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Prevalence of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in a Young Adult Population
Get PDFBackground Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) varies in prevalence depending on the demographic and can significantly impact quality of life. There is a lack of research on MGD in young adult, professional student populations. Professional students often experience high levels of stress, reduced sleep, and increased electronic device use, which may elevate their risk for developing MGD. Specific Aims This cross-sectional clinical analysis has two specific aims: (1) to determine the prevalence of MGD in a young adult, professional student population, and (2) to identify potential risk factors and clinical assessments correlated with MGD. Methods A total of 147 professional students in a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program were assessed at a baseline visit. Computer use and computer discomfort were queried, and symptom assessment was obtained through two questionnaires. Clinical assessments included LLT, TBUT, meibomian gland expression, and meibography. Participants were classified as MGD or non-MGD based on functional and structural definitions. Results The study group consisted predominantly of white, non-Hispanic females with an average age of 24 ± 2.37 years. The prevalence of MGD was found to be 73.5%. Both the MGD and non-MGD groups reported significant electronic device use, averaging 7.74 ± 2.77 and 7.85 ± 3.11 hours, respectively. Nearly half of the participants in both groups experienced discomfort while using electronic devices. The average SPEED score for both groups was 6, exceeding the generally accepted cutoff for being symptomatic for DED. There was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of meibomian gland dropout between the MGD group (36 ± 35) and the non-MGD group (4 ± 6). Other clinical assessments did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusion MGD is highly prevalent in this population. Further studies are needed to assess the prevalence, potential risk factors, and clinical assessment correlations in this demographic. Insights from this analysis can guide future research and improve clinical practices to enhance ocular health and overall well-being in this population
Radioactive Seed Localization For The Resection Of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions
Get PDFAccurate localization of malignant tissues is critical in breast cancer treatment to ensure effective therapy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Radioactive seed localization, specifically using Iodine-125 (I-125), is a prominent method due to its precision and minimally invasive nature. However, this technique poses a risk of radiation exposure to adjacent healthy tissues. This study aims to quantify the radiation dose to healthy breast tissue from I-125 seed implantation by employing two distinct computational approaches: a hemisphere breast model in MATLAB and Monte Carlo simulations in Mathematica. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 43 (TG- 43) provides standardized parameters, including radial dose functions, anisotropy functions, and dose rate constants for various radioactive seeds. While TG-43 has improved dose calculation accuracy, its application to specific anatomical contexts, such as breast tissue, requires further validation. Our research employs a controlled physical model to simulate human breast tissue and Monte Carlo simulations to precisely model radiation interactions within the tissue. The study\u27s dual approach of combining MATLAB-based hemisphere modeling with Monte Carlo simulations allowed for comprehensive dose distribution analysis. Preliminary results indicate that, based on the hemisphere model, the cumulative dose to ii healthy breast tissue at a radial distance of 1 centimeter reaches 50 cGy after approximately 208 days of I-125 seed implantation. These findings align closely with values reported in previous publications, validating the accuracy of our simulations. By integrating TG-43 data into both modeling approaches, this research enhances the precision of dose calculations and offers a robust understanding of radiation impacts on healthy tissues. The results aim to inform medical physicists and clinicians in refining protocols that optimize the balance between localization benefits and radiation safety. This study addresses the critical research gap in dosimetric effects of I-125 seed localization, contributing to the advancement of safer and more effective breast cancer treatments
ICTV 2024 Virus Metadata Resource (VMR)
No full textThe Virus Metadata Resource (VMR) provides exemplar virus isolates for each virus species, these being examples of well-characterized isolates of that species. Entries include the virus name, isolate designation, suggested abbreviation, GenBank accession number, genome composition, and host source
Oxaliplatin Induced Psychosis
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Treatment of Histoplasmosis with Posaconazole in the Setting of a Severe Itraconazole Hypersensitivity Reaction: A Case Report
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Think Twice: A Case of Syphilitic Endophthalmitis
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An Unusual Case of Plasma Cell Leukemia Presenting as Pericardial Effusion
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One Million Platelets With An Interesting Twist
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Explicit Content
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