Standards for vision science libraries: 2014 revision.

OBJECTIVE: This Association of Vision Science Librarians revision of the "Standards for Vision Science Libraries" aspires to provide benchmarks to address the needs for the services and resources of modern vision science libraries (academic, medical or hospital, pharmaceutical, and so on), which share a core mission, are varied by type, and are located throughout the world. METHODS: Through multiple meeting discussions, member surveys, and a collaborative revision process, the standards have been updated for the first time in over a decade. RESULTS: While the range of types of libraries supporting vision science services, education, and research is wide, all libraries, regardless of type, share core attributes, which the standards address. CONCLUSIONS: The current standards can and should be used to help develop new vision science libraries or to expand the growth of existing libraries, as well as to support vision science librarians in their work to better provide services and resources to their respective users.

Long-term outcome after marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anemia.

We reviewed the records and reevaluated 212 patients with aplastic anemia transplanted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) between 1970 and 1993 who survived >/=2 years and who have been followed for up to 26 years. Parameters analyzed included hematopoietic function, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), skin disease, cataracts, lung disease, skeletal problems, posttransplant malignancy, depression, pregnancy/fatherhood, and the return to work or school, as well as patient self-assessment of physical and psychosocial health, social interactions, memory and concentration, and overall severity of symptoms. Survival probabilities at 20 years were 89% for patients without (n = 125) and 69% for patients with chronic GVHD (n = 86) (the status was uncertain in 1 surviving patient). All patients had normal hematopoietic parameters. Skin problems occurred in 14%, cataracts in 12%, lung disease in 24%, and bone and joint problems in 18% of patients. Eleven patients (12%) developed a solid tumor malignancy and 19% of patients experienced depression. Chronic GVHD was the dominant risk factor for late complications. Seventeen patients died at 2.5 to 20.4 years posttransplant; 13 of these had chronic GVHD and related complications. At 2 years, 83% of patients had returned to school or work; the proportion increased to 90% by 20 years. At least half of the patients preserved or regained the ability to become pregnant or father children. Patients rated their quality of life as excellent and symptoms as minimal or mild. In conclusion, marrow transplantation in patients with aplastic anemia established long-term normal hematopoiesis. No new hematologic disorders occurred. The major cause of morbidity and mortality was chronic GVHD. However, the majority of patients who survived beyond 2 years returned to a fully functional life.

A controlled trial of long-term administration of intravenous immunoglobulin to prevent late infection and chronic graft-vs.-host disease after marrow transplantation: clinical outcome and effect on subsequent immune recovery.

To determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) given monthly from day 90 to day 360 posttransplantation decreased the incidence of late infection, chronic graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), and obliterative bronchiolitis after marrow transplantation, patients were assigned randomly to receive either IVIg (500 mg/kg/month) or no IVIg prophylaxis. Participants were registered before transplantation, and 250 patients (123 IVIg and 127 control) were evaluable for events after day 100. The two groups were balanced for age, marrow source, cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity, pretransplantation conditioning, and prophylaxis for infection and GVHD. Between days 100 and 365 posttransplantation, the incidence of bacteremia or septicemia per 100 patient-days of risk was 0.10 in the IVIg group and 0.12 in the controls (p = not significant). During the same period, the incidence of localized infection was marginally higher in control patients than in IVIg recipients (0.44 vs. 0.24, respectively; relative risk [RR] 1.46, p < 0.07). Administration of IVIg prophylaxis had no effect on survival, the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis, severity of airflow obstruction, or the incidence or mortality of chronic GVHD. After discontinuing IVIg prophylaxis at day 360, subsequent recovery of endogeneous humoral immunity was impaired (serum IgG1 and IgA levels were significantly lower than controls at day 730), and total infections were less common in the second year in control patients than in former IVIg recipients (0.12 vs 0.19, respectively; RR 0.61, p = 0.03). We conclude that in the absence of hypogammaglobulinemia, monthly administration of IVIg given from day 90 to 360 does not reduce late complications and may impair long-term humoral immune recovery after marrow transplantation.

Prevalence of nutrition-related problems among long-term survivors of allogeneic marrow transplantation.

The nutritional status and prevalence of nutrition-related problems in 192 adult and child allogeneic marrow transplant recipients were evaluated 1 year after transplant in a retrospective chart review. Among these patients, 63% exhibited evidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at the time of nutrition evaluation, including 44% with extensive disease who were receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Oral sensitivity was observed in 23% of all patients reviewed, and frank stomatitis occurred in 8%. The frequency of xerostomia was 18%; anorexia, 8%; reflux symptoms, 7%; diarrhea, 7%; steatorrhea, 5%; dysgeusia, 3%; and limited exercise tolerance because of dyspnea or joint contractures, 4%. Weight loss 3 to 12 months after transplant was experienced by 28%. Nutrition-related problems, changes in anthropometric indexes indicative of suboptimal nutritional status, and inadequate energy intake were observed more frequently in patients with extensive chronic GVHD than in patients without GVHD or in those with limited GVHD. Our findings indicate a high prevalence of nutrition problems among recipients of allogeneic marrow transplantation 1 year after transplant and, further, suggest the need for ongoing, community-based nutrition monitoring after discharge from a transplant center.

Gynecological abnormalities following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Forty-four post-pubertal women were studied 261-4628 days after allogeneic transplantation to determine the nature and degree of gynecological abnormalities following bone marrow transplantation. Evaluations included pelvic examinations, exfoliative cytology, serum gonadotropin levels, direct preparations for micro-organisms, and microbial cultures. Pelvic abnormalities were detected in 35 of 44 (80%) women and resembled atrophic changes known to occur after ovarian failure. Findings included reduced vaginal elasticity and rugal folds, pale tissues, small vaginal, uterine and cervical size, atrophic vulvovaginitis, introital stenosis, and loss of pubic hair. Atrophic abnormalities were noted in 33 of 36 recipients of total body irradiation (TBI) compared to two of eight women not prepared with TBI (p = 0.02). Vasomotor symptoms were reported in 67% of TBI recipients compared to 38% of those not given TBI. Elevated serum gonadotropin levels suggested that TBI had caused the ovarian failure. Recognition of these gynecological abnormalities can lead to earlier hormone replacement, alleviating unnecessary discomfort and improving the well-being of the marrow transplant recipient.

Myasthenia gravis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: relationship to chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Three patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed myasthenia gravis (MG) 762 to 1,180 days after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Symptoms of MG were observed after taper or discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment of chronic GVHD. All patients developed antibodies to acetylcholine receptor, and one had antibody formation to striated muscle. One patient died of complications of treatment of MG. The severity of disease underscores the importance of the differential diagnosis and the need for prompt therapy of this late complication after human bone marrow transplantation.

Profound hypomagnesemia and renal magnesium wasting associated with the use of cyclosporine for marrow transplantation.

We prospectively studied 41 marrow transplant patients to evaluate the possible association of hypomagnesemia with cyclosporine immunosuppressive therapy. During the 3 months posttransplant the mean nadir serum magnesium level was 1.06 +/- 0.16 mEq/L in 24 patients treated with cyclosporine and 1.33 +/- 0.13 in 14 patients treated with methotrexate (P less than 0.0001). Eleven of 24 patients receiving cyclosporine versus 1 of 14 patients receiving methotrexate had magnesium levels less than 1 mEq/L, or were begun on replacement therapy for presumed symptomatic hypomagnesemia (P less than 0.02). Agents known to be associated with hypomagnesemia, aminoglycosides and amphotericin B, were given in both lesser quantity and frequency to cyclosporine-treated patients than to methotrexate-treated patients. Hypomagnesemic patients treated with cyclosporine had inappropriately elevated urine magnesium excretion. Renal magnesium wasting may be added to the spectrum of nephrotoxicity resulting from cyclosporine. Several adverse reactions previously attributed to cyclosporine may be secondary to magnesium deficiency.

Imagery, shaping, and orgasm.

Shaping is the gradual addition of more or different increments in the learning of complex skill or response pattern. As applied to imagery or fantasy during sexual activity, it provides another tool to be utilized by the therapist. Imagery is seen as a normal if not inevtiable covert level of the sexual response pattern. Careful inquiry will nearly always reveal imagery during masturbation which can be deliberately incorporated with intercourse. The effect of this procedure is to increase both excitatory and orgiastic capabilities.