The impact of an online educational game on breast cancer awareness among university female students, Malaysia: a pilot study.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the world's most prevalent cancer and the most common type of cancer in Malaysia. Interestingly, breast cancer in young women is more aggressive compared to older women and the survival rate among these groups of individuals is poor. Thus, breast cancer awareness is essential among young women as early detection is possible and treatment will be effective during which the disease is curable.

Identification of 22 novel BTK gene variants in B cell deficiency with hypogammaglobulinemia.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an inborn error of immunity caused by pathogenic variants in the BTK gene, resulting in impaired B cell differentiation and maturation. Over 900 variants have already been described in this gene, however, new pathogenic variants continue to be identified. In this report, we describe 22 novel variants in BTK, associated with B cell deficiency with hypo- or agammaglobulinemia in male patients or in asymptomatic female carriers.

Xeno-free cryopreservation of adherent retinal pigmented epithelium yields viable and functional cells in vitro and in vivo.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of blindness in adults over 60 years of age, and clinical trials are currently assessing the therapeutic potential of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cell monolayers on implantable scaffolds to treat this disease. However, challenges related to the culture, long-term storage, and long-distance transport of such implants currently limit the widespread use of adherent RPE cells as therapeutics. Here we report a xeno-free protocol to cryopreserve a confluent monolayer of clinical-grade, human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE cells on a parylene scaffold (REPS) that yields viable, polarized, and functional RPE cells post-thaw.

Characterization of High-Ornithine-Producing DB1 Isolated from Kimchi and Its Application in Rice Bran Fermentation as a Starter Culture.

High-ornithine-producing DB1 were isolated from kimchi. Ornithine is produced from arginine via the intracellular arginine deiminase pathway in microorganisms; thus, high cell growth is important for producing ornithine in large quantities. In this study, excellent DB1 growth (A: 5.

Anterior Segment Parameters of Filipino-Americans Compared to Chinese-Americans and Caucasian Americans Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: We compare anterior segment characteristics of Filipino- versus Chinese- and Caucasian-Americans to describe the differences in risk factors among each ethnic group.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Filipino, Chinese, and Caucasian subjects without glaucoma who underwent a standardized set of ocular examinations and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (Visante ASOCT) imaging. Zhongshan Angle Assessment Program (ZAAP) 4 was used for ASOCT image analysis.

Ocular Gossypiboma: Ultrasound B-Scan Assessment of Retained Surgical Sponge After Ahmed Valve Surgery: A Case Report.

Purpose Of The Study: To present the first documented case of an ocular gossypiboma (retained foreign body) of a mitomycin-C-soaked sponge confirmed echographically using diagnostic ultrasound B-scan after Ahmed valve surgery.

Patients And Methods: A patient who underwent phacoemulsification with Ahmed valve implantation surgery had a retained Weck-Cels sponge soaked with mitomycin-C. With the use of ocular ultrasound B-scan, the retained sponge was localized and a second procedure was performed to explant it.

Bacteria isolated from bats inhibit the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of white-nose syndrome.

Emerging infectious diseases are a key threat to wildlife. Several fungal skin pathogens have recently emerged and caused widespread mortality in several vertebrate groups, including amphibians, bats, rattlesnakes and humans. White-nose syndrome, caused by the fungal skin pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, threatens several hibernating bat species with extinction and there are few effective treatment strategies.

Open-angle glaucoma in Filipino and white Americans: a comparative study.

Background: To compare the frequency of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) subtypes between Filipino and white Americans in a general ophthalmology clinic population.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional epidemiologic study with prospective sampling, medical charts of 1113 patients aged 40 years or older (513 Filipinos, 600 whites) seen in 2008 were randomly sampled from 2 private comprehensive ophthalmology clinics. Glaucoma was diagnosed based on optic nerve appearance, visual field defects, and other ocular findings using the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO) scheme.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy in Filipino vs Caucasian Americans: a retrospective cross-sectional epidemiologic study of two convenience samples.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Filipino and Caucasian Americans in two clinic populations.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional epidemiologic study of two convenience samples.

Participants And Setting: Five hundred twelve Filipino and 600 Caucasian patients aged 40 years or older examined by two community-based comprehensive ophthalmology clinics during a one-year period.

Optical coherence tomography and histologic measurements of nerve fiber layer thickness in normal and glaucomatous monkey eyes.

Purpose: To investigate optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness change associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) over a period of time, and to compare in vivo OCT RNFL thickness measurements with morphologic measurements of the same tissues.

Methods: One eye of each of 12 cynomolgus monkeys was treated with argon laser to the anterior chamber angle to induce elevated IOP. OCT measurements were made weekly in the treated and the contralateral eyes of each monkey for 14 weeks after the laser insult.

Evaluation of focal defects of the nerve fiber layer using optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To analyze glaucomatous eyes with known focal defects of the nerve fiber layer (NFL), relating optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings to clinical examination, NFL and stereoscopic optic nerve head (ONH) photography, and Humphrey 24-2 visual fields.

Design: Cross-sectional prevalence study.

Participants: The authors followed 19 patients in the study group and 14 patients in the control group.

Topography of diabetic macular edema with optical coherence tomography.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a protocol to screen and monitor patients with diabetic macular thickening using optical coherence tomography (OCT), a technique for high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of the retina.

Design: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted.

Participants: A total of 182 eyes of 107 patients with diabetic retinopathy, 55 eyes from 31 patients with diabetes but no ophthalmoscopic evidence of retinopathy, and 73 eyes from 41 healthy volunteers were studied.

A comparison of retinal morphology viewed by optical coherence tomography and by light microscopy.

Objective: To compare the cross-sectional images of primate retinal morphology obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with light microscopy to determine the retinal components represented in OCT images.

Methods: Laser pulses were delivered to the retina to create small marker lesions in a Macaca mulatta. These lesions were used to align in vivo OCT scans and ex vivum histologic cross sections for image comparison.

Assessing atherosclerotic plaque morphology: comparison of optical coherence tomography and high frequency intravascular ultrasound.

Background: OCT can image plaque microstructure at a level of resolution not previously demonstrated with other imaging techniques because it uses infrared light rather than acoustic waves.

Objectives: To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging of in vitro atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: Segments of abdominal aorta were obtained immediately before postmortem examination.

Argon laser retinal lesions evaluated in vivo by optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To assess the in vivo evolution of argon laser retinal lesions by correlating the cross-sectional structure from sequential optical coherence tomography with histopathologic sectioning.

Methods: Argon laser lesions were created in the retinas of Macaca mulatta and evaluated by cross-section optical coherence tomography, which was compared at selected time points with corresponding histopathology.

Results: Argon laser lesions induced an optical coherence tomography pattern of early outer retinal relative high reflectivity with subsequent surrounding relative low reflectivity that correlated well with histopathologic findings.

Characterization of epiretinal membranes using optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To evaluate optical coherence tomography (OCT), a novel noncontact and noninvasive imaging technique, for the diagnosis and quantitative characterization of epiretinal membranes.

Methods: Optical coherence tomography is similar to an ultrasound B-scan, except that light rather than sound is used, which enables higher resolution. Over a 2-year period, OCT was used to examine 186 eyes of 160 patients who had a diagnosis of an epiretinal membrane.

Inherited complement C3 deficiency: reduced C3 mRNA and protein levels in a Laotian kindred.

To determine the molecular basis of complement C3 deficiency in a Laotian kindred, the homozygous C3-deficient male propositus was studied. By ELISA, this individual's serum was determined to contain approximately 4 microg/ml C3 (0.3% of normal).