Gender, Race, and Ethnicity of US Academic Ophthalmology Faculty and Department Chairs From 1966 to 2021.

Importance: Workforce diversity is integral to optimal function within health care teams. Objective: To analyze gender, race, and ethnicity trends in rank and leadership among US full-time academic ophthalmology faculty and department chairs between 1966 and 2021. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included full-time US academic ophthalmology faculty and department chairs registered in the Association of American Medical Colleges. Study data were analyzed in September 2023. Exposure: Identifying with an underrepresented in medicine (URiM) group. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome measures were demographic (ie, gender, race, and ethnicity) changes among academic faculty and department chairs, assessed in 5-year intervals. The term minoritized race refers to any racial group other than White race. Results: There were 221 academic physicians in 1966 (27 women [12.2%]; 38 minoritized race [17.2%]; 8 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish [3.6%]) and 3158 academic faculty by 2021 (1320 women [41.8%]; 1298 minoritized race [41.1%]; 147 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [4.7%]). The annual proportional change for women, minoritized race, and Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity was +0.63% per year (95% CI, 0.53%-0.72%), +0.54% per year (95% CI, 0.72%-0.36%), and -0.01% (95% CI, -0.03% to 0%), respectively. Women were underrepresented across academic ranks and increasingly so at higher echelons, ranging from nonprofessor/instructor roles (period-averaged mean difference [PA-MD], 19.88%; 95% CI, 16.82%-22.94%) to professor (PA-MD, 81.33%; 95% CI, 78.80%-83.86%). The corpus of department chairs grew from 77 in 1977 (0 women; 7 minoritized race [9.09%]; 2 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [2.60%]) to 104 by 2021 (17 women [16.35%]; 22 minoritized race [21.15%]; 4 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [3.85%]). For department chairs, the annual rate of change in the proportion of women, minoritized race, and Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity was +0.32% per year (95% CI, 0.20%-0.44%), +0.34% per year (95% CI, 0.19%-0.49%), and +0.05% per year (95% CI, 0.02%-0.08%), respectively. In both faculty and department chairs, the proportion of URiM groups (American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) grew the least. Intersectionality analysis suggested that men and non-URiM status were associated with greater representation across ophthalmology faculty and department chairs. However, among ophthalmology faculty, URiM women and men did not significantly differ across strata of academic ranks, whereas for department chairs, no difference was observed in representation between URiM men and non-URiM women. Conclusion & Relevance: Results of this cohort study revealed that since 1966, workforce diversity progressed slowly and was limited to lower academic ranks and leadership positions. Intersectionality of URiM status and gender persisted in representation trends. These findings suggest further advocacy and intervention are needed to increase workforce diversity.

Physical and Psychosocial Challenges as Predictors of Vision Difficulty in Children: A Nationally Representative Survey Analysis.

PURPOSE: To elicit associations between vision difficulties and physical or psychosocial challenges in children in the United States. METHODS: Children aged 2-17 years old from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey with data pertaining to vision difficulty were included in our retrospective, population-based analysis. Our primary aim was investigating physical and psychosocial challenges as predictors of vision difficulty. Logistic regression models were performed on Stata version 17.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). Analyses were accompanied by an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 7,373 children had data pertaining to their level of vision difficulty and were included in our sample. In our multivariable analysis, children with a good/fair (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = [1.31, 2.60], p < 0.01), or poor (OR = 5.08, 95% CI = [1.61, 16.04], p < 0.01) general health status had higher odds of vision difficulty relative to children with an excellent/very good health status. Furthermore, children with difficulties hearing (OR = 8.67, 95% CI = [5.25, 14.31], p < 0.01), communicating (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = [1.18, 3.25], p < 0.01), learning (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = [1.27, 2.93], p < 0.01), and making friends (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = [1.12, 3.36], p = 0.02) had higher odds of vision difficulty. Nonetheless, the following factors were only predictors of vision difficulty in our univariable analysis: requiring equipment for mobility (p < 0.01), experiencing anxiety (p < 0.01), and experiencing depression (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Several factors pertaining to physical and psychosocial challenges in children are associated with vision difficulty. Future research should further explore potential causal links between vision difficulty and physical or psychosocial factors to aid in coordinating public health efforts dedicated to vision health equity.

Gender inclusivity of ophthalmology journal submission guidelines and associated research metrics.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of inclusive author submission guidelines across ophthalmology journals. METHODS: Journals were identified from the 2021 Journal Citations Report (Clarivate Analytics). Independent reviewers rated each author submission guideline as "inclusive" for satisfying at-least one of six criteria: i) included examples of gender inclusive language; ii) recommended the use of gender-inclusive language; iii) distinguished between sex and gender; iv) provided educational resources on gender-inclusive language; v) provided a policy permitting name changes (e.g., in case of gender and name transition); and/or vi) provided a statement of commitment to inclusivity. The primary objective was to investigate the proportion of journals with "gender-inclusive" author submission guidelines and the elements of the gender-inclusive content within these guidelines. A secondary objective was to review the association between "gender-inclusivity" in author submission guidelines with publisher, origin country, and journal/source/influence metrics (Clarivate Analytics). RESULTS: Across 94 journals, 29.8% journals were rated as inclusive. Inclusive journals had significantly higher relative impact factor, citations, and article influence scores compared to non-inclusive journals. Of the 29.8% of inclusive journals, the three most common domains were inclusion of an inclusivity statement (71.4% of inclusive journals), distinguishing between sex and gender (67.9%), and provision of additional educational resources on gender reporting for authors (60.7%). CONCLUSION: A minority of ophthalmology journals have gender-inclusive author submission guidelines. Ophthalmology journals should update their submission guidelines to advance gender equity of both authors and study participants and promote the inclusion of gender-diverse communities.

Validation of implosion modeling through direct-drive shock timing experiments at the National Ignition Facility.

Precise modeling of shocks in inertial confinement fusion implosions is critical for obtaining the desired compression in experiments. Shock velocities and postshock conditions are determined by laser-energy deposition, heat conduction, and equations of state. This paper describes experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) [E. M. Campbell and W. J. Hogan, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 41, B39 (1999)10.1088/0741-3335/41/12B/303] where multiple shocks are launched into a cone-in-shell target made of polystyrene, using laser-pulse shapes with two or three pickets and varying on-target intensities. Shocks are diagnosed using the velocity interferometric system for any reflector (VISAR) diagnostic [P. M. Celliers et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 4916 (2004)0034-674810.1063/1.1807008]. Simulated and inferred shock velocities agree well for the range of intensities studied in this work. These directly-driven shock-timing experiments on the NIF provide a good measure of early-time laser-energy coupling. The validated models add to the credibility of direct-drive-ignition designs at the megajoule scale.

Association Between Sociodemographic Factors and Self-reported Glaucoma in the National Health Interview Survey: A Population-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between social determinants of health (SDH) in the domains of social and community context, education access, environmental context, economic stability, and healthcare access, with glaucoma prevalence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study population consisted of adult participants who answered glaucoma-related questions on the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the most recent iteration that includes glaucoma-related questions. The main outcome measures included the relationships between SDH-related factors and self-reported glaucoma diagnosis as well as self-reported glaucomatous vision loss were examined using univariable and multivariable regression models. RESULTS: In total, 26,696 of 26,742 (99.83%) NHIS respondents were included, of whom 880 (3.30%) reported a glaucoma diagnosis and 275 (1.03%) reported glaucomatous vision loss. Participants were predominantly middle-aged (50.95 ± 18.60 years), female (54.75%), and non-Hispanic White (70.49%). In age-adjusted multivariable regression (n = 25,456), non-Hispanic Black race (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 99% CI = [1.37, 2.55], P < .001, compared to non-Hispanic White race) and poor health status (OR = 1.54, 99% CI = [1.00, 2.37], P = .01, compared to good health status) were significant predictors of glaucoma diagnosis. For glaucomatous vision loss, having an income below the poverty threshold (OR = 2.41, 99% CI = [1.12, 5.20], P = .003, compared to income ≥5 times the poverty threshold) was the only significant predictor in univariable analyses. No SDH-related factors were significantly associated with glaucomatous vision loss in multivariable analysis (n = 848). Multicollinearity was minimal (variation inflation factor<1.6 for all independent variables). CONCLUSIONS: Non-Hispanic Black race and poor health status were associated with self-reported glaucoma diagnosis. Physicians and policymakers may consider SDH when assessing clinical risk and designing public health interventions.

Effect of Integrated Survivorship Model on Physical Health for Breast Cancer Survivors in Rural Area.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the integrated survivorship model on the physical health of breast cancer survivors in rural areas. METHODS:  Ninety-two patients who were breast cancer survivors were selected as per inclusion criteria and divided into two groups (control group and intervention group). The participants were randomly allotted to two groups of 46 each. A 12-minute walk test, assessment of quality of life, and difficulty in return to work were used as outcome measures. The integrated survivorship model was implemented in one group for 3 months while the other group was a supporting group and was involved in household activities only. Pre-assessment and post-assessment were taken to evaluate the effect of the integrated survivorship model. All the statistical analysis was done using SPSS statistical Software (version 23.0 for Windows; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, USA) and the results were obtained. RESULTS: The results revealed that the assessment of the 12-minute walk test, physical well-being, social/family well-being, functional well-being, and difficulty in returning to work showed extremely significant results in the intervention group with a p-value of less than 0.0001. Similarly, emotional well-being and additional concern domains showed significant results in the intervention group. Hence, the findings of this study revealed significance in post-assessment in all the outcome measures of the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The study showed that all the outcome measures such as the 12-minute walk test, assessment of quality of life, and difficulty in return to work were impaired in both groups before the study. The effect of the model showed a significant improvement in the intervention group after implementing the intervention.

Exploring Residue-Level Interactions between the Biofilm-Driving R2ab Protein and Polystyrene Nanoparticles.

In biological systems, proteins can bind to nanoparticles to form a "corona" of adsorbed molecules. The nanoparticle corona is of significant interest because it impacts an organism's response to a nanomaterial. Understanding the corona requires knowledge of protein structure, orientation, and dynamics at the surface. A residue-level mapping of protein behavior on nanoparticle surfaces is needed, but this mapping is difficult to obtain with traditional approaches. Here, we have investigated the interaction between R2ab and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) at the level of individual residues. R2ab is a bacterial surface protein from Staphylococcus epidermidis and is known to interact strongly with polystyrene, leading to biofilm formation. We have used mass spectrometry after lysine methylation and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) NMR spectroscopy to understand how the R2ab protein interacts with PSNPs of different sizes. Lysine methylation experiments reveal subtle but statistically significant changes in methylation patterns in the presence of PSNPs, indicating altered protein surface accessibility. HDX rates become slower overall in the presence of PSNPs. However, some regions of the R2ab protein exhibit faster than average exchange rates in the presence of PSNPs, while others are slower than the average behavior, suggesting conformational changes upon binding. HDX rates and methylation ratios support a recently proposed "adsorbotope" model for PSNPs, wherein adsorbed proteins consist of unfolded anchor points interspersed with partially structured regions. Our data also highlight the challenges of characterizing complex protein-nanoparticle interactions using these techniques, such as fast exchange rates. While providing insights into how R2ab adsorbs onto PSNP surfaces, this research emphasizes the need for advanced methods to comprehend residue-level interactions in the nanoparticle corona.

Relationship Between Disease and Treatment Factors in Diabetes With Vision Difficulty: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Relationships between disease and treatment factors of diabetes and vision difficulty remain largely unknown. This study investigated the relationship between disease and treatment factors in diabetes and participants' self-reported vision difficulty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, population-based analysis. Data from the National Health Interview Survey was used and analyzed through univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: From the 29,464 included participants, logistic regression showed increased odds of self-reported vision difficulty among participants with diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14, P < 0.001), prediabetes (OR = 1.95, P < 0.001), or gestational diabetes (OR = 1.54, P < 0.001) compared to participants without diabetes. Those who reported having diabetes for more than a year had higher odds of vision difficulty (OR = 1.97, P = 0.02), as did those who were taking insulin (OR = 1.62, P < 0.001), those who had taken less insulin to save money within the past year (OR = 1.87, P = 0.01), and those who reported experiencing diabetes-related stress (OR = 2.14, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Duration of diabetes, diabetes-related stress, and taking less insulin than recommended to save money were associated with vision difficulty. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:142-153.].

Sex Disparities in Ophthalmology From Training Through Practice: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Sex-based research in medicine has revealed inequities against females on almost every metric at almost every career stage; ophthalmology is no exception. Objective: To systematically review the experiences of females in ophthalmology (FiO) from training through practice in high-income countries (HICs). Evidence Review: A systematic review of English-language studies, published between January 1990 and May 2022, relating to FiO in HICs was performed. PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase electronic databases were searched, as well as the Journal of Academic Ophthalmology as it was not indexed in the searched databases. Studies were organized by theme at each career stage, starting in medical school when an interest in ophthalmology is expressed, and extending up to retirement. Findings: A total of 91 studies, 87 cross-sectional and 4 cohort, were included. In medical school, mentorship and recruitment of female students into ophthalmology was influenced by sex bias, with fewer females identifying with ophthalmologist mentors and gender stereotypes perpetuated in reference letters written by both male and female referees. In residency, females had unequal learning opportunities, with lower surgical case volumes than male trainees and fewer females pursued fellowships in lucrative subspecialties. In practice, female ophthalmologists had lower incomes, less academic success, and poorer representation in leadership roles. Female ophthalmologists had a greater scholarly impact factor than their male counterparts, but this was only after approximately 30 years of publication experience. Pervasive throughout all stages of training and practice was the experience of greater sexual harassment among females from both patients and colleagues. Despite these disparities, some studies found that females reported equal overall career satisfaction rating with males in ophthalmology, whereas others suggested higher burnout rates. Conclusions and Relevance: Ophthalmology is approaching sex parity, however, the increase in the proportion of females in ophthalmology had not translated to an increase in female representation in leadership positions. Sex disparities persisted across many domains including recruitment, training, practice patterns, academic productivity, and income. Interventions may improve sex equity in the field.

Protein Binding Leads to Reduced Stability and Solvated Disorder in the Polystyrene Nanoparticle Corona.

Understanding the conformation of proteins in the nanoparticle corona has important implications in how organisms respond to nanoparticle-based drugs. These proteins coat the nanoparticle surface, and their properties will influence the nanoparticle's interaction with cell targets and the immune system. While some coronas are thought to be disordered, two key unanswered questions are the degree of disorder and solvent accessibility. Here, a model is developed for protein corona disorder in polystyrene nanoparticles of varying size. For two different proteins, it is found that binding affinity decreases as nanoparticle size increases. The stoichiometry of binding, along with changes in the hydrodynamic size, supports a highly solvated, disordered protein corona anchored at a small number of attachment sites. The scaling of the stoichiometry versus nanoparticle size is consistent with disordered polymer dimensions. Moreover, it is found that proteins are destabilized less in the presence of larger nanoparticles, and hydrophobic exposure decreases at lower curvatures. The observations hold for proteins on flat polystyrene surfaces, which have the lowest hydrophobic exposure. The model provides an explanation for previous observations of increased amyloid fibrillation rates in the presence of larger nanoparticles, and it may rationalize how cell receptors can recognize protein disorder in therapeutic nanoparticles.

Sex Disparities in Operating Room use Among Cataract Surgeons: A 10-Year Retrospective Population-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate sex differences in operating room (OR) time and case volumes among comprehensive cataract surgeons in Ontario, Canada's most populated province. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based cohort study. METHODS: Physician billing data of active comprehensive cataract surgeons between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed to identify all cataract surgeries in this timeframe. The number of OR days and case volume were the primary outcomes. Data were stratified by surgeon sex and career stage. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2019, approximately 1.05 million cataract surgeries were performed in Ontario. There were an average of 195 ± 3 comprehensive cataract surgeons per year, of which 39 ± 5 were female. The proportion of female surgeons increased from 16.8% of all surgeons in 2010 to 24.4% in 2019. The greatest proportion of male surgeons were in the late phase of their career, whereas the greatest proportion of female surgeons were in the early stage of their career. On average, male surgeons had 44.9 ± 1.90 OR days per year and females had 32 ± 1.90 OR days per year, resulting in female surgeons averaging 12.45 ± 1.90 fewer OR days per year. This OR distribution remained consistent across career stages. Average case volumes per OR day were similar across sexes, but male surgeons performed on average 172.7 ± 30.6 more surgeries per year. CONCLUSIONS: Despite performing similar average case volumes per OR day, female surgeons had less OR time compared to their male counterparts per year, and this remained consistent across career stages and over the 10-year period. Metrics for OR allocation and use should be well defined and transparent.

Association Between Vision Difficulty and Sociodemographic Factors in Children: A Population-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine sociodemographic predictors of poor vision in children and adolescents less than 18 years of age in a large, nationally representative sample of the US population. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: Using data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), participants less than 18 years of age for whom data were available on vision difficulty were included in our analysis. Our primary outcome was vision difficulty. Sociodemographic variables were investigated as predictors of vision difficulty. Logistic regression models were performed using Stata version 17.0. An odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were reported for analyses. RESULTS: The 2021 NHIS reported on 8261 children and adolescents, of whom 7373 had data pertaining to vision difficulty and were included in our sample. Vision difficulty was associated with being unable to afford medical care (OR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.17, 5.80, P = 0.02) and having public health insurance (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.09, 2.12, P = .01). Compared to children less than 5 years of age, children ranging from 5 to 8 years (OR = 4.29, 95% CI = 2.26, 8.15, P < .01) and adolescents ranging from 16 to 17 years (OR = 6.06, 95% CI = 3.17, 11.58, P < .01) had a higher odds of vision difficulty. Compared to participants for whom the highest level of education of adults in their family was grade 1 to 11, the odds of vision difficulty were lower in those whose parents had a professional school or doctoral degree (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.84, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sociodemographic factors are associated with vision difficulty in young persons. In working toward achieving equity in vision health, it is imperative that disparities mediated by sociodemographic factors be addressed through public health policies.

Crohn's disease is associated with higher rates of implant-related complications following primary total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: In Western countries, there has been a rise in the prevalence of Crohn's Disease (CD) and primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study delves deeper into the effects of CD on TKA patients by examining (1) the length of in-hospital stay (LOS); (2) the rates of readmission; (3) complications related to implants; and (4) the costs associated with care. METHODS: A retrospective analysis using the PearlDiver database was conducted, encompassing the time frame between January 1st, 2005 and March 31st, 2014, focusing on patients who underwent TKA and were either diagnosed with CD or not. Patients with CD were paired with control subjects at a 1:5 ratio based on age, gender, and medical comorbidities. The analysis comprised a total of 96,229 patients (CD = 16,039; non-CD = 80,190). RESULTS: Patients with CD had a notably longer hospital stay (3 v. 2 days, p < 0.0001) and faced significantly higher rates of 90-day readmissions and complications (19.80% v. 14.91%, OR: 1.40, p < 0.0001; 6.88% v. 4.88%, OR: 1.43, p < 0.0001 respectively). Additionally, CD patients incurred greater expenses on the surgery day ($18,365.98 v. $16,192.00) and within 90 days post-surgery ($21,337.46 v. $19,101.42). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates longer in-hospital LOS, higher rates of readmissions, implant-related complications, and costs of care among CD patients following primary TKA.

Exploring the Residue-Level Interactions between the R2ab Protein and Polystyrene Nanoparticles.

In biological systems, proteins can bind to nanoparticles to form a "corona" of adsorbed molecules. The nanoparticle corona is of high interest because it impacts the organism's response to the nanomaterial. Understanding the corona requires knowledge of protein structure, orientation, and dynamics at the surface. Ultimately, a residue-level mapping of protein behavior on nanoparticle surfaces is needed, but this mapping is difficult to obtain with traditional approaches. Here, we have investigated the interaction between R2ab and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) at the level of individual residues. R2ab is a bacterial surface protein from Staphylococcus epidermidis and is known to interact strongly with polystyrene, leading to biofilm formation. We have used mass spectrometry after lysine methylation and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) NMR spectroscopy to understand how the R2ab protein interacts with PSNPs of different sizes. Through lysine methylation, we observe subtle but statistically significant changes in methylation patterns in the presence of PSNPs, indicating altered protein surface accessibility. HDX measurements reveal that certain regions of the R2ab protein undergo faster exchange rates in the presence of PSNPs, suggesting conformational changes upon binding. Both results support a recently proposed "adsorbotope" model, wherein adsorbed proteins consist of unfolded anchor points interspersed with regions of partial structure. Our data also highlight the challenges of characterizing complex protein-nanoparticle interactions using these techniques, such as fast exchange rates. While providing insights into how proteins respond to nanoparticle surfaces, this research emphasizes the need for advanced methods to comprehend these intricate interactions fully at the residue level.

Assessment of Aloe Vera and Tulsi's Effectiveness in Treating Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Objectives: Aloe vera and tulsi were compared in this study to see how well they treated oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Materials and Method: The study involved thirty healthy volunteers aged from 20 to 55 without any systemic complications. The patients were given medications that needed to be applied two to three times daily. For four months, patients were followed up with monthly follow-up visits. The differences in the mouth opening and changes to the burning sensation on the visual analog scale (VAS) were statistically analyzed. Results: Both the burning sensation and mouth opening showed a statistically significant improvement. Conclusion: Tulsi and aloe vera provide a secure and effective method for treating OSMF symptoms.

Estimation of Spinal Muscle Performance in Work From Home Information Technology Professionals of Karad, India in 2021.

Background: It is seen that information technology (IT) professionals are at higher risk of developing mechanical low back pain due to numerous factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, attaining inappropriate posture for a prolonged period of time, work stresses, and inadequate exercise which lead to overload on the back musculature. Working from home has become the new normal for these professionals in which they attain abnormal posture which leads to pressure on the muscles and thus there is a need to estimate and analyze spinal muscle performance among IT professionals. Materials and Methods: Our main objectives were to estimate the spinal muscle performance in work-from-home IT professionals of Karad and to find the association between spinal muscle performance with respect to age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Depending on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 120 IT professionals working from home were selected for this study by simple random sampling. Written consent was taken and a detailed outcome assessment was done by using the static and dynamic abdominal test, extensor test, internal/external oblique test, and back rotators test. Also, functional performance was measured using the back performance scale. SPSS version 20 was used to carry out the analysis of data and results were obtained. Results: In participants of sample size 120 (100%), 27 (26%) were normal, 30 (32%) good, 24 (20%) fair, 21 (14%) poor, 18 (8%) trace; whereas, static extensor strength was 16 (12%) normal, 9 (18%) good, 24 (28%) fair, 18 (36%) poor, 3 (6%) trace. For oblique's, static strength was 10 (20%) normal, 12 (24%) good, 15 (30%) fair, 9 (18%) poor, 4 (8%) trace; whereas, for back rotators strength was 10 (20%) normal, 17 (34%) good, 15 (30%) fair, 8 (16%) poor. The mean number of repetitions for the dynamic endurance test for extensors was 11, for abdominals wase 24 and for obliques was 12. A back performance scale was found with a minimum score of 6 and a maximum score of 11 for activity limitation. There was statistically significant found to be between spinal muscle performance and age (P = 0.041), BMI (P = 0.027). Conclusion: In this study it was found that spinal muscle performance was decreased in IT professionals. It was concluded that there was a significant reduction in static extensor performance compared to static abdominal muscle performance. Also, the spinal muscle performance of extensors was less as compared to that of abdominals. The data also revealed that there was a remarkable association that was seen between spinal muscle performance and age as well as spinal performance and BMI.

Case Report: Indirect Traumatic Optic Neuropathy from Subconcussive Soccer Headers in a 62-year-old Athlete.

SIGNIFICANCE: Traumatic optic neuropathy is an uncommon but devastating cause of vision loss after injury to the head. Soccer players may have a heightened risk because of the game's emphasis on heading the ball, a technique in which a player hits the soccer ball with his/her head. PURPOSE: This article reviews the case of an avid soccer player with traumatic optic neuropathy that occurred after numerous soccer ball headings during a game. This article also (1) provides a summary of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of traumatic optic neuropathy, (2) reviews the current literature on head and eye injuries in soccer, and (3) discusses biomechanical differences in orbital structure throughout aging, which may predispose older patients to traumatic optic neuropathy. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 62-year-old male patient who reported to the clinic, after repeated subconcussive soccer ball headers the previous day, with symptoms of blurred vision and "seeing stars" in the right eye and a right inferior visual field impairment. Physical examination, subsequent laboratory work, and neurologic consults implicated traumatic optic neuropathy as the primary diagnosis, and halting soccer playing resulted in symptom improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Although not commonly encountered in soccer players, the potential for traumatic optic neuropathy exists. Older athletes may be predisposed because of morphological changes of the orbit. Future direction may look to further investigate hazards promoting traumatic optic neuropathy in older athletes and determine possible protections against injury.

Selective Near-Infrared Blood Detection Driven by Ionic Liquid-Dye-Albumin Nanointeractions.

Due to its abundance in blood, a great deal of research has been undertaken to develop efficient biosensors for serum albumin and provide insight into the interactions that take place between these biosensing molecules and the protein. Near-infrared (NIR, >700 nm) organic dyes have been shown to be effective biosensors of serum albumin, but their effectiveness is diminished in whole blood. Herein, it is shown that an NIR sulfonate indolizine-donor-based squaraine dye, SO3SQ, can be strengthened as a biosensor of albumin through the addition of biocompatible ionic liquids (ILs). Specifically, the IL choline glycolate (1:1), at a concentration of 160 mM, results in the enhanced fluorescence emission ("switch-on") of the dye in the presence of blood. The origin of the fluorescence enhancement was investigated via methods, including DLS, ITC, and molecular dynamics. Further, fluorescence measurements were conducted to see the impact the dye-IL system had on the fluorescence of the tryptophan residue of human serum albumin (HSA), as well as to determine its apparent association constants in relation to albumin. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to provide evidence that the dye-IL system does not alter the secondary structures of albumin or DNA. Our results suggest that the enhanced fluorescence of the dye in the presence of IL and blood is due to diversification of binding sites in albumin, controlled by the interaction of the IL-dye-albumin complex.