Improving productivity, costs and environmental impact in International Eye Health Services: using the 'Eyefficiency' cataract surgical services auditing tool to assess the value of cataract surgical services.

Objective: Though one of the most common surgeries, there is limited information on variability of practices in cataract surgeries. 'Eyefficiency' is a cataract surgical services auditing tool to help global units improve their surgical productivity and reduce their costs, waste generation and carbon footprint. The aim of the present research is to identify variability and efficiency opportunities in cataract surgical practices globally.

IQ motif-containing G (Iqcg) is required for mouse spermiogenesis.

Spermiogenesis in mammals is the process by which the newly formed products of meiosis, haploid spermatids, undergo a dramatic morphological transformation from round cells into flagellated spermatozoa. The underlying genetic control of spermiogenesis is complicated and not well-characterized. We have used forward genetic screens in mice to illuminate the mechanisms of spermatozoon development.

High resolution mapping and positional cloning of ENU-induced mutations in the Rw region of mouse chromosome 5.

Background: Forward genetic screens in mice provide an unbiased means to identify genes and other functional genetic elements in the genome. Previously, a large scale ENU mutagenesis screen was conducted to query the functional content of a ~50 Mb region of the mouse genome on proximal Chr 5. The majority of phenotypic mutants recovered were embryonic lethals.

Different regulatory systems operate in the midpiece and principal piece of the mammalian sperm flagellum.

In mammalian sperm, the flagellar midpiece and principal piece contain different signalling molecules and ion channels. For example, the soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which is required for activation of motility, is restricted to the midpiece, while the plasma membrane calcium channels CatSper1 and CatSper2, which are required for hyperactivation of motility, are restricted to the principal piece. The midpiece and principal piece are partially separated by a barrier called the annulus, yet despite this and the differential distribution of signalling molecules, they normally appear to work together to produce a wave that propagates smoothly down the tail.

Sperm motility defects and infertility in male mice with a mutation in Nsun7, a member of the Sun domain-containing family of putative RNA methyltransferases.

Poor sperm quality is the major cause of infertility in humans. Other than sex-linked factors, the genetic basis for male infertility is poorly defined, largely due to practical difficulties in studying the inheritance of this trait in humans. As an alternative, we have conducted forward genetic screens in mice to generate relevant models.

A sib-pair study of the Temperament and Character Inventory scales in major depression.

Background: Certain aspects of the personality may be associated with the vulnerability to develop depression. A sib-pair method has been used to examine the familiality of the 7 scales of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and whether this could be related to the genetic vulnerability to develop depression.

Methods: Probands with depression and their nearest-aged siblings from Wales were compared with healthy control probands and their nearest-aged siblings on the TCI and measures of depressed mood.

Neuroticism, extraversion, life events and depression. The Cardiff Depression Study.

Background: Certain personality traits may mediate the relationship between familiality and adversity in causing depression.

Aims: To examine whether the neuroticism and extraversion scales of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) represent enduring traits underlying the vulnerability to respond to adversity by developing depressive episodes.

Method: A total of 108 subjects with depression and their siblings were compared with 105 healthy control subjects and their siblings.