Development and Validation of the Life for Low Vision Questionnaire (LIFE4LVQ) Using Rasch Analysis: A Questionnaire Evaluating Ability and Independence.

Low vision (LV) has a substantial impact on an individual's daily functionality and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly incorporated into the evaluation of this problem. The objective of this study was to describe the design of the new "Life for Low Vision Questionnaire (LIFE4LVQ)", as a measure of daily functionality in LV and to explore its psychometric properties. A total of 294 participants completed the LIFE4LVQ and the data were subjected to Rasch analysis to determine the psychometric properties of the questionnaire, including response category ordering, item fit statistics, principal component analysis, precision, differential item functioning, and targeting.

Helicobacter pylori infection, dementia and primary open-angle glaucoma: are they connected?

Background: The study aims to elucidate the putative association between various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, primary open-angle glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection in all possible combinations.

Methods: We prospectively recruited for the study 156 patients, divided into a dementia group, a glaucoma group and two control groups.

Helicobacter pylori infection and primary open-angle glaucoma: is there a connection?

Glaucoma, the most common form of which is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is a neurodegenerative disease which is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. Among the factors that have been implicated in the pathophysiology of this disease is infection with Helicobacter pylori. This alleged association has caused a great deal of scientific discussion during the past decade, as the establishment of such a correlation might lead to therapeutic applications for all glaucoma patients.

Alzheimer's disease and primary open-angle glaucoma: is there a connection?

Aim: To present, through a thorough literature research, current and older scientific efforts to investigate the putative association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glaucoma, especially primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: We included in our review article epidemiological, experimental and clinical laboratory studies.

Results: While many authors support the existence of a strong correlation between the AD and POAG, based on epidemiological, genetic and immunohistochemical data, others present contradictory results, leaving the issue unresolved.