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Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare, autosomal recessive bile acid synthesis disorder caused by pathologic variants in CYP27A1 , a gene involved in bile acid synthesis. Impaired function in this gene leads to accumulation of plasma cholestanol (PC) in various tissues, often in early childhood, resulting in such clinical signs as infantile diarrhea, early-onset bilateral cataracts, and neurological deterioration. The current study aimed to identify cases of CTX in a population of patients with a greater CTX prevalence than the general population, to facilitate early diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with early-onset, apparently idiopathic, bilateral cataracts between the ages of 2 and 21 years were enrolled. Genetic testing of patients with elevated PC and urinary bile alcohol (UBA) levels was used to confirm CTX diagnosis and determine CTX prevalence. Of 426 patients who completed the study, 26 met genetic testing criteria (PC ≥ 0.4 mg/dL and positive UBA test), and 4 were confirmed to have CTX. Prevalence was found to be 0.9% in enrolled patients, and 15.4% in patients who met the criteria for genetic testing.▪ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trisomy 13 is associated with a variety of ocular findings. As more children with trisomy 13 survive beyond their first year of life, early identification and awareness of associated ocular manifestations is increasingly important. This retrospective case series of 5 patients with trisomy 13 expands on what is known about the complex ocular findings associated with the condition and describes their clinical management, with a mean follow-up of 2 years. All 5 patients had microphthalmos and colobomas of the iris, 4 had corneal opacities, and 2 had kerato-irido-lenticular dysgenesis associated with glaucoma. In addition, these patients were found to have recurrent eyelid infections, congenital glaucoma, cataracts, and persistent fetal vasculature. All 5 patients had cerebral visual impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered fecal microbiota have been reported in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), although studies vary, which could be owing to dietary effects. Many IBS patients may eliminate certain foods because of their symptoms, which in turn may alter fecal microbiota diversity and composition. This study aimed to determine if dietary patterns were associated with IBS, symptoms, and fecal microbiota differences reported in IBS. A total of 346 IBS participants and 170 healthy controls (HCs) completed a Diet Checklist reflecting the diet(s) consumed most frequently. An exclusion diet was defined as a diet that eliminated food components by choice. Within this group, a gluten-free, dairy-free, or low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols diet was further defined as restrictive because they often are implicated in reducing symptoms. Stool samples were obtained from 171 IBS patients and 98 HCs for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and microbial composition analysis. Having IBS symptoms was associated with consuming a restrictive diet (27.17% of IBS patients vs 7.65% of HCs; odds ratio, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.66–6.75; P value =.006). IBS participants on an exclusion or restrictive diet reported more severe IBS symptoms (P =.042 and.029, respectively). The composition of the microbiota in IBS patients varied depending on the diet consumed. IBS participants on an exclusion diet had a greater abundance of Lachnospira and a lower abundance of Eubacterium (q value, <.05), and those on a restrictive diet had a lower abundance of Lactobacillus (q value, <.05). Restrictive diets likely are consumed more by IBS patients than HCs to reduce GI symptom severity. Dietary patterns influence the composition of the fecal microbiota and may explain some of the differences between IBS and HCs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Communication difficulties negatively impact relationship quality and are associated with social isolation and loneliness in later life. There is a need for accessible communication interventions offered outside specialty mental health settings.Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial.Setting: Assessments in the laboratory and intervention completed in-home.Participants: Twenty adults age 60 and older from the community and a geriatric psychiatry clinic.Intervention: A web-based communication coach that provides automated feedback on eye contact, facial expressivity, speaking volume, and negative content (Aging and Engaging Program, AEP), delivered with minimal assistance in the home (eight brief sessions over 4-6 weeks) or control (education and videos on communication).Measurements: System Usability Scale and Social Skills Performance Assessment, an observer-rated assessment of social communication elicited through standardized role-plays.Results: Ninety percent of participants completed all AEP sessions and the System Usability Scale score of 68 was above the cut-off for acceptable usability. Participants randomized to AEP demonstrated statistically and clinically significant improvement in eye contact and facial expressivity.Conclusion: The AEP is acceptable and feasible for older adults with communication difficulties to complete at home and may improve eye contact and facial expressivity, warranting a larger RCT to confirm efficacy and explore potential applications to other populations, including individuals with autism and social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are local, democratic organizations. • Integration of distributed energy resources across these electric utilities varies. • Strategic action field theory is used to focus on agency and collective identity. • Four strategies shape technology and distributions of economic and political power. • Policy insights are provided for sustainable and just transitions. Renewable energy and social justice advocates are organizing around the potential for community-based democratic organizations to promote more decentralized, sustainable, and just societies. Within this movement, consumer-owned electric utilities are often seen as central actors. Yet, there has been little systematic investigation into why integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) varies across these utilities. We explore this question using literature on sustainability transitions and strategic action fields. Choices about when and how to integrate DERs are shaped by new interpretations of long-standing principles, existing institutional relationships, and a utility's political power. We identify how four divergent strategies shape distinct technology configurations with differences in physical scale, concentration of political authority, and distribution of economic benefits. These differences suggest that local technology ownership may not be sufficient to motivate change in some contexts. Policy addressing political processes and ownership scale may be needed to accelerate more sustainable and just energy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the United States plunged into World War II, the surgeon general, Norman T. Kirk, scrambled to care for the complex hand injuries sustained in combat. To remedy this problem, Major General Kirk appointed Sterling Bunnell, a general surgeon and a World War I veteran with a keen interest in hand injuries, to serve as the consultant to the Secretary of War. Kirk and Bunnell formed 9 US military hand centers that treated 22,000 hand injuries in World War II. Bunnell and his pupils would later form the nucleus of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Through Dr. Bunnell's expertise, skillful care, dedication to teaching, and love of country, US hand surgery was born. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces are crucial for citizens’ wellbeing. Nonetheless, many Latin American cities struggle to provide sufficient and equitable green space distribution for their citizens. By looking at the Chilean capital Santiago as an example, this paper examines whether the growing urban agriculture movement provides a feasible opportunity to increase public urban green space access. It does so by using the policy arrangement approach to analyse change and stability in two policy domains: urban green space planning and urban agriculture. The paper investigates urban green spaces and urban agriculture and the role of practitioners, urban planners and policymakers. The analysis found opportunities for urban agriculture to facilitate the expansion of urban green spaces in Santiago if policy mechanisms enable private or public spaces to be maintained by citizen organizations. Such mechanisms may, however, encounter resistance from public agencies, as it is unresolved who is involved and who benefits from urban agriculture. The paper concludes that urban agriculture is an opportunity for urban greening in Santiago, although changes are needed in how green areas are planned and conceived. Additionally, urban agriculture should not be understood as a substitute for parks but as a complementary form of green space provision with a distinctive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine success rates over time for strabismus surgery for sensory exotropia and to determine factors associated with successful outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with sensory exotropia (best-corrected visual acuity ≤20/200 in the affected eye) who underwent strabismus surgery between May 2009 and December 2019. Patients with paralytic/restrictive exotropia and patients who did not follow up postoperatively were excluded. Surgical success was defined as exotropia of ≤10Δ or esotropia of ≤6Δ. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to evaluate covariate relationships with surgical outcome (α = 0.05). A total of 94 patients (64% female) were included. Mean patient age was 27.2 years (range, 3-69). Mean follow-up was 2.35 ± 2.77 years. The mean preoperative near deviation was 39Δ ± 14.8Δ of manifest or intermittent exotropia. Successful alignment was achieved in 51 of 83 patients (61%) at 1 month, 19 of 32 (59%) at 1 year, and 8 of 16 (50%) at 5 years. We found a significant correlation (P value = 0.0476) between success and smaller surgical doses in patients that underwent one- and two-muscle surgeries. In our study cohort of 94 patients, 50% of patients still had satisfactory ocular alignment at 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroenterology (GI) fellows' ability to perform procedures are evaluated by the level of competency in the cognitive and technical components of procedures in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited fellowship programs.1 However, competency in endoscopic procedures correlates with the number of procedures performed.2 The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has recommended that a minimum of 130 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and 275 colonoscopies be performed before procedural competency can be assessed.3 Few studies have examined program or trainee-related factors, such as trainee gender, that may influence procedural volume. In other procedural subspecialties, a gender gap exists in trainee procedural volumes, with female residents performing fewer surgical cases than males.4,5 However, whether gender-related disparities exist in endoscopy volume among GI trainees is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact of GI fellow gender on endoscopic procedural volume during training. Secondary aims were to determine if fellow career choice or other training program-related factors, such as program size, location, or setting, affect procedure volume during fellowship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have assessed risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other abdominal pain–related disorders of gut–brain interaction (AP-DGBI); however, the role of these factors is unclear due to heterogeneous study designs. The aim of this systematic review was to extensively evaluate the literature and determine clinical risk and protective factors for the presence and persistence of AP-DGBI in children and adults. A PubMed search identified studies investigating potential risk and protective factors for AP-DGBI in adults and children. Inclusion criteria included fully published studies with a control group; exclusion criteria included poor-quality studies (using a validated scale). For each factor, the proportion of studies that found the factor to be a risk factor, protective factor, or neither was summarized. The number of studies, diagnostic criteria, number of subjects, and average study quality rating provided further context. Whenever possible, a meta-analysis generated pooled odds ratios or mean difference. The systematic review included 348 studies. Female sex, gastroenteritis, abuse, stress, psychological disorders, somatic symptoms, and poor sleep were consistent risk factors for developing AP-DGBI in adults and children. In adults, additional risk factors included obesity, smoking, and increased use of medical resources. Protective AP-DGBI factors in adults included social support and optimism; no studies for protective factors were found for children. There are multiple risk factors for AP-DGBI in adults and children. These include female sex, gastroenteritis, abuse, stress, poor sleep, obesity, psychological disorders, and somatic symptoms. Additional studies are needed in children, on protective factors, and on factors associated with persistence of AP-DGBI. [Display omitted] This comprehensive systematic review assessed multiple risk and protective factors for abdominal pain disorders of gut–brain interaction and symptom persistence in both adults and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental material response of a viscoelastic material when impacted by a ballistic projectile has important implication for the defense, law enforcement, and medical communities particularly for the evaluation of protective systems. In this paper, we systematically vary the modulus and toughness of a synthetic polymer gel to determine their respective influence on the velocity-dependent penetration of a spherical projectile. The polymer gels were characterized using tensile, compression, and rheological testing taking special care to address the unique challenges associated with obtaining high fidelity mechanical data on highly conformal materials. The depth of penetration data was accurately described using the elastic Froude number for viscoelastic gels ranging in Young’s modulus from ~60 to 630 kPa. The minimum velocity of penetration was determined to scale with the gel toughness divided by the gel modulus, a qualitative estimate for the zone of deformation size scale upon impact. We anticipate that this work will provide insight into the critical material factors that control ballistic penetration behavior in soft materials and aid in the design and development of new ballistic testing media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is ample evidence that human understanding of ordinary language relies in part on a rich capacity for imagistic mental modeling. We argue that genuine language understanding in machines will similarly require an imagistic modeling capacity enabling fast construction of instances of prototypical physical situations and events, whose participants are drawn from a wide variety of entity types, including animate agents. By allowing fast evaluation of predicates such as ‘can-see’ , ‘under’ , and ‘inside’ , these model instances support coherent text interpretation. Imagistic modeling is thus a crucial – and not very broadly appreciated – aspect of the long-standing knowledge acquisition bottleneck in AI. We will illustrate how the need for imagistic modeling arises even in the simplest first-reader stories for children, and provide an initial feasibility study to indicate what the architecture of a system combining symbolic with imagistic understanding might look like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To determine the direct cost of pediatric cataract surgery at two child eye health tertiary facilities (CEHTFs) in Africa. Methods The direct cost of pediatric cataract surgery was determined by reviewing data collected from two CEHTFs in Zambia and Malawi. Inventory, cost, and usage data of all durable medical equipment, consumable equipment, personnel, and medications were collected and the direct cost per child calculated. Results For cataract surgery and related treatment during 2011, the total cost per child was calculated to be $202 for Malawi and $277 for Zambia using figures derived from estimating labor cost allocation proportional to employee time devoted to pediatric cataract management. The one-time equipment cost totaled $178,121 for Malawi and $179,832 for Zambia. Conclusions These cost estimates may serve as a basis for economic decisions aimed at improving access to care, management, and follow-up for children with cataract and provide useful insights for programs dedicated to promoting organizational and financial sustainability for CEHTFs in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To compare the costs of diagnostic work-up for optic disk drusen where ophthalmic ultrasound was performed prior to imaging and invasive studies with those where ophthalmic ultrasound was performed after such studies. Methods The medical records of patients <18 years of age evaluated at a tertiary referral center between 2007 and 2012 for “swollen” optic nerves were retrospectively reviewed. The main outcome measure was cost of diagnostic work-up according to Georgia Medicaid global reimbursement rates. Results A total of 46 children with a B-scan ultrasound–confirmed diagnosis of calcified optic disk drusen were included. Neuroimaging was performed in 23 patients, of whom 20 had the study prior to ophthalmic ultrasound. The mean cost of evaluations for patients undergoing ancillary testing prior to ophthalmic ultrasound was $1,173; for those undergoing ancillary testing after, $305. Conclusions Because optic disk drusen can mimic the appearance of papilledema, it is more cost-effective to perform ophthalmic ultrasonography prior to neuroimaging, especially when the patient is asymptomatic. If ophthalmic ultrasonography confirms the presence of drusen, it is more cost-effective to reassess the clinical picture before proceeding with further tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Horizontal strabismus due to a weak rectus muscle can be treated with an augmented Hummelsheim procedure, in which both vertical rectus muscle tendons are split, resected by 4 mm, and reattached to the sclera adjacent to the weak rectus muscle. Compared with vertical rectus transposition, the procedure spares two ciliary vessels and does not require placement of augmentation sutures. In this study, we evaluated binocular alignment and ocular motility in patients with abducens nerve palsy treated with an augmented Hummelsheim procedure. Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients with complete abducens nerve palsy who underwent the augmented Hummelsheim procedure, usually combined with medial rectus muscle recession, were retrospectively reviewed. Binocular alignment, ocular motility, and complications were analyzed. Results: Ten patients (age range, 12-57 years) met inclusion criteria for the study, of whom 9 of 10 had simultaneous medial rectus recession. Follow-up ranged from 1 week to 24 months. The augmented Hummelsheim procedure improved esotropia from 43Δ ± 5Δ preoperatively to 6Δ ± 7Δ postoperatively (P < 0.0001) and reduced abduction deficits from −4 to −3 (P < 0.0001). One patient with coexisting oculomotor nerve palsy developed consecutive exotropia; 2 had induced vertical deviations. There were no cases of anterior segment ischemia. Conclusions: The augmented Hummelsheim procedure combined with medial rectus muscle recession reduced mean primary position esotropia and improved abduction in patients with complete abducens nerve palsy.▪ [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After a decade of policies encouraging dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) use, Medicare incrementally decreased reimbursement for non–facility-based DXAs, effective 2007. This study quantifies trends in central DXA use before and after the reimbursement change. Using 2000–2009 claims data, we selected subjects aged 50+yr with Medicare supplemental or commercial insurance. The central site DXA test (using CPT codes) rate was calculated within each calendar quarter as the number of patients with a DXA test divided by the total number of patients. Piecewise linear regression was used to quantify change in DXA rates coincident with the 2007 reimbursement reductions. During 2000–2009, slightly over 5 million DXA tests were conducted. Annual rates for females with Medicare steadily increased until 2007, when they leveled off; a similar pattern was observed for the commercially insured. Regression modeling showed that pre-2007 rates increased annually by 0.76% (0.72–0.80) and 0.76% (0.70–0.82) among those with Medicare supplemental and commercial insurance, respectively, and over 2007–2009, rates changed annually by +0.07% (−0.05% to 0.19%) and −0.12% (−0.29% to 0.04%), respectively. During 2007–2009, there were 3.1 (2.4–3.8) and 4.0 (3.1–4.9) fewer tests per 100 person years for females with Medicare supplemental and commercial insurance, respectively, than would have been expected based on the pre-2007 trend. The post-2007 DXA rate was lower than what would have been expected had the observed trend of increasing annual DXA rates from 2000 to 2007 continued unabated beyond the Medicare reimbursement change in 2007. Continuing to provide access to DXA testing for women at increased risk of osteoporosis is important to providing high-quality care for metabolic bone disease in the United States. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Krankenhaus-Hygiene + Infektionsverhutung is the property of Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Of all arginine catabolic enzymes, the arginases and nitric oxide (NO) synthases are the ones that are of greatest interest to many investigators. Mammalian arginases catalyze the hydrolysis of arginine to ornithine and urea and are composed of two distinct isozymes: arginase I, located within the cytosol, and arginase II, located within mitochondria. The arginases not only can inhibit NO synthesis by reducing arginine availability, but also can promote the synthesis of polyamines or proline via production of the common precursor ornithine. Because of their inducibility in many cell types and to their potential impact on multiple biochemical pathways in health and disease, there is growing interest in assays of arginase activity. Although arginase activity may be determined by either spectrophotometric or radiochemical assays, radiochemical assays afford greater sensitivity and do not require correction for any ornithine or urea that may be present in the samples. Part of the arginase assay protocol described in this chapter also can be used for radiochemical assays of enzymes that catalyze decarboxylation reactions. No activity assay currently available is capable of distinguishing the arginase isozymes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We consider the harvest of a certain proportion of a population that is modeled by an integrodifference equation, which is discrete in time and continuous in the space variable. The dispersal of the population is modeled by an integral of the growth function evaluated at the current population density against a kernel function. A concave growth function is used. In our model, growth occurs first, then dispersal and lastly harvesting control before the next generation. With the goal of maximizing the discounted profit stream, the optimal control is characterized by an optimality system. Illustrative examples are computed numerically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Patients with chronic wrist pain often are treated with wrist denervation, which typically involves transecting both the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) and the posterior interosseous nerve. A single dorsal incision approach is an improvement over the more traditional multiple-incision technique. The purpose of our study was to describe the branches of the AIN to the pronator quadratus and evaluate the risk of denervation with the single dorsal incision technique. Methods: Twelve fresh-frozen cadaver forearms were dissected. The branches of the AIN to the pronator quadratus were identified and the individual branch points were measured from the articular edge of the distal radius. Wrist denervation was then performed on each specimen through the single dorsal incision (as suggested by Berger). Results: There were an average of 3 branches from the AIN to the pronator quadratus. All forearms had at least 1 branch to the pronator quadratus more proximal to the distal end of the dorsal skin incision; however, in only 2 of the forearms was the most proximal branch more than 2 cm proximal to the distal end of the dorsal skin incision. Conclusions: Wrist denervation through the recommended single dorsal incision poses a serious risk for completely denervating the pronator quadratus. Therefore the resection of the AIN must be performed close to the distal margin of the pronator quadratus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and short-term patency rates of a self-expandable nitinol stent (JostentSelfX; Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) for treatment of iliac artery stenoses. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, 34 chronic iliac artery stenoses were primarily treated in 27 patients (mean age, 61.7 years +/- 9.4) by placement of a JostentSelfX. Handling and visibility of the stent was scored on a 4-point scale. Before stent placement, within 3 days after stent placement and at 6 months follow-up, the clinical history, clinical stage according to the Rutherford classification, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) were assessed. Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography including measurement of the mean pressure gradient was performed at the time of stent placement and at 6 months follow-up or in case of recurrence of symptoms. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Kaplan-Meier method were applied for statistical analysis. Results: The immediate technical success rate was 94%. The clinical success rate immediately after the procedure was 96% and 85% at 6 months follow-up. Stent placement significantly decreased the severity of stenoses as well as the mean pressure gradients and significantly increased the ABI. Handling of the stent was judged good. No misplacement occurred. Foreshortening during deployment was negligible and no stent migration was seen. However, visibility of the stent during fluoroscopy was ranked as moderate to bad. Follow-up at 6 months revealed the cumulative angiographic primary patency rate (<50% restenosis and <10 mm Hg mean pressure gradient) to be 0.96. Conclusion: The evaluated self-expandable nitinol stent is an effective tool in treating iliac artery stenoses. Apart from poor visibility, handling was good. The angiographic patency rate is comparable with data reported in other stent trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a period of 4 months, 10 patients were examined prospectively with intraarterial magnetic resonance (MR) angiography after digital subtraction angiography. Intraarterial MR angiography was performed with use of a 1.5-T MR imaging system. Contrast agent (gadodiamide) was injected with a conventional angiography catheter placed in the proximal abdominal aorta. The increase in vascular signal intensity was determined and the diagnostic value of the MR angiograms was scored according to a five-point scale by four investigators. The MR angiograms were judged good to excellent, and all were scored as diagnostic. In conclusion, this study shows that intraarterial MR angiography is feasible. Intraarterial MR angiography is appropriate to support MR-guided vascular intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of different balloon inflation times on angiographic results in peripheral angioplasty.Materials and Methods: Seventy-four infrainguinal arteriosclerotic lesions were randomized prospectively to undergo balloon dilation for 30 seconds (group I) or 180 seconds (group II). Each group consisted of 37 patients. Postinterventional angiograms were evaluated by two blinded readers. Dissections were graded as follows: 1 = no dissection; 2 = minor flap; 3 = extensive dissection membrane, not flow limiting; or 4 = flow-limiting flap. The rate of major-grade dissections (grades 3 and 4), residual stenosis (>30%), and further interventions were compared with the two-tailed chi(2) test.Results: In group I, major dissections were noted in 16 patients (43%) compared with five patients (14%) in group II (P =.009). Residual stenoses were found in 12 patients (32%) in group I compared with five patients (14%) in group II (P =.096). The rate of additional interventions was significantly higher in group I than in group II (20 of 37 vs nine of 37; P =.017).Conclusion: A prolonged inflation time of 180 seconds improves the immediate angioplasty result of infrainguinal lesions compared to a short dilation strategy. Significantly fewer major dissections and a modest reduction of residual stenoses are observed. The requirement of costly and time-consuming further interventions is significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familiarize pediatric ophthalmologists with uncommon systemic etiologies that are rarely associated with relatively common anterior segment findings. Several anterior segment findings that are commonly seen by pediatric ophthalmologists can rarely be caused by a more systemic condition. Participants will be familiarized with uncommon anterior segment findings of conditions that are associated with serious ocular and systemic comorbidity. [Extracted from the article]

The authors will investigate the literature for articles of interest to the subspecialty of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus for the time period February 2018 to January 2019. More than 20 medical journals will be reviewed for relevant new findings in the subspecialty of Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus from February 2018 through January 2019. [Extracted from the article]

Few studies have characterized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings associated with congenital corneal opacification. A total of 48 (32.9%) patients had MRI imaging, of which 31 (64.6%) had abnormal findings. MRI can provide information about co-morbid neurological abnormalities in children with corneal opacities to help guide management of these challenging patients. [Extracted from the article]

Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) has rapidly become the standard of care for endothelial dysfunction of the cornea in adults. There are few reports of DSAEK in children and infants, mainly because most pediatric corneal opacities are full-thickness and therefore not amenable to lamellar procedures but also because of the unique difficulties of performing this procedure in the youngest patients. We report the case of an 8-month-old girl who underwent DSAEK for congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy. At 24 months' follow-up, her visual acuity was 20/40 in the operated eye. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an objective visual outcome in a child with DSAEK performed in infancy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Krankenhaus-Hygiene + Infektionsverhutung is the property of Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Krankenhaus-Hygiene + Infektionsverhutung is the property of Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To describe one of the largest case series of children whose ocular surface disease was strongly suspicious for nonaccidental injury (NAI). This multicenter retrospective case series includes 4 patients whose presentations were concerning for anterior segment NAI. The history, examination, treatment, and outcomes of these patients is presented, along with a brief review of case reports in the literature. A broad spectrum of anterior segment findings was noted in our case series and in cases previously reported in the literature. NAI appears to be associated with bilateral and recurrent disease as well as improvement during hospitalization that is better than initially expected. Ocular surface NAI is a diagnosis of exclusion and necessitates a thorough history and examination. Clinician concern for ocular NAI should prompt examination or referral for signs of other bodily injuries, especially in young children. Siblings of patients who have received the diagnosis of NAI may also be at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video demonstration of unusual signs, diagnostics of diseases, and surgical procedures in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, with an emphasis on both pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. This workshop allows the attendees to view videos of rare signs and both common and complex surgical procedures, presented and explained by the ophthalmologist who recorded them first-hand, with discussion by an expert panel and the audience. [Extracted from the article]

Children with uveitis are at risk of vision loss from their inflammatory disease as well as from resultant amblyopia. Purpose: to evaluate visual outcomes, uveitic activity, and amblyopia prevalence in pediatric uveitis patients lacking other amblyogenic diagnoses. Amblyopia was diagnosed in 57%, but younger age at uveitis diagnosis was not predictive of amblyopia. [Extracted from the article]

We report 3 cases of bilateral cataract secondary to self-inflicted blunt eye trauma in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). All 3 children hit their foreheads, orbits, or globes repeatedly for long periods of time and developed cataracts. Clinicians must be aware of this phenomenon to diagnose ocular pathology early and to provide adequate education, counseling, and services to affected patients and their families and to put appropriate postoperative care mechanisms in place to prevent permanent ocular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]