Health psychology and behavioral medicine researchers in Canada: An environmental scan.

The purpose of this study is to characterize contemporary Canadian health psychology through an environmental scan by identifying faculty, research productivity and strengths, and collaborator interconnectivity. Profiles at Canadian universities were reviewed for faculty with psychology doctorates and health psychology research programs. Publications were obtained through Google Scholar and PubMed (Jan/18-Mar/21). A total of 284 faculty were identified. Cancer, pain, and sleep were key research topics. The collaborator network analysis revealed that most were linked through a common network, with clusters organized around geography, topic, and trainee relationships. Canada is a unique and productive contributor to health psychology.

Thin-film optical notch filter spectacle coatings for the treatment of migraine and photophobia.

Previous evidence suggests optical treatments hold promise for treating migraine and photophobia. We designed an optical notch filter, centered at 480nm to reduce direct stimulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. We used thin-film technology to integrate the filter into spectacle lenses. Our objective was to determine if an optical notch filter, designed to attenuate activity of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, could reduce headache impact in chronic migraine subjects. For this randomized, double-masked study, our primary endpoint was the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6; GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, Middlesex, UK). We developed two filters: the therapeutic filter blocked visible light at 480nm; a 620nm filter was designed as a sham. Participants were asked to wear lenses with one of the filters for 2weeks; after 2weeks when no lenses were worn, they wore lenses with the other filter for 2weeks. Of 48 subjects, 37 completed the study. Wearing either the 480 or 620nm lenses resulted in clinically and statistically significant HIT-6 reductions. However, there was no significant difference when comparing overall effect of the 480 and 620nm lenses. Although the 620nm filter was designed as a sham intervention, research published following the trial indicated that melanopsin, the photopigment in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, is bi-stable. This molecular property may explain the unexpected efficacy of the 620nm filter. These preliminary findings indicate that lenses outfitted with a thin-film optical notch filter may be useful in treating chronic migraine.

Tympanoplasty with intact canal wall mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma: long-term surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: With different mastoidectomy approaches available to the surgeon for treatment of cholesteatoma, we review long-term outcomes of intact canal wall (ICW) mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All cases of cholesteatoma treated with ICW mastoidectomy by the senior author over a period of 9 years for which at least 2 years of follow-up data exist. Patient and disease information was collected retrospectively and analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight patients with 156 affected ears were treated and followed for a median of 5.3 years (range, 2.1-14.8). The majority of the operations (144/156, 92%) were staged. Of those that were staged, 51/144 (35%) had residual cholesteatoma at the second stage. Thirteen patients (8%) had recurrence of their cholesteatoma, of which 6 required a subsequent canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: ICW mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty continues to be a successful treatment for cholesteatoma. We found a substantial residual rate at the second stage, justifying the necessity of staging in most cases. Recurrence rate of cholesteatoma using this technique is low, as is the progression to CWD mastoidectomy.

Angle Kappa and its importance in refractive surgery.

Angle kappa is the difference between the pupillary and visual axis. This measurement is of paramount consideration in refractive surgery, as proper centration is required for optimal results. Angle kappa may contribute to MFIOL decentration and its resultant photic phenomena. Adjusting placement of MFIOLs for angle kappa is not supported by the literature but is likely to help reduce glare and haloes. Centering LASIK in angle kappa patients over the corneal light reflex is safe, efficacious, and recommended. Centering in-between the corneal reflex and the entrance pupil is also safe and efficacious. The literature regarding PRK in patients with an angle kappa is sparse but centering on the corneal reflex is assumed to be similar to centering LASIK on the corneal reflex. Thus, centration of MFIOLs, LASIK, and PRK should be focused on the corneal reflex for patients with a large angle kappa. More research is needed to guide surgeons' approach to angle kappa.

Sequence and structural characterization of great salt lake bacteriophage CW02, a member of the T7-like supergroup.

Halophage CW02 infects a Salinivibrio costicola-like bacterium, SA50, isolated from the Great Salt Lake. Following isolation, cultivation, and purification, CW02 was characterized by DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, and electron microscopy. A conserved module of structural genes places CW02 in the T7 supergroup, members of which are found in diverse aquatic environments, including marine and freshwater ecosystems. CW02 has morphological similarities to viruses of the Podoviridae family. The structure of CW02, solved by cryogenic electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction, enabled the fitting of a portion of the bacteriophage HK97 capsid protein into CW02 capsid density, thereby providing additional evidence that capsid proteins of tailed double-stranded DNA phages have a conserved fold. The CW02 capsid consists of bacteriophage lambda gpD-like densities that likely contribute to particle stability. Turret-like densities were found on icosahedral vertices and may represent a unique adaptation similar to what has been seen in other extremophilic viruses that infect archaea, such as Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus and halophage SH1.