A chromosome-level genome assembly of longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus.

Holosteans (gars and bowfins) represent the sister lineage to teleost fishes, the latter being a clade that comprises over half of all living vertebrates and includes important models for comparative genomics and human health. A major distinction between the evolutionary history of teleosts and holosteans is that all teleosts experienced a genome duplication event in their early evolutionary history. As the teleost genome duplication occurred after teleosts diverged from holosteans, holosteans have been heralded as a means to bridge teleost models to other vertebrate genomes. However, only three species of holosteans have been genome-sequenced to date, and sequencing of more species is needed to fill sequence sampling gaps and provide a broader comparative basis for understanding holostean genome evolution. Here we report the first high quality reference genome assembly and annotation of the longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus). Our final assembly consists of 22,709 scaffolds with a total length of 945 bp with contig N50 of 116.61 kb. Using BRAKER2, we annotated a total of 30,068 genes. Analysis of the repetitive regions of the genome reveals the genome to contain 29.12% transposable elements, and the longnose gar to be the only other known vertebrate outside of the spotted gar and bowfin to contain CR1, L2, Rex1, and Babar. These results highlight the potential utility of holostean genomes for understanding the evolution of vertebrate repetitive elements, and provide a critical reference for comparative genomic studies utilizing ray-finned fish models.

Keratoglobus and posterior subcapsular cataract: surgical considerations and in vivo microstructural analysis.

We report sporadic, bilateral keratoglobus associated with posterior subcapsular cataract in a 43-year-old man. Slitlamp biomicroscopy showed symmetric arcus senilis-like deposits, a polygonal appearance resembling crocodile shagreen, an unusual endothelial appearance, and posterior subcapsular cataract. Orbscan II pachymetry maps (Bausch & Lomb) demonstrated bilateral diffuse corneal thinning (359.53 microm +/- 21.15 [SD] in the right eye and 379.61 +/- 11.49 microm in the left eye). These thickness values were confirmed by ultrasound pachymetry. In vivo confocal microscopy showed multiple criss-crossing dark lines and no identifiable cellular elements within the stroma. There were mild to moderate, guttata-like endothelial changes surrounded by pleomorphic cells. Phacoemulsification was performed in the left eye after careful consideration of the presenting features and modification of the surgical technique. Minimal structural alteration was observed during microstructural analysis 7 months after surgery. The endothelial morphology postoperatively was similar to that at baseline.

Attitudes to research and research training among ophthalmologists and ophthalmology trainees in New Zealand.

PURPOSE: To determine the attitudes to research and research training among ophthalmologists and ophthalmology trainees in New Zealand. METHODS: A structured, self-administered questionnaire was devised and after preliminary validation a postal survey was sent to all ophthalmologists and ophthalmology registrars and fellows in New Zealand. RESULTS: A total of 82 replies were received from 115 questionnaires sent out; a response rate of 71.3%. An overwhelming majority found research to have benefited their education, clinical practice and career; 67.1% of the respondents intended to do research in the future. Although a majority (56.4%) felt research to be beneficial to ophthalmology training, 42.3% felt research would be of limited or no benefit when selecting candidates for vocational training. However, 97.5% of respondents felt that ophthalmology trainees should undertake some form of research during training, with most supporting small studies or case reports (44.4%) or a short structured training course in research (42.0%). Interestingly, 86.6% felt that research methodology and data analysis should be taught in a structured fashion with most supporting courses or seminars of a few weeks duration during the vocational training period. Many ophthalmologists felt inadequately equipped or trained to mentor and supervise trainees undertaking research and 41.5% of consultant ophthalmologists felt further training to fulfil this role would be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: This survey suggests that New Zealand ophthalmologists generally approve of and support a place for research, possibly of a more structured design, during ophthalmology training.

The Auckland cataract study: co-morbidity, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes in a public hospital service.

AIM: To prospectively assess cataract surgery in a major New Zealand public hospital by defining presenting clinical parameters and surgical and clinical outcomes in a cohort of subjects just below threshold for treatment, based upon a points based prioritisation system. METHODS: The prospective observational study comprised 488 eyes of 480 subjects undergoing consecutive cataract operations at Auckland Hospital. All subjects underwent extensive ophthalmic examination before and after surgery. Details of the surgical procedure, including any intraoperative difficulties or complications, were documented. Postoperative review was performed at 1 day and 4 weeks after surgery. Demographic data, clinical outcomes, and adverse events were correlated by an independent assessor. RESULTS: The mean age at surgery was 74.9 (SD 9.6) years with a female predominance (62%). Significant systemic disease affected 80% of subjects, with 20% of the overall cohort exhibiting diabetes mellitus. 26% of eyes exhibited coexisting ocular disease and in 7.6% this affected best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA). A mean spherical equivalent of -0.49 (1.03) D and mean BSCVA of 0.9 (0.6) log MAR units (Snellen equivalent approximately 6/48) was noted preoperatively. Local anaesthesia was employed in 99.8% of subjects (94.9% sub-Tenon's). The majority of procedures (97.3%) were small incision phacoemulsification with foldable lens implant. Complications included: 4.9% posterior capsule tears, 3.8% cystoid macular oedema, and one case (0.2%) of endophthalmitis. Mean BSCVA after surgery was 0.1 (0.2) log MAR units (6/7.5 Snellen equivalent), with a mean spherical equivalent of -0.46 (0.89) D, and was 6/12 or better in 88% of all eyes. A drop in BSCVA, thought to be directly attributable to the surgical intervention, was recorded in a small percentage of eyes (1.5%) after surgery. CONCLUSION: This study provides a representative assessment of the management of cataract in the New Zealand public hospital system. A predominantly elderly, female population, frequently exhibiting significant systemic illness and coexisting ocular disease, relatively advanced cataracts, and poor BSCVA, presented for cataract surgery. The majority of subjects underwent small incision, phacoemulsification, day case surgery. While almost 90% achieved at least 6/12 BSCVA post-surgery, approximately 5% sustained an adverse intraoperative event and 1.5% of eyes exhibited a reduction in BSCVA postoperatively.