Learning Chronobiology by Improving Wikipedia

Although chronobiology is of growing interest to scientists, physicians, and the general public, access to recent discoveries and historical perspectives is limited. Wikipedia is an online, user-written encyclopedia that could enhance public access to current understanding in chronobiology. However, Wikipedia is lacking important information and is not universally trusted. Here, 46 students in a university course edited Wikipedia to enhance public access to important discoveries in chronobiology. Students worked for an average of 9 h each to evaluate the primary literature and available Wikipedia information, nominated sites for editing, and, after voting, edited the 15 Wikipedia pages they determined to be highest priorities. This assignment ( http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/courses/Bio4030/wikipedia_project.html ) was easy to implement, required relatively short time commitments from the professor and students, and had measurable impacts on Wikipedia and the students. Students created 3 new Wikipedia sites, edited 12 additional sites, and cited 347 peer-reviewed articles. The targeted sites all became top hits in online search engines. Because their writing was and will be read by a worldwide audience, students found the experience rewarding. Students reported significantly increased comfort with reading, critiquing, and summarizing primary literature and benefited from seeing their work edited by other scientists and editors of Wikipedia. We conclude that, in a short project, students can assist in making chronobiology widely accessible and learn from the editorial process.

Choroidal neovascularization secondary to Candida albicans chorioretinitis

PURPOSE

To study the clinical histories and courses of six patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to endogenous Candida albicans chorioretinitis.

METHODS

The medical records, fundus photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of six patients who developed C. albicans chorioretinitis secondary to candidemia and who subsequently developed choroidal neovascularization in one or both eyes were reviewed.

RESULTS

The six patients ranged in age from 18 to 79 years. Four were women and two men; all but one showed evidence of bilateral chorioretinal scarring secondary to C. albicans chorioretinitis. All patients had been treated successfully with systemic antifungal therapy (amphotericin B). Two weeks to two years after the chorioretinitis, choroidal neovascularization developed in one eye (four cases) or both eyes (two cases). The neovascularization on initial examination was subfoveal in four eyes, extrafoveal in three eyes, and juxtafoveal in one eye. Laser photocoagulation was used in four of the eight involved eyes. In these cases, the active choroidal neovascularization was brought under control. In one eye, the patient had submacular surgery for excision of the choroidal neovascular membrane. Final visual acuities ranged from 20/20 to 20/200 in treated eyes and from 20/50 to 20/400 in untreated eyes.

CONCLUSION

Choroidal neovascularization is a potential cause of late visual loss in patients who have had C. albicans sepsis and endogenous C. albicans chorioretinitis. Eyes that have chorioretinal scarring from C. albicans chorioretinitis should be watched for the development of choroidal neovascularization. Laser photocoagulation or perhaps surgical excision of the neovascular complex may be of benefit in selected cases.