Light- and drug-induced pupillary dynamics in eyes with a retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the pupillary characteristics and response to light and drugs in eyes with posterior chamber (PC) placement of iris-claw intraocular lens (IC-IOL). METHODS: In this cross-sectional, comparative study, we included adults with an IC-IOL implanted in the PC of a single eye. We excluded patients with ocular trauma, postoperative IC-IOL displacement or complications, and extended iris atrophy. We used anterior segment optical coherence tomography to perform light-controlled pupillography, measure the pupil diameter (PD), and estimated the pupil circularity under mesopic conditions. PD was also assessed under photopic, scotopic, pharmacological mydriasis, and miosis conditions. The results were compared to those of the fellow eye, phakic, or regular pseudophakic. RESULTS: The IC-IOL and control groups included 30 eyes each. The most frequent reasons for IC-IOL implantation were complicated cataract (37%) and dislocated/luxated prior IOL (33%). Compared to the control group, the IC-IOL group had lower visual acuity, a smaller PD under scotopic conditions (p = 0.0010) and after pharmacological mydriasis (p < 0.0001), and a larger PD after pharmacological miosis (p < 0.0001). Mesopic pupil circularity was comparable between the groups. We also considered ongoing extraocular treatments with possible effects on iris motility. CONCLUSIONS: The pupillary size and profile were similar between the groups in mesopic light. Reduced mydriasis was noted in response to light and drugs, while the degree of miosis was reduced in response to inducing drugs in the IC-IOL compared to the control group. This study complements previous results concerning the PC placement of IC-IOLs by adding original observations on drug-induced pupil motility.

Effectiveness of Narrative Messaging Styles about the Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequities in Ontario, Canada.

Health inequities are systemic, avoidable, and unjust differences in health between populations. These differences are often determined by social and structural factors, such as income and social status, employment and working conditions, or race/racism, which are referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). According to public opinion, health is considered to be largely determined by the choices and behaviours of individuals. However, evidence suggests that social and structural factors are the key determinants of health. There is likely a lack of public understanding of the role that social and structural factors play in determining health and producing health inequities. Public opinion and priorities can drive governmental action, so the aim of this work was to determine the most impactful way to increase knowledge and awareness about the social determinants of health (SDOH) and health inequities in the province of Ontario, Canada. A study to test the effectiveness of four different messaging styles about health inequities and the SDOH was conducted with a sample of 805 adult residents of Ontario. Findings show that messages highlighting the challenges faced by those experiencing the negative effects of the SDOH, while still acknowledging individual responsibility for health, were the most effective for eliciting an empathetic response from Ontarians. These findings can be used to inform public awareness campaigns focused on changing the current public narrative about the SDOH toward a more empathetic response, with the goal of increasing political will to enact policies to address health inequities in Ontario.

Risk perception, psychological heuristics and the water fluoridation controversy.

OBJECTIVES: Increasingly, support for water fluoridation has come under attack. We seek an explanation, focusing on the case of Waterloo, Ontario, where a 2010 referendum overturned its water fluoridation program. In particular, we test whether individuals perceive the risks of water fluoridation based not on 'hard' scientific evidence but on heuristics and cultural norms. METHODS: A sample of 376 residents in Waterloo were surveyed in June 2012 using random digit dialing. We use factor analysis, OLS regression, as well as t-tests to evaluate a survey experiment to test the credibility hypothesis. RESULTS: Perceptions of fluoride as a risk are lower among those who perceive fluoride's benefits (B = .473, p < 0.001) and those whose cultural view is 'egalitarian' (B = .156, p < 0.05). The experiment shows a lower level of perception of fluoride's benefits among respondents who are told that water fluoridation is opposed by a national advocacy group (Group A) compared to those who are told that the government and the World Health Organization support fluoridation (Group B) (t = 1.6547, p < 0.05), as well as compared to the control group (t = 1.8913, p < 0.05). There is no difference between Group B and the control, possibly because people's already general support for fluoridation is less prone to change when told that other public organizations also support fluoridation. CONCLUSION: Public health officials should take into account cultural norms and perceptions when individuals in a community appear to rise up against water fluoridation, with implications for other public health controversies.

Accuracy assessment of human sphenoidal sinus volume and area measure and its relationship with sexual dimorphism using the 3D-CT / Avaliação da precisão das medidas de volume e área do seio esfenoidal humano em relação ao dimorfismo sexual utilizando a TC-3D

Introduction - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the precision of volumetric measurements of sphenoidal sinuses and the obtention of sexual dimorphism, using spiral computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods - Fifty individuals were studied (25 male and 25 female),examined with CT multiplanar reconstructions in sagital and coronal views, and in 3DCT. The statistical analysis was obtained by using the Levene test, and t-test. Results - The method used is over the inadequate limit for area measurements, and the method is acceptable for volume, but needs improvement. Male individuals showed a mean higher than that female's, and a higher variation for area and volume. Conclusion - The spiral CT is helpful in sphenoidal sinus region study, showing precision for volume only. There was a significant difference between the mean values of the two genders, so the method can be used to determine sexual dimorphism.

Introdução - O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a precisão das medidas de volume e área do seio esfenoidal humano, e a possibilidade de obtenção do dimorfismo sexual. Materiais e Métodos - Foram estudados 25 indivíduos do gênero masculino e 25 do feminino, examinados por meio da tomografia computadorizada, com reconstrução em terceira dimensão, e recursos de computação gráfica. A análise estatística foi feita utilizando os métodos de Análise de Variância para medidas repetidas (ANOVA), teste de Levene e teste-t. Resultados - O método utilizado está pouco acima do limite de não aceitação, e, quanto ao volume, é aceitável precisando ainda de melhoria. Notamos que o gênero masculino apresenta uma média aparentemente maior que o sexo feminino, bem como uma variação maior tanto em área quanto em volume. Conclusão - A tomografia computadorizada em espiral foi útil no estudo da região de seios esfenoidais, apresentando precisão adequada apenas para volume. A diferença significativa entre as médias dos valores dos grupos masculino e feminino possibilita afirmar que há possibilidade de utilização do método para avaliação do dimorfismo sexual.

Avaliação da precisão das medidas de volume e área do seio esfenoidal humano em relação ao dimorfismo sexual utilizando a TC-3D / Accuracy assessment of human sphnoidal sinus volume and area measure and its relationship with sexual dimorphism the 3D-CT

Introdução - O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a precisão das medidas de volume e área do seio esfenoidal humano, e a possibilidade de obtenção do dimorfismo sexual. Materiais e Métodos - Foram estudados 25 indivíduos do gênero masculino e 25 do feminino, examinados por meio da tomografia computadorizada, com reconstrução em terceira dimensão, e recursos de computação gráfica. A análise estatística foi feita utilizando métodos de Análise de Variância para medidas repetidas (ANOVA), teste de Levene e teste-t. Resultados - O método utilizado está pouco acima do limite de não aceitação, e, quanto ao volume, é aceitável precisando ainda de melhoria. Notamos que o gênero masculino apresenta uma média aparentemente maior que o sexo feminino, bem como uma variação maior tanto em área quanto em volume. Conclusão - A tomografia computadorizada em espiral foi útil no estudo da região de seios esfenoidais, apresentando precisão adequada apenas para volume. A diferença significativa entre as médias dos valores dos grupos masculino e feminino possibilita afirmar que há possibilidade de utilização do método para avaliação do dimorfismo sexual