Atrial Fibrillation: An Underestimated Cause of Ischemic Monocular Visual Loss?

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of ischemic stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and investigation for paroxysmal AF is recommended following an embolic brain event. In contrast, retinal ischemic monocular blindness is traditionally considered most linked to carotid artery disease (CAS) and investigating for AF is less vigilant. We aimed to determine the prevalence of AF in patients with ischemic monocular blindness.

Undertreatment of Vascular Risk Factors in Patients with Monocular Ischaemic Visual Loss.

Background And Purpose: Ischaemic visual loss is often considered a lower risk factor than other transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). We aimed to determine the recurrence risk, prevalence and management of vascular risk factors in these patients.

Methods: The study took place in the University College Hospital London daily TIA clinic, main referral centre for North-Central London and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

In situ trapping of As, Sb and Se hydrides on nanometer-sized ceria-coated iron oxide-silica and slurry suspension introduction to ICP-OES.

A procedure is developed for the analysis of sub-μg L(-1) levels of arsenic, antimony and selenium after preconcentration of their hydrides. The study highlights the capability of an aqueous suspension of a nanometer-sized magnetic ceria, in the presence of iodide, to function as a sorbent for the in situ trapping and preconcentration of the hydrides of certain metalloids. After extraction, the material is magnetically separated from the trapping solution and analyzed.

Nanometer-sized ceria-coated silica-iron oxide for the reagentless microextraction/preconcentration of heavy metals in environmental and biological samples followed by slurry introduction to ICP-OES.

A slurry suspension sampling technique is developed and optimized for the rapid microextraction of heavy metals and analysis using nanometer-sized ceria-coated silica-iron oxide particles and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Magnetic-silica material is synthesized by a co-precipitation and sol-gel method followed by ceria coating through a precipitation. The large particles are removed using a sedimentation-fractionation procedure and a magnetic homogeneous colloidal suspension of ceria-modified iron oxide-silica is produced for microextraction.

Exploring the potential of biobeds for the depuration of pesticide-contaminated wastewaters from the citrus production chain: laboratory, column and field studies.

The high wastewater volumes produced during citrus production at pre- and post-harvest level presents serious pesticide point-source pollution for groundwater bodies. Biobeds are used for preventing such point-source pollution occurring at farm level. We explored the potential of biobeds for the depuration of wastewaters produced through the citrus production chain following a lab-to-field experimentation.