The Impact of Systemic Inflammation on Recurrence in Patients with Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

/ Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is commonly treated by probing, but recurrence remains a clinical issue. This study investigates the potential role of inflammatory biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in predicting recurrence after probing in children with CNLDO. This retrospective cohort study included 172 patients who underwent initial probing for unilateral CNLDO.

The Relationship Between Hand Abnormalities and Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The link between diabetes mellitus (DM) and pathological conditions of the hand has been previously investigated. Retinopathy is one of the most common microvascular complications of DM. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between hand abnormalities and retinopathy in patients with type 2 DM.

Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness and Retinal Vessel Density with Serum HIF-1α and TNF-α Level in Patients with OSAS.

Purpose: To reveal changes in choroidal thickness, retinal vessel density, and serum HIF-1α and TNF-α levels in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and their correlation.

Methods: This prospective case-control study included 118 patients divided into mild-to-moderate OSAS ( = 40), severe OSAS ( = 39), and a control group ( = 39). Choroidal thickness was evaluated with OCT, vessel density with OCTA, AHI index with polysomnography, and serum HIF-1α and TNF-α levels were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

In vitro assessment of newer colistin-sparing antimicrobial agents for clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant organisms.

Objectives: Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) are a significant public health threat globally, particularly in countries like India with high antibiotic resistance rates. The current study investigates the prevalence of CROs, detects resistance mechanisms using phenotypic methods and assesses the efficacy of newer antibiotics against CROs.

Methods: A prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India during 2021-23.

The acute effects of single cup of coffee on ocular biometric parameters in healthy subjects.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular biometric changes in healthy subjects after caffeine consumption from a cup of coffee.

Methods: A total of 36 subjects were included in this prospective observational study. Axial length (AL) and anterior segment parameters including aqueous depth (AD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured with optic biometry, Lenstar LS 900 (Haag-Streit, Inc.

The Place of Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Objective: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an increasingly used new method that investigates changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in neurodegenerative diseases. It provides high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues. This study aimed to investigate the structural changes in RNFL in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using OCT and to investigate the possible effects of retinal function on the etiopathogenesis of OCD.

Technical note: Accelerometer-based recording of heavy breathing in lactating and dry cows as an automated measure of heat load.

Monitoring thermal status using a reliable, practical method is essential for proper cattle management during periods of high heat load. Our objective was to determine whether accelerometer-based tags, which measure heavy breathing and other behaviors on a minute-by-minute basis, accurately reflect thermal status. We hypothesized that the tags would mirror core body temperature as recorded by continuous intravaginal loggers, and that response to a cooling intervention would also be captured.

Influence of hyperopia and amblyopia on choroidal thickness in children.

Purpose: To compare subfoveal choroidal thicknesses (ChTs) of anisometropic hyperopic amblyopic, hyperopic nonamblyopic, and emmetropic control eyes and to investigate the associations between ChT and ambylopia, spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length in the pediatric population.

Methods: Forty-six hyperopic nonamblyopic (hyperopic group), 33 anisometropic hyperopic amblyopic (amblyopic group), and 42 emmetropic (emmetropic group) eyes were enrolled in this cross-sectional comparative study. Enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used for quantitative analysis of subfoveal ChT.

Seasonal and parity effects on ghrelin levels throughout the estrous cycle in dairy cows.

In dairy cows, heat stress depresses appetite, leading to decreased food intake, a negative energy balance, and modifies ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is a gut-brain peptide with two major forms: acylated, with an O-n-octanoylated serine in position 3, and nonacylated. To date, the effect of heat stress and estrous cycle on ghrelin secretion in dairy cows has not been studied.

Non-visualisation of strings after postplacental insertion of Copper-T 380A intrauterine device.

Aim: To assess the incidence of visible strings of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) after postplacental insertion following vaginal or caesarean delivery and to establish a management protocol of follow-up visits when strings are not visualised.

Methods: This was a prospective study of a cohort of 348 women who underwent postplacental insertion of Copper-T 380A IUDs following vaginal or caesarean delivery, conducted at a hospital in New Delhi, India. Women were followed up at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after IUD insertion and were questioned about IUD expulsion or removal at each visit.

Associations between choroidal thickness, axial length and spherical equivalent in a paediatric population.

Background: The aim was to compare the choroidal thickness (ChT) of myopic children's eyes with that of emmetropes to determine whether there are associations between ChT, axial length and spherical equivalent (SE) in a paediatric population.

Methods: A total of 117 eyes of 117 children including 53 myopic eyes (myopic group) and 64 emmetropic eyes (emmetropic group) were enrolled in this cross-sectional comparative study. ChT was analysed by using the HD 5 Line Raster scan protocol of spectral domain enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

The effect of cooling management on blood flow to the dominant follicle and estrous cycle length at heat stress.

The use of ultrasound imaging for the examination of reproductive organs has contributed substantially to the fertility management of dairy cows around the world. This method has many advantages such as noninvasiveness and immediate availability of information. Adding Doppler index to the ultrasound imaging examination, improved the estimation of blood volume and flow rate to the ovaries in general and to the dominant follicle in particular.

A comparison of THI indices leads to a sensible heat-based heat stress index for shaded cattle that aligns temperature and humidity stress.

The combined temperature-humidity heat stress is estimated in farm animals by indices derived of an index based on human thermal comfort sensation. The latter index consists of temperature and humidity measures that sum to form the temperature-humidity index (THI). The hitherto unknown relative contribution of temperature and humidity to the THI was examined.

Two approaches to improve fertility of subclinical mastitic dairy cows.

Mastitis, particularly in its subclinical form, is a widely spread disease that reduces the fertility of lactating cows. A major cause of poor conception risk has been associated with delayed ovulation of a large subgroup of subclinical mastitic cows. This study examined 2 approaches to improve fertility in this subgroup.

Endocrine alterations associated with extended time interval between estrus and ovulation in high-yield dairy cows.

Short fertile half-lives of the male and female gametes in the female tract necessitate accurate timing of artificial insemination. We examined the possible association between extension of the estrus to ovulation (E-O) interval and alterations in concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and the preovulatory LH surge before estrus and ovulation. High-yielding Holstein cows (n = 74 from a total of 106) were synchronized and were examined around the time of the subsequent estrus.

Follicular dynamics and concentrations of steroids and gonadotropins in lactating cows and nulliparous heifers.

Differences in follicular development and circulating hormone concentrations, between lactating cows and nulliparous heifers, that may relate to differences in fertility between the groups, were examined. Multiparous, cyclic, lactating Holstein cows (n=19) and cyclic heifers (n=20) were examined in the winter, during one estrous cycle. The examinations included ultrasound monitoring and daily blood sampling.

Effects of GnRH administered to cows at the onset of estrus on timing of ovulation, endocrine responses, and conception.

Two experiments examined effects of GnRH administered within 3 h after onset of estrus (OE) on ovulation and conception in dairy cows. In experiment 1, 46 cows received either saline, 250 microg of GnRH, or 10 microg of the GnRH analogue, Buserelin. Cows were observed for estrus, blood samples were collected, and ovulations were monitored by ultrasound.

Seasonal differences in progesterone production by luteinized bovine thecal and granulosa cells.

This study examined seasonal differences in progesterone (P4) production by granulosa cells (GC) and thecal cells (TC) that were luteinized in vitro during the winter or the summer; it also compared plasma P4 concentrations of lactating dairy cows in the two seasons. First-wave dominant follicles obtained from Holstein cows were dissected on day 6 of the cycle, GC and TC were separated, enzymatically dispersed, and cultured for 9 days in media containing 1% fetal calf serum, forskolin (10 micromol/mL) and insulin (2 microg/mL), to induce cell luteinization. All experimental procedures were identical and characteristics of the follicles were similar in the two seasons.

Delayed effect of low progesterone concentrations on bovine uterine PGF(2alpha) secretion in the subsequent oestrous cycle.

Low progesterone concentrations during the bovine oestrous cycle induce enhanced responsiveness to oxytocin challenge late in the luteal phase of the same cycle. The delayed effect of low progesterone concentrations during one oestrous cycle on uterine PGF(2alpha) secretion after oxytocin challenge on day 15 or 16 of the subsequent cycle was studied by measuring the concentrations of the major PGF(2alpha) metabolite (13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF(2alpha); PGFM) in plasma. Two experiments were conducted, differing in the type of progesterone treatment and in the shape of the low progesterone concentration curves.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of psychostimulants for the treatment of fatigue in ambulatory patients with human immunodeficiency virus disease.

Background: Fatigue is a commonly encountered symptom of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, associated with significant psychological and functional morbidity and poor quality of life. Preliminary studies on the treatment of fatigue from the cancer and multiple sclerosis literature suggest that psychostimulants may be effective in reducing fatigue.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 2 psychostimulant medications, methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) and pemoline (Cylert), with a placebo intervention for the treatment of fatigue in patients with HIV disease.

Preovulatory follicular status and diet affect the insulin and glucose content of follicles in high-yielding dairy cows.

Insulin and glucose may be limiting factors for ovarian function in dairy cows genetically selected for high milk yield. The effects of nutrition on the intrafollicular content of insulin and glucose were investigated in Israeli Holstein dairy cattle fed a basic total mixed ration and producing 34-39kg of milk daily. In experiment 1, carried out in 11 oestrus-synchronised cows, little variation in insulin concentration was found in plasma sampled during the luteal phase, but high variation was found in plasma sampled during the follicular phase.

The schedule of attitudes toward hastened death: Measuring desire for death in terminally ill cancer patients.

Background: The authors examined the reliability and validity of the Schedule of Attitudes toward Hastened Death (SAHD), a self-report measure of desire for death previously validated in a population of individuals with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), among terminally ill patients with cancer.

Methods: The authors interviewed 92 terminally ill cancer patients, all with a life expectancy of < 6 months, after admission to a palliative care hospital. Patients were administered the SAHD, a clinician-rated measure of desire for death (the Desire for Death Rating Scale [DDRS]), and several measures of physical and psychosocial well-being.

Clinicians' perceptions of barriers to pain management in AIDS.

A growing body of literature has demonstrated the widespread undertreatment of pain in patients with AIDS. While clinician-related barriers to cancer pain management have been studied, to date there has been no systematic attempt to survey clinician-related barriers to the management of pain in patients with AIDS. We surveyed AIDS health care providers' attitudes towards pain management, as well as their perception of the barriers to adequate pain management in patients with HIV disease.