Corneal Biomechanical Changes Caused by Acute Elevation of IOP in Eyes with and without Glaucoma.

SIGNIFICANCE: Although corneal biomechanical parameters are well linked with glaucoma, their clinical utility has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was designed to provide unique evidence about the dynamic nature of corneal biomechanical parameters and their potential prognostic ability for glaucoma. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation on corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) and the associations of these biomechanical parameters with glaucomatous disease. METHODS: Subjects participating in a prospective, longitudinal glaucoma research study had CH and CRF measured before and during ophthalmodynamometry during visits in the years 2011 to 2012. All participants were diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, glaucoma suspect, or normal eyes and had a minimum of 3 years of study participation with at least five reliable visual field (VF) tests. Changes in CH, CRF, and IOP induced by ophthalmodynamometry were compared between diagnostic groups and evaluated for relationships with existing and future glaucomatous VF loss. RESULTS: In 248 eyes of 248 subjects followed up for 7.7 ± 2.3 years, ophthalmodynamometry induced a mean IOP increase from 15.1 to 29.9 mmHg, causing a mean 34 ± 28% increase in CRF and 21 ± 25% decrease in CH. Magnitude of CH change did not differ between diagnostic groups or between eyes that did (n = 20) and did not (n = 95) develop new VF loss during the study period, nor was it related to rate of future VF progression. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmodynamometry-induced IOP elevation resulted in significant acute changes in CH and CRF in this study; this suggests accounting for IOP may be important in clinical interpretation of these parameters. However, because the degree of CH change was not related to glaucoma or its progression, acute changes in CH and CRF do not seem to have a prognostic value for glaucoma.

Explaining illness with evil: pathogen prevalence fosters moral vitalism.

Pathogens represent a significant threat to human health leading to the emergence of strategies designed to help manage their negative impact. We examined how spiritual beliefs developed to explain and predict the devastating effects of pathogens and spread of infectious disease. Analysis of existing data in studies 1 and 2 suggests that moral vitalism (beliefs about spiritual forces of evil) is higher in geographical regions characterized by historical higher levels of pathogens. Furthermore, drawing on a sample of 3140 participants from 28 countries in study 3, we found that historical higher levels of pathogens were associated with stronger endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs. Furthermore, endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs statistically mediated the previously reported relationship between pathogen prevalence and conservative ideologies, suggesting these beliefs reinforce behavioural strategies which function to prevent infection. We conclude that moral vitalism may be adaptive: by emphasizing concerns over contagion, it provided an explanatory model that enabled human groups to reduce rates of contagious disease.

Universal biases in self-perception: better and more human than average.

There is a well-established tendency for people to see themselves as better than average (self-enhancement), although the universality of this phenomenon is contested. Much less well-known is the tendency for people to see themselves as more human than average (self-humanizing). We examined these biases in six diverse nations: Australia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. Both biases were found in all nations. The self-humanizing effect was obtained independent of self-enhancement, and was stronger than self-enhancement in two nations (Germany and Japan). Self-humanizing was not specific to Western or English-speaking cultures and its magnitude was less cross-culturally variable than self-enhancement. Implications of these findings for research on the self and its biases are discussed.

Measurement invariance of the moral vitalism scale across 28 cultural groups.

Moral vitalism refers to a tendency to view good and evil as actual forces that can influence people and events. The Moral Vitalism Scale had been designed to assess moral vitalism in a brief survey form. Previous studies established the reliability and validity of the scale in US-American and Australian samples. In this study, the cross-cultural comparability of the scale was tested across 28 different cultural groups worldwide through measurement invariance tests. A series of exact invariance tests marginally supported partial metric invariance, however, an approximate invariance approach provided evidence of partial scalar invariance for a 5-item measure. The established level of measurement invariance allows for comparisons of latent means across cultures. We conclude that the brief measure of moral vitalism is invariant across 28 cultures and can be used to estimate levels of moral vitalism with the same precision across very different cultural settings.

Long-Term Results of Surgically Treated Radial Polydactyly - An Outcome Correlation Study.

Background: Thumb polydactyly is one of the commonest congenital hand differences. Traditional surgeon-based outcome scores capture outcomes mainly on bodily structure and function. Outcomes on the long-term well-being of the patients in the domains of activity and participation are not fully studied. Methods: Forty-eight thumbs in forty-five Chinese patients with radial polydactyly underwent surgical treatment at or before 3 years old were recruited. Mean follow-up was 11.6 years. Surgical outcomes were collected and compared to the normal opposite thumb. The results were compiled into the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH) score, Cheng score and Tada score. Patients' activity involving hands were assessed by both objective tools and patient-reported outcome measure while their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed by Patient- and Parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Correlations between outcomes were analysed. Results: Overall, both parents and patients themselves reported good quality of life with mean score of 86.6% and 92.1% respectively in PedsQL. The combined surgical scores ranged from 52% good or excellent results using JSSH score to 100% good result using Cheng score. None of the outcomes on bodily structure and function showed positive correlation with patient's well-being. Negative correlation was noted in total passive range of movement, active movement and Cheng score. All patients reported no activity restriction. Writing test did not show significant slowing. The operated hands had significantly poorer fine motor dexterity than normal. No significant correlation is noted between activity outcomes and PedsQL. Conclusions: Outcomes on bodily structure, function and activity showed little correlation with patients' well-being after thumb polydactyly correction. It should be careful in using or analysing patient/parent-reported outcome measures on HRQoL as outcome assessment of surgical treatment of radial polydactyly.

Implementation and new insights in molecular diagnostics for HIV infection.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a kind of acquired disease that breaks down the immune system. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of AIDS. By the end of 2016, there were 36.7 million people living with HIV worldwide. Early diagnosis can alert infected individuals to risk behaviors in order to control HIV transmission. Infected individuals are also benefited from proper treatment and management upon early diagnosis. Thanks to the public awareness of the disease, the annual increase of new HIV infections has been slowly declining over the past decades. The advent of molecular diagnostics has allowed early detection and better management of HIV infected patients. Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarized and discussed the current and future technologies in molecular diagnosis as well as the biomarkers developed for HIV infection. Expert Commentary: A simple and rapid detection of viral load is important for patients and doctors to monitor HIV progression and antiretroviral treatment efficiency. In the near future, it is expected that new technologies such as digital PCR and CRISPR-based technology will play more important role in HIV detection and patient management.