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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Loss of visual acuity is the main reason why reading addition increases after the age of sixty.

PURPOSE: To determine why the reading addition increases after the age of 55 to 60 years when accommodation is zero. METHODS: Distance and near visual acuities, arm length, habitual near working distance, reading addition, and pupil diameter were measured in 44 subjects aged >60 years (mean, 72.9 +/- 5.7). Reading addition values were attained using three techniques: least-plus addition using both N-notation text and MN-READ text and the cross-cylinder technique. RESULTS: The mean dioptric working distance was 2.75 +/- 0.40 D. The reading addition found using N-notation text (+2.21 +/- 0.38 D) was significantly lower than that measured using MN-READ text (+2.48 +/- 0.49 D) or the cross-cylinder method (+2.53 +/- 0.44 D). The reading addition was positively correlated with the dioptric working distance (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), and decreasing habitual working distance was associated with poorer visual acuity (r = -0.42, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that decreases in near visual acuity after 60 years of age lead to a reduction in habitual working distance, which increases text angular subtense. In turn, the reduced working distance requires a greater reading addition. Increases in depth of field associated with both suprathreshold text (N-notation) and lower visual acuity lead to reading additions being less than the dioptric working distance.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Evaluation of the interprobe electronic periodontal probe.

The Interprobe is designed to provide measurements of pocket depths and attachment loss. Investigators involved in a clinical study on dental implants being conducted by the Dental Implant Clinical Research Group participated in an in vitro evaluation of the variability of repeated measurements made with the Interprobe. Measurements were made on holes drilled to predetermined depths in metal blocks. Three readings by investigators for each of nine test holes were in agreement 75.2 percent of the time. At least two of three readings were in agreement in 98.1 percent of the attempts. Either two of three or three of three readings were within 0.5 mm of the actual depth of the holes over 99 percent of the time. No correlation was noted for accuracy of measurements with hole depth or present clinical duties of the investigators. Although slight initial improvement in measurement accuracy was observed, it was not statistically significant in time over the three measurement sequence.

Analysis of Variance↗

Evaluation of optic disc cupping using high-resolution ocular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The new Biovision B-Scan Probe has greater resolution than its predecessors because of its posteriorly placed focus (25 mm inside the eye) and the consequent reduction in size of the sound field. We investigated the accuracy, reproducibility and test-retest variability of two-dimensional optic cup measurements using this new-generation B-scanner. METHODS: One randomly selected eye of 20 patients underwent five repeated measurements of vertical (VOCD) and horizontal optic cup diameters (HOCD), and optic cup depth, using confocal scanning laser tomography (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph) and high-resolution ultrasound (Biovision, Chiron Vision, UK) on two separate occasions. There was one operator per instrument who was masked to all clinical data and previous measurements. Accuracy of ultrasound readings was quantified by comparing the results with those of Heidelberg Retinal Tomography (HRT). RESULTS: The 95% confidence interval for the bias of echographic vertical and horizontal cup diameter measurements was -95 +/- 48 microns and -19 +/- 72 microns respectively, and -87 +/- 328 microns for cup depth readings. The indices of reproducibility (mean coefficient of repeatability +/- SD) were: VOCD: 177 +/- 105 microns [B-scan] 209 +/- 100 microns [HRT]; HOCD: 179 +/- 61 microns [B-scan], 205 +/- 101 microns [HRT]; cup depth: 206 +/- 63 microns [B-scan], 204 +/- 124 microns [HRT]. Ninety-five per cent limits of agreements between initial and retest values for ultrasound were 18 +/- 136 microns [VOCD], 2 +/- 144 microns [HOCD] and 4 +/- 156 microns [cup depth], compared with 1 +/- 104 microns [VOCD], 20 +/- 102 microns [HOCD] and 3 +/- 168 microns [cup depth] for scanning laser tomography. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that measurements of optic cup diameter and depth using ultrasound correlate strongly with corresponding HRT readings. These echographic measurements are reproducible, and not subject to clinically meaningful test-retest variability. This technique of measuring two-dimensional cup parameters does not require expensive specialist equipment and has many potential clinical applications which are discussed.

Aged↗

Thermal gradients in the chick eye: a contributing factor in experimental myopia.

Domestic chicks were reared for 4 weeks with a plastic dome or a plastic ring glued to the skin surrounding the right eye. The domes, which degraded retinal images by reducing high spatial frequencies and contrast, have been reported to produce enlargement of the ocular globe and large myopic refractive errors. The rings, which do not produce refractive errors, did not affect vision and served as a control for the mechanical effects of having a device glued to the circumorbital skin. At the end of the rearing period, the chicks were anesthetized and a thermoprobe (a thermocouple in a 29 gauge needle) was inserted into the eye along the optic axis. Temperature readings were made at 1 mm intervals to a depth of 12 mm. Temperature readings also were taken of the circumorbital skin and the air inside the dome. The results indicated that the temperature in the dome eyes was elevated from 2.8 to 5.2 degrees C at the cornea and 0.7 to 2.0 degrees C at the axial sclera. Smaller elevations were found in the ring eyes. Two dome chicks that had lost their devices 24-48 hr prior to temperature measurement had thermal gradients that were nearly identical to those from untreated control eyes. Measurement of the air temperature inside the dome revealed a temperature elevation of nearly 4.0 degrees C above that recorded at an equal distance from control eyes. The circumorbital skin of treated eyes was 0.96 degrees C warmer than the comparable tissue of untreated eyes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Contrast sensitivity and depth of focus with aspheric multifocal versus conventional monofocal intraocular lens.

BACKGROUND: Laboratoires Domilens, Lyon, France, has introduced a new aspheric multifocal intraocular lens (IOL), the Progress 3. The central portion, measuring 4.7 mm in diameter, has an anterior surface of progressively increasing power, such that there is a central add of +5.00 dioptres. We compared contrast sensitivity and depth of focus in patients who received the Progress 3 and in those who received a conventional monofocal IOL. METHODS: Prospective study. Forty patients with age-related cataract were randomly divided into two groups: 20 patients received the Progress 3 aspheric multifocal IOL, and 20 patients received a conventional monofocal IOL of similar design. Contrast sensitivity was measured with the Pelli-Robson letter-based chart. Depth of focus was determined by dialling a series of overcorrections over the patient's manifest refraction until the patient read 6/12 clearly. The depth of focus was defined as the range over which 6/12 or better acuity was achieved. Quality of vision was evaluated by patient questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in the patients with a multifocal IOL than in those with a monofocal IOL (1.38 vs. 1.56 log units) (p < 0.001). The mean depth of focus values for the two groups were 3.10 D and 1.65 D respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of subjective problems was similar in the two groups. INTERPRETATION: In our opinion, aspheric multifocal IOLs should be reserved for patients who are willing to trade increased depth of focus for reduced contrast sensitivity postoperatively.

Cataract Extraction↗

The water-equivalence of phantom materials for 90Sr-90Y beta particles.

Intravascular brachytherapy requires that the dose be specified within millimeters of the source. High dose gradients near brachytherapy sources require that the source-detector distance be accurately known for dosimetry purposes. Solid phantoms can be designed to accommodate these stringent requirements. This study reports dosimeter readings from 90Sr-90Y sources measured in water, A150, polystyrene and in an epoxy-based water-equivalent plastic. Measurements showed that while A150 and the epoxy-based plastic agreed well with water when the surface of the source contacted the detector housing, the relative response in the phantoms decreased with increasing depth in phantom, falling to approximately 0.55 those of water at a depth of 5 mm. Readings in polystyrene were within 4% of those in water between 1 and 2 mm depth. However, while polystyrene followed water more closely than the other two materials, at greater depths the relative response in polystyrene to water varied from 0.65 to 1.34. When the density of the materials is accounted for, the relative response in A150 is nearly constant with increasing areal density. Furthermore, the response in A150 shows the closest agreement with that in water of any of the solid materials for higher areal densities. For values below 0.3 g/cm2, polystyrene shows the closest agreement with water.

Angioplasty↗

Performance measurements of a depth-encoding PET detector module based on position-sensitive avalanche photodiode read-out.

We are developing a high-resolution, high-efficiency positron emission tomography (PET) detector module with depth of interaction (DOI) capability based on a lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) scintillator array coupled at both ends to position-sensitive avalanche photodiodes (PSAPDs). In this paper we present the DOI resolution, energy resolution and timing resolution results for complete detector modules. The detector module consists of a 7 x 7 matrix of LSO scintillator crystals (1 x 1 x 20 mm3 in dimension) coupled to 8 x 8 mm2 PSAPDs at both ends. Flood histograms were acquired and used to generate crystal look-up tables. The DOI resolution was measured for individual crystals within the array by using the ratio of the signal amplitudes from the two PSAPDs on an event-by-event basis. A measure of the total scintillation light produced was obtained by summing the signal amplitudes from the two PSAPDs. This summed signal was used to measure the energy resolution. The DOI resolution was measured to be 3-4 mm FWHM irrespective of the position of the crystal within the array, or the interaction location along the length of the crystal. The total light signal and energy resolution was almost independent of the depth of interaction. The measured energy resolution averaged 14% FWHM. The coincidence timing resolution measured using a pair of identical detector modules was 4.5 ns FWHM. These results are consistent with the design goals and the performance required of a compact, high-resolution and high-efficiency PET detector module for small animal and breast imaging applications.

Equipment Design↗

Foundation literacy acquisition in European orthographies.

Several previous studies have suggested that basic decoding skills may develop less effectively in English than in some other European orthographies. The origins of this effect in the early (foundation) phase of reading acquisition are investigated through assessments of letter knowledge, familiar word reading, and simple nonword reading in English and 12 other orthographies. The results confirm that children from a majority of European countries become accurate and fluent in foundation level reading before the end of the first school year. There are some exceptions, notably in French, Portuguese, Danish, and, particularly, in English. The effects appear not to be attributable to differences in age of starting or letter knowledge. It is argued that fundamental linguistic differences in syllabic complexity and orthographic depth are responsible. Syllabic complexity selectively affects decoding, whereas orthographic depth affects both word reading and nonword reading. The rate of development in English is more than twice as slow as in the shallow orthographies. It is hypothesized that the deeper orthographies induce the implementation of a dual (logographic + alphabetic) foundation which takes more than twice as long to establish as the single foundation required for the learning of a shallow orthography.

Child↗

Characterization of the response of commercial diode detectors used for in vivo dosimetry.

The response of a commercially available diode-based in vivo dosimetry system was studied over a selection of clinically relevant photon beam setups. The dosimetry system consists of a dedicated multichannel electrometer with several diode detectors differing only in their equivalent wall buildup. Each detector is calibrated for a specific nominal beam energy and used clinically with that energy only. To study dosimeter response, a diode taped to the surface of a solid water phantom was irradiated simultaneously with an end-window chamber placed at a depth of dmax inside the same phantom. Photon beams with energies of Co-60, 6 and 18 MV were used. For each beam energy, the response of the diode relative to the given dose as measured by the end-window chamber was evaluated for open and wedged fields (0 degree to 60 degrees) with source-to-surface distances (SSDs) ranging from 75 to 120 cm and collimator settings from 5 x 5 to 40 x 40 cm2. It was found that diode response, i.e., diode reading per cGy of given dose, varies significantly with treatment beam setup. For example, increasing field size for a constant SSD causes a decrease of up to 15% in diode response relative to the given dose for 6 and 18 MV beams, while for Co-60 an increase in response of up to 5% results. Furthermore, increasing SSD for a fixed collimator setting results in decreased diode response (up to 10%) for all beams. The complicated dependence of diode response on beam setup necessitates the use of empirical response curves, similar to those evaluated in this work, to accurately convert clinical dosimeter reading to dose at depth.

Calibration↗

The application of automatic computing machines to radiation treatment planning. 1954.

A new method of determining the dose distribution required in treatment planning has been developed by using punched cards, and sorting and tabulating machines instead of isodose charts. The percentage depth doses produced by an X-ray field are first recorded on several sets of punched cards. The number of sets required for one field depends upon the distances used from the cross point of the multifield axes to the point of entry. Each set consists of 36 cards, with each card recording the percentage depth doses of 15 points in one radial line, taking the cross points of central axes of the fields as the origin. In all cases the points are taken at the distances 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 cm from the origin and along radial lines 10 deg. apart. A special polar co-ordinate dose distribution sheet has been designed, and the contour of the patient's body and the position of the fields designated for treatment are drawn on this sheet. Instead of putting the isodose charts at the proper positions of the fields, the sets of punched cards for the fields to be applied are automatically arranged in the right order. Instead of the time-consuming process of reading off the percentage depth doses from the overlapping isodose charts and adding them up for selected points, the cards are fed into the automatic tabulating machine, which makes the summation of data for all the points mentioned above and tabulates the results. The whole operation is done in 10 to 15 minutes. The tabulated results are then plotted on the special dose distribution sheet. A generalised mathematical treatment of the dose at any point in the irradiated region is discussed, and an equation of "point-tumour dose ratio" is derived. Further application of this equation is made to special cases for treatment using equal maximum doses, equal tumour doses and rotation therapy. The geometrical principles involved are also indicated.

History, 20th Century↗

Dentists' variability in restorative decisions, microscopic and radiographic caries depth.

Restorative and dental caries depth decisions were recorded for 5168 un restored approximal tooth surfaces by 17 dentists who worked in the school dental clinics of the North York (Ontario) Public Health Department. Each dentist examined 15 pairs of experimental bitewing radiographs for which true caries depth had previously been determined by microscopy of the sectioned teeth following production of the radiographs. The dentists independently recorded their restorative decisions and radiographic caries depth perceptions. The relationship between the variation in the dentists' restorative decisions and their perceptions of caries depth based on a re-reading of the bitewings on the one hand, and true caries depth on the other was also examined. The percentages of total variability in each dentist's restorative decisions attributable to radiographic and to microscopic caries depth were estimated using regression analyses. Large variations were found among the 17 dentists' distributions of overall restorative and depth decisions. The relationship between microscopic caries depth and the dentists' restorative decisions was, understandably, less strong than that of the dentists radiographic perceptions of caries depth and restorative decisions. Relative to true caries depth, high numbers of false positive and false negative restorative decisions were made. Overall, 50% of the variability in the dentists' restorative decisions was explained by the perceptions of radiographic caries depth; however, among individual dentists, the range was from 29% for one dentist to 69% for another. A much lower percentage of the overall restorative variation was explained by microscopic depth, 18%. Like the finding of the only two previous European studies that quantified the role of radiographs on clinical decisions, this study demonstrated that dentists' perceptions of dental caries depth using bitewing radiographs play a major but variable role in their restorative decisions for approximal tooth surfaces.

Clinical Competence↗

[Dosimetric characterization of a multileaf collimator].

INTRODUCTION: We studied the dosimetric characteristics of a multileaf collimator (MLC) installed on a dual energy accelerator with 6 and 18 MV photon beams in the Radiotherapy Department of Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital in Turin initiating its use in clinical practice. In particular, measurements included transmission through and between the leaves and at the junction under closed-leaves, central axis percentage depth dose, output factors and effective penumbra. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MLC installed on the dual energy (6 and 18 MV) linear accelerator Varian Clinac 2100 C/D used in our radiotherapy department is an add-on component positioned below the standard jaws; it consists of 40 computer-controlled opposed pairs of 5 cm thick tungsten leaves, each projecting a 1 cm width at the isocenter, and it provides a maximum treatment field of 40 x 40 cm2 at 100 cm SAD. Transmission, penumbra and scalloping values were measured with the standard radiographic film routinary used in our department. A laser scanning photodensitometer (WP102, Wellhofer) with a 450 microns spot was used to obtain the optical density and the relative dose profile. Radiographic films had been calibrated with an ionization chamber, by irradiating samples to known doses; this calibration was used to correct the film scanner readings to dose. Percentage depth doses were also measured in an automatic water phantom (WP600, Wellhofer) for irregular fields defined by either MLC or alloy blocks, in order to test the differences in the build-up region due to the presence of the acrylic accessory tray. Measured and calculated output factors were compared for some irregular fields defined by the MLC. This comparison tested the algorithm accuracy of our Treatment Planning System 3D CadPlan 3.1.1 Varian-Dosetek. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For both energies, approximately 2% of the incident radiation on the MLC is transmitted and an additional 0.5% leakage occurs between adjacent leaves. The leakage under closed-leaves junction is remarkable: about 25-33%. Relative depth dose curves are similar for two fields shaped by either MLC or conventional jaws. Skin dose with MLC-shaped field is less (3.5%) than the one with cerrobend block-shaped fields. The monitor unit calculation procedure used in our treatment planning system can be applied to the MLC (the difference is less than 1%). Effective penumbra in MLC-shaped irregular fields is on the average 11 mm, which is slightly wider (2-3 mm) than the conventional cerrobend blocks penumbra. Effective penumbra increases with depth, field width and leaves positioning. CONCLUSIONS: The MLC, if properly used (collimator rotation, jaws and leaves position, high number of fields), can be applied to conformal radiotherapy with good results. The MLC is better than conventional cerrobend blocks both to improve the treatment reproducibility and accuracy, and relative to dosimetric characteristics like dose transmission and skin dose. The use of MLC to modulate beam fluence (IMRT) will permit to modify beam intensity for improved shaping of the treated volume and to overcome the static therapy dosimetric limitations.

Particle Accelerators↗

Bridging the gap between legacy polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite data with high-throughput sequencing data for conservation genomics.

Microsatellites are powerful markers for tracking genetic variation in wildlife populations due to their high polymorphism and genome-wide abundance. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based fragment size analysis has been the standard for genotyping microsatellites, high-throughput sequencing offers greater resolution and the opportunity to sync historical datasets with modern analyses. We evaluated how genotypes from whole-genome sequencing align with PCR data for 15 microsatellite loci in 11 North American brown bears (Ursus arctos). Brown bear populations in the 48 contiguous United States have declined from approximately 50,000 to fewer than 2,000 over the past decades. Their endangered status has prompted extensive research and genetic monitoring, yielding large, multiyear microsatellite datasets upon which future conservation efforts can build. We achieved an overall microsatellite genotype concordance rate of 94.5% comparing high-throughput sequencing results to PCR based-fragment size results. All discrepancies occurred at complex loci containing multiple insertions and/or deletions (indels). Physically linked indels or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurring within the loci were misinterpreted as independent insertions, underscoring the need for genotyping tools that incorporate phasing when genotyping. To evaluate coverage effects, we downsampled high-throughput sequence data from 30x to 2x. Concordance remained high at 20 to 30x but dropped sharply at 10x, with 5x and 2x having discordant genotypes or insufficient coverage for genotyping. Accurate genotyping required both sufficient depth and number of reads spanning the entire repeat regions. Our results show that short-read whole-genome sequencing can recover microsatellite genotypes with high accuracy when paired with careful variant interpretation. By aligning historical PCR datasets with modern sequencing data, we can preserve decades of genetic insight and strengthen long-term monitoring of at-risk populations.

Animals↗

A disparity analysis of the anomalous correspondence horopter.

Some of the data of Flom and that of Boucher are analyzed using binocular disparity analysis in order to show the resulting apparent changes in horopter disparities in patients with anomalous correspondence brought about by alternate monocular fixation, binocular fixation, surgery, and prism. The problem of eye movements during horopter determinations is discussed.

Aniseikonia↗

Horopter shifts due to a magnification change.

Both the equidirection ( nonius ) and the equidistance horopter criteria were used on a group of subjects with and without the application of a 5% overall magnifier before the right eye. For three of six subjects, shifts in the equidirection horopter induced by this afocal lens could not be predicted on the basis of the magnification properties of the lens and the assumption that corresponding points are fixed. Equidistance horopter plots showed reasonably systematic reductions in slope between the predicted and the measured values for all subjects. Irregularities in all data were accounted for by shifts in the vergence angles during the experiment.

Aniseikonia↗

Relative electron beam measurements: scaling depths in clear polystyrene to equivalent depths in water.

For purposes of mean incident energy determination and the accrual of consistent treatment planning data, measurements of relative ionization or dose made in clear polystyrene must be scaled in depth to produce depth-ionization or depth-dose curves equivalent to what would have been measured in water. Recommendations from various protocols for clear polystyrene to water depth scaling factors differ by as much as 5%. Here, central axis measurements of relative ionization as a function of depth have been made with parallel-plate chambers both in a popular clear polystyrene phantom of density 1.045 g/cm3 and in water. Perturbation and displacement corrections were thus minimized. Both depth-ionization and depth-dose curves were formed for electron beams with nominal incident energies between 6 and 20 MeV and field sizes from 6 cm X 6 cm to 15 cm X 15 cm. Comparisons of the depths for 50% relative reading and practical range between the two phantoms yield average empirical scaling factors of 0.990 and 1.002, respectively.

Electrons↗

Dynamic wedge factors for a comprehensive range of fields.

Assessing the methods available to model wedge factors as applied to dynamic wedges over a comprehensive range of field elongations is the primary intention of this paper. Wedge factors for dynamically produced wedges were investigated by a series of measurements for square and rectangular fields. A Varian 600C linear accelerator was used for the experimental work. Dynamic wedge angles of 15, 30, 45 and 60 degrees were studied. (The wedge factor was defined as the ratio of the central axis dose reading at 10 cm deep of the wedged field to the reading at 10 cm depth for the same sized open field). The possibility of improving dynamic wedge factors for elongated fields by modelling the rectangular field with the equivalent square (Worthley) and also by the square field of equal area (Arthur) methods was evaluated. Dynamic wedge factors were found to depend on the field size in the wedged direction dominantly. The influence of field elongation in the non-wedged axis was found to be negligible. The experiments indicate that the derivation of a dynamic wedge factor for use with rectangular fields is best based on a square field with a side equal to that in the wedged axis. The application of two square field models (Worthley and Arthur) for elongated fields was found to produce significantly worsened wedge factors for the majority of the fields considered.

Humans↗