Performance evaluation of the new rapid fertility assays in whole blood and plasma on PATHFAST.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the PATHFAST fertility marker assays for the rapid measurement of female hormones including: LH, FSH, Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (P4), Prolactin (PRL), and HCG. As for the PATHFAST fertility marker assays, female hormones can be measured by whole blood, plasma, and serum. METHODS: The correlation of the heparin whole blood and the plasma samples in the PATHFAST was examined. The method comparison study of PATHFAST fertility marker assays was performed with the Elecsys 2010, AIA-360, IMMULITE 2000, miniVIDAS, and ARCHITECT i2000. Determination of the reference range values of the PATHFAST fertility marker assays was performed with serum samples which were obtained during the follicular phase, mid-cycle, luteal phase, and postmenopausal phase. RESULTS: The results of plasma samples of female hormones measured by the PATHFAST correlated highly with those of whole blood samples (r > 0.9). The results of LH, FSH, E2, P4, PRL, and HCG as measured by the PATHFAST correlated well with other commercial fertility assays (r > 0.9). Reference values of PATHFAST fertility marker assays were equivalent to those of other commercial methods. CONCLUSIONS: The PATHFAST system is an accurate diagnostic tool for the rapid assay of female hormones. The PATHFAST fertility marker assays can be useful in a physician's office laboratory (POL) as well as various clinical sites during infertility treatment.

Effect of tilt of 2 acrylic intraocular lenses on high-order aberrations.

PURPOSE: To investigate the high-order aberrations (HoAs) in pseudophakia between 2 foldable acrylic intraocular lenses (IOL) with differences in the tilt of IOL. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan. METHOD: Sixty-four eyes that had uncomplicated phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: Acryfold 60BB (HOYA [n=30 eyes]) and AcrySof MA60AC (Alcon [n=34 eyes]). All patients had best corrected visual acuity better than 20/25. High-order aberrations were measured using the Hartmann-Shack aberrometer at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm wavefront aperture diameters, and the IOL tilt and decentration were measured using Scheimpflug videophotography. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the IOL tilt (60BB=2.22 degrees +/- 1.44 (SD), 60AC=3.18 +/- 1.84 degrees; P=.041, Mann-Whitney U test), but no difference in IOL decentration (P>.05). In the cornea, there were no differences between the 2 groups in HoAs at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm aperture diameters (P>.05, Mann-Whitney U test). In the whole eye, there was no difference between the 2 groups in spherical-like aberrations, coma-like aberrations, and total aberrations at the 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm aperture diameters (P>.05). The compensation of the internal optics with the 60BB group was better than with the 60AC group for coma-like (P=.037) and total aberrations (P=.010) at 6.0 mm aperture diameter. CONCLUSION: The smaller tilt of the IOL induced more compensation for the coma-like and total aberrations at the 6.0 mm aperture diameter. The IOL tilt should be small, especially in a large pupil, with regard to HoAs.

Influence of intraocular lens optical design on high-order aberrations.

PURPOSE: To compare differences in high-order aberrations (HOAs) between 2 intraocular lens (IOL) optical designs. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan. METHOD: Sixty eyes that had uncomplicated phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were assigned to 1 of 2 groups based on the type of IOL optical design: more posteriorly curved biconvex shape (AcrySof MA30BA, Alcon) (n=30 eyes) or more anteriorly curved biconvex shape (AcrySof MA30AC) (n=30 eyes). All patients had best corrected visual acuity better than 20/25. High-order aberrations were measured using a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm wavefront aperture diameters. RESULTS: At 4.0 mm aperture diameters, there were no differences between the 2 groups in HOAs (P>.05, Mann-Whitney U test) in the cornea and the whole eye. At 6.0 mm aperture diameters, MA30AC eyes had a smaller amount of spherical-like aberrations (P=.043) than MA30BA eyes; however, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in coma-like aberrations and total aberrations in the whole eye (P>.05). At 6.0 mm aperture diameters, there were no differences between the 2 groups HOAs in the cornea. (P>.05). CONCLUSION: The optical design of the spherical IOL influenced the spherical-like aberrations in the whole eye. This may reduce retinal image quality.