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Objective: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to cognitive decline and personality changes. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to characterize angioarchitectural changes in the retina and choroid of individuals with FTD compared to cognitively normal controls using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Methods: Cross-sectional comparison of patients with FTD and controls with normal cognition. All participants underwent Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at the time of imaging. Outcome measures included OCT parameters: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, central subfield thickness (CST), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI); and OCTA superficial capillary plexus parameters: foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, 3x3mm and 6x6mm macular perfusion density (PD) and vessel density (VD), 4.5x4.5mm peripapillary capillary perfusion density (CPD) and capillary flux index (CFI). Generalized estimating equation analysis was used to account for the inclusion of 2 eyes from the same participant. Results: 29 eyes of 19 patients with FTD and 85 eyes of 48 controls were analyzed. In FTD, 3x3mm macular PD (p = 0.02) and VD (p = 0.02) and CFI (p = 0.01) were reduced compared to controls. There was no difference in average 4.5x4.5mm CPD, RNFL thickness, GC-IPL thickness, CST, SFCT, CVI, FAZ, or 6x6mm VD or PD between FTD and controls (all p > 0.05); however, there was a trend toward lower macular 6x6mm PD and VD in patients with FTD. Conclusion: Decline of peripapillary and macular OCT and OCTA parameters merit further investigation as potential biomarkers for FTD detection. Noninvasive retinal and choroidal imaging may hold promise for earlier detection, and future longitudinal studies will clarify their role in monitoring of FTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies have highlighted experiences of bias within resident training based on trainees' gender and race and high rates of burnout. However, few studies have addressed the intersection between bias and wellness for residents in internal medicine (IM) programs. This study explores how race, gender, and training year affect IM residents' bias experiences and well-being. METHODS: An anonymous survey with questions evaluating demographics and resident experiences of bias and perceptions of wellness and self-efficacy was distributed to 596 IM programs across the United States. Sixty-nine programs sent out the survey to their IM residents. Respondents to the survey included 176 residents. Descriptive analyses and χ² tests were performed. RESULTS: Responses demonstrated that gender and race impacted residents' experiences with bias and misidentification. Eighty-eight percent of women compared to 1% of men, and 89% of Black residents compared to 3% of White residents reported being misidentified as a nonphysician due to gender and race, respectively. Degrees to which residents felt they were thriving in residency, experiencing burnout, and utilizing their strengths varied significantly by gender. Residents' self-perceived burnout levels were associated with being misidentified as not being a physician due to race. Experiences with bias also increased significantly with training year. DISCUSSION: This study provides important insights into the impact of gender, race/ethnicity, and training year on IM residents' experiences with bias and self-perception. CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize the need for structural changes within IM residency programs to reduce experiences of bias and to better cultivate the wellness of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) accounts for about 7% of dementia cases. Multimodal retinal imaging may identify biomarkers in this population since there is a growing link between retinal alterations in DLB, with exploratory studies showing phosphorylated alpha‐synuclein retinal deposits, parafoveal thinning of ganglion cell inner‐plexiform layer (GC‐IPL), and electroretinography alterations (Beach et al., 2014, Murueta‐Goyena et al., 2019, Maurage et al., 2003). We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to characterize differences in retinal and choroidal microvasculature and structure in individuals with DLB compared to controls with normal cognition. Method: A cross‐sectional comparison of patients with DLB and age‐ and sex‐matched cognitively normal controls. Exclusion criteria included retinal or optic nerve pathology, glaucoma, and diabetes. The Zeiss Cirrus HD‐5000 with AngioPlex was used to obtain OCT and OCTA images. OCT parameters measured includes central subfield thickness (CST), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, GC‐IPL thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). OCTA parameters measured include superficial capillary plexus foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, fovea‐centered 3×3mm and 6×6mm vessel density (VD) and perfusion density (PD), and optic nerve head‐centered capillary perfusion density (CPD) and capillary flux index (CFI). Generalized estimating equations adjusted for correlation among eyes of the same subject. Result: Thirty‐four eyes of 18 DLB patients and 85 eyes of 48 cognitively normal controls were analyzed. Cases were well‐matched to controls by age (p = 0.977) and sex (p = 0.607). DLB patients had lower Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores (p < 0.001). Average GC‐IPL thickness was lower in patients with DLB compared to controls (p = 0.04). Average 4.5×4.5mm CPD was higher in patients with DLB compared to controls (p = 0.005). Average 4.5×4.5mm CFI was lower in patients with DLB compared to controls (p = 0.016). Conclusion: DLB patients had attenuated GC‐IPL thickness and peripapillary CPD and CFI changes when compared to those with normal cognition. Retinal imaging metrics have the potential to serve as clinically relevant biomarkers for DLB diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transparent ocular lens is essential for vision by focusing light onto the retina. Despite recognizing the importance of its unique cellular architecture and mechanical properties, the molecular mechanisms governing these attributes remain elusive. This study aims to elucidate the role of ankyrin-B (AnkB), a membrane scaffolding protein, in lens cytoarchitecture, growth, and function using a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model. AnkB cKO mouse has no defects in lens morphogenesis but exhibited changes that supported a global role for AnkB in maintenance of lens clarity, size, cytoarchitecture, membrane organization, and stiffness. Notably, absence of AnkB led to nuclear cataract formation, evident from P16. AnkB cKO lens fibers exhibit progressive disruption in membrane organization of the spectrin-actin cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and channel proteins, loss and degradation of several membrane proteins (e.g., NrCAM. N-cadherin and aquaporin-0) along with a disorganized plasma membrane and impaired membrane interdigitations. Furthermore, absence of AnkB led to decreased lens stiffness. Collectively, these results illustrate the essential role for AnkB in lens architecture, growth and function through its involvement in membrane skeletal and protein organization and stability., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Objective: Otolaryngology residents often encounter work-related stress and challenges during training. Sociodemographic factors influence experiences during residency; however, the impact of race and gender on otolaryngology trainee well-being during residency remains understudied., Study Design: Online survey., Setting: US residency programs., Methods: An anonymous online survey consisting of 59 multiple-choice questions was sent to 104 directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education otolaryngology residency programs to distribute to residents. Respondents were queried regarding demographics and experiences with bias. Residents self-identified gender and race. Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern/North African, and multiracial residents were categorized as underrepresented minorities (URM)., Results: Sixty-one US otolaryngology residents responded to the survey, the majority of whom were women (60.7%) and white (62%). Many residents endorsed a belief that receipt of research and training opportunities was negatively impacted by bias due to race (29.5%) or gender (45.9%). More women (27%) than men (13%) reported maximal burnout, and fewer men (17.4%) than women (40.5%) expressed low confidence in ability to independently care for patients. More male (47.8%) and white (31.6%) residents strongly agreed they were thriving. 94.6% of women and 33.3% of URM residents reported being mistaken for a nonphysician, compared to 0% of white male respondents., Conclusion: Otolaryngology residents perceived differential treatment based on race and gender, with women and URM residents experiencing greater exclusion and bias, as well as increased misidentification and decreased ability to thrive. Future work includes increasing sample size for generalizability and developing interventions that uphold equity in residency training environments., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)