Subclassification of Primary Angle Closure Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Parameters.

PURPOSE: To classify eyes with primary angle closure (PAC) in terms of the features visualized using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 73 eyes of 73 patients with PAC. METHODS: Participants' eyes that had undergone laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) were imaged using AS-OCT and UBM under the same lighting conditions. Anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber width, iris cross-sectional area, peripheral iris thickness, iris curvature, lens vault (LV), and angle opening distance 500 µm from the scleral spur (SS) were determined using the AS-OCT image; trabecular-ciliary process angle (TCA), trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD), and ciliary body (CB) thickness 1 mm posterior to the SS were estimated on the UBM image using ImageJ software (Wayne Rasband, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD). Iris insertion, iris angulation, iris convexity, presence of ciliary sulcus, irido-angle contact, and CB orientation assessed on the UBM image were included. Partitioning around the medoids algorithm was used for cluster analysis based on the parameters obtained using AS-OCT and UBM. Axial length and pupil diameter were incorporated into statistical models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical and anatomic characteristics were compared between the clusters, as classified using the partitioning around medoids algorithm method. RESULTS: Cluster analysis revealed that 2-group clustering produced the best results. The 2 clusters, which were defined in terms of parameters obtained using AS-OCT and UBM, showed differences in iris curvature (0.16±0.08 vs. 0.11±0.04 mm), TCA (91.0°±13.4° vs. 63.7°±6.2°), TCPD (0.99±0.22 vs. 0.78±0.16 mm), CB orientation (neutral/anterior, 35/13 vs. 0/25), and iris insertion (basal/middle/apical, 37/9/2 vs. 12/11/2). Pre-LPI intraocular pressure (IOP) (18.8±5.4 vs. 16.2±4.5 mmHg; P = 0.037) and percentage of IOP reduction after LPI (22.3%±17.9% vs. 8.3%±19.5%; P < 0.003) showed a significant difference between the 2 clusters. CONCLUSIONS: The most distinct difference between the 2 subgroups in the cluster analysis was TCA, suggesting that the position of the CB is important in subclassifying PAC. By using UBM, clinicians may obtain more clues about the mechanisms of PAC; in turn, they may learn to predict the IOP-lowering effects of LPI.

Naked-eye detection with loop-mediated isothermal amplification for P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in agricultural products.

Pectobacterium carotovorum causing soft-rot disease requires on-site detection before the distribution of agricultural products. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which is resistant to food inhibitors, is known for its high detection sensitivity for pathogens and when coupled with lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) enables visualizations. For detection of soft-rot disease, we developed a LAMP-LFA system targeting 16S ribosomal RNA, a partial sequence gene of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. The LAMP-LFA was performed at 60 °C for 50 min followed by hybridization of digoxygenin-labeled LAMP amplicon and biotinylated probe. Detection sensitivity was 3.22 × 101 CFU/mL in pure culture, which specifically detected the target. In Chinese cabbage and potato, the target was detected up to low levels of 1.57 × 102 CFU/g and 1.29 × 102 CFU/g, respectively. This study showed potential applicability as a sensitive point-of-care system for soft-rot disease bacteria detection in agricultural products. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01315-z.

A Review of Isothermal Amplification Methods and Food-Origin Inhibitors against Detecting Food-Borne Pathogens.

The isothermal amplification method, a molecular-based diagnostic technology, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), is widely used as an alternative to the time-consuming and labor-intensive culture-based detection method. However, food matrices or other compounds can inhibit molecular-based diagnostic technologies, causing reduced detection efficiencies, and false-negative results. These inhibitors originating from food are polysaccharides and polyphenolic compounds in berries, seafood, and vegetables. Additionally, magnesium ions needed for amplification reactions can also inhibit molecular-based diagnostics. The successful removal of inhibitors originating from food and molecular amplification reaction is therefore proposed to enhance the efficiency of molecular-based diagnostics and allow accurate detection of food-borne pathogens. Among molecular-based diagnostics, PCR inhibitors have been reported. Nevertheless, reports on the mechanism and removal of isothermal amplification method inhibitors are insufficient. Therefore, this review describes inhibitors originating from food and some compounds inhibiting the detection of food-borne pathogens during isothermal amplification.

Development of modified enrichment broth for short enrichment and recovery of filter-injured Salmonella Typhimurium.

The filter concentration method facilitates the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. The filter concentration method lowered the limit of detection (LOD) of artificially inoculated cabbage with Salmonella Typhimurium; however, the procedure injured foodborne pathogens during filtering procedure. Thus, to detect injured pathogens under the detection limit, an enrichment broth promoting pathogen resuscitation and growth is required. To rapidly recover, cultivate and lower the time to result (TTR) of S. Typhimurium detection after filter concentration method, a brain heart infusion (BHI) broth-based modified enrichment broth (MEB) was developed. The MEB was developed by fitting growth curves to a modified Gompertz model; 1.00 g/L of sodium pyruvate, 0.20 g/L proline and 2.0 g/L magnesium sulphate additives were optimized as additional components to rapidly grow filter-injured S. Typhimurium. As a result, the rate of filter-injured S. Typhimurium went from 100% to 0.0% using MEB within 3.5 h. In contrast, BHI required 4 h and buffered peptone water (BPW) required more than 4 h to decrease the injury rate to 0.0%. Using MEB, BHI and BPW, filter-injured S. Typhimurium in cabbages were enriched to 4.056 ± 0.026 Log CFU/25 g, 3.571 ± 0.187 Log CFU/25 g and 3.708 ± 0.156 Log CFU/25 g, respectively. Additionally, 1-9 CFU/mL S. Typhimurium in cabbage was detected within 3.0 h, including 1 h enrichment with MEB, whereas 5.0 h was required for BHI and BPW. Thus, the MEB developed in this study showed great potential as a short enrichment broth for the rapid detection of filter-injured S. Typhimurium.

Transcranial direct current stimulation on primary sensorimotor area has no effect in patients with drug-naïve restless legs syndrome: a proof-of-concept clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in people with drug-naïve restless legs syndrome (RLS). METHODS: A two-week, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was performed. Thirty-three females with RLS were recruited. Participants received five sessions of tDCS using cathodal, anodal or sham stimulation. They were assessed at baseline (T0), three days (T1) and 13 days (T2) after the end of tDCS. Primary outcomes included the International RLS Group Rating Scale (IRLS) and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I). Secondary outcomes included the Patient Global Impression scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Medical Outcome Study sleep subscales, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Objective neurophysiological changes were assessed using event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) of electroencephalography. RESULTS: The changes in the IRLS scores, as well as the responder rate in the CGI-I scale, did not differ significantly among the groups. There was also no significant difference in any of the secondary outcome measures and ERD/ERS among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transcranial direct current stimulation with electrodes on the sensorimotor areas showed no significant effect in people with drug-naïve RLS.