Unknown parent groups and truncated pedigree in single-step genomic evaluations of Murrah buffaloes.

Missing pedigree may produce bias in genomic evaluations. Thus, strategies to deal with this problem have been proposed as using unknown parent groups (UPG) or truncated pedigrees. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of modeling missing pedigree under ssGBLUP evaluations for productive and reproductive traits in dairy buffalos using different approaches: 1) traditional BLUP without UPG (BLUP), 2) traditional BLUP including UPG (BLUP/UPG), 3) ssGBLUP without UPG (ssGBLUP), 4) ssGBLUP including UPG in the A and A22 matrices (ssGBLUP/A_UPG), 5) ssGBLUP including UPG in all elements of the H matrix (ssGBLUP/H_UPG), 6) BLUP with pedigree truncation for the last 3 generations (BLUP/truncated), and 7) ssGBLUP with pedigree truncation for the last 3 generations (ssGBLUP/ truncated). UPGs were not used in the scenarios with truncated pedigree. A total of 3,717, 4,126 and 3,823 records of the first lactation for accumulated 305 d milk yield (MY), age at first calving (AFC) and lactation length (LL), respectively were used. Accuracies ranged from 0.27 for LL (BLUP) to 0.46 for MY (BLUP), bias ranged from -0.62 for MY (ssGBLUP) to 0.0002 for AFC (BLUP/truncated), and dispersion ranged from 0.88 for MY (BLUP/ A_UPG) to 1.13 for LL (BLUP). Genetic trend showed genetic gains for all traits across 20 years of selection and the impact of including either genomic information, UPG or pedigree truncation under GEBV accuracies ranged among the evaluated traits. Overall, methods using UPGs, truncation pedigree and genomic information exhibited potential to improve GEBV accuracies, bias and dispersion for all traits compared with other methods. Truncated scenarios promoted high genetic gains. In small populations with few genotyped animals, combining truncated pedigree or UPG with genomic information is a feasible approach to deal with missing pedigrees.

Anthelmintic treatment follow up in a rural community in Camamu, Bahia, Brazil.

Enteroparasites are an important public health problem and the treatment seeks to cure and reduce transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of anthelmintic treatment in individuals living in a rural community area in Camamu, Bahia, Brazil. The parasitological diagnosis was performed by spontaneous sedimentation, Baermann-Moraes and Agar Plate Culture methods. A total of 212 individuals were evaluated. The most frequent helminth was Trichuris trichiura, 24.5% (52/212), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides, 21.2% (45/212), hookworms, 16.5% (35/212), and S. stercoralis, 4.7% (10/212). In the anthelmintic treatment follow up, T. trichiura infection presented the lowest parasitological cure rate, only 60.6% (20/33). Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides and Strongyloides stercoralis infections demonstrated cure rates of 70.5 (12/17), 78.1 (25/32) and 100% (5/5), respectively. Individuals who remained infected underwent a new drug therapy. The second parasitological cure rate for T. trichiura was 38.5% (5/13), and 66.7% (2/3) and 75% (3/4) for hookworms and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. Trichuris trichiura infection presented the lowest parasitological cure rate at this second evaluation. This reinforces the need to perform a follow-up of all treated individuals. The possibility of drug resistance denotes the necessity for studies to clarify the mechanisms and to evaluate new therapeutic approaches.

Impact of the pupil size - central optical zone diameter relationship on visual performance in aspheric multifocal contact lenses.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of different central optical zone diameters (COZDs), obtained from pupil size, on the visual performance of presbyopic subjects fitted with centre-distance simultaneous-image multifocal contact lenses (SIMCLs). METHODS: Thirty-two presbyopic volunteers, between 45-58 years of age, participated in this prospective, controlled, double-blind study. Subjects were fitted with 5 centre-distance SIMCLs of variable COZD, determined from the measurement of pupil size under photopic light conditions and corresponding to 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 % of pupil diameter. Subjects visual performance was evaluated through the measurement of distance, intermediate and near visual acuity (VA), "visual functional range" (VFR) obtained from the VA Defocus Curve (VADC) and Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF), using a third-generation retina display iPad. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were obtained for both distance (p = 0.01) and intermediate (p = 0.001) VA amongst designs. Best results were obtained with 80 % and 90 % COZDs compared to 60 %. No significant differences in VFR (p > 0.05) were obtained amongst the different COZDs. 90 and 100 % COZDs offered statistically significant better results at 6 and 18 cycles per degree (cpd) in the CSF, compared to the 60 and 70 % designs. CONCLUSIONS: SIMCLs with COZDs of 80-90 % and of 90-100% of photopic pupil diameter offered better distance and intermediate VA, without a decline in near performance, and superior contrast sensitivity at medium and high spatial frequencies respectively, compared to lower COZD designs.

Evaluation of the MGDRx eyebag treatment in young and older subjects with dry eye symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between application of the MGDRx thermal eyebag and dry eye signs and symptoms in young and older subjects and to compare the results between the two groups. METHODS: Thirty young, healthily volunteers between 18 and 31 years of age (23.95±3.94 years) and thirty older subjects between 61 and 90 years of age (77.97±8.11 years) participated in this study. Ocular surface parameters were assessed using the Oculus Keratograph 5M, following the guidelines of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Dry Eye Workshop II Diagnostic Methodology report. Only subjects with a positive score on at least one questionnaire and an initial Non-Invasive Keratograph Break-Up Time (NIKBUT) under 10seconds were included in the study. After thermal bag self-application in both eyes every day for 2 weeks, the protocol was carried out again. Lid massage was performed after lid warming. Compliance and degree of improvement were also assessed. MAIN RESULTS: The young volunteer group showed an improvement in NIKBUT, lipid layer score, upper eyelid gland drop-out percentage and dry eye symptoms over the two week treatment period. Improvements in meibum quality, gland obstruction, telangiectasia scores, and dry eye symptoms were found in the older subjects. Mixed ANOVA revealed better NIKBUT and lipid layer values in the young subjects. Despite the treatment compliance being statistically higher in the older group than in the younger subjects (P=0.002), there were no significant differences in subjective improvement between groups (P=0.097). CONCLUSION: Dry eye-related symptoms were improved after thermal bag application, while NIKBUT and lipid layer thickness were improved only in the younger subjects.

Definition of Environmental Variables and Critical Periods to Evaluate Heat Tolerance in Large White Pigs Based on Single-Step Genomic Reaction Norms.

Properly quantifying environmental heat stress (HS) is still a major challenge in livestock breeding programs, especially as adverse climatic events become more common. The definition of critical periods and climatic variables to be used as the environmental gradient is a key step for genetically evaluating heat tolerance (HTol). Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to define the best critical periods and environmental variables (ENV) to evaluate HT and estimate variance components for HT in Large White pigs. The traits included in this study were ultrasound backfat thickness (BFT), ultrasound muscle depth (MDP), piglet weaning weight (WW), off-test weight (OTW), interval between farrowing (IBF), total number of piglets born (TNB), number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of piglets born dead (NBD), number of piglets weaned (WN), and weaning to estrus interval (IWE). Seven climatic variables based on public weather station data were compared based on three criteria, including the following: (1) strongest G×E estimate as measured by the slope term, (2) ENV yielding the highest theoretical accuracy of the genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV), and (3) variable yielding the highest distribution of GEBV per ENV. Relative humidity (for BFT, MDP, NBD, WN, and WW) and maximum temperature (for OTW, TNB, NBA, IBF, and IWE) are the recommended ENV based on the analyzed criteria. The acute HS (average of 30 days before the measurement date) is the critical period recommended for OTW, BFT, and MDP in the studied population. For WN, WW, IBF, and IWE, a period ranging from 34 days prior to farrowing up to weaning is recommended. For TNB, NBA, and NBD, the critical period from 20 days prior to breeding up to 30 days into gestation is recommended. The genetic correlation values indicate that the traits were largely (WN, WW, IBF, and IWE), moderately (OTW, TNB, and NBA), or weakly (MDP, BFT, and NBD) affected by G×E interactions. This study provides relevant recommendations of critical periods and climatic gradients for several traits in order to evaluate HS in Large White pigs. These observations demonstrate that HT in Large White pigs is heritable, and genetic progress can be achieved through genetic and genomic selection.

shinyCurves, a shiny web application to analyse multisource qPCR amplification data: a COVID-19 case study.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative, reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is currently the gold-standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection and it is also used for detection of other virus. Manual data analysis of a small number of qRT-PCR plates per day is a relatively simple task, but automated, integrative strategies are needed if a laboratory is dealing with hundreds of plates per day, as is being the case in the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Here we present shinyCurves, an online shiny-based, free software to analyze qRT-PCR amplification data from multi-plate and multi-platform formats. Our shiny application does not require any programming experience and is able to call samples Positive, Negative or Undetermined for viral infection according to a number of user-defined settings, apart from providing a complete set of melting and amplification curve plots for the visual inspection of results. CONCLUSIONS: shinyCurves is a flexible, integrative and user-friendly software that speeds-up the analysis of massive qRT-PCR data from different sources, with the possibility of automatically producing and evaluating melting and amplification curve plots.

Sex estimation of the humerus: A geometric morphometric analysis in an adult sample.

Sex estimation is the keystone for positive identification when an unidentified human body is recovered in forensic contexts. However, in complex death scenes such as mass disasters, the remains are often fleshed, mutilated, burned, and/or commingled. In situations such as these where it is not possible to analyze pelvis and/or cranium data, traditional metric and qualitative morphological methods on postcranial bones can yield unsatisfactory results. In such cases, geometric morphometric techniques offer an alternative to the analysis of both shape and size components of morphological variation that can be of great utility for sex estimation in forensic investigations. The study population consisted of 72 well-preserved adult humeri (40 males and 32 females; mean age of 62 years) that were photographed in standardized positions with landmarks located in four two-dimensional views of the humerus (anterior surface of the proximal epiphysis, and anterior, posterior and inferior surface of distal epiphysis). Principal components analysis, canonical variates analysis and discriminant analysis were applied. The data indicated that males and females were classified with low levels of accuracy (54.95-77.92% for males; 56.87-71.78% for females) based on shape variables. However, when the shape variable was combined with the centroid size, the levels of accuracy increased (81.86-94.92% for males; 84.08-94.88% for females). To obtain larger differences between males and females, it is necessary the combination of centroid size with shape variables; the shape of the humerus is insufficient to discriminate sex with accuracy.

Non-invasive high-speed blinking kinematics characterization.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in blinking kinematics of spontaneous and voluntary blinks using for the first time a self-developed, non-invasive, and image processing-based method. METHODS: The blinks of 30 subjects were recorded for 1 min with the support of an eye-tracking device based on a high-speed infrared video camera, working at 250 frames per second, under two different experimental conditions. For the first condition, subjects were ordered to look in the straightforward position at a fixation target placed 1 m in front of them, with no further instructions. For the second, subjects were additionally asked to blink only following a sound signal every 6 s. RESULTS: Mean complete blinks increased by a factor of 1.7 from the spontaneous to the voluntary condition while mean incomplete blinks reduced significantly by a factor of 0.4. In both conditions, closing mean and peak velocities were always significantly greater and durations significantly lower than opening ones. When comparing the values for each condition, velocities and amplitudes for the voluntary condition were always greater than the corresponding values for spontaneous. CONCLUSION: Voluntary blinks revealed significant kinematic differences compared to spontaneous, thus supporting a different supranuclear pathway organization. This study presents a new method, based on image analysis, for the non-invasive kinematic characterization of blinking.

Efeito do treino com restrição de fluxo sanguíneo versus treino resistido de alta intensidade sobre a força de indivíduos sedentários: um ensaio clínico controlado e randomizado / Blood flow restriction training versus high-intensity resistance training in sedentary individuals: a randomized controlled trial

Objetivos: comparar os efeitos do treino com restrição de flux o sanguíneo com o treino resistido de alta intensidade no ganho de força e hipertrofia. Material e métodos: n este ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado, 24 homens sedentários foram randomizados em do is grupo s: treino com restrição de fluxo sanguíneo ou treino resistido de alta intensidade. Ambos os grupos realizaram 10 sessões de exercício de preensão manual até com 3 séries de exercícios até a falha, sendo que o grupo com treino de restrição de fluxo sanguíneo realizou com 30% da carga máxima obtida no teste de 1 repetição máxima, enquanto que o grupo de alta intensidade realizou com 80% da carga. T odo s o s voluntários foram avaliados e reavaliados a dinamometriade preensão manual e a perimetria de antebraço. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados no statistical package for the social sciences, utilizando o teste t-student, e o não paramétrico u de mann whitney, adotando a significância de 5% (α = 0,05). Resultados: para o desfecho força, identificou-se que tanto o grupo que treino com restrição do fluxo, quanto o grupo que treinou com alta intensidade tiveram aumentos significativos (p= 0,005 e 0,026, respectivamente). Já em relação ao aumento da circunferência, notou-se que somente o treino de restrição do flux o se mostrou estatisticamente quando comparado o aumento entre os grupos (p= 0,00 1). Conclusão: foi possível concluir que o treinamento com restrição do fluxo sanguíneo mostrou eficaz tanto para o ganho de força, quanto para o aumento de circunferência, apresentando vantagens quando comparado ao grupo de treinamento resistido com alta intensidade...(AU)

Objectives: to compare the effects of blood flow restriction trainin g wit h h igh in tensity resistance training on strength gain and hypertrophy. Material and methods: in this randomized controlled trial, 24 sedentary men were randomized into two groups: restricted blood flow training or high inten sity resistance training. Both groups performed 10 handgrip exercise sessions up to 3 sets of exercises un t il failure, and the group with blood flow restriction training performed with 3 0 % o f t he m ax imum lo ad obtained in the 1-repetition maximum test, while the high intensity group performed with 80% of the load. All volunteers were assessed and reassessed by handgrip dynamometry and forearm perimetry. Data were tabulated and analyzed in the statistical package for the social sciences, using the t-studen t test an d t he non-parametric mann whitney u test, adopting the significance of 5% (α = 0.05). Results: for the stren gth outcome, it was found that both the flow restriction training group and the high intensity train in g gro up had significant increases (p = 0.005 and 0.026, respectively). Regarding the increase in circumference, it was noted that only the flow restriction training was statistically when compared to the increase bet ween the groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion: it was concluded that training with blood flow restriction was effective for both strength gain and circumference increase, presenting advantages when compared to the high intensity resistance training group...(AU)

Presbyopia and the aging eye: Existing refractive approaches and their potential impact on dry eye signs and symptoms.

Every part of the human body is subject to aging, including the eye. An increased prevalence of dry eye disease with age is widely acknowledged. Aging threatens ocular surface homeostasis, altering the normal functioning of the lacrimal functional unit and potentially leading to signs and symptoms of dry eye. Additional age-related processes take place within the crystalline lens, leading to presbyopia and cataractogenesis. Correction strategies for presbyopia and cataracts may directly or indirectly challenge the ocular surface. Contact lenses disturb the normal structure of the tear film and can interact negatively with the ocular surface, further deteriorating an already unbalanced tear film in presbyopes, however, newer contact lens designs can overcome some of these issues. Moreover, cataract and corneal refractive surgeries sever corneal nerves and disrupt the corneal epithelium and ocular surface, which can influence surgical outcomes and aggravate dryness symptoms in older age groups. This review summarises the current understanding of how the invasive nature of contact lens wear and cataract and refractive surgery influence signs and symptoms of ocular dryness in an aging population.

Reliability, reproducibility and validity of the conventional buccolingual and mesiodistal measurements on 3D dental digital models obtained from intra-oral 3D scanner.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess the reliability, reproducibility and validity of mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements comparing these measurements collected using an electronic hand-held digital calliper, on dry dentitions and on dental casts, with measurements obtained from 3D digital models created using a portable intra-oral scanner. DESIGN: The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameter of the crown of 1304 teeth were measured on dry dentitions and on dental casts, and secondly on 3D digital models created using an intra-oral 3D scanner. Reliability, reproducibility and validity were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman graphic method. RESULTS: The results of the intraclass correlation coefficient expressed an excellent degree of agreement in the intra- and inter-observer error analysis, as well as in the comparison of the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions taken with the calliper and those taken in digital 3D models. The results of the Bland-Altman method showed that the greatest differences were found in the mesiodistal diameter of the molars and in the buccolingual diameter of the upper premolars. CONCLUSIONS: Mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements obtained from digital 3D models are suitable for recording dentitions for forensic purposes.

Chemical synthesis of 7-oxygenated 12α-hydroxy steroid derivatives to enable the biochemical characterization of cytochrome P450 8B1, the oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase enzyme implicated in cardiovascular health and obesity.

Cholic acid is the endogenous 12α-hydroxylated bile acid, which possesses enhanced cholesterol absorption properties compared to its 12-desoxy counterpart, chenodeoxycholic acid. The oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase enzyme is cytochrome P450 8B1 (P450 8B1), which regioselectively and stereoselectively incorporates the 12α-hydroxy group in 7α-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one, the biosynthetic precursor of cholic acid. Despite the vital role of P450 8B1 activity in cardiovascular health, research studies of other 12α-hydroxy steroid derivatives are rare. A synthetic route to incorporate a C12α-hydroxy group into the C12-methylene (-CH2-) in dehydroepiandrosterone derivatives is disclosed. The incorporation of the C12-oxygen was accomplished through a copper mediated Schönecker oxidation of an imino-pyridine intermediate, introducing the 12ß-hydroxy group. The resulting 12ß-hydroxy steroid derivative was oxidized to the C12-ketone, which was stereoselectively reduced with lithium tri-sec-butylborohydride to afford the 12α-hydroxy stereochemistry. The C7-position was oxidized to yield the various 7-keto, 7ß-hydroxy, and 7α-hydroxy derivatives. Furthermore, 7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone and 12 α-hydroxy-7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone both displayed NMDA receptor antagonistic activities at 10 µM concentrations. These C12α-hydroxy steroids will be used as tools to identify new biochemical properties of the enzymatic products of P450 8B1, the oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase.

A DFT investigation of the role of oxygen vacancies on the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of ATiO3 (A = Mn, Fe, Ni) multiferroic materials.

In order to achieve deep insight into the multiferroic behavior and electronic properties of intrinsic oxygen vacancies in ATiO3 (A = Mn, Fe, Ni), first-principles calculations based on hybrid density functional theory were carried out for bulk and non-polar (110) surface models. We found that the formation of an oxygen vacancy is accompanied by structural and electronic disorders in the constituent clusters of [TiO6] and [AO6] in ATiO3, that become [TiO5] and [AO5], respectively. This perturbation contributes to the generation of intermediary energy levels in the band gap region, thus narrowing the required excitation energy. In addition, the remaining electrons are mainly trapped in the empty 3d orbitals of the Ti cations neighboring the oxygen vacancy, generating [TiO5]' (3d1) that mediates an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in MnTiO3 and FeTiO3 materials. In particular, MnTiO3 surfaces show exposed [TiO4]' species that are responsible for its half-metallic behavior. The present work provides compelling evidence that controlling oxygen vacancies can be a valuable strategy to tailor the multiferroic properties of ATiO3 materials.

Predictors of 1- and 2-year mortality in patients with rectal cancer.

AIM: Tools are needed to aid in the assessment of the prognosis of patients with rectal cancer regarding the risk of medium-term mortality. The aim of this study was to develop and validate clinical prediction rules for 1- and 2-year mortality in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. METHOD: A prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer who underwent surgery was carried out. The main outcomes were mortality at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Background, clinical parameters and diagnostic test findings were evaluated as possible predictors. Multivariable survival models were used in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Predictors of 1-year mortality were being a current smoker [hazard ratio (HR) 4.98], having a Charlson index adjusted by age > 5 (HR 2.61), the presence of vascular, perineural or lymphatic invasion (HR 3.30), the presence of residual tumour at the operation (R-stage) (HR 8.64) and TNM stage (HR for TNM IV 5.10) [concordance index (C-index) 0.799 (95% CI: 0.71-0.89)]. Age greater than 80 years (HR 2.19), being a current smoker (HR 2.20), the pre-intervention haemoglobin level (HR 2.02), need for blood transfusion (HR 2.12), vascular, perineural or lymphatic invasion (HR 2.59), R-stage of the operation (HR 6.13) and TNM stage (HR for TNM IV 4.43) were predictors of 2-year mortality [C-index 0.779 (0.718-0.840)]. Adjuvant chemotherapy was an additional predictor at both outcome durations. CONCLUSION: These clinical parameters show good predictive values and are easy and quick-to-use tools to help in clinical decision making.

Prevalência de parestesia decorrente do tratamento endodôntico no Município de João Pessoa-PB / Paresthesia prevalence result of endodontic treatment in joão pessoa city

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de parestesia decorrente do tratamento endodôntico no município de João Pessoa-PB. Materiais e métodos: A amostra foi constituída por 48 endodontistas cadastrados no Conselho Regional de Odontologia (CRO). Os dados foram coletados através de formulário, entregue aos especialistas em seus consultórios. As variáveis estudadas foram: fatores etiológicos, sintomatologia, nervo mais acometido, tratamento, tempo de remissão, tempo de formado e tempo de especialista. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial. Os testes utilizados foram o Exato de Fisher, o t-Student e o F de Levene. O nível de significância foi de 5,0% e o "software" estatístico utilizado foi o SPSS na versão 15. O tempo de formado dos pesquisados variou de 3 a 36 anos e o de especialista variou de 1 a 35 anos. Resultados: 31,3% dos entrevistados apresentaram casos de parestesia, dos quais, 57,9% citaram como fator etiológico a anestesia e 81,3% chegaram ao diagnóstico através da queixa de dormência prolongada pelo paciente. Dos nervos acometidos, o alveolar inferior e o mentual foram os mais citados, com 60% e 33,3% respectivamente. Dos entrevistados 40% afirmaram que os pacientes que tiveram parestesia receberam algum tipo de tratamento, e houve remissão da lesão em todos os casos. Os tratamentos mais realizados foram: a administração do complexo B e a laserterapia. Conclusão: A possibilidade da parestesia decorrente do tratamento endodôntico deverá ser avaliada durante o planejamento do tratamento endodôntico, sendo necessário um melhor conhecimento sobre o assunto, por parte dos profissionais.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of paresthesia due to endodontic treatment in the city of João Pessoa-PB. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 48 endodontists registered in the Regional Council of Dentistry (CRO). The data were collected through a form, delivered to specialists in their offices. The studied variables were: etiological factors, symptomatology, most affected nerve, treatment, remission time, training time and specialist time. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The tests used were Fisher's Exact, Student's t-test and Levene's F test. The level of significance was 5.0% and the statistical software used was the SPSS version 15. The researchers' training time ranged from 3 to 36 years and the specialist ranged from 1 to 35 years. Results: 31.3% of the interviewees presented cases of paresthesia, of which 57.9% cited anesthesia as the etiological factor and 81.3% arrived at the diagnosis through the complaint of prolonged dormancy by the patient. Of the affected nerves, the inferior and the mental alveolar were the most cited, with 60% and 33.3% respectively. Of the interviewees, 40% stated that patients who had paresthesia received some type of treatment, and there was remission of the lesion in all cases. The most commonly performed treatments were: administration of the B complex and laser therapy. Conclusion: The possibility of paresthesia resulting from endodontic treatment should be evaluated during the planning of endodontic treatment, requiring a better knowledge on the subject, by the professionals.

Nonsurgical Procedures for Keratoconus Management.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the past 20 years' correction modalities for keratoconus and their visual outcomes and possible complications. METHODS: A review of the published literature related to the visual outcomes and possible complications in the context of keratoconus management using nonsurgical procedures for the last 20 years (glasses and contact lenses) was performed. Original articles that reported the outcome of any correction modalities of keratoconus management were reviewed. RESULTS: The most nonsurgical procedure used on keratoconus management is the contact lens fitting. Soft contact lenses and soft toric contact lenses, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, piggyback contact lens system, hybrid contact lenses, and scleral and corneoscleral contact lenses form the contemporary range of available lens types for keratoconus management with contact lenses. All of them try to restore the vision, improve the quality of life, and delay surgical procedures in patients with this disease. Complications are derived from the intolerance of using contact lens, and the use of each depends on keratoconus severity. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of nonsurgical procedures, the use of contact lenses for the management of keratoconic patients represents a good alternative to restore vision and improve the quality of live in this population.

Optical power distribution of refractive and aspheric multifocal contact lenses: Effect of pupil size.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the power profile within the optic zone of different designs of multifocal contact lenses (CLs) and to analyze how the effect of pupil size could impact on their optical performance. METHODS: The optical power distribution within the optic zones of multifocal CLs was measured by the Nimo TR1504 (LAMBDA-X, Belgium). The multifocal CLs under study were the Acuvue Bifocal, the Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia, the PureVision Multifocal and the PureVision 2 for Presbyopia. Each design was considered in all their available addition powers. All lenses had a nominal power of -3.0D. At the same time, three lenses of each model were considered and five consecutive readings of each lens were performed. RESULTS: The results show that the PureVision Multifocal and the PureVision 2 for Presbyopia have aspheric power profiles. Both designs showed aspheric center-near designs with a smoother progression of the optical power in the PureVision 2 for Presbyopia. The Acuvue Bifocal and the Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia are shown to have concentric alternating near and far zones. Apart from the refractive rings, the Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia showed an increase in negative (or less positive) values toward the periphery of the lens. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the refraction, the knowledge of the power profiles of multifocal CLs and the effect of pupil size on the optical distribution of these lenses could be crucial to understand the performance of these designs when they are fitted.

Avaliação genética do tamanho de leitegada em suínos das raças Landrace e Large White / Genetic evaluation of litter size in swine of Landrace and Large White breeds

Objetivou-se com este estudo estimar parâmetros genéticos para o número total de leitões nascidos (NTLN), número de leitões nascidos vivos (NLNV) e número de leitões vivos aos cinco dias de idade (NLV5) com modelos de regressão aleatória e averiguar melhor modelagem da variância residual na avaliação das trajetórias genéticas do tamanho da leitegada de fêmeas Landrace e Large White. Os dados utilizados foram provenientes de uma granja de melhoramento genético de suínos e continham 2.388 observações de fêmeas Landrace e 2.325 de Large White. Os modelos de melhor ajuste para o NTLN e NLV5 foram os que consideraram a variância residual homogênea e, para NLNV, o modelo com quatro classes de variâncias residuais foi o mais adequado (BIC). Para Landrace, o efeito materno não foi significativo. O modelo que incluiu o efeito materno e quatro classes de variância residual foi o que apresentou melhor ajuste para NTLN na raça Large White, sendo os modelos sem efeito materno e com variância residual homogênea os mais adequados para NLNV e NLV5. As herdabilidades estimadas variaram de baixas a altas (0,08-0,34; 0,04-0,29 e 0,05-0,21 na raça Landrace e 0,16-0,30; 0,10-0,37 e 0,09-0,32 na Large White, para NTLN, NLNV e NLV5, respectivamente). A alta correlação de posto entre os valores genéticos do NLNV e NLV5 sugere que não há necessidades do controle do NLV5 nesse programa de melhoramento genético. Maiores ganhos podem ser obtidos pela seleção no NLNV de fêmeas primíparas, em função da diminuição do intervalo de gerações.

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for total number of piglets born (NTLN), number of piglets born alive (NLNV) and number of piglets alive at five days of age (NLV5) using random regression models and to evaluate the best way for modelling the residual variance in the description of the genetic trajectories of litter size in Landrace and Large White breeds. The data came from a swine breed improvement program, and a total of 2388 and 2325 litter size records of Landrace and Large White, respectively were used in the analyses. The models considering homogenous residual variance showed the best goodness of fit for NTLN and NLV5 and the model with four classes of residual variances was most appropriate for NLNV (BIC). In the Landrace breed the maternal effect was not significant. The model including maternal effect and four classes of residual variance adequately described NTLN of Large White breed and the models without maternal effect and with homogeneous residual variance were most appropriate to describe NLNV and NLV5. The estimated heritability for NTLN, NLNV and NLV5 ranged from low to high (0.08-0.34, 0.04-0.29 and 0.05-0.21 in Landrace breed and 0.16-0.30, 0.10-0.37, 0.09-0.32 in Large White breed.). The magnitude of the rank correlations between breeding values of NLNV and NLV5 suggests that the recording of NLV5 is not necessary in this breed improvement program. High genetic gains can be obtained by selecting NLNV of primiparous females, due to the reduction in the generation interval.

In vitro optical performance of a new aberration-free intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To assess the optical performance of the new EnVista intraocular lens (IOL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four aspheric IOLs were evaluated; the new EnVista is one amoung them. This IOL, similarly to the Z-Flex HB and the Bi-Flex 1.8 667AB ones, has a neutral aspheric design, whereas the fourth IOL under test (AcrySof IQ IOL SN60WF) presents a negative spherical aberration (SA). The IOL's aberration patterns were measured in vitro, by setting them up on an optical bench. From these aberration-pattern data, the modulation transfer function (MTF), the average modulation values, and the points spread function (PSF) were calculated. Furthermore, in order to assess the potential optical quality that these IOLs would yield once they are implanted, an average corneal-aberration pattern was juxtaposed to the in-vitro profiles and the same parameters were calculated again. RESULTS: For the IOL-only scenario (ie, without including the corneal factor), it was the EnVista IOL, which is aberration-free that showed the higher MTF, PSF values. This was followed by the other two aberration-free IOL models. However, when the effect of an average corneal pattern was also taken into consideration, the AcrySof IQ IOL SN60WF always outperformed the other neutral-asphericity IOLs. CONCLUSIONS: The in-vitro optical performance of the EnVista IOL was good, but it decreases substantially in a whole-eye scenario, when the wavefront profile of an average cornea is added. Other designs with different degrees of SA should be considered for this IOL in order to surpass these results.

Efeito do extrato aquoso do algodão de seda (Calotropis procera Aiton) sobre a eficiência reprodutiva do carrapato bovino / Effect of aqueous extract of silk cotton (Calotropis procera Ait. R.Br.) on the reproductive performance of Rhipicephalus microplus

O carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus é um dos principais parasitos dos rebanhos bovinos. Diferentes grupos de carrapaticidas sintéticos têm sido empregados para o controle desse ácaro, contudo, o uso constante desses produtos tem selecionado populações resistentes. Na tentativa de minimizar esses impactos tem-se buscado avaliar fitoterápicos para o controle desse parasito. Assim, objetivou-se analisar a eficácia in vitro do extrato aquoso do algodão de seda em diferentes concentrações no controle da postura e eclodibilidade dos ovos do R. microplus. Foram avaliados os efeitos das concentrações 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 e 100% do extrato aquoso obtido juntamente com controles com água destilada ou com cipermetrina, 12,5 mg L-1, associada a organofosforado, 150 mg L-1, sobre a eficiência reprodutiva do carrapato. Foi realizado o biocarrapaticidograma sendo que a eficácia acaricida das concentrações 5, 25 e 100% foram superiores àquela observada para o produto comercial utilizado, que correspondeu a 93,98%, indicando a importância de futuras pesquisas para avaliar o potencial toxigênico e a eficácia in vivo dessa planta para o controle do R. microplus .

The tick Rhipicephalus microplus is one of the main parasites of bovine herds. Different groups of synthetic acaricides have been used to control this mite; however, the constant use of these products has selected resistant populations. In an attempt to minimize these impacts, researchers have tried to evaluate herbal remedies to control this parasite. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro efficacy of aqueous extract of silk cotton at different concentrations to control the hatchability of R. microplus eggs. The effects of the concentrations 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% aqueous extract together with controls with distilled water or with cypermethrin, 12.5 mg L-1, associated with organophosphate, 150 mg L-1, were assessed on the reproductive efficiency of the tick. Immersion test was performed and the acaricide efficacy of the 5, 25 and 100% concentrations were higher than that obtained for the commercial product, which corresponded to 93.98%, indicating the importance of further research to assess the toxigenic potential and the in vivo efficacy of this plant to control R. microplus .