Complex immunogenicity assessment in caplacizumab-treated patients with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura who have received plasma exchange.

Background: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines for immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) treatment recommend concurrent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), immunosuppressive therapy (IST), and caplacizumab. TPE can complicate antidrug antibody (ADA) measurements by transferring pre-existing antibodies (pre-Abs) into patients via donor plasma and/or diluting treatment-emergent (TE) ADAs.

Objectives: To assess the presence of ADAs in patients with iTTP who received caplacizumab.

Research about eye health and eye health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review.

Background: We aimed to summarise the extent and nature of published research about eye health and eye health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories since 1980.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, Global Health and Cochrane Library to identify publications about eye health and eye health services in 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories from 1 January 1980 to 26 January 2024. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently.

Outcomes and Costs in Patients with Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Receiving Front-Line Versus Delayed Caplacizumab: A US Hospital Database Study.

European real-world data indicate that front-line treatment with caplacizumab is associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with delayed caplacizumab treatment. The objective of the study was to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in hospitalized patients with an immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) episode treated with front-line versus delayed caplacizumab in the US. This retrospective cohort analysis of a US hospital database included adult patients (≥18 years) with an acute iTTP episode (a diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy and ≥1 therapeutic plasma exchange [TPE] procedure) from January 21, 2019, to February 28, 2021.

Artificial intelligence-supported diabetic retinopathy screening in Tanzania: rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Globally, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to see the largest proportionate increase in the number of people living with diabetes over the next two decades. Screening for DR is recommended to prevent sight loss; however, in many low and middle-income countries, because of a lack of specialist eye care staff, current screening services for DR are not optimal.

Occurrence and Treatment of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Present in Surface Water.

According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the main threats to global health. The excessive use of several antibiotics has led to the widespread distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in various environment matrices, including surface water. In this study, total coliforms, and enterococci, as well as total coliforms and resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ampicillin, streptomycin, and imipenem, were monitored in several surface water sampling events.

Cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence and causes of vision impairment in Northwest Portugal using capture-recapture.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and causes of vision impairment (VI) in Portugal.

Setting: Information about people with VI was obtained from primary care centres, blind association (ACAPO) and from hospitals (the PCVIP study) in the Northwest of Portugal during a period spanning years 2014-2015. Causes of VI were obtained from hospitals.

Differentiating stages of functional vision loss from glaucoma using the Disc Damage Likelihood Scale and cup:disc ratio.

Background: Glaucoma staging is critical for treatment planning but has rarely been tested in severe/end-stage disease. We compared the performance of the Disc Damage Likelihood Scale (DDLS) and cup:disc ratio (CDR) using a functional glaucoma staging system (GSS) as the reference standard.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial at the Eye Department of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania.

Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Antidepressant Effects in a Marine Photosynthetic Organism: The Diatom as a Case Study.

The increased use of antidepressants, along with their increased occurrence in aquatic environments, is of concern for marine organisms. Although these pharmaceutical compounds have been shown to negatively affect marine diatoms, their mode of action in these non-target, single-cell phototrophic organisms is yet unknown. Using a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR-MS) we evaluated the effects of fluoxetine in the metabolomics of the model diatom , as well as the potential use of the identified metabolites as exposure biomarkers.

Performance and Resource Requirements of In-Person, Voice Call, and Automated Telephone-Based Socioeconomic Data Collection Modalities for Community-Based Health Programs: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Gathering data on socioeconomic status (SES) is a prerequisite for health programs that aim to improve equity. There is a lack of evidence on which approaches offer the best combination of reliability, cost, and acceptability.

Objective: To compare the performance of different approaches to gathering data on SES in community health programs.

The Basic VRS-Effect Study: Clinical Trial Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Low Vision Rehabilitation in Portugal.

Introduction: The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the clinical impact of vision rehabilitation in patients with vision impairment and (2) to investigate the cost-effectiveness of a basic vision rehabilitation service in Portugal.

Methods: The trial recruited patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy (DR) and visual acuity in the range 0.4-1.

A Study on Biofouling and Cleaning of Anion Exchange Membranes for Reverse Electrodialysis.

This study covers the modification, (bio)fouling characterization, use, and cleaning of commercial heterogeneous anion exchange membranes (AEMs) to evaluate their feasibility for reverse electrodialysis (RED) applications. A surface modification with poly (acrylic) acid resulted in an improved monovalent perm-selectivity (decreased sulfate membrane transport rate). Moreover, we evaluated the (bio)fouling potential of the membrane using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS), and Aeromonas hydrophila as model organic foulants and a biofoulant, respectively.

Performance and resource requirements of in-person versus voice call versus automated telephone-based socioeconomic data collection modalities for community-based health programmes: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Gathering data on socioeconomic status (SES) is a prerequisite for any health programme that aims to assess and improve the equitable distribution of its outcomes. Many different modalities can be used to collect SES data, ranging from (1) face-to-face elicitation, to (2) telephone-administered questionnaires, to (3) automated text message-based systems. The relative costs and perceived benefits to patients and providers of these different data collection approaches is unknown.

Trends, geographical variation and factors associated with the use of anti-VEGF intravitreal injections in Portugal (2013-2018): a retrospective analysis of administrative data.

Aims: The arrival of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies represented a treatment shift for several ophthalmological disorders and led to an increasing number of patients undergoing intravitreal injections. The aims of this observational study were to assess the expansion of anti-VEGF intravitreal injections in the Portuguese National Health System (NHS) and to identify factors correlated with geographical variations in episode rates.

Methods: Administrative database on discharge from Portuguese NHS hospitals was analysed for annual values and rates of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at a national and regional level, between 2013 and 2018.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contacts Modulate Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Signaling and Oxidative Stress in Brain Disorders: The Key Role of Sigma-1 Receptor.

Mitochondria-Associated Membranes (MAMs) are highly dynamic endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites that, due to the transfer of lipids and Ca between these organelles, modulate several physiologic processes, such as ER stress response, mitochondrial bioenergetics and fission/fusion events, autophagy, and inflammation. In addition, these contacts are implicated in the modulation of the cellular redox status since several MAMs-resident proteins are involved in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can act as both signaling mediators and deleterious molecules, depending on their intracellular levels. In the past few years, structural and functional alterations of MAMs have been associated with the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases that are closely associated with the impairment of several MAMs-associated events, including perturbation of the redox state on the accumulation of high ROS levels.

Malignancy risk of thyroid nodules: quality assessment of the thyroid ultrasound report.

Background: Thyroid nodules are a challenge in clinical practice and thyroid ultrasonography is essential for assessing the risk of malignancy. The use of ultrasound-based malignancy risk classification systems has been recommended by several scientific societies but radiologist's adherence to these guidelines may vary. The authors aimed to analyze the quality of the information provided by the thyroid ultrasound report, to assess the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules, in Portugal.

The economics of vision impairment and its leading causes: A systematic review.

Vision impairment (VI) can have wide ranging economic impact on individuals, households, and health systems. The aim of this systematic review was to describe and summarise the costs associated with VI and its major causes. We searched MEDLINE (16 November 2019), National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the Health Technology Assessment database (12 December 2019) for partial or full economic evaluation studies, published between 1 January 2000 and the search dates, reporting cost data for participants with VI due to an unspecified cause or one of the seven leading causes globally: cataract, uncorrected refractive error, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacity, trachoma.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty versus 0·5% timolol eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma in Tanzania: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Glaucoma is a major cause of sight loss worldwide, with the highest regional prevalence and incidence reported in Africa. The most common low-cost treatment used to control glaucoma is long-term timolol eye drops. However, low adherence is a major challenge.