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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that worsens the central vision of numerous individuals across the globe. Ensuring that patients are diagnosed accurately and that their symptoms are carefully monitored is essential to ensure that adequate care is delivered. To accomplish this objective, retinal imaging technology is necessary to assess the pathophysiology that is required to give an accurate diagnosis of AMD. The purpose of this review is to assess the ability of various retinal imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus retinal photography, fluorescein angiography, and fundus photography. The statistical methods that were conducted yielded results that suggested that using OCT in conjunction with other imaging technologies results in a higher detection of symptoms among patients that have AMD. Further investigation should be conducted to ascertain the validity of the conclusions that were stated within the review., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Riazi Esfahani et al.)

Packed school lunch consumption remains a sparsely studied aspect of childhood nutrition. Most American research focuses on in-school meals provided through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The wide variety of available in-home packed lunches are usually nutritionally inferior compared to the highly regulated in-school meals. The purpose of this study was to examine the consumption of home-packed lunches in a sample of elementary-grade children. Through weighing packed school lunches in a 3rd grade class, mean caloric intake was recorded at 67.3% (32.7% plate waste) of solid foods, while sugar-sweetened beverage intake reported a 94.6% intake. This study reported no significant consumption change in the macronutrient ratio. Intake showed significantly reduced levels of calories, sodium, cholesterol, and fiber from the home-packed lunches ( p < 0.05). The packed school lunch consumption rates for this class were similar to those reported for the regulated in-school (hot) lunches. Calories, sodium, and cholesterol intake are within childhood meal recommendations. What is encouraging is that the children were not "filling up" on more processed foods at the expense of nutrient dense foods. Of concern is that these meals still fall short on several parameters, especially low fruit/vegetable intake and high simple sugar consumption. Overall, intake moved in a healthier direction compared to the meals packed from home.

We show that the local density of states (LDOS) of a wide class of tight-binding models has a weak body-order expansion. Specifically, we prove that the resulting body-order expansion for analytic observables such as the electron density or the energy has an exponential rate of convergence both at finite Fermi-temperature as well as for insulators at zero Fermi-temperature. We discuss potential consequences of this observation for modelling the potential energy landscape, as well as for solving the electronic structure problem., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

The development of a broadly and accurately tunable single-frequency mid-infrared laser source and its application to a sensitive laser absorption detection method are described. Photo-thermal interferometric spectroscopy is employed as a phase-sensitive method to detect the minute refractive index change caused by the heating of a gas under laser radiation. A separate probe beam allows for the spectrally-interesting mid-infrared region to be examined whilst utilizing low cost, high detectivity photodetectors in the visible/near-infrared region. We also describe the implementation of a Sagnac interferometer to minimize the effects of environmental perturbation and provide inherent passive stability. A continuous-wave ring-cavity pump-enhanced OPO has been developed to provide excitation light from 3-4 µm at 140 mW with the ability to mode-hop tune continuously over 90 cm -1 in 0.07 cm -1 steps. Complementary use of both detection apparatus and excitation source has allowed for presence of ethane to be detected down to 200 parts per billion.

The heterodimeric transmembrane αv integrin receptors have recently emerged as potential targets for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Herein, we describe how subtle modifications of the central aromatic ring of a series of phenylbutyrate-based antagonists of the vitronectin receptors αvβ3 and αvβ5 significantly change the biological activities against αvβ6 and αvβ8. This resulted in the discovery of a pan αv antagonist (compound 39 , 4-40 nM for the integrin receptors named above) possessing excellent oral pharmacokinetic properties in rats (with a clearance of 7.6 mL/(min kg) and a bioavailability of 97%).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and a major contributor to disability of young adults in western countries. MS prevalence is highest in areas with low vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound with numerous physiologic responses, including immune regulation. An increasing volume of work suggests that lower levels of serum vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of MS and a more severe disease course. With the suggestion of a role in MS disease activity, increasing attention is being paid to the potential of using vitamin D as an add-on therapy to established MS disease-modifying therapies. Several preliminary studies have reported results which have shown some promise, but none has yet provided significant evidence of a clinically meaningful improvement. We review our recommendations for off-label supplementation in the context of these findings.

Background: Mandibular distraction is effective for relieving airway obstruction in Robin sequence; however, mid-term dental and nerve-related complications have not been adequately studied., Methods: Records were reviewed for patients with a single distraction in infancy using internal devices. Follow-up was 5 years or longer. Craniofacial dysmorphic syndromes and those affecting facial nerve function were excluded. Part I involved a review of dental records, whereas Part II involved assessment of inferior alveolar and marginal mandibular nerve function in returning patients with the use of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane cold stimulation and photography, respectively., Results: Eighty-five patients met inclusion criteria. Dental records were complete in 44 patients (median follow-up, 7.3 years; range, 5.4 to 13.2 years). First permanent molar injury was seen in 42 of 88 half-mouths (48 percent); 32 of 42 (76 percent) were restorable. Primary second molar damage and ankylosis were observed in 12 of 88 (14 percent) and one of 88 half-mouths (1 percent), respectively. Mandibular second premolar absence was noted unilaterally in eight of 36 patients (22 percent) and bilaterally in six of 36 patients (17 percent). A mean 1.2 ± 0.95 operative rehabilitations were required. Nerve testing was completed in 20 patients (median follow-up, 8.7 years; range, 5.5 to 13.2 years). Complete absence of cold sensation was noted in one of 40 half-mouths (2.5 percent), whereas lower lip depressor weakness was seen in six of 40 half-mouths (15 percent)., Conclusions: Infant distraction is highly successful in averting tracheostomy; however, dental and nerve-related complications remain underreported. Regular follow-up with a pediatric dentist and early recognition of injury is essential. Although inferior alveolar nerve injury appears infrequent (2.5 percent), permanent lower lip depressor weakness is more common than previously reported (15 percent of sides)., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV.

Aims: The Diadochokinetic Rate Analysis (DRA) in the KayPENTAX Motor Speech Profile is a computer program for the analysis of diadochokinesis (DDK). The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability, reliability, and concurrent validity of the results from the DRA protocol and hand measurement for individuals with ataxic dysarthria, which is characteristically associated with dysdiadochokinesis., Methods: Twenty-one participants with ataxic dysarthria were recorded as they repeated various syllables as quickly and steadily as possible. The DDK samples were executed by the DRA protocol at different thresholds and were also hand-measured. Analyses were based on the percentage of nonexecutable DDK samples, defined as samples in which the lowest peak intensity during CV syllables is lower than the highest peak intensity during intersyllable pauses, and the comparisons of the results between repeated analyses at different thresholds and between automatic and manual measuring methods., Results: (1) More than one third of the DDK samples were nonexecutable; (2) the reliability at different thresholds and concurrent validity between different measuring methods were both satisfactory, and (3) temporal variation parameters were more inconsistent between different measuring methods than intensity variation parameters., Conclusion: DRA has notable limitations in its clinical application but there is a considerable potential for improving its performance., (Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Near-total laryngectomy provides oncologic control of hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers that are not amenable to conservation procedures. The resulting myomucosal shunt provides a prosthesis-free method of voice rehabilitation. This review presents indications, technique, and speech rehabilitation for a near-total laryngectomy.