Pseudophakic accommodation with translation lenses – dual optic vs mono optic

PURPOSE: To investigate the pseudophakic accommodation effect in dual and mono optic translation accommodative intraocular lenses (AIOL) using linear matrix methods in the paraxial space. METHODS: Dual (anterior optic of power +32 D linked to a compensatory posterior optic of negative power) and mono lens power was determined in the non-accommodated state using linear geometric optics based on the Gullstrand model eye. The position of the AIOL was calculated from a regression formula. Pseudophakic accommodation was assessed with three systems: (1) forward shift of the mono optic lens, (2) anterior translation of the anterior optic in the dual optic lens system with an unchanged position of the posterior minus lens and (3) symmetrical anterior and posterior translation of the anterior and posterior lens. The Gullstrand model eye was modified by changing the axial length (and proportionally changing the phakic anterior chamber depth) to investigate the accommodative effect in myopic and hyperopic eyes. RESULTS: The dual optic lens system (2) yields a nearly constant accommodation amplitude of 2.4-2.5 D mm(-1) movement over the total range of axial lengths. The mono optic lens (1) provides a higher accommodative effect only in extremely short eyes (high refractive power of the lens), whereas for normal eyes (1.4-1.5 D mm(-1) movement) and for long (myopic) eyes the accommodative effect is much less than the dual optic lens. The dual optic lens system under condition (3) yields less accommodation amplitude compared with the dual optic system under condition (2) over the total range of axial length but provides higher accommodation amplitude compared with the mono optic lens system (1) with axial lengths greater than 22.3 mm (lens power 25.5 D). In the accommodated state, with lens translation of 1 mm, the absolute value of the lateral magnification increases with the refractive power of the mono optic lens (1) and decreases in both dual optic lens systems (under conditions 2 and 3). CONCLUSIONS: A mathematical strategy is presented for calculation of the accommodative effect of mono-optic and dual optic AIOL. The dual optic lens yielded a nearly constant accommodation amplitude of about 2.4-2.5 D mm(-1) translation, whereas the mono optic lens yielded an accommodative response of <2 D mm(-1) translation in long myopic or normal eyes. Only in extremely short eyes is the accommodative amplitude of the mono-optic lens higher than the dual optic lens.     

Fludarabine in combination with alemtuzumab is effective and feasible in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results of a phase II trial.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of a newly developed concomitant administration of fludarabine and alemtuzumab (FluCam) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 36 patients were treated in this phase II study (median age, 61.47 years; mean number of prior chemotherapies, 2.6; Binet stage C, n = 28). After an initial dose escalation of alemtuzumab over 3 days, alemtuzumab 30 mg and fludarabine 30 mg/m2 were administered on 3 consecutive days. Treatment was repeated after 28 days for up to six cycles. Restaging (following National Cancer Institute criteria) was carried out after cycles 2 and 4 and 1 month after the end of treatment. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 83% (11 complete responses, 19 partial responses, one stable disease, and five progressive diseases). Two patients with progressive disease developed fungal pneumonias, and one patient died as a result of Escherichia coli sepsis. Two subclinical cytomegalovirus reactivations occurred. CONCLUSION: The new FluCam regimen is effective and feasible in patients with relapsed and refractory B-CLL.     

Age of uptake of early cancer detection facilities by low-risk and high-risk patients with familial breast and ovarian cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Some 5-10% of all cases of breast cancer and ovarian cancer have a hereditary genesis. In the setting of an interdisciplinary cancer genetics clinic, a study of the age at which patients first take advantage of early cancer detection (ECD) facilities was conducted in order to assess the influence of familial risk on health issues. METHODS: The study included 556 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (IC) for genetic analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as 205 who did not meet these criteria but attended the primary consultation. RESULTS: Consulters who met the inclusion criteria took advantage of nearly all methods of ECD at an earlier time than women who did not. A comparison of consulters with or without breast cancer showed that those without breast cancer participated in all methods of ECD at an earlier time. CONCLUSION: Methods of improving and increasing participation in ECD facilities, and of encouraging women who are at risk to start on such programs at a younger age, need to be discussed. In this study, familial risk already resulted in a younger age of uptake of ECD facilities.     

Exome sequencing in individuals with cardiovascular laterality defects identifies potential candidate genes

The birth prevalence of laterality defects is about 1.1/10,000 comprising different phenotypes ranging from situs inversus totalis to heterotaxy, mostly associated with complex congenital heart defects (CHD) and situs abnormalities such as intestinal malrotation, biliary atresia, asplenia, or polysplenia. A proportion of laterality defects arise in the context of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) accompanied by respiratory symptoms or infertility. In this study, exome sequencing (ES) was performed in 14 case-parent trios/quattros with clinical exclusion of PCD prior to analysis. Moreover, all cases and parents underwent detailed clinical phenotyping including physical examination, echocardiography by a skilled paediatric cardiologist and abdominal ultrasound examinations not to miss mildly affected individuals. Subsequent survey of the exome data comprised filtering for monoallelic de novo, rare biallelic, and X-linked recessive variants. In two families, rare variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in PKD1L1 and ZIC3 were identified. Both genes have been associated with laterality defects. In two of the remaining families, biallelic variants in LMBRD1 and DNAH17, respectively, were prioritized. In another family, an ultra-rare de novo variant in WDR47 was found. Extensive exome survey of 2,109 single exomes of individuals with situs inversus totalis, heterotaxy, or isolated CHD identified two individuals with novel monoallelic variants in WDR47, but no further individuals with biallelic variants in DNAH17 or LMBRD1. Overall, ES of 14 case-parent trios/quattros with cardiovascular laterality defects identified rare VUS in two families in known disease-associated genes PKD1L1 and ZIC3 and suggests DNAH17, LMBRD1, and WDR47 as potential genes involved in laterality defects.Subject terms: Disease genetics, Genetic counselling, Biological sciences     

Software-Automated Implant Detection for Intraoperative 3D Imaging—First Clinical Evaluation on 214 Data Sets

Previous studies have demonstrated a frequent occurrence of screw/K-wire malpositioning during surgical fracture treatment under 2D fluoroscopy and a correspondingly high revision rate as a result of using intraoperative 3D imaging. In order to facilitate and accelerate the diagnosis of implant malpositioning in 3D data sets, this study investigates two versions of an implant detection software for mobile 3D C-arms in terms of their detection performance based on comparison with manual evaluation. The 3D data sets of patients who had received surgical fracture treatment at five anatomical regions were extracted from the research database. First, manual evaluation of the data sets was performed, and the number of implanted implants was assessed. For 25 data sets, the time required by four investigators to adjust each implant was monitored. Subsequently, the evaluation was performed using both software versions based on the following detection parameters: true-positive-rate, false-negative-rate, false-detection-rate and positive predictive value. Furthermore, the causes of false positive and false negative detected implants depending on the anatomical region were investigated. Two hundred fourteen data sets with overall 1767 implants were included. The detection parameters were significantly improved (p<.001) from version 1 to version 2 of the implant detection software. Automatic evaluation required an average of 4.1±0.4 s while manual evaluation was completed in 136.15±72.9 s (p<.001), with a statistically significant difference between experienced and inexperienced users (p=.005). In summary, version 2 of the implant detection software achieved significantly better results. The time saved by using the software could contribute to optimizing the intraoperative workflow.     

Changes in Alcohol Consumption,Eating Behaviors,and Body Weight during Quarantine Measures: Analysis of the CoCo-Fakt Study

IntroductionPublic health measures enacted to reduce COVID-19 transmission have affected individuals'' lifestyles, mental health, and psychological well-being. To date, little is known how stay-at-home orders have influenced the eating behaviors, weight development, and alcohol consumption of quarantined persons. The CoCo-Fakt cohort study analyzed these parameters and their association with psychological distress and coping strategies.MethodsAn online survey was conducted of all persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (infected persons [IP]) between December 12, 2020, and January 6, 2021, as well as their close contacts (contact persons [CP]) registered by the public health department of Cologne. 8,075 of 33,699 individuals were included in the analysis. In addition to demographic data, psychological distress, and coping strategies, information on changes in body weight, eating, and drinking behaviors was collected.ResultsIP lost 1.2 ± 4.4 kg during the quarantine period, and CP gained 1.6 ± 4.1 kg. The reasons given by IP for weight change were mainly loss of taste and feeling sick, whereas CP were more likely than IP to eat out of boredom. Higher psychological burden and lower coping strategies were associated with both weight gain and loss. Of the 30.8% of participants who changed their alcohol consumption during the quarantine period, CP in particular drank more alcohol (IP 15.2%; CP 47.7%). Significantly less alcohol was consumed by individuals with higher coping scores.ConclusionIn this short but psychologically stressful period of stay-at-home orders, changes in eating and drinking behavior as well as weight development are evident, mainly in high-risk contacts. To avoid possible long-term sequelae, health authorities should take these findings into account during the quarantine period; in particular, general practitioners should consider these findings during follow-up.