Ocular Response Analyzer

Until recently, corneal biomechanical properties could not be measured in vivo. The ocular response analyzer is a new, noninvasive device that analyses corneal biomechanical properties simply and rapidly. The ORA allows cornea compensated IOP measurements and can estimate corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF). It is designed to improve the accuracy of IOP measurement by using corneal biomechanical data to calculate a biomechanically adjusted estimate of intraocular pressure. This review critically evaluates the technology and its implications in current day glaucoma management.

Genotype by diet interactions in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): Nutritional challenge with totally plant-based diets

Aquaculture of carnivorous species has strongly relied on fish meal and fish oil for feed formulation; however, greater replacement by terrestrial plant-based products is occurring now. This rapid change in dietary environment has been a major revolution and has to be taken into consideration in breeding programs. The present study analyzes potential consequences of this nutritional tendency for selective breeding by estimating genetic parameters of BW and growth rates estimated by the thermal growth coefficient (TGC) over different periods with extremely different diets. European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) from a factorial cross (1,526 fish) between 25 sires and 9 dams were used to estimate heritabilities and genotype by diet interaction. Starting 87 d after fertilization (2.5 g), one-half of the sea bass were fed a diet containing marine products (M), and the other one-half were fed a totally plant-based (PB) diet (without any fish meal or fish oil). The fish were individually tagged, reared in a recirculated system, and genotyped at 13 microsatellites to rebuild parentage of individuals. Body weight and TGC were measured for 335 d until fish fed the M diet reached 108.3 g of BW. These traits were significantly less in fish fed the PB diet (P<0.05) in the very first stages after the dietary shift, but the difference in TGC between diets rapidly disappeared (P>0.1). Survival was significantly less in fish fed the PB diet (PB=64.7%, M=93.7% after 418 d, P<0.05). This work identified moderate heritabilities (0.18 to 0.46) for BW with both diets and high genetic correlations between diets (0.78 to 0.93), meaning low genotype by diet interactions, although diets were extremely different. Heritabilities of TGC (0.11 to 0.3) were less than for BW as well as genetic correlations between diets (0.43 to 0.64). Using such extremely different diets, predicted BW gains in different scenarios indicated that selecting fish for growth on a marine diet should be the most efficient way to increase growth on plant-based diets, meaning that, in this case, indirect selection should be more efficient than direct selection.

Correlation of frequency-doubling perimetry with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and optic disc size in ocular hypertensives and glaucoma suspects

PURPOSE

To determine the structure-function correlation using frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in glaucoma suspects, and analyze their relationship to optic disc size.

METHODS

Sixty eyes of 60 ocular hypertensive patients (OHT) and 54 eyes of 54 subjects with optic disc features suspicious of glaucoma (disc suspects) with normal visual fields on Standard Achromatic Perimetry were recruited. All subjects underwent FDT perimetry using the N-30 program, and the mean deviation (FDT-MD) and FDT-pattern SD were computed. Average and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and disc area were measured on Stratus OCT. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated among all the measurements.

RESULTS

In disc suspects, FDT-MD correlated significantly with RNFL thickness measurements (P<0.001; P=0.003) and disc area (P<0.001). There was no correlation with the vertical cup-disc area ratio (VCDR) and FDT indices. In OHT, FDT-MD correlated significantly with average RNFL thickness (P=0.038), and there was a significant negative correlation between FDT-MD and the VCDR (0.042). The FDT-pattern SD negatively correlated with RNFL thickness measurements (P=0.008; P=0.03). The disc area correlated significantly with the average and inferior average RNFL thickness measurements in both groups of patients (P=0.029 and P=0.007; P=0.013 and P=0.013, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In OHT, optic discs with larger VCDR and thinner RNFL had lower FDT-MD values. In disc suspects, smaller-sized discs had thinner RNFL and lower values of FDT-MD. FDT perimetry and OCT seem to be useful adjuncts to detect these eyes, which might warrant close follow-up to eventually detect glaucoma by Standard Achromatic Perimetry.

Autophagic pathways and metabolic stress

Autophagy is an essential intracellular process that mediates degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles in lysosomes. Autophagy was initially identified for its role as alternative source of energy when nutrients are scarce but, in recent years, a previously unknown role for this degradative pathway in the cellular response to stress has gained considerable attention. In this review, we focus on the novel findings linking autophagic function with metabolic stress resulting either from proteins or lipids. Proper autophagic activity is required in the cellular defense against proteotoxicity arising in the cytosol and also in the endoplasmic reticulum, where a vast amount of proteins are synthesized and folded. In addition, autophagy contributes to mobilization of intracellular lipid stores and may be central to lipid metabolism in certain cellular conditions. In this review, we focus on the interrelation between autophagy and different types of metabolic stress, specifically the stress resulting from the presence of misbehaving proteins within the cytosol or in the endoplasmic reticulum and the stress following a lipogenic challenge. We also comment on the consequences that chronic exposure to these metabolic stressors could have on autophagic function and on how this effect may underlie the basis of some common metabolic disorders.

Clinical profile and outcome of swine flu in Indian children

Objective

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of Indian children infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Study design

Retrospective chart review.

Setting

Outpatient department and hospitalized patients in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods

Clinical details of 85 children (positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus infection tested by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay) were analyzed from medical charts.

Results

Of the 85 (55 boys) children positive for 2009 H1N1 virus infection, 64.7% were between 5 years to 16 years, and 35.3% were below 5 years age. The mean age of these children was 7.5±3.5 yr. Contact history was positive only in 22 (26%) cases. High grade fever was the most common symptom, followed by cough and rhinorrhea. Twenty-nine (34%) patients had an underlying co-morbid condition. Of the 34 patients who underwent chest radiography during evaluation, 18 children (52.9%) had findings consistent with lower respiratory tract infection. Antiviral therapy was initiated in 76 patients. Hospitalization was required in 30 (35.3%) children. Risk factors for hospitalization included underlying co-morbid condition, respiratory distress, vomiting, wheezing, diarrhea, hypotension and infiltrates/consolidation on chest radiograph. Mean length of hospitalization was 131±76 hours, irrespective of underlying disease. Three children developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and died.

Conclusions

Clinical features and routine laboratory investigations in children with swine origin influenza were non-specific. Children with co-morbid condition, respiratory distress, vomiting, wheezing, diarrhea, hypotension and infiltrates/consolidation on chest radiograph were at higher risk of hospitalization.

Profile of angle closure in a tertiary care center in north India

PURPOSE

To study the demographic and clinical profile of the types of primary angle closure patients presenting at a tertiary care center in North India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinic records of patients diagnosed as primary angle closure were reviewed. International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO) classification scheme was used to categorize patients. Demographic and clinical data including prior management was collected and analyzed. Main Outcome measures were age, sex, symptomatology, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopy, optic disc assessment and visual field defects. Logistic regression model and receiver operating curve (ROC) were calculated for predictors of type of glaucoma.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and fourteen patients (1603 eyes; males: 380, females: 434) were diagnosed to have various subtypes of angle closure. Mean (+/-SD) age at presentation was significantly higher for males (57.57 +/- 11.62 years) as compared to females (53.64 +/- 10.67 years) ( P < 0001). Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) was most frequently diagnosed subtype (49.38%) followed by Primary angle closure (PAC) (39.68%) and Primary angle closure suspect (PACS) (10.93%) respectively. The three subtypes differed significantly among their mean IOP (on ANOVA, F = 14.04; P < 0001 using Greenhouse-Geisser correction). Univariate analysis was done to find significant predictors for the outcome of PACG. Logistic regression model and ROC containing the significant predictors yielded a very high AUC of 0.93 with strong discriminatory ability for PACG.

CONCLUSION

In our hospital-based study, the significant predictors for the outcome of PACG included male gender, diminution of vision, the presence of pain and worsening grades of BCVA. Nearly half of PACG presented with advanced disease. In spite of one-third of the patients being diagnosed as angle closure prior to referral, only 8.34% had iridotomy (laser or surgical) done.

Tissue-specific robustness of fatty acid signatures in cultured gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) fed practical diets with a combined high replacement of fish meal and fish oil

The present study aimed to determine the tissue-specific robustness of fatty acid (FA) signatures of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) by analyzing the changes in lipid class and FA composition of skeletal muscle, brain, liver, and mesenteric adipose tissue. Triplicate groups of fish were fed to visual satiety over a 14-mo production cycle with 2 practical plant protein-based diets formulated with either fish oil or a blend of vegetable oils (66% of fish oil replacement) to contain 53% CP and 21% crude fat on a DM basis. Growth rates (P = 0.22) and tissue lipid class composition were not altered by the dietary treatment (P = 0.34 and 0.52 for neutral lipids and phospholipids, respectively). The FA signatures of neutral lipids reflected the composition of the diet, although the output of principal components analysis revealed a divergent FA profile for liver compared with skeletal muscle, brain, and mesenteric adipose tissue. Because the theoretical EFA needs were met by the 2 diets, the FA composition of phospholipids remained almost unaltered in all tissues. Interestingly, however, the brain showed the greatest robustness and regulatory capacity to preserve the phenotype of fish fed fish oil-based diets. The FA signatures of total lipids are a combinatory result of neutral and polar lipids, and the most relevant fat storage tissues (mesenteric adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) were more easily influenced by dietary FA composition. The present study provides new insights into fish tissue FA composition and reinforces the use of FA signatures as useful criteria in determining whether EFA requirements for a wide range of physiological processes, including those of neural tissues, can be met with practical fish feeds.