Association Between Baseline Macular Morphologic Features on Optical Coherence Tomography and Visual Outcomes in Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

PURPOSE: The choroidal thickening and serous retinal detachments that characterize Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease can be imaged in detail using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Whether specific qualitative and quantitative SD-OCT features at presentation were associated with visual outcomes in a randomized controlled trial comparing methotrexate to mycophenolate for steroid-sparing control of uveitis were evaluated. METHODS: An exploratory subanalysis of data from the FAST trial in which SD-OCT images from VKH participants were analyzed for presence/absence of bacillary detachments, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) folds, and internal limiting membrane (ILM) fluctuations was performed. A modified RPE undulation index was calculated to provide a quantifiable surrogate marker for choroidal folds. RESULTS: SD-OCT images were available from 158 eyes with VKH. At baseline, bacillary detachments were present in 23.5% of eyes, RPE folds in 22.8% of eyes, and ILM fluctuations in 35.2% of eyes. For each 0.1 unit increase in modified RPE undulation index, there was an associated 0.13 increase in mean logMAR BSCVA at baseline. None of the SD-OCT features were associated with BSCVA at the 6-month primary endpoint. Indeed, mean final BSCVA was similar in those with and without the SD-OCT features of interest at baseline, and was between 0.1 and 0.2 logMAR (Snellen visual acuity 20/25 to 20/30). CONCLUSIONS: While eyes with VKH may present with a variety of SD-OCT imaging pathology prior to starting immunosuppression with methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil, final visual outcome in our study was excellent. With appropriate immunosuppression, good visual outcomes are possible in VKH.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01829295Date of Registration: April 11, 2013.

Outcomes in Patients With Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease From the First-Line Antimetabolites for Steroid-Sparing Treatment Uveitis Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in achieving corticosteroid-sparing control of uveitis in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. METHODS: A subanalysis of patients with VKH from the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment Uveitis Trial, a randomized, observer-masked, comparative effectiveness trial, with comparisons by treatment (MTX vs MMF) and disease stage (acute vs chronic). Individuals with noninfectious uveitis were placed on a standardized corticosteroid taper and block randomized 1:1 to either 25 mg weekly oral MTX or 1.5 g twice daily oral MMF. The primary outcome was treatment success defined by corticosteroid-sparing control of uveitis at 6 months. Additional outcomes included change in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), retinal central subfield thickness (CST), and resolution of serous retinal detachment (SRD). RESULTS: Ninety-three out of 216 enrolled patients had VKH; 49 patients were randomized to MTX and 44 to MMF, of which 85 patients (46 on MTX, 39 on MMF) contributed to the primary outcome. There was no significant difference in treatment success by antimetabolite (80.4% for MTX compared to 64.1% for MMF; P = .12) or in BSCVA improvement (P = .78). MTX was superior to MMF in reducing CST (P = .003) and resolving SRD (P = .02). There was no significant difference in treatment success by disease stage (P = .25), but patients with acute VKH had greater improvement in BSCVA (P < .001) and reduction of CST (P = .02) than chronic VKH patients. CONCLUSIONS: MTX and MMF have comparable outcomes as corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppressive therapies for VKH. Visual acuity improvement was greater in acute vs chronic VKH. NOTE: Publication of this article is sponsored by the American Ophthalmological Society TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00182929.

Liposome-encapsulated cytochrome P450 and gibberellic acid biosynthesis in Priestia megaterium RP1.

This study explores the potential of liposome encapsulated silica immobilized cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (LSICY) for bioremediation of mercury (Hg2+). Current limitations in Hg2+ reduction, including sensitivity to factors like pH and cost, necessitate alternative methods. We propose LSICY as a solution, leveraging the enzymatic activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYPM) for Hg2+ reduction through hydroxylation and oxygenation. Our investigation employs LSICY to assess its efficacy in mitigating Hg2+ toxicity in Oryza sativa (rice) plants. Gas chromatography confirmed gibberellic acid (GA) presence in the Hg2+ reducing bacteria Priestia megaterium RP1 (PMRP1), highlighting a potential link between CYP450 activity and plant health. This study demonstrates the promise of LSICY as a sustainable and effective approach for Hg2+ bioremediation, promoting a safer soil environment.

An efficient breast cancer classification model using bilateral filtering and fuzzy convolutional neural network.

BC (Breast cancer) is the second most common reason for women to die from cancer. Recent workintroduced a model for BC classifications where input breast images were pre-processed using median filters for reducing noises. Weighed KMC (K-Means clustering) is used to segment the ROI (Region of Interest) after the input image has been cleaned of noise. Block-based CDF (Centre Distance Function) and CDTM (Diagonal Texture Matrix)-based texture and shape descriptors are utilized for feature extraction. The collected features are reduced in counts using KPCA (Kernel Principal Component Analysis). The appropriate feature selection is computed using ICSO (Improved Cuckoo Search Optimization). The MRNN ((Modified Recurrent Neural Network)) values are then improved through optimization before being utilized to divide British Columbia into benign and malignant types. However, ICSO has many disadvantages, such as slow search speed and low convergence accuracy and training an MRNN is a completely tough task. To avoid those problems in this work preprocessing is done by bilateral filtering to remove the noise from the input image. Bilateral filter using linear Gaussian for smoothing. Contrast stretching is applied to improve the image quality. ROI segmentation is calculated based on MFCM (modified fuzzy C means) clustering. CDTM-based, CDF-based color histogram and shape description methods are applied for feature extraction. It summarizes two important pieces of information about an object such as the colors present in the image, and the relative proportion of each color in the given image. After the features are extracted, KPCA is used to reduce the size. Feature selection was performed using MCSO (Mutational Chicken Flock Optimization). Finally, BC detection and classification were performed using FCNN (Fuzzy Convolutional Neural Network) and its parameters were optimized using MCSO. The proposed model is evaluated for accuracy, recall, f-measure and accuracy. This work's experimental results achieve high values of accuracy when compared to other existing models.

Systemic and Ophthalmic Manifestations of Chikungunya Fever.

PURPOSE: Chikungunya is a re-emerging viral infection across the globe. The purpose of this article is to review the systemic and ophthalmic manifestations associated with chikungunya fever. METHOD: A review of literature was conducted using online databases. RESULTS: In this report, we have reviewed the presently available literature on uveitis caused by chikungunya and highlighted the current knowledge of its clinical manifestations, imaging features, laboratory diagnostics, and the available therapeutic modalities from the systemic and ophthalmic standpoint. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular involvement in chikungunya infection may occur at the time of systemic manifestations or it may occur as a delayed presentation many weeks after the fever. Treatment relies on a supportive therapy for systemic illness. Treatment of ocular manifestation depends on the type of manifestations and usually includes a combination of topical and oral steroids.

Evaluation of surgical skill using machine learning with optimal wearable sensor locations.

Evaluation of surgical skills during minimally invasive surgeries is needed when recruiting new surgeons. Although surgeons' differentiation by skill level is highly complex, performance in specific clinical tasks such as pegboard transfer and knot tying could be determined using wearable EMG and accelerometer sensors. A wireless wearable platform has made it feasible to collect movement and muscle activation signals for quick skill evaluation during surgical tasks. However, it is challenging since the placement of multiple wireless wearable sensors may interfere with their performance in the assessment. This study utilizes machine learning techniques to identify optimal muscles and features critical for accurate skill evaluation. This study enrolled a total of twenty-six surgeons of different skill levels: novice (n = 11), intermediaries (n = 12), and experts (n = 3). Twelve wireless wearable sensors consisting of surface EMGs and accelerometers were placed bilaterally on bicep brachii, tricep brachii, anterior deltoid, flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), and thenar eminence (TE) muscles to assess muscle activations and movement variability profiles. We found features related to movement complexity such as approximate entropy, sample entropy, and multiscale entropy played a critical role in skill level identification. We found that skill level was classified with highest accuracy by i) ECU for Random Forest Classifier (RFC), ii) deltoid for Support Vector Machines (SVM) and iii) biceps for Naïve Bayes Classifier with classification accuracies 61%, 57% and 47%. We found RFC classifier performed best with highest classification accuracy when muscles are combined i) ECU and deltoid (58%), ii) ECU and biceps (53%), and iii) ECU, biceps and deltoid (52%). Our findings suggest that quick surgical skill evaluation is possible using wearables sensors, and features from ECU, deltoid, and biceps muscles contribute an important role in surgical skill evaluation.

A Study on Algae Bloom Pigment in the Eutrophic Lake Using Bio-Optical Modelling: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Approach.

Inland lake is one of the important sources of freshwater ecosystem and serves as a sentinel to the changing aquatic biodiversity. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is a major biological indicator and essential measure of the eutrophic status of lake water because it is strongly related to algae biomass. In the present research, bio-optical algorithms were developed based on the semi-empirical approach using the spectral wavelengths of 400 to 800 nm from hyperspectral remote sensing measurement and compared with Sentinel-2MSI image for estimation of Chl-a concentration in the lake water. The results show that the bio-optical algorithm can estimate and predict the algae pigment (Chl-a) concentration in the eutrophic lake with good accuracy of R2 of 0.8958, root mean squared error of 13.028, and mean absolute percentage error of 8.44%. The developed algorithm will be suitable and potential for monitoring algae spatial dynamics and assessment in an inland lake.

Outcomes of Uveitic Macular Edema in the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-Sparing Treatment Uveitis Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of uveitic macular edema at 6 and 12 months in patients treated with methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil. DESIGN: Subanalysis of a block-randomized, observer-masked, multicenter clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were enrolled in the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment (FAST) Uveitis Trial between August 2013 and August 2017. METHODS: Patients were randomized to oral methotrexate 25 mg weekly or mycophenolate mofetil 1.5 g twice daily for 12 months, along with a corticosteroid taper. In addition to standardized clinical examination, all patients underwent spectral-domain OCT imaging at each visit. At the 6-month primary end point, patients who achieved treatment success continued the same treatment for a subsequent 6 months, and treatment failures switched to the other treatment group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prespecified 6-month primary outcome and 12-month outcomes of central subfield thickness and visual acuity. RESULTS: Of 216 patients in the FAST Trial, 42 eyes (30 patients) in the methotrexate group and 55 eyes (41 patients) in the mycophenolate group had uveitic macular edema. Baseline median central subfield thickness was 359 µm and 342 µm in the methotrexate and mycophenolate groups, respectively. At 12 months, for those who stayed on the same treatment, macular thickness decreased from baseline by 30.5 µm (interquartile range [IQR], -132.3 to 4.0) and 54 µm (IQR, -95.5 to -4.5) in the methotrexate and mycophenolate groups, respectively (P = 0.73). In patients who switched treatment at 6 months, macular thickness decreased from baseline by 12.5 µm (IQR, -32.3 to -0.5) and 50 µm (IQR, -181.0 to -10.0) in the methotrexate and mycophenolate groups, respectively (P = 0.34). At 12 months, 7 of 19 eyes (37%) on methotrexate had resolution of macular edema compared with 15 of 25 eyes (60%) on mycophenolate (P = 0.10). For those who switched treatments, 8 of 17 eyes (47%) on methotrexate and 6 of 11 eyes (55%) on mycophenolate had resolution of macular edema (P = 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil for uveitic macular edema results in similar improvements in macular thickness at 6 and 12 months. At 12 months, approximately half of eyes in each antimetabolite group still had persistent macular edema.

Distribution of 210Po in spice plants cultivated by conventional farming.

PURPOSE: To study the distribution of 210Po concentrations in various parts of spice plants cultivated by conventional farming in Nilgiris, South India and estimate effective radiation dose received. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parts of plant such as leaf, fruit, seed, flower bud and rhizome of selected spice plants cultivated at various locations in the study area have been collected for estimation of 210Po concentration. Organic materials in known mass of processed samples have been removed by chemical method. 210Po concentration in the digested sample has been electrostatically deposited on pre-polished silver disks at constant temperature. ZnS(Ag) detector-based alpha counting system with minimal detectable value 3.2 mBq has been used for estimation of 210Po activity concentration. RESULTS: Leaves of Curcuma longa have registered a high concentration of 45.6 ± 4.5 Bq kg-1 of 210Po and rhizome of Allium sativum has registered a low value of 4.7 ± 0.8 Bq kg-1. Leaves of spice plants have registered higher concentration of 210Po than their fruits, seeds, flower buds or rhizomes. Soil to plant transfer factor of 210Po has been found to vary from 0.13 for rhizome of A. sativum to 2.23 corresponding to leaf of C. longa. Concentration of 210Po estimated in leaves and mean leaf areas of spice plants has been found to have a correlation coefficient of 0.83, which indicates that absorption of 210Po deposited on surface area of leaves is the main source of this isotope in plant parts. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of various parts of spice plant does not pose significant radiological risk as effective dose received by the general public as 210Po has been found to vary from 6.34 to 46.05 µSv y-1, less than the value recommended by ICRP.

Nutritional Adequacy in Mechanically Ventilated Patient: Are We Doing Enough?

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients are under stress, leading to a catabolic response and higher energy expenditure. The associated malnutrition leads to adverse outcomes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the nutritional adequacy (>80% of prescribed calories) in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients and its effects on patients' outcomes. It also aims to identify the causes of deviation from the nutrition prescription. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational study involving all adult critically ill patients requiring MV for >48 hours. Patients were prescribed enteral nutrition (EN) targeted to achieve 25 kcal/kg (IBW) of energy and 1.2 g/kg of proteins daily. Standard polymeric formula feeds were initiated as continuous infusion as per the feeding protocol in the intensive care unit (ICU). Data were collected on demography, body mass index (BMI), indication for ICU admission, admission category, and admission APACHE II and SOFA scores, and nutritional risk was captured with mNUTRIC score. Nutritional data on type of feed initiated, amount of calories prescribed/achieved, time taken to initiate feeds, reasons for not starting/delay in the initiation of feeds, time taken to achieve the prescribed calories, and reasons for interruptions of feeds were collected. Primary outcome analyzed was adequacy of nutrition (>80% prescribed dose), and secondary outcomes analyzed were ventilator days and ICU LOS. RESULTS: A total of 622 MV patients were analyzed. 36.1% of patients were at nutritional risk (mNUTRIC χ5). 89% of patients received EN, and the time taken to start EN in these patients was 10 hours (6-20) (median [IQR]). Only 29.6% of patients achieved nutritional adequacy. Time taken for this was 36 hours (median). On average, patients on MV received 63% (1025 kcal) and 57% (41 g) of their prescribed calories and proteins, respectively. The most common reasons for withholding feeds were airway-related procedures (68.2%) followed by GI intolerance (15%). Frequent interruptions of EN, patients on >1 vasopressors, and surgical admissions were reasons for nutritional inadequacy. Nutritional adequacy had no impact on clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite following guidelines and feeding protocols, there exists a wide gap between prescribed nutrition and what is actually delivered in MV patients. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kalaiselvan MS, Arunkumar AS, Renuka MK, Sivakumar RL. Nutritional Adequacy in Mechanically Ventilated Patient: Are We Doing Enough? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(2):166-171.

An Algorithm for the Diagnosis of Behçet Disease Uveitis in Adults.

Purpose: To develop an algorithm for the diagnosis of Behçet's disease (BD) uveitis based on ocular findings.Methods: Following an initial survey among uveitis experts, we collected multi-center retrospective data on 211 patients with BD uveitis and 207 patients with other uveitides, and identified ocular findings with a high diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Subsequently, we collected multi-center prospective data on 127 patients with BD uveitis and 322 controls and developed a diagnostic algorithm using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis and expert opinion.Results: We identified 10 items with DOR >5. The items that provided the highest accuracy in CART analysis included superficial retinal infiltrate, signs of occlusive retinal vasculitis, and diffuse retinal capillary leakage as well as the absence of granulomatous anterior uveitis or choroiditis in patients with vitritis.Conclusion: This study provides a diagnostic tree for BD uveitis that needs to be validated in future studies.

Local Delivery of Single Dose Intra Epiphyseal Bisphosphonates to Prevent the Progression of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease - Case Series.

INTRODUCTION: Legg-Calve´-Perthes disease (LCPD) or avascular necrosis of the capital epiphysis is an idiopathic disease characterized by interruption of the blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis resulting in necrosis of the epiphysis. There are a variety of treatment modalities such as containment with braces early in disease to surgical procedures for children presenting late in their age group. The newer modalities of treatment are intravenous bisphosphonates, bone morphogenic protein in clinical subjects. CASE REPORT: Two children (Aged 7 years with catterall Stage II unilateral affection, aged 11 years catterall Stage III bilateral affection) were advised single-dose of zoledronic acid(2 mg) into epiphysis as day care procedure after due discussion with parents about other treatment modalities. Both the children were followed up quarterly with clinical examination and radiology. At the latest follow-up of 4 years both had satisfactory outcome. Child one was able to do normal play with intact lateral pillar. Child two had minimal collapse of left hip however clinically pain free. CONCLUSION: Local delivery of single dose of intra epiphyseal zoledronic acid is a relatively harmless procedure and effective in preventing the progression of disease pathology, especially in children with age group of 6-10 years.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Sirolimus for Noninfectious Uveitis of the Posterior Segment: Results from the Sirolimus Study Assessing Double-Masked Uveitis Treatment (SAKURA) Program.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal sirolimus in the management of noninfectious uveitis of the posterior segment (NIU-PS). DESIGN: Combined analysis of 2 phase 3, randomized, double-masked, multinational, 6-month studies. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with active NIU-PS (intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis; defined as vitreous haze [VH] ≥1.5+ on modified Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature scale). METHODS: Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive intravitreal sirolimus 44 µg (n = 208), 440 µg (n = 208), or 880 µg (n = 177) on days 1, 60, and 120. Patients discontinued medications for NIU-PS except for systemic corticosteroids, which were tapered according to protocol. Enrollment in the 880-µg group was terminated after interim results found no significant difference in efficacy compared with the 440-µg dose. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary efficacy end point was the percentage of patients with VH of 0 at month 5 in the study eye without the use of rescue therapy. Secondary efficacy end points included VH of 0 or 0.5+, corticosteroid-tapering success, and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Safety measures included ocular and nonocular adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 592 patients were randomized. Significantly higher proportions of patients treated with 440 µg compared with 44 µg intravitreal sirolimus achieved VH of 0 (21.2% vs. 13.5%; P = 0.038) and VH of 0 or 0.5+ (50.0% vs. 40.4%; P = 0.049) at month 5. Best-corrected visual acuity was stable (absolute change <5 ETDRS letters) or improved >5 letters in 80.1% and 80.2% of patients in the 440-µg and 44-µg groups, respectively. At month 5, corticosteroids were tapered successfully in 69.6% and 68.8% of patients in the 440-µg and 44-µg groups, and among these patients, VH of 0 or 0.5+ was achieved by 43.5% and 28.1% in the 440-µg and 44-µg groups. Both doses were generally well tolerated. Mean changes from baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) in the study eye at each analysis visit were minimal in all treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal sirolimus 440 µg improved ocular inflammation, as measured by VH, compared with the 44-µg dose, with minimal impact on IOP, while preserving BCVA.

Total Elbow Arthroplasty as Treatment of Non-union with Bone Loss of Distal Humerus - A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is a viable treatment for pain-free mobility in stiff elbow of sedentary patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosis. Secondarily, TEA is useful in cases of stiff failed fixation and bone loss of distal humerus fractures. CASE REPORT: A Fifty one years old sedentary male presented to our institute with a history of injury to the right elbow (sideswipe injury). On clinical and radiological examination, it was open Grade III B fracture of distal humerus with bone loss. He was treated with wound debridement and initial temporary fixation with k-wires and later soft-tissue reconstruction. One year later, the patient upper limb was flail, limited range of motion (passive 40° 70°) and no infection. Radiology revealed non-union of condylar fragments with bone loss of distal humerus. The patient underwent TEA through standard triceps reflecting approach. He was implanted cemented modular Coonrad-Murray semi-constrained prosthesis Type III. The post-operative period was uneventful. At 4-year follow-up, the patient is pain free with elbow range of motion 5°120°. CONCLUSION: In failed osteosynthesis and sedentary patients, TEA is a SALVAGE surgery for pain-free mobility with its own long-term limitations.

Quality-of-Life Outcomes From a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Antimetabolites for Intermediate, Posterior, and Panuveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in quality of life in noninfectious uveitis patients treated with 2 of the most commonly prescribed antimetabolite treatments. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a multicenter, block-randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Eighty patients at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai and Coimbatore, India, with noninfectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis were randomized to receive oral methotrexate, 25 mg weekly, or oral mycophenolate mofetil, 1 g twice daily, and were followed up monthly for 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity, Indian Vision Function Questionnaire (IND-VFQ), and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) were obtained at enrollment and at 6 months (or prior, in the event of early treatment failure). RESULTS: IND-VFQ scores, on average, increased by 9.2 points from trial enrollment to 6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.9, 13.5, P = .0001). Although the SF-36 physical component summary score did not significantly differ over the course of the trial, the mental component summary score decreased by 2.3 points (95% CI: -4.4, -0.1, P = .04) and the vitality subscale decreased by 3.5 points (95% CI: -5.6, -1.4, P = .001). Quality-of-life scores did not differ between treatment arms. Linear regression modeling showed a 3.2-point improvement in IND-VFQ score for every 5-letter improvement in visual acuity (95% CI: 1.9, 4.3; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although uveitis treatment was associated with increased vision and vision-related quality of life, patient-reported physical health did not change after 6 months of treatment, and mental health decreased. Despite improved visual outcomes, uveitis patients receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy may experience a deterioration in mental health-related quality of life.

Inhalation dose due to radon, thoron, and progenies in dwellings of a hill station.

The general public spends a major portion of their time in an indoor environment and hence receives a considerable amount of radiation. Knowledge about indoor radiation is important in order to arrive at the actual effective dose received by residents. The indoor radon, thoron, and progeny concentrations observed in the present study were found to vary with seasons of a given year. The highest and lowest indoor average radon, thoron, and progeny levels were observed during winter and summer seasons, respectively. The concentrations of indoor radon, thoron, and progenies were found to vary with the type of houses. The highest 222Rn, 220Rn, and progeny concentrations were observed in mud houses and the lowest values were recorded in wooden houses. The indoor 222Rn concentration correlated well with concentration of its grandparent 238U in underlying soil with a correlation coefficient of 0.87. The correlation between indoor 220Rn and 232Th in the underlying soil was found to be 0.64. The estimated effective doses received by the general public in the present study due to indoor radon and thoron were 1.49 ± 0.49 and 1.30 ± 0.53 mSv/year, respectively. The annual effective doses due to radon and thoron progenies were estimated as 0.76 ± 0.27 and 0.47 ± 0.23 mSv/year, respectively. The contributions from 222Rn, 220Rn, and corresponding progenies to the annual effective doses received were 37, 32, 19, and 12%, respectively. The general public living in the study area receives an inhalation dose of 4.02 mSv/year due to indoor radon, thoron, and progenies, which were found to be less than the action limit of ICRP 2009.

A Bayesian Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Antimetabolite Therapies for Non-Infectious Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To conduct a Bayesian analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) for non-infectious uveitis using expert opinion as a subjective prior belief. METHODS: A RCT was conducted to determine which antimetabolite, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil, is more effective as an initial corticosteroid-sparing agent for the treatment of intermediate, posterior, and pan-uveitis. Before the release of trial results, expert opinion on the relative effectiveness of these two medications was collected via online survey. Members of the American Uveitis Society executive committee were invited to provide an estimate for the relative decrease in efficacy with a 95% credible interval (CrI). A prior probability distribution was created from experts' estimates. A Bayesian analysis was performed using the constructed expert prior probability distribution and the trial's primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 11 of the 12 invited uveitis specialists provided estimates. Eight of 11 experts (73%) believed mycophenolate mofetil is more effective. The group prior belief was that the odds of treatment success for patients taking mycophenolate mofetil were 1.4-fold the odds of those taking methotrexate (95% CrI 0.03-45.0). The odds of treatment success with mycophenolate mofetil compared to methotrexate was 0.4 from the RCT (95% confidence interval 0.1-1.2) and 0.7 (95% CrI 0.2-1.7) from the Bayesian analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A Bayesian analysis combining expert belief with the trial's result did not indicate preference for one drug. However, the wide credible interval leaves open the possibility of a substantial treatment effect. This suggests clinical equipoise necessary to allow a larger, more definitive RCT.