Estimating variability in placido-based topographic systems.

PURPOSE: To describe a new software tool for the detailed presentation of corneal topography measurements variability by means of color-coded maps. METHODS: Software was developed in Visual Basic to analyze and process a series of 10 consecutive measurements obtained by a topographic system on calibration spheres, and individuals with emmetropic, low, high, and irregular astigmatic corneas. Corneal surface was segmented into 1200 segments and the coefficient of variance of each segment's keratometric dioptric power was used as the measure of variability. The results were presented graphically in color-coded maps (Variability Maps). Two topographic systems, the TechnoMed C-Scan and the TOMEY Topographic Modeling System (TMS-2N), were examined to demonstrate our method. RESULTS: Graphic representation of coefficient of variance offered a detailed representation of examination variability both in calibration surfaces and human corneas. It was easy to recognize an increase in variability, as the irregularity of examination surfaces increased. In individuals with high and irregular astigmatism, a variability pattern correlated with the pattern of corneal topography: steeper corneal areas possessed higher variability values compared with flatter areas of the same cornea. Numerical data permitted direct comparisons and statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a method that permits a detailed evaluation of the variability of corneal topography measurements. The representation of the results both graphically and quantitatively improves interpretability and facilitates a spatial correlation of variability maps with original topography maps. Given the popularity of topography based custom refractive ablations of the cornea, it is possible that variability maps may assist clinicians in the evaluation of corneal topography maps of patients with very irregular corneas, before custom ablation procedures.     

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in essential hypertension after treatment with terazocin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium term effects of the selective alpha1-adrenenergic- blocker terazocin on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally for 30 days. The daily dose was 1 mg for the first 7 days, 2 mg for the next 7 days and 5 mg for the remaining period of this clinical trial. At the end of this clinical trial, plasma ANP levels increased by 16.40% despite the drop in blood pressure while left atrial and ventricular diameters remained unchanged. These findings indicate that the increase of ANP plasma levels is not the result of a mechanical load on the left cardiac chambers but the result of a pharmacological action. These observations also indicate that terazocin exerts part of its antihypertensive action by increasing ANP plasma levels.     

The Effects of Gain- versus Loss-Framed Messages Following Health Risk Information on Physical Activity in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Few people with multiple sclerosis engage in physical activity. Messaging interventions may motivate more physical activity among these individuals. The purpose of this online study was to evaluate an intervention presenting participants with multiple sclerosis (N = 237) with risk information (i.e., information demonstrating people with multiple sclerosis are more likely to experience certain health issues) or no risk information followed by gain- or loss-framed physical activity messages. Participants completed questionnaires on Days 1, 6, and 28 and received information material on Days 2–5. The dependent variables were as follows: physical activity intentions and behavior, response and task efficacy, perceived threat (i.e., perception of threat to health issues relevant to people with multiple sclerosis), and avoidance (i.e., avoiding thinking about/doing something about the health issues presented in the messages). Analyses indicated physical activity and response efficacy increased over time. Also, participants receiving risk information had higher levels of physical activity and perceived threat. However, manipulation checks showed no differences between participants regarding perceptions of risk information or gain/loss-framed messages. Despite the lack of impact of the framing intervention, this study suggests that a brief informational intervention can positively influence physical activity and certain correlates of physical activity among people with multiple sclerosis.     

Alcohol Outcome Expectancies Mediate the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Alcohol Drinking in University Students: The Role of Gender

College alcohol drinking is a public health concern worldwide. A line of research indicates that higher social anxiety is associated with more severe college drinking. However, other studies reveal a protective role of social anxiety against alcohol drinking in college students. Attempting to reconcile contradictory findings, we examined the hypothesis that there are multiple antagonistic pathways that could explain the social anxiety-college drinking relationship. In addition, there may be individual difference variables that moderate these processes. Furthermore, it was expected that the processes could vary as a function of the alcohol drinking outcomes examined. Expectancy theory emphasizes the role of alcohol outcome expectancies in alcohol drinking. Thus, in the present study we tested whether global positive and negative alcohol outcome expectancies partially mediate the relationship between social anxiety, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related problems in a sample of 245 university students. We also examined the moderating role of gender in these mediating processes. Results revealed parallel but oppositional processes. Higher social anxiety was associated with heavier alcohol drinking and more serious alcohol-related problems via stronger positive alcohol outcome expectancies. However, the mediating role of positive alcohol outcome expectancies varied as a function of gender. It appears that in female students the mediating effect of positive alcohol outcome expectancies was stronger than in male students. On the other hand, higher social anxiety had a protective role against alcohol consumption but not against alcohol-related problems via stronger negative alcohol outcome expectancies. Finally, there was an inverse direct relationship between social anxiety and alcohol consumption.     

Regurgitations in a Lamb with Acute Coenurosis-A case Report

Coenurosis is a disease of the central nervous system in sheep, caused by Coenurus cerebralis, the larval stage of Multiceps multiceps, which inhabits the small intestine of Canidae. A case of regurgitations in a 2.5 month old lamb with acute coenurosis is being reported. The lamb was presented with a sudden onset of ataxia and regurgitations for 10 days. The post-mortem examination revealed 4 immature C. cerebralis cysts between 0.5 and 1.5 cm in diameter located in the brainstem and cerebellum, and histopathological examination revealed multifocal pyogranulomatous meningoencephalitis, so a diagnosis of acute coenurosis was established. Thus, acute coenurosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of regurgitations in lambs.     

Seasonal variations of systemic lupus erythematosus flares in southern France

ObjectiveExposure to sunlight is one of the environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. We investigated whether there is seasonal variation in the incidence of cutaneous and noncutaneous severe lupus flares in southern France.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical and biological data from all SLE patients hospitalized for a flare of the disease during a two year period in our centre and collected corresponding meteorological data from the official website of MeteoFrance.ResultsForty one patients, mean age 36.7 ± 13.8 years, were included. Twenty-six patients (63.4%) had kidney biopsy performed, showing in all cases proliferative nephritis, associated with membranous nephritis in 9 (22%). We found a clear seasonal pattern for overall lupus flares with 39% of flares occurred in Spring. Among patients without any cutaneous involvement, this seasonal pattern was still observed (p = 0.024). Patients under antimalarials presented flares significantly later in the sunny season than those without (respectively median in July versus May, p = 0.044). There were strong positive correlations between occurrence of lupus flares and maximum temperature increase (ρ = 0.87, p < 0.001), minimum temperature increase (ρ = 0.87, p < 0.001), and duration of sunshine increase (ρ = 0.78, p = 0.003). These correlations were also observed in patients with renal flares.ConclusionWe confirmed a seasonal pattern for lupus flares among patients living in Southern France, with most flares in spring, in correlation with an increase in temperature and duration of sunshine. A similar seasonal pattern was observed in patients with no cutaneous involvement and with visceral involvement.     

Transseptal use of high-density grid catheter for VT mapping and retrograde hemodynamic support with Impella pump in presence of Mitraclips

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - We sought to establish the technical feasibility of VT-mapping with high-density catheters in patients with Mitraclips, requiring a hemodynamic...     

A scoping review of the psychological responses to interval exercise: is interval exercise a viable alternative to traditional exercise?

While considerable evidence suggests that interval exercise confers numerous physiological adaptations linked to improved health, its psychological consequences and behavioural implications are less clear and the subject of intense debate. The purpose of this scoping review was to catalogue studies investigating the psychological responses to interval exercise in order to identify what psychological outcomes have been assessed, the research methods used, and the results. A secondary objective was to identify research issues and gaps. Forty-two published articles met the review inclusion/exclusion criteria. These studies involved 1258 participants drawn from various active/inactive and healthy/unhealthy populations, and 55 interval exercise protocols (69% high-intensity interval training [HIIT], 27% sprint interval training [SIT], and 4% body-weight interval training [BWIT]). Affect and enjoyment were the most frequently studied psychological outcomes. Post-exercise assessments indicate that overall, enjoyment of, and preferences for interval exercise are equal or greater than for continuous exercise, and participants can hold relatively positive social cognitions regarding interval exercise. Although several methodological issues (e.g., inconsistent use of terminology, measures and protocols) and gaps (e.g., data on adherence and real-world protocols) require attention, from a psychological perspective, the emerging data support the viability of interval exercise as an alternative to continuous exercise.