bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring retinal layer alterations in mild cognitive impairment: A pilot oct study
Authors: Elvira‐Hurtado Lorena , Salobrar‐Garcia Elena , López‐Cuenca Inés , Matamoros José A. , Fernández‐Albarral José A. , Sanchez‐Puebla Lidia , Salas‐Carrillo Mario , Gil Pedro , de Hoz Rosa , Salazar Juan Jose , Ramírez Ana Isabel , Ramirez Jose Manuel 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: In the last decades, retinal alterations have been shown by OCT in Alzheimer's disease (AD), initially affecting the macular region in early AD, and subsequently progressing to the peripapillary retina, pointing out this tissue to be considered for diagnosis and follow‐up in AD. This study aimed to investigate retinal changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate stage between normal aging and AD, to know if in this preclinical stage there are changes in the retina.Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects and 16 MCI patients were included. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation and macular OCT (SD‐OCT, Heidelberg, Germany) to assess retinal structure. The thickness of each retinal layer in the macular area was measured using the OCT software, with manual verification and modification of segmentation if necessary. Thicknesses of retinal layers, including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), were analyzed. The inner and outer macular rings were evaluated according to the standard macular grid of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). Statistical analysis was performed using two‐way ANOVA with Tukey´s multiple comparison test.Results: Individuals with MCI exhibited significant thinning in the OPL in the inner ring of the superior sector (p < 0.01), along with significant thickening in the ONL in the same area (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Additionally, a trend towards thinning in the inner retinal layers was observed in the MCI group.Conclusions: While in the inner retinal layers it was shown a thinning, it is noteworthy that in the ONL it was shown a thickening. OCT holds promise as a non‐invasive tool for MCI screening. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings.
Severe sight impairment due to Optic Disc Drusen: A case series
Authors: Khalifa Ahmad , Sobha Joseph 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: Describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management outcomes of three patients with severe sight impairment due to Optic Disc Drusen (ODD).Methods: A retrospective review of three patients diagnosed with ODD was conducted. Data were collected on clinical presentations, diagnostic findings, interventions, and visual outcomes. Diagnostic modalities included ophthalmoscopy, ocular B‐scan ultrasound, OCT, and visual field testing. Interventions focused on maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP) and providing supportive care.Results: All three patients presented with severe visual impairment and were diagnosed with bilateral ODD. Patient 1, aged 86, was registered as Severely Sight Impaired (SSI) and exhibited bilateral foveal involving atrophy and left arcuate visual field defects. Patient 2, aged 72, showed minimal worsening of visual fields post‐cataract surgery, with normal IOP and was still driving as of the last follow‐up. Patient 3, aged 52, had bilateral advanced peripheral visual field defects and was advised to cease driving due to significant visual impairment. IOP‐lowering medications were prescribed to prevent further deterioration, and supportive interventions included ECLO referrals, provision of accessibility aids, and cane training.Conclusions: Optic Disc Drusen can lead to severe visual impairment, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Despite interventions aimed at maintaining low IOP, visual outcomes remain severely poor. Supportive care and early registration for visual impairment certification are crucial for managing the quality of life in affected patients. Further research is needed to explore effective treatments to prevent vision loss in ODD.
Pigment dispersion syndrome – A unique presentation with extensive retina pigment deposition
Authors: Martins Pedro , Cabanas João Castro , Bilhoto Miguel , Fonseca Sofia 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: To report a unique presentation of pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS).Methods: Observational case report.Results: An 81‐year‐old woman presented to our department for a routine appointment. Relevant ophthalmologic history comprised prior bilateral cataract surgery in 2009 with single piece in‐the‐bag intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in right eye (RE) and sulcus implantation in the left eye (LE), due to capsular rupture. Upon examination, best corrected visual acuity was 10/10 in OD and OS. Intra‐ocular pressure (IOP) was 9/9 mmHg; there was anisocoria, with OS > OD in photopic conditions. OS slit lamp examination showed IOL positioned in the sulcus, diffuse pigment deposition in the corneal endothelium and uneven extensive 360° iris transillumination defects. Gonioscopy revealed extensive angle pigment deposition in OS; colour fundus photographs displayed extensive retina pigment deposition, mainly in the peripapillary and perivascular areas. No glaucomatous cupping of the optic disc was observed. A diagnosis of left PDS was entertained; given the lack of vision complains, normal visual acuity, IOP, and no glaucomatous damage of the optic nerve, close monitoring of the patient was undertaken.Conclusions: Pigment dispersion syndrome may arise from the iatrogenic damage to the iris of a single piece sulcus‐placed IOL and typically presents with extensive pigment deposition in the structures of the anterior segment, along with iris transillumination defects. To our knowledge, this is the second report of PDS with pigment deposition in the posterior segment. Indeed, although rare, convection currents may carry pigment to the vitreous and retina, which justifies the unusual findings in this patient and warrants a complete ophthalmologic evaluation in such cases.
Seeing the light: Hyperspectral retinal imaging as a surrogate marker for early stage Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ghesquiere Michiel , Christinaki Eirini , Van Eijgen Jan , Vandenbulcke Mathieu , Vandenberghe Rik , De Vos Maarten , Stalmans Ingeborg 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, affects millions, underscoring the need for early diagnostic methods. The retina, which can exhibit AD‐related pathological processes, offers a promising diagnostic site. This study aims to utilize Hyperspectral Retinal Imaging (HSRI) to differentiate between positive (+) and negative (‐) PET‐amyloid beta (Aβ) status. Within this cohort, a subset is Aβ+ while remaining cognitively healthy, indicating preclinical amyloid accumulation. Unlike most research targeting later symptomatic stages, our approach could facilitate interventions before clinically apparent neurodegeneration occurs.Methods: Data was used from 37 Aβ‐ and 25 Aβ+ individuals of which 8 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). HSRI were captured using an easy‐to‐use hyperspectral snapshot camera, covering a spectral range of 460–630 nm. Images were taken from primary, inferior, and superior views of the retina, with further regions of interest (ROI) defined in the primary view. After preprocessing, these spectra were used to train machine learning classifiers [1].Results: The best classifier performance was observed using XGBoost with the superior spectra (AUC = 0.72), and using a Linear Discriminant Analysis classifier in superior quadrants (S1 AUC = 0.74, S2 AUC = 0.68). Lower performance in other ROI underscored the variability in amyloid deposition across the retina, correlating with previous findings that retinal Aβ deposits in AD patients are frequently concentrated in the superior quadrants.Conclusions: We were able to achieve similar performance of previous research in AD patients [1], but in a preclinical cohort of cognitively normal participants up to MCI patients. Consistent with the literature, the superior retinal regions seem most discriminative for Aβ status. Further exploration of the specificity of the HSRI signal will pave the way for early AD detection, potentially improving outcomes through earlier therapeutic intervention.Reference
S. Lemmens et al., ‘Combination of snapshot hyperspectral retinal imaging and optical coherence tomography to identify Alzheimer's disease patients’, Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 144, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1186/s13195‐020‐00715‐1.
Tracking macular sensitivity and inner retinal thickness in long‐term type 1 diabetes: A five year prospective examination in patients without diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Fernández‐Espinosa Guisela , Orduna‐Hospital Elvira , Sopeña‐Pinilla María , Arias‐Álvarez Marta , Boned‐Murillo Ana , Díaz‐Barreda María Dolores , Arcas‐Carbonell María , Sánchez‐Cano Ana , Pinilla Isabel 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: To compare macular sensitivity and retinal thickness in patients with long‐term type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) without signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) after 5 years of follow‐up.Methods: Thirty‐two eyes from 32 long‐term DM1 patients without signs of DR were included. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including microperimetry to assess macular sensitivity and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) to measure retinal layer thicknesses focusing on inner retinal layers (IRL). The data were compared with results from 5 years prior using parametric tests (paired samples t‐test).Results: The mean age of the DM1 patients was 43.19 ± 10.17 years, with a mean disease duration of 29.84 ± 8.98 years and good glycaemic control (HbA1c: 7.55 ± 0.90%). Regarding sex distribution, 14 eyes were from female subjects (43.75%) and 18 were from male subjects (56.25%). In 2023, patients exhibited significantly worse best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared to 2018 (p < 0.001). DM1 patients did not show changes in macular sensitivity in any analysed macular rings over the 5‐year of follow up period. Central macular sensitivity remained unchanged, with a mean of 27.56 ± 2.50 dB in 2018 compared to 27.50 ± 2.49 dB in 2023. Macular integrity showed significant differences between the two time points (p = 0.045). Retinal thickness showed significant differences, particularly in the IRL across most of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) areas.Conclusions: Long‐term DM1 patients without DR lesions showed no changes in macular sensitivity after 5 years of follow‐up. However, these patients demonstrated worsened macular integrity and lower BCVA. Additionally, after 5 years, long‐term DM1 patients without DR displayed significant alterations in retinal thickness, especially in the IRL. Longer follow‐up periods should be considered for the evaluation of retinal neurodegeneration.
A case of choroidal neovascularization in punctate inner choroidopathy
Authors: Sopeña‐Pinilla Maria , Merino Jacobo Yañez , Ciubotaru Olga , Bestué Ana Pueyo , Bestué Ignacio Pueyo , Fernandez‐Velasco Diego , Gracia Victor Mallen , Cervilla Jose Javier Bermudez , Merino Andres Biescas , Rius Nuria , Baron Nieves Pardiñas 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: To report a case of a 28‐year‐old male diagnosed with unilateral choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC).Methods: This is a retrospective case report.Results: A 25‐year‐old male presented with a 10‐day history of central visual acuity (VA) loss in his left eye (LE). Best corrected VA (BCVA) was 20/20 in both eyes. Slit lamp examination was normal. Fundoscopy revealed multiple yellowish dots in the papillomacular bundle in the LE and one singular dot in the right eye (RE), with no signs of vitritis. Fluorescein angiography (FA) showed hypoautofluorescent lesions surrounded by a hyperautofluorescent ring. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed foveal subretinal fluid in the LE. Serological tests were positive for varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex virus, and Epstein‐Barr virus; all other tests, including syphilis, toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis and tuberculosis, were negative. Treatment with oral corticosteroids effectively resolved the subretinal fluid. The patient was diagnosed with PIC and showed positive progress without immunosuppressive therapy.Three years post diagnosis, a new lesion was detected during a routine check‐up in his LE, along with an enlargement of the atrophic lesions in the RE. The patient did not refer changes in VA. OCT revealed a small parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and hyperreflective material at the site of the new fundus lesion. FA demonstrated minimal diffusion in both foci, which were confirmed as CNV through OCT angiography (OCTA). Treatment with subcutaneous methotrexate and anti‐VEGF was initiated with a favorable outcome.Conclusions: PIC is an idiopathic condition characterized by multiple areas of choroidal inflammation. A differential diagnosis with other white dot syndromes must be made. Hyperreflective lesions and PED on OCT may indicate CNV formation, and OCTA can be useful in the characterization of these lesions.
Impacts of delayed surgical intervention on postoperative visual acuity in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Armanazi Mohammed , Masri Abdul , Hu Albert , Masri Moness 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: The referral pathway of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) was examined to determine the effects of delayed surgical intervention. Visual outcomes of macula‐on and macula‐off RRD patients were compared based on duration to intervention.Methods: Retrospective cohort review of 90 cases with RRD repaired between January 2012 and July 2023. The probability of patients experiencing a decline in final visual acuity (VA) was assessed by stratifying them according to macular status and investigating how the time to an initial primary care visit, subsequent visit to a retina specialist, and surgical intervention impacted their final VA. Low vision was defined as VA of logMAR > 0.5.Results: The mean durations from symptom onset, primary care visit, and retina specialist visit to surgery were 8.8 days, 1.5 days, and 0.7 days, respectively. The average final VA was logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.3 ± 0.08. With each additional day from the primary care visit to surgery, the odds of having logMAR > 0.5 increased by approximately 20% (p = 0.042). Similarly, each day of delay between seeing a retina specialist visit to surgery, the odds of having logMAR > 0.5 increased by about 78% (p = 0.005) and these patients were twice as likely to have macula‐off with each day of delay (p = 0.036).Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the importance of timely access to primary care and timely specialist intervention for RRD. For each day of delay to a primary care visit and a retina specialist visit, the risk of postoperative low vision significantly increases. Moreover, each day of delay following the retina specialist visit doubles the risk of macular detachment.
Transferrin is a drug candidate for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA)/dry age‐related macular degeneration (AMD)
Authors: Bordet Thierry , Youale Jenny , Bigot Karine , Jaworski Thara , Lebon Cécile , Françon Anaïs , Delaunay Kimberley , Bénard Romain , De Bastard Thaïs , Kaddour Naël , Behar‐Cohen Francine , Picard Emilie 
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: Iron (Fe) is vital for retinal health but toxic when unbound, causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis. Aging leads to retinal iron accumulation, exacerbating diseases like AMD. This study aimed to determine if an iron‐transferrin (Tf) imbalance contributes to GA and if apo‐Tf (not Fe‐bound) supplementation could benefit these patients.Methods: Iron and Tf levels were measured in the aqueous humor of patients undergoing ocular surgery, comparing normal retinas (n = 31) to early GA (n = 7) and late GA (n = 10) patients using mass spectrometry and ELISA. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were exposed to 0.5 mM FeCl3 for 48 hours to study the protective effects of apo‐Tf.Results: Iron levels were higher in early GA patients but not statistically significant. In contrast, Tf concentrations were significantly lower in early GA patients compared to controls (p = 0.0072) and late GA (p = 0.0241). Total iron‐binding capacity (TIBC) was significantly lower in early GA patients (p = 0.0073), while Tf saturation (TSAT) was higher compared to controls (p = 0.0313) and late GA (p = 0.0321), indicating free iron overload due to Tf deficiency in early GA. Using a sustained iron overload model in iPSC‐RPE cells, apo‐Tf reduced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and prevented iron‐induced toxicity by restoring normal iron homeostasis. Importantly, Apo‐Tf egressed excess iron accumulated in the RPE without depleting the intracellular iron pool. Apo‐Tf also mitigated ferroptosis, preserved tight junctions, and reduced inflammasome and complement pathway activation, highlighting its protective role against iron‐mediated retinal damage.Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that early GA correlates with iron‐Tf imbalance. Apo‐Tf supplementation effectively mitigates iron‐induced oxidative stress in iPSC‐derived RPE cells and could be a promising therapeutic approach for preventing or slowing the progression of GA.
Societal costs of decreased visual acuity: A Finnish cohort study with 15 years of registry data follow‐up
Authors: Taipale Joonas , Purola Petri K. M. , Väätäinen Saku , Nättinen Janika E. , Koskinen Seppo V. P. , Uusitalo Hannu M. T. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractPurposeTo examine what direct and indirect societal costs are associated with decreased visual acuity (VA).MethodsNationally representative sample of 8028 Finnish adults aged 30 years or older with survey data and clinical examination including VA assessment was evaluated. These data were linked with multiple national registers to capture health care services utilization during 1999–2013. All direct and indirect costs were calculated using prevalence‐based bottom‐up approach and adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities with generalized linear models. The results in 2019 cost level are presented according to VA groups at baseline per person, and with population estimates.ResultsTotal direct health care costs ranged from 1996 €/year/person for those with VA ≥1.0 to 3277 €/year/person for those with weak (0.32–0.5) VA. The increase in direct costs was notable even before the onset of visual impairment. Indirect costs showed monotonously increasing trend with decreasing VA. At the population level, the additional annual direct costs associated with decreased VA were estimated at 1.9 billion €. Only 2% or less of the additional costs are due to increased direct eye‐related secondary health care usage. Estimated additional annual national indirect costs were 1.2 billion €.ConclusionsIn addition to those with visual impairment or blindness, health care need, and societal costs are elevated even among those with adequate VA. We conclude, that focusing on prevention of VA decrease would not only help sustain the patients' quality of life but could also reduce the future societal costs.
Radiocarbon dating in South America and the impact of the continent's first 14C‐AMS facility to archaeological research
Authors: Macario Kita Damasio , de Oliveira Fabiana Monteiro , Chanca Ingrid Silva , Carvalho Carla , Alves Eduardo Queiroz , Pedroza Igor 
Published: January 2025

AbstractDue to the lack of formal historical records, the pre‐Columbian history of the American continent is often referred to as prehistory. The large population decline following the arrival of Europeans, mainly due to the extinction of several cultural groups, combined with the lack of written records, means that researchers may often have to rely primarily on archaeological evidence. For this reason, the radiocarbon dating technique has been crucial for deciphering America's pre‐Columbian history. Technical advances impacted the accessibility of radiocarbon dating, but the influence of in‐house facilities cannot be overlooked. This short review explores the evolution of radiocarbon dating in Brazil, where Latin America's first 14C‐AMS facility, LAC‐UFF, emerged, fostering collaborations within South America and overseas. Besides facilitating analyses and reducing costs, the LAC‐UFF has empowered a new generation of radiocarbon researchers and aided archaeologists through workshops, summer schools, and training programs. Some recent case studies are discussed as examples of the diversity of applications developed by the LAC‐UFF group. Sustained public investment in cutting‐edge technology and interdisciplinary research is a key factor in ensuring a bright future for radiocarbon dating in South America, strengthened by international collaborations.
Claim‐making in hydrosocial spaces: The temporality of displacement around Kenya's Masinga Dam reservoir
Authors: Rieber Arne , Nyaga Benson 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe political ecology of dams offers an important perspective for analysing the interplay between ecosystem change and social power dynamics in the context of modern development visions. Currently, there is a resurgence of ‘dam fever’ in Kenya under President Ruto's green growth vision, which envisages the construction of 1,000 small and large dams across the country. This article shows that, while new dams are being planned, the first wave of dam development in Kenya in the last century is not a closed historical event, but continues to generate conflicts and claim‐making around reservoirs, and continues as an active dynamic in the here and now. To date, the communities affected by the cascade of five large dams on Tana River, which is currently being proposed for expansion, have not been adequately compensated for the losses they suffered between the 1960s and 1980s. This lack of compensation has reinforced the displaced communities’ rights to the submerged lands and buffer zones around the dams, even though these rights remain unrecognised within contemporary Kenyan legal frameworks. This case illustrates how the failure to provide compensation during displacement not only leads to significant loss of land, livelihoods and household assets, but also to ongoing claim‐making over land and water and the contestation of the hydrosocial territory of dam reservoirs. By exploring the temporalities of infrastructure and hydrosocial spaces, this paper shows how claim‐making is rooted in these temporalities, and how these temporalities result in the ongoing burden of securing one's very existence around infrastructure.
Growing Pains: The History of Human Development and the Future of the Field
Authors: McCormick Kathleen C. , Mendle Jane 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTResearch on child development has been advanced by the contributions of human development and human development family science (or studies) departments, which trace their origins to the land grant movement, home economics programs, and the child study movement that coalesced in the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries. In this article, we detail the main historical influences on the field, as well as contemporary strengths and opportunities for the field. We highlight the interdisciplinarity and applied work that are uniquely inherent strengths of human development and family science/studies. We also discuss challenges that are both historic and contemporary in reviewing how experiences of racial and gender discrimination affected and affect scholars in the field, as well as issues of field identity and purpose. Finally, we recommend that the field acknowledge and publicize its past to capitalize on the strengths of its history and to address historical challenges that remain relevant to the study of human development and family science today.