Merging Photorefractive Keratectomy and Collagen Crosslinking: An Analysis of Literature and a Guide to Prevalent Protocols.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to summarize the different surgical approaches combining photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and corneal crosslinking (CXL), present each protocol template in a simple format, and provide an overview of the primary outcomes and adverse events.

Methods: A literature review was conducted as outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Eight different databases were searched.

Predictability of Existing IOL Formulas After Cataract Surgery in Patients with a Previous History of Radial Keratotomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study and Literature Review.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of 12 different intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas for post-radial keratotomy (RK) eyes. The investigation utilizes recent advances in topography/tomography devices and artificial intelligence (AI)-based calculators, comparing the results to those reported in current literature to assess the efficacy and predictability of IOL calculations for this patient group.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 37 eyes from 24 individuals with a history of RK who underwent cataract surgery at Hoopes Vision Center were analyzed.

Five-Year Incidence, Management, and Visual Outcomes of Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis after Femtosecond-Assisted LASIK.

Femtosecond (FS) lasers initially had a higher incidence of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) compared with microkeratome flap creation. It has been theorized that higher-frequency lower-energy (HFLE) FS lasers would reduce the incidence of DLK. Our study sought to evaluate the incidence of newer HFLE FS lasers with pulse frequencies above 60 kHz.

Comparison of Visual Outcome After Hyperopic LASIK Using a Wavefront-Optimized Platform Versus Other Excimer Lasers in the Past Two Decades.

Introduction: Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism is challenging and has been less studied than for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. The aim of this study was to analyze the refractive outcomes of LASIK in hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatic eyes using a wave-front optimized laser platform (the Allegretto EX500 laser) and perform a historical comparison with other excimer lasers within the past two decades.

Methods: A one-center (Tertiary Refractive Center, Draper, Utah), retrospective, non-comparative study was conducted on 379 eyes treated with LASIK for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism.

Comparison of on-road emissions for hybrid and regular transit buses.

Hybrid technology offers an attractive option for transit buses, since it has the potential to significantly reduce operating costs for transit agencies. The main impetus behind use of hybrid transit vehicles is fuel savings and reduced emissions. Laboratory tests have indicated that hybrid transit buses can have significantly lower emissions compared with conventional transit buses.

Zyxin controls migration in epithelial-mesenchymal transition by mediating actin-membrane linkages at cell-cell junctions.

Development is punctuated by morphogenetic rearrangements of epithelial tissues, including detachment of motile cells during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dramatic actin rearrangements occur as cell-cell junctions are dismantled and cells become independently motile during EMT. Characterizing dynamic actin rearrangements and identifying actin machinery driving these rearrangements is essential for understanding basic mechanisms of cell-cell junction remodeling.

Onconase, an anti-tumor ribonuclease suppresses intracellular oxidative stress.

Onconase (ONC), an antitumor ribonuclease from oocytes of a frog Rana pipiens, capable of inducing apoptosis in many cell lines is synergistic with several other anticancer drugs. Since cytotoxic effects of numerous drugs are modulated by reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), we have studied effects of ONC on the intracellular level of oxidants in several normal cell types as well as tumor cell lines. It is demonstrated for the first time that ONC substantially decreases the content of ROI in all cell lines studied.

Regeneration and tolerance factor: a novel mediator of glioblastoma-associated immunosuppression.

Regeneration and tolerance factor (RTF) was originally identified in placenta where it is thought to be essential for fetal allograft survival. Here we report that RTF mRNA and protein are also expressed in human glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Suppression of RTF expression by RNA interference promotes the lysis of glioma cells by natural killer (NK) and T cells in vitro.

Remifentanil pharmacokinetics in obese versus lean patients.

Background: Remifentanil is a short-acting opioid whose pharmacokinetics have been characterized in detail. However, the impact of obesity on remifentanil pharmacokinetics has not been specifically examined. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of body weight on remifentanil pharmacokinetics.

Intracranial pressure, middle cerebral artery flow velocity, and plasma inorganic fluoride concentrations in neurosurgical patients receiving sevoflurane or isoflurane.

Unlabelled: This study examined the concentration-related effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane on cerebral physiology and plasma inorganic fluoride concentrations. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity (Vmca), intracranial pressure (ICP), electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, and jugular bulb venous oxygen saturation were measured, and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and estimated cerebral vascular resistance (CVRe) were calculated at baseline and at 0.5, 1.

Reduction of antiarrhythmic drug use in patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Widespread use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additionally, there has been increasing appreciation during this time for both the lack of efficacy and proarrhythmic activity of antiarrhythmic drugs to treat these cardiac arrhythmias. We evaluated the use of antiarrhythmic drugs from 1987 to 1991 (5-year period) at the time of ICD implantation in 25,450 patients.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of sinus node reentrant tachycardia.

Sinus node reentrant tachycardia is a relatively uncommon (5%-15%) form of recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). We describe a case of symptomatic sinus node reentrant tachycardia in a 67-year-old male with ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and depressed ventricular function. Adenosine administered during an electrophysiology study caused prolongation of the tachycardia cycle length due to atrial cycle length prolongation (without atrio-His prolongation) prior to tachycardia termination.

Endotracheal tube cuff pressure increases significantly during anterior cervical fusion with the Caspar instrumentation system.

To determine whether endotracheal tube cuff pressure increases significantly with surgical retraction and cervical spine distraction during anterior cervical spine surgery with Caspar instrumentation, we prospectively studied 10 patients undergoing this procedure. The tracheas of all patients were intubated with a Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo endotracheal tube. Tracheal tube cuff pressures measured with a transducer system were 42.

Doppler echocardiographic assessment of an impedance-based dual-chamber rate-responsive pacemaker.

Rate-responsive pacing allows patients with chronotropic incompetence to achieve more physiologic heart rate responses to exercise. One sensor currently being investigated uses impedance-derived measurements of changes in right ventricular stroke volume to alter the pacing rate. Correlation of pacemaker-derived measurements of stroke volume with an accepted method of stroke volume measurement has not been performed.

The influence of hemorrhage on organ perfusion during deliberate hypotension in rats.

There is general concern that major blood loss during deliberate hypotension could produce severe organ ischemia, but documentation of the magnitude of this response remains obscure. To examine this response, we studied 43 male Sprague-Dawley rats that were divided into seven groups: the control animals received 1 MAC (1.4%) isoflurane only; the hypotensive animals received a 1.