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Eye (London, England) May 2021To establish a scoring system to triage patients presenting with symptoms of flashes and floaters to allow safe differentiation between those with retinal tears and...
PURPOSE
To establish a scoring system to triage patients presenting with symptoms of flashes and floaters to allow safe differentiation between those with retinal tears and detachments, versus uncomplicated posterior vitreous detachments (PVDs).
METHODS
Prospective and retrospective audits of 153 patients presenting to eye casualty and vitreoretinal clinics to ascertain the clinical features most likely to be associated with retinal pathology, rather than simple PVD. We then developed a scoring system, which was applied to 160 patients in a further prospective audit.
RESULTS
The significant risk factors, symptoms and signs were identified then given a number related to their importance: male sex 1, myopia 1, blurred vision 2, shadow 2, vitreous haemorrhage 3, tobacco dust 4. The scores were summed and a total score > 3 was more likely to be a complicated PVD. Sensitivity of the scoring system was 90% (confidence interval (CI) 68.3-98.8%), specificity 80% (CI 73.2-86.9%), positive predictive value 40% (CI 25.7-55.7%), and negative predictive value 98.26% (CI 93.9-99.8%).
CONCLUSIONS
The BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score is an easy to apply scoring system, which has a high sensitivity and negative predictive value i.e. nearly all retinal tears or detachments are detected by the scoring system.
Topics: Humans; Male; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Perforations; Retrospective Studies; Vitreous Body; Vitreous Detachment; Vitreous Hemorrhage
PubMed: 32555518
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-1025-7 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Dec 2023Fog harvesting plays a pivotal role in harnessing atmospheric water resources and holds significant promise for alleviating global water scarcity. Nonetheless, enhancing...
Fog harvesting plays a pivotal role in harnessing atmospheric water resources and holds significant promise for alleviating global water scarcity. Nonetheless, enhancing harvesting efficiency remains a persistent challenge, especially concerning the rapid detachment of droplets from surfaces. In this study, we discovered that the trichomes of not only efficiently harvest and transport liquid but also quickly drain harvested liquid. We have elucidated the augmentation mechanism behind effective fog harvesting and drainage within the lid of . The trichomes facing the counterflow can enhance fog harvesting efficiency by 80% through air-flow-assisted spreading of liquid film. The wedge corner generated by the interface between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, coupled with the reduction of cross-sectional angles, diminishes the adhesive force of liquid droplets, fosters droplet spheroidization, and substantially facilitates droplet detachment. In addition, the quantitative detachment of droplets can be achieved by adjusting the cross-sectional angle and wetting gradient. This integrated structure combining efficient condensation and detachment has diverse applications in cooling towers and seawater desalination.
PubMed: 38051973
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14749 -
Ophthalmology. Retina Mar 2023To characterize delays in diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachments (RDs) in a pediatric population.
PURPOSE
To characterize delays in diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachments (RDs) in a pediatric population.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study using insurance claims data.
SUBJECTS
Pediatric patients with RD who underwent repair in the outpatient setting.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of commercially insured patients from a national cohort (IBM MarketScan Research Databases) aged ≤ 18 years with an incident diagnosis of RD between 2007 and 2016. Patients with preceding eye-related visits, time to diagnosis, and time to repair were calculated and compared between patients with pre-existing ocular diagnosis and those without.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The time from diagnosis to specialist consultation, time from diagnosis to repair, time from specialist consultation to repair, number of preceding visits, and presence of previous eye-related diagnosis.
RESULTS
Our sample consisted of 826 patients, the majority (77%) of whom were diagnosed with rhegmatogenous RD. Only 40% of patients had at least 1 preceding eye-related visit, and 33% had at least 2 visits before RD diagnosis, with a median time from the last eye-related visit of 32 days (4-197 days) and median time from the second to last visit of 118 days (24-437 days). The median time from RD diagnosis to repair was 2 days (0-9 days). The 323 (37.9%) patients with pre-existing ocular diagnoses more frequently had at least 1 (44% vs. 37%; P = 0.079) or 2 preceding eye-related visits (40% vs. 29%; P = 0.002) compared with those without and also had a shorter time to RD diagnosis (median, 14.5 days vs. 44.5 days; P = 0.011) and repair (1 day vs. 3 days; P = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS
Retinal detachment is an important cause of morbidity in children. This work highlighted how pediatric patients without previous ocular diagnoses and visits with eye care professional may have a delayed diagnosis and repair of their RD.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)
Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Topics: Humans; Child; Retinal Detachment; Retrospective Studies; Time-to-Treatment; Visual Acuity; Scleral Buckling
PubMed: 36002094
DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.08.017 -
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery Jan 2021The first coil should be as thick, long, and large as possible. A retrospective study at the Toranomon Hospital revealed that if the volume of the first coil is 1/3rd or...
The first coil should be as thick, long, and large as possible. A retrospective study at the Toranomon Hospital revealed that if the volume of the first coil is 1/3rd or more of the total coil volume, there are less chances of retreatment. Thus, a thick and long first coil contributes to stable long-term anatomical results. The length of the first coil should be approximately 8% of the volume of the aneurysm. After the placement of the first coil, a smaller and shorter coil should be placed sufficiently close to it to complete the procedure. The goal is to achieve prevention of acute re-rupture in ruptured acute aneurysms and life-long prevention of rupture in unruptured asymptomatic aneurysms. If the coil does not detach, check the position of the detachment point, and replace the power supply. In addition, refer to the direction for use of the device for prevention of coil disconnection failure and countermeasures. Although it is not a recommended method, a method of rotating the delivery wire at the detached position to thread the coil and a method of reconstructing the electric circuit with a crocodile clip has been reported.
Topics: Aneurysm, Ruptured; Embolization, Therapeutic; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm; Retreatment; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33494056
DOI: 10.11477/mf.1436204365 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2021Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern among the scientific community. These small particles (<5 mm) might come from the fragmentation or direct...
Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern among the scientific community. These small particles (<5 mm) might come from the fragmentation or direct emission of artificial and synthetic polymers. Among them, the microfibers (MF) are one of the most common types of microplastics identified in the environment. On the other hand, the most encountered type of garbage found in clean-up campaigns is the cigarette butts, which contains the smoked filters (SF) and unsmoked rests of tobacco. SFs are hazardous debris but are usually not properly disposed as such, and are composed of >15,000 strands that can be detached as MFs. This study aims to evaluate the detachment rate, the acute aquatic toxicity, and the aquatic-, thermooxidative-, and photo-degradability of the MFs generated from SFs. In this way, it was found that SFs detach approximately 100 small MFs (<0.2 mm) per day. In a rough estimation, about 0.3 million tons of potential MFs might be annually reaching aquatic environments from this source. Concerning the eco-toxicity, a statistically significant difference was found when MFs are present in the leachate generated by the SFs, where the Daphnia magna EC100 and EC50 were of 0.620 SF/L and 0.017 SF/L, respectively. Finally, the degradability of the SFs was evaluated by applying two methods (ATR-FTIR analysis and gravimetry). In both of them, a low degradability rate was observed. Thus, it may be concluded that MFs from SFs constitute an important source of microplastics, which might partially explain the high concentration of artificial polymers that have been found in the deep-sea sediments. Yet, the correct management of the SFs is an unsolved issue that should receive urgent attention. CAPSULE: This work evaluates the detachment rate, toxicity, and degradability of the microfibers detached from the cigarette butts.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Microplastics; Plastics; Smoke; Nicotiana; Tobacco Products; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 33360456
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144165 -
Ophthalmology Jun 2024To establish whether Densiron 68, a heavier-than-water endotamponade agent, is an effective alternative to conventional light silicone oil in primary rhegmatogenous...
PURPOSE
To establish whether Densiron 68, a heavier-than-water endotamponade agent, is an effective alternative to conventional light silicone oil in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) surgery for eyes with inferior breaks in the detached retina and severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
DESIGN
Cohort study of routinely collected data from the European Society of Retina Specialists and British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons vitreoretinal database between 2015 and 2022.
PARTICIPANTS
All consecutive eyes that underwent primary rhegmatogenous RD surgery using Densiron 68 or light silicone oil as an internal tamponade agent.
METHODS
To minimize confounding bias, we undertook 2:1 nearest-neighbor matching on inferior breaks, large inferior rhegmatogenous RDs, PVR, and, for visual analyses, baseline visual acuity (VA) between treatment groups. We fit regression models including prognostically relevant covariates, treatment-covariate interactions, and matching weights. We used g-computation with cluster-robust methods to estimate marginal effects. For nonlinear models, we calculated confidence intervals (CIs) using bias-corrected cluster bootstrapping with 9999 replications.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Presence of a fully attached retina and VA at least 2 months after oil removal.
RESULTS
Of 1061 eyes enrolled, 426 and 239 were included in our matched samples for anatomic and visual outcome analyses, respectively. The primary success rate was higher in the Densiron 68 group (113 of 142; 80%) compared with the light silicone oil group (180 of 284; 63%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.90 (95% CI, 1.63-2.23, P < 0.001). We also observed a significant improvement favoring Densiron 68 of -0.26 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) in postoperative VA between the 2 groups (95% CI, -0.43 to -0.10, P = 0.002). The anatomic benefit of using Densiron 68 in eyes with inferior retinal breaks and large detachments was more pronounced among eyes with PVR grade C. We found no evidence of visual effect moderation by anatomic outcome or foveal attachment.
CONCLUSIONS
Densiron achieved higher anatomic success rates and improved visual outcomes compared with conventional light silicone oil in eyes with inferior retinal pathology and severe PVR.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)
Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
Topics: Humans; Retinal Detachment; Silicone Oils; Visual Acuity; Female; Male; Endotamponade; Middle Aged; Vitrectomy; Aged; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative; Cohort Studies; Follow-Up Studies
PubMed: 38104666
DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.12.016 -
Archivos de La Sociedad Espanola de... Jul 2018An uncommon case is presented of a 15 year-old girl with bilateral, multiple serous detachments of retina and retinal pigment epithelium. With clinical and laboratory...
CLINICAL CASE
An uncommon case is presented of a 15 year-old girl with bilateral, multiple serous detachments of retina and retinal pigment epithelium. With clinical and laboratory (IgG 1/160 and IgM 1/160, using an indirect immunofluorescence assay) diagnoses of leptospirosis, a complete ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography were performed, and the patient was followed for two years.
DISCUSSION
Bilateral, multiple serous detachments of retina and retinal pigment epithelium can be a complication of systemic leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira. Without a detailed medical history it may be underdiagnosed, mainly because it can mimic other more common diseases. It may be prudent to ask patients regarding contact with pets.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Leptospirosis; Retina; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Pigment Epithelium
PubMed: 29398239
DOI: 10.1016/j.oftal.2017.12.013 -
IScience Jun 2023Cancer cells often acquire resistance to cell death programs induced by loss of integrin-mediated attachment to extracellular matrix (ECM). Given that adaptation to...
Cancer cells often acquire resistance to cell death programs induced by loss of integrin-mediated attachment to extracellular matrix (ECM). Given that adaptation to ECM-detached conditions can facilitate tumor progression and metastasis, there is significant interest in effective elimination of ECM-detached cancer cells. Here, we find that ECM-detached cells are remarkably resistant to the induction of ferroptosis. Although alterations in membrane lipid content are observed during ECM detachment, it is instead fundamental changes in iron metabolism that underlie resistance of ECM-detached cells to ferroptosis. More specifically, our data demonstrate that levels of free iron are low during ECM detachment because of changes in both iron uptake and iron storage. In addition, we establish that lowering the levels of ferritin sensitizes ECM-detached cells to death by ferroptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that therapeutics designed to kill cancer cells by ferroptosis may be hindered by lack of efficacy toward ECM-detached cells.
PubMed: 37250802
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106827 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Sep 2017In a recent article, Tadmor and co-workers (Tadmor, R., et al. Langmuir 2017, 33, 3594-3600) used a centrifugal adhesion balance (CAB) to detach liquid drops from solid...
In a recent article, Tadmor and co-workers (Tadmor, R., et al. Langmuir 2017, 33, 3594-3600) used a centrifugal adhesion balance (CAB) to detach liquid drops from solid surfaces. By orienting solid surfaces in their CAB such that normal and lateral surfaces were balanced, the debonding force acted perpendicularly to the surface and drops detached by the axisymmetric retraction of their contact line. The detachment force was used to estimate the work of adhesion. To match the work of adhesion values from CAB to those calculated from the Young-Dupré equation, relatively large contact angles were required. Here, an alternative interpretation of their results is offered. Receding contact angles were estimated from their data and then used to predict the work of adhesion. These alternative predictions of the work of adhesion agreed with their estimates from the CAB.
PubMed: 28845989
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02476 -
Cells Nov 2023In preparing space and microgravity experiments, the utilization of ground-based facilities is common for initial experiments and feasibility studies. One approach to...
In preparing space and microgravity experiments, the utilization of ground-based facilities is common for initial experiments and feasibility studies. One approach to simulating microgravity conditions on Earth is to employ a random positioning machine (RPM) as a rotary bioreactor. Combined with a suitable low-mass model system, such as cell cultures, these devices simulating microgravity have been shown to produce results similar to those obtained in a space experiment under real microgravity conditions. One of these effects observed under real and simulated microgravity is the formation of spheroids from 2D adherent cancer cell cultures. Since real microgravity cannot be generated in a laboratory on Earth, we aimed to determine which forces lead to the detachment of individual FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells and the formation of tumor spheroids during culture with exposure to random positioning modes. To this end, we subdivided the RPM motion into different static and dynamic orientations of cell culture flasks. We focused on the molecular activation of the mechanosignaling pathways previously associated with spheroid formation in microgravity. Our results suggest that RPM-induced spheroid formation is a two-step process. First, the cells need to be detached, induced by the cell culture flask's rotation and the subsequent fluid flow, as well as the presence of air bubbles. Once the cells are detached and in suspension, random positioning prevents sedimentation, allowing 3D aggregates to form. In a comparative shear stress experiment using defined fluid flow paradigms, transcriptional responses were triggered comparable to exposure of FTC-133 cells to the RPM. In summary, the RPM serves as a simulator of microgravity by randomizing the impact of Earth's gravity vector especially for suspension (i.e., detached) cells. Simultaneously, it simulates physiological shear forces on the adherent cell layer. The RPM thus offers a unique combination of environmental conditions for in vitro cancer research.
Topics: Humans; Cell Culture Techniques; Weightlessness; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 37998400
DOI: 10.3390/cells12222665