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Veterinary Medicine and Science Jul 2024The public perception relating to the welfare of horses involved with equestrian sports is associated with training methods used and the presentation of horses at...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
The public perception relating to the welfare of horses involved with equestrian sports is associated with training methods used and the presentation of horses at events. In this context, very tight nosebands, which are intended to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, also attract a lot of attention. Various studies have evaluated the impact of tight nosebands on stress parameters, whereas the effect of tight nosebands on upper airway function is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to use overground endoscopy to evaluate changes in pharyngeal and laryngeal function when a tight noseband is fitted. Moreover, the ridden horse pain ethogram (RHpE) was applied to investigate signs of discomfort (Dyson et al., 2018).
STUDY DESIGN
A randomized, blinded, and prospective study was performed.
METHODS
Sixteen warmblood horses consisting of twelve mares and four geldings with a mean age of 11.63 ± 3.53 years were ridden on 2 consecutive days with either loose or tight nosebands (two fingers or no space between bridge of the nose and noseband, respectively) and inserted endoscope in a random order. Videos were taken in a riding arena during a standardized exercise protocol involving beginner level tasks for 30 min in all gaits. For video analysis, freeze frames were prepared and analyzed at the beginning of the expiration phase. Pharyngeal diameter was measured using the pharynx-epiglottis ratio. Other findings (swallowing, pharyngeal collapse, soft palate movements, and secretion) were also evaluated. Moreover, the RHpE was applied. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear mixed effects models were used. Results with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
While the pharynx-epiglottis ratio did not change significantly in horses ridden with loose versus tight nosebands, there was an increase in mean grade and total counts of parameters assessed in the pharyngeal region, for example, grade of secretion (1.5 [±SD 0.89] vs. 3.13 [±SD 0.96]; p = 0.0001), axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (0.29 [±SD 0.73] vs. 1.33 [±SD 1.44]; p = 0.01), and pharyngeal collapse (0.69 [±SD 0.87] vs. 1.88 [±SD 1.54]; p = 0.005) in horses ridden with tight nosebands. There was no RHpE score above 8 indicating musculoskeletal pain, but the RHpE scores were significantly higher in horses ridden with tight nosebands (p < 0.001).
MAIN LIMITATIONS
Video quality was limited when horses showed large amounts of secretion. Another limitation was the small number of horses.
CONCLUSIONS
Results add to the evidence obtained in other studies that tight nosebands do not only cause adverse reactions based on the RHpE score such as head behind the vertical or intense staring but also contribute to changes in the pharyngeal region, such as increased secretion and collapse of pharyngeal structures. This may provide further support for future decisions regarding regulations on nosebands.
Topics: Animals; Horses; Female; Male; Prospective Studies; Pharynx; Nose; Larynx; Physical Conditioning, Animal
PubMed: 38885311
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1478 -
PloS One 2024Tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is an inflammatory signal in patients with dry eye (DE). In the present study, to understand the action mechanism of probiotic...
Tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is an inflammatory signal in patients with dry eye (DE). In the present study, to understand the action mechanism of probiotic LB101 (Lactobacillus plantarum NK151 and Bifidobacterium bifidum NK175 [4:1] mix) against DE, we investigated its effect on tear amount and inflammatory marker expression levels in mice with unilateral exorbital lacrimal gland excision/atropine-benzalkonium chloride application (EB) or fecal microbiota transplantation from mice with EB (eFMT). Oral gavage of LB101 increased EB-suppressed tear amount and decreased EB-induced blinking number. Furthermore, LB101 decreased EB-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP-9 expression, TNF-α+ and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell populations, and edema in the conjunctiva, while EB-suppressed IL-10 and occludin expression increased. LB101 also decreased EB-induced TNF-α and IL-1β expression and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell population in the colon. eFMT also decreased tear amount and increased blinking number in the transplanted mice. eFMT increased TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP-9 expression and TNF-α+ and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell populations in the conjunctiva and TNF-α and IL-1β expression and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell populations in the colon. Oral gavage of LB101 increased eFMT-suppressed tear amount and decreased eFMT-induced blinking number. Furthermore, LB101 decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP-9 expression, TNF-α+ and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell populations, and edema in the conjunctiva and TNF-α and IL-1β expression and NF-κB+CD11c+ cell population in the colon, while eFMT-suppressed IL-10 and occludin expression decreased. Furthermore, LB101 increased eFMT-suppressed Muribaculaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae populations in the gut microbiota, while eFMT-induced Bacteroidaceae population decreased. These findings suggest that DE may cause gut dysbiosis, which may be a risk factor for DE, and LB101 may alleviate DE with gut inflammation by suppressing the expression of MMP-9 and proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β with the regulation of gut microbiota-involved NF-κB signaling.
Topics: Animals; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Dry Eye Syndromes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice; NF-kappa B; Probiotics; Signal Transduction; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Tears; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Conjunctiva
PubMed: 38885258
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303423 -
PloS One 2024Photodynamic venous occlusion is a commonly accepted method for establishing mouse models of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). However, existing model parameters do not...
Photodynamic venous occlusion is a commonly accepted method for establishing mouse models of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). However, existing model parameters do not distinguish between acute and chronic RVO subtypes. Large variations in laser energy seem to correlate with fluctuating retinopathy severity and high rates of venous recanalization during the acute phase, along with the variable levels of retinal perfusion during the chronic phase. After optimizing the modeling procedure and defining success and exclusion criteria, laser energy groups of 80mW, 100mW, and 120mW were established. Multimodal imaging confirmed that higher energy levels increased the incidence of retinal cystoid edema and intraretinal hemorrhage, exacerbated the severity of exudative retinal detachment, and reduced the venous recanalization rate. For the acute model, 100mW was considered an appropriate parameter for balancing moderate retinopathy and venous recanalization. Continuous imaging follow-up revealed that day 1 after RVO was the optimal observation point for peaking of retinal thickness and intensive occurrence of retinal cystic edema and intraretinal hemorrhage. After excluding the influence of venous recanalization on retinal thickness, acute retinal edema demonstrated a positive response to standard anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, validating the clinical relevance of the acute RVO model for further study in pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy. For the chronic model, the 120mW parameter with the lowest venous recanalization rate was applied, accompanied by an increase in both photocoagulation shots and range to ensure sustained vein occlusion. Imaging follow-up clarified non-ischemic retinopathy characterized by tortuosity and dilation of the distal end, branches, and adjacent veins of the occluded vein. These morphological changes are quantifiable and could be combined with electrophysiological functional assessment for treatment effectiveness evaluation. Moreover, the stable state of venous occlusion may facilitate investigations into response and compensation mechanisms under conditions of chronic retinal hypoperfusion.
Topics: Retinal Vein Occlusion; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; Acute Disease; Chronic Disease; Lasers; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Male; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Retina
PubMed: 38885229
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305741 -
Visual Field Prognosis From Macula and Circumpapillary Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.Translational Vision Science &... Jun 2024To explore the structural-functional loss relationship from optic-nerve-head- and macula-centred spectral-domain (SD) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images in the...
PURPOSE
To explore the structural-functional loss relationship from optic-nerve-head- and macula-centred spectral-domain (SD) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images in the full spectrum of glaucoma patients using deep-learning methods.
METHODS
A cohort comprising 5238 unique eyes classified as suspects or diagnosed with glaucoma was considered. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examination consisting of standard automated perimetry (SAP), macular OCT, and peri-papillary OCT on the same day. Deep learning models were trained to estimate G-pattern visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD) and cluster MD using retinal thickness maps from seven layers: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL + IPL), inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (INL + OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium (PR + RPE), choriocapillaris and choroidal stroma (CC + CS), total retinal thickness (RT).
RESULTS
The best performance on MD prediction is achieved by RNFL, GCL + IPL and RT layers, with R2 scores of 0.37, 0.33, and 0.31, respectively. Combining macular and peri-papillary scans outperforms single modality prediction, achieving an R2 value of 0.48. Cluster MD predictions show promising results, notably in central clusters, reaching an R2 of 0.56.
CONCLUSIONS
The combination of multiple modalities, such as optic-nerve-head circular B-scans and retinal thickness maps from macular SD-OCT images, improves the performance of MD and cluster MD prediction. Our proposed model demonstrates the highest level of accuracy in predicting MD in the early-to-mid stages of glaucoma.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE
Objective measures recorded with SD-OCT can optimize the number of visual field tests and improve individualized glaucoma care by adjusting VF testing frequency based on deep-learning estimates of functional damage.
Topics: Tomography, Optical Coherence; Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Male; Visual Fields; Macula Lutea; Prognosis; Deep Learning; Aged; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Glaucoma; Nerve Fibers; Visual Field Tests; Optic Disk
PubMed: 38884547
DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.6.10 -
BioMed Research International 2024Existing security issues like keys, pins, and passwords employed presently in almost all the fields that have certain limitations like passwords and pins can be easily...
Existing security issues like keys, pins, and passwords employed presently in almost all the fields that have certain limitations like passwords and pins can be easily forgotten; keys can be lost. To overcome such security issues, new biometric features have shown outstanding improvements in authentication systems as a result of significant developments in biological digital signal processing. Currently, the multimodal authentications have gained huge attention in biometric systems which can be either behavioural or physiological. A biometric system with multimodality club data from many biometric modalities increases each biometric system's performance and makes it more resistant to spoof attempts. Apart from electrocardiogram (ECG) and iris, there are a lot of other biometric traits that can be captured from the human body. They include face, fingerprint, gait, keystroke dynamics, voice, DNA, palm vein, and hand geometry recognition. Electrocardiograms (ECG) have recently been employed in unimodal and multimodal biometric recognition systems as a novel biometric technology. When compared to other biometric approaches, ECG has the intrinsic quality of a person's liveness, making it difficult to fake. Similarly, the iris also plays an important role in biometric authentication. Based on these assumptions, we present a multimodal biometric person authentication system. The projected method includes preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction, feature fusion, and ensemble classifier where majority voting is presented to obtain the final outcome. The comparative analysis shows the overall performance as 96.55%, 96.2%, 96.2%, 96.5%, and 95.65% in terms of precision, 1-score, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
Topics: Humans; Electrocardiography; Biometric Identification; Iris; Algorithms; Biometry; Male; Female
PubMed: 38884018
DOI: 10.1155/2024/8112209 -
BMC Ophthalmology Jun 2024The anatomic structure of the anterior chamber (AC) helps to explain differences in refractive status in school-aged children and is closely associated with primary... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The anatomic structure of the anterior chamber (AC) helps to explain differences in refractive status in school-aged children and is closely associated with primary angle closure (PAC). The aim of this study was to quantify and analyze the anterior chamber and angle (ACA) characteristics in Chinese children with different refractive status by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).
METHODS
In a cross-sectional observational study, 383 children from two primary schools in Shandong Province, China, underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. First, the anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber width (ACW), angle-opening distance (AOD), and trabecular-iris space area (TISA) were evaluated automatically using a CASIA2 imaging device. AOD and TISA were measured at 500, 750 μm nasal (N1 and N2, respectively), and temporal (T1 and T2, respectively) to the scleral spur (SS). Cycloplegic refraction and axial length (AL) were then measured. According to spherical equivalent refraction (SER), the children were assigned to hyperopic (SER > 0.50D), emmetropic (-0.50D < SER ≤ 0.50D), and myopic groups (SER ≤ -0.50D).
RESULTS
Out of the 383 children, 349 healthy children (160 girls) with a mean age of 8.23 ± 1.06 years (range: 6-11 years) were included. The mean SER and AL were - 0.10 ± 1.57D and 23.44 ± 0.95 mm, respectively. The mean ACD and ACW were 3.17 ± 0.24 mm and 11.69 ± 0.43 mm. The mean AOD were 0.72 ± 0.25, 0.63 ± 0.22 mm at N1, T1, and 0.98 ± 0.30, 0.84 ± 0.27 mm at N2, T2. The mean TISA were 0.24 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.09mm at N1, T1, and 0.46 ± 0.16, 0.40 ± 0.14mm at N2, T2. The myopic group had the deepest AC and the widest angle. Compared with boys, girls had shorter AL, shallower ACD, narrower ACW, and ACA (all p < 0.05). By Pearson's correlation analysis, SER was negatively associated with ACD, AOD, and TISA. AL was positively associated with ACD, ACW, AOD, and TISA. In the multiple regression analysis, AOD and TISA were associated with deeper ACD, narrower ACW, and longer AL.
CONCLUSION
In primary school students, the myopic eyes have deeper AC and wider angle. ACD, ACW, AOD, and TISA all increase with axial elongation. ACA is highly correlated with deeper ACD.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child; Female; Male; Anterior Chamber; China; Refraction, Ocular; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure; Refractive Errors; East Asian People
PubMed: 38880899
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03520-8 -
BMC Ophthalmology Jun 2024Quantitative analysis of retinal nerve fibers is important for the diagnosis and treatment of optic nerve diseases. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)...
BACKGROUND
Quantitative analysis of retinal nerve fibers is important for the diagnosis and treatment of optic nerve diseases. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) cross-sectional area may give a more accurate quantitative assessment of retinal nerve fibers than RNFL thickness but there have been no previous reports of the peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area or other parameters. The purpose of the current study was to determine peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area and its association with other factors in an adult Chinese population.
METHODS
RNFL cross-sectional area was measured during peripapillary circular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan with a diameter of 12° centered on the optic disc. Correlation between RNFL cross-sectional area and other parameters was evaluated by linear regression analysis in a cross-sectional study of an adult Chinese population.
RESULTS
A total of 2404 eyes from 2404 subjects were examined. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that larger RNFL cross-sectional area correlated with younger age (p < 0.001), female gender (p = 0.001), no history of diabetes (p = 0.012) and larger optic disc area (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area is correlated positively with optic disc area, suggesting that eyes with larger optic discs have thicker RNFL. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this correlation is due to differences in the numbers of retinal nerve fibers or other factors.
Topics: Humans; Female; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Middle Aged; Optic Disk; Nerve Fibers; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Adult; China; Aged; Asian People; Young Adult; East Asian People
PubMed: 38880871
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03481-y -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Sound transmission to the human inner ear by bone conduction pathway with an implant attached to the otic capsule is a specific case where the cochlear response depends...
Sound transmission to the human inner ear by bone conduction pathway with an implant attached to the otic capsule is a specific case where the cochlear response depends on the direction of the stimulating force. A finite element model of the temporal bone with the inner ear, no middle and outer ear structures, and an immobilized stapes footplate was used to assess the directional sensitivity of the cochlea. A concentrated mass represented the bone conduction implant. The harmonic analysis included seventeen frequencies within the hearing range and a full range of excitation directions. Two assessment criteria included: (1) bone vibrations of the round window edge in the direction perpendicular to its surface and (2) the fluid volume displacement of the round window membrane. The direction of maximum bone vibration at the round window edge was perpendicular to the round window. The maximum fluid volume displacement direction was nearly perpendicular to the modiolus axis, almost tangent to the stapes footplate, and inclined slightly to the round window. The direction perpendicular to the stapes footplate resulted in small cochlear responses for both criteria. A key factor responsible for directional sensitivity was the small distance of the excitation point from the cochlea.
Topics: Humans; Temporal Bone; Bone Conduction; Finite Element Analysis; Cochlea; Vibration; Round Window, Ear; Stapes; Models, Biological; Acoustic Stimulation
PubMed: 38877090
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64377-x -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024While perceiving the emotional state of others may be crucial for our behavior even when this information is present outside of central vision, emotion perception...
While perceiving the emotional state of others may be crucial for our behavior even when this information is present outside of central vision, emotion perception studies typically focus on central visual field. We have recently investigated emotional valence (pleasantness) perception across the parafovea (≤ 4°) and found that for briefly presented (200 ms) emotional face images (from the established KDEF image-set), positive (happy) valence was the least affected by eccentricity (distance from the central visual field) and negative (fearful) valence the most. Furthermore, we found that performance at 2° predicted performance at 4°. Here we tested (n = 37) whether these effects replicate with face stimuli of different identities from a different well-established image-set (NimStim). All our prior findings replicated and eccentricity-based modulation magnitude was smaller with NimStim (~ 16.6% accuracy reduction at 4°) than with KDEF stimuli (~ 27.3% reduction). Our current investigations support our earlier findings that for briefly presented parafoveal stimuli, positive and negative valence perception are differently affected by eccentricity and may be dissociated. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of investigating emotions beyond central vision and demonstrate commonalities and differences across different image sets in the parafovea, emphasizing the contribution of replication studies to substantiate our knowledge about perceptual mechanisms.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Emotions; Visual Fields; Facial Expression; Photic Stimulation; Facial Recognition; Fovea Centralis; Visual Perception; Adolescent
PubMed: 38877079
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63724-2 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024We assessed the short-term effects of switching from intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) to intravitreal faricimab (IVF) on ocular blood flow in patients with...
We assessed the short-term effects of switching from intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) to intravitreal faricimab (IVF) on ocular blood flow in patients with treatment-resistant diabetic macular edema (DME). The medical records of 15 patients with DME who had received IVA injection ≥ 3 months before were retrospectively reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness (CMT) on optical coherence tomography, and mean blur rate (MBR) of all disc areas on laser speckle flowgraphy were measured before, 1 week after, and 4 weeks after IVA and IVF, respectively. The changes in visual acuity showed no significant difference after switching from IVA to IVF (P = 0.732). The mean CMT decreased significantly during the follow-up period (both P < 0.001). MBR showed no significant difference during the follow-up period (P = 0.26). However, it decreased significantly 4 weeks after IVF (P = 0.01) compared with the baseline value, but not 4 weeks after IVA (P = 0.074). A significant association was observed between decreased MBR and decreased CMT in patients who received IVF (correlation coefficient: 0.501, P = 0.005) but not in those who received IVA (P = 0.735). Thus, IVF maintained ocular blood flow reduction, although no significant differences in visual acuity and CMT changes were observed compared to IVA.
Topics: Humans; Macular Edema; Male; Female; Intravitreal Injections; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Middle Aged; Diabetic Retinopathy; Aged; Retrospective Studies; Visual Acuity; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Regional Blood Flow; Eye
PubMed: 38877041
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63435-8