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Abstract Background To evaluate changes in the vessel density (VD) of the optic nerve head (ONH) microvasculature in thyroid eye disease (TED) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This study aimed to applicate the OCTA as a noninvasive modality in screening TED patients to assess sub-clinical changes. Methods In a cross-sectional study, the control group patients were healthy individuals with no ocular abnormalities and were euthyroid. All patients with TED had clinical features of the disease. We divided them into two groups using the clinical activity score (CAS). Patients with CAS scores 0–2 were categorized as group A, and scores three or more as group B. All vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) VD inside disc and radial peripapillary capillary network were measured using the ONH-OCTA. Results We evaluated 29 patients with TED and 28 healthy controls. The mean whole image AV VD (mean ± SD: 56.33 ± 2.56, p-value = 0.17) and the mean whole image SV VD (mean ± SD: 49.94 ± 2.56, p-value = 0.16) in the TED group had no statically significant difference compared with the control group (AV mean ± SD: 57.20 ± 20.22, SV mean ± SD: 50.84 ± 2.23). We found a non-significant decrease in AV and SV radial peripapillary capillary VD in the TED group. There was a significant decrease in the mean whole image AV VD (mean ± SD: 54.83 ± 3.07, p-value = 0.005) and the mean whole image SV VD (mean ± SD: 48.60 ± 3.18, p-value = 0.013) in CAS group B compared to group A (AV mean ± SD: 57.45 ± 1.33, SV mean ± SD: 50.95 ± 1.37). Conclusion Our study showed non-significant ONH vascular alterations in patients with TED, including reduced VD of ONH in the radial peripapillary capillary. Patients with higher CAS scores had a more noticeable decrease in ONH microvasculature.

Abstract Purpose: To quantify the microvasculature density of the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) analysis in patients recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional, observational study, patients recovered from COVID-19 whose initial diagnosis was confirmed by a rRT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal sample were included in this study. OCTA of ONH was performed in included patients and normal controls. Vascular density (VD) of the all vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) inside the disc and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network density were measured in COVID-19 recovered patients and compared with similar parameters in an age-matched group of normal controls. Results: Twenty-five COVID-19 patients and twenty-two age-matched normal controls were enrolled in the study and one eye per participant was evaluated. The mean whole image SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.31 ± 1.93) was not statistically significantly different from that in the control group (49.94 ± . 2.22; P = 0.308). A decrease in RPC VD was found in all AV and SV VD measured, which became statistically significant in whole peripapillary SV VD, peripapillary inferior nasal SV VD, peripapillary inferior temporal SV VD, peripapillary superior nasal SV VD, and grid-based AV VD inferior sector (P < 0.05). Inside disc SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.43 ± 4.96) was higher than in the control group (45.46 ± 6.22) which was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Conclusion: Unremarkable decrease was found in ONH microvasculature in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. These patients may be at risk of ONH vascular complications. Increase in inner disc SV VD may be an indicator of ONH hyperemia and edema.

Background and purpose: The Epidemic coronavirus in the world and in Iran has caused many physical and psychological problems, including anxiety in people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in the relationship between religious beliefs and Corona virus Disease Anxiety. Materials and methods:The research design was descriptive-correlational, in other words, path analysis. The statistical population was all 18 to 60-year-olds who participated in the study during an online call. Three questionnaires including The Corona virus Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Hope questionnaire and Religious Beliefs questionnaire were answered online by 1,115 participants (825 women and 290 men). Data were analyzed using SPSS19 and AMOUS software. Results:The results showed that the proposed model has a good fit with the research data (75/48=X2، 13=df، 20/0=P، 75/3=X2/df، 94/0= GFI، 92/0=AGFI، 98/0=CFI، 98/0=NFI، 058/0=RMSEA و 33/518=AIC). The indirect effect of Religious Beliefs on Coronavirus Disease Anxiety mediated by Hope was significant. Also, the direct and positive effect of Religious Beliefs on Hope (with two components of strategic thinking and factor thinking) and the direct and negative effect of Hope (with two levels of strategic thinking and factor thinking) with Corona virus Disease Anxiety was significant. Conclusion: it can be said that by strengthening Religious Beliefs in individuals, it is possible to indirectly reduce the Corona virus Disease Anxiety in the epidemic conditions of this disease.

The purpose of the present study was to validate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the General Belongingness Scale in students. This applied study was adopted a psychometric design and its statistical population consisted of the students of the Birjand University in for the 2017-18the academic year1396-97. In two studies, 164 (108 girls females and 56 boysmales) and 236 (156 girls females and 80 boysmales) students of the Birjand University were selected through multi-stage random sampling. The dData were collected through using the General Belongingness Scale (GBS), The the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (Ditommaso, & [HE1] et al, 2004), the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (Lovibond & Lovibond,1995), and the Life satisfaction Test (Diener & et al,1985). The iInternal consistency, as well as the exploratory and and confirmatory factor analyses, and the criterion, predictivefactor analysis, criterion, predictive and constructive validity was were evaluated using the SPSS.16 and AMOS.24 software. The results showed that this scale had a two-factor structure with the an explained variance explainedof 56.61%. In addition, t The second-order confirmatory factor analysis was confirmed. The convergent and divergent validity was confirmed in relation tofor social loneliness [HE2] and its predictive validity in relation tofor depression and life satisfaction were all confirmed. There wereas no significant differences based onin terms of age and gender. It seems that the General Belongingness Scale (GBS) has good reliability and validity in with students.

The purpose of present study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of Belongingness Orientation scale (Lavigne et al, 2011). The research method of this study was correlation and test validation. The statistical population of the study consisted of students of Birjand University (6657 girls and 5691 boys). A total of 292 people (147 women, 145 men) were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed Belongingness Orientation Scale (BOS), Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS-IDL) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory and intergroup factor analysis, and multiple regression using SPSS.16, and Amos.20 software. Results showed that the structure of two factors that explain 54.34% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed this structure. The factor structure of the scale was invariant by gender. The internal consistency of the scale was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha and split-half coefficients. Predictive validity in relation to subjective vitality and psychological distress was confirmed. In general, it can be concluded that the belongingness orientation scale has a good validity and reliability in students and can be used as a precise instrument in this regard.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of adjuvant topical timolol–dorzolamide with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection on anatomic and functional results in eyes affected with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: In an interventional prospective contralateral pilot eye study at a third level referral academic facility, patients with bilateral DME who were treatment-naive were enrolled. Enrolled patients received a treatment plan of topical timolol–dorzolamide twice daily in the right eye. Three monthly bilateral IVB injections 1.25 mg/0.05 mL were also planned. Baseline central macular thickness (CMT) was measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and clinical information such as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were collected at enrollment and one month after the third injection. Results: Eleven patients (seven females) with DME were included. BCVA and CMT improved in both eyes and IOP decreased in the right eye but did not change in the left eye. In repeated measures ANOVA analysis, the decrease in CMT and improvement in BCVA were significant in the right eye. Conclusion: Our study suggested that adjuvant topical timolol–dorzolamide in combination with IVB may further reduce central macular thickness in eyes with DME. Keywords: Timolol, Dorzolamide, Intravitreal bevacizumab, Diabetic macular edema, Macular thickness, Visual acuity