Lowest Mean Difference Research Articles

Evaluation of the Long-Term Effects of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty on Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

Data coming from this study suggest that selective laser trabeculoplasty could be a very important tool in the overall management of glaucoma patients at every stages, aiming to better control the visual field deterioration. To evaluate selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) effectiveness in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) and in visual field defect progression in eyes affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) at long term follow up. A retrospective study were conducted with 67 eyes of 67 patients affected by POAG who underwent SLT between 2014 and 2021. Each patient was routinely observed in the Glaucoma Office of Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli and underwent a complete eye visit and visual field (VF) test with 30-2 SITA standard automated perimetry (SAP) every 6 months. When both eyes in same patient were treated, only the eye with lower mean deviation (MD) of SAP was included. Patients were observed at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 months. A mean significant (P<0.01) lower IOP was detected at 6 months (12.92±2.7mm Hg) ad at 54 months (13.08±2.42mm Hg) compared to baseline (17.91±4mm Hg). Mean MD values showed significant (P<0.01) reduction both at 6 month follow up (-0.07±0.21dB) and at 54 month follow up (-0.3±0.34dB) demonstrating satisfactory clinical deceleration of the progression of the disease.Mean IOP medical lowering therapy was 1.34±0.9 drugs, showing a significant (P<0.01) decrease 6 months after SLT (0.87±0.85), that remained stable (P= at 54 month follow up (0.9±0.76). The results observed confirm not only the high level of effectiveness of SLT in lowering IOP and reducing the need for topical medications, but also its role in decelerating visual field deterioration in eyes affected by POAG.

Correlation properties and respiratory frequency of ECG-derived heart rate variability during multiple race-pace running intervals in female and male long-distance runners.

Aim was to evaluate alterations of the non-linear short-term scaling exponent alpha1 of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAa1) of heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) as a sensitive marker for assessing global physiological demands during multiple running intervals. As a secondary analysis, agreement of ECG-derived respiratory frequency (EDR) compared to respiratory frequency (RF) derived from the metabolic cart was evaluated with the same chest belt device. Fifteen trained female and male long-distance runners completed four running bouts over 5 min on a treadmill at marathon pace. During the last 3 min of each bout gas exchange data and a single-channel ECG for the determination of HR, DFAa1 of HRV, EDR and RF were analyzed. Additionally, blood lactate concentration (BLC) was determined and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was requested. DFAa1, oxygen consumption, BLC, and RPE showed stable behaviors comparing the running intervals. Only HR (p < 0.001, d = 0.17) and RF (p = 0.012, d = 0.20) indicated slight increases with small effect sizes. In addition, results point towards inter-individual differences in all internal load metrics. The comparison of EDR with RF during running revealed high correlations (r = 0.80, p < 0.001, ICC3,1 = 0.87) and low mean differences (1.8 ± 4.4 breaths/min), but rather large limits of agreement with 10.4 to -6.8 breaths/min. Results show the necessity of EDR methodology improvement before being used in a wide range of individuals and sports applications. Relationship of DFAa1 to other internal load metrics, including RF, in quasi-steady-state conditions bears the potential for further evaluation of exercise prescription and may enlighten decoupling mechanisms during prolonged exercise bouts.

Relationship between outer retinal tubulation, retinal volume, and visual field in Bietti crystalline dystrophy.

To investigate the presence of tubulation in the outer nuclear layer of patients with Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and evaluate its relationship with visual field, visual field progression, and retinal volume. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 37 patients diagnosed with BCD who underwent spectral-domain OCT examination. OCT examinations and Humphrey visual field tests (10-2 program) were conducted. We performed correlation analyses to assess the correlation of the number of tubulations with the visual field parameters and retinal volume. We also compared the number and prevalence of tubulations in groups based on median values of the parameters. The primary outcome measure was the number and prevalence of tubulations. The average age of the participants was 58.7 ± 9.6years. The mean deviation (MD) value was -25.0 ± 9.0 decibels (dB). The MD slope value during an average follow-up period of 5.9 ± 3.8years was -0.91 ± 1.02dB/year. The number of tubulations tended to increase as the MD values worsened (P = 0.055, r = -0.33). Moreover, the number (P = 0.48) and prevalence (P = 0.42) of tubulations tended to be higher in the group with lower MD values. The number of tubulations decreased with worsening logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (P = 0.68, r = -0.07). The prevalence of tubulations was higher in the group with poorer logMAR (P = 0.068). We observed no significant correlations between the number of tubulations and the retinal outer, inner, or center volume (P = 0.46, r = -0.13; P = 0.76, r = 0.05; P = 0.47, r = 0.12, respectively). However, the prevalence of tubulations in the group with smaller retinal center volume was lower (P = 0.054). The number of tubulations correlated with the severity of visual field loss in patients with BCD; however, it did not correlate with visual field progression or retinal volume measurements. Further studies are needed to understand the development of tubulations and their implications for retinal atrophy in BCD.

Optic nerve assessment with stereo photographs and ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope images

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Clinical evaluation of the optic nerve using 3-D stereo disc photographs is considered the gold standard for estimating vertical cup-to-disc ratios. Ultra-widefield retinal imaging has gained increasing popularity to document and screen the health of the retina and optic nerve. Background Glaucoma is often first identified or suspected based on initial optic nerve assessment. Despite technological advancements in imaging, stereo disc photography remains the gold standard of optic nerve assessment. This study compared vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) estimations using ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images with estimations using paired stereo disc images. Methods Thirty-five healthy and 35 glaucomatous eyes were imaged using Zeiss VISUCAM® PRO NM and Optos Monaco® (optomap®) [Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office] devices. Four experienced clinicians assessed each image in a masked fashion and graded the VCDR. Stereo viewers and review software tools were used to determine VCDRs. Bland-Altman plots and regression/correlation analyses were used to check VCDR agreement. Results Bland-Altman analyses showed low mean differences between devices with VCDR estimation for each grader (−0.03, +0.01, −0.02, and +0.03). Difference vs. means plots suggest stable differences across the range of measurement. Conclusions VCDR estimations were comparable using optomap® images and VISUCAM® PRO NM stereo optic disc images.

Correlation and Conversion between the QuickDASH, Constant Score and Oxford Shoulder Score in Patients with Conservatively Treated Proximal Humerus Fractures

BackgroundThere is significant heterogeneity of outcome measures used in the research of proximal humerus fractures (PHFs). Current evidence regarding the correlation and conversion between the various outcome measures is sparse. This study aims to study the correlation and conversion between the QuickDASH, Constant Score (CS) and Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) in conservatively treated PHFs. MethodsA prospective cohort study of patients (n=136) with conservatively treated PHFs between August 2017 and April 2020 was conducted. Patients had a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. The three outcome measures (QuickDASH, CS and OSS) were collected at four time points - 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after injury. Changes in scores across time and correlation between each pair of outcome measures was calculated. A linear regression model was used to derive conversion equations which were then internally validated. ResultsA significant strong negative correlation was observed between the OSS and QuickDASH (coefficient: -0.746; p< 0.001), a significant moderate negative correlation was observed between the CS and QuickDASH (coefficient: -0.581; p< 0.001), and a significant moderate positive correlation was observed between the CS and OSS (coefficient: 0.697; p< 0.001). The six derived regression equations showed low mean differences between predicted and actual values (ranging from -1.21 to 2.51). The correlation between actual and predicted values was moderate to strong, ranging from a coefficient of 0.57 in the conversion from the CS to QuickDASH to 0.74 in the conversion from the CS to OSS and OSS to CS. ConclusionIn a cohort of patients with conservatively managed PHFs, moderate to strong correlations were seen in pairwise comparisons of the OSS, QuickDASH and CS. With linear regression analyses, six regression equations were derived to estimate one score from another. On internal validation, there was good agreement between the means of the predicted and actual scores but high within-individual variability. These formulae can help to compare studies with heterogeneous outcome measures and facilitate meta-analyses. However, these equations should not be used to predict one score from another in an individual due to variability when converting individual scores.

Novel metrics for tracking blood pressure changes incontinuous cuffless blood pressure estimations

Recent studies revealed the importance of tracking continuous blood pressure (BP) changes in monitoring and controlling hypertension and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. However, current evaluation protocols utilize distance measures as primary metrics, which cannot properly evaluate the ability of the estimation model to track BP changes. This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation framework which evaluates the distance and trend similarity metrics, and the composite metric of both between the reference and estimated BPs. The results of applying both widely used conventional metrics and the new proposed metrics for BP estimations are demonstrated in an example of comparing the reference with a set of different BP estimations. Then, the metrics are applied to BP estimations obtained using state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms. It is shown that even though SOTA algorithms have a low mean and standard deviation of absolute difference, they are not capable of tracking short-term blood pressure changes. Additionally, the proposed metrics are normalized metrics and range from -1 to 1, making them intuitively interpretable, similar to well-known correlation coefficients. Therefore, we suggest that the proposed evaluation framework should be used regularly in evaluating continuous BP monitoring systems.

The Effectiveness of Herbal Mouthwash with Mangosteen Peel Extract in Inhibiting Dental Plaque Formation

Abstract Objective Dental plaque control is important for preventing periodontal tissue diseases. Dental plaque control therapy is enhanced when supported by adjunctive therapy, including the use of mangosteen peel extract mouthwash. Mangosteen peel extract contains α-mangostin, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, quinones, and triterpenoids, which have antibacterial properties against bacteria that cause dental plaque. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of mangosteen peel extract mouthwash at concentrations of 2, 4, and 6% in inhibiting plaque formation. Materials and Methods The study used a quasi-experimental design with pre- and posttreatment examinations. Samples were taken using purposive sampling on 32 patients of Periodontology Clinic of Padjadjaran University Dental Hospital. The patients underwent prophylactic treatment (scaling), then the dental plaque index was measured using the Q-ray Cam Pro and the Loe and Silness Index before (day 1) and after (day 3) gargling with distilled water or mangosteen peel extract mouthwash at concentrations of 2, 4, and 6% for 2 days without oral hygiene in the maxillary area. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Results A phytochemical analysis revealed that the mangosteen peel extract contains antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, polyphenols, quinones, and triterpenoids. The mangosteen peel extract mouthwash group exhibited lower mean differences in plaque index compared with the aquades group. The 2% mangosteen peel extract mouthwash shows the smallest mean difference of 0.25 in the Q-ray Cam Pro examination and 0.062 in the Loe and Silness Index examination. Conclusion Mouthwash with 2, 4, and 6% mangosteen peel extract has an effect in inhibiting dental plaque formation, with 2% concentration exhibiting the best inhibitory effect on dental plaque formation.

The Measurement of the Lateral Center-Edge Angle Is Underestimated on Radiographs Compared With 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography

PurposeTo determine if there is a significant difference using Femoral Heads (FH) as anatomical horizon when measuring the LCEA compared to Floor (F), Acetabular Teardrops (AT), and Ischial Tuberosities (IT) and to determine their accuracy by comparing to CT scan with commercially available software. MethodsBetween June 2019 and May 2020, patients with preoperative supine anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs and CT scans were included and retrospectively analyzed. The LCEA was measured on all preoperative supine AP pelvis radiographs four times per hip, using the four methods. The four anatomical horizons used to measure LCEA were compared to each other to determine statistically significant difference. The LCEA measured in the CT scan at the 12 o’clock position was used to compare and determine radiographs’ LCEA accuracy. ResultsNinety-six patients (100 hips) met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-two were females (65%), and the mean age was 35.2 ± 15 years. The mean value for LCEA in CT was 32.2 and 31.1 for the four anatomical horizons in X-ray (P < 0.001). The lowest mean difference between CT scan and X-ray was obtained using the FH (2.3 ± 2.4). Less mean difference was obtained between FH and IT (1.0 ± 0.8). ConclusionIn this study, radiographic measurements underestimated LCEA compared with those from CT scans. Using the FH as an anatomic horizon on radiographs was a more accurate method to measure LCEA than using AT, IT, or F. While this difference is statistically significant, it is not likely to be clinically significant.

Coomans plot classification of lard in the ink blends and ink extracts from printed packaging films using lard Fourier transform infrared spectral profile and multivariate analysis

Lard in blends of commercial gravure ink (ranging from 0.5 to 20%) and ink extracts from eleven commercially printed packaging films for foodstuffs was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The FTIR spectral bands at 4000 ‒ 650 cm-1 associated with the lard fingerprint were acquired and used to classify the lard and its blends using partial least squares (PLS) regression and discriminant analysis (DA). Commercial gravure inks (also used for preparing calibration curve samples), blends of lard ranging from 0.5 to 20% in gravure inks, and commercially printed food packaging films were tested. Linear correlation of predicted and actual values of lard were determined using PLS calibration and validation models. They produced a high coefficient of determination (R2 ) of 0.943, a low root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 1.674, as well as a high R2 = 0.999 and a low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.233, respectively. The PLS calibration was verified employing a leave-oneout cross-validation, while DA was used to classify a series of lard standard, lard-added ink, and commercial food packaging films. The Coomans plot classification of the lardadded ink and commercial food packaging films illustrated that the food packaging samples were plotted in the right and left hemispheres in the lard-added ink class. This result also demonstrated that FTIR coupled with chemometric PLS predicted the lard content in the printing inks with high overall accuracy, as indicated by a low mean difference (MD) value of 0.577 and a low standard deviation of difference (SDD) value of 0.599. The DA allowed the ink packaging samples that potentially contained lard to be distinguished from those without lard. Sample 7 (commercially printed food packaging ink) exhibits the highest possibility of containing lard.

Radiosurgical thalamotomy for the management of tremors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Medical treatment for tremors may include beta-blockers, primidone, dopaminergic, and anticholinergic drugs but it frequently leads to pharmacoresistance. Therefore, surgical treatment gained relevance as an alternative for those patients.We aim to evaluate radiosurgical thalamotomy as an effective and safe alternative to manage tremors.Pubmed (MEDLINE), Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for potential articles that evaluated radiosurgical thalamotomy for the management of tremor.Our analysis included 12 studies with 545 patients, 226 of whom were female. Of these, 64.6% of patients were diagnosed with essential tremor (ET), 34.6% with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 0.8% with both ET and PD. The FTM-TRS global score (MD -5.46; 95% CI [-10.44]-[-0.47]; I2 = 52%) and the drawing (MD -1.40; 95% CI [-2.03]-[-0.76]; I2 = 93%), drinking (MD -1.60; 95% CI [-1.82]-[-1.37]; I2 = 40%), and writing (MD -1.51; 95% CI [-1.89]-[-1.13]; I2 = 89%) grades showed significantly lower mean differences, favoring radiosurgical thalamotomy. A pooled proportion of 12% presented with tremor unchanged, while 38% presented with total elimination of tremor. Adverse events included: major paresis, minor paresis, dysarthria, and numbness. Thus, radiosurgical thalamotomy is a safe alternative for tremors resistant to medication, particularly in high-risk patients for RF or DBS procedures. The recommended dose of 130 to 150Gy is effective and well-tolerated. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to understand the unpredictability of tissue response to radiation.

Adaptation of the Social Media Addiction Scale into Azerbaijani Turkish: Validity and Reliability Study

Excessive attachment to social media, a constant desire to be online, being driven by uncontrollable motivation, and the negative impact of this situation on other significant areas of life are considered as social media addiction. In this study, the Social Media Addiction Scale Student Form (SMAS-SF), previously developed in Türkiye to determine students' levels of social media addiction, was adapted into Azerbaijani Turkish. The SMAS-SF is a five-point likert-type scale consisting of 29 items that can be grouped under four factors. The study group consisted of a total of 1,074 students aged 18-26 studying at different universities in Baku. The sample of the study was determined using the convenient sampling method, one of the non-probabilistic sampling determination types. Within the scope of the validity and reliability studies of the scale, expert opinion, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item total correlations, lower and upper group mean differences, and internal consistency coefficient and stability analyses were performed. As a result of the analyses, it was found that the original structure of the SMAS-SF, consisting of 29 items and 4 dimensions, was confirmed, and significant evidence was provided that it can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the level of social media addiction among university students aged 18-26. The lowest possible score that can be obtained from the scale is 29, and the highest score is 145. A high score may indicate a high level of social media addiction in students.

Thickness Variations of Thermoformed and 3D-Printed Clear Aligners.

To assess thickness variations of thermoformed and 3D-printed clear aligners. Six different thermoplastic materials with different initial thicknesses were used for aligner thermoforming using Biostar® device (Biostar®, SCHEU-DENTAL GmbH, Iserlohn, Germany). Also, two different dental resins were used to create the printed aligners in three digitally designed thicknesses using IZZI Direct printer (3Dtech, Zagreb, Croatia). The aligners were measured using an electronic micrometer (ELECTRONIC UNIVERSAL MICROMETER, Schut Geometrical Metrology, Groningen, The Netherlands, accuracy: 0.001 mm) on a total of 20 points per aligner. Statistical analysis was performed using the JASP program (JASP, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The difference between the thermoformed and printed groups was statistically significant. Significant differences between different thermoformed materials and between 3D-printed materials were found. The thickness of thermoformed aligners deviated more in the upper jaw, whereas the thickness of printed aligners deviated more in the lower jaw. Both differences were statistically significant. The greatest average deviation from the initial thickness was found in Duran 0.75; Erkodur 0.6; Erkoloc-Pro 1.0; IZZI 0.5; NextDent 0.6 and NextDent A 0.6. NextDent group had the lowest deviations for all teeth of both jaws, except for upper and lower first molar where NextDent A group was more accurate. Thermoformed aligners showed decreased values, while printed ones showed mostly increased values compared to the original material thickness. The highest mean deviation belonged to IZZI group, and the NextDent group had the lowest mean deviation. The thickness of both aligners was thinner at the edges compared to the thickness at cusps and fissures.

Competency gap among graduating nursing students: what they have achieved and what is expected of them.

Nurses' professional competencies play a significant role in providing safe care to patients. Identifying the acquired and expected competencies in nursing education and the gaps between them can be a good guide for nursing education institutions to improve their educational practices. In a descriptive-comparative study, students' perception of acquired competencies and expected competencies from the perspective of the Iranian nursing faculties were collected with two equivalent questionnaires consisting of 85 items covering 17 competencies across 5 domains. A cluster sampling technique was employed on 721 final-year nursing students and 365 Iranian nursing faculties. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests. The results of the study showed that the highest scores for students' acquired competencies and nursing faculties' expected competencies were work readiness and professional development, with mean of 3.54 (SD = 0.39) and 4.30 (SD = 0.45), respectively. Also, the lowest score for both groups was evidence-based nursing care with mean of 2.74 (SD = 0.55) and 3.74 (SD = 0.57), respectively. The comparison of competencies, as viewed by both groups of the students and the faculties, showed that the difference between the two groups' mean scores was significant in all 5 core-competencies and 17 sub-core competencies (P < .001). Evidence-based nursing care was the highest mean difference (mean diff = 1) and the professional nursing process with the lowest mean difference (mean diff = 0.70). The results of the study highlight concerns about the gap between expected and achieved competencies in Iran. Further research is recommended to identify the reasons for the gap between the two and to plan how to reduce it. This will require greater collaboration between healthcare institutions and nursing schools.

Refining the PROMETHEE‐scoring method: Propositions and an economic freedom assessment

AbstractThe recent PROMETHEE‐Scoring approach offers a method for generating cardinal scores through an outranking procedure utilizing Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability and – analysis. In this paper, we illustrate some undesirable effects of this method and explore possible approaches to address them. First, we modify the original LP by inserting a new constraint that limits negative impacts caused by alternatives with low flow mean and standard deviation. Also, clustering is used to identify outliers in the decision matrix that may induce undesirable effects. A toy example demonstrates the issues and explores the proposed implementations. In addition, a numerical application is presented where a set of countries is ordered based on criteria from an economic freedom assessment. Both the numerical application and the toy example show that the propositions can improve the consistency of the results and prevent inconsistent outputs. The results include comparisons between the rank of alternatives when using purely the PROMETHEE‐Scoring method, the proposed improvements, and the expected results from SMAA‐PROMETHEE.

High-resolution prostate diffusion MRI using eddy current-nulled convex optimized diffusion encoding and random matrix theory-based denoising.

To develop and evaluate a technique combining eddy current-nulled convex optimized diffusion encoding (ENCODE) with random matrix theory (RMT)-based denoising to accelerate and improve the apparent signal-to-noise ratio (aSNR) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in high-resolution prostate diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). MATERIALS ANDMETHODS: Eleven subjects with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer were scanned at 3T with high-resolution (HR) (in-plane: 1.0 × 1.0 mm2) ENCODE and standard-resolution (1.6 × 2.2 mm2) bipolar DWI sequences (both had 7 repetitions for averaging, acquisition time [TA] of 5 min 50 s). HR-ENCODE was retrospectively analyzed using three repetitions (accelerated effective TA of 2 min 30 s). The RMT-based denoising pipeline utilized complex DWI signals and Marchenko-Pastur distribution-based principal component analysis to remove additive Gaussian noise in images from multiple coils, b-values, diffusion encoding directions, and repetitions. HR-ENCODE with RMT-based denoising (HR-ENCODE-RMT) was compared with HR-ENCODE in terms of aSNR in prostate peripheral zone (PZ) and transition zone (TZ). Precision and accuracy of ADC were evaluated by the coefficient of variation (CoV) between repeated measurements and mean difference (MD) compared to the bipolar ADC reference, respectively. Differences were compared using two-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (P < 0.05 considered significant). HR-ENCODE-RMT yielded 62% and 56% higher median aSNR than HR-ENCODE (b = 800 s/mm2) in PZ and TZ, respectively (P < 0.001). HR-ENCODE-RMT achieved 63% and 70% lower ADC-CoV than HR-ENCODE in PZ and TZ, respectively (P < 0.001). HR-ENCODE-RMT ADC and bipolar ADC had low MD of 22.7 × 10-6 mm2/s in PZ and low MD of 90.5 × 10-6 mm2/s in TZ. HR-ENCODE-RMT can shorten the acquisition time and improve the aSNR of high-resolution prostate DWI and achieve accurate and precise ADC measurements in the prostate.

Biomechanical and Vascular Metrics Between Eyes of Patients With Asymmetric Glaucoma and Symmetric Glaucoma.

Corneal hysteresis (CH) and pulsatile ocular blood volume (POBV) were significantly lower in the eye with greater damage in asymmetric glaucoma, without a difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) or central corneal thickness (CCT), and no difference in elastic parameters. To compare biomechanical and vascular metrics between the eyes of patients with asymmetric glaucoma (ASYMM) and those with symmetric glaucoma (SYMM). Forty-five patients were prospectively recruited and divided into ASYMM, defined as cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio difference >0.1 between eyes and SYMM, with C/D difference ≤0.1. For ASYMM, the smaller C/D was defined as the best eye ("best") and the fellow eye was defined as the worst eye ("worse"). All metrics were subtracted as "worse" minus "best," including the viscoelastic parameter CH, and elastic parameters from the Corvis ST, including stiffness parameter at first applanation, stiffness parameter at highest concavity, integrated inverse radius, deformation amplitude ratio, IOP, CCT, mean deviation (MD), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and POBV were included. Paired t tests were performed between eyes in both groups. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS using a significance threshold of P <0.05. For ASYMM (16 patients), "worse" showed significantly lower CH (-0.76 ± 1.22), POBV (-0.38 ± 0.305), MD (-3.66 ± 6.55), and GCC (-7.9 ± 12.2) compared with "best." No other parameters were significantly different. For SYMM (29 patients), there were no significantly different metrics between eyes. Lower CH, POBV, GCC, and worse MD were associated with greater glaucomatous damage in asymmetric glaucoma without a difference in IOP or CCT. Lower CH and GCC are consistent with previous studies. POBV, a new clinical parameter that may indicate reduced blood flow, is also associated with greater damage.

Assessment of depression in patients with open-angle glaucoma

Background/Aim. Depression can be caused by a life situation. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of glaucomatous damage on the frequency of occurrence of depression, as well as to determine the risk factors for the onset of depression in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Methods. The study was designed as a clinical, observational study (cross-sectional study). The research included 150 patients of both genders over the age of 40 with a confirmed diagnosis of OAG. Anamnestic and sociodemographic data were collected by a questionnaire and detailed ophthalmological examinations were performed. The Beck Depression Inventory-II scale was used as a measurement instrument to assess depression. Results. A high (51.3%) prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with OAG was confirmed. The patients who suffered from depression more often were women, people with lower monthly earnings, and lower mean deviation values of the visual field index. In patients with advanced glaucoma, a significantly higher frequency of depressive symptoms was observed. Conclusion. Due to the high prevalence of depressive symptoms, it is important to introduce a multidisciplinary approach to treatment by ophthalmologists and psychiatrists. Detecting and treating depressive symptoms at an early stage of the disease leads to a significant reduction in treatment costs and patient disability.

Right ventricular ejection fraction derived from intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography versus cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Right ventricle (RV) assessment is critical during cardiac surgery. Traditional assessment consists of visual estimation and measurement of validated parameters. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is the gold standard for RV analysis, and transthoracic three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is validated against this. We aimed to show that intraoperative 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) RV assessment is feasible and can produce results that correlate with cMRI. We recruited cardiac surgery patients who underwent cMRI within the preceding twelve preoperative months. An anesthetic protocol was followed pre-sternotomy and a 3D RV data set was acquired. We used TOMTEC 4D RV-Function to derive RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF). We compared these data with the corresponding MRI values. Twenty-five patients were included. Transesophageal echocardiography EDV and ESV differed from MRI measurements with a mean bias of -53mL (95% confidence interval [CI], -80 to 26) and -21mL (95% CI, -34 to -9). Transesophageal echocardiography EF did not differ significantly, with a mean bias of -4% (95% CI, -8 to 1). Results were unchanged after excluding MRIs older than 180days. Correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, and EF were r = 0.85, 0.91, and 0.80, respectively. Interclass correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, and EF were 0.86, 0.89, and 0.96, respectively. Intraoperative TEE RV, EDV, and ESV are underestimated relative to cMRI because of analysis, anesthetic, and ventilation factors. The EF showed a low mean difference, and all values showed strong correlation with MRI. Reproducibility and feasibility were excellent and increased use in clinical practice should be considered.

Accuracy of Two Variants of 3D-Printed Insertion Guides for Orthodontic Mini-Implants: An Ex Vivo Study in Human Cadavers

Insertion guides are becoming popular for orthodontic mini-implant positioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the accuracy of two different mini-implant insertion guides, with or without pre-drilling, in a human cadaveric model. Maxillary casts of six fresh frozen specimens were digitized to create insertion guides. Sixty mini-implants were randomly inserted with full-arch or skeletonized guides, either with or without predrilling. Pre- and post-treatment CBCTs were superimposed using rigid registration. Transformation matrices of the planned and real positions were obtained, and distances at the mini-implant neck and apex, as well as the angular deviation, were calculated. The Kruskal–Wallis test was performed, followed by a post hoc test when indicated. Out of 60 inserted mini-implants, 46 could be evaluated. Of these, 10 initially assigned to no pre-drilling required this procedure due to very high bone density. Therefore, 32 implants were inserted with pre-drilling (n = 15 full-arch; n = 17 skeletonized) and 14 without (n = 7 full-arch; n = 7 skeletonized). The lowest mean deviation at the neck was 1.22 ± 0.6 mm, registered in the full-arch/pre-drilling group. The skeletonized/no pre-drilling group presented the lowest mean values at the apex, i.e., 1.72 ± 1.22 mm, as well as the lowest mean angular deviation, i.e., 8.23 ± 4.24°. Significant differences among groups were observed only at the neck, with higher mean deviation in the skeletonized/pre-drilling group than in the full-arch/pre-drilling one (p = 0.014). In conclusion, within the limitations of the study, rather high deviations between planned and real mini-implant positions were found. Further studies are needed on how to improve the accuracy within in vivo settings.

Innovative Device for Automated Monitoring of Table Olive Fermentation Parameters: First Experimental Results

The table olive sector is highly important to the Italian agri-food industry. To produce quality table olives without defects in appearance, flavors, or aroma and to meet consumer expectations, special precautions must be taken to limit side effects associated with transformation and storage processes. During these processes, essential to debitter and stabilize the final product, drupes may undergo undesirable fermentations due to changes in the olive-to-brine ratio, temperature changes, and alteration of the brine’s chemico–physical parameters, thus decreasing their commercial and nutritional value. An innovative user-friendly system, equipped with low-cost digital and sensorized devices, has been engineered and realized for step-by-step batch monitoring of table olive storage brines. The main fermentation parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, salinity, free acidity, volatile acidity, and residual sodium hydroxide) of virgin, compliant, and altered brines were analyzed with both the automated prototype and Official reference methods, with the aim of testing the functionality of the prototype device and verifying the reliability and repeatability of the measurements. Good linearity was observed for all parameters examined, with a relatively low mean deviation between the two approaches. It is therefore possible to constantly monitor brine conformity automatically during the processing stages, benefiting product quality and environmental, energy, and economic sustainability.