Content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic analysis.

INTRODUCTION: YouTube's popularity as a health information source raises concerns about credibility due to the absence of peer review. Therefore, this study assessed the content quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Videos were systematically searched on August 20, 2023, using terms determined through Google Trends. Videos were included based on predefined criteria and independently assessed by two researchers. Video demographics were extracted. Video quality was evaluated using audio-visual (AV) quality, video information and quality index (VIQI), global quality score (GQS), and reliability using a modified DISCERN tool (mDISCERN). High and low-content videos were defined based on the customized 10-point scoring system. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of scoring system were calculated. RESULTS: Most videos were educational (46.3%), presented by dental sleep medicine specialists (42.6%), and aimed at laypersons (63%), with the majority originating from the United States (79.6%). The final 54 videos were categorized as high-content (n = 29, 54%) and low-content (n = 25, 46%). High-content videos had more views, comments, and longer video durations (7.07 ± 6.04 min). Significant differences (p < .05) were observed among high and low-content videos in total VIQI, mDISCERN, GQS, and TCS. Moderate correlations were found between GQS and TCS (r = 0.721), mDISCERN and VIQI (r = 0.649), GQS and VIQI (r = 0.601), and AV quality and VIQI (r = 0.531). CONCLUSION: The study highlights variable content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on oral appliance therapy for OSA, emphasizing the need for guidelines to enhance their educational value and deliver reliable, evidence-based information to patients.

Comprehensive antifungal investigation of green synthesized silver nanoformulation against four agriculturally significant fungi and its cytotoxic applications.

The present study reports the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in powder form using the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and EDX. The synthesized AgNPs were in a powdered state and dispersed completely in 5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) and demonstrated prolonged shelf life and enhanced bioavailability over a year without any aggregation. The resulting silver nanoformulation demonstrated complete inhibition against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Colletotrichum falcatum and 68% to 80% inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Rhizoctonia solani respectively, at 2000 ppm. The EC50 values determined through a statistical analysis were 66.42, 157.7, 19.06, and 33.30 ppm for S. sclerotiorum, C. falcatum, C. gloeosporioides, and R. solani respectively. The silver nanoformulation also established significant cytotoxicity, with a 74.96% inhibition rate against the human glioblastoma cell line U87MG at 250 ppm. The IC50 value for the cancerous cell lines was determined to be 56.87 ppm through statistical analysis. The proposed silver nanoformulation may be used as a next-generation fungicide in crop improvement and may also find application in anticancer investigations. To the best of our knowledge, this is also the first report of silver nanoformulation demonstrating complete inhibition against the economically significant phytopathogen C. falcatum.

Metal nanoparticles to improve the heat resilience in wheat (Triticum aestivumL.).

This study evaluated the efficacy of phytogenic silver and zinc nanoparticles in improving heat resilience in various wheat varieties. The silver and zinc nanoparticles were synthesized using plant leaf extract and characterized using various techniques. Four wheat varieties (DBW187, Black Wheat, DBW 50, and PBW 621) were subjected to field trials. The random block design was used, and nanoparticles in different concentrations were applied at various growth stages and morphologically, and yield parameters were recorded. UV-vis spectroscopy spectral analysis showed peaks for Ag nanoparticles at 420 nm wavelength and Zn nanoparticles at 240 and 350 nm wavelength, depicting the preliminary confirmation of nanoparticle synthesis. Electron microscopic analysis (TEM and SEM) provided morphological insights and confirmed synthesis of fine-sized particle mostly in a range between 10 and 60 nm. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the synthesized nanoparticles, with Ag and Zn elements detected in their respective samples. It also confirmed the oxide nature of synthesized ZnNPs. Dynamic light scattering analysis provided size distribution profiles, indicating average sizes of approximately 61.8 nm for Ag nanoparticles and 46.5 nm for Zn nanoparticles. The concentrations of Ag and Zn nanoparticles in the samples were found to be 196.3 ppm and 115.14 ppm, respectively, through atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed characteristic functional groups present in the nanoparticles. The results of field experiments established that Ag nanoparticles at 75 ppm concentration exhibited the most significant enhancements in plant growth. Conversely, Zn nanoparticles at a 100 ppm concentration demonstrated the most substantial improvements in the growth and yield of heat-stressed wheat varieties. The study concludes that optimized concentrations of silver and zinc nanoparticles can effectively improve heat stress resilience in wheat. These findings are promising to enhance abiotic stress resilience in crops.

Iridium(III)-catalyzed ß-trifluoromethyl enone carbonyl-directed regioselective ortho-C(sp2)-H olefination.

Due to the lower LUMO energy level at the ß-position of α,ß-unsaturated-ß-trifluoromethyl enone than that of its non-fluorinated counterpart, there is a challenge to activate the sp2 C-H bond of aromatic rings. Herein, we have reported iridium(III)-catalyzed ß-trifluoromethyl enone carbonyl-directed regioselective aromatic C(sp2)-H olefination with acrylates under oxidative conditions. Furthermore, coupling with natural product-derived acrylates, scale-up and product diversification have also been performed.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome Adversely Affects Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in patients with glaucoma. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four patients with CBS and 42 matched controls without CBS out of 337 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with visual field (VF) loss. METHODS: A matching technique was used to identify control patients with similar disease stage, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and age to patients with CBS. Patients' VRQoL was determined using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25). Rasch-calibrated NEI VFQ-25 scores of the CBS group and the control group were compared. Uni- and multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of different factors on VRQoL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma with CBS and without CBS. RESULTS: Vision-related quality of life scores were significantly lower in the CBS group than in the control group on both the visual functioning scale with 39 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 30-48) vs. 52 points (95% CI: 46-58) (P = 0.013) and on the socioemotional scale with 45 points (95% CI: 37-53) vs. 58 points (95% CI: 51-65) (P = 0.015). Univariable regression analysis showed that integrated visual field mean deviation (IVF-MD) (r2 = 0.334, P < 0.001), BCVA in the better eye (r2 = 0.117, P = 0.003), and the presence of CBS (r2 = 0.078, P = 0.013) were significantly correlated to VRQoL scores on the visual functioning scale. Integrated visual field mean deviation (r2 = 0.281, P < 0.001), age (r2 = 0.048, P = 0.042), and the presence of CBS (r2 = 0.076, P = 0.015) were significantly correlated to VRQoL scores on the socioemotional scale. Multivariable regression analysis showed that IVF-MD and the presence of CBS accounted for nearly 40% of the VRQoL score on the visual functioning scale (R2 = 0.393, P < 0.001) and for 34% of the VRQoL score on the socioemotional scale (R2 = 0.339, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Charles Bonnet syndrome had a significant negative association to VRQoL in patients with glaucoma. Presence of CBS should be considered when evaluating VRQoL in patients with glaucoma. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Complement factor H Y402H polymorphism results in diminishing CD4+ T cells and increasing C-reactive protein in plasma.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of visual loss among the elderly. Genetic variants in the gene encoding complement factor H (CFH) have been identified as an AMD susceptibility gene, however, the mechanistic link is debated. Here, we investigated the link between the CFH Y402H genotype and low-grade inflammation. We recruited 153 healthy individuals, 84 participants with dry stages of AMD, and 148 participants with neovascular AMD. All participants were subjected to detailed retinal examination, and interview regarding comorbidities and lifestyle. Blood samples were analyzed for level of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), white blood cell differential count, and stained with fluorescent antibodies to differentiate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CFH Y402H genotyping was performed using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction genotyping assay. Splenocytes from young and aged wild type and Cfh null mutant C57BL/6J mice were examined for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Healthy individuals with the CFH Y402H at-risk polymorphism HH had higher levels of CRP and lower proportions of CD4+ T cells compared to persons with the YH or YY polymorphism (P = 0.037, Chi-square). Healthy individuals with the HH polymorphism displayed lower proportions of CD4+ T cells with ageing (P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA), whereas both young and aged Cfh null mutant mice displayed lower proportions of CD4+ T cells (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05; unpaired t test). Participants with dry AMD and the HH polymorphism had similarly lower proportions of CD4+ T cells (P = 0.024, one-way ANOVA), but no difference in CRP-levels. In the neovascular stage of AMD, there was no difference in proportion of CD4+ cells or CRP levels according to genotype. The risk-associated CFH genotype is associated with an age-related decrease in proportion of CD4+ T cells and increased levels of CRP in healthy individuals. This indicates that decreased complement regulation results in extensive changes in innate and adaptive immune compartments that precede development of AMD.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of Abroma augusta stabilized silver (Ag) nanoparticles against drug-resistant clinical pathogens.

Infectious diseases remain among the most pressing concerns for human health. This issue has grown even more complex with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. To address bacterial infections, nanoparticles have emerged as a promising avenue, offering the potential to target bacteria at multiple levels and effectively eliminate them. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AA-AgNPs) were synthesized using the leaf extract of a medicinal plant, Abroma augusta. The synthesis method is straightforward, safe, cost-effective, and environment friendly, utilizing the leaf extract of this Ayurvedic herb. The UV-vis absorbance peak at 424 nm indicated the formation of AA-AgNPs, with the involvement of numerous functional groups in the synthesis and stabilization of the particles. AA-AgNPs exhibited robust antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). The MIC values of AA-AgNPs ranged from 8 to 32 µg/mL. Electron microscopic examination of the interaction of AA-AgNPs with the test bacterial pathogens showed a deleterious impact on bacterial morphology, resulting from membrane rupture and leakage of intracellular components. AA-AgNPs also demonstrated a dose-dependent effect in curtailing biofilm formation below inhibitory doses. Overall, this study highlights the potential of AA-AgNPs in the successful inhibition of both the growth and biofilms of MRSA and VRE bacteria. Following studies on toxicity and dose optimization, such AgNPs could be developed into effective medical remedies against infections.

Clinical, Microbiological, Serological and Radiological Profile of Patients With Mild-Moderate and Severe Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA).

Objective Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a complex hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus antigen mostly Aspergillus fumigatus that occurs almost exclusively in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. ABPA is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease because of its presentation with various grades of severity in asthma patients. Data available regarding the clinical, serological, and radiological profile of ABPA patients is limited due to lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines. Thus ABPA is a significant disease, especially in the Indian population where the incidence of allergic diseases like asthma is on the rise. Methods This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at one of the tertiary centers of north India. All consecutive patients diagnosed with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) from 1st January 2017 to 30th September 2017 were included in the study. A total of 67 consecutive patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma were included in the study. The diagnosis of ABPA was based upon either criterion given by Rosenberg and Paterson or the International Society of Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) criteria. Patients diagnosed with ABPA were finally divided into mild, moderate, and severe. Results The majority of patients showed an obstructive pattern on spirometry and moderate to severe obstruction was the most common pattern observed among patients who had an obstructive pattern on spirometry. Also, all three patients with the mixed pattern on spirometry had severe disease. Serological analysis revealed that patients in the moderate category had a higher level of absolute eosinophil count (AEC), total IgE, and Aspergillus-specific IgE antibodies, especially in patients who had either high attenuation mucus (HAM) or centrilobular nodules on their high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan. Conclusion ABPA is a disease of divergent presentation. We concluded to have alternate or add-on criteria for the classification of ABPA which was not based on the sequelae of chronic inflammatory changes in the lungs.

Common spatial pattern for classification of loving kindness meditation EEG for single and multiple sessions.

While a very few studies have been conducted on classifying loving kindness meditation (LKM) and non-meditation electroencephalography (EEG) data for a single session, there are no such studies conducted for multiple session EEG data. Thus, this study aims at classifying existing raw EEG meditation data on single and multiple sessions to come up with meaningful inferences which will be highly beneficial when developing algorithms that can support meditation practices. In this analysis, data have been collected on Pre-Resting (before-meditation), Post-Resting (after-meditation), LKM-Self and LKM-Others for 32 participants and hence allowing us to conduct six pairwise comparisons for the four mind tasks. Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) is a feature extraction method widely used in motor imaginary brain computer interface (BCI), but not in meditation EEG data. Therefore, using CSP in extracting features from meditation EEG data and classifying meditation/non-meditation instances, particularly for multiple sessions will create a new path in future meditation EEG research. The classification was done using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) where both meditation techniques (LKM-Self and LKM-Others) were compared with Pre-Resting and Post-Resting instances. The results show that for a single session of 32 participants, around 99.5% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. For the 15 participants when using five sessions of EEG data, around 83.6% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. The results demonstrate the ability to classify meditation/Pre-Resting data. Most importantly, this classification is possible for multiple session data as well. In addition to this, when comparing the classification accuracies of the six mind task pairs; LKM-Self, LKM-Others and Post-Resting produced relatively lower accuracies among them than the accuracies obtained for classifying Pre-Resting with the other three. This indicates that Pre-Resting has some features giving a better classification indicating that it is different from the other three mind tasks.

An investigation of the sex-specific genetic architecture of fitness in Drosophila melanogaster.

In dioecious populations, the sexes employ divergent reproductive strategies to maximize fitness and, as a result, genetic variants can affect fitness differently in males and females. Moreover, recent studies have highlighted an important role of the mating environment in shaping the strength and direction of sex-specific selection. Here, we measure adult fitness for each sex of 357 lines from the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource in two different mating environments. We analyze the data using three different approaches to gain insight into the sex-specific genetic architecture for fitness: classical quantitative genetics, genomic associations, and a mutational burden approach. The quantitative genetics analysis finds that on average segregating genetic variation in this population has concordant fitness effects both across the sexes and across mating environments. We do not find specific genomic regions with strong associations with either sexually antagonistic (SA) or sexually concordant (SC) fitness effects, yet there is modest evidence of an excess of genomic regions with weak associations, with both SA and SC fitness effects. Our examination of mutational burden indicates stronger selection against indels and loss-of-function variants in females than in males.

Pyridine C(sp2)-H bond functionalization under transition-metal and rare earth metal catalysis.

Pyridine is a crucial heterocyclic scaffold that is widely found in organic chemistry, medicines, natural products, and functional materials. In spite of the discovery of several methods for the synthesis of functionalized pyridines or their integration into an organic molecule, new methodologies for the direct functionalization of pyridine scaffolds have been developed during the past two decades. In addition, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization and rare earth metal-catalyzed reactions have flourished over the past two decades in the development of functionalized organic molecules of concern. In this review, we discuss recent achievements in the transition-metal and rare earth metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization of pyridine and look into the mechanisms involved.

Two Forms of Sexual Dimorphism in Gene Expression in Drosophila melanogaster: Their Coincidence and Evolutionary Genetics.

Phenotypic sexual dimorphism can be mediated by sex differences in gene expression. We examine two forms of sexual dimorphism in gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster: 1) sex-biased gene expression (SBGE) in which the sexes differ in the amount a gene is expressed and 2) sexual dimorphism in isoform usage, that is, sex-specific splicing (SSS). In whole body (but not the head) expression, we find a negative association between SBGE and SSS, possibly suggesting that these are alternate routes to resolving sexual antagonistic selection. Next, we evaluate whether expression dimorphism contributes to the heterogeneity among genes in rmf, the intersexual genetic correlation in body expression that constrains the extent to which a gene's expression can evolve independently between the sexes. We find lower rmf values for genes with than without SSS. We find higher rmf values for male- than female-biased genes (except genes with extreme male bias), even though male-biased genes are known to have greater evolutionary divergence in expression. Finally, we examine population genetic patterns in relation to SBGE and SSS because genes with expression dimorphism have likely experienced a history of sex differences in selection. SSS is associated with reduced values of Tajima's D and elevated direction of selection (DoS) values, suggestive of higher rates of adaptive evolution. Though DoS is highly elevated for genes with extreme male bias, DoS otherwise tends to decline from female-biased to unbiased to male-biased genes. Collectively, the results indicate that SBGE and SSS are differentially distributed across the genome and are associated with different forms of selection.

Catalytic and Chemodivergent Synthesis of 1-Substituted 9H-Pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles via Annulation of ß-CF3 Enones with 3-Substituted Indoles.

Chemodivergent reactions are more advantageous in organic synthesis that yield diversely functionalized scaffolds from common starting materials. Herein, we report an efficient metal-free chemodivergent protocol for the synthesis of 1-substituted 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole derivatives in the presence of catalytic amounts of Lewis acid/Brønsted acid conditions using 3-substituted indoles and ß-trifluoromethyl-α,ß-unsaturated ketones. Fine-tuning of the catalyst and solvent system in the reaction conditions deliver the trifluoromethyl, trifluoroethylcarboxylate, or carboxylic acid substituents on the C1-position of 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole derivatives in situ. It is postulated that the solvent and LA/BA catalyst interaction was found to be crucial for the catalytic C-F activation in these transformations.

Effect of size variation of fibre-shaped waste tyre rubber as fine aggregate on the ductility of self-compacting concrete.

Abandoning shredded waste tyre rubber (WTR) in cement-based mixes facilitates safe waste tyre disposal and conserves the natural resources used in construction materials. The engineering properties of such environment-friendly materials needed to be evaluated for field applications. This study examined integrating WTR fibre on microstructural, static load, and ductility properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The WTR fibre of 0.60-1.18-, 1.18-2.36-, and 2.36-4.75-mm sizes was used as fine aggregate at 10%, 20%, and 30% replacement levels. Microstructural characterisation of hardened concrete specimens was done by scanning electron microscopy. The compressive strength and static modulus of elasticity tests were used to examine static load resistance, while drop weight and rebound impact tests were used to investigate impact load resistance. The water permeability test was performed as a measure of the durability of SCC with WTR fibre. Relationships have been studied between dynamic MOE and impact tests and rebound and drop weight impact testing. The Weibull two-parameter distribution was used to analyse the drop weight test statically. The results show that WTR fibre size variations efficiently lowered the concrete stiffness reducing the brittleness. Furthermore, incorporating WTR fibre improved the impact resistance of SCC.

Efficacy of a single-session online ACT-based mindfulness intervention among undergraduates in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has trickle-down psychological effects on multiple strata of society, particularly university students. Apart from the worry of contracting or spreading COVID-19, Malaysian university students were also locked down on their campuses, suffering significant psychological distress. Hence, an online mindfulness intervention was proposed to alleviate psychological distress and improve psychological flexibility and mindfulness. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study with university students as participants. Intervention group participants were instructed to complete online questionnaires which covered basic demographics and instruments assessing depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and fear of COVID-19 before and after the one-hour intervention. The control group also completed before and after questionnaires and were subsequently crossed over to the intervention group. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to assess time*group effects. RESULTS: 118 participants were involved in this study. There were significant differences in anxiety (F(1,116) = 34.361, p < 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.229) and psychological flexibility between the two groups (F(1,116) = 11.010, p = 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.087), while there were no differences in depression, stress, mindfulness, or fear of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The results of this study corroborate the efficacy of online single-session mindfulness therapy as a viable short-term psychological intervention under financial and time constraints. Since university students are in the age group with the highest incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders, it is crucial to utilize resources to address as many students as possible to ensure maximum benefit.

Evaluation of efficacy of Phyto-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles in contributing drought resilience in wheat (Triticum aestivumL.).

Wheat is the majorly cultivated staple crop worldwide. The world witnesses a great percentage of yield loss of wheat due to drought stress. The present study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of phytosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) in contributing to drought resilience in wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) under rain-fed conditions. FeONPs were biosynthesized by using leaf extract ofProsopis cinerariaas a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized to evaluate the structural and biochemical aspects. The FeONPs were found to be irregularly spherical in shape with a mean size of 42.6 nm. The concentration of nanoparticles in the sample was found to be 164.01 mg l-1. An experimental setup was laid out in a randomized-plot design with 3 replications for Rabi season 2020-2021. Five dosages of nanoparticles were prepared as 12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm from the stock solution. The wheat crop varieties grown in the field were subjected to a total of 3 treatments; Nanopriming, foliar application of FeONPs at seedling development stage (20 DAS), and tillering stage (30 DAS). Plants that were not treated with NPs were considered as control. No irrigation regime was followed as the effect of NPs on the crop was to be assessed under rain-fed conditions only. Plant growth parameters were recorded. The obtained results revealed that the application of FeONPs positively affected all the morphological and yield attributes in the wheat crop. The highest concentrations used were found to be most effective and showed a significantly pronounced effect as compared to the control atp≤ 0.05. The study concluded that the FeONPs can contribute to drought resilience in wheat.

Assessing the Outcomes Associated with Accessory Navicular Bone Surgery-a Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the existing literature in order to compare the clinical outcomes and complications associated with the kidner procedure and simple excision procedure. Furthermore, this review will help determine if one procedure is advantageous over the other in treating accessory navicular among patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Previous research on this topic has seen a low success rate in treating patients with symptomatic accessory navicular using conservative treatment options such as shoe-wear modification, braces, and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. Surgical treatment such as simple excision and kidner procedure has shown to have minor complications including scarring and wound irritation with a generally high satisfaction rate from patients. However, cases where patients that had planovalgus or hindfoot valgus accompanying the accessory navicular were required to undergo revision surgery to treat the recurrent pain following the kidner procedure. Similarly, patients that underwent simple excision procedure with having flat foot were unable to complete the heel test postoperatively despite not reporting feelings of pain. Both simple excision and the Kidner procedure appear to be efficacious procedures with low complication profiles and high rates of patient satisfaction. Moreover, it has appeared that the female demographic is more likely to present symptomatic accessory navicular and undergo surgical treatment. To further explore the ideal indication for each, more prospective comparative studies are needed as well as radiological assessments pre- and post-operatively to evaluate anatomical changes in the posterior tibialis tendon area between both procedures.

Sex-Specific Variance in Fitness and the Efficacy of Selection.

AbstractVariance in fitness is thought to be greater in males than in females in many species. If this is so, there are two potentially contradictory consequences on the efficacy of selection (Nes): greater variance in fitness may allow stronger selection (i.e., increased s), but it will also cause stronger genetic drift (i.e., reduced Ne). We develop a simple model to ask how the stronger condition dependency of fitness in males than in females affects selection and fitness variance in each sex to examine the net effect on the efficacy of selection. We measured the phenotypic variance in fitness for each sex in Drosophila melanogaster in different environmental and mating contexts. Variance in fitness was only approximately one and a half to two times higher in males than in females; juvenile mortality likely dampens the difference in variation between the sexes. Combining these results with previous studies of sex-specific selection on mutations, we infer that the increased drift due to males counterbalances the stronger selection on males in this species, leaving Nes similar to what would be expected if both sexes were "female-like" with respect to selection and variance in fitness. Reasons why this could differ in other species are discussed.

Previous intravitreal injection as a risk factor of posterior capsule rupture in cataract surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Intravitreal injections and cataract surgery are two common procedures in the elderly. Posterior capsular rupture (PCR) is a rare but important complication of cataract surgery. We systematically reviewed the literature on previous intravitreal injections as a risk factor of PCR and performed meta-analyses to provide pooled summary risk estimates. METHODS: We searched 13 literature databases on 1 June 2021 for studies evaluating the risk of PCR in eyes undergoing cataract surgery with data on previous intravitreal injections. Data extraction was made independently by two authors and discussed afterwards until reaching consensus. Random effects meta-analyses on the pooled odds ratio (OR) of PCR in eyes with previous intravitreal injections were made using MetaXL 5.3. RESULTS: Six studies on 1 051 097 eyes undergoing cataract surgery were eligible for the qualitative and quantitative review. Previous history of intravitreal injections was present in 7034 eyes (majority was anti-VEGF). Our meta-analyses revealed that any previous intravitreal injection was a risk factor for PCR with an OR of 2.30 (95% CI 1.39-3.81). For each previous intravitreal injection, the risk of PCR was OR 1.04 (95% CI 1.01-1.08) (equivalent of relative risk ~1.04). In other words, risk of PCR increases by 4% for each previous intravitreal injection. CONCLUSIONS: Previous intravitreal injection is a risk factor for PCR and should be taken into account when planning cataract surgery. However, to be regarded as a clinically significant risk of PCR, a substantial number of previous intravitreal injection (e.g. ≥10) should have been administered, considering that the a priori risk of PCR is very low (~1%).

Impact of tobacco use on corneal thickness and endothelial health: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of tobacco use on corneal thickness and corneal endothelial health. METHODS: We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central and all affiliated databases of the Web of Science on 20 July 2020. Two authors reviewed the studies and extracted the data in an independent fashion. Studies were reviewed qualitatively in the text, and central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial characteristics (endothelial cell density, endothelial cell variability, average of endothelial cell size and endothelial cell hexagonality) were introduced for quantitative analyses. RESULTS: Eighteen studies (2077 were smokers and 6429 non-smokers) were identified, of which 17 studies provided data eligible for one or more of the quantitative analyses. When compared to non-smokers, smokers had a higher CCT (+3.3 µm, 95% CI: +0.9 to +5.7 µm, p = 0.007) and a lower endothelial cell density (-140 cells/mm2 , 95% CI: -30 to -250 cells/mm2 , p = 0.01). Other corneal endothelial measures did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Tobacco use is associated with a higher CCT and lower corneal endothelium cell density, but the clinical impact of these findings is small. Further studies are warranted on patients with a priori poor corneal health, where smoking may constitute an important risk of further progression, for example upon anterior segment surgery.