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The Role of Tinted Lenses in the Perception of Color Deficiency
Get PDFPurpose: Many different approaches have been used to improve the color perception in patients with color deficiency. Currently, filters and tinted contact lenses are the most widely-available method to enhance color perception. Filters have been shown to help patients to pass pseudoisochromatic color tests, to better perform their daily activities, and enable them to better enjoy nature and art as well.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of monocular Neuchroma tinted lenses in improving the color perception for those with color vision deficiency. The specific combination of tints was selected to mimic the neutral (black) point for protans and deutans to optimize contrast. These were compared to neutral density filters as a control condition, and a red filter as the established compensatory treatment for red-green color deficiency.
Methods: 12 subjects (three females and nine males) with red-green defect, aged 14-88 years, were involved in this study. Subjects were asked first to perform Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue wearing no tint. Then, participants then performed the digitial ColorDx test four times, with different filters. We used R3+RW3+RD3, IR3, neutral density and red filters in front of the right eye for protans, and IR3+RW3+RD3, LV2+LV3, neutral density and red filters for deutans. Each filter was put inside a black mask to make their appearance appear as similar as possible. After that, participants performed Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test for a second time with filter that caused minimal errors on ColorDx test placed in front of their right eye.
Results: We found no statistical difference between neutral density and NeuChroma lens IR3 for protans, (p= 1.000). VL2+VL3 did not give a different result than ND (p= 0.339) for deutans. There was no statistical different between neutral density lens and IR3+RD3+RW3 NeuChroma lenses on ColorDx for all subjects, (p= 0.694). There was a remarkable reduction in total error scores on ColorDx test with the red filter (p = 0.003). Total error score on FM 100-hue test significantly increased with the red filter (p = 0.009).
Conclusion: The results showed that tinted lenses has no significant impact on color vision defect subjects. The red filter improved color vision performance in three deutan subjects and shifted the defect from mild protan to mild deutan in one subject
Moderate Exercise throughout Pregnancy and a Decreased Risk of Unplanned Cesarean Sections
Get PDFBackground: Overall cesarean section rates have increased in the United States from 20.7% in 1996 to 32.9% in 2009. Research shows that maternal morbidity is higher among women who have cesarean deliveries versus patients who have vaginal deliveries. With the rate of cesarean sections increasing in recent years, there have been efforts put in place to reduce these numbers. One method of combating this trend could be increasing exercise throughout the course of pregnancy. This review assesses the current evidence of the benefits of moderate exercise in decreasing the risk of unplanned cesarean section.
Methods: An exhaustive search of available medical literature was conducted using MEDLINE-Ovid, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used. The search terms pregnancy, exercise, and cesarean section. Applicable articles were assessed for quality using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).
Results: Two studies met eligibility criteria and were included. Both were randomized control trials. One study of 290 healthy, singleton pregnancies found that the percentage of cesarean deliveries were lower in the exercise group compared to the control group (16% versus 23%). The second study of 62 singleton pregnancies found that the percentage of cesarean deliveries was lower in the active group compared to the control group (6.4% versus 32.2%). Both studies had a moderate quality of evidence based on GRADE guidelines.
Conclusion: The two studies reviewed demonstrated a decreased rate of cesarean section in patients who exercised moderately throughout all 3 trimesters. Exercise throughout pregnancy did not have any negative effects on overall newborn health status. Providers should encourage moderate aerobic exercise to patients throughout the entire course of pregnancy.
Keywords: Exercise, pregnancy, cesarean sectio
Decreasing Cocaine Use with Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Get PDFBackground: Dependence on cocaine causes significant functional impairment and morbidity in users and is extremely prevalent in the U.S. Unlike other abused substances, there is currently no effective standard of treatment to decrease cocaine cravings and prevent relapse. This systematic review assesses whether recent research shows that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment to decrease cocaine use.
Methods: An exhaustive search of the medical literature databases was performed using Medline-Ovid, CINAHL, and Web of Science with the search words “cocaine” and “transcranial magnetic stimulation”. The studies reviewed were chosen based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the GRADE criteria.
Results: There have only been two studies performed on rTMS’s effects on cocaine use specifically, which were both included in this review. Both studies showed evidence that rTMS decreases cocaine use. One study showed a significant increase in abstinence during, and up to 6 months after rTMS treatment and a significant decrease in cravings as a secondary outcome. The second study did not show a significant decrease in cocaine use for the rTMS group until an exploratory analysis was done. The quality of both studies was low to moderate based on the GRADE criteria.
Conclusion: Despite the small number of studies assessing rTMS’s effectiveness on decreasing cocaine use and their low to moderate quality of evidence based on the GRADE criteria, the 2 studies reviewed here show promising evidence that rTMS can successfully decrease cocaine use. Trials with a larger sample size and higher attrition rate are required to more clearly show whether rTMS has a positive effect on decreasing cocaine use. Despite these limitations, since effective treatments are not currently available, the risk of rTMS treatment is low, and the cost of continued cocaine dependence is extremely high, rTMS treatment should be considered for patients trying to abstain from cocaine use
\u3ci\u3eA Change in the Wind\u3c/i\u3e (book)
No full textSet in Central Europe during the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire
The Impact of Hypertension on Social Roles, Activities, and Interpersonal Relationships
No full textBackground: Individuals with hypertension have been found to demonstrate emotional dampening as well as decreased accuracy on emotion recognition tasks. Purpose: This study sought to further explore possible impacts of hypertension on perceived social variables and quality of interpersonal relationships in a diverse population sample. Methods: Participants were 224 individuals recruited through the MTurk platform. Respondents included individuals who identified as either normotensive (n=122) or hypertensive (n=102). Categorical domains included age, race, education, income, marital status, and psychiatric diagnosis history. The majority of participants fell in the 26-40 year old age range (n=145) with the primary groups of race represented as Caucasian (n=95) and Asian/Pacific Islander (n=85). Participants completed three questionnaires (PROMIS-SIS, PROMIS-SRA, and QRI) that provide information regarding self-perception of social variables as well as quality of interpersonal relationships. Responses from normotensive individuals were compared to responses from hypertensive individuals while controlling for possible covariates using a MANCOVA analysis. Results: Increased levels of social isolation was not found to correlate with hypertension after controlling for possible covariates that included marital status and psychiatric diagnosis. Similarly, perceived fulfillment of social roles and activities was also not found to correlate with a diagnosis of hypertension. Identified domains of support and depth of relationship on the QRI were also not found to correlate to hypertension. However, results suggested a significant relationship between hypertension and the domain of conflict on the QRI. Conclusions: The results suggest a relationship between a diagnosis of hypertension and increased conflict in interpersonal relationships