Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration among optometric telemedicine users in Spain: a retrospective nationwide population-based study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of AMD among optometric telemedicine users in Spain and to identify risk factors. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a nationwide database conducted on subjects attending to optometry centers, between January 2013 and December 2019. Fundus photographs were performed by optometrists, using non-mydriatic cameras, and evaluated by a group of 12 retina specialists. RESULTS: Among the 119,877 subjects included, the overall prevalence of AMD was 7.6%. The prevalence of early, intermediate, and advanced AMD was 2.9%, 2.7%, and 2.0%, respectively. Of the 9129 AMD subjects, 1161 (12.7%) had geographic atrophy, and 1089 (11.9%) had neovascular AMD, either scar (4.5%) or exudative (7.4%). There was a significant association between AMD and age (per year older, adjusted odds ratio, OR 1.116; 95% CI 1.114 to 1.119, p<0.0001). Women had higher prevalence (adjusted OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.23, p<0.0001). Every diopter (spherical equivalent) of progress toward hyperopia was associated with a significant increase in early AMD prevalence (adjusted OR 1.02, 95 CI 1.01 to 1.04, p=0.0074). Presence of diabetes was associated with a lower AMD prevalence (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AMD (any eye and any severity) was 7.6%, with a prevalence of advanced AMD of 2.0%. Older age and women were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of AMD, whereas myopia and presence of diabetes were associated with significantly lower odds of any AMD.

Parallel electrophoretic depletion, fractionation, concentration, and desalting of 96 complex biological samples for mass spectrometry.

The preparation of complex biological samples for high-throughput mass spectrometric analyses remains a significant bottleneck, limiting advancement of the capabilities of mass spectrometry (MS) and ultimately limiting development of novel clinical assays. The removal of interfering species (e.g., salts, detergents, and buffers), concentration of dilute analytes, and the reduction of sample complexity are required in order to maximize the quality of resultant MS data. This study describes a novel sample preparation method that makes use of electrophoresis to prepare complex biological samples for high-throughput MS analysis. The method provides for integration of key sample preparation steps, including depletion, fractionation, desalting, and concentration. The prepared samples are captured onto a monolithic reversed-phase capture target that can be analyzed directly by a mass spectrometer. Up to 96 individual samples are simultaneously prepared for MS analysis in under 1 h. For standard proteins added to serum, this method provides femtomole level sensitivity and reproducible label-free detection (coefficient of variation <30%). This study demonstrates that this electrophoretic sample preparation system permits high-throughput sample preparation for mass spectrometric analysis of complex biological samples, such as serum, plasma, and tissue extracts.

Occurrence of a new generation of disinfection byproducts.

A survey of disinfection byproduct (DBP) occurrence in the United States was conducted at 12 drinking water treatment plants. In addition to currently regulated DBPs, more than 50 DBPs that rated a high priority for potential toxicity were studied. These priority DBPs included iodinated trihalomethanes (THMs), other halomethanes, a nonregulated haloacid, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, halonitromethanes, haloaldehydes, halogenated furanones, haloamides, and nonhalogenated carbonyls. The purpose of this study was to obtain quantitative occurrence information for new DBPs (beyond those currently regulated and/or studied) for prioritizing future health effects studies. An effort was made to select plants treating water that was high in total organic carbon and/or bromide to enable the detection of priority DBPs that contained bromine and/or iodine. THMs and haloacetic acids (HAAs) represented the two major classes of halogenated DBPs formed on a weight basis. Haloacetaldehydes represented the third major class formed in many of the waters. In addition to obtaining quantitative occurrence data, important new information was discovered or confirmed at full-scale plants on the formation and control of DBPs with alternative disinfectants to chlorine. Although the use of alternative disinfectants (ozone, chlorine dioxide, and chloramines) minimized the formation of the four regulated THMs, trihalogenated HAAs, and total organic halogen (TOX), several priority DBPs were formed at higher levels with the alternative disinfectants as compared with chlorine. For example, the highest levels of iodinated THMs-which are not part of the four regulated THMs-were found at a plant that used chloramination with no prechlorination. The highest concentration of dichloroacetaldehyde was at a plant that used chloramines and ozone; however, this disinfection scheme reduced the formation of trichloroacetaldehyde. Preozonation was found to increase the formation of trihalonitromethanes. In addition to the chlorinated furanones that have been measured previously, brominated furanones-which have seldom been analyzed-were detected, especially in high-bromide waters. The presence of bromide resulted in a shift to the formation of other bromine-containing DBPs not normally measured (e.g., brominated ketones, acetaldehydes, nitromethanes, acetamides). Collectively, -30 and 39% of the TOX and total organic bromine, respectively, were accounted for (on a median basis) bythe sum of the measured halogenated DBPs. In addition, 28 new, previously unidentified DBPs were detected. These included brominated and iodinated haloacids, a brominated ketone, and chlorinated and iodinated aldehydes.

Acetylenic Cyclophanes as Fullerene Precursors: Formation of C60 H6 and C60 by Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry of C60 H6 (CO)12.

A logical precursor of macrocycle C60 H6 , cyclophane C60 H6 (CO)12 (1) represents a building block in a possible total synthesis of C60 . In Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance laser desorption mass spectroscopic experiments in the negative-ion mode, 1 fragments to C60 H6 (2) under successive loss of CO. Further loss of six H atoms and rearrangement gives C60 ions with a fullerenic structure.