Optical coherence tomography of the macular ganglion cell layer in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 is a useful tool in the assessment for optic pathway gliomas.

Background: Optic pathway glioma (OPG) is a feared complication to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) since it can cause visual impairment in young children. The main goal of screening is to detect symptomatic OPGs that require treatment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been suggested as a tool for detection of neuro-retinal damage.

Optical Coherence Tomography Identifies Visual Pathway Involvement Earlier than Visual Function Tests in Children with MRI-Verified Optic Pathway Gliomas.

Unlabelled: This study investigates whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) could add useful information in the examination of children with optic pathway glioma (OPG) at high risk of developing vision loss. For this purpose, the relationship between ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness and visual function, evaluated with tests of visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF), as well as tumor site according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were examined in a geographically defined group of children with OPG.

Methods: Children aged <18 years with OPG underwent ophthalmic examination including VA, VF (Zeiss HFA perimetry) and OCT imaging (Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT).

Opposition-Based Memetic Algorithm and Hybrid Approach for Sorting Permutations by Reversals.

Sorting unsigned permutations by reversals is a difficult problem; indeed, it was proved to be -hard by Caprara ( 1997 ). Because of its high complexity, many approximation algorithms to compute the minimal reversal distance were proposed until reaching the nowadays best-known theoretical ratio of 1.375.

Proximity to mining industry and respiratory diseases in children in a community in Northern Chile: A cross-sectional study.

Background: In a community in northern Chile, explosive procedures are used by two local industrial mines (gold, copper). We hypothesized that the prevalence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in the community may be associated with air pollution emissions generated by the mines.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 288 children (aged 6-15 years) was conducted in a community in northern Chile using a validated questionnaire in 2009.

Mercury and neuromotor function among children in a rural town in Chile.

Background: Mercury (Hg) exposure from artisanal gold mining has adverse effects on the neuromotor function in adults. However, few studies have examined this relationship in children.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of Hg exposure on children's neuromotor function.

Working Conditions, Workplace Violence, and Psychological Distress in Andean Miners: A Cross-sectional Study Across Three Countries.

Background: Psychosocial working conditions are well-known determinants of poor mental health. However, studies in mining populations where employment and working conditions are frequently precarious have, to our knowledge, only focused on occupational accidents and diseases.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess psychosocial working conditions and psychological distress in Andean underground miners.

Risk factors for mercury exposure of children in a rural mining town in northern Chile.

Objective: Traditional gold mining is associated with mercury exposure. Especially vulnerable to its neurotoxic effects is the developing nervous system of a child. We aimed to investigate risk factors of mercury exposure among children in a rural mining town in Chile.