1,720,993 research outputs found

    An immunocompetent migrant presenting with neurosyphilis with an unusual unilateral papillitis: a case report

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    Abstract Unilateral papillitis caused by Treponema pallidum was found in an immunocompetent homosexual patient with severe vision loss who had received previous antibiotics treatment. Syphilis-related ocular manifestation is more common in the early stages of the disease and it can be associated with a central nervous system localization. In this patient, neurosyphilis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. Optical examination revealed unilateral papillitis in the left eye and no relative afferent pupillary defects. The patient underwent visual field examinations with conventional perimetry using the 30-2 program of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer, which indicated a blind spot enlargement in the left eye. Optical coherence tomography, visual evoked potentials (VEP), and fluorescein angiograms revealed inflammation of the optic nerve head with edematous and blurred margins. A reactive T. pallidum hemagglutination assay with low rapid plasma reagin (RPR) serum titer was performed; an HIV antibody test and MRI of the orbits and head with contrast gave negative results. Resolution of the ocular inflammation after intravenous penicillin treatment was obtained. The reported case illustrates the importance of early recognition of this treatable disease. The rise of syphilis, especially in urban areas, necessitates a high level of suspicion when dealing with patients with intraocular inflammation of unknown origin. Lues serology should be incorporated into routine laboratory diagnostics to aid in the detection of such cases. Considering the re-emergence of syphilis, screening of migrants from countries with high syphilis seroprevalences should be recommended.</p

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

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    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis

    Causticazioni

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    “La SUPERFICIE OCULARE DALLA A ALLA Z”, Coordinatore F. Montrone”, Pagg..45-60 Ed.ART STAMPA, Monopoli Bari, Luglio 2004

    Epidemiology of syphilis: new cases of neurosyphilis

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    Abstract The Authors report three cases of ophthalmic neurosyphilis in patients who complained a visual decrease monocular. The diagnosis was performed with physical and fundus examination, electrophysiological, hemato-chemical and microbiological tests, fluorangiografy and RMN. The physical examination provided standard results about eyes interested while the fundus examination, as well as the electrofunctional and fuorangiografy examinations, showed some alterations. The sockets and encephalon RMN were normal. Moreover; the patients were submitted to specific haematic and microbiological laboratory tests which showed positivity for syphilis. To sum up all patients received an incidental diagnosis of syphilis. This trend could be attributable to an extensive use of antibiotics that changing the natural course of disease, mask clinical evidences and make them harder to diagnose

    Effectiveness of Mp-3 microperimetric biofeedback fixation training for low vision rehabilitation in patients treated with corticosteroid Ivt in retinal vein occlusions

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    Background: The success of fixation training using microperimetric biofeedback (MP-3 MBFT) in the realm of visual rehabilitation for patients with central vision loss caused by macular pathologies is well established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of visual rehabilitation with microperimetric biofeedback in consolidating the benefits obtained, with the goal of reducing the need for repeated intravitreal injections (IVT). Specifically, the focus is on the eyes of patients with central vision loss treated with slow-release corticosteroid IVT following retinal venous thrombosis (RVO), aiming to enhance and maintain postoperative efficacy. Methods: This retrospective review involved the examination of 44 eyes affected by macular edema due to RVO associated with central vision loss. Patients were divided into two groups, with only one undergoing ten sessions of 10-minute visual rehabilitation with a microperimeter (MP-3 MBFT) after IVT over a period of 20 weeks. Results: All the treated patients demonstrated good tolerance to the procedure, with no reported complications. A comparison of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity recorded with a microperimeter, and pre-IVT fixation stability revealed statistically significant improvements at the end of the first month after IVT. However, the treatment group continued to exhibit superior and more enduring results at four months post-IV. Conclusion: The synergistic use of MP-3 MBFT rehabilitation after IVT with slow-release corticosteroids has proven particularly effective in improving BCVA and long-term fixation stability. This led to a significant reduction in the number of required IVTs, with no related adverse events. The authors argue that biofeedback utilization represents a noninvasive therapeutic option devoid of contraindications and easy to implement and that it positively contributes to the overall patient experience regarding quality of life in advanced stages of macular diseases

    Treatment chronic macular edema in Vogt-Koyanagi Harada syndrome with dexamethasone intravitreal implant: description of three case

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    Purpose: To report our experience with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex, DEX implant) in the chronic cystic macular edema (ME )with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) Syndrome. Method: A retrospective chart review of three patients with (VKH) treated with sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg intravitreal implant was performed.Complete ophthalmic examination included: best corrected visual acuity; ocular tonometry, were also evaluated signs of inflammatory activity of the anterior segment with biomicroscopy slit-lamp, and posterior segment with fundus biomiocrosopy, fundus photography and fluorescein angiography; measurement of macular morphology and thickness, optical with coherence tomography; and tolerability of the implant. Mean follow-up time post-injection was 6 months. All three eyes received 1Ozurdex implants during the follow-up period. The duration of effect of the implant was 4 to 6 months. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were noted during the follow-up period. Results: In all three eyes, were observed a remarkable decrease ME, in angiographic and OCT , following placement intravitreal DEX implant Conclusions: The DEX implant 0.7 mg may be an effective treatment option for reduction ME in VGT, met the primary efficacy endpoint for improvement in visual acuity (VA) and safety profile was also acceptabl
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