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Practitioners of mentalism can perform apparently impossible feats, but when performing for an audience these feats are attributed to pseudoscientific explanations such as advanced psychological skills. Research that has investigated the psychological foundations of mentalism has found a strong tendency for people to believe these explanations. In three experiments, we investigated the strength of this belief by comparing apparently impossible effects relating to mental phenomena with physical phenomena. We observed that mental magic tricks are readily explained in terms of advanced psychological skills, whereas physical tricks are not. This was true: i) even when alternative feasible explanations are explicitly presented; ii) when they are presented as mentalism effects but the effects themselves are classical card tricks; iii) regardless of the context in which the effects are observed (a research laboratory vs. a theater). We interpreted the tendency to appeal to this pseudo-explanation (and the changes in narratives employed by mentalists across the decades) in terms of the community of knowledge framework.

Abstract Introduction To compare the long-term efficacy of navigated subthreshold micropulse laser (NSML) and continuous oral eplerenone (EPL) in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC). Methods This retrospective observational study included 44 eyes with cCSC (EPL: n = 26; NSML: n = 18). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), subretinal fluid (SRF) height, and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were evaluated over 12 months. Results Both groups showed significant improvements in BCVA and CMT (p 0.05). Conclusions Both NSML and EPL improved retinal morphology and visual function in patients with cCSC. NSML achieved faster SRF resolution, while EPL resulted in more significant choroidal thickness reduction. These findings suggest distinct mechanisms of action: NSML primarily affects the retinal pigment epithelium, while EPL modulates choroidal vasculature. Treatment choice may depend on individual patient characteristics and treatment goals.

Abstract Introduction This was a prospective study to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of a novel ophthalmic solution comprising ozonated sunflower oil in liposomes plus hypromellose in conjunction with liposomal foam (BlefOX), in patients undergoing intravitreal injection, in comparison to povidone iodine 5%. Methods The study employed a paired-eye design with n = 195 patients and a total of n = 390 eyes divided into two groups. Conjunctival swabs were collected from both eyes of each patient at baseline (T0—3 days before the injection). The study group underwent home therapy, which included instilling two drops of an isotonic ophthalmic solution containing 0.5% ozonated sunflower oil in liposomes plus hypromellose (Ozodrop) four times daily and applying liposomal foam twice daily to the eye undergoing intravitreal injections. In contrast, the control group (contralateral eyes) received treatment with povidone iodine 5%. This treatment regimen was maintained for 3 days. At T1 (10 min before injection), all patients instilled one drop of a topical solution of povidone iodine 5% into the conjunctival sac of both eyes. After 30 seconds had elapsed, a conjunctival swab was obtained for each eye in both study groups. Results The results, derived from conjunctival swabs, exhibited a significant reduction in the microbial load of the study group on both chocolate agar and blood agar (p ≤ 0.007). The study demonstrated that the combination of povidone iodine 5% + Ozodrop + BlefOX provides a greater reduction in microbial load than povidone iodine 5% alone on both chocolate agar (141 [72.31%] vs. 98 [50.26%], p

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease characterized by progressive alterations of different retinal structures ultimately leading to vision loss. Among these, the choriocapillaris (CC) has been found to be affected in different stages of AMD. In this review we provide a discussion on the different stages of AMD, focusing particularly on the alterations involving the CC. This has been possible thanks to the introduction of optical coherence tomography-angiography, a recently developed imaging technique which allows the detection of blood flow in choroidal vessels. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a description of the various alterations involving the CC in the different stages of AMD.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to detect Hard Exudates (HE) and classify Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers (DRIL) implementing a Deep Learning (DL) system on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). We collected a dataset composed of 442 OCT images on which we annotated 6847 HE and the presence of DRIL. A complex operational pipeline was defined to implement data cleaning and image transformations, and train two DL models. The state-of-the-art neural network architectures (Yolov7, ConvNeXt, RegNetX) and advanced techniques were exploited to aggregate the results (Ensemble learning, Edge detection) and obtain a final model. The DL approach reached good performance in detecting HE and classifying DRIL. Regarding HE detection the model got an AP@0.5 score equal to 34.4% with Precision of 48.7% and Recall of 43.1%; while for DRIL classification an Accuracy of 91.1% with Sensitivity and Specificity both of 91.1% and AUC and AUPR values equal to 91% were obtained. The P-value was lower than 0.05 and the Kappa coefficient was 0.82. The DL models proved to be able to identify HE and DRIL in eyes with DME with a very good accuracy and all the metrics calculated confirmed the system performance. Our DL approach demonstrated to be a good candidate as a supporting tool for ophthalmologists in OCT images analysis.

Background/objectiveRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common, sight-threatening vascular disorder affecting individuals of all ages, with incidence increasing with age. Due to its complex, multifactorial nature, treating RVO remains a clinical challenge. Currently, treatment strategies include laser photocoagulation (especially for branch RVO), anti-VEGF therapies, and intravitreal corticosteroids. This systematic review (without meta-analysis) aimed to update the evidence on the efficacy and safety of the sustained-release intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX-i) in managing macular edema (ME) secondary to central and branch RVO.MethodsA systematic review was conducted to assess current literature on DEX-i for ME secondary to RVO. Relevant studies were analyzed for outcomes related to visual acuity, retinal thickness, and the safety profile of DEX-i in RVO treatment.ResultsEvidence indicates that DEX-i substantially improves best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reduces central retinal thickness (CRT) in ME associated with both branch and central RVO, demonstrating rapid and sustained effects. Common adverse events associated with DEX-i included manageable complications, such as medically controlled intraocular pressure elevation and progression of cataracts.ConclusionDEX-i offers effective and sustained improvements in both visual and anatomical outcomes for patients with ME secondary to RVO. Individualized treatment selection is essential to optimize patient outcomes. Future directions include identifying predictive biomarkers and adopting patient-centered approaches based on individual clinical characteristics, which may enhance treatment success in RVO.

Introdução: A Doença Multicêntrica de Castleman (MCD) é associada ao KSHV, que é mais comum em pessoas que vivem com HIV (PVHA) e apresentam CD4 < 200 cels/mm3. É uma doença que cursa com febre, perda ponderal, prostração, sintomas gastrointestinais e respiratórios inespecíficos, linfonodomegalias, edema, derrames cavitários e hepatoesplenomegalia. Achados laboratoriais incluem elevação de proteína C reativa (PCR), pancitopenia, hiponatremia e hipoalbuminemia. É uma doença que mimetiza outras que podem acometer a PVHA, postergando o diagnóstico e aumentando a morbimortalidade, já que a MCD sem tratamento geralmente é fatal. O diagnóstico se dá pela análise histopatológica do linfonodo ou baço e o tratamento é feito com rituximabe, que em 90% dos casos leva à resolução dos sintomas. Materiais/métodos: Descrever caso de paciente com MCD. Relato: Paciente de 24 anos, negro, sexo masculino, iniciou quadro de tosse produtiva, febre vespertina, emagrecimento e prostração. Teve o diagnóstico de HIV, foi excluída tuberculose pulmonar e iniciou terapia antirretroviral (TARV) com dolutegravir. Cinco semanas após, internou por dispneia, aumento do volume abdominal e edema de membros inferiores. Na ocasião do diagnóstico do HIV apresentava 144973 cópias/mL (log 5,16) e contagem CD4 33 células/mm3 (5,44%) e na admissão, 85 cópias/mL (log 1,9) e CD4 52 células/mm3 (19%). Tinha aumento de PCR, hiponatremia, hipoalbuminemia, pancitopenia. Foram realizadas tomografias que demonstraram linfonodomegalias axilares, inguinais e retroperitoneais e esplenomegalia volumosa. Biópsia de medula óssea excluiu doença linfoproliferativa. As culturas e sorologias para doenças oportunistas foram negativas. A biópsia linfonodos inguinal (1 cm) foi positiva para KSHV e compatível com MCD sem Sarcoma de Kaposi. O paciente foi tratado com rituximabe e paclitaxel por quatro semanas com remissão completa dos sintomas. Sete meses depois teve recidiva, sendo tratado novamente. Segue sem recaídas há 9 meses. Conclusão: Trata-se de um caso de PVHA com MCD, que é rara, porém, com incidência aumentando desde a implementação da TARV4. É subdiagnosticada por mimetizar outras doenças mais comuns, o que faz com que muitos pacientes venham a óbito. Não é doença de notificação compulsória, o que tem impacto negativo no entendimento da real incidência e prevalência na população de PVHA. Esse caso denota a importância da biópsia de linfonodo em pacientes com AIDS. Palavras-chave: Doença Multicêntrica de Castleman, Sarcoma de Kaposi, AIDS. Conflitos de interesse: Não houve conflitos de interesse. Ética e financiamentos: Não houve conflito de interesse.

Abstract Introduction The aims of this work were to evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of a loading dose of intravitreal faricimab in eyes with active neovascular age-related macular degeneration (n-AMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME) and to analyze the treatment outcome in relation to specific biomarkers. Methods Patients with active n-AMD or DME, treated with four monthly intravitreal injections of faricimab, were enrolled in this retrospective, uncontrolled study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), presence of retinal fluid (RF) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and adverse events were assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Predefined biomarkers were evaluated at baseline (BL) and at last visit. Results Sixteen eyes of 15 patients with n-AMD (n-AMD group) and 15 eyes of 12 patients with DME (DME group) were included. Mean (± standard deviation) logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BL BCVA changed from 0.68 (± 0.43) to 0.53 (± 0.36; P = 0.13) and from 0.51 (± 0.34) to 0.32 (± 0.24; P: 0.048) at week 16 in n-AMD and DME group, respectively. A statistically significant mean CST reduction was reported in both groups at last visit (n-AMD: − 166.5 μm; P = 0.0009/DME: − 110.8 μm; P = 0.0086). Seventy-five and 33% of eyes with n-AMD and DME respectively achieved complete RF resolution at last visit. Subfoveal inner and outer retinal damage correlated with a lower final BCVA in n-AMD group. The presence of large (> 100 μm) juxtafoveal microaneurysms (MAs) was significantly correlated with a higher chance of residual fluid in eyes with DME. Conclusions Both n-AMD and DME groups achieved satisfactory anatomical results after a loading-dose of intravitreal faricimab. BCVA improvement might be hampered by pre-existing retinal damage in eyes with n-AMD. Large, juxtafoveal MAs might represent a hallmark of a slower anatomical response to the treatment in eyes with DME.

Abstract Introduction To assess changes in choriocapillaris (CC) vascular density surrounding macular neovascularization (MNV) in treatment-naïve age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after faricimab application using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods Twenty-five eyes of 25 treatment-naïve individuals who underwent intravitreal faricimab injections for neovascular AMD (nAMD) with type 1 MNV were included. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images and en-face swept-source OCTA images were analyzed, and the percentage of CC flow deficit (FD%), FD average area (FDa) and FD number (FDn) in five progressive 20.0-μm-wide concentric rings (R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5) surrounding the dark halo around the MNV were calculated. Image acquisition was carried out prior to the first faricimab injection (T0) and 1 month after the injection (T1). Results The topographical sub-analysis revealed noteworthy changes in all rings at T1 compared to T0. There was a notable progressive reduction in FD% at T1 compared to T0 values across all rings, indicating a gradual CC reperfusion following anti-VEGF treatment. Additionally, the average size of FD decreased after the loading phase. Although not reaching statistical significance, there was a progressive reduction in the FDa across all rings. Conclusion Our study highlights a CC FD reduction following the administration of three consecutive faricimab injections. This effect was detected in all rings surrounding the dark halo. These observations suggest a partial CC reperfusion surrounding the MNV, potentially serving as an indicator for disease regression.

Abstract Introduction Optimizing treatment protocols for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is an ongoing challenge, as it involves a delicate balance between achieving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing invasive procedures' frequency. This study aimed to apply the Lean methodology and evaluate the effectiveness of this new setting on intravitreal therapy for wAMD, employing different anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) drugs (bevacizumab, brolucizumab, aflibercept, ranibizumab), drawing data from the Bari Intravitreal Injections Registry (BIVIR). Methods This was a retrospective, monocentric, nonrandomized, comparative study. Lean methodology was employed to design the new setting and the BIVIR collected information from electronic medical records. Clinical data of four groups, stratified based on the first-line anti-VEGF agents used, were compared. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) changes were compared between the four groups at 3 and 12 months. Results Out of 4990 eyes and 41,323 intravitreal injections (IVs) recorded in BIVIR, 1421 eyes of 1182 patients were included. The mean number of IVs in first year was 6.1 ± 2.5, with no significant differences among the four subgroups. The mean change in BCVA was + 6.2 letters [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.6–6.8] after two IVs, and + 5.9 (95% CI 5.1–6.8) letters after three IVs; at three months, brolucizumab was associated with a greater mean increase in BCVA than bevacizumab (p = 0.050); aflibercept (p = 0.044) and ranibizumab p = 0.047). At the 1-year follow-up, the mean change was + 6.3 letters (95% CI 5.4–7.2), brolucizumab and ranibizumab were associated with a superior improvement in BCVA compared to aflibercept (p = 0.033). Regarding the CRT, a significant reduction was observed in the subgroup treated with brolucizumab at the 3-month follow-up, compared to bevacizumab (p = 0.003), aflibercept (p = 0.015), and ranibizumab (p

Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component in which rare variants contribute significantly to risk. We performed whole genome and/or exome sequencing (WGS and WES) and SNP-array analysis to identify both rare sequence and copy number variants (SNVs and CNVs) in 435 individuals from 116 ASD families. We identified 37 rare potentially damaging de novo SNVs (pdSNVs) in the cases (n = 144). Interestingly, two of them (one stop-gain and one missense variant) occurred in the same gene, BRSK2. Moreover, the identification of 8 severe de novo pdSNVs in genes not previously implicated in ASD (AGPAT3, IRX5, MGAT5B, RAB8B, RAP1A, RASAL2, SLC9A1, YME1L1) highlighted promising candidates. Potentially damaging CNVs (pdCNVs) provided support to the involvement of inherited variants in PHF3, NEGR1, TIAM1 and HOMER1 in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), although mostly acting as susceptibility factors with incomplete penetrance. Interpretation of identified pdSNVs/pdCNVs according to the ACMG guidelines led to a molecular diagnosis in 19/144 cases, although this figure represents a lower limit and is expected to increase thanks to further clarification of the role of likely pathogenic variants in ASD/NDD candidate genes not yet established. In conclusion, our study highlights promising ASD candidate genes and contributes to characterize the allelic diversity, mode of inheritance and phenotypic impact of de novo and inherited risk variants in ASD/NDD genes.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate choroidal morphology remodeling in AMD-associated type 1 macular neovascularization using two different anti-VEGF drugs. We registered 73 treatment-naïve eyes with a diagnosis of exudative AMD and type 1 MNV. Patients received 3 monthly intravitreal aflibercept (n = 36, aflibercept group [AG]) or brolucizumab (n = 37, brolucizumab group [BG]). Baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and anatomical (structural optical coherence tomography) parameters were collected at “T1 control”, before the loading phase (LP) of intravitreal injection, and at “T2 control”, 1 month after the last injection. The main outcomes measured were choroidal vascularity index (CVI), sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and central macular thickness (CMT). Our results displayed significant SFCT reduction in both groups between T1 and T2 (p 0.05) after the loading aflibercept injections. Moreover, only the BG displayed a significant choroidal remodeling (stromal choroidal area [SCA], total choroidal area [TCA] and CVI) at T2 (p

Background and Aim: Despite the abundant literature, internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling remains a controversial topic, especially in diabetic eyes. We compared the safety and effectiveness of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT)-assisted selective epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling with dye-assisted ERM and ILM peeling, for the treatment of tractional diabetic macular edema (tDME). Material and Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we evaluated consecutive patients with tDME who underwent iOCT-assisted selective ERM peeling (Group A) or “dual blue” dye-assisted ERM and ILM peeling (Group B). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were compared over a 12-month follow-up. A linear mixed model analysis was performed. Results: At baseline, the two groups were comparable in terms of their demographic and clinical outcomes. No significant difference between BCVA and CMT was observed among the groups. Both groups showed significant improvement in outcomes at the last follow-up (p < 0.001), although only iOCT-assisted ERM peeling ensured significant visual gain and macular thinning (p < 0.001) one month after surgery. A significant effect of time on both outcomes (p < 0.001) and of time–treatment interaction on visual change (p = 0.02) were observed. In eight patients, macular edema recurred (Group A: two patients; Group B: six patients) and was managed with an intravitreal dexamethasone implant. In Group A, one patient developed a recurrence of ERM without the need for reoperation. Conclusions: iOCT-assisted ERM removal may be as effective as dye-assisted ERM and ILM peeling to treat tDME. Additionally, it ensures a quicker recovery of visual function and macular thickness. The observed ERM recurrence within the 1-year follow-up was mild and did not necessitate additional surgery.

Different solvents water, ethanol and ethanol/water (6:4 v/v), were compared in the extraction of pomegranate peels and seeds (PPS) in terms of recovery yields, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial action against typical spoilage bacterial and fungal species. The best performing extract (ethanol/water (6:4 v/v) was shown to contain mostly ellagic acid and punicalagin as phenolic compounds (5% overall) and hydrolysable tannins (16% as ellagic acid equivalents) and was able to inhibit the growth of the acidophilic Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris at a concentration as low as 1%. The preservation of the organoleptic profile of A. acidoterrestris-inoculated apple juice with extract at 1% over 20 days was also observed thanks to the complete inhibition of bacterial growth, while the extract at 0.1% warranted a significant (40%) inhibition of the enzymatic browning of apple smoothies over the first 30 min. When incorporated in whey proteins’ isolate (WPI) at 5% w/w, the hydroalcoholic extract conferred well appreciable antioxidant properties to the resulting coating-forming hydrogel, comparable to those expected for the pure extract considering the amount present. The WPI coatings loaded with the hydroalcoholic extract at 5% were able to delay the browning of cut fruit by ca. 33% against a 22% inhibition observed with the sole WPI. In addition, the functionalized coating showed an inhibition of lipid peroxidation of Gouda cheese 2-fold higher with respect to that observed with WPI alone. These results open good perspectives toward sustainable food preservation strategies, highlighting the potential of PPS extract for the implementation of WPI-based active packaging.

In this work, the influence of plenum and port geometry on the performance of the intake process in a four-stroke spark ignition engine for ultralight aircraft applications is analyzed. Three intake systems are considered: the so-called “standard plenum”, with a relatively small plenum volume, the “V1 plenum”, with a larger plenum volume, and the “standard plenum” equipped with a large curvature manifold called the “G2 port”. Both measurements and 3D CFD simulations, by using Ansys® Academic Fluent, Release 20.2, are performed to characterize and analyze the steady-flow field in the intake system for selected valve lifts. The experimental data and the numerical results are in excellent agreement with each other. The results show that at the maximum valve lift, i.e., 12 mm, the V1 plenum allows an increase in the air mass flow rate of 9.1% and 9.4% compared to the standard plenum and the standard plenum with the “G2 port”, respectively. In addition, the volumetric efficiency has been estimated under unsteady-flow conditions for all geometries at relatively high engine rpms. The difference between numerical results and measurements is less than 1% for the standard plenum, thus proving the accuracy of the model, which is then used to study the other configurations. The V1 plenum shows a fairly constant volumetric efficiency as the engine speed increases, although such an efficiency is lower than that of the other two geometries considered in this work. Specifically, the use of the “G2 port” leads to an increase of 1.5% in terms of volumetric efficiency with respect to the configuration with the original manifold. Furthermore, for the “G2 port” configuration, higher turbulent kinetic energy and higher swirl and tumble ratios are observed. This is expected to result in an improvement of air–fuel mixing and flame propagation.

Dissociative electron attachment rate constants have been measured for Cr(CO)6 under thermal conditions, 296–400 K, yielding Cr(CO)5− product. At 296 K, 2.92 ± 0.70 cm3 s−1 was measured and a small decrease with temperature was observed (2.72 ± 0.70 cm3 s−1 at 400 K). We additionally determined the cation products of Ar+ reacting with Cr(CO)6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]