Impact of active vision therapy compared to conventional patching therapy on visual acuity and stereoacuity in children with amblyopia.

PURPOSE: To compare improvements in visual acuity (VA) and stereoacuity between active vision therapy (AVT) and conventional patching therapy in children with amblyopia. METHODS: This study included 65 children aged 5 to 16 years (mean age±SD, 11.00±3.29 years) with unilateral amblyopia. Among them, 31 children underwent active vision therapy (AVT group), and 34 children underwent conventional patching therapy (patching group). AVT group underwent three sequential phases of AVT: Monocular phase (pursuit, saccades, fixation, visuomotor, eye-hand coordination, and central peripheral activities), biocular phase (diplopia awareness, antisuppression, monocular fixation in a binocular field, accommodative activities, bilateral integration, and fine motor activities) and binocular phase (fusion and stereopsis). Patching group patched their fellow eyes as per guidelines by Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. Best-corrected monocular VA and stereoacuity were measured at baseline and after three months of therapy in both groups. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in the mean acuities in amblyopic eye (AE) in both AVT (0.32±0.11 logMAR, p <0.001) and patching groups (0.27±0.19 logMAR, p Ë‚ 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in mean acuity gains in AE between AVT and patching groups (p = 0.059). Mean gains in stereoacuities (log seconds of arc) were statistically significant in both AVT (0.81±0.34, p < 0.001) and patching groups (0.32±0.34, p < 0.001). The stereoacuity gain in the AVT group was significantly higher compared to patching group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Active vision therapy had a better impact than conventional patching therapy in terms of improvement of stereoacuity but not in terms of VA when used for treating children with amblyopia.

Digitally Assisted Peer Recovery Coach to Facilitate Linkage to Outpatient Treatment Following Inpatient Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment: Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD), associated with significant morbidity and mortality, continues to be a major public health problem. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the impact of AUD, with a 25% increase in alcohol-related mortality from 2019 to 2020. Thus, innovative treatments for AUD are urgently needed. While inpatient alcohol withdrawal management (detoxification) is often an entry point for recovery, most do not successfully link to ongoing treatment. Transitions between inpatient and outpatient treatment pose many challenges to successful treatment continuation. Peer recovery coaches-individuals with the lived experience of recovery who obtain training to be coaches-are increasingly used to assist individuals with AUD and may provide a degree of continuity during this transition. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using an existing care coordination app (Lifeguard) to assist peer recovery coaches in supporting patients after discharge and facilitating linkage to care. METHODS: This study was conducted on an American Society of Addiction Medicine-Level IV inpatient withdrawal management unit within an academic medical center in Boston, MA. After providing informed consent, participants were contacted by the coach through the app, and after discharge, received daily prompts to complete a modified version of the brief addiction monitor (BAM). The BAM inquired about alcohol use, risky, and protective factors. The coach sent daily motivational texts and appointment reminders and checked in if BAM responses were concerning. Postdischarge follow-up continued for 30 days. The following feasibility outcomes were evaluated: (1) proportion of participants engaging with the coach before discharge, (2) proportion of participants and the number of days engaging with the coach after discharge, (3) proportion of participants and the number of days responding to BAM prompts, and (4) proportion of participants successfully linking with addiction treatment by 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: All 10 participants were men, averaged 50.5 years old, and were mostly White (n=6), non-Hispanic (n=9), and single (n=8). Overall, 8 participants successfully engaged with the coach prior to discharge. Following discharge, 6 participants continued to engage with the coach, doing so on an average of 5.3 days (SD 7.3, range 0-20 days); 5 participants responded to the BAM prompts during the follow-up, doing so on an average of 4.6 days (SD 6.9, range 0-21 days). Half (n=5) successfully linked with ongoing addiction treatment during the follow-up. The participants who engaged with the coach post discharge, compared to those who did not, were significantly more likely to link with treatment (83% vs 0%, χ2=6.67, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that a digitally assisted peer recovery coach may be feasible in facilitating linkage to care following discharge from inpatient withdrawal management treatment. Further research is warranted to evaluate the potential role for peer recovery coaches in improving postdischarge outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05393544; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05393544.

Screen time and its correlates among children aged 3-10 years during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: a community-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the prevalence of high screen time among schoolchildren aged 3-10 years in Bhaktapur, its correlates and the parents' strategies to reduce screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during March 2021. A total of 630 households were selected for the study from 21 randomly selected clusters in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Correlates of high screen time were determined using a logistic model. P<0.002 was taken as significant. RESULTS: Among all the participants, the mean (SD) age was 7.0 (2.2) years, with 50.3% male participation. Few participants had online classes (n=24, 3.8%). The prevalence of high screen time among the participants was very high (55.2%, 95% CI=51.3% to 59.1%), which is even higher in boys (61.8%, 95% CI=58.0% to 65.6%). The median screen time before the COVID-19 pandemic was 1.0 hours (mean rank=275.8) which increased to 2.2 hours (mean rank=116.6) during the pandemic (p<0.001). Participants having smartphones were about seven times (adjusted OR=6.9, 95% CI=1.5 to 31.3, p=0.013) more likely to have high screen time than those who did not have the device. Most parents used to reprimand and urge their children to play outside to limit their screen usage. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, about one in two schoolchildren of 3-10 years had higher screen time than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents' strategies to reduce screen time were not effective. An intervention study is recommended to design and test effective strategies to reduce screen time and its negative effects on children's health.

Clinico-epidemiological Study of Patients with Glaucoma in a Tertiary Eye Center, Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Major cause of irreversible blindness is glaucoma which is increasing as a significant global health problem. Knowledge of glaucoma burden and its clinical characteristics in this region is essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional hospital -based study conducted at Glaucoma unit in CHEERS Hospital, Bhaktapur from August 2015 to July 2019. Patients' demographic profile, along with comprehensive eye examination findings were reviewed from the records. Data analysis was done with IBM SPSS version 24 and was presented in mean (±SD), frequency and proportions and a chi- square test was applied. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Total of 310 glaucoma cases were included in this study. The mean age presentation was 61.89±14.4 years, and the majority of patients (52.9%) were in the age group 60-79 years. Most patients had primary open angle glaucoma (171, 55.2%) followed by primary angle closure glaucoma (92, 29.7%). CONCLUSION: Primary open angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. The proportion of glaucoma increased with increasing age (> 40 years). Provision of screening programs targeting persons with risk factors and opportunistic eye examinations would be beneficial in detection of glaucoma.

Invisible wounds: Suturing the gap between the neurobiology, conventional and emerging therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder.

A sharp increase in the prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has occurred due to the traumatic nature of the persisting COVID-19 global pandemic. PTSD is estimated to occur in up to 25% of individuals following exposure to acute or chronic trauma, and the pandemic has inflicted both forms of trauma on much of the population through both direct physiological attack as well as an inherent upheaval to our sense of safety. However, despite significant advances in our ability to define and apprehend the effects of traumatic events, the neurobiology and neuroanatomical circuitry of PTSD, one of the most severe consequences of traumatic exposure, remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the current psychotherapies or pharmacological options for treatment have limited efficacy, durability, and low adherence rates. Consequently, there is a great need to better understand the neurobiology and neuroanatomy of PTSD and develop novel therapies that extend beyond the current limited treatments. This review summarizes the neurobiological and neuroanatomical underpinnings of PTSD and discusses the conventional and emerging psychotherapies, pharmacological and combined psychopharmacological therapies, including the use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies and neuromodulatory interventions, for the improved treatment of PTSD and the potential for their wider applications in other neuropsychiatric disorders resulting from traumatic exposure.

Clinical variations and therapeutic challenges in the management of symptomatic retinal artery macroaneurysm: a tertiary center experience.

PURPOSE: To find out clinical characteristics, therapeutic options, and visual outcome in symptomatic retinal artery macroaneurysm (RAMA) patients. METHOD: Newly diagnosed cases of symptomatic RAMA from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with mean age 62.46 years ± 14.89 (SD) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. RESULT: Hypertension was present in 66.6% of the patients, and the commonest site was superotemporal (12 eyes, 80%). The most commonly employed treatment was Nd: Yag laser hyaloidotomy in 4 eyes (26.6%). Other treatments were intravitreal bevacizumab in 3 eyes (20%), focal laser with intravitreal bevacizumab in 3 eyes (20%), PPV with focal laser (13.3%) in 2, focal laser only in one (6.6%), PPV with focal and intravitreal bevacizumab in one (6.6%). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline was 1.35 ± 0.84 LogMAR, which improved to 0.39 ± 0.53 LogMAR at the last follow-up. Presenting VA 0.77 (±0.40) improved to 0.20 (±0.17) p value (0.180) in intravitreal bevacizumab only group, 1.29 (±0.35) to 0.75 (±0.15) p value 0.66 in Nd: Yag laser group, 2.67 (±0.58) to 0.46 (±0.28) p value 0.019 in PPV group and did not improve in combined anti-VEGF and focal laser group due to dense hard exudates at the fovea in one and persistent cystoid macular edema in another case. CONCLUSION: With regard to its presentation, which can vary tremendously, there are no approved guidelines for its treatment. The present study reinforces the need for a treatment guideline development. Customization of treatment should be considered depending on the clinical presentation of each case.

Tick infestation masquerading as a nodule in the eye lid.

INTRODUCTION: Ticks are ectoparasites which can lead to various blood borne diseases. Tick bite may resemble pigmented nevi, mole or nodule resulting a diagnostic dilemma. Tick bite in eye lid is rare and this case report describes tick bite in lower eye lid mimicking a traumatized pigmented nodule where the tick was identified only on magnification and was successfully removed mechanically. CASE: A 61-year-old man presented to the eye out patient department with a sudden and painful black pigmented lesion on the right lower lid for four days. The tick was manually removed with forceps. CONCLUSION: This case report explains the need for a high index of suspicion as tick bite in sudden or recent onset pigmented lesions especially in endemic areas.

What's Love Got to do with it: Role of oxytocin in trauma, attachment and resilience.

Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohypophysial hormone and neuropeptide produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. It has multiple physiological roles including stimulation of parturition and lactation, and promotion of pro-adaptive social behaviors necessary for mammalian survival. OT interacts with one receptor subtype: the OT receptor (OTR) which, upon stimulation, triggers different intracellular signal transduction cascades to mediate its physiological actions. Preclinical studies show that OT regulates social behaviors such as pair bonding, recognition and social interaction. It also coordinates the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the release of corticotrophin-releasing hormone. Further evidence suggests that OT plays an important role in regulating caloric intake and metabolism, and in maintaining electrolyte and cardiovascular homeostasis. OT is also involved in attenuating the neurophysiological and neurochemical effects of trauma on the brain and body by facilitating both physical attachment such as wound healing, and psychological/social attachment, thereby increasing resilience to subsequent traumatic events. Clinical trials have reported that intranasal administration of OT provides therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with traumatic stress-related diseases such as major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. OT's therapeutic benefits may result from context-dependent interactions with key neural pathways (social, cognitive, and reward), neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and endogenous opioids), and biomarkers (adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), that lead to a decrease in stress -associated behaviors, and facilitate post-traumatic growth, ultimately leading to increased resilience, through improved social cohesion and attachment. OT induced-augmentation of physical and cognitive resilience may play a significant role in both the prevention of, and improved clinical outcomes for, traumatic stress-related disorders following either acute or enduring traumatic experiences.

Vortioxetine: a novel antidepressant for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Vortioxetine is a novel antidepressant drug approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. It is formulated into tablets and has a dose range of 5-20 mg. The recommended starting dose is 10 mg administered orally once daily without the need for food. Areas covered: This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical discovery of vortioxetine. It analyzes the pharmacological, neurochemical, and behavioral mechanisms of the medication and how these contribute to its potential therapeutic advantages as described in published preclinical and clinical studies and product labels. Expert opinion: Vortioxetine displays high affinity for serotonin transporter (SERT), and serotonin 5-HT3, 5HT1A, 5HT7 receptors. Functional studies show that vortioxetine acts as a SERT blocker, a 5-HT3, 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, and a 5-HT1A receptor agonist. The drug is active in animal models predictive of antipsychotic and antidepressant activities and demonstrates procognitive effects in several animal models that assessed memory, cognition, and executive functions. Short- and long-term clinical trials demonstrated the clinical efficacy of vortioxetine in treating depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits in MDD patients. It also displays fairly benign safety and tolerability profiles. Vortioxetine's unique psychopharmacological properties might contribute to an improved clinical outcome in MDD patient populations.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Classification, diagnosis and therapy.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, Asperger's syndrome (AS) and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). The new diagnostic criteria of ASD focuses on two core domains: social communication impairment and restricted interests/repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of ASD has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, with current estimates reaching up to 1 in 36 children. Hereditary factors, parental history of psychiatric disorders, pre-term births, and fetal exposure to psychotropic drugs or insecticides have all been linked to higher risk of ASD. Several scales such as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), The Autism Spectrum Disorder-Observation for Children (ASD-OC), The Developmental, Dimensional, and Diagnostic Interview (3di), are available to aid in better assessing the behaviors and symptoms associated with ASD. Nearly 75% of ASD patients suffer from comorbid psychiatric illnesses or conditions, which may include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, Tourette syndrome, and others. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are available for ASD. Pharmacological treatments include psychostimulants, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists. These medications provide partial symptomatic relief of core symptoms of ASD or manage the symptoms of comorbid conditions. Non-pharmacological interventions, which show promising evidence in improving social interaction and verbal communication of ASD patients, include music therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and social behavioral therapy. Hormonal therapies with oxytocyin or vasopressin receptor antagonists have also shown some promise in improving core ASD symptoms. The use of vitamins, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements in conjunction with pharmacological and behavioral treatment appear to have some effect in symptomatic improvement in ASD, though additional studies are needed to confirm these benefits. Developing novel disease-modifying therapies may prove to be the ultimate intervention for sustained improvement of symptoms in ASD.

Management of opioid use disorders among veterans in subacute rehab: Use of an interdisciplinary task force to address an emerging concern.

There is both rapidly growing need, and limited evidence-based guidelines, for the management of opioid use disorders in subacute rehab and other nonaddiction medical settings. Following 2 unintentional opioid overdoses within the Community Living Center (CLC), a VA (Veterans Administration) subacute rehab setting, an interdisciplinary CLC Addictions Task Force was created to address a critical issue: how to best meet the combined neuropsychiatric and medical needs of the opiate use disorder patient through a multifaceted treatment approach. The goals of the task force were to develop and institute educational initiatives for providers; create patient care guidelines; increase safety on the unit; improve provider confidence when caring for this high-risk population; and mitigate the risk of unintentional overdose. The task force divided into 4 working groups to meet these aims. Process and outcomes are discussed. We found that in-services by addiction specialists improved clinician comfort in caring for this high-risk patient group. Specific areas that yielded the greatest clinician satisfaction ratings included didactics on how to identify at-risk patients and techniques on how to manage the patient in a general rehab setting. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, and an iterative process, at all stages was critical to the success of the CLC Addictions Task Force, as it improved buy-in and motivation from all disciplines. Improvements have been made to enhance patient safety, improve communication amongst providers, and provide a foundation to improve patient outcomes. Our preliminary work to enhance the identification and management of opioid use disorders at our CLC is an important first step towards a standardized curriculum that could be applied to other VA and non-VA subacute rehab settings.