) for the en face approach and 0.99 (95% CI 0.977–0.997) for manual segmentation.

Conclusion:
Quantification of HE in eyes with diabetic retinopathy can be performed reliably using en face segmentation and, though the en face results are consistently lower, correlates well with HE measurements obtained by exhaustive segmentation of all B-scans in dense volume optical coherence tomography (OCT).
EFFECT OF AN INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT ON DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA AFTER CATARACT SURGERY
Authors: Calvo Pilar , Ferreras Antonio , Al Adel Fadwa , Dangboon Wantanee , Brent Michael H. 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To analyze the effects of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX; Ozurdex 700 μg; Allergan) administered immediately after cataract surgery in diabetic patients.

Methods:
This prospective, single-arm, open label study (NCT01748487 at ClinicalTrials.gov) involved Type 2 diabetic patients with at least mild diabetic retinopathy (DR) who underwent cataract surgery and DEX insertion after phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens implantation were enrolled. Best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were recorded at 1 week preoperatively, and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. Adverse events were also recorded.

Results:
Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients (17 [70.8%] men; mean age 63.7 ± 8.7 years) with mild nonproliferative DR (41.7%), moderate nonproliferative DR (33.3%), severe nonproliferative DR (16.7%), or treated proliferative DR (8.3%) were selected. After DEX treatment, mean CRT changed from 241.1 μm (95% confidence interval, 227.5–254.6 μm) at baseline to 236.9 μm (95% confidence interval, 223.9–249.9 μm) at 1 week (P = 0.09), 238.9 μm (95% confidence interval, 225.5–252.3 μm) at 1 month (P = 0.44), and 248 μm (95% confidence interval, 232.4–260.8 μm) at 3 months (P = 0.15). No eyes showed a postoperative increase >50 μm in the CRT at any visit. A 10% increase in CRT was found in 8.3% of eyes. Mean best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 0.37 (20/50) at baseline to 0.19 (20/30) at 1 week, 0.12 (20/25) at 1 month, and 0.12 (20/25) at 3 months (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Mean intraocular pressure before surgery was 13.8 mmHg, and none of the patients developed an intraocular pressure ≥22 mmHg at any visit. None of the patients developed any serious adverse events during the follow-up.

Conclusion:
These short-term results suggest that a single DEX injection intraoperatively after phacoemulsification could avoid an increase in CRT after cataract surgery in diabetic patients.
ANGIOPOIETIN-LIKE 4 CORRELATES WITH RESPONSE TO INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB INJECTIONS IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Kim Jong Ho , Shin Jae Pil , Kim In Taek , Park Dong Ho 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To investigate whether the aqueous angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) level correlates with clinical features in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods:
The control and study groups consisted of all consecutive patients who received senile cataract surgery or intravitreal ranibizumab injection for treatment-naïve neovascular AMD, respectively. The AMD group received 3 monthly ranibizumab injections followed by monthly pro re nata for at least 12 months. Aqueous ANGPTL4 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured at baseline and 4 weeks after the first injection. In the AMD group, best-corrected visual acuity, lesion area by fluorescein angiography, and central subfield thickness were measured at baseline and at 12 months.

Results:
The AMD group (30 eyes) had higher baseline aqueous ANGPTL4 and VEGF levels than those of the control group (32 eyes) (both P < 0.001). Four weeks after the first injection, VEGF in the patients with AMD had dropped significantly (P < 0.001). Baseline ANGPTL4 correlated with the lesion area at baseline and at 12 months (P < 0.05, respectively), and also correlated with the frequency of anti-VEGF injections during 12 months (P = 0.008).

Conclusion:
Aqueous ANGPTL4 levels correlated with the lesion area and anti-VEGF treatment frequency. Angiopoietin-like 4 may be a potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic biomarker in the neovascular AMD.
ANGIOGRAPHIC SUBTYPES OF POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY IN TAIWAN
Authors: Yeung Ling , Kuo Chien-Neng , Chao An-Ning , Chen Kuan-Jen , Wu Wei-Chi , Lai Chien-Hsiung , Wang Nan-Kai , Hwang Yih-Shiou , Chen Ching-Lung , Lai Chi-Chun 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of angiographic subtypes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods:
It is a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Patients with newly diagnosed exudative macular degeneration are classified into PCV, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal angiomatous proliferation. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is further classified into two subtypes depending on the presence (Type 1: polypoidal choroidal neovascularization) or absence (Type 2: typical PCV) of feeder vessels on indocyanine green angiography.

Results:
We enrolled 169 patients: 76 (45%) with PCV, 75 (44.4%) with AMD, and 14 (8.3%) with retinal angiomatous proliferation. Of the patients with PCV, 20 (26%) were classified as Type 1 PCV and 56 (74%) were classified as Type 2 PCV. The Type 1 PCV had a similar mean age compared to the AMD group (73.1 ± 9.6 vs. 75.6 ± 8.8 years, P = 0.281) and the Type 2 PCV (68.8 ± 9.6 years) was younger than the AMD group (P < 0.001). Type 1 PCV presented with worse visual acuity compared with the AMD. Both PCV subtypes had a higher incidence of hemorrhagic complications (85% and 75% respectively).

Conclusion:
Type 2 PCV is more common than Type 1 PCV in Taiwan. Our results support the hypothesis that polypoidal choroidal neovascularization and typical PCV may be distinct entities.
VISUALIZATION OF THE MACULA IN GAS-FILLED EYES
Authors: Ahn Seong Joon , Park Seung Hoon , Lee Byung Ro 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To compare the visualization of the macula between spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) in gas-filled eyes.

Methods:
Sixty-one patients with common indications of gas tamponade, including 27 with macular holes and 34 with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, who were treated with vitrectomy and gas tamponade were imaged using both SD-OCT (3D-OCT 2000, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) and SS-OCT (DRI-OCT, Topcon) at 1, 3, and 7 days after the surgery. Good visualization of the macular area was defined as 1) visible foveal contour and discriminable status of hole (open or closed) for macular hole and 2) visible macular contour and distinguishable status for the presence of subretinal fluid for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The frequencies of good visualization were compared between SD-OCT and SS-OCT in each case.

Results:
Among 27 eyes with macular hole, good visualization at Day 1 was observed in 16 (59.3%) with SD-OCT and 24 (88.9%) with SS-OCT using a line scan protocol. For the cases with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, good visualization at the day was noted in 12 (35.3%) and 25 (73.5%) eyes with SD-OCT and SS-OCT, respectively. For each scan protocol, the differences in good visualization of the macula between SD-OCT and SS-OCT were statistically significant for macular hole and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between line and volume scan protocols, although good visualization was more frequently noted using the line scan protocol.

Conclusion:
In gas-filled eyes, SS-OCT performed significantly better than SD-OCT to visualize the macula. Using SS-OCT may lead to better decisions on further treatment during the early postoperative period, especially about postoperative positioning.
ENDOGENOUS NOCARDIA ENDOPHTHALMITIS PRESENTING AS A MASS LESION IN A PATIENT WITH METATSTATIC NONSMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG
Authors: Lee Brian , Drayna Paul , Maltry Amanda C. , Mason Craig M. , Montezuma Sandra R. , Koozekanani Dara 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To report a case of Nocardia cyriacigeorgica endophthalmitis.

Methods:
Case report.

Results:
A 71-year-old man on long-term steroid therapy for poor respiratory function from lung carcinoma and presumed recent liver metastases presented with a four week history of blurry vision in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed a white elevated mass in the macula with hemorrhage, concerning for metastasis. The patient was treated for presumed ocular metastases but had poor response to radiotherapy and was diagnosed four weeks later with N. cyriacigeorgica by retinal biopsy. Despite intravitreal and systemic antibiotics, the patient had progression of disease and died of respiratory involvement.

Conclusion:

Nocardia endogenous endophthalmitis can present as a mass retinal lesion in immunosuppressed patients with metastatic disease. Early vitreous and retinal biopsy may be required for definitive diagnosis and treatment. A pulmonary source of infection should be suspected and monitored closely.
RELENTLESS PLACOID CHORIORETINITIS: SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH INTRAVITREAL TRIAMCINOLONE
Authors: Roth Daniel B. , Ballintine Sheila , Mantopoulos Dimosthenis , Prenner Jonathan , Fine Howard F. 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To report a case of relentless placoid chorioretinitis (ampiginous choroiditis) treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA).

Methods:
Interventional case report.

Results:
A 34-year-old pregnant woman with a history of poor visual acuity in her left eye, secondary to an undetermined cause, developed an acute painless central scotoma and blurred vision in the right eye. The examination revealed decreased visual acuity, active inflammatory placoid choroidal lesions in the posterior pole, and mid-periphery with sharp disk margins and normal-appearing vasculature. A diagnosis of relentless placoid chorioretinitis was made, and the patient was treated biannually with 4 mg IVTA for 3 years with visual improvement to 20/25. Although she experienced a relapse at 12 months, the episode was adequately controlled with repeat IVTA. After the sixth IVTA treatment occurring at 30 months, the decision was made to stop IVTA, ultimately facilitating the preservation of 20/25 in the right eye at 63-month follow-up. The disease course was complicated by cataract progression that was successfully treated with a cataract extraction and episodic increases in intraocular pressure which were successfully treated with timolol ophthalmic solution.

Conclusion:
Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide therapy represents an important alternative in the treatment of relentless placoid chorioretinitis. By avoiding the potentially significant side effects of long-term systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapies, IVTA can be an important alternative in the long-term management of this uncommon and complicated entity.
IDENTIFICATION OF INCREASED BLUE LIGHT REFLECTIVITY IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2 USING SCANNING LASER OPHTHALMOSCOPY VERSUS RED-FREE FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY
Authors: Soorma Talha , Heeren Tjebo , Florea Daniela , Leung Irene , Peto Tunde 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To compare two modalities used for detection of the characteristic parafoveal hyperreflective area seen in macular telangiectasia Type 2.

Methods:
Scanning laser ophthalmoscope blue light reflectance was compared with red-free fundus photography imaging. Images were obtained as part of the international Natural History Study of Macular Telangiectasia (MacTel Study).

Results:
The hyperreflective area can more frequently be seen with scanning laser ophthalmoscope blue light reflectance than with red-free imaging.

Conclusion:
Detection of the hyperreflective area might help to identify macular telangiectasia in earlier disease stages. Scanning laser ophthalmoscope blue light reflectance should be preferred as a diagnostic tool when the suspicion of macular telangiectasia arises. However, red-free imaging offers a viable option to scanning laser ophthalmoscope blue light reflectance when good quality is achieved.
A Review of Techniques to Measure Protein Sorption to Soft Contact Lenses
Authors: Hall Brad , Forrest James A. , Jones Lyndon 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To compare and critically evaluate a variety of techniques to measure the quantity and biological activity of protein sorption to contact lenses over short time periods.

Methods:
A literature review was undertaken investigating the major techniques to measure protein sorption to soft contact lens materials, with specific reference to measuring protein directly on lenses using in situ, ex situ, protein structural, and biological activity techniques.

Results:
The use of in situ techniques to measure protein quantity provides excellent sensitivity, but many are not directly applicable to contact lenses. Many ex situ techniques struggle to measure all sorbed proteins, and these measurements can have significant signal interference from the lens materials themselves. Techniques measuring the secondary and tertiary structures of sorbed proteins have exhibited only limited success.

Conclusions:
There are a wide variety of techniques to measure both the amount of protein and the biological activity of protein sorbed to soft contact lens materials. To measure the mass of protein sorbed to soft contact lenses (not just thin films) over short time periods, the method of choice should be I125 radiolabeling. This technique is sensitive enough to measure small amounts of deposited protein, provided steps are taken to limit and measure any interaction of the iodine tracer with the materials. To measure the protein activity over short time periods, the method of choice should be to measure the biological function of sorbed proteins. This may require new methods or adaptations of existing ones.
Conjunctival Impression Cytology and Dry Eye in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Oltulu Pembe , Oltulu Refik , Asil Mehmet , Satirtav Gunhal , Mirza Enver 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to compare signs of dry eye between ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and healthy subjects.

Methods:
Fifteen patients with UC (group 1) and 15 healthy subjects (group 2) were enrolled in this study. Tear volume measurement, Schirmer-I test with no anesthetic, tear break-up time, and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) were evaluated in both groups.

Results:
Patients with UC showed lower tear volumes when compared with healthy subjects (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in distribution of CIC grades between groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05). Tear break-up time and Schirmer-I measurements were significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2 (P<0.05).

Conclusions:
The results of this study indicate that UC is associated with demonstrable disturbances in tear function and conjunctival cytology.
Child Growth According to Maternal and Child HIV Status in Zimbabwe
Authors: Omoni Adetayo O. , Ntozini Robert , Evans Ceri , Prendergast Andrew J. , Moulton Lawrence H. , Christian Parul S. , Humphrey Jean H. 
Published: February 2017

Background:
Growth failure is common among HIV-infected infants, but there are limited data on the effects of HIV exposure or timing of HIV acquisition on growth.

Methods:
Fourteen thousand one hundred ten infants were enrolled in the Zimbabwe Vitamin A for Mothers and Babies trial in Zimbabwe before the availability of antiretroviral therapy or co-trimoxazole. Anthropometric measurements were taken from birth through 12–24 months of age. Growth outcomes were compared between 5 groups of children: HIV-infected in utero (IU), intrapartum (IP) or postnatally (PN); HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU); and HIV unexposed.

Results:
Growth failure was common across all groups of children. Compared with HIV-unexposed children, IU-, IP- and PN-infected children had significantly lower length-for-age and weight-for-length Z scores throughout the first 2 years of life. At 12 months, odds ratios for stunting were higher in IU [6.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.20–9.31] and IP infants (4.76, 95% CI: 3.58–6.33) than in PN infants (1.70, 95% CI: 1.16–2.47). Compared with HIV-unexposed infants, HEU infants at 12 months had odds ratios for stunting of 1.23 (95% CI: 1.08–1.39) and wasting of 1.56 (95% CI: 1.22–2.00).

Conclusions:
HIV-infected infants had very high rates of growth failure during the first 2 years of life, particularly if IU or IP infected, highlighting the importance of early infant diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy. HEU infants had poorer growth than HIV-unexposed infants in the first 12 months of life.
Development and Validation of the Cochlear Implant Surgical Competency Assessment Instrument
Authors: Balkany Thomas , Lo Kaming , Francis Howard , Angeli Simon , Novak Michael , Luxford William , Lusk Rodney , Strader Heather 
Published: February 2017

Objective:
We present a new instrument for evaluation of cochlear implant (CI) surgical skills and review its validation process.

Methods:
An instrument to assess CI surgical competency incorporated results of structured surveys of comprehensiveness sent to 30 international CI experts and US trainees. One-hundred evaluations of 28 residents, fellows, and practicing CI surgeons were completed. Surgical skills were evaluated by four experienced neurotologists (two raters per subject) using two temporal bones per subject. A training session was completed by 24 subjects between the first and second procedure. Comparison of two blinded rater's scores per subject provided information on interrater reliability. Correlation of competency scores with degree of training and with improvement after a training session provided information on construct validity.

Results:
High levels of interrater reliability were confirmed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Construct validity was demonstrated by correlation of higher performance scores with increasing years of training, board certification, and fellowship training. Construct validity is also supported by improvement in scores after a CI training session as well as by acceptability surveys.

Discussion:
Data indicate that this instrument is an objective, accurate, and dependable procedure-specific instrument for evaluating CI surgical competency.

Conclusion:
The cochlear implant surgical competency assessment (CI-SCA) can be used to establish CI surgical competency, identify surgical skills that require remediation and demonstrate progress during training.
Population Statistics Approach for Safety Assessment in Robotic Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Williamson Tom , Gavaghan Kate , Gerber Nicolas , Weder Stefan , Anschuetz Lukas , Wagner Franca , Weisstanner Christian , Mantokoudis Georgios , Caversaccio Marco , Weber Stefan 
Published: February 2017

Hypothesis:
Descriptive statistics with respect to patient anatomy and image guidance accuracy can be used to assess the effectiveness of any system for minimally invasive cochlear implantation, on both an individual patient and wider population level.

Background:
Minimally invasive cochlear implantation involves the drilling of a tunnel from the surface of the mastoid to cochlea, with the trajectory passing through the facial recess. The facial recess anatomy constrains the drilling path and places prohibitive accuracy requirements on the used system. Existing single thresholds are insufficient for assessing the effectiveness of these systems.

Methods:
A statistical model of the anatomical situation encountered during minimally invasive drilling of the mastoid for cochlear implantation was developed. A literature review was performed to determine the statistical distribution of facial recess width; these values were confirmed through facial recess measurements on computed tomography (CT) data. Based on the accuracy of a robotic system developed by the authors, the effect of variation of system accuracy, precision, and tunnel diameter examined with respect to the potential treatable portion of the population.

Results:
A facial recess diameter of 2.54 ± 0.51 mm (n = 74) was determined from a review of existing literature; subsequent measurements on CT data revealed a facial recess diameter of 2.54 ± 0.5 mm (n = 23). The developed model demonstrated the effects of varying accuracy on the treatable portion of the population.

Conclusions:
The presented model allows the assessment of the applicability of a system on a wider population scale beyond examining only the system's ability to reach an arbitrary threshold accuracy.