Visual Performance at Different Distances After Implantation of an Isofocal Optic Design Intraocular Lens.

PURPOSE: To evaluate refractive and visual outcomes at different distances after implantation of an isofocal optic design intraocular lens (IOL) following cataract surgery. METHODS: This multicentric, retrospective/prospective, open-label, observational study considered 183 eyes of 109 patients who were implanted with the ISOPURE 123 (PhysIOL) IOL. The main outcome measures were refractive error and monocular and binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA) at 66 and 80 cm, uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), and distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) at 40 cm. Binocular visual acuity at different vergences (defocus curve) was also measured. Patients were evaluated at least 120 days postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 95.7% of the eyes were within ±1.00 diopter (D) and 73.2% of the eyes were within ±0.50 D; the mean postoperative spherical equivalent was -0.12 ± 0.42 D. There were 90.54% and 98.57% of patients presenting a cumulative binocular UDVA and CDVA value of 20/25 or better, respectively; 80.65% and 50.0% of patients presented a binocular DCIVA value of 20/25 or better at 80 and 66 cm, respectively; and 41.94% of patients presented a binocular DCNVA value of 20/40 or better. The through-focus curve showed good visual acuity at far and intermediate distances with a depth of focus value of 1.50 D. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that this isofocal optic design IOL provides excellent visual performance for far vision and functional intermediate vision with an extended range of vision. This lens is an effective option for providing functional intermediate vision and correcting aphakia. [J Refract Surg. 2023;39(3):150-157.].

Sífilis congénita atípica con doble VDRL negativo materno. Reporte de un caso / Atypical congenital syphilis with a double negative VDRL from the mother. A case report

Resumen INTRODUCCIÓN: La sífilis es una infección de trasmisión sexual adquirida a través de una trasfusión sanguínea, por contacto directo con una lesión activa o por vía vertical. La infección puede trasmitirse al feto en cualquier momento del embarazo. Cada año se registran en el mundo 749,000 casos de sífilis congénita. En México, del 2007 al 2017, se reportaron 1030 casos de sífilis congénita (media de 90.6 casos por año). En 50 a 80% de los casos hay complicaciones materno-fetales. OBJETIVO: Reportar un caso clínico de sífilis congénita temprana, con pénfigo bulloso y descamación al nacimiento. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 25 años, con antecedente de cuatro embarazos, dos partos y un aborto, previamente sana, con control prenatal y pruebas de VDRL y VIH negativas. Los dos últimos embarazos finalizaron con recién nacido, ambos de sexo femenino, con lesiones ampollosas decapitadas, placas blanquecinas de aspecto áspero elevadas sobre una base eritematosa, eritema con descamación gruesa en las manos y pies, y descamación fina generalizada. Ante la sospecha de sífilis congénita se inició la administración de 50,000 UI/kg de penicilina G cristalina por vía intravenosa cada 12 h. La sospecha de sífilis congénita se confirmó. La paciente se dio de alta con citas de seguimiento en la consulta externa. CONCLUSIONES: El control prenatal adecuado, con una o dos pruebas para sífilis, no es suficiente para prevenir la forma congénita. Es necesario el análisis de los casos para encontrar opciones e implementar estrategias de salud pública que prevengan nuevos casos.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection acquired through blood transfusion, by direct contact with an active lesion or by the vertical route. The infection can be transmitted to the fetus at any time during pregnancy. Each year, 749,000 cases of congenital syphilis are reported worldwide. In Mexico, from 2007 to 2017, 1030 cases of congenital syphilis were reported (average of 90.6 cases per year). In 50 to 80% of cases there are maternal-fetal complications. OBJECTIVE: To report a clinical case of early congenital syphilis with bullous pemphigus and desquamation at birth. CLINICAL CASE: 25-year-old patient, with a history of four pregnancies, two deliveries and one abortion, previously healthy, with prenatal control and negative VDRL and HIV tests. The last two pregnancies ended with a newborn, both female, with decapitated blistering lesions, whitish plaques of rough appearance raised on an erythematous base, erythema with thick desquamation on the hands and feet, and generalized fine desquamation. Suspecting congenital syphilis, 50,000 IU/kg of crystalline penicillin G intravenously every 12 h was started. The suspicion of congenital syphilis was confirmed. The patient was discharged with follow-up outpatient appointments. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate prenatal screening, with one or two tests for syphilis, is not sufficient to prevent the congenital form. Case analysis is necessary to find options and implement public health strategies to prevent new cases.

Quantum Simulation of the Factorization Problem.

Feynman's prescription for a quantum simulator was to find a Hamitonian for a system that could serve as a computer. The Pólya-Hilbert conjecture proposed the demonstration of Riemann's hypothesis through the spectral decomposition of Hermitian operators. Here we study the problem of decomposing a number into its prime factors, N=xy, using such a simulator. First, we derive the Hamiltonian of the physical system that simulates a new arithmetic function formulated for the factorization problem that represents the energy of the computer. This function rests alone on the primes below sqrt[N]. We exactly solve the spectrum of the quantum system without resorting to any external ad hoc conditions, also showing that it obtains, for x≪sqrt[N], a prediction of the prime counting function that is almost identical to Riemann's R(x) function. It has no counterpart in analytic number theory, and its derivation is a consequence of the quantum theory of the simulator alone.

Trypanothione reductase from the human parasite Entamoeba histolytica: a new drug target.

Although there is a general agreement that the protist Entamoeba histolytica lacks glutathione, it has been a matter of dispute as to whether this human parasite contains the glutathione derivative known as trypanothione. In the present study, we describe a gene for the TR (trypanothione reductase) obtained from E. histolytica by PCR amplification of its DNA. After Northern-blot analysis, the radiolabelled DNA probe from Trypanosoma cruzi hybridizes with the total RNA of Entamoeba, showing that the TR gene is expressed as mRNA. We have demonstrated the presence of the NADPH-dependent TR activity in vitro with partially purified extracts and showed also that the thiol-bimane compound isolated and purified from E. histolytica trophozoites, unequivocally corresponds, by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS, to the characteristic monoprotonated ion of trypanothione-(bimane)(2) with m/z 1104.4 and the trypanothione-(bimane) with m/z 914.3. The PCR product consisted of 1476 bp (491 deduced amino acids), has sequences diagnostic for the reducing catalytic site (CVNVGC) as well as domains for binding NADPH, FAD I and FAD II that are present in all members of this group of disulphide-reducing enzymes, as well as those unique to TRs. The putative protein sequence is 86% identical with that of TR from T. cruzi and it is also clearly distinguishable from other related reductases by phylogenetic analysis. We can conclude, from these highly reliable experiments, that E. histolytica contains the TR enzyme and the thiol compound trypanothione that was previously supposed to occur only in trypanosomatids.