Digital Mammography, Tomosynthesis, and Contrast-Enhanced Mammography: Intraindividual Comparison of Mean Glandular Dose for Screening Examinations.

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is growing in clinical use due to its increased sensitivity and specificity compared to full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and/or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), particularly in patients with dense breasts. To perform an intraindividual comparison of MGD between FFDM, DBT, a combination protocol using both FFDM and DBT (combined FFDM-DBT), and CEM, in patients undergoing breast cancer screening. This retrospective study included 389 women (median age, 57.

Retinal Dystrophy Associated with Homozygous Variants in .

: Neural retina leucine zipper (NRL) is a transcription factor involved in the differentiation of rod photoreceptors. Pathogenic variants in the gene encoding NRL have been associated with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and autosomal recessive clumped pigmentary retinal degeneration. Only a dozen unrelated families affected by recessive -related retinal dystrophy have been described.

Rescue of Aberrant Splicing Caused by a Novel Complex Deep-intronic Allele.

Stargardt disease (STGD1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by pathogenic variants in that affects the retina and is characterised by progressive central vision loss. The onset of disease manifestations varies from childhood to early adulthood. Whole exome (WES), whole gene, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed for a patient with STGD1.

Photoinduced Rayleigh Light Scattering by Hyperbranched Poly(phenylene sulfide) Solutions: A Model for a Light Scattering Switch.

Unusual photophysical and scattering behavior is described for hyperbranched poly(phenylene sulfide) materials. These materials show interactions between the π systems of the aromatic monomer units in both ground and excited states, resulting in broad ranges for absorption and emission of light. The materials also display unusual scattering behavior; this is attributed to enhanced scattering by delocalized excited states resulting from the monomer unit interactions.

The Effect of High-Dose Erythropoietin Perinatally on Retinal Function in School-Aged Children Born Extremely or Very Preterm.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term effects of high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) administered during the perinatal period on retinal and visual function in children born extremely or very preterm.

Design: Randomized, double-blind clinical trial follow-up plus cohort study.

Methods:  Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Climate impacts of landfill gas emissions: Analysis for 20-year and 100-year time horizons.

Climate impacts of landfill gas emissions were investigated for 20- and 100-year time horizons to identify the effects of atmospheric lifetimes of short- and long-lived drivers. Direct and indirect climate impacts were determined for methane and 79 trace species. The impacts were quantified using global warming potential, GWP (direct and indirect); atmospheric degradation (direct); tropospheric ozone forming potential (indirect); secondary aerosol forming potential (indirect) and stratospheric ozone depleting potential (indirect).

The Effect of Perinatal High-Dose Erythropoietin on Retinal Structural and Vascular Characteristics in Children Born Preterm.

Purpose: To study the long-term effects of perinatal high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on macular structural and vascular development in preterm children.

Design: Randomized, double-blind clinical trial follow-up plus cohort study.

Methods: Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Flicker electroretinogram in preterm infants.

Background: Infants born prematurely are at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity, which is associated with abnormalities in retinal function as measured using electroretinography. The aim of this study was to record non-invasive flicker electroretinograms (ERGs) in preterm infants and compare function of moderate and very or extremely preterm infants.

Methods: In this non-randomized, cross-sectional study, 40 moderate preterm (gestational age (GA) 34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks, Group A) and 40 very or extremely preterm infants (GA ≤ 31 weeks, Group B) were recruited for flicker ERG recording through closed eyelids using the RETeval® device and skin electrodes.

Visual outcome measures in pediatric myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) comprises various age-dependent clinical phenotypes and may be monophasic, multiphasic, or chronic. Optic neuritis (ON) is a common manifestation and frequently appears in combination with other MOGAD phenotypes, particularly in young children. Despite permanent structural damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), children often experience complete visual recovery.

Vitamin A deficiency retinopathy related to medical interventions in a Swiss cohort: a case series.

Aims Of The Study: Vitamin A deficiency retinopathy is a potentially blinding disease. In developed countries, vitamin A deficiency due to malnutrition is rare. However, vitamin A deficiency can be caused by malabsorption resulting from bowel resection or medication.

Disaster reconnaissance framework for sustainable post-disaster materials management.

A first foundational assessment is provided for disaster debris reconnaissance that includes identifying tools and techniques for reconnaissance activities, identifying challenges in field reconnaissance, and identifying and developing preliminary guidelines and standards based on advancements from a workshop held in 2022. In this workshop, reconnaissance activities were analyzed in twofold: in relation to post-disaster debris and waste materials and in relation to waste management infrastructure. A four-phase timeline was included to capture the full lifecycle of management activities ranging from collection to temporary storage to final management route: pre-disaster or pre-reconnaissance, post-disaster response (days/weeks), short-term recovery (weeks/months), and long-term recovery (months/years).

Functional and Morphological Characteristics of the Retina of Patients with Drusen-like Deposits and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated with Hydroxychloroquine: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of drusen-like deposits (DLD) on retinal layer integrity and retinal function by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We identified 66 eyes of 33 SLE patients treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) that were categorized into two groups according to whether DLDs were present (34 eyes, Group One) or absent (32 eyes, Group Two). The groups were matched for age, sex, HCQ treatment duration, daily, and cumulative dosage.

RAPID ONSET HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TOXICITY.

Purpose: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can cause irreversible damage to the retina, especially when taken over longer periods. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a regimen for dosing, screening, and monitoring of patients treated with HCQ. We present an unusual case of a rapid development of severe HCQ-associated retinopathy already after 2 years after commencing HCQ treatment.

Application of cavity ring-down spectroscopy and a novel near surface Gaussian plume estimation approach to inverse model landfill methane emissions.

Fugitive methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills impact global climate change and reliable emissions quantification is of increasing importance. Ground-based cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS) measurements were used to determine methane concentrations and isotopic compositions of carbon in CH. Then, CH oxidation through various cover materials was assessed using the Keeling plot method.

Assessment of methane emissions from a California landfill using concurrent experimental, inventory, and modeling approaches.

Methane flux and emissions were obtained at a California landfill concurrently using field measurements, inventory analyses, and modeling. Measured fluxes ranged from -3.7 to 828 g/m-day and generally decreased from daily to intermediate to final covers.

Flicker electroretinogram in newborn infants.

Purpose: To develop and validate a flicker electroretinogram (ERG) protocol in term-born neonates as a potential tool for assessing preterm infants at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity.

Methods: A custom flicker ERG protocol was developed for use with the hand-held RETeval® electrophysiology device. Feasibility of measuring flicker ERG through closed eyelids and without mydriasis was established in a pilot study enabling optimisation of the test protocol.

Initial Experience with a COVID-19 Screening Chatbot Before Radiology Appointments.

Guidelines for COVID-19 issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prompted state and local governments to mandate safety measures for screening high-risk patient populations and for institutions to look for ways to limit human contact when possible. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of an automated communication system (chatbot) for COVID-19 screening before patients' radiology appointments and to describe patient experiences with the chatbot. We developed a chatbot for COVID-19 screening before outpatient radiology examination appointments and tested it in a pilot study from July 6 to August 31, 2020.

Multisystem involvement, defective lysosomes and impaired autophagy in a novel rat model of nephropathic cystinosis.

Recessive mutations in the CTNS gene encoding the lysosomal transporter cystinosin cause cystinosis, a lysosomal storage disease leading to kidney failure and multisystem manifestations. A Ctns knockout mouse model recapitulates features of cystinosis, but the delayed onset of kidney manifestations, phenotype variability and strain effects limit its use for mechanistic and drug development studies. To provide a better model for cystinosis, we generated a Ctns knockout rat model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

A three-year longitudinal study of retinal function and structure in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Researchers have in recent years begun to investigate ophthalmological manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS) other than optic neuritis (ON), and it is now clear that changes to retinal function (measured using the electroretinogram, ERG) and structure (measured using optical coherence tomography, OCT) are found in MS patients irrespective of prior ON episodes. ERG results are consistent with dysfunctional bipolar cells, as in other autoimmune diseases. To date, studies have presented only cross-sectional data regarding ERG and OCT.

Long-Range PCR-Based NGS Applications to Diagnose Mendelian Retinal Diseases.

The purpose of this study was to develop a flexible, cost-efficient, next-generation sequencing (NGS) protocol for genetic testing. Long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of up to 20 kb in size were designed to amplify entire genomic regions for a panel ( = 35) of inherited retinal disease (IRD)-associated loci. Amplicons were pooled and sequenced by NGS.

Assessment of Regional Methane Emission Inventories through Airborne Quantification in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This study derives methane emission rates from 92 airborne observations collected over 23 facilities including 5 refineries, 10 landfills, 4 wastewater treatment plants (POTWs), 2 composting operations, and 2 dairies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Emission rates are measured using an airborne mass-balance technique from a low-flying aircraft. Annual measurement-based sectorwide methane emissions are 19,000 ± 2300 Mg for refineries, 136,700 ± 25,900 Mg for landfills, 11,900 ± 1,500 Mg for POTWs, and 11,100 ± 3,400 Mg for composting.