Lowering the transmission and spread of human coronavirus.

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has created an unprecedented healthcare, social, and economic disaster. Wearing of masks and social distancing can significantly decrease transmission and spread, however, due to circumstances such as medical or dental intervention and personal choice these practices have not been universally adopted. Additional strategies are required to lessen transmission.

Comparison of Factors Identified by Patients and Physicians Associated with Hospital Readmission (COMPARE2).

Objective: Factors contributing to hospital readmission have rarely been sought from the patient perspective. Furthermore, it is unclear how patients and physicians compare in identifying factors contributing to readmission. The objective of the study was to identify and compare factors contributing to hospital readmission identified by patients and physicians by surveying participants upon hospital readmission to a teaching medicine service.

Are Patients Frequently Readmitted to the Hospital Different from the Other Admitted Patients?

Introduction: Although the characteristics of readmitted patients associated with a family medicine inpatient service have been reported, differing characteristics between groups of patients based on readmission rates have not been studied. The aim of this project was to examine patients with differing rates of readmission.

Methods: Patients admitted to a family medicine inpatient service were classified into 1 of 3 groups based on the number of admission and readmissions in a given year.

Parent attitudes toward resident involvement in their child's strabismus surgery.

Purpose: To explore patterns in parents' understanding and preferences related to ophthalmology resident participation in their child's strabismus surgery.

Methods: Over a 4-week period, a survey was distributed at a suburban, academic eye center to English-speaking parents of children with strabismus who have not previously undergone, or were not being scheduled for, strabismus surgery.

Results: All of the 64 eligible parents participated in the survey.

Impaired Retinal Vasoreactivity: An Early Marker of Stroke Risk in Diabetes.

Diabetes is a common cause of small vessel disease leading to stroke and vascular dementia. While the function and structure of large cerebral vessels can be easily studied, the brain's microvasculature remains difficult to assess. Previous studies have demonstrated that structural changes in the retinal vessel architecture predict stroke risk, but these changes occur at late disease stages.

Fundamentals of Fluorescein Angiography.

In order to provide safe patient care during fluorescein angiography, it is critical that ophthalmic team members understand the use of fluorescein for diagnosing eye-related diseases and conditions, including appropriate doses for adult and pediatric patients. Awareness of side effects, adverse reactions, and complications of the contrast agent allow the ophthalmic health-care team to anticipate, respond quickly, and support the patient during and following the angiographic procedure using fluorescein.

Exercise in Pregnancy: A Clinical Review.

Context: Health professionals who care for pregnant women should discuss potential health benefits and harms of exercise. Although most pregnant women do not meet minimal exercise recommendations, there are a growing number of physically active women who wish to continue training throughout pregnancy.

Evidence Acquisition: A search of the Web of Science database of articles and reviews available in English through 2014.

Impaired coronary and retinal vasomotor function to hyperoxia in Individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Adults with diabetes are at a high risk of developing coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study was to assess coronary artery vascular function non-invasively in individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes and to compare these coronary responses to another microvascular bed (i.e.

Effect of doxycycline vs placebo on retinal function and diabetic retinopathy progression in mild to moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized proof-of-concept clinical trial.

Importance: Microglia have been associated with inflammatory changes underlying diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To investigate whether low-dose oral doxycycline monohydrate, a drug capable of inhibiting microglial activation, can improve or slow the deterioration of retinal function and whether it can induce regression or slow progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with mild to moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).

Design, Setting, And Participants: Randomized, double-masked, 24-month proof-of-concept clinical trial.

Twelve-month natural history of dark adaptation in patients with AMD.

Purpose: A sensitive endpoint is required for clinical trials evaluating preventative therapies for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Dark adaptation (DA) is a sensitive marker of AMD and has been proposed as a potential endpoint. This study evaluated whether significant changes in DA speed could be detected in participants with early to intermediate AMD at 12 months following baseline DA measurement.

Effect of doxycycline vs placebo on retinal function and diabetic retinopathy progression in patients with severe nonproliferative or non-high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Objectives: To investigate, in a proof-of-concept clinical trial, whether low-dose oral doxycycline monohydrate can (1) slow the deterioration of, or improve, retinal function or (2) induce regression or slow the progression of DR in patients with severe nonproliferative DR (NPDR) or non-high-risk proliferative (PDR), and to determine the potential usefulness of visual function end points to expedite the feasibility of conducting proof-of-concept clinical trials in patients with DR.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted a randomized, double-masked, 24-month proof-of-concept clinical trial.

Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of dark adaptometry for detection of age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Difficulty with night vision is a common complaint of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Consistent with this complaint, dark adaptation (DA) is substantially impaired in these patients. Because of the severity of the deficit, measurement of DA has been suggested as a means for the diagnosis of AMD.

Impaired retinal vasodilator responses in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: In diabetes, endothelial dysfunction and subsequent structural damage to blood vessels can lead to heart attacks, retinopathy and strokes. However, it is unclear whether prediabetic subjects exhibit microvascular dysfunction indicating early stages of arteriosclerosis and vascular risk. The purpose of this study was to examine whether retinal reactivity may be impaired early in the hyperglycaemic continuum and may be associated with markers of inflammation.

Comparison of retinal vasodilator and constrictor responses in type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: The retinal blood vessels provide a unique way to directly examine the human microvasculature, which is frequently damaged in individuals with diabetes. Previous studies have demonstrated that retinal flickering light-induced vasodilation and hyperoxia-induced vasoconstriction may operate by enhancing or reducing similar vasoregulatory factor(s), but a comparison between these two provocative stimuli in individuals with diabetes has not been studied. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between retinal flickering light-induced vasodilation and retinal hyperoxia-induced vasoconstriction in type 2 diabetic subjects and in healthy controls.

Inner retinal visual dysfunction is a sensitive marker of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Aims: To determine the effect of diabetes on inner and outer retinal function in persons with diabetes and no clinically detectable retinopathy or with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).

Methods: Visual function was assessed in 18 adults with normal retinal health, 23 adults with diabetes and 35 adults with NPDR and normal visual acuity. Contrast sensitivity and frequency doubling technology (FDT) sensitivity were used to assess ganglion cell function.

Crystal arthropathies: recognizing and treating "the gouch".

Gout is a common disease and the prevalence is increasing. Chronic hyperuricemia (uric acid serum levels >6.8 mg/dL) is a key feature.