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Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the evolution of ischemic stroke, but the data regarding the association between stroke severity and vitamin D level is scarce. Methods: Patients with first-ever ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory, within seven days after the stroke, were recruited. The control group included age- and gender-matched individuals. We compared 25-OH vitamin D (vitamin D), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and osteopontin levels between stroke patients and the control group. The association between stroke severity according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS) and levels of vitamin D and inflammatory biomarkers were also studied. Results: There was an association between hypertension (P=0.035), diabetes mellitus (P=0.043), smoking (P=0.016), history of ischemic heart disease (P=0.002), higher SAA (P

The purpose of current study was to evaluate different optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) metrics in eyes with diabetic retinopathy with and without diabetic macular edema (DME). In this retrospective study, macular OCTA images of eyes with non-proliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy were evaluated. Vascular density, vascular complexity and non-perfusion densities were compared between eyes with and without DME. One-hundred-thirty-eight eyes of 92 diabetic patients including 49 eyes with DME were included. In multivariate analysis, the presence of DME was positively associated with geometric perfusion deficit (GPD) in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), capillary non-perfusion (CNP) of SCP, and GPD in deep capillary plexus (DCP) (all P

To investigate the alteration of choroid in patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). Thirty-nine eyes of 21 patients with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (19 eyes) and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (20 eyes) were recruited. Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography at baseline, 1, and 6 months after PRP was employed to measure choroidal parameters including total choroidal area (TCA) and choroidal vascular index (CVI). In eyes with very severe NPDR, subfoveal TCA decreased non-significantly at month 1, which increased significantly at month 6 (539 ± 131µm2, 502 ± 134µm2, and 598 ± 168µm2 at baseline and months 1 and 6, respectively; P = 0.003). Subfoveal CVI increased at month 1 and then decreased at month 6 (68.25 ± 3.05, 69.74 ± 3.62, and 67.84 ± 1.77 at baseline and months 1 and 6, respectively; P

There are limited data on the impact of COVID-19 in children with a kidney transplant (KT). We conducted a prospective cohort study through the Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative (IROC) to collect clinical outcome data about COVID-19 in pediatric KT patients. Twenty-two IROC centers that care for 2732 patients submitted testing and outcomes data for 281 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Testing indications included symptoms and/or potential exposures to COVID-19 (N = 134, 47.7%) and/or testing per hospital policy (N = 154, 54.8%). Overall, 24 (8.5%) patients tested positive, of which 15 (63%) were symptomatic. Of the COVID-19-positive patients, 16 were managed as outpatients, six received non-ICU inpatient care and two were admitted to the ICU. There were no episodes of respiratory failure, allograft loss, or death associated with COVID-19. To estimate incidence, subanalysis was performed for 13 centers that care for 1686 patients that submitted all negative and positive COVID-19 results. Of the 229 tested patients at these 13 centers, 10 (5 asymptomatic) patients tested positive, yielding an overall incidence of 0.6% and an incidence among tested patients of 4.4%. Pediatric KT patients in the United States had a low estimated incidence of COVID-19 disease and excellent short-term outcomes.

Purpose: To describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis at different stages of activity.Methods: Observational case series.Results: A total of 32 eyes of 31 patients were included; 43 sets of OCT were reviewed. A total of 14 lesions were classified as active, 13 as partially active, and 16 as inactive. All active lesions demonstrated increased retinal thickness and reflectivity with blurring of details of retinal layers. Choroidal granuloma was detected in eight (61.5%) and serous retinal detachment in nine (64%). In partially active lesions, sustained thickening and/or attachment of posterior hyaloid face with fine epiretinal membrane was the hallmark. Scarified lesions showed decreased retinal and choroidal thickness starting from the periphery. Characteristic signs for decreased activity of a lesion seen in majority of both partially active and inactive lesions were RPE changes and retina-RPE approximation. We called this unique feature 'hourglass configuration'.Conclusion: Features in OCT are helpful to specify and monitor the activity of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of persistent ocular pain after 23-gauge pars plana vitreoretinal surgeryMethod: This is a prospective study including patients who underwent 23-gauge vitrectomy or silicone removal with local or general anesthesia. We evaluated the symptoms of ocular neuropathic pain before and two months after surgery using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire, and the impact of reported ocular symptoms on quality of life. Correlation between ocular pain and factors such as patient demographics and underlying conditions were also assessed.Result: Seventy-five patients with a mean age of 58.93 ± 12.05 years were evaluated. Forty-four (58.7%) were males. Sixty-seven (89.3%) patients underwent vitrectomy and eight had silicone removal surgery, all using 23-gauge instruments. there was an increasing trend in eye pain scores at two months after surgery which did not reach a statistical significance. However, the analgesic consumption increased from 4% before surgery to 17.3% two months after surgery. Patients who reported increased analgesic usage two months after surgery, scored worse in items of the quality-of-life questionnaire. In addition, patients who reported ocular and facial pain and photophobia before surgery had higher chances of analgesic consumption after surgery (p-value: 0.03, 0.003, and 0.001, respectively). Those who reported migraine headaches had higher chances of reporting eye symptoms, postoperatively (p-value: 0.041). Conclusion: Surgeries involving 23-gauge incisions may not induce ocular neuropathic pain. However, increased use of analgesics after surgery was observed.

Purpose: Determine the risk of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) for COVID-19 infection morbidity.Method: A telemedicine survey on patients of a referral uveitis clinic was performed. Signs of infection, habits, and hospitalizations during the 7 months of the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the study date were recorded. Suggestive findings in chest CT scan and/or positive RT-PCR were considered as confirmed COVID-19 infection while those with only suggestive symptoms were considered as suspected cases. Risk factors including sanitary measures and IMT were compared between patients with confirmed cases and patients without infection.Result: 694 patients were included. Eight patients were identified as confirmed cases and 22 patients as suspected cases of COVID-19 infection. Close contact with infected persons was the only significant risk factor for contracting COVID-19.Conclusion: Using IMT did not affect hospitalization and/or ICU admission and can thus be continued during the pandemic, provided that instructions for preventive measures are followed.

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) have been reported in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. This study provides a series of patients with CVST and SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods: Consecutive patients with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as clinical and radiological characteristics of CVST, were reported from three teaching hospitals in the South West, North West, and the center of Iran from June to July 2020. We also searched the abstract archives until the end of August 2020 and gathered 28 reported cases. The diagnostic criteria for SARS-CoV-2 infection were determined according to SARS-CoV-2 detection in oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal samples in clinically suspected patients. Demographics, main COVID-19 symptoms, confirmatory tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis, the interval between the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and CVST, clinical and radiological features of CVST, therapeutic strategies, CVST outcomes, rate of hemorrhagic transformation, and mortality rate were investigated.Results: Six patients (aged 31 to 62 years old) with confirmed CVST and SARS-CoV-2 infection were admitted to our centers. Four patients had no respiratory symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Five out of six patients developed the clinical manifestations of CVST and SARS-CoV-2 infection simultaneously. Three patients had known predisposing factors for CVST. Despite receiving CVST and SARS-CoV-2 infection treatments, four out of six patients passed away.Conclusions: The role of SARS-CoV-2 as a “cause” versus an “additive contributor” remains to be elucidated. Practitioners should be aware of the possibility of CVST in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective The purpose of the current study was to collect the data on the occurrence of seizures in patients with COVID-19 and to clarify the circumstances of the occurrence of seizures in these patients. Methods All consecutive patients who referred to healthcare facilities anywhere in Fars province (located in South Iran with a population of 4.851 million people) from February 19 until June 2, 2020, and had confirmed COVID-19 by positive result on polymerase chain reaction testing and seizure were included. Results During the study period, 6,147 people had confirmed COVID-19 in Fars province, Iran; 110 people died from the illness (case fatality rate 1.79%). During this time period, five people had seizures (seizure rate 0.08%). In four patients, seizure was one of the presenting manifestations, and in one person, it happened during the course of hospital admission. Two patients had status epilepticus. All patients experienced hypoxemia and four of them needed respirator. Two patients had related metabolic derangements and one had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytic pleocytosis. Brain imaging was abnormal in three patients. Four patients died. Conclusion New-onset seizures in critically ill patients with COVID-19 should be considered as acute symptomatic seizures and the treating physician should try to determine the etiology of the seizure and manage the cause immediately and appropriately. Detailed clinical, neurological, imaging, and electrophysiological investigations and attempts to isolate SARS-CoV-2 from CSF may clarify the role played by this virus in causing seizures in these patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10072-020-04731-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objectives To evaluate the outcomes and complications of Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in children with congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED). Methods Eighteen eyes from 10 children with CHED who underwent standard phakic DSAEK were enrolled in this retrospective interventional case series. Medical records including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, cycloplegic refraction, visual acuity, and measurements of central corneal thickness, corneal topography, and endothelial cell density were evaluated. All complications were recorded. Results The mean age of cases was 8.1±4.2 (range: 3-16) years at the time of surgery. Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty was performed successfully in all eyes, which survived in 16/18 (88.9%) of cases during a median follow-up period of 38 (range 19-64) months. In patients with clear graft, best-corrected visual acuity was improved to a range of 20/100 to 20/40 and improved to fix and follow in one younger child. Endothelial cell density decreased by an average of 42.1%, comparing baseline and 6-month follow-up and was relatively stable thereafter. A marked flattening of the anterior corneal curvature (mean change of anterior K reading: +2.56±3.14 diopters) was observed after DSAEK. The only major complication in patients with clear graft was intraocular pressure elevation in 61.1% of the eyes, which was easily controlled with one antiglaucoma medication. None of the eyes developed cataract. Conclusion Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty is a safe and successful procedure in children with an acceptable graft survival in a mid-term follow-up period. A marked hyperopic shift could occur after DSAEK in children with CHED.

Background To assess the impact of brachytherapy on macular microvasculature utilizing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in treated choroidal melanoma. Methods In this retrospective observational case series, we reviewed the recorded data of the patients with unilateral extramacular choroidal melanoma treated with ruthenium − 106 (106Ru) plaque radiotherapy with a follow-up period of more than 6 months. Automatically measured OCTA retinal parameters were analysed after image processing. Results Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with the mean age of 51.1 years were recruited. Six eyes had no radiation maculopathy (RM). From 25 eyes with RM, nine eyes (36%) revealed a burnout macular microvasculature with imperceptible vascular details. Twenty-one non-irradiated fellow eyes from the enrolled patients were considered as the control group. Foveal and optic disc radiation dose had the highest value to predict the burnout pattern (ROC, AUC: 0.763, 0.727). Superficial and deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were larger in irradiated eyes in comparison to non-irradiated fellow eyes (1629 μm2 vs. 428 μm2, P = 0.005; 1837 μm2 vs 268 μm2, P = 0.021; respectively). Foveal and parafoveal vascular area density (VAD) and vascular skeleton density (VSD) in both superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) were decreased in all irradiated eyes in comparison with non-irradiated fellow eyes (P P Conclusion The OCTA is a valuable tool for evaluating RM. Initial subclinical microvascular insult after 106Ru brachytherapy is more likely to occur in DCP. The deep FAZ area was identified as a more critical biomarker of BCVA than superficial FAZ in these patients.

Background: Urban liveability is a multidimensional concept associated with many domains of human health. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the association between urban liveability and cancer incidence in Iran. Methods: The data of provincial-level urban liveability were obtained from reliable sources. The data of cancer incidence were inquired from the population-based cancer registry of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2016. Urban liveability scores were determined in all provinces of Iran by utilizing the global liveable city index (GLCI) method. Negative binomial Poisson regression was used to examine the relationship between urban liveability and cancer incidence. Results: Provinces with a higher urban liveability had a higher likelihood of cancer incidence. Higher economic score was significantly associated with higher incidence in colorectal (IRR = 1.49, P = 0.005), liver (IRR = 1.48, P = 0.002), leukemia (IRR = 1.39, P = 0.005), lung (IRR = 1.39, P = 0.039), breast (IRR = 1.38, P = 0.011), and prostate cancers (IRR = 2.11, P < 0.001). Also, provinces with higher environmental friendliness and sustainability had significantly more stomach (IRR = 1.53, P = 0.004), colorectal (1.79, P < 0.001), lung (IRR = 1.43, P = 0.014), and prostate (IRR = 1.50, P = 0.032) cancer incidence. Provinces with higher political governance had significantly more breast cancer (IRR = 1.34, P = 0.002) and leukemia (IRR = 1.30, P = 0.016) incidence rates. Conclusions: Along with the development of urban liveability, the incidence of cancers is increasing in Iran. Cancer control strategies should be implemented especially in settings with higher urbanization.

Introduction Transient hyperphosphatasemia (TH) is a rare benign condition of elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels seen in healthy children. TH has been reported to occur in pediatric solid organ transplants, including kidney transplant patients. Little is known about TH in pediatric kidney transplant patients. Objective To evaluate the incidence and natural history of TH in pediatric kidney transplant patients. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients < 18 years of age who underwent kidney transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh between 2008 and 2019 was performed to identify patients with TH, defined as an AP level greater than 1,000 IU/L. Exclusion criteria included repeat kidney transplants or kidney transplant as part of a multiorgan transplant. Results One hundred seventy-six patients underwent a solitary kidney transplant, of which 87 were less than 12 years of age. Eleven patients (6.5%) were found to have TH, all of whom were < 12 years of age (12.8%) (median age: 5 years; range: 1 - 11 years). The median AP level prior to transplant was 183 IU/L (range: 104 - 309 IU/L) and the median peak AP was > 2,300 IU/L (range: 1,227 - 4,912 IU/L). The median time from a kidney transplant to the diagnosis of TH was 0.6 years (range: 0.3 to 7.7 years). The median length of time that TH persisted was 0.5 years (range: 0.2 to 0.9 years). The median estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at the time of diagnosis of TH was 84 mL/min/1.73m2 per the bedside Schwartz equation (range: 45 to 152 mL/min/1.73m2). One patient had variable AP levels over nine months prior to resolution; the other 10 patients had a solitary peak of AP prior to resolution. No patient required treatment of elevated AP levels and the TH resolved spontaneously without intervention. No patients had significant abnormalities of markers of metabolic bone disease or were on active vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus supplements. Two patients reported bone pain, and one patient was found to have avascular necrosis of the hip. Conclusions TH is a relatively common finding following a pediatric kidney transplant in pre-pubertal children less than 12 years of age. It primarily occurs in the first year following a kidney transplant and usually resolves without recurrence within one year of onset.

Purpose: This study aimed To evaluate the rate and risk factors for primary failure and recurrence after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 865 eyes from 441 patients with retinopathy of prematurity receiving intravitreal Bevacizumab from 2012 to 2019. Medical records of patients were evaluated.Results: Mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight of patients were 28±2 weeks and 1121±312 g, respectively. Thirty-five eyes (4.04%) had a primary failure, including 18 eyes from 187 eyes in zone 1 (9.6%) and 17 eyes from 678 eyes in zone 2 (2.5%). The mean time of retreatment was 16.64±13.68 days in eyes without regression ROP. The remaining 830 eyes (95.95%) were included in recurrence analysis. The recurrence occurred in 33 eyes (3.97 %) of them in 20 patients, with the meantime of 77.52 days after the first treatment (IVB). Presence of plus disease, history of oxygen therapy or phototherapy, and GA less than 32 were associated with significantly increased prevalence of treatment failure. The risk factor predicting recurrence are lower birth weight, zone 1 pretreatment, history of intubation, anemia, and sepsis.Conclusion: Intravitreal anti-VEGF is a successful treatment for ROP with a low rate of primary failure and recurrence. Attention to risk factors accompanied by special care to patterns of treatment failure and recurrence helps to achieve early detection of treatment failure and vigilant follow up for recurrence.

Background Aneurysm formation of internal carotid arteries (ICA) in patients with mucormycosis is a scarce phenomenon. However, the prevalence of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis has been reported to increase after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Three patients with stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ICA aneurysm after the involvement of adjacent paranasal sinuses with mucormycosis were presented. All patients were recruited from Namazi and Khalili hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran from April 2021 to May 2021. Results They had a history of diabetes and corticosteroid use. Also, one of them was treated with imatinib. Two out of three patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2 infection before developing mucormycosis. Two patients had diagnostic angiography before endovascular intervention. One patient did not undergo any therapeutic intervention due to total artery occlusion, whereas the other patient experienced a successful parent artery occlusion by coiling, and only this patient survived. Although all patients received antifungal treatment and surgical debridement, two of them died. Conclusions In the patients with rhino-cerebral mucormycosis evolving of aneurysm should be promptly and meticulously investigated by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA). As this type of aneurysms was very fast-growing, as soon as the involvement of sphenoid sinus was detected, the possibility of ICA aneurysm formation should always be kept in mind. If the patient developed an aneurysm, prompt intensive antifungal therapy and therapeutic endovascular interventions such as stenting, coiling, or sacrificing should be considered as soon as possible to optimize outcomes.

Purpose To investigate the differences in the choroidal biomarkers between two forms of flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment (FIPED): avascular (aFIPED) and vascularized (vFIPED) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Materials and methods Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) was done in eyes with FIPED correlated to chronic CSC, fellow eyes, and also in healthy eyes from gender- and age-matched subjects. Eyes with FIPED were classified into two subgroups based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings: vFIPED and aFIPED. Different choroidal biomarkers such as subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), total choroidal area (TCA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were compared between the groups. Results Forty-four eyes from 42 patients with chronic CSC and FIPED along with 40 eyes from 20 healthy subjects were included. OCTA identified vascularization in 14 eyes in the FIPED group (31.8%). Mean SFCT was higher in the FIPED group compared to two other groups (p = 0.005). In comparison to patients with aFIPED, patients with vFIPED had lower SFCT (p = 0.003) and higher CVI (p = 0.020) based on multivariate analysis. Conclusions It seems that measurement of CVI along with SFCT may help to differentiate aFIPED from vFIPED in patients with CSC. Further longitudinal studies would be required to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.

Purpose To assess the effect of night shift work on image quality and artifacts when performing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods In a prospective case series study, twenty nurses underwent OCT-A in two separate sessions: early in the morning before duty shift and at the end of a night shift. Quantitative measurements of horizontal and vertical saccadic, blink, and stretch artifacts and also signal strength of the images were recorded. Moreover, using visual analogue scale of pain (VAS), the perceived pain and discomfort by blue focus light and red scanning laser were recorded. Results Vertical and horizontal saccades, blink, and stretch artifacts were significantly higher after the night shift (P = 0.004, P = 0.015, P

INTRODUCTION There are no guidelines regarding management of failed pediatric renal transplants. MATERIALS & METHODS We performed a first of its kind multicenter study assessing prevalence of transplant nephrectomy, patient characteristics, and outcomes in pediatric renal transplant recipients with graft failure from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2016. RESULTS Fourteen centers contributed data on 186 pediatric recipients with failed transplants. The 76 recipients that underwent transplant nephrectomy were not significantly different from the 110 without nephrectomy in donor or recipient demographics. Fifty-three percent of graft nephrectomies were within a year of transplant. Graft tenderness prompted transplant nephrectomy in 91% (P

Background: To determine the discrepancy between quantitative measurement of retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) vascular density (VD) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) stages using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD OCTA) and compare it with normal subjects.Methods: 188 eyes of 97 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Macular OCTA (3x3mm) scan was performed and VD at the level of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC were measured with the device software.Results: In normal subjects, VD in SCP, DCP, and CC were higher in all subsegments. In retinal VD, all calculated parameters were reduced in the more extreme stages of DR, except for foveal VD of SCP. There was a constant pattern of decrease in VD of CC from normal cases to cases of NDR and NPDR and then a slight increase happened in the PDR stage but never touching the normal quantities. Age, fasting blood sugar, and years of diabetes mellitus were correlated with reduced VD in different segments. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively correlated with parafoveal VD at SCP and VD of foveal area at CC. VD of all subfields of macular area except foveal DCP VD showed reduced levels in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients compared to those without DME.Conclusions: The findings of the study endorse retina VD changes as a potential biomarker for DR development before retinopathy becomes clinically evident. It seems that parafoveal VD of SCP and foveal VD of CC are good biomarkers to predict VA in the diabetic patients.

Background Quantitative assessment of vascular density (VD) of retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) in various stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD OCTA). Methods 188 eyes of 97 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The macular OCTA (3x3mm) scan was performed and the computer algorithm assessed VD at the level of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC. Results All measured parameters were decreased in retinal VD at the more extreme stages of DR, with the exception of SCP foveal VD. There was a constant pattern of decrease in VD of CC from normal cases to cases of NDR and NPDR and then a slight increase occurred in the PDR stage but never touching the normal quantities. Age, fasting blood sugar, and years of diabetes mellitus were correlated with reduced VD in different segments. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively correlated with parafoveal VD at SCP and VD of foveal area at CC. VD of all subfields of macular area except foveal DCP VD showed reduced levels in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients compared to those without DME. Conclusions The findings of the study endorse retina VD changes as a potential biomarker for DR development before retinopathy becomes clinically evident. It seems that parafoveal VD of SCP and foveal VD of CC are good biomarkers to predict VA in the diabetic patients.

Background To describe the features of multimodal imaging and the diagnostic role of en face OCT in the paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) spectrum. Methods In this observational case series, 5 eyes of 5 patients with acute PAMM were identified. Demographic characteristics as well as data regarding the underlying disease, presenting visual acuity (VA) and ophthalmic examination results were recorded. All patients underwent multimodal imaging within 3 days after symptom onset. Results The mean age of patients was 52.2 (range, 33–67) years. Systemic comorbidities including diabetes mellitus and hypertension were identified in two patients. Except for one patient diagnosed with isolated PAMM, other patients had signs of retinal vascular disease such as a cilioretinal artery or branch retinal artery obstruction, non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion, or a combination of these vascular disorders. The central vision was preserved in two cases; however, the remaining cases presented with profound VA reduction. Different patterns of PAMM including arterial, globular, and fern-like were observed in en face OCT at deep capillary plexus (DCP) level. En face OCT images could precisely delineate the margin of the PAMM area. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) showed decreased vascular density in DCP. Unresolved projection artifact by conventional OCTA software was observed in DCP and choriocapillaris slabs in all cases. Conclusion En face structural OCT in PAMM can delineate the area of ischemia and the degree of foveal involvement. Unresolved projection artifact by conventional OCTA software in the PAMM area can be seen in DCP and choriocapillaris layers.

Objectives Liveability is a multi-dimensional and hierarchical concept which consists of various criteria and sub-criteria and may be evaluated in different ways. The aim of this study was to systematically review indicators and methods used for the evaluation of urban liveability in literature. Content The five-stage methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley was used to conduct this scoping review. A systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science and EBSCO was done until May 29, 2019. Web searching, searching reference lists and hand searching was also conducted to retrieve more relevant articles. Two reviewers screened the papers for eligibility based on the inclusion criteria and extracted their key data and reported them descriptively. Summary Sixty seven (67) out of 3,599 papers met the selection criteria. This review showed five distinct domains considered to be important components of liveability. These were Economical, Environmental, Institutional, Social, and Governance (Political) domains. The most important subdomains (indices) which were frequently applied in various studies were Environmental friendliness and Sustainability, Socio-Cultural Conditions and Economic Vibrancy and Competitiveness. We also identified seven different methodologies and six ranking tools used for assessing urban liveability. Among the quantitative methods, three methods accounted for 89.6% of the articles. These methods were the Analytical hierarchy process and entropy (AHP; n=24; 50%), Factor analysis & Principle Component Analysis (FA & PCA; n=12; 25%) and Spatial Multi-criteria Decision-making Method (Spatial; n=7; 14.6%). Among the ranking tools used, three ranking tools accounted for 65.4% of the articles. These tools were the Livable City Scientific Evaluation Standards (LCSES; n=9; 34.6%), The Global Liveable Cities Index (GLCI; n=4; 15.4%) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU; n=4; 15.4%). Outlook This paper discusses and summarizes the latest indicators and methods used for determining urban liveability. The information offered in the review can help future investigators to decide which method suits their purpose and situation better and measure urban liveability more systematically than before.

Novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2: SARS-CoV-2), which originated from Wuhan, China, has spread to the other countries in a short period of time. We report a 47-year-old male who was admitted to our hospital due to suffering from progressive vertigo and ataxia for 7 days prior to the admission. Neurological examination revealed cerebellar dysfunction, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depicted edema of the cerebellar hemisphere associated with leptomeningeal enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein, and lactate dehydrogenase. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal and CSF specimens. As a result, treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir was initiated, and patient symptoms and signs improved significantly during the course of hospitalization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of acute cerebellitis associated with COVID-19 disease which is reported in the literature so far.

BACKGROUND: Although antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) has been long recognized as a leading cause of allograft failure after kidney transplantation, the cellular and molecular processes underlying the induction of deleterious donor-specific antibody (DSA) responses remain poorly understood. METHODS: Using high-dimensional flow cytometry, in vitro assays, and RNA sequencing, we concomitantly investigated the role of T follicular helper (T(FH)) cells and B cells during ABMR in 105 kidney transplant recipients. RESULTS: There were 54 patients without DSAs; of those with DSAs, ABMR emerged in 20 patients, but not in 31 patients. We identified proliferating populations of circulating T(FH) cells and activated B cells emerging in blood of patients undergoing ABMR. Although these circulating T(FH) cells comprised heterogeneous phenotypes, they were dominated by activated (ICOS(+)PD-1(+)) and early memory precursor (CCR7(+)CD127(+)) subsets, and were enriched for the transcription factors IRF4 and c-Maf. These circulating T(FH) cells produced large amounts of IL-21 upon stimulation with donor antigen and induced B cells to differentiate into antibody-secreting cells that produced DSAs. Combined analysis of the matched circulating T(FH) cell and activated B cell RNA-sequencing profiles identified highly coordinated transcriptional programs in circulating T(FH) cells and B cells among patients with ABMR, which markedly differed from those of patients who did not develop DSAs or ABMR. The timing of expansion of the distinctive circulating T(FH) cells and activated B cells paralleled emergence of DSAs in blood, and their magnitude was predictive of IgG3 DSA generation, more severe allograft injury, and higher rate of allograft loss. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing ABMR may benefit from monitoring and therapeutic targeting of T(FH) cell–B cell interactions.

Inflammation can involve several ocular structures, including the sclera, retina, and uvea, and cause vascular changes in these tissues. Although retinal vasculitis is the most common finding associated with uveitis involving the posterior segment, other vascular abnormalities may be seen in the retina. These include capillary nonperfusion and ischemia, vascular occlusions, preretinal neovascularization, microaneurysms and macroaneurysms, and telangiectasia. Moreover, vasoproliferative tumors and subsequent coat-like response can develop secondary to uveitis. Fluorescein angiography is ideal for the investigation of retinal vascular leakage and neovascularization, while optical coherence tomography angiography can provide depth resolved images from the superficial and deep capillary plexus and can demonstrate vascular remodeling. Choroidal vascular abnormalities primarily develop in the choriocapillaris or in the choroidal stroma and can appear as flow void in optical coherence tomography angiography and filling defect and vascular leakage in indocyanine green angiography. Extensive choriocapillaris nonperfusion in the presence of choroidal inflammation can increase the risk of choroidal neovascular membrane development. Iris vascular changes may manifest as dilation of vessels in stroma due to inflammation or rubeosis that is usually from ischemia in retinal periphery secondary to chronic inflammation. More severe forms of scleral inflammation, such as necrotizing scleritis, are associated with vascular occlusion in the deep episcleral plexus, which can lead to necrosis of sclera layer and uveal exposure.

Background: Despite the whole world’s effort for controlling, an ongoing global outbreak of lower respiratory tract disease, caused by new corona virus; led to a major public health issue. Current study aims to evaluate the characteristics of infected case in Fars, IranMethods: According to the referral of suspicious patients during one month, 2538 samples were evaluated and extracted for Viral RNA nucleic acids by using the Invitrogen ChargeSwitch® Total RNA Cell Kit (Invitrogen Co.). Data were recorded based on the standardized data collection forms shared by WHO and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium. Results: By 19 March 2020, 440 admitted patients had been identified with CoVID-19 confirmation. More than 50% of cases were men. Mean age were estimated 48.15 ±18.07. Of all the patients, 30 (6.81%) had a history of travel to Qom city, which was the first infected zone in Iran, also 92(20.90%) had close contact with contaminated or suspected individuals. The mortality rate was estimated 2. 95% (13 cases). Cardiovascular disease (25, 5.68%), diabetes (33, 7.5%), and hypertension (35, 7.95%) were the most common co-existing disorders. Patients with underlying disease are more in danger of death [OR: 11.64, (95%CI 3.14 – 43.18), p= 0.0002]. Conclusion: Human to human transmission of SARS-CoV-II causes Fars province in southwest of Iran become infected and 440 cases identified during one month. The SARS-Cov-2 is more likely to affect male sex and individuals with old age and underlying disorders.

Purpose Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a chronic lymphocytic- mediated disorder that selectively involves hair follicles, leading to cicatricial alopecia. The eyelash follicle and meibomian gland (MG) might also be involved in the disease process leading to ocular surface problems. Methods In this Cross-sectional case -control study, twenty-three patients with histologically confirmed LPP and 23 healthy controls were recruited in this controlled study. To quantify the signs and symptoms of LPP, we used the Lichen Planopilaris Activity Index. The ophthalmologic examination was performed by the same ophthalmologist at Farabi Eye Hospital. Results Patients with LPP had a statistically significant lower tear breakup time (worse test outcome) compared with the control (7.1 6 4.1 vs. 9.6 6 4.4; respectively, P = 0.011). Both MG quality score and expressibility were higher in patients with LPP than in control subjects (14.1 6 4.3 vs. 9.3 6 4.4; P = 0.001; 1.5 6 1.0 vs. 0.4 6 0.8; P = 0.001; respectively). The Schirmer test score was not different between groups. A significant but weak correlation was found between the Lichen Planopilaris Activity Index and tear breakup time. Other ophthalmologic examinations including conjunctiva, lid margin shape, intraocular pressure, and funduscopy were normal in patients with LPP. Conclusions Patients with LPP, scored worse in ocular surface tests. This finding warrants special scrutiny for dry eye and MG dysfunction in these patients.

This paper presents numerical study on a novel type of plasmonic-based metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector (MSM-PD) for extraordinary light absorption, which can drastically modify transmission spectra when a thin film is designed inside the central subwavelength slit. This strategy assists to recover non-propagating evanescent waves at nano-scale. Furthermore, by focusing on metallic nanostructures and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), and their contribution to the confinement of light in subwavelength scale, we introduce the concept of plasmonic lens that significantly reduces metal induced energy losses. The proposed novel photodetector with a thin film on the central slit assists the device to absorb ∼280-times more light than the bare slit plasmonic-based MSM-PDs.

The legislator has acted to criminalize the field of public chastity in order to preserve public morality; one of these cases considers prostitution. Publication of some news and images, especially those that may appear today in various mass media, such as Internet websites, certainly leads to the dissemination and spread of content that contradicts public morality and ethics, that confronts ethical norms and values. That’s why the publication of such information is prohibited by law. Concerning the spread of prostitution, this paper analyzes two instances of abuse, that contradict public morality and are related to each other. The main question in this paper is, what does the Iranian criminal policy do against the spread of prostitution, covered in the Islamic Penal Code approved in 2013? After an introduction (Chapter I), we analyze some jurisprudential concepts and principles related with this matter (Chapter II). In Chapter III we see some examples of the spread of prostitution in domestic law. Finally, we take care of the role of corruption in the spread of prostitution (Chapter IV) and then we resume some conclusions (Chapter V).

Fariba Ghassemi,1,2 Reza Mirshahi,1,2 Kaveh Fadakar,1,2 Siamak Sabour3 1Retina & Vitreous Service, 2Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 3Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Synopsis: In optical coherence tomography angiography, the choroidal vascular flow rate in choroidal melanoma is significantly lower than that in choroidal nevus.Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the choriocapillaris and retinal features imaged by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in eyes with choroidal nevus from small malignant choroidal melanoma.Methods: In this retrospective, noninvasive, observational study, 11 patients diagnosed with small choroidal mass (five with choroidal nevus and six with malignant melanoma) who underwent dilated fundus examination, ocular ultrasonography and OCTA images were compared.Results: In choroidal nevus of all patients, OCTA demonstrated a hyporeflective mass with no significant deformity of choroidal vasculature and an intact retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)–Bruch’s membrane complex. The flow void mass was surrounded by an intense vascular rim named as surface microvasculature (SMV) that had an approximately similar flow rate median of 63.68 mm2 (60.42–67.62 mm2), comparable with the median of the contralateral normal eye of 61.77 mm2 (60.42–64.53 mm2; P>0.09) for nevi. OCTA showed an obscured Bruch’s membrane–RPE–Bruch’s membrane complex and outer retinal layer in choroidal melanomas. Choriocapillaris flow rate over the melanomas was 55.73% (41.93%–60.82%), and the corresponding normal areas had a flow area of 62.75% (61.99%–63.10%; P=0.01). A flow rate difference between choroidal melanoma and nevus was significant (P=0.006). Axial and peripheral feeding vessels were more dilated and tortuous compared with benign nevi.Conclusion: Decreased flow rate of SMV of choroidal melanoma cases compared with nevi was a significant finding. Detection of characteristic vascular features of choroidal melanoma by OCTA could make OCTA an assuring diagnostic modality to differentiate malignant lesions. Keywords: melanoma, choroidal nevus, OCT, OCTA, uveal melanoma

Purpose To describe a case of bilateral choroidal neovascularization in a patient with beta-thalassemia major and an interventional therapeutic attempt. Method Retrospective case report. Result A known case of beta-thalassemia major presented with gradual vision loss. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral macular edema accompanied by intraretinal hemorrhages. Optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were compatible with the diagnosis of choroidal neovascularization. No signs of angioid streaks or other related abnormalities were noticed in examination and imaging. The patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab, and visual acuity improved within 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion Bilateral choroidal neovascularization can be a presenting pathology in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor is a promising treatment option.

Purpose: To provide normative data of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and thickness. Methods: In this cross-sectional study both eyes of each normal subject were scanned with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for foveal superficial and deep avascular zone (FAZ) and central foveal thickness (CFT) and parafoveal thickness (PFT). Results: Out of a total of 224 eyes of 112 volunteers with a mean age of 37.03 (12â67) years, the mean superficial FAZ area was 0.27Â mm2, and deep FAZ area was 0.35Â mm2 (PÂ

In the movement from a multi-core to a many-core era, cores count on the chip increases quickly thus interconnect plays a large role in achieving the desired performance. Network-on-chip (NoC) is the most widely used interconnect as a scalable alternative for traditional shared bus in many-core chips. As the dimensions of mesh-based NoC increase, routers and links serve as a major part to achieve the desired performance and low-latency communication between cores. In this study, the authors propose an arbitration mechanism for NoC that leads to a reduction in congestion delay in routers as well as the network latency. The proposed mechanism is compatible with the bypass and baseline pipeline in routers. System simulations with Noxim demonstrate reduction in latencies and power consumption using different routing algorithms for 4×4,8×8 and 16×16 mesh topologies, as compared with a baseline router.

Shell and tube heat exchanger is one of the most common exchangers which is wieldy used in industrial applications. The thermal efficiency and cost are two most important parameters in the design of the heat exchangers, while the optimization of both parameters is complicated, since they are in the conflict with each other. To tackle this problem, a multi-objective optimization algorithm, considering simultaneously cost and effectiveness as the objective functions, has been applied in this study. Meanwhile, the bounds for the decision variables are rigorously followed during the optimization of the objective functions (maximum effectiveness and minimum total cost), which is more realistic for an engineering design. To find the optimal values of the objective functions, a genetic algorithm, coupling with the constructal theory, has been used to adjust mechanical and flow parameters. The results of the optimization show that the increase in the thermal efficiency is more than 28%, which proves that the constructal theory can be used as an efficient method for designing the shell-and-tube heat exchanger.

Purpose To evaluate the best piggyback intraocular lens (IOL) implantation method and the outcomes in nanophthalmos eyes and to define the postoperative structural changes. Setting Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Design Prospective case series. Methods Candidates for refractive surgery who were nanophthalmic were recruited. Patients had refractive lens exchange followed by implantation of both IOLs in the bag or 1 IOL in the bag and 1 IOL in the sulcus. The baseline and follow-up visual acuity, refractive status, and structural Scheimpflug imaging were evaluated. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was performed 6 months postoperatively. Results The study comprised 9 nanophthalmic patients (18 eyes) with a mean preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 1.53 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) ± 0.3 (SD), mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 0.34 ± 0.2 logMAR, and mean spherical equivalent (SE) of +13.55 ± 4.0 diopters (D). The mean postoperative UDVA improved from baseline. There was no significant difference in the mean UDVA and CDVA between the 2 IOL groups. Postoperatively, both groups had a significant improvement in SE, a significant rise in anterior chamber depth and angle, and similar UBM measurements. Conclusions Piggyback IOL implantation was an effective refractive procedure in nanophthalmic eyes. Both implantation methods resulted in similar outcomes; however, the small number of patients in each group made it less likely that possible differences would be found. The increase in angle values might help prevent the development of closed-angle glaucoma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vascular density (VD) and the flow area on optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary area, and the impact of age and sex using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in healthy human subjects.Both eyes of each volunteer were scanned by an RTVue XR Avanti; Optovue with OCTA using the split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography algorithm technique. Masked graders evaluated enface angiodisc OCTA data. The flow area of ONH and the VD were automatically calculated.A total of 79 eyes of patients with a mean age of 37.03±11.27 were examined. The total ONH (papillary and peripapillary) area VD was 56.03%±4.55%. The flow area of the ONH was 1.74±0.10 mm/1.34 mm. The temporal and inferotemporal peripapillary VD was different between male and female patients. Increasing age causes some changes in the flow area of the ONH and the papillary VD from the third to the fourth decade (analysis of variance test; P0.05).A normal quantitative database of the flow area and VD of the papillary and peripapillary area, obtained by RTVue XR with OCT angiography technique, is presented here.

Numerical modeling of periodically patterned graphene sheets (PPGS) embedded in planar multilayered media using Fourier-based methods suffers from very slow convergence because of the fact that the conductivity is zero in unfilled areas of the patterned surface and, thus, the so-called Li’s inverse rule is not applicable. In this paper, a simple and efficient approach is proposed to overcome this problem such that the exact boundary condition can be applied and the surface current density on PPGS can be obtained accurately. Here, the PPGS is modeled as a conductive surface and only its conductivity representation by the Fourier series is modified. The proposed method can be used easily for 1-D and 2-D periodic structures without the need to change the basic formulations of Fourier-based methods. Fast convergence and accuracy of the method will be demonstrated by computing the absorption of 1-D and 2-D PPGS. Moreover, the proposed method is utilized to design a wideband tunable wide-angle polarizer consisting of two-parallel PPGS separated by a 0.5- $\mu \text{m}$ layer of SiO2. The transmittance of the structure exceeds 95% from microwaves up to 2 THz.

Rapidly growing topic, the discrete fracture network engineering (DFNE), has already attracted many talents from diverse disciplines in academia and industry around the world to challenge difficult problems related to mining, geothermal, civil, oil and gas, water and many other projects. Although, there are few commercial software capable of providing some useful functionalities fundamental for DFNE, their costs, closed code (black box) distributions and hence limited programmability and tractability encouraged us to respond to this rising demand with a new solution. This paper introduces an open source comprehensive software package for stochastic modeling of fracture networks in two- and three-dimension in discrete formulation. Functionalities included are geometric modeling (e.g., complex polygonal fracture faces, and utilizing directional statistics), simulations, characterizations (e.g., intersection, clustering and connectivity analyses) and applications (e.g., fluid flow). The package is completely written in Matlab scripting language. Significant efforts have been made to bring maximum flexibility to the functions in order to solve problems in both two- and three-dimensions in an easy and united way that is suitable for beginners, advanced and experienced users.

Purpose: To evaluate the normative values of anterior chamber parameters measured by Pentacam and corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) measured by Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and their relationship. Methods: In an observational cross-sectional study, patients aged 18–35 years were included. Exclusion criteria were history of any intraocular or corneal disease, anomaly or surgery; hyperopic spherical refraction more than +3, and myopic spherical refraction less than −5.00 diopters (D) or cylindrical refraction more than 2.00 D. ORA was used to measure CH and CRF. Corneal volume (CV), anterior and posterior Q value (QA and QP), anterior and posterior elevation (AE and PE), central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal thinnest thickness (CTT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) were measured with Pentacam. Results: This study evaluated 506 eyes of 253 cases (182 females) with a mean age of 28.43 ± 6.36 years. The average CH and CRF were 10.07 ± 1.61 and 10.33 ± 1.68 mmHg. CH and CRF were not correlated with PQ, AQ, AE and PE. CH and CRF were significantly correlated with CCT (r = 0.499, p

Background and objective: Education can play an important role in the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. This study was conducted to determine the impact of pictograph-based education on knowledge, attitude, self-care, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c among patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on 100 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to diabetes clinics in Kerman city. The participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups with 50 patients in each group. In the intervention group, pictograph-based training was presented in the form of slides and posters along with lectures, but in the control group lectures without pictographs was presented. The data were collected and analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t-test, paired t-test Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U through SPSS16. Results: The mean score of total self-care significantly increased in the intervention group (p < 0.0001). The self-care components of foot care and blood glucose monitoring significantly improved in the intervention group, too. Fasting glucose and HbA1c decreased in both groups and knowledge in both groups improved after the intervention, but attitude only increased in the intervention group. Conclusion: Considering the significant role of pictographs in learning health instructions, it seems that education using pictographs can promote self-care behaviors among diabetic patients who are mainly old and/or with low literacy. Paper Type: Research Article.

Background: We sought to evaluate the effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on nutritional behaviors in relation to the cardiovascular disease (CVD) among health volunteers. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, the participants included 128 active health volunteers. To conduct the study, 65 and 63 participants were randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups, respectively. Data were collected before and six weeks after the intervention using a validated researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of demographic variables, knowledge questions, and TPB constructs. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon test. Results: No significant difference was observed between the intervention and control groups with regard to the demographic characteristics, knowledge mean scores, and TPB constructs at the beginning of the study. However, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and nutritional behavior increased significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.018, P = 0.007, and P < 0.001, respectively) in the intervention group six weeks after the beginning of study. Significant differences were observed in nutritional performance of the intervention group, in other words the nutritional behavior of the intervention group members changed during the intervention. Conclusion: The PBC was the strongest construct in attitude. To optimize nutritional interventions in preventing the CVD, TPB should be implemented in educational interventions.

Purpose: To evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in patients with diabetic retinopathy following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). Methods: Eleven eyes of 6 patients with very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were recruited in this prospective interventional pilot study. All patients underwent OCTA imaging at baseline, and choroidal flow, foveal avascular zone (FAZ), retinal thickness, and vascular density were measured at baseline. Three months after treatment, OCTA was repeated, and the alteration in variables was analyzed. Results: The FAZ area remained unchanged following treatment, (P = 0.75). Retinal thickness increased along (P = 0.02) with an increase in vascular density in the superficial and deep foveal area and the macular temporal sector (P = 0.007, 0.03 and 0.049, respectively). Choroidal flow surface area was unchanged (P = 0.10). Conclusion: In this study, foveal vascular density increased and FAZ remained unchanged after PRP for diabetic retinopathy. Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, Foveal avascular zone, FAZ, Optical coherence tomography angiography, OCTA, Panretinal photocoagulation

Although cystic echinococcosis (CE) has been a human public health problem in the Northeast of Iran, molecular data regarding the genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus in goats and sheep in these regions are still scarce. In the present study, we determined the genotypes of E. granulosus infecting sheep and goats in northeast of Iran. During April 2013-June 2014, 50 and 30 hydatid cysts were recovered from liver tissue of sheep and goats, respectively,. Protoscoleces or germinal layers were collected from individual cysts, DNA was extracted, and the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene was amplified by PCR. The results of PCR-RFLP and the sequence analysis showed that all the samples isolated from sheep (n=50) and most of samples in goats (n=24) were G1 strain, the most prevalent strain in livestock ruminants of Iran. Furthermore, six parasites isolated from goats were found to correspond to E. intermedius (G7 genotype), here reported for the first time from Iran.

Fractional lasers such erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) are among popular options for facial rejuvenation. Lasers with infrared wavelength ranges such as long pulse Nd:YAG have been used in nonablative rejuvenation of skin with variable outcomes. In this study, we plan to compare safety and efficacy of fractional Er:YAG and long pulse Nd:YAG for facial rejuvenation applying objective and subjective measurements. Twenty-five patients with Glogau photo aging scale of II to IV were recruited in this randomized face-split double-blind controlled trial. Individuals received three monthly treatments on two sides of the face; one side was treated by fractional Er:YAG laser and the other side by long pulse Nd:YAG laser. Outcomes were evaluated by two blinded dermatologists, patient satisfaction reports and objective measurements of cutaneous resonance running time (CRRT). Both modalities significantly improved periorbital wrinkling, nasolabial folds, dyschromia and skin laxity, and sagging of jowls (p value

Highly conductive and transparent Al-doped zinc oxide films were produced by RF magnetron sputtering for plasmonic applications in the infrared region of the spectrum. These films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the Hall effect, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and spectral data analysis. Analysis of the results shows a carrier concentration of up to 2.6 × 1020 cm−3, as well as transmission over 80% near the plasma frequency where plasmonic properties are expected. The plasma frequency was calculated from the spectroscopy measurements and subsequent data analysis, and was in agreement with the results from the Hall effect measurements and the free electron gas (Drude) model. Based on these results, the Al-doped zinc oxide thin films are well-suited for plasmonic applications in the infrared region.

This paper mainly discusses about the maximum light absorption by nano-grating structure assisted metal-semiconductor-metal-photodetectors (MSM-PDs). The nano-grating structure assisted MSM-PDs are suitable candidate for various applications, such as faster optical fibre communications, high-speed chip-to-chip interconnects, sensor networks and high-speed sampling. For this modelling, finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation tool is used to simulate and calculate the light absorption enhancement factor (LAEF) of nano-structured MSM-PDs. In this research, various nano-grating shapes are used, such as, hyperbolic, trapezoidal, triangular and rectangular. Based on simulation results, we have compared the LAEF of nano-grating shape dependent MSM-PDs. In a particular case of simulation, rectangular shaped nano-grating structure MSM-PDs achieved about 12-times higher LAEF than the conventional MSM-PDs.

The number of cores on the chip increases rapidly; therefore, scalability is the most important design choice. Mesh-based Networks-on-Chip (NoC) are the most widely used topologies as a scalable alternative for traditional shared bus in many-core chips today. As the NoCs diameter increases, the low-latency communication between cores is becoming more important to ensure sustained scalability, and higher performance. In the ideal network, the low-load network latency between a source and destination is almost equal to single cycle. In this work, we propose a router for network-on-chip called Bypass router that leads to create a single-cycle data path all the way from the source to the destination. We do not use any additional control links in the network; instead the proposed router is compatible with all topologies and deterministic routing algorithm. We also propose a new routing algorithm to use the advantages of our router design. The area consumption is also reduced on $$ 4\times 4, 8\times 8, 16\times 16 $$4×4,8×8,16×16 mesh topologies, compared to SMART network (Krishna et al. IEEE 19th international symposium on high performance computer architecture (HPCA2013), 2013). System simulations with Noxim simulators demonstrate at mean 60 % reduction in latencies across synthetic traffic patterns compared to a baseline router.

We present the analysis of a novel plasmonics-based metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector that dramatically modifies the light transmission spectra when the sub-wavelength central slit is partly covered with a gold (Au) thin film. The simulation results reveal surface plasmons together with the optimized nano-gratings impact in this special design for quality light absorption inside the device active region. Finite-difference time-domain method has been utilized to simulate the behavior of the proposed novel photodetector structure with significant improved light absorption capacity.