[Static automated perimetry in the diagnosis of glaucoma. Assessment of disease progression]. / Staticheskaya perimetriya v diagnostike glaukomy. Sposoby otsenki progressirovaniya.

There are several ways to assess glaucoma progression using standard automated perimetry. Most often, ophthalmologists evaluate the stability of visual functions manually when comparing several study protocols. The advantages of clinical assessment are ease of implementation and the ability to interpret data from any device. The main disadvantage of this method is its subjectivity. There are many available automated methods for assessing disease progression involving Humphrey Field Analyzer and Octopus perimeters. Event analysis allows determining glaucoma progression at the time of examination, with consideration of the possible physiological fluctuations in light sensitivity. Trend analysis of perimetric indices makes it possible to assess the rate of glaucoma progression and forecast the trend of changes in visual functions over the next five years. All these methods for assessing progression have certain advantages and disadvantages and cannot be considered ideal. Pointwise and cluster trend analysis are more sensitive in early glaucoma and are being actively researched and developed. These methods have great potential, although they are not yet sufficiently available in clinical practice.

[Static automated perimetry in the diagnosis of glaucoma. Part 1: Basic principles]. / Staticheskaya perimetriya v diagnostike glaukomy. Chast' 1. Bazovye printsipy.

Static automated perimetry is an indispensable tool in the diagnosis of glaucoma. It is used to study the differential light sensitivity of the retina in different points of the visual field. The most important is the central zone of the visual field, many perimetric programs and strategies have been developed for its examination. Using standard background brightness, we can vary sizes, location methods and the type of stimulus delivery. The proper use of standard achromatic perimetry is crucial for the correct management of glaucoma patients. This review analyzes literature on the basic principles of static perimetry in the examination of differential photosensitivity of the retina.

[Static automated perimetry in the diagnosis of glaucoma. Part 2: Research protocol, glaucoma classifications, perimetric defects through the prism of structural-functional correlation]. / Staticheskaya perimetriya v diagnostike glaukomy. Chast' 2. Protokol issledovaniya, klassifikatsii glaukomy, perimetricheskie defekty cherez prizmu strukturno-funktsional'noi korrelyatsii.

Examination of the central visual field is currently required for glaucoma diagnosis. Modern computer perimeters make it possible to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate defects of light sensitivity. Perimetric indices are calculated showing the severity of the defects. This allows the use of perimetric results to create universal classifications of glaucoma. Recently, new perimeter programs based on optical coherence tomography data have appeared. The possibility of personalizing perimeter programs are being tested. This review attempts to systematize data on the capabilities of computer perimeters in assessing functional defects, presents the widely used glaucoma classifications, and describes ways of developing static perimetry programs for earlier diagnosis of glaucoma with respect to structural and functional correlations.

Determinants of community-acquired pneumonia in children and young adults in primary care.

Most studies on determinants of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in primary care have focused primarily on the elderly. Using a case-control study in four Dutch healthcare centres, determinants of CAP among children and young adults were identified. Cases included 156 young adults (aged 16-40 yrs) and 107 children (aged 0-15 yrs) diagnosed with CAP during 1999-2008. For each case, three controls were selected from the same age group. Separate logistic regression analyses were used to identify determinants in young adults and children. Lower age, asthma and previous upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were independently associated with CAP in children. Increasing age, asthma, three or more children at home, current smoking and three or more previous URTIs were independent determinants of CAP in young adults. The present study has three remarkable findings: 1) increasing age was an independent determinant of CAP in young adults; 2) having young children increased the risk of the development of CAP in young adults; and 3) the number of previous URTIs was independently associated with CAP in both children and young adults, possibly due to higher infection susceptibility. Further studies are required in order to better understand the aetiology of CAP and permit better diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition.

Calculation of action potential propagation in nerve fiber.

This article introduces generalization of the action potential spreading model which considers generation of the action potential in each segment of the nerve fiber. Behavior of the impulse signal waveform during the propagation process was analyzed. A mechanism of distributed generation of the charge in nerve fiber results in decrease of phase velocity of signal spreading rate. Amplitude of the action potential decreases and pulse width increases in the action potential propagation process.

Guideline for the management of acute sore throat.

The European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases established the Sore Throat Guideline Group to write an updated guideline to diagnose and treat patients with acute sore throat. In diagnosis, Centor clinical scoring system or rapid antigen test can be helpful in targeting antibiotic use. The Centor scoring system can help to identify those patients who have higher likelihood of group A streptococcal infection. In patients with high likelihood of streptococcal infections (e.g. 3-4 Centor criteria) physicians can consider the use of rapid antigen test (RAT). If RAT is performed, throat culture is not necessary after a negative RAT for the diagnosis of group A streptococci. To treat sore throat, either ibuprofen or paracetamol are recommended for relief of acute sore throat symptoms. Zinc gluconate is not recommended to be used in sore throat. There is inconsistent evidence of herbal treatments and acupuncture as treatments for sore throat. Antibiotics should not be used in patients with less severe presentation of sore throat, e.g. 0-2 Centor criteria to relieve symptoms. Modest benefits of antibiotics, which have been observed in patients with 3-4 Centor criteria, have to be weighed against side effects, the effect of antibiotics on microbiota, increased antibacterial resistance, medicalisation and costs. The prevention of suppurative complications is not a specific indication for antibiotic therapy in sore throat. If antibiotics are indicated, penicillin V, twice or three times daily for 10 days is recommended. At the present, there is no evidence enough that indicates shorter treatment length.