Efficacy of a Cationic Emulsion of Cyclosporine in Moderate Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of cyclosporine A 0.1% cationic emulsion (CsA CE) eye drops 4 times a day in pediatric patients affected by a moderate form of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Methods: This was a prospective study of pediatric patients, aged 5-16 years, with an active moderate form of VKC who were poor responders to topical antihistamines treatment and were treated 4 times a day with CsA CE.

Glaucoma Progression Diagnosis: The Agreement between Clinical Judgment and Statistical Software.

Background: To explore the agreement between clinical judgment and Guided Progression Analysis II (GPAII) in the evaluation of visual fields (VF) progression in patients with glaucoma. Methods: Three glaucoma experts and three general ophthalmologists were asked to rate the VF series by classifying them as progressive through the observation of the overview report. The agreement between clinical judgment and GPAII event analysis (EA) and trend analysis (TA) was assessed by Cohen statistic.

Impact of screen exposure on pediatric vernal Keratoconjunctivitis: a survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak pushed the Italian government to start a strict lockdown, replacing school attendance with long-distance learning. This caused reduced exposure to sunlight but increased exposure to screens. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic inflammatory ocular condition in which exposure to light plays a cardinal role.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Tacrolimus 0.1% in Severe Pediatric Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus 0.1% eye drops in a large population of pediatric patients affected by a severe form of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) who responded poorly to cyclosporine eye drops.

Methods: This is a retrospective study based on standardized clinical charts and data collection of consecutive patients affected by severe VKC who responded poorly to cyclosporine eye drops topical treatment but treated with tacrolimus 0.

Effects of listening to music in digestive endoscopy: A prospective intervention study led by nursing.

Aims: To explore whether music can reduce anxiety and pain in patients who underwent diagnostic endoscopic examinations in conscious and deep sedation and to assess degree of satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure.

Design: Prospective study led by nursing.

Methods: Between March 2019-June 2019, consecutive outpatients undergoing endoscopic examinations were simple matched into four groups: Group 1: conscious sedation with music; Group 2: conscious sedation without music; Group 3: deep sedation with music and Group 4: deep sedation without music.

The role of cognitive reserve in the relationship between metabolic syndrome and cognitive functioning.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of vascular risk factors that can impact cognition. Cognitive reserve (CR), specifically early operators of reserve (e.g.

Nursing issues in enteral nutrition during prone position in critically ill patients: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: Early enteral nutrition (EN) and prone position may both improve the outcome of patients affected by moderate to severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Recent guidelines suggest to administer early EN also during prone position. However, EN intolerance, such as high residual gastric volumes, regurgitation or vomiting, may occur during pronation.

Evaluating the Influence of Social Engagement on Cognitive Impairment and Mobility Outcomes Within the Boston RISE Cohort Study.

Objective: We investigated the associations between mild cognitive impairment (MCI), social engagement (SE), and mobility.

Design: We evaluated data from a cohort study of older adult primary care patients (N = 430). Outcomes included self-reported function (Late-Life Function Instrument [LLFI]) and performance-based mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery score [SPPB]).

The Association Between Social Engagement, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Falls Among Older Primary Care Patients.

Objectives: To examine associations between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and falls among primary care patients, and to investigate whether social engagement (SE) modifies these associations.

Design: Cross sectional analysis using baseline data from an observational cohort study.

Setting: Primary care.

The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment and Upper Extremity Function in Older Primary Care Patients.

Background: Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to dementia, experience limitations in completing daily activities. These limitations are particularly important to understand, as they predict risk for dementia. Relations between functional changes and both cognitive decline and upper extremity motor impairments have been reported, but the contribution of motor function to relations between cognitive function and functional independence remains poorly understood.

Chronic Pain and Attention in Older Community-Dwelling Adults.

Objectives: To examine the cross-sectional relationship between chronic pain and complex attention in a population of community-living older adults.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Setting: Population-based Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston Study II.

Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Association With Survival Among Older Patients With Hematologic Cancers.

Importance: As the population ages, cognitive impairment has promised to become increasingly common among patients with cancer. Little is known about how specific domains of cognitive impairment may be associated with survival among older patients with hematologic cancers.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of domain-specific cognitive impairment and its association with overall survival among older patients with blood cancer.

Verbal Memory Deficits in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Exposed to Blasts at Close Range.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between close proximity to detonated blast munitions and cognitive functioning in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.

Methods: A total of 333 participants completed a comprehensive evaluation that included assessment of neuropsychological functions, psychiatric diagnoses and history of military and non-military brain injury. Participants were assigned to a Close-Range Blast Exposure (CBE) or Non-Close-Range Blast Exposure (nonCBE) group based on whether they had reported being exposed to at least one blast within 10 meters.

Elevated rates of memory impairment in military service-members and veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Introduction: Studies investigating the neurocognitive effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) routinely find "deficits" in various cognitive domains. However, the rate of cognitive impairment in individuals with PTSD remains unclear, as studies have focused on null hypothesis testing (NHT) and inferring patterns of impairment rather than empirically determining the rate of cognitive impairment in this sample.

Method: This study examined rates of cognitive impairment using a domain-specific approach in non-treatment-seeking Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn service members and veterans with (n = 92) and without (n = 79) PTSD and without substance abuse/dependence who passed a performance validity measure and were matched on age, education, estimated IQ, and ethnicity.

The Clock-in-the-Box, a brief cognitive screen, is associated with failure to return home in an elderly hospitalized sample.

Purpose: Cognitive screening upon hospital admission can provide important information about the patient's ability to process information during the inpatient stay. The Clock-in-the-Box (CIB) is a rapidly administered cognitive screening measure which has been previously validated with cognitive screening and neuropsychological assessments. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the predictive validity of the CIB for discharge location among a sample of older medical inpatients.

Whole-Genome Characterization and Strain Comparison of VT2f-Producing Escherichia coli Causing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in humans cause disease ranging from uncomplicated intestinal illnesses to bloody diarrhea and systemic sequelae, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Previous research indicated that pigeons may be a reservoir for a population of verotoxigenic E. coli producing the VT2f variant.

Effects of Megaplasmid Loss on Growth of Neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum Strains and Botulinum Neurotoxin Type E Expression.

Clostridium butyricum strains that atypically produce the botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) possess a megaplasmid of unknown functions in their genome. In this study, we cured two botulinum neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains of their megaplasmids, and compared the obtained megaplasmid-cured strains to their respective wild-type parental strains.

Effect of Pain and Mild Cognitive Impairment on Mobility.

Objectives: To examine the effect of pain and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)-together and separately-on performance-based and self-reported mobility outcomes in older adults in primary care with mild to moderate self-reported mobility limitations.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Academic community outpatient clinic.

Event-based prospective memory among veterans: The role of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity in executing intentions.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked with neuropsychological deficits in several areas, including attention, learning and memory, and cognitive inhibition. Although memory dysfunction is among the most commonly documented deficits associated with PTSD, our existing knowledge pertains only to retrospective memory. The current study investigated the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and event-based prospective memory (PM).

Consistency of Recall for Deployment-Related Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: To examine the temporal consistency of self-reported deployment-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its association with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity.

Setting: In-person interviews at US Army installations (postdeployment); phone interviews (long-term follow-up).

Participants: A total of 378 US Army soldiers and veterans deployed to Iraq; 14.

Glucose Dysregulation Interacts With APOE-∊4 to Potentiate Temporoparietal Cortical Thinning.

We examined the interactive effects of apolipoprotein ∊4 (APOE-∊4), a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and diabetes risk on cortical thickness among 107 healthy elderly participants; in particular, participants included 27 APOE-∊4+ and 80 APOE-∊4- controls using T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. Regions of interests included select frontal, temporal, and parietal cortical regions. Among APOE-∊4, glucose abnormalities independently predicted reduced cortical thickness among temporoparietal regions but failed to predict changes for noncarriers.

Health Outcomes of Obtaining Housing Among Older Homeless Adults.

Objectives: We determined the impact of obtaining housing on geriatric conditions and acute care utilization among older homeless adults.

Methods: We conducted a 12-month prospective cohort study of 250 older homeless adults recruited from shelters in Boston, Massachusetts, between January and June 2010. We determined housing status at follow-up, determined number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations over 12 months, and examined 4 measures of geriatric conditions at baseline and 12 months.

Tacrolimus vs. cyclosporine eyedrops in severe cyclosporine-resistant vernal keratoconjunctivitis: A randomized, comparative, double-blind, crossover study.

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic sight-threatening ocular disease. Topical cyclosporine A (Cyc) has been widely administered as a steroid-sparing drug, although in about 7-10% of cases, it has been ineffective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 0.

Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in samples collected at an abattoir in Zaria, Nigeria and at different points in the surrounding environment.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli can be released with the wastes coming from slaughterhouses into the environment, where they can persist. We investigated the presence of diarrheagenic E. coli in specimens taken at an abattoir located in the Zaria region, Nigeria, in samples of water from the river Koreye, where the effluent from the abattoir spills in, and vegetable specimens taken at a nearby farm.