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Tooth morphology has provided many insights into the tempo and mode of dietary evolution in mammals. A study of fossil and extant squamates shows that this group also repeatedly evolved increasingly complex teeth with more flexibility than mammals, and that higher tooth complexity and herbivory likely led to higher speciation rates.

Digital beam forming (DBF) and synthetic aperture interferometry (SAI) are signal processing techniques that mix the signals collected by an antenna array to obtain high-resolution images with the aid of a computer. This note aims at comparing these two approaches from an algebraic perspective with the illustrations of simulations conducted at microwaves frequencies within the frame of the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission. Although the two techniques are using the same signals and sharing the same goal, there are several differences that deserve attention. From the algebraic point of view, it is the case for the singular values distributions of the respective modeling matrices which are both rank-deficient but do not have the same sensitivity to the diversity of the array’s elementary antennas radiation patterns. As a consequence of this difference, the level and the angular signature of the reconstruction floor error are significantly lower with the DBF paradigm than with the SAI one.

Objectives: To describe endoscopic findings, foreign body location, success rate of removal and complications in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies. Materials and Methods: The current study retrospectively evaluated the case records of dogs diagnosed with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies at a veterinary hospital centre between January 2010 and April 2020. Information retrieved included breed, sex, age, bodyweight, the season of presentation, presentation and duration of clinical signs, previous removal attempts performed by the referring veterinarian, foreign body location and endoscopic and imaging findings. Results: Eighty‐four cases were included. Fifty‐nine dogs (70%) presented during spring and summer. Cough (77 of 84; 92%) and fever (15 of 84; 18%) were the main clinical signs. One to 10 bronchial vegetal foreign bodies were removed from each dog. Purulent exudate was observed in the ventral larynx, trachea and bronchi in 49 (65%), 61 (81%) and 71 (95%) dogs, respectively. In most cases, only the barbules of the vegetal foreign bodies were initially observed during endoscopy. The presence of large bronchial nodules or an irregular mucosal surface was a frequent finding (62 of 75; 83%). Mild bleeding was the main complication (58 of 75; 77%) of endoscopic removal, which was successful in 67 of the 84 (80%) cases. Clinical Significance: Mucosal nodules associated with purulent material within the airways are frequent endoscopic findings in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies. Bronchoscopy is a relatively safe and useful technique for diagnosis and treatment of bronchial vegetal foreign bodies in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to clarify the relation between work and health from the angle of the legal understanding of prevention. It also attempts to show the extent to which French law enables or promotes, by means of prevention, a debate about work. The field of criminal liability nonetheless remains impervious to debates on work organisation. The predetermined, detailed regulatory provisions are not conducive to discussions about work. At the same time, French law has been promoting, among worker representatives and health professionals, the conditions for internal company debates on prevention. That being said, this debate does not directly deal with the employers’ criminal or civil liability. However, in the field of civil liability, European case law’s recognition of the employer’s safety obligations has marked a decisive turning point. The employer’s obligation to analyse, reduce, and ultimately prevent occupational risks opens the door to discussions about the specific context of work.

Leo de Jong1, Antoine Lafuma2, Anne-Sophie Aguadé2, Gilles Berdeaux3,41Academic Medical Centre, Ophthalmology Department, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2Cemka-Eval, Bourg la Reine, Paris, France, 3Alcon France, Rueil-Malmaison, Paris, France, 4Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, FranceBackground: This study compared the efficacy of the EX-PRESS® glaucoma filtration device and trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma up to five years after surgery.Methods: Patients from a previously reported randomized, open-label, parallel-arm clinical trial in which 78 patients received either the EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device or underwent a trabeculectomy were followed for up to an additional four years (five total) beyond the original study (39 eyes per treatment group). Risk-benefit data were obtained for up to five years after glaucoma surgery. Outcome variables were intraocular pressures and intraocular pressure medications. Complete success was denoted by intraocular pressure values ≤ 18 mmHg without medication.Results: The EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device controlled intraocular pressure more effectively without medication for more patients from year 1 (86.8% versus 61.5%, P = 0.01) to year 3 (66.7% versus 41.0%, P = 0.02) than trabeculectomy. At year 1, only 12.8% of patients required intraocular pressure medication after EX-PRESS implantation, compared with 35.9% after trabeculectomy. The proportions became closer at year 5 (41% versus 53.9%). The responder rate was higher with EX-PRESS and time to failure was longer. In addition, surgical interventions for complications were fewer after EX-PRESS implantation.Conclusion: This five-year analysis confirmed and extended the results reported after one year. Compared with trabeculectomy, EX-PRESS provided better intraocular pressure control in the first three years, and patients required fewer intraocular pressure medications and fewer surgical interventions during the five-year study period. For patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration device, implanted under a superficial scleral flap, produced significantly higher success rates than trabeculectomy. EX-PRESS is an effective device for long-term treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma.Keywords: glaucoma filtration device, trabeculectomy, primary open-angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure, medication

Antoine Lafuma1, John F Salmon2, Julien Robert1, Gilles Berdeaux31Cemka, Bourg-la-Reine, France; 2Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, UK; 3Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Chaire Economie et Gestion des Services de Santé, Paris, FranceObjective: To compare treatment persistence and costs with 3 glaucoma treatment sequences (first-line/second-line): latanoprost/latanoprost–timolol (LLT), bimatoprost/bimatoprost–timolol (BBT), and travoprost/travoprost–timolol (TTT), derived from the UK General Practitioner Research Database (UK-GPRD).Methods: Patient records referring to ocular hypertension, topical glaucoma treatment, surgery, or laser therapy were extracted. Patients prescribed LLT, BBT, or TTT sequences were selected. Treatment failure was inferred from glaucoma prescription change (adding or removing a topical treatment, surgery, or laser therapy). Treatment durations preceding failure were compared by applying Wilcoxon’s test to survival curves. Adjustment on confounding variables was performed with a Cox model and a propensity score method. Unit costs were estimated from a UK National Health Service perspective.Results: A total of 1592 patients received LLT, 110 BBT, and 114 TTT. Their mean age was 68 years and the sex ratio almost 1 male:1 female. No significant demographic or comorbidity differences were observed between treatment sequences. Treatment persistence at 36 months was achieved in 60.0% of LLT, 55.5% of BBT, and 70.3% of TTT patients (P = 0.005). Resources consumed and associated monthly costs were significantly less for the TTT group (£17.74) compared with BBT (£21.30) and LLT (£22.37) groups.Conclusion: Analysis of data obtained from the UK-GPRD suggests that the TTT treatment sequence achieved longer treatment persistence at lower cost than LLT and BBT.Keywords: glaucoma, travoprost, timolol, latanoprost, bimatoprost, persistency, costs

Béatrice Cochener1, Antoine Lafuma2, Babak Khoshnood2, Laurène Courouve2, Gilles Berdeaux3,41Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brest, Brest, France; 2Cemka Eval, Bourg la Reine, France; 3Alcon France, Rueil-Malmaison, France; 4Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, FrancePurpose: To compare the clinical outcome of different multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) based on information reported in the international literature.Methods: All comparative clinical trials that involved implanting at least one multifocal IOL in patients with cataract or presbyopia were extracted from the literature. Clinical outcomes included uncorrected near visual acuity, uncorrected distance visual acuity, visual acuity, spectacle independence, and halos. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to compare outcomes for the different IOL types.Results: Twenty papers were identified describing 11 monofocal IOLs and 35 multifocal IOLs (19 diffractive, including 12 ReSTOR®, 14 refractive, and two accommodative) patient cohorts. Multifocal and monofocal uncorrected distance visual acuity was 0.165 (0.090–0.240) and 0.093 (0.088–0.098), respectively. Compared with monofocal IOLs, multifocal IOLs produced better uncorrected near visual acuity (0.470 [0.322–0.618] versus 0.141 [0.131–0.152]; P < 0.0001), resulting in higher spectacle independence (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 3.62 [2.90–4.52]; P < 0.0001). Compared with refractive multifocal IOLs, diffractive multifocal IOLs produced a similar uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.105 [0.098–0.111] versus 0.085 [0.029–0.140]; P ≤ 0.78, not significant) and better uncorrected near visual acuity (0.217 [0.118–0.317] versus 0.082 [0.067–0.098]; P < 0.0001) resulting in higher spectacle independence (IRR 1.75 [1.24–2.48]; P < 0.001). Compared with other multifocal IOLs, ReSTOR produced a better uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.067 [0.059–0.076] versus 0.093 [0.088–0.098]; P < 0.0001) and better uncorrected near visual acuity (0.064 [0.046–0.082] versus 0.141 [0.131–0.152]; P < 0.006), resulting in higher spectacle independence (IRR 2.06 [1.26–1.36]; P < 0.004). Halo incidence rates with different types of multifocal implants did not differ significantly.Conclusion: Multifocal IOLs provide better uncorrected near visual acuity than monofocal IOLs, leading to less need for spectacles. Multifocal IOL design might play a role in postsurgical outcome, because better results were obtained with diffractive lenses. ReSTOR showed better uncorrected near visual acuity, uncorrected distance visual acuity, and higher spectacle independence rates compared with other multifocal IOLs.Keywords: multifocal implants, meta-analysis, uncorrected near visual acuity, uncorrected distance visual acuity, spectacle independence, patient satisfaction

Catherine Boureau1, Antoine Lafuma2, Viviane Jeanbat2, Andrew F Smith3, Gilles Berdeaux41Clinique Geoffroy St Hilaire, Paris, France; 2Cemka-Eval, Bourg la Reine, France; 3Alcon Laboratories Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, UK; 4Alcon France, Rueil Malmaison, France; Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, FranceBackground: Posterior capsule opacification is one of the most frequent adverse events following cataract surgery. This manuscript reports the lifetime cost of complications linked to posterior capsule opacification using three types of intraocular lens with square edges.Methods: Costs were estimated from a retrospective study of patients who underwent cataract surgery and data from the literature. The lenses studied were hydrophobic acrylic (SA60AT and AR40E) and hydrophilic acrylic (XL-Stabi) lenses with square edges. The frequency of Nd-Yag laser capsulotomies after 4 years’ survival was estimated by two methods: the first involved linear adjustment of the rate at 5 and 6 years follow-up and then application of a constant rate after 6 years; the second involved linear adjustment after 5 years follow-up. The economic perspective was that of the French Sickness Fund.Results: After 3 years’ follow-up the percentage of patients who had not undergone laser Nd-Yag capsulotomy was 86.9% with SA60AT, 76.6% with AR40E and 54.6% with XL-Stabi lenses (p

Philippe Denis1, Antoine Lafuma2, Gilles Berdeaux31Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France; 2Cemka, Bourg-la-Reine, France; 3Alcon France, Rueil-Malmaison, FranceAbstract: The persistence and costs of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors + prostaglandin analogues (CAIs + PGAs) vs alpha-2 adrenergic agonists + prostaglandin analogues (alpha-2 agonists + PGAs) were compared, based on The United Kingdom General Practitioner Research Database. Patients with a diagnosis of ocular hypertension, glaucoma, or treated for this, were selected. Selected patients were prescribed CAIs + PGAs or alpha-2 agonists + PGAs. Treatment failure was defined as a prescription change (adding, removing, or replacing glaucoma treatment, or initiating laser or surgery). Times to treatment failure were compared with a Cox model adjusted by a propensity score. Mean patient age was 69.0 years and 47.6% were males. Treatment failure at 1 year was experienced by 58.8% receiving CAIs + PGAs and 66.0% of patients receiving alpha-2 agonists + PGAs (p < 0.001). The hazard ratio for failure was 0.82 (p < 0.001) in favor of CAIs + PGAs after adjusting on age, gender, comorbidities, and duration of follow-up. Adjusted annual costs of glaucoma management did not differ significantly between treatments, £440.63 with alpha-2 agonists + PGAs and £413.37 with CAIs + PGAs. CAIs + PGAs therapies appear more persistent than alpha-2 agonist + PGA in everyday clinical practice, at a similar cost.Keywords: glaucoma, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, prostaglandin, effectiveness economics, costs