Retinal Arteriole Pulse Waveform Analysis Using a Fully-Automated Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography Flowmeter: a Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurement of retinal arteriole pulse waveforms using a novel fully-automated Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) flowmeter in healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 healthy subjects were included to test the intrasession repeatability of pulse waveform analysis. DOCT measurements were performed based on a newly developed instantaneous Doppler angle measurement method. Upstroke time (UT), which is the time from the minimum to the maximum retinal blood velocity, and the resistance index (RI) of the retinal arteriole pulse waveform were measured. Coefficients of variation (CVs) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Interdevice reproducibility between two instruments was assessed in five eyes of five subjects. RESULTS: The mean UT was 130.3 ms (range, 110.1-152.1 ms), and the mean RI was 0.66 (range, 0.51-0.82). The respective ICCs of UT and the RI for the intrasession repeatability of assessment were 0.87 and 0.78. The respective CVs of UT and the RI were 6.6 ± 3.3% and 4.7 ± 2.1%. Regarding interdevice reproducibility, there were no significant differences between the measurements derived from the instruments (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pulse waveform measurement in retinal arterioles using a fully-automated DOCT flowmeter exhibited good repeatability and interdevice reproducibility. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The above-described improved DOCT flowmeter system provides reasonably repeatable measurements of retinal arteriole pulse waveforms, potentially facilitating systemic-circulation abnormality monitoring. The examination of the circulation with the novel device can be potentially useful for evaluating systemic circulation.

Changes in surface water chemistry caused by natural forest dieback in an unmanaged mountain catchment.

Ionic and nutrient compositions of throughfall, tributaries and lake outlet were analysed in the Plesné catchment-lake system (an unmanaged mountain forest in Central Europe) from 1997 to 2016. The aim was to evaluate changes in surface water chemistry after natural forest dieback. In the 2004-2008, 93% of the Norway spruce trees were killed by bark beetle outbreak, and all dead biomass remained in the catchment. Forest dieback changed the chemistry of all water fluxes, and the magnitude, timing, and duration of these changes differed for individual water constituents. The most pronounced decreases in throughfall concentrations occurred for K+, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Ca2+ and Mg2+, i.e. elements mostly originating from canopy leaching, while concentrations of NH4+ and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) remained almost unaffected. In tributaries, the most rapid changes were increases in NO3-, K+, H+ and ionic aluminium (Ali) concentrations, while terrestrial export of DOC and P forms started more slowly. Immediately after the forest dieback, increase in NO3- concentrations was delayed by elevated DOC availability in soils. NO3- became the dominant anion, with maximum concentrations up to 346µeqL-1 within 5-7years after the bark beetle outbreak, and then started to decrease. Terrestrial exports of Ali, K+, H+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ accompanied NO3- leaching, but their trends differed due to their different sources. Elevated losses of SRP, DOC, and dissolved organic nitrogen continued until the end of the study. In the lake, microbial processes significantly decreased concentrations of NO3-, organic acid anions, H+ and Ali, and confounded the chemical trends observed in tributaries. Our results suggest that terrestrial losses of elements and the deterioration of waters after forest dieback are less pronounced in unmanaged than managed (clear-cut) catchments.

[Metal staples versus conventional suture for wound closure in total knee arthroplasty]. / Pouzití kovových klipu pri suture kuze u totální endoprotézy kolene.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Surgical incision closure, as well as total joint replacement itself, plays a key role in the overall outcome of an arthroplasty procedure. Uncomplicated wound healing is the essential condition of successful rehabilitation and the patient's return to normal activities. Although there are many innovative suturing techniques which offer advantages, their safety is still being discussed. The aim of this prospective non-blind randomised study was to evaluate wound healing and complications in relation to skin incision closure with either conventional suture or metal staples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients, 21 men and 51 women, who underwent a standard primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at our department in the period from January till June 2013, were evaluated. They were allocated to two groups by random assignment based on the patient's date of birth (even or odd day of birth). In group 1 (n=39) skin was closed using metal staples (Leukosan Skin Stapler), in group 2 (n=33), conventional continuous Donati suture was used. The groups, previously assessed as independent and comparable in terms of age, gender and BMI, were compared in the following criteria: suturing time, duration of wound drainage, wound healing, complications, resuturing when necessary, and their relation to the body mass index, skin plica thickness and co-morbidities potentially complicating soft tissue healing. The differences were statistically evaluated by parametric and non-parametric tests, i.e., the median test, χ(2)-test, Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The statistical significance of differences was set at a level of 0.05. RESULTS: A significant difference (p<0.005) between the groups was found in suturing time; the median time for staples was 81 sec in comparison with 290 sec for conventional suture. In both groups, staples or sutures were removed on the 12 th postoperative day and there was no difference in wound drainage (median time, 5 days; p=0.891 for both). Treatment for late discharge was required in two sutured wounds (6.1%) and in three stapled wounds (7.7%). One of the latter was due to early deep wound infection, which later resulted in revision TKA. The groups did not differ in the values of either BMI or plica thickness (Pearson's r). DISCUSSION: Views on alternative suture techniques for skin closure in orthopaedic surgery vary. In this study, the use of metal staples or conventional suture is compared between two groups of patients undergoing TKA, i.e., the same type of procedure. The advantage of staples involves a quick and simple application but, as reported, removal may be more painful with staples than with stitches, and much depends on the technique of staple application. The continuous suture technique may produce skin strangulation at wound margins, which will complicate healing. Staples minimise this risk and are therefore commonly used in TKA surgery. However, only very few studies comparing these two suture techniques in TKA patients have been published. CONCLUSIONS: Correctly performed skin suturing by means of metal staples is not associated with a higher complication rate and is therefore a simple, rapid, efficient and economical alternative to the conventional suture technique.

A study of the acaricidal properties of an essential oil extracted from the leaves of Ageratum houstonianum.

Study on acaricide property of foam soap containing essential oil of Ageratum houstonianum leaves was tested on Rhipicephalus lunulatus. Four doses of the oil (0.00, 0.02, 0.025 and 0.03 microl/g) with four replications for each dose were used in vitro. Each replication consisted of 10 ticks in a Petri dish with filter paper impregnated uniformly with the foam soap on the bottom. The same four doses in three replications were used in vivo. Each replication was made up of 10 naturally ticks infested goats. Results of this study indicate that foam soap containing essential oil of A. houstonianum leaves is toxic to R. lunulatus. The in vitro mortality rate was observed to vary from 0 to 50% on day 8 after treatment with the controls as compared to 95% with the lowest dose (0.02 microl/g) on day 8 and 100% with the highest dose (0.03 microl/g) on day 3. Meanwhile, the in vivo mortality rate was observed to be 23.4% with the control on day 8 after treatment whereas the highest dose killed 95.1% of the ticks by this day. The LD50 of the foam soap containing essential oil of this plant was 0.0259 and 0.0173 microl/g on day 2 after treatment, in the laboratory and on the farm, respectively. This indicates a potentially high efficiency of this medicated soap on this parasite.

[An AV aneurysm of a branch of the pulmonary artery associated with a pulmonary tumorlet]. / A-V aneuryzma vetve plicní tepny s plicním tumorletem.

The authors present a rare case of a relatively large A-V aneurysm of the branch of the pulmonary artery in the right upper pulmonary lobe. Successful and technically easy surgical treatment was preceded by a serious dilemma whether to select in a high risk patient another (less invasive) therapeutic method or even conservative treatment. The surgical finding and smooth postoperative course confirmed that the indication of surgery was correct. As a further pathological finding in the resected portion a pulmonary tumourlet was detected. The combination of the two rare findings is an extreme rarity.

[Dealing with Rhizarthrosis by Means of Arthrodesis with Finger Micro-plate Osteosynthesis.]. / Resení rizartrózy s pouzitím prstové dlahy z miniinstrumentária AO V.

The authors of the article describe possibilities of dealing with thumb CMC joint degenerative changes, concentrating on arthrodesis. They compare individual operations and refer about fixation of arthrodesis with micro plate osteosynthesis which enables early functional treatment. They perform the arthrodesis in patients with radiologically proved arthrosis, in most cases of stage III, who do not respond to conservative therapy. They state both short-term and long-term results in their own group of 18 operations (all of the operated patients state improvement of thumb function and relief of pain following the operation) and analyse reasons for failure of the technique and for the necessity of revision in 3 of them. Key words: carpo-metacarpal I. joint, arthrodesis, osteoarthritis of trapezio-metacarpal joint.

Detection of Bronchial Neoplasia in Uranium Miners by Autofluorescence Endoscopy (SAFE-1000).

The increase in the detection rate for premalignant changes of bronchial epithelium was studied in 56 symptom-free volunteers from the risk group of Czech uranium miners (mean age 50.69 years, mean WLM 21.06 (1 Working Level Month is equal to the absorption of latent energy of 2.08 x 10(-5) J/m(3) in one month, i.e. 170 working hours)) by the additional employment of the System of Autofluorescence Endoscopy (SAFE-1000 Pentax) to conventional white-light bronchoscopy, comparing results with those of bronchial biopsy histopathology examination. Histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed intraepithelial neoplasias in 15 areas in 10 persons. White-light bronchoscopy sensitivity was 21.05%, and specificity 93.7% which an autofluorescence bronchoscopy sensitivity was 78.95% and specificity 81.89%.

Effect of corticosteroids on electrolyte transport of the isolated human and rabbit lens.

In the isolated human lens, short circuit current was inhibited by pharmacological concentrations of 6-methylprednisolone and opacities occurred in the posterior subcapsular region in some lenses. The effect was seen only when the anterior (epithelial) surface of the lens was exposed. There was an increase of the short circuit current in the rabbit lens by 6-methyl-prednisolone and the lenses remained clear. Methylprednisolone effects were seen in spite of Na-K-ATPase inhibition by ouabain. Aldosterone had no effect on the translenticular potential difference, short circuit current and transparency. The data are discussed with respect to corticosteroid receptors in the lens epithelium and to the pathogenesis of steroid-associated cataract in man.

Corticosteroids and the active ion transport of the isolated human lens.

Glucocorticoids may induce posterior subcapsular cataract in man following topical or systemic administration. Translenticular potential difference (PD) and short circuit current (SCC) measurements were performed on the isolated human lens. 6-methylprednisolone 10(-4)mol 1(-1) did not change PD and SCC. However, 10(-3) and 10(-2)mol 1(-1) prednisolone reduced PD and SCC already 45 min after administration. An inhibition of SCC from 5.4 microA cm-2 to 3.8 microA cm-2 was obtained after prednisolone. PD was reduced from 6.2 mV (anterior side positive) to 4.6 mV, while resistance was unchanged. The effect on PD and SCC could only be demonstrated when prednisolone was given to the epithelial (anterior) side of the lens. After the 2-3 hr incubation of human lenses in 10(-2)mol 1(-1) prednisolone macroscopically visible opacities under the posterior lens capsule could be seen regularly. Aldosterone had no effect on PD, SCC and transparency. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that in the human lens glucocorticoids may induce cataract formation by inhibition of epithelial electrolyte transport.

Rabbit corneal allograft survival following topical administration of cyclosporin A.

Cyclosporin A (CS-A), selectively inhibited cellular immunity, delayed the skin graft-induced rejection of corneal allografts in rabbits when administered subconjunctivally in the dose of 3 mg/kg/day or in the form of 5% water-soluble drops five times daily for 28 days. The subconjunctival application of CS-A was irritating, whereas the topical instillation of the water-soluble preparation was well tolerated. The corneal grafts were rejected after discontinuation of the therapy. Rejection was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanism by which CS-A delayed corneal graft rejection seems to depend mainly on the specific and/or the nonspecific effect of topical CS-A on lymphocytes.

Effect of low-power density laser radiation on healing of open skin wounds in rats.

We performed a study to determine whether laser radiation of low-power density would affect the healing of open skin wounds in rats. The wounds were irradiated daily with a helium-neon laser (wavelength, 632.8 nm) and an argon laser (wave-length, 514.5 nm) at a constant power density of 45 mW/sq cm. The rate of wound closure was followed by photographing the wounds in a standardized way. The collagen hydroxyproline concentration in the scar tissue was determined on the 18th postoperative day. Helium-neon laser radiation had a statistically significant stimulating effect on collagen synthesis in the wound, with a maximum effect at an energy density of 4 joules/sq cm. The rate of wound closure was enhanced significantly between the third and 12th postoperative days. The argon laser exposure produced a significant increase in collagen concentration both in irradiated and nonirradiated contralateral wounds. However, an acceleration of the healing rate was not registered in this case. The wound contraction up to the fourth day of the experiment was inhibited under helium-neon and argon laser exposure to 20 joules/sq cm. The described effects were not specific for the laser light. There may be a wavelength-selective influence of coherent light on the metabolic and proliferation processes in wound healing, with the associated problem of the possible carcinogenic effects of laser radiation.