Oxidative conversion of lignin isolated from wheat straw into aromatic compound catalyzed by NaOH/NaAlO.

Lignin was isolated from wheat straw via organosolv process and further transferred to monophenolic compounds via oxidative conversion. Wheat straw lignin (WSL) with purity at 91.4 wt% was acquired in the presence of heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst of Amberlyst-45.

Factors Affecting Corneal Organ Culture Contamination: A 6-year Study at the New South Wales Tissue Bank.

Purpose: To report the rate of microbial contamination and analyze possible risk factors for contamination of banked corneas stored using the organ culture method.

Methods: Data from the New South Wales Tissue Banks incorporating the Lions NSW Eye Bank, between September 1, 2011, and November 30, 2017, were reviewed retrospectively. All corneas collected during this period and stored in organ culture storage media were tested for microbial contamination.

Musculoskeletal Anatomy Knowledge Retention in the Macquarie University Chiropractic Program: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Attrition of anatomy knowledge has been an area of concern in health professions curricula. To ensure safe and effective clinical practice, the study of chiropractic requires a good knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy. In this study, musculoskeletal limb knowledge retention was investigated among students in the 5-year chiropractic program at Macquarie University, Australia.

The effects of antithrombotic drugs on the recurrence and mortality in patients with chronic subdural hematoma: A meta-analysis.

Objectives: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is a common neurological disorder in elderly and the immediate outcome of surgery is satisfied. The high reoperation rate hinders the long-term effect of surgery and the risk factor is still unclear. Some researchers reported that high recurrence rate is related to the antithrombotic (AT) drugs, which is commonly used to prevent diseases in elderly patients.

Influence of Retinal Pathology on the Reliability of Macular Thickness Measurement: A Comparison Between Optical Coherence Tomography Devices.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the repeatability, reliability, and comparability of macular thickness measurements between three optical coherence tomography (OCT) machines in healthy eyes, eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), and eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-three eyes with DME, 26 eyes with nAMD, and 24 healthy eyes as controls were evaluated. Scans were performed using the swept-source Triton (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), the spectral-domain Cirrus (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), and the Spectralis (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) machines.

Bilateral Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Comparisons between First and Second Eyes.

Purpose: To compare 12-month outcomes and clinical presentations between first and second eyes of patients who developed neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in both eyes and received ranibizumab intravitreal therapy (IVT).

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of 45 patients undergoing IVT for unilateral nAMD who subsequently developed second-eye nAMD. At each visit, both eyes underwent visual acuity (VA) measurement and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Vision-related quality of life: 12-month aflibercept treatment in patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To assess changes in vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) among patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) following intravitreal aflibercept treatment over 48 weeks.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study in which 49 patients with nAMD resistant to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy were switched to intravitreal aflibercept. Patients were treated with three loading doses every 4 weeks followed by injections every 8 weeks, for a total of 48 weeks.

Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Preservative-Free Triamcinolone Acetonide (Triesence) for Macular Edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide (Triesence) for the treatment of macular edema.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who attended a tertiary retinal clinic from June 2009 to July 2012 with macular edema due to various causes. Patients who received at least 1 intravitreal Triesence injection and completed 6 months of follow-up were recruited.

Do Asian women do as well as their Caucasian counterparts in IVF treatment: Cohort study.

Aim: To evaluate if there is a difference in pregnancy rate between Asian and Caucasian women when they undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study set in a private reproductive medicine clinic. The study consisted of a total of 2594 patients (Asian, n = 522; Caucasian, n = 2072) undergoing IVF managed by a single doctor over a 10 year period.

Intravitreal Ranibizumab for neovascular Age-related macular degeneration in clinical practice: five-year treatment outcomes.

Background: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are the established standard of care for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). However, data on long-term outcomes of this therapy are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the visual and anatomical outcomes and safety profile of intravitreal ranibizumab in treating nAMD over a period of five years.

Outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 diagnosed by punch biopsy in 131 women.

Aim: To study the outcome of biopsy-diagnosed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 in patients treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cold knife cone biopsy (CKC).

Material And Methods: Patients (n = 131) were analyzed for histological results on LEEP/CKC specimen. Demographic and risk factors, referral cytology, high risk human papilloma virus (HR HPV) test and follow-up colposcopic clinic visits were studied.

Site-specific prolapse surgery. II. Vaginal paravaginal repair augmented with either synthetic mesh or remodelling xenograft.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This study aims to answer the question, "Does tissue augmentation improve the mechanical repair of displacement cystourethrocoele?"

Methods: A retrospective cohort study comparing 108 bridging graft vaginal paravaginal repairs (89 tissue-inductive xenografts and 19 polypropylene mesh) to 59 native tissue historical controls was conducted. Main outcome measures were same-site prolapse recurrence and time to failure. Initial reliability was evaluated by chi-squared test, 10-year durability by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and risk factors by Cox regression.

Site-specific prolapse surgery. I. Reliability and durability of native tissue paravaginal repair.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This study aims to compare native tissue abdominal and vaginal paravaginal repair, and to investigate whether surgical outcome was independent of operative route.

Methods: Retrospective comparison of 111 displacement cysto-urethrocoeles, repaired between 1997 and 2007. Treatment was by surgeon assignment, 52 women having abdominal (APVR) and 59 vaginal paravaginal repairs.

One-year follow-up study on golf injuries in Australian amateur golfers.

Background: Considering its popularity, little epidemiologic literature exists on golf injuries.

Hypothesis: The low back is the most common injury location for golf-related injury. Most golf injuries occur as a result of the golf swing, and occur mostly at impact.

Golf-related lower back injuries: an epidemiological survey.

Objective: This study describes the playing characteristics of golfers who had an injury to their lower back in the course of play or practice in the previous year (12 months).

Methods: A retrospective survey was mailed to members of randomly selected golf clubs across Australia. Statistical methods used included 2-sample t test to compare means of 2 independent populations and the chi(2) test to examine the association between categorical variables/factors in the study.

Golf injuries: a review of the literature.

Golf is one of a few activities that people of all ages and skill level can play. Injury as with all sports can occur. The low back is the most common injury sustained whilst playing golf, and the dynamic action of the golf swing is a major contributing factor to injury.