Clinical Implications of Alternating Hypointense Bands on OCT-Angiography in Retinal Vascular Occlusive Disease.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the relationship between alternating hypointense signal bands on optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA), real-time fluorescein angiography (FA), and structural OCT findings in patients with retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD). DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive case series. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute RVOD and alternating bands of hypointense OCTA flow signal on en face projections. METHODS: Complete ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging, including color fundus photography (CFP), real-time FA, SD-OCT, and OCTA performed with different instruments having different scan speeds and acquisition protocols. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcomes were: Hypointense OCTA band characteristics (number, width, orientation, and location), OCTA acquisition characteristics (speed and scan direction), and FA findings including delayed arteriovenous (AV) transit and pulsatile flow. Secondary outcomes were: Structural OCT changes including retinal fluid, paracentral acute maculopathy lesion (PAMM), and a prominent middle limiting membrane (p-MLM) sign. RESULTS: OCTA-hypointense bands were detected in the superficial and deep vascular plexuses in 9 eyes of 9 patients with either partial CRAO or nonischemic RVO. When obtained on the same device, hypointense bands were thinner and more numerous at lower (100 kHz) scan speeds compared with higher (200 kHz) scan speeds. Band orientation was parallel to the OCTA scan direction, and their extent correlated with the area of delayed AV transit on FA. Structural OCT showed multiple PAMM lesions in 78% of cases and a p-MLM sign centered in the fovea in 44% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: OCTA-hypointense bands are a novel biomarker in RVOD indicating delayed AV transit and pulsatile filling without the need for dye angiography. Structural OCT often shows PAMM in these eyes, and less commonly, a p-MLM sign.

Strabismus and Health Related Quality of Life in a pediatric Portuguese population.

Introduction: Strabismus is a common condition among children, and its psychosocial impact has been demonstrated in recent years. The interest in a more comprehensive approach was enhanced by the recognition of health as a four-dimensional concept, arising the term Health-related Quality of Life. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the influence of strabismus in Health-Related Quality of Life of a Portuguese pediatric population. Material and Methods: Case-control prospective transversal study enrolling children between 5 and 12 years old. All had a complete orthoptic and ophthalmological evaluation, followed by an interview with a legal representative to answer the Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory 4.0, proxy-version. Results: Seventy-one children were included, 35 in the control group (CG) and 36 in the strabismus group (SG). In the SG, 30 (83.3%) patients had esotropia, 20 (55.6%) had more than 10 prismatic diopters and 26 (72.2%) were already surgically treated. Overall, SG was not statistically different from the CG, showing only mild inferior performance (p > .05). Furthermore, children with exotropia, higher deviations, none or gross stereoacuity and treatment-naïve, scored worse, especially in emotional, social, educational and psychosocial scores although not statistically significant (p > .05). Conclusion: This is the first prospective study addressing HRQoL and strabismus in a pediatric Portuguese population. It would be relevant to further address this issue in order to delineate more effective and global treatment strategies, not only considering ophthalmological goals but also the well-being of both children and guardians.

Early Molecular Immune Responses of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) Following Infection with Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida.

Turbot aquaculture production is an important economic activity in several countries around the world; nonetheless, the incidence of diseases, such furunculosis, caused by the etiological agent A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, is responsible for important losses to this industry worldwide. Given this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate early immune responses in turbot (S. maximus L.) following infection with A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. For this, 72 fish were individually weighed and randomly distributed into 6 tanks in a circulating seawater system. For the bacterial challenge, half of the individuals (3 tanks with 36 individuals) were infected using a peritoneal injection with the bacterial suspension, while the other half of individuals were injected with PBS and kept as a control group. Several factors linked to the innate immune response were studied, including not only haematological (white blood cells, red blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, thrombocytes) and oxidative stress parameters, but also the analyses of the expression of 13 key immune-related genes (tnf-α, il-1ß, il-8, pparα-1, acox1, tgf-ß1, nf-kB p65, srebp-1, il-10, c3, cpt1a, pcna, il-22). No significant differences were recorded in blood or innate humoral parameters (lysozyme, anti-protease, peroxidase) at the selected sampling points. There was neither any evidence of significant changes in the activity levels of the oxidative stress indicators (catalase, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase). In contrast, pro-inflammatory (tnf-α, il-1ß), anti-inflammatory (il-10), and innate immune-related genes (c3) were up-regulated, while another gene linked with the lipid metabolism (acox1) was down-regulated. The results showed new insights about early responses of turbot following infection with A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida.

Proximate Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed with Pelvetia canaliculata-Supplemented Diets: An Insight towards the Valorization of Seaweed Biomass.

Seaweeds are a sustainable source of protein and lipids that may be used to replace fish by-products in aquaculture feed. This study aimed at using the macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata as an ingredient in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) feed, either as freeze-dried powder or as algae residue (waste) that was obtained after the supplementation of sunflower oil. The formulated diets and the fish muscle were analyzed concerning the proximate composition and the fatty acid profile. The health lipid indices hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (h/H), atherogenic (AI), thrombogenic (TI), as well as n-3/n-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratios were calculated. Additionally, the peroxidizability index (PI) was determined. No differences were observed in the proximate composition of fish muscle regardless of the diet used. Fish fed a diet supplemented with 10% of algae waste (W10) stand out for the highest content in oleic acid (C18:1 n-9), and the lowest in both linoleic (C18:2 n-6) and palmitic (C16:0) fatty acids. All fish samples showed values of health lipid indices within the limits recommend for a nutritional balanced diet. These results highlight that fish fed diets supplemented with P. canaliculata are sources of healthy lipids that might be consumed on a regular basis to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Functional and Molecular Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Following Challenge with Yersinia ruckeri.

Currently, aquaculture production of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a multibillion dollar industry; nevertheless, the development of this sector has not been exempt from pitfalls related to the recurrent presence of pathogens of bacterial origin. This is the case of Yersinia ruckeri, the etiologic agent of the infectious pathology known as Enteric Red Mouth Disease (ERM), causing serious economic losses that can be as high as 30-70% of production. Although several studies have been performed regarding pathogen features and virulence factors, more information is needed about the host defense mechanism activation after infection. Given this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate rainbow trout's short-term innate immune response against infection with Y. ruckeri. A series of factors linked to the innate immune response were evaluated, including determination of hematological parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, and analysis of the expression of immune-related genes. Results showed a significant decrease in several hematological parameters (white blood cell count, hematocrit, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and thrombocytes) and oxidative stress indicators (SOD) between the control and infected groups. In addition, there were significant differences in the level of gene expression between infected individuals and the control group. Most of these genes (il-1ß, il-8, il-10, tnf-α1, tnf-α2, socs3, mmp-9, cath, hsp-70, saa, fer, pcb) were upregulated within the first 24 h following infection. Results from this study showed more insights into the short-term immune response of rainbow trout to infection with Y. ruckeri, which may be useful for the establishment of biomarkers that may be used for the early detection of ERM.

Caminhada do privilégio e as causas percebidas da desigualdade social: um debate com estudantes de educação física / The privilege walk and the social perceived causes of inequality: a debate with physical educations students / Caminata del privilegio y las causas percibidas de la desigualdad social: un debate con los estudiantes de educación física

Colocar em perspectiva as representações sociais não é tarefa fácil. Neste trabalho, as percepções de dez estudantes de Educação Física antes e após a Caminhada do Privilégio ­ dinâmica que representa a trajetória de vida dos participantes através de passos ­ foram analisadas visando compreender os efeitos da atividade sobre o grupo a partir das percepções de suas posições sociais, dos fatores atribuídos a tais posições e das mudanças de perspectiva desencadeadas pela Caminhada do Privilégio. Os estudantes estimaram corretamente suas posições finais na Caminhada, porém esperavam encontrar pouca diferença entre eles, decorrente do esforço individual e do acesso a direitos e privilégios. Contudo, após a Caminhada do Privilégio, observaram uma grande distância entre eles e questões como gênero, orientação sexual, apoio familiar e condição econômica foram percebidas como centrais. O racismo foi citado, mas de forma reservada, em questionário, indicando a dificuldade de debate aberto de temas sociais

Putting social representations at school in perspective is not an easy task. This study analyzed perceptions of ten Physical Education students before and after the Privilege Walk ­ activity that represents individual histories through steps ­ in order to understand its effects on the group, considering the previous perceptions of their own social positions, factors related to those positions, and changes of perspective triggered by the Privilege Walk. Students correctly estimated their final positions in the Walk, but they expected smaller differences among them as a result of individual effort and access to rights and privileges. However, after the Privilege Walk, they observed major distances among them, and issues of gender, sexual orientation, family support and economic condition were perceived as crucial. Racism was mentioned in the questionnaire but not in the group, indicating the difficulty of holding an open debate about social issues

Discutir las representaciones sociales no es una tarea fácil. En este trabajo, las percepciones de diez estudiantes de EF antes y después de la Caminata del Privilegio ­dinámica que representa la trayectoria de vida de los participantes a través de pasos­ fueron analizadas con el objetivo de comprender los efectos de la actividad sobre el grupo, a partir de las percepciones de sus posiciones sociales, de los factores atribuidos a tales posiciones y de los cambios de perspectiva desencadenados por la Caminata del Privilegio. Los estudiantes estimaron correctamente sus posiciones finales en la Caminata, aunque esperaban encontrar poca diferencia entre ellos producto del esfuerzo individual y del acceso a derechos y privilegios. Sin embargo, después de la Caminata del Privilegio, observaron una gran distancia entre ellos y cuestiones como género, orientación sexual, apoyo familiar y condición económica fueron percibidas como centrales. El racismo fue citado, pero de forma reservada, en cuestionario, indicando la dificultad en el debate abierto de cuestiones sociales