Association of macular pigment optical density with retinal layer thicknesses in eyes with and without manifest primary open-angle glaucoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate associations between baseline macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and retinal layer thicknesses in eyes with and without manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (CAREDS2).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

MPOD was measured at CAREDS baseline (2001-2004) via heterochromatic flicker photometry (0.5° from foveal centre). Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and RNFL thicknesses were measured at CAREDS2 (2016-2019) via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Associations between MPOD and retinal thickness were assessed using multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

Among 742 eyes (379 participants), manifest POAG was identified in 50 eyes (32 participants). In eyes without manifest POAG, MPOD was positively associated with macular GCC, GCL and IPL thicknesses in the central subfield (P-trend ≤0.01), but not the inner or outer subfields. Among eyes with manifest POAG, MPOD was positively associated with macular GCC, GCL, IPL and RNFL in the central subfield (P-trend ≤0.03), but not the inner or outer subfields, and was positively associated with peripapillary RNFL thickness in the superior and temporal quadrants (P-trend≤0.006).

CONCLUSION

We observed a positive association between MPOD and central subfield GCC thickness 15 years later. MPOD was positively associated with peripapillary RNFL superior and temporal quadrant thicknesses among eyes with manifest POAG. Our results linking low MPOD to retinal layers that are structural indicators of early glaucoma provide further evidence that carotenoids may be protective against manifest POAG.

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

Descriptive and risk factor analysis of infantile cataracts: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 2000-2011

Using National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) data, we sought to estimate birth prevalence, describe clinical characteristics, and examine risk factors for infantile cataracts. We calculated birth prevalence using the numbers of NBDPS-eligible cataract cases and live births in the study area. We described case infants by the presence of associated ipsilateral eye defects (IEDs) and non-eye-related major birth defects. Using maternal exposure information collected via telephone interview, we conducted logistic regression analyses among the interviewed cases and controls. Birth prevalence of infantile cataracts was 1.07/10,000 live births. Unilateral cataracts were more often associated with IEDs, while infants with bilateral cataracts were more often preterm, full-term with low birth weight, or had non-eye-related major birth defects. Unilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal nulliparity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18, 2.20; reference: multiparity), whereas bilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal education <12 years (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.13, 3.82; reference: education >12 years), and foreign-born nativity (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.04, 3.52; reference: U.S.-born nativity). The current analysis can inform future epidemiological studies aimed at identifying mechanisms underlying the associations between infantile cataracts and complex maternal exposures, such as lower levels of education and foreign-born nativity.

Association of Macular Thickness With Age and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (CAREDS2), An Ancillary Study of the Women's Health Initiative

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship of retinal layer thickness with age and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2.

Methods

Total retinal thickness within the macular area, and individual layer thickness was determined for CAREDS2 participants (n = 906 eyes, 473 women) from the Women's Health Initiative using Heidelberg optical coherence tomography (OCT). Mean measurements within the OCT grid were compared across age tertiles (69–78, 78–83, and 83–101 years) and AMD outcomes.

Results

Mean retinal thickness in the central circle, inner ring, and outer ring were 277 ± 34 µm, 326 ± 20 µm, and 282 ± 15 µm, respectively. Thickness did not vary by age in the central circle, but decreased with age in the inner and outer circles (P ≤ 0.004). Specifically, ganglion cell (GCL), inner plexiform, and outer nuclear (ONL) layer thickness decreased with age (P ≤ 0.003). Age-adjusted retinal thickness in all three circles did not vary by AMD outcomes (486 without AMD and 413 with AMD). However, individual layers showed changes with GCL and photoreceptor thinning and retinal pigment epithelial thicknening in eyes with late AMD. After controlling for age and AMD, higher ONL thickness was associated with better visual acuity.

Conclusions

In this cohort of older women, a decrease in perifoveal thickness was associated with increasing age, particularly in the inner retinal layers. Variabilty in thickness in AMD eyes was primarily due to outer retinal layers. Among all retinal layers, the ONL plays an important role in preserving visual acuity.

Translational Relevance

The study provides a deeper understanding of age related changes to the retinal layers and their effect on visual loss.

Nongenetic risk factors for infantile cataracts: Systematic review of observational studies

INTRODUCTION

While infantile cataracts are a major cause of childhood blindness, risk factors remain unknown for approximately two-thirds of cases.

METHODS

We systematically searched electronic databases PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, from inception through March 2018, to identify relevant cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, case reports, and case series. We also manually screened bibliographies and consulted with experts in the field to identify additional publications. We reviewed cross-sectional studies, case reports, and case series and provided a narrative summary of the reported potential risk factors. We evaluated methodological qualities of cohort and case-control studies, extracted relevant data, and described statistically significant associations with infant, maternal, and paternal characteristics. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently. All discrepancies were discussed with the senior author and resolved by consensus.

RESULTS

Overall, 110 publications were included in the review, 33 of which were cohort and case-control studies. Most of these studies (n = 32) used population-based data and had either excellent (n = 31) or good (n = 2) methodological quality. Nine studies reported statistically significant associations with infant characteristics (preterm birth, low birth weight), maternal occupations and diseases during pregnancy (untreated hypertension, infections), and paternal sociodemographics (younger age, employment in sawmill industry during pregnancy).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic literature review provided a comprehensive summary of the known nongenetic risk factors for infantile cataracts, identified gaps in the literature, and provided directions for future research. Studies identifying modifiable risk factors are warranted to design interventions aimed at primary prevention of infantile cataracts.

Prospects for beyond the Standard Model physics searches at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment: DUNE Collaboration

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a powerful tool for a variety of physics topics. The high-intensity proton beams provide a large neutrino flux, sampled by a near detector system consisting of a combination of capable precision detectors, and by the massive far detector system located deep underground. This configuration sets up DUNE as a machine for discovery, as it enables opportunities not only to perform precision neutrino measurements that may uncover deviations from the present three-flavor mixing paradigm, but also to discover new particles and unveil new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model (SM). Of the many potential beyond the Standard Model (BSM) topics DUNE will probe, this paper presents a selection of studies quantifying DUNE's sensitivities to sterile neutrino mixing, heavy neutral leptons, non-standard interactions, CPT symmetry violation, Lorentz invariance violation, neutrino trident production, dark matter from both beam induced and cosmogenic sources, baryon number violation, and other new physics topics that complement those at high-energy colliders and significantly extend the present reach.

Descriptive and risk factor analysis of nonsyndromic sacral agenesis: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011

Sacral agenesis is a rare birth defect characterized by partial or complete absence of the sacrum. We sought to (a) describe case characteristics, (b) estimate birth prevalence, and (c) identify risk factors for nonsyndromic sacral agenesis using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). The NBDPS was a population-based, case-control study involving pregnancies with estimated dates of delivery from October 1997 through December 2011. We estimated birth prevalence using all NBDPS eligible cases. Using self-reported maternal exposure information, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify potential risk factors overall and among women without diabetes. The birth prevalence of sacral agenesis was 2.6/100,000 live births. In the multivariable analysis, multifetal pregnancy, pre-existing Type 1 diabetes, and pre-existing Type 2 diabetes were positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis, albeit estimates were imprecise. Preexisting Type 1 diabetes was the strongest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio = 96.6, 95% confidence interval = 43.5-214.7). Among women without diabetes, periconceptional smoking was positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis. Our findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation programs among women planning pregnancy and the importance of better understanding the role of glycemic control before and during pregnancy when designing interventions for primary prevention of sacral agenesis.

Hepatitis C infection and other drug-related harms among inpatients who injected drugs in Turkey

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is easily spread among those who share drug injection equipment. Due to the ease of contraction and growing prevalence of HCV in Eastern Europe, the aims of this study focused on describing risky injection practices as well as the prevalence of HCV, HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) who were admitted to public and private drug treatment centres in Turkey from 2012 to 2013. Other aims included identifying correlates of needle sharing and HCV infection. Of the 4694 inpatients who ever injected drugs and the 3914 who injected in the past 30 days, nearly all (98%) reported heroin as their drug of choice, the vast majority reported ever sharing a needle (73.4% and 79.3%), and the mean age at first injection was 23 years. Of current PWID, 51.9% were HCV-positive, 5.9% were HBV-positive and only 0.34% of lifetime PWID were HIV-positive. Predictors of increased needle sharing include younger age, being unemployed, having lesser education and reporting heroin as a drug of choice. Significant predictors of HCV infection included being 40 years or older, receiving treatment in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, reporting heroin as a primary substance, a longer duration of drug use and sharing needles. With this information, it is essential to improve access to clean injection equipment in Turkey, to focus on improving education on clean injection practices and to enhance efforts in testing and treating HCV-positive PWID.