Band Visibility in High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography Assessed With a Custom Review Tool and Updated, Histology-Derived Nomenclature.

Purpose: For structure-function research at the transition of aging to age-related macular degeneration, we refined the current consensus optical coherence tomography (OCT) nomenclature and evaluated a novel review software for investigational high-resolution OCT imaging (HR-OCT; <3 µm axial resolution).

Method: Volume electron microscopy, immunolocalizations, histology, and investigational devices informed a refined OCT nomenclature for a custom ImageJ-based review tool to assess retinal band visibility. We examined effects on retinal band visibility of automated real-time averaging (ART) 9 and 100 (11 eyes of 10 healthy young adults), aging (10 young vs 22 healthy aged), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD; 22 healthy aged, 17 early (e)AMD, 15 intermediate (i)AMD).

Assessing and Enhancing Movement Quality Using Wearables and Consumer Technologies: Thematic Analysis of Expert Perspectives.

Background: Improvements in movement quality (ie, how well an individual moves) facilitate increases in movement quantity, subsequently improving general health and quality of life. Wearable technology offers a convenient, affordable means of measuring and assessing movement quality for the general population, while technology more broadly can provide constructive feedback through various modalities. Considering the perspectives of professionals involved in the development and implementation of technology helps translate user needs into effective strategies for the optimal application of consumer technologies to enhance movement quality.

Extent and Topography of Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits Associate With Rod-Mediated Vision in Aging and AMD: ALSTAR2 Baseline.

Purpose: In AMD, rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) at 5° eccentricity is slower in eyes with subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) than in eyes without. Here we quantified SDD burden using supervised deep learning for comparison to vision and photoreceptor topography.

Methods: In persons ≥60 years from the Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2, normal, early AMD, and intermediate AMD eyes were classified by the AREDS nine-step system.

Choriocapillaris Impairment, Visual Function, and Distance to Fovea in Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: ALSTAR2 Baseline.

Purpose: In aging and early-intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) slows more at 5° superior than at 12°. Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), we asked whether choriocapillaris flow deficits are related to distance from the fovea.

Methods: Persons ≥60 years stratified for AMD via the Age-Related Eye Disease Study's nine-step system underwent RMDA testing.

Comparison of Glaucoma Diagnosis by Telemedicine, In-Person Ophthalmologist, and Optometrist.

Prcis: Diagnosis of glaucoma through telemedicine demonstrates moderate agreement with in-person ophthalmologist (MD) and in-person optometrist (OD) diagnosis, providing evidence that telemedicine is a timely, accurate screening method in settings where an in-person visit may not be feasible.

Objective: To compare diagnostic agreement of glaucoma between in-person MD, in-person OD, and a simulated telemedicine program.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with normal optic nerve structural and functional imaging and new patients referred for glaucoma evaluation examined in-person by an MD for glaucoma with a dilated examination and structural and functional optic nerve testing (optical coherence tomography, photos, and visual field); examined in person by an OD with a dilated examination and optic nerve testing; and structural and functional optic nerve testing reviewed separately by 2 ophthalmologists [telemedicine ophthalmologist reviewer 1 (TMD1), telemedicine ophthalmologist reviewer 2 (TMD2)] with masking of prior MD and OD diagnoses.

CRISPRi-based circuits to control gene expression in plants.

The construction of synthetic gene circuits in plants has been limited by a lack of orthogonal and modular parts. Here, we implement a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) interference (CRISPRi)-based reversible gene circuit platform in plants. We create a toolkit of engineered repressible promoters of different strengths and construct NOT and NOR gates in Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts.

Outer Retinal Thickness Is Associated With Cognitive Function in Normal Aging to Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and precursor states demonstrates a thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL) compared to age-similar controls. Because AD and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) both impact older adults and share risk factors, we asked if retinal layer thicknesses, including NFL, are associated with cognition in AMD.

Methods: Adults ≥ 70 years with normal retinal aging, early AMD, or intermediate AMD per Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) nine-step grading of color fundus photography were enrolled in a cross-sectional study.

Association between Usage of Prophylactic AYUSH Medicines and Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Prior vaccination is often studied for its impact on individuals' post-infection prognosis. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines, advised by the Government of India as prophylaxis during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, were consumed by the masses in 2020. A study was therefore undertaken to observe any association between the prior usage of AYUSH prophylactic medicines and post-infection severity as reported by recovered COVID-19 individuals.

Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Endosteal Implants for Osseointegration and Antimicrobial Efficacy: A Comprehensive Review.

The energy state of endosteal implants is dependent on the material, manufacturing technique, cleaning procedure, sterilization method, and surgical manipulation. An implant surface carrying a positive charge renders hydrophilic properties, thereby facilitating the absorption of vital plasma proteins crucial for osteogenic interactions. Techniques to control the surface charge involve processes like oxidation, chemical and topographical adjustments as well as the application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment.

Telemedicine Screening for Eye Disorders in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Relationship to Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality of Life.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play a crucial role as safety-net primary health care clinics in the United States, serving medically underserved areas and populations. However, eye services are rarely offered at FQHCs. We examined how telemedicine-generated ocular diagnoses impacted vision-targeted health-related quality of life at FQHCs in rural Alabama.

Quantitative Autofluorescence at AMD's Beginnings Highlights Retinal Topography and Grading System Differences: ALSTAR2 Baseline.

Introduction: The aims of the study were to describe baseline quantitative (short-wavelength) autofluorescence (qAF) findings in a large pseudophakic cohort at age-related macular degeneration (AMD)'s beginnings and to assess qAF8 as an outcome measure and evaluate Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and Beckman grading systems.

Methods: In the ALSTAR2 baseline cohort (NCT04112667), 346 pseudophakic eyes of 188 persons (74.0 ± 5.

Social Determinants of Health and Glaucoma Screening and Detection in the SIGHT Studies.

Prcis: Targeted glaucoma screenings in populations with high levels of poverty and high proportions of people who identify as African American or Hispanic/Latino identified a 27% rate of glaucoma and suspected glaucoma, which is 3 times the national average.

Purpose: To describe the neighborhood-level social risk factors across the 3 SIGHT Study sites and assess potential characteristics of these populations to help other researchers effectively design and implement targeted glaucoma community-based screening and follow-up programs in high-risk groups.

Methods/results: In 2019, Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham each received 5 years of CDC funding to test a wide spectrum of targeted telehealth delivery methods to detect glaucoma in community-based health delivery settings among high-risk populations.

Repeatability of Rod-Mediated Dark Adaptation Testing in Normal Aging and Early and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The vulnerability of rod photoreceptors in aging and early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been well documented. Rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is a measure of the recovery of light sensitivity in rod photoreceptors following a bright light. Delays in RMDA during early and intermediate AMD have been widely reported.

Potential Structural Biomarkers in 3D Images Validated by the First Functional Biomarker for Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - ALSTAR2 Baseline.

Purpose: Lack of valid end points impedes developing therapeutic strategies for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is the first functional biomarker for incident early AMD. The relationship between RMDA and the status of outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography (OCT) have not been well defined.

A modular dCas9-based recruitment platform for combinatorial epigenome editing.

Targeted epigenome editing tools allow precise manipulation and investigation of genome modifications, however they often display high context dependency and variable efficacy between target genes and cell types. While systems that simultaneously recruit multiple distinct 'effector' chromatin regulators can improve efficacy, they generally lack control over effector composition and spatial organisation. To overcome this we have created a modular combinatorial epigenome editing platform, called SSSavi.

Choriocapillaris Impairment Is Associated With Delayed Rod-Mediated Dark Adaptation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Progress toward treatment and prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) requires imaging end points that relate to vision. We investigated choriocapillaris flow signal deficits (FD%) and visual function in eyes of individuals aged ≥60 years, with and without AMD.

Methods: One eye of each participant in the baseline visit of the Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2 (ALSTAR2; NCT04112667) was studied.

Potential Structural Biomarkers in 3D Images Validated by the First Functional Biomarker for Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - ALSTAR2 Baseline.

Purpose: While intermediate and late age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) have been widely investigated, rare studies were focused on the pathophysiologic mechanism of early AMD. Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is the first functional biomarker for incident early AMD. The status of outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be potential imaging biomarkers and the purpose is to investigate the hypothesis that the integrity of interdigitation zone (IZ) may provide insight into the health of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in early AMD.

The Role of Multi-Sensor Measurement in the Assessment of Movement Quality: A Systematic Review.

Background: Movement quality is typically assessed by drawing comparisons against predetermined movement standards. Movements are often discretely scored or labelled against pre-set criteria, though movement quality can also be evaluated using motion-related measurements (e.g.

Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT): Baseline Results.

Purpose: To describe baseline results of the Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) for patients at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Candidates were persons at risk for glaucoma-associated diseases (GAD) based on age, race/ethnicity, current diagnosis of GAD, family history, and diabetes.

Design: Baseline screening visit followed by remote diagnosis and referral for follow-up examinations.

Quantification of Epistemic Capacity and Physical Frailty in Chronic Kidney Disease: Koch's Disease Co-infection.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection devastates the affected individual physically and psychologically. Moreover, poor immune status and mental turmoil worsen cognition and quality of life. Hence, studying the cognitive function and quality of life among such patients is necessary.

Apremilast or Methotrexate: The Arrows in the Quiver for Psoriasis.

Background And Objectives: In the Indian subcontinent, psoriasis cases have skyrocketed in the last decade. Dry and hot weather aggrandizes the annual incidences. Nowadays, dermatologists harness methotrexate and apremilast to manage chronic plaque psoriasis.