Reduction in Chronic Disease Risk and Burden in a 70-Individual Cohort Through Modification of Health Behaviors.

Introduction Health risk factors, including lifestyle risks and health literacy, are known to contribute to the chronic disease epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases account for 90% of healthcare costs, morbidity, and mortality. In the United States, healthcare providers attempt to modulate a limited set of risks.

It's Never Too Early or Too Late-End the Epidemic of Alzheimer's by Preventing or Reversing Causation From Pre-birth to Death.

The path to sporadic Alzheimer's is a tragic journey beginning prior to birth and ending in the most dreaded disease of society. Along the disease path are a myriad of clues that portend AD, many of which are complaints of seemingly unrelated conditions from chronic migraines, mood disorders, eye diseases, metabolic syndromes, periodontal diseases, hormonal and autoimmune diseases. Properly treating, not just managing, these diseases, prior to onset of dementia, may significantly reduce dementia incidences.

Comparison of image-assisted versus traditional fundus examination.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of image-assisted fundus examination to detect retinal lesions compared with traditional fundus examination.

Methods: Subjects were imaged using a nonmydriatic ultrawide field scanning laser ophthalmoscope. After imaging, subjects underwent both a traditional and an image-assisted fundus examination, in random order.

Retinal abnormalities in early Alzheimer's disease.

Purpose: There is evidence suggesting that visual disturbances in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are due to pathologic changes in the retina and optic nerve, as well as to higher cortical impairment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retinal hemodynamic parameters and to characterize patterns of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in patients with early AD.

Methods: Nine patients with mild to moderate probable AD (mean Mini Mental State Examination score 24 of a possible 30 (age 74.

Association between systemic arterial stiffness and age-related macular degeneration.

Background: A number of epidemiological studies suggest that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease share the same risk factors. Systemic arterial stiffness is a clear indicator of cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether there is an association between directly measured systemic arterial stiffness and the presence of AMD.

Genomic investigations of posterior uveal melanoma.

The specific genetic mechanisms responsible for the malignant behavior of uveal melanoma are not known. Unlike cutaneous melanoma, epidemiologic studies have not demonstrated a definitive germline form of uveal melanoma, though familial melanoma and racial predilections occur. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of uveal melanoma suggests that somatic deletions of chromosome 3 are associated with a worse prognosis.

OCT measurements in patients with optic disc edema.

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of disc edema (DE) caused by inflammatory optic neuropathies or retinal vein occlusions on optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements.

Methods: OCT RNFL circle scans centered on the optic disc were made for 13 patients with DE (7 with retinal vein occlusions and 6 with inflammatory optic neuropathies) and 13 controls. RNFL thickness was assessed using the OCT normative database.

Grading of infrared confocal scanning laser tomography and video displays of digitized color slides in exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To detect and localize exudative lesions in exudative age-related macular degeneration and to compare images obtained from infrared scanning laser tomography and video displays of digitized color slides in detection and localization of exudation.

Methods: In a prospective study, 11 eyes of 11 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration were studied. From 32 images with infrared scanning laser tomography, confocal images were chosen in the following focal planes: anterior to the retina, the retinal surface, and the deep retina.