Assessing the negative impact of chlorantraniliprole, isoxaflutole, and simazine pesticides on phospholipid membrane models and tilapia gill tissues.

The indiscriminate and, very often, incorrect use of pesticides in Brazil, as well as in other countries, results in severe levels of environmental pollution and intoxication of human life. Herein, we studied plasma membrane models (monolayer and bilayer) of the phospholipid Dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) using Langmuir films, and large (LUVs) and giant (GUVs) unilamellar vesicles, to determine the effect of the pesticides chlorantraniliprole (CLTP), isoxaflutole (ISF), and simazine (SMZ), used in sugarcane. CLTP affects the lipid organization of the bioinspired models of DOPC π-A isotherms, while ISF and SMZ pesticides significantly affect the LUVs and GUVs. Furthermore, the in vivo study of the gill tissue in fish in the presence of pesticides (2.0 × 10-10 mol/L for CLTP, 8.3 × 10-9 mol/L for ISF, and SMZ at 9.9 × 10-9 mol/L) was performed using optical and fluorescence images. This investigation was motivated by the gill lipid membranes, which are vital for regulating transporter activity through transmembrane proteins, crucial for maintaining ionic balance in fish gills. In this way, the presence of phospholipids in gills offers a model for understanding their effects on fish health. Histological results show that exposure to CLTP, ISF, and SMZ may interfere with vital gill functions, leading to respiratory disorders and osmoregulation dysfunction. The results indicate that exposure to pesticides caused severe morphological alterations in fish, which could be correlated with their impact on the bioinspired membrane models. Moreover, the effect does not depend on the exposure period (24h and 96h), showing that animals exposed to pesticides for a short period suffer irreparable damage to gill tissue. In summary, we can conclude that the harm caused by pesticides, both in membrane models and in fish gills, occurs due to contamination of the aquatic system with pesticides. Therefore, water quality is vital for the preservation of ecosystems.

Bioseguridad en ambientes quirúrgicos durante la COVID-19 / Biosafety in Surgical Environments during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introducción: La COVID-19 significó un gran reto para los servicios de cirugía a nivel mundial, lo que trajo como consecuencia modificaciones, incluso la suspensión de la actividad quirúrgica en algunos casos con el objetivo de garantizar seguridad tanto para el paciente como para el personal de salud. Objetivo: Describir acciones que contribuyan a garantizar condiciones de bioseguridad en ambientes quirúrgicos durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica para la cual se usaron 37 referencias bibliográficas en inglés y español. Se consultaron fuentes científicas como PubMed/Medline, SciELO, Scopus, ScienceDirect y fuentes oficiales como la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Desarrollo: Ante la reanudación de la cirugía electiva se crearon protocolos de actuación. Deben clasificarse los pacientes en 3 grupos según la posibilidad de padecer COVID-19: individuos sanos, portadores asintomáticos y pacientes con síntomas. Además, debe darse prioridad a los pacientes cuyos procedimientos fueron cancelados. Se preconiza crear circuitos independientes y separados para evitar el contacto de casos sospechosos o confirmados de COVID-19 con el resto de pacientes. Para garantizar mayor seguridad debe entrenarse al personal médico en la forma correcta de utilizar los medios de protección personal. La inducción anestésica de estos pacientes debe garantizar su seguridad y prevenir el contagio. Una vez concluida la cirugía, se llevará a cabo la recuperación inicial del paciente dentro del propio quirófano y este será higienizado estrictamente. Conclusiones: Los profesionales sanitarios deben estar adecuadamente entrenados y conocer las medidas de bioseguridad y protocolos sanitarios tanto del hospital como del país en que se encuentren(AU)

Introduction: COVID-19 posed a great challenge to surgical services worldwide, resulting in modifications, including the suspension of surgical activity in some cases with the aim of ensuring safety for both the patient and the health personnel. Objective: To describe actions that contribute to guarantee biosafety conditions in surgical environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out using 37 bibliographic references in English and Spanish. Scientific sources, such as PubMed/Medline, SciELO, Scopus and ScienceDirect, were consulted; as well as official sources, such as the World Health Organization. Development: When elective surgery was resumed, action protocols were created. Patients should be classified into 3 groups, according to the possibility of having COVID-19: healthy individuals, asymptomatic carriers, and patients with symptoms. In addition, priority should be given to patients whose procedures have been cancelled. Independent and isolated wards are recommended to be created in order to avoid contact between suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and the rest of the patients. To ensure greater safety, the medical personnel should be trained in the correct use of personal protective equipment. The anesthetic induction of these patients should ensure their safety and prevent contagion. Once the surgery is over, the initial recovery of the patient will be carried out inside the operating room itself, which shall be strictly sanitized. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals must be adequately trained and be aware of the biosecurity measures and healthcare protocols of both the hospital and the country where they are located(AU)

Life expectancy after surgical aortic valve replacement for low-gradient aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) can modify the natural history of severe aortic stenosis (SAS). However, compared with the general population, these patients have a loss of life expectancy. The life expectancy of patients who undergo SAVR due to low-gradient SAS with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. METHODS: We included all patients between 50 and 65 years who underwent isolated SAVR in 27 Spanish centers during an 18-year period. We analyzed observed and expected survival at 18 years in patients with low-gradient SAS with preserved LVEF and all other types of SAS. We used propensity score matching to compare the life expectancy of patients with low-gradient SAS with preserved LVEF vs those with high-gradient SAS with preserved LVEF. RESULTS: We analyzed 5084 patients, of whom 413 had low-gradient SAS with preserved LVEF. For these patients, observed survival at 10, 15 and 18 years was 86.6% (95%CI, 85.3-87.8), 75% (95%CI, 72.7-77.2), and 63.5% (95%CI, 58.8-67.8). Expected survival at 10, 15 and 18 years was 90.2%, 82.1%, and 75.7%. In the matched sample, survival of patients with low-gradient SAS with preserved LVEF was similar to that of patients with high-gradient with preserved LVEF, log-rank test, P=.95; HR=1 (95%CI, 0.7-1.4; P=.95). CONCLUSIONS: There is a loss of life expectancy in patients with all types of SAS undergoing SAVR. This loss is higher in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and lower in patients with low-gradient or high-gradient aortic stenosis with preserved LVEF. The benefit of surgery is similar between these last 2 groups.

Visual and refractive outcomes of monofocal toric intraocular lens implantation in amblyopic eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes of monofocal toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation after cataract surgery in amblyopic eyes. METHODS: Our center's database was used to identify patients who had undergone bilateral cataract surgery between 2016 and 2020 with the implantation of a toric IOL in their amblyopic eye. Exclusion criteria were the presence of strabismus, ocular pathologies other than cataract or intra-surgical complications. The outcomes analysed were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), subjective refraction and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) one month after surgery. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included, with a mean age of 68.96 ± 7.81years. CDVA was lower for the amblyopic eye, both before and after surgery. There was a mean improvement in CDVA of 0.23 ± 0.21 LogMAR for the dominant eye and of 0.39 ± 0.33 for the amblyopic eye, p < 0.001 in both cases. Postoperative subjective refractive cylinder was higher in the amblyopic eye (-0.24 ± 0.39 D versus -0.10 ± 0.25 D, p < 0.01), as well as mean cylinder prediction error (-0.30 ± 0.47 D versus 0.02 ± 0.42 D, p < 0.01), compared to the dominant eye. There was a statistically significant correlation between preoperative and postoperative CDVA in amblyopic eyes (Spearmans Rho = 260, p = 0.013). Mean postoperative UCVA was 0.15 ± 0.25 for amblyopic and 0.03 ± 0.12 for dominant eyes. Only one patient required distance spectacle correction due to residual astigmatism. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery with toric IOL implantation in amblyopic eyes leads to an improvement in visual acuity and to spectacle independence in almost all cases, even in the presence of a higher cylinder prediction error.

Myopic LASIK Outcomes: Comparison of Three Different Femtosecond Lasers and a Mechanical Microkeratome Using the Same Excimer Laser.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the influence of one microkeratome and three femtosecond lasers on myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective, observational cohort study. We compared 134 eyes treated with the IntraLase 60 kHz, 112 eyes treated with the Femto LDV Z6, 206 eyes treated with the FS200, and 98 eyes treated with the Hansatome zero compression microkeratome. All eyes were operated on using the same surgical protocol with the same excimer laser (Wavelight Allegretto) and were allocated to refraction-matched groups. RESULTS: One day and one week postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity was significantly lower in the FS200 group compared to others (P = 0.0001). This difference disappeared at the 1- and 3-month postoperative visits. Significant differences were found among groups in terms of safety index (P = 0.0001), residual sphere (P = 0.0001), and residual cylinder (P = 0.02) at the 3-month postoperative visit. No significant differences were found in corrected distance visual acuity or efficacy index. CONCLUSION: According to our results, a slight delay in visual restoration after FS200 LASIK surgery might be expected. This delay was statistically significant at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively, but there were no differences from the 1-month visit onwards. Additionally, significant differences were found among devices in terms of safety index and the refractive results, which were found not to be clinically relevant.

Atomic force microscopy comparative analysis of the surface roughness of two posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens models: ICL versus IPCL.

BACKGROUND: To compare the anterior surface roughness of two commercially available posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). METHODS: Four phakic IOLs were used for this prospective, experimental study: two Visian ICL EVO+ V5 lenses and two iPCL 2.0 lenses. All of them were brand new, were not previously implanted in humans, were monofocal and had a dioptric power of - 12 diopters (D). The anterior surface roughness was assessed using a JPK NanoWizard II® atomic force microscope in contact mode immersed in liquid. Olympus OMCL-RC800PSA commercial silicon nitride cantilever tips were used. Anterior surface roughness measurements were made in 7 areas of 10 × 10 µm at 512 × 512 point resolution. The roughness was measured using the root-mean-square (RMS) value within the given regions. RESULTS: The mean of all anterior surface roughness measurements was 6.09 ± 1.33 nm (nm) in the Visian ICL EVO+ V5 and 3.49 ± 0.41 nm in the iPCL 2.0 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the current study, we found a statistically significant smoother anterior surface in the iPCL 2.0 phakic intraocular lenses compared with the VISIAN ICL EVO+ V5 lenses when studied with atomic force microscopy.

Comparación de resultados de la Cirugía Torácica Convencional y la Uniportal en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología / Comparison of results of Conventional and Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology

Introducción: La cirugía torácica videoasistida por un solo puerto (Uniportal VATS) se ha convertido hoy en uno de los abordajes más utilizados para resecciones pulmonares en muchos centros de cirugía torácica del mundo, en Cuba su introducción es bastante reciente y todavía se encuentra en fase inicial. Objetivo: Comparar los resultados obtenidos por cirugía torácica abierta y Uniportal VATS en pacientes intervenidos en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología de La Habana (INOR) durante enero de 2016 a abril de 2017. Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte longitudinal retrospectivo con 60 pacientes atendidos en el INOR durante enero de 2016 a abril de 2017 a los cuales se les realizó cirugía torácica. Resultados: Veinticuatro pacientes fueron operados por Uniportal VATS y 36 a través de la toracotomía, primaron las lesiones del lado derecho, el procedimiento más realizado fue lobectomía. Los estadíos predominantes fueron IA y IB, la mayoría de los procedimientos fue realizada en tres horas o menos, 8 casos se convirtieron, 13 sufrieron complicaciones. La estadía media de los pacientes tratados con Uniportal VATS fue menor que los que recibieron la toracotomía abierta. Conclusiones: El abordaje Uniportal se caracterizó por ser seguro, tener una gran versatilidad, pocas complicaciones y por mejorar la recuperación postquirúrgica del paciente y acelerar su reincorporación a las actividades de la vida cotidiana(AU)

Introduction: Single-port Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (Uniportal VATS) has currently become one of the most commonly used approaches for lung resections in many Thoracic Surgery Centers around the world. In Cuba, its introduction is quite recent and it is still in its initial phase. Objective: To compare the results obtained by open thoracic surgery and Uniportal VATS in patients who underwent surgery in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology of Havana (INOR) from January 2016 to April 2017. Material and Methods: An observational descriptive longitudinal retrospective study was conducted in 60 patients who underwent Thoracic Surgery in the INOR during 2016 - April 2017. Results: A total of 24 patients were operated through Uniportal VATS and 36 underwent thoracotomy. The lesions predominantly affected the right side and lobectomy was the most performed surgical procedure. Stages IA and IB predominated. Most of the procedures were carried out in 3 hours or less, 8 cases were converted and 13 suffered from complications. The average postoperative length of stay in hospital for patients who underwent Uniportal VATS was reduced compared to those who underwent open thoracotomy. Conclusions: Uniportal VATS is characterized by being a safe procedure with few complications and great versatility. It improves postoperative recovery of patients and accelerates their return to daily life activities(AU)

The SCQ-SCORE: initial validation of a new scoring system for elective stone surgery prioritization in the COVID-19 era.

INTRODUCTION: Endourology waiting lists have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritization strategies are needed. Some tiered classifications have been put forward aimed at prioritizing patients by using criteria related with clinical severity or social impact of stone disease, yet no quantitative system has been published to date. The objective of this study is to present a new quantitative scoring system for elective stone surgery prioritization and show its intra- and inter-rater reliability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scoring system coined 'SCQ-score' was set up, which consists of 9 variables: infection (ranges 0-3), obstruction (0-3), indwelling time (0-3), admissions (0-3), symptoms (0-2), ureteral location (0-1), solitary or suboptimal kidney (0-1), chronic kidney disease (0-1) and presence of percutaneous nephrostomy (0-1).The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the SCQ-score was prospectively validated in 60 consecutive patients on the waiting list, by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The SCQ-score demonstrated having an excellent interobserver agreement (ICC >0.75) for the final score and its different domains. After 4 weeks, a second analysis was carried out to measure its intra-rater reliability, which was also excellent. On average, 134.9 ±50 seconds were required to complete the SCQ-score. CONCLUSIONS: The SCQ-score is a new quantitative system to help prioritize elective stone surgeries, which has been shown to be user-friendly and to have an excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability. Initially developed to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, its utility will probably remain of interest in the post-COVID-19 era to ensure a fairer access to stone surgery.

Corneal stromal roughness after VisuMax and Intralase femtosecond laser photodisruption: An atomic force microscopy study.

PURPOSE: To compare the induced corneal stromal bed roughness measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) after LASIK flap creation with the IntraLase 60 kHz and the VisuMax femtosecond laser platforms. METHODS: Three freshly enucleated porcine eyes were operated with each femtosecond laser in this experimental study. Standard LASIK treatment parameters were used for the experiment. After LASIK flap creation, the corneal stromal roughness was assessed using a JPK NanoWizard II® AFM in contact mode immersed in liquid. Olympus OMCL-RC800PSA commercial silicon nitride cantilever tips were used. Surface measurements were made in 10 regions of the central cornea of each sample measuring 20 x 20 microns, at 512 x 512 point resolution. Roughness was measured using the root-mean-square (RMS) value within the given regions. RESULTS: Measurements from 30 regions of the 3 eyes (10 measurements per eye) in the Intralase (FS1) group, and 30 regions of the 3 eyes (10 measurements per eye) in the VisuMax (FS2) group were analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference in mean ± standard deviation RMS values between the FS1 and the FS2 groups (360 ± 120 versus 230 ± 100 nm respectively; P< 0.00001). CONCLUSION: This AFM study indicates that the surface of the stromal bed after LASIK flap creation is smoother in the FS2 group than the FS1 group.

Effect of Laser-assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy with Mitomycin C on Corneal Optical Density Measured with Confocal Microscopy.

SIGNIFICANCE: The development of confocal microscopy allows one to obtain high-resolution corneal images like its optical density. Some studies have evaluated the optical density with Scheimpflug cameras in the early post-operative period after photorefractive keratectomy, but no studies have evaluated the long-term evolution of optical density after surface ablation when mitomycin C is used. PURPOSE: This work aimed to study the changes in corneal optical density measured with confocal microscopy in eyes treated with laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) to correct myopia. METHODS: A study of 24 consecutive myopic eyes that underwent LASEK with 0.02% MMC and a control group of 24 healthy nontreated eyes was performed. Optical density was measured using the images by the confocal microscopy of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II with the Rostock Cornea Module. An analysis of confocal microscopy images was performed using the ImageJ software to obtain the optical density, in gray-scale units (GSU). The optical density of the stromal bed was evaluated 3 months, 15 months, and 3 years after surgery and was compared with the optical density at the equivalent depth of the stroma in controls. RESULTS: The mean values of optical density for the LASEK group were 81.7 ± 9.7, 78.6 ± 11.7, and 73.6 ± 18.7 GSU at 3 months, 15 months, and 3 years, respectively, and it was 61.8 ± 8.2 GSU for the control group. A statistically higher optical density 3 and 15 months after LASEK with MMC was found compared with controls (P < .001). No significant difference was found in optical density at 3 years post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that, after LASEK with MMC, the anterior corneal stroma has a higher optical density at 3 and 15 months post-operatively, which gradually returns to normal values 3 years after surgery.

Empathy in Nursing Students. Cross-sectional Study / Empatía en estudiantes de enfermería. Estudio transversal

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the levels of empathy in students enrolled in the nursing program. Material and methods. Data Sources: The population consists of students from the first to the fifth academic year (Course) (N = 312, n = 253, 81.08% of the population). Selection of studies: Exploratory and cross-sectional study. Data extraction: The authors collected the information between January and February 2018. Participants answered the Jefferson Medical Scale of Empathy, the Spanish version for medical students (S version), validated and adapted for nursing students in Colombia. Results. Synthesis of the data: Cronbach's alpha was satisfactory (not typifed = 0.891 and typified = 0.886), from which it is inferred that the data has internal reliability. The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.891; CI [0.87, 0.909] (F = 9.15, p = 0.005): confirms the good reliability. The authors observed that in empathy, this coefficient was highly significant in all three factors, with the eta-square value satisfactory and a high power observed. The significance level used was a < 0.05 and P <0.20. Conclusions: The manifestation of the levels of empathy observed in this study agrees with the concept of empathic erosion, especially when analyzing empathic behavior in the male gender. The empathy levels in the students examined are relatively low, and authors conclude that there is considerable potential for growth of empathy and that of its components. Empathy is a complex part of academic formation that cannot be seen as an isolated variable.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Estimar los niveles de empatia en estudiantes matriculados en un programa de enfermería. Material y Métodos. Fuentes de datos: La población está compuesta por estudiantes del primer al quinto año académico (Curso) (N = 312, n = 253, 81.08% de la población). Selección de estudios: Estudio exploratorio y transversal. Extracción de datos: La información se recopiló entre enero y febrero de 2018. Los participantes respondieron la Escala de Empatía Médica de Jefferson (S)validada y adaptada para estudiantes de enfermería en Colombia. Resultados. Síntesis de los datos: El alfa de Cronbach fue satisfactorio (no tipificado = 0,891 y tipificado = 0,886): de manera que los datos tienen fiabilidad interna. El coeficiente de correlación interclase fue de 0,891; IC [0.87, 0.909] (F = 9.15, p = 0.005): este confirma la buena confiabilidad. Se observó que, en la empatía, el coeficiente de correlación intraclase fue altamente significativo en los tres factores; con el valor eta-cuadrado satisfactorio y la potencia observada alta. El nivel de significación utilizado fue a < 0.05 y P <0.20. Conclusiones: La manifestación de los niveles de empatía observados en este estudio coincide con el concepto de erosión empática, especialmente cuando se analiza el comportamiento empático en el género masculino. En general, los niveles de empatía en los estudiantes examinados son relativamente bajos y se ha demostrado que existe un potencial considerable para el crecimiento de la empatía y de sus componentes. La empatía es una parte compleja de la formación académica que no puede verse como una variable aislada.

Differences in life expectancy between men and women after aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Some researchers have observed an increased number of deaths during the follow-up of young patients who undergo aortic valve replacement due to severe aortic stenosis, suggesting that this procedure does not restore their life expectancy. Our goal was to confirm these findings and explore sex-based differences. METHODS: All patients between 50 and 65 years of age who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement in 27 Spanish centres during an 18-year period were included. We compared observed and expected survival at 15 years of follow-up and estimated the cumulative incidence of death from a competing risks point of view. We stratified by sex and analysed if being a woman was an independent risk factor for death. RESULTS: For men, the observed survival at 10 and 15 years of follow-up was 85% [95% confidence interval (CI) 83.6%-86.4%] and 72.3% (95% CI 69.7%-74.7%), respectively whereas the expected survival was 88.1% and 78.8%. For women, the observed survival at 10 and 15 years was 85% (95% CI 82.8%-86.9%) and 73% (95% CI 69.1%-76.4%), whereas the expected survival was 94.6% and 89.4%. At 15 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of death due to the disease in men and women was 8.2% and 16.7%, respectively. In addition, being a woman was an independent risk factor for death (hazard ratio = 1.23 (95% CI 1.02-1.48; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: After the aortic valve replacement, men and women do not have their life expectancy restored, but this loss is much higher in women than in men. In addition, being a woman is a risk factor for long-term death. Reasons for these findings are unknown and must be investigated.

Real-world evaluation of visual results and patient satisfaction for extended range of focus intraocular lenses compared to trifocal lenses.

PURPOSE: To report visual outcomes and patient-perceived satisfaction after trifocal or extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in a real-world scenario. METHODS: Three months after bilateral cataract surgery, corrected and uncorrected visual acuity for far, intermediate and near distances and binocular defocus curves and contrast sensitivity were measured. The patients also completed the Catquest SF-9 questionnaire and reported on dysphotopsia and spectacle use. RESULTS: There were 23 patients in the Symfony, 32 patients in the Finevision and 36 patients in the Panoptix group. The percentage of eyes receiving a toric IOL was 41.2%. There were no differences in uncorrected binocular visual acuities, save for near vision, which was lower in the Symfony group. Binocular defocus curves for the trifocal IOLS were almost identical, while vision achieved with the Symfony IOL was significantly lower starting at - 1.5 D defocus. Contrast sensitivity, as well as the perception of halos and glare and the difficulty for night-driving was similar for all groups, except for contrast sensitivity at 6 cycles per degree, which was lower in the Symfony group compared to both Finevision and Panoptix. For near vision, only 47.6% of the Symfony patients reported being completely spectacle-free, compared to 93.3% and 94.4% for the Finevision and Panoptix groups. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant differences were only detected for near vision, with lower values for EDOF IOLs. In order to achieve patient satisfaction, it is imperative to explain the results expected with each IOL; for EDOF IOLs, patients should be advised that they may require near-spectacle correction.

Tolerance to Residual Refractive Errors After Trifocal and Trifocal Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of 0.50 diopter (D) positive or negative defocus on visual function in patients implanted with trifocal and trifocal toric intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: The study included patients implanted with the AcrySof IQ PanOptix IOL or the PanOptix Toric. Visual acuity (VA) at high (100%), medium (50%) and low (10%) contrast, contrast sensitivity function (CSF), and halo perception were assessed three months after surgery. Explorations were performed with corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), with a positive defocus of +0.50D (myopization) and with a negative defocus of -0.50D (hyperopization). RESULTS: The study included 60 eyes of 60 patients (30 eyes with PanOptix and 30 eyes with PanOptix Toric). For both groups, VA was better for all contrast settings at the CDVA situation (P<0.05 in all cases). For low spatial frequencies, no differences in CSF were found among the three refractive situations in either group. For higher frequencies, the results showed an overall trend for better CSF results for the CDVA situation. The halo effect was lower for the CDVA situation if compared to myopization and hyperopization in both the PanOptix and the PanOptix Toric groups (P<0.05 for all cases). CONCLUSIONS: There is an impact on visual quality and halo perception in patients implanted with trifocal or trifocal toric IOLs even for low residual refractive errors.

Effect of flap homogeneity on higher-order aberrations induction after femtosecond LASIK for myopia.

PURPOSE: To assess the relevance of the homogeneity of femtosecond laser flap thickness regarding induction of higher-order aberrations (HOAs). SETTING: Clínica Rementería & Clínica Novovisión, Madrid, Spain. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-one patients underwent in situ keratomileusis using 5 different femtosecond lasers. The flap thicknesses were measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography 3 months postoperatively. The same masked observer measured 6 symmetrical points nasally and temporally 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, and 3.0 mm from the center of the flap in each case. HOAs induced in the cornea were measured using tomography. RESULTS: Positive and significant correlations were found between HOA induction and the flap thickness heterogeneity 3.0 mm from the center of the flap. Pearson correlation coefficients for the induction of HOAs were third-order 0.17112 (P = .0224), fourth-order 0.22474 (P = .0026), fifth-order 0.16449 (P = .0282), coma-like 0.17370 (P = .0204), and total HOAs 0.18182 (P = .0151). CONCLUSIONS: The amount of flap-thickness heterogeneity at 3.0 mm from the center of the flap created using femtosecond lasers was correlated with the magnitude of the HOAs induced.

Índices triglicéridos-glucosa como estimadores de insulinorresistencia en personas con riesgo de desarrollar diabetes tipo 2 / Triglyceride-glucose indices as estimators of insulin resistance in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes

EL HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment-insulin-resistance) es un estimador de insulinorresistencia (IR) pero depende de la determinación de insulina. Los índices triglicéridos-glucosa (T-G)-circunferencia de la cintura (CC) (T-G-CC) o triglicéridos-glucosa-índice de masa corporal (TG- IMC) podrían ser sustitutos. Los objetivos de este trabajo consistieron en investigar en personas con riesgo de desarrollar diabetes tipo 2 (DT2): a) los índices T-G, T-G-CC y T-G-IMC como estimadores de HOMA-IR>2,1; b) determinar su poder discriminante. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en el que se estudiaron 223 individuos ≥45 años con riesgo de desarrollar diabetes tipo 2 (DT2). La relación T-G se calculó como ln [triglicéridos (mg/dL) x glucemia (mg/dL)/2]. La relación T-G-CC y T-G-IMC fue el producto de T-G por CC o IMC. Se utilizó análisis de regresión logística y se calcularon las áreas bajo las curvas ROC (receiver operating characteristic curves) (ABC) para comparar las asociaciones de T-G, T-G-CC y T-G-IMC con HOMA-IR>2,1. Mediante análisis discriminante se evaluó la clasificación de los sujetos entre HOMA-IR>2,1 y HOMA-IR≤2,1. ABC, sensibilidad, especificidad, poder predictivo positivo y negativo para T-G-CC y T-G-IMC fueron mayores que para T-G, con los siguientes valores de corte: T-G=8,75, T-G-CC=821 y T-G-IMC=255. Los odds ratios (OR) para HOMA-IR>2,1, ajustados para confusores, fueron: T-G>8,75, OR: 4,85 (IC 95% 2,73-8,62); T-G-CC>821, OR: 10,41 (IC 95% 5,55-19,53); T-GIMC> 255, OR: 10,41 (IC 95% 5,55-19,53). Con el análisis discriminante T-G>8,75 clasificó correctamente 69,2% individuos con HOMA-IR≤2,1 y 68,3% con HOMA-IR>2,1; T-G-CC y T-G-IMC clasificaron 74,4% y 78,2% respectivamente (p<0,001 en todos los casos). Se concluyó que T-GCC> 821 y T-G-IMC>255 fueron mejores estimadores de HOMA-IR>2,1 que T-G>8,75. Estas son determinaciones simples y accesibles y podrían ser útiles en la práctica clínica y en estudios epidemiológicos.

HOMA-IR ((homeostasis model assessment-insulin-resistance) is a surrogate estimator of insulin resistance (IR) but it depends on insulin determination. Triglyceride-glucose-waist circumference (T-G-WC) or triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (BMI) (T-G-BMI) could be substitutes. The objectives of this work were: to investigate in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D): a) T-G, T-G-CC and T-G-BMI as estimators of HOMA-IR>2.1 and b) to determine their discriminating power. A prospective study was conducted studying 223 individuals ≥45 years of age at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The T-G ratio was calculated as ln [triglycerides (mg/dL) x glycemia (mg/dL)/2]. The T-G-CC and T-G-BMI ratio was the product of T-G by CC or BMI. Logistic regression analysis was used and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) curves were calculated to compare the associations of T-G, T-G-CC and T-G-BMI with HOMA-IR>2.1. Using a discriminant analysis, the classification of the subjects between HOMA-IR>2.1 or HOMA-IR≤2.1 was evaluated. AUC, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive powers for T-G-CC and T-G-BMI were higher than for T-G, with the following cut-off values: TG=8.75, T-G-CC=821 and T-G-BMI=255. Odds ratios (OR) for HOMA-IR>2.1, adjusted for confounders, were: T-G>8.75, OR 4.85 (95% CI 2.73-8.62); T-G-CC>821, OR 10.41 (95% CI 5.55-19.53); T-G-BMI>255, OR 10.41 (95% CI 5.55-19.53). With the discriminant analysis T-G>8.75, 69.2% correctly classified with HOMA-IR≤2.1 and 68.3% with HOMA-IR>2.1; T-G-CC and T-G-BMI correctly classified 74.4% and 78.2% respectively (p <0.001 in all cases). It is concluded that T-G-CC>821 and T-G-BMI>255 were better estimators of HOMA-IR>2.1 than T-G>8.75. T-G-WC and T-G-BMI are simple and reliable determinations and could be useful in clinical practice and epidemiological studies.

O HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment-insulin-resistance) e um estimador de resistencia a insulina (RI), mas depende da determinacao da insulina. Triglicerideos-glicose (T-G), circunferencia da cintura (CC) (T-G-CC) ou triglicerideos-glicose-indice de massa corporal (T-G-IMC) poderiam ser substitutos. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram investigar em pessoas com risco de desenvolver diabetes tipo 2 (DT2): a) os indices T-G, T-G-CC e T-G-IMC como estimadores de HOMA-IR> 2,1; b) determinar seu poder discriminante. Um estudo prospectivo foi realizado em 223 pessoas ≥45 anos com risco de desenvolver diabetes tipo 2 (DT2). A razao T-G foi calculada como ln [triglicerideos (mg/dL) x glicemia (mg/dL)/2]. A razao T-G-CC e T-G-IMC foi o produto de T-G por CC ou IMC. A analise de regressao logistica foi utilizada e as areas sob as curvas ROC (receiver operating features) ABC foram calculadas para comparar as associacoes de T-G, T-G-CC e T-G-IMC com HOMA-IR>2.1. Por meio de analise discriminante, avaliou-se a classificacao dos sujeitos entre HOMA-IR>2,1 e HOMA-IR≤2,1. ABC, sensibilidade, especificidade, poder preditivo positivo e negativo para TG-CC e TG-IMC foram maiores que para TG, com os seguintes valores de corte: TG=8,75, TG-CC=821 e TG-IMC=255. Odds Ratios (OR) para HOMA-IR>2,1, ajustados para fatores de confusao, foram: TG>8,75, OR 4,85 (IC95% 2,73-8,62); T-G-CC>821, OR 10,41 (IC 95% 5,55-19,53); T-G-IMC>255, OR 10,41 (IC 95% 5,55-19,53). Com a analise discriminante T-G>8,75, 69,2% foram classificados corretamente com HOMA-IR≤2,1 e 68,3% com HOMA-IR>2,1; T-G-CC e T-G-IMC classificaram 74,4% e 78,2%, respectivamente (p<0,001 em todos os casos). Conclui-se que T-G-CC>821 e TG- IMC>255 foram melhores estimadores de HOMA-IR>2,1 que T-G>8,75. Elas sao determinacoes simples e acessiveis e poderiam ser uteis na pratica clinica e em estudos epidemiologicos.

Visual and Refractive Outcomes of Cataract Surgeries Performed in One Year in a Private Practice Setting: Review of 2714 Procedures.

METHODS: Our center's database was used to identify all isolated cataract procedures performed during 2017. The electronic records were reviewed to collect the preoperative information, presence of intra- or postsurgical complications, and visual and refractive outcomes one month after surgery. RESULTS: In 2017, 2714 eyes of 1543 patients underwent cataract surgery in our center. Mean patient age was 70.42 years. 775 eyes (28.55%) had prior ophthalmic pathologies, and 113 eyes (4.16%) had undergone previous surgical procedures. Surgical complications developed in 35 eyes (1.29%), including 9 posterior capsule tears (0.33%) and 3 cases of dropped lens fragments (0.11%). A toric or multifocal intraocular lens was implanted in 45.6% of eyes. As regards postoperative complications, 59 eyes (2.17%) required a return to the operating theater, including 29 eyes (1.07%) requiring reinterventions due to an unexpected refractive result. There were no cases of endophthalmitis. Mean LogMAR-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) improved from 0.25 (SD 0.34) preoperatively to 0.04 (SD 0.17) postoperatively; 86.5% of eyes achieved a CDVA ≤0.0, with 97.5% achieving ≤0.3. In 86.4% of eyes, the difference between target and residual spherical equivalent difference was of 0.50 D or lower; 88% of eyes had a spherical equivalent ±0.50 D. CONCLUSIONS: The visual and refractive outcomes of cataract surgery in a private practice setting were excellent, well over the benchmarks set by the ESCRS. The safety profile was also within expected standards. This study provides information for ophthalmologists in private practice on expected outcomes.