AROUSAL, FATIGUE AND MENTAL PERFORMANCE: THE EFFECTS OF FASTING ON COGNITION

This study examined the effects of skipping breakfast on selected aspects of children's cognition, specifically their memory (both immediate and one week following presentation of stimuli), mental tempo, and problem solving accuracy. Test instruments used included the Hagen Central/Incidental Recall Test, Matching Familiar Figures Test, McCarthy Digit Span and Tapping Tests. The study population consisted of 39 nine-to eleven year old healthy children who were admitted for overnight stays at a clinical research setting for two nights approximately one week apart. The study was designed to be able to adequately monitor and control subjects' food consumption. The design chosen was the cross-over design where randomly on either the first or second visit, the child skipped breakfast. In this way, subjects acted as their own controls. Subjects were tested at noon of both visits, this representing an 18-hour fast.^ Analysis focused on whether or not fasting for this period of time affected an individual's performance. Results indicated that for most of the tests, subjects were not significantly affected by skipping breakfast for one morning. However, on tests of short-term central and incidental recall, subjects who had skipped breakfast recalled significantly more of the incidental cues although they did so at no apparent expense to their storing of central information. In the area of problem-solving accuracy, subjects skipping breakfast at time two made significantly more errors on hard sections of the MFF Test. It should be noted that although a large number of tests were conducted, these two tests showed the only significant differences.^ These significant results in the areas of short-term incidental memory and in problem solving accuracy were interpreted as being an effect of subject fatigue. That is, when subjects missed breakfast, they were more likely to become fatigued and in the novel environment presented in the study setting, it is probable that these subjects responded by entering Class II fatigue which is characterized by behavioral excitability, diffused attention and altered performance patterns. ^

THE CYTOPLASMIC TAIL OF MHC CLASS I MOLECULES PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN DENDRITIC CELL-INDUCED T CELL IMMUNITY

The presentation of MHC class I (MHC-I)/peptide complexes by dendritic cells (DCs) is critical for the maintenance of central tolerance to self and for the regulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)-mediated adaptive immune responses against pathogens and cancer cells. Interestingly, several findings have suggested that the cytoplasmic tail of MHC class I plays a functional role in the regulation of CTL immune responses. For example, our previous studies demonstrated that exon 7-deleted MHC-I molecules not only showed extended DC cell surface half-lives but also induced significantly increased CTL responses to viral challange invivo. Although exon 7-deleted variant of MHC-I does not occur naturally in humans, the animal studies prompted us to examine whether exon 7-deleted MHC-I molecules could generate augmented CTL responses in a therapeutic DC-based vaccine setting. To examine the stimulatory capacity of exon 7-deleted MHC-I molecules, we generated a lentivirus-mediated gene transfer system to induce the expression of different MHC-I cytoplasmic tail isoforms in both mouse and human DCs. These DCs were then used as vaccines in a melanoma mouse tumor model and in a human invitro co-culture system. In this thesis, we show that DCs expressing exon 7-deleted MHC-I molecules, stimulated remarkably higher levels of T-cell cytokine production and significantly increased the proliferation of meanoma-specific (Pmel-1) T cells compared with DCs expressing wild type MHC-I. We also demonstrate that, in combination with adoptive transfer of Pmel-1 T-cell, DCs expressing exon 7-deleted Db molecules induced greater anti-tumor responses against established B16 melanoma tumors, significantly extending mouse survival as compared to DCs expressing wild-type Db molecules. Moreover, we also observed that human DCs expressing exon 7-deleted HLA-A2 molecules showed similarly augmented CTL stimulatory ability. Mechanistic studies suggest that exon 7-deleted MHC-I molecules showed impaired lateral membrane movement and extended cell surface half-lives within the DC/T-cell interface, leading to increased spatial availability of MHC-I/peptide complexes for recognition by CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these results suggesr that targeting exon 7 within the cytoplasmic tail of MHC-I molecules in DC vaccines has the potential to enhance CD8+ T cell stimulatory capacity and improve clinical outcomes in patients with cancer or viral infections.

Cost-effectiveness of intensified interventions to control healthcare-associated MRSA infections -- A systematic literature review

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus healthcare-associated infections (MRSA HAIs) are a major cause of morbidity in hospitalized patients. They pose great economic burden to hospitals caring for these patients. Intensified Interventions aim to control MRSA HAIs. Cost-effectiveness of Intensified Interventions is largely unclear. We performed a review of cost-effectiveness literature on Intensified Interventions , and provide a summary of study findings, the status of economic research in the area, and information that will help decision-makers at regional level and guide future research.^ We conducted literature search using electronic database PubMed, EBSCO, and The Cochrane Library. We limited our search to English articles published after 1999. We reviewed a total of 1,356 titles, and after applying our inclusion and exclusion criteria selected seven articles for our final review. We modified the Economic Evaluation Abstraction Form provided by CDC, and used this form to abstract data from studies.^ Of the seven selected articles two were cohort studies and the remaining five were modeling studies. They were done in various countries, in different study settings, and with different variations of the Intensified Intervention . Overall, six of the seven studies reported that Intensified Interventions were dominant or at least cost-effective in their study setting. This effect persisted on sensitivity testing.^ We identified many gaps in research in this field. The cost-effectiveness research in the field is mostly composed of modeling studies. The studies do not always clearly describe the intervention. The intervention and infection costs and the sources for these costs are not always explicit or are missing. In modeling studies, there is uncertainty associated with some key model inputs, but these inputs are not always identified. The models utilized in the modeling studies are not always tested for internal consistency or validity. Studies usually test the short term cost-effectiveness of Intensified Interventions but not the long results.^ Our study limitation was the inability to adjust for differences in study settings, intervention costs, disease costs, or effectiveness measures. Our study strength is the presentation of a focused literature review of Intensified Interventions in hospital settings. Through this study we provide information that will help decision makers at regional level, help guide future research, and might change clinical care and policies. ^

Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Biochemical Engineering Symposium

The nineteenth symposium was held at the University of Missouri–Columbia on April 22, 1989. A total of eighteen papers were scheduled for presentation, of which nine were in poster session. Finally, fifteen papers were presented and sixteen were submitted for this proceedings. It was attended by 53 participants from five institutions. A sixth group (from Colorado State University) was kept from attending the symposium due to mechanical problems on the road and we missed them. Since they worked hard at their presentations, I requested CSU-group to submit their papers for the proceedings and I am happy that they did. ContentsMathematical modelling of a flour milling system. K. Takahashi, Y. Chen, J. Hosokoschi, and L. T. Fan. Kansas State University A novel solution to the problem of plasmid segregation in continuous bacterial fermentations. K.L. Henry, R. H. Davis, and A. L. Taylor. University of Colorado Modelling of embryonic growth in avian and reptile Eggs. C.L. Krause, R. C. Seagrave, and R. A. Ackerman. Iowa State University Mathematical modeling of in situ biodegradation processes. J.C. Wu, L. T. Fan, and L. E. Erickson. Kansas State University Effect of molecular changes on starch viscosity. C.H. Rosane and V. G. Murphy. Colorado State University Analysis of two stage recombinant bacterial fermentations using a structured kinetic model. F. Miao and D. S. Kampala. University of Colorado Lactic acid fermentation from enzyme-thinned starch by Lactobacillus amylovorus. P.S. Cheng, E. L. Iannotti, R. K. Bajpai, R. Mueller, and s. Yaeger. University of Missouri–Columbia Solubilization of preoxidized Texas lignite by cell-free broths of Penicillium strains. R. Moolick, M. N. Karim, J. C. Linden, and B. L. Burback. Colorado State University Separation of proteins from polyelectrolytes by ultrafiltration. A.G. Bazzano and C. E. Glatz. Iowa State University Growth estimation and modelling of Rhizopus oligosporus in solid state fermentations. D.-H. Ryoo, V. G. Murphy, M. N. Karim, and R. P. Tengerdy. Colorado State University Simulation of ethanol fermentations from sugars in cheese whey. C.J. Wang and R. K. Bajpai. University of Missouri–Columbia Studies on protoplast fusion of B. licheniformis. B. Shi, Kansas State University Cell separations of non-dividing and dividing yeasts using an inclined settler. C.-Y. Lee, R. H. Davis, and R. A. Sclafani. University of Colorado Effect of·serum upon local hydrodynamics within an airlift column. G.T. Jones, L. E. Erickson, and L. A. Glasgow. Kansas State University Optimization of heterologous protein secretion in continuous culture. A. Chatterjee, W. F. Remirez, and R. H. Davis. University of Colorado An improved model for lactic acid fermentation. P. Yeh, R. K. Bajpai, and E. L. Iannotti. University of Missouri–Columbia

Crises of social significances: adolescents and their projects for future work

This is a report on data raised through research, which has already finished, about Identification references in adolescents . Objetives : To analyze and reflect upon the collected data, adolescents' representations about the work field and their projects for future work. To conceptualize about the crises of social significances which produce and order sense and, therefore, organize our perceptions of work through social discourses and practices which have an impact on the subjectivity of adolescents and young adults. Methodology: Brief presentation of the concepts which frame the qualitative research in this area. Reading and analysis of fragments from adolescents' accounts, obtained in focal groups at different state secondary schools. Conclusions: The adolescents researched portray a self-image full of uncertainty and skepticism as regards their future possibilities. The impact produced by the fall of work as an ideal of doing and being is made evident in their accounts. Only some of them link their future project with an invested and valuable activity, even if this is not associated with economic safety and wellbeing. Others present themselves as incapable to modify the state of things, which offers a field connected with consumerist values and with the idea that "you are worth what you have (in material things)".

Crises of social significances: adolescents and their projects for future work

This is a report on data raised through research, which has already finished, about Identification references in adolescents . Objetives : To analyze and reflect upon the collected data, adolescents' representations about the work field and their projects for future work. To conceptualize about the crises of social significances which produce and order sense and, therefore, organize our perceptions of work through social discourses and practices which have an impact on the subjectivity of adolescents and young adults. Methodology: Brief presentation of the concepts which frame the qualitative research in this area. Reading and analysis of fragments from adolescents' accounts, obtained in focal groups at different state secondary schools. Conclusions: The adolescents researched portray a self-image full of uncertainty and skepticism as regards their future possibilities. The impact produced by the fall of work as an ideal of doing and being is made evident in their accounts. Only some of them link their future project with an invested and valuable activity, even if this is not associated with economic safety and wellbeing. Others present themselves as incapable to modify the state of things, which offers a field connected with consumerist values and with the idea that "you are worth what you have (in material things)".

Crises of social significances: adolescents and their projects for future work

This is a report on data raised through research, which has already finished, about Identification references in adolescents . Objetives : To analyze and reflect upon the collected data, adolescents' representations about the work field and their projects for future work. To conceptualize about the crises of social significances which produce and order sense and, therefore, organize our perceptions of work through social discourses and practices which have an impact on the subjectivity of adolescents and young adults. Methodology: Brief presentation of the concepts which frame the qualitative research in this area. Reading and analysis of fragments from adolescents' accounts, obtained in focal groups at different state secondary schools. Conclusions: The adolescents researched portray a self-image full of uncertainty and skepticism as regards their future possibilities. The impact produced by the fall of work as an ideal of doing and being is made evident in their accounts. Only some of them link their future project with an invested and valuable activity, even if this is not associated with economic safety and wellbeing. Others present themselves as incapable to modify the state of things, which offers a field connected with consumerist values and with the idea that "you are worth what you have (in material things)".

Basic and other measurements of radiation from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) Station Ny-Ålesund in the years 1992 to 2013, reference list of 253 datasets

At Ny-Ålesund (78.9° N), Svalbard, surface radiation measurements of up- and downward short- and longwave radiation are operated since August 1992 in the frame of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), complemented with surface and upper air meteorology since August 1993. The long-term observations are the base for a climatological presentation of the surface radiation data. Over the 21-year observation period, ongoing changes in the Arctic climate system are reflected. Particularly, the observations indicate a strong seasonality of surface warming and related changes in different radiation parameters. The annual mean temperature at Ny-Ålesund has risen by +1.3 ± 0.7 K per decade, with a maximum seasonal increase during the winter months of +3.1 ± 2.6 K per decade. At the same time, winter is also the season with the largest long-term changes in radiation, featuring an increase of +15.6 ± 11.6 W/m**2 per decade in the downward longwave radiation. Furthermore, changes in the reflected solar radiation during the months of snow melt indicate an earlier onset of the warm season by about 1 week compared to the beginning of the observations. The online available dataset of Ny-Ålesund surface radiation measurements provides a valuable data source for the validation of satellite instruments and climate models.

Bottom sediment of the Western Baltic Sea - sheet Darß

The sheet "Darß" of the Western Baltic sediment distribution map displays several features of the late- and postglacial sediments in the area between 54°00? and 54°30? northern latitude and 12°00? and 13°00? eastern longitude on a scale of 1: 100,000. The main map shows the surface deposits in this area. Special attention is given to a detailed presentation of the granulometric characteristics of the sandy sedimens which are prevailing here. For this purpose a new way of visualization of grain size data was developed. Six insets provide information on water depth, positions of the sampling sites, areal distribution of median and sorting of sands, depth of the till surface thickness of the late- and postglacial sediments on top of the uppermost till and the bathymetry.

Probability sampling protocol of classification maps from spaceborne/airborne image

To deliver sample estimates provided with the necessary probability foundation to permit generalization from the sample data subset to the whole target population being sampled, probability sampling strategies are required to satisfy three necessary not sufficient conditions: (i) All inclusion probabilities be greater than zero in the target population to be sampled. If some sampling units have an inclusion probability of zero, then a map accuracy assessment does not represent the entire target region depicted in the map to be assessed. (ii) The inclusion probabilities must be: (a) knowable for nonsampled units and (b) known for those units selected in the sample: since the inclusion probability determines the weight attached to each sampling unit in the accuracy estimation formulas, if the inclusion probabilities are unknown, so are the estimation weights. This original work presents a novel (to the best of these authors' knowledge, the first) probability sampling protocol for quality assessment and comparison of thematic maps generated from spaceborne/airborne Very High Resolution (VHR) images, where: (I) an original Categorical Variable Pair Similarity Index (CVPSI, proposed in two different formulations) is estimated as a fuzzy degree of match between a reference and a test semantic vocabulary, which may not coincide, and (II) both symbolic pixel-based thematic quality indicators (TQIs) and sub-symbolic object-based spatial quality indicators (SQIs) are estimated with a degree of uncertainty in measurement in compliance with the well-known Quality Assurance Framework for Earth Observation (QA4EO) guidelines. Like a decision-tree, any protocol (guidelines for best practice) comprises a set of rules, equivalent to structural knowledge, and an order of presentation of the rule set, known as procedural knowledge. The combination of these two levels of knowledge makes an original protocol worth more than the sum of its parts. The several degrees of novelty of the proposed probability sampling protocol are highlighted in this paper, at the levels of understanding of both structural and procedural knowledge, in comparison with related multi-disciplinary works selected from the existing literature. In the experimental session the proposed protocol is tested for accuracy validation of preliminary classification maps automatically generated by the Satellite Image Automatic MapperT (SIAMT) software product from two WorldView-2 images and one QuickBird-2 image provided by DigitalGlobe for testing purposes. In these experiments, collected TQIs and SQIs are statistically valid, statistically significant, consistent across maps and in agreement with theoretical expectations, visual (qualitative) evidence and quantitative quality indexes of operativeness (OQIs) claimed for SIAMT by related papers. As a subsidiary conclusion, the statistically consistent and statistically significant accuracy validation of the SIAMT pre-classification maps proposed in this contribution, together with OQIs claimed for SIAMT by related works, make the operational (automatic, accurate, near real-time, robust, scalable) SIAMT software product eligible for opening up new inter-disciplinary research and market opportunities in accordance with the visionary goal of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) initiative and the QA4EO international guidelines.

Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean

Introduction: Chemical composition of water determines its physical properties and character of processes proceeding in it: freezing temperature, volume of evaporation, density, color, transparency, filtration capacity, etc. Presence of chemical elements in water solution confers waters special physical properties exerting significant influence on their circulation, creates necessary conditions for development and inhabitance of flora and fauna, and imparts to the ocean waters some chemical features that radically differ them from the land waters (Alekin & Liakhin, 1984). Hydrochemical information helps to determine elements of water circulation, convection depth, makes it easier to distinguish water masses and gives additional knowledge of climatic variability of ocean conditions. Hydrochemical information is a necessary part of biological research. Water chemical composition can be the governing characteristics determining possibility and limits of use of marine objects, both stationary and moving in sea water. Subject of investigation of hydrochemistry is study of dynamics of chemical composition, i.e. processes of its formation and hydrochemical conditions of water bodies (Alekin & Liakhin 1984). The hydrochemical processes in the Arctic Ocean are the least known. Some information on these processes can be obtained in odd publications. A generalizing study of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean based on expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975 has been carried out by Rusanov et al. (1979). The "Atlas of the World Ocean: the Arctic Ocean" contains a special section "Hydrochemistry" (Gorshkov, 1980). Typical vertical profiles, transects and maps for different depths - 0, 100, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 m are given in this section for the following parameters: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH and alkaline-chlorine coefficient. The maps were constructed using the data of expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975. The illustrations reflect main features of distribution of the hydrochemical elements for multi-year period and represent a static image of hydrochemical conditions. Distribution of the hydrochemical elements on the ocean surface is given for two seasons - winter and summer, for the other depths are given mean annual fields. Aim of the present Atlas is description of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean on the basis of a greater body of hydrochemical information for the years 1948-2000 and using the up-to-date methods of analysis and electronic forms of presentation of hydrochemical information. The most wide-spread characteristics determined in water samples were used as hydrochemical indices. They are: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH, total alkalinity, nitrite and nitrate. An important characteristics of water salt composition - "salinity" has been considered in the Oceanographic Atlas of the Arctic Ocean (1997, 1998). Presentation of the hydrochemical characteristics in this Hydrochemical Atlas is wider if compared with that of the former Atlas (Gorshkov, 1980). Maps of climatic distribution of the hydrochemical elements were constructed for all the standard depths, and seasonal variability of the hydrochemical parameters is given not only for the surface, but also for the underlying standard depths up to 400 m and including. Statistical characteristics of the hydrochemical elements are given for the first time. Detailed accuracy estimates of initial data and map construction are also given in the Atlas. Calculated values of mean-root deviations, maximum and minimum values of the parameters demonstrate limits of their variability for the analyzed period of observations. Therefore, not only investigations of chemical statics are summarized in the Atlas, but also some elements of chemical dynamics are demonstrated. Digital arrays of the hydrochemical elements obtained in nodes of a regular grid are the new form of characteristics presentation in the Atlas. It should be mentioned that the same grid and the same boxes were used in the Atlas, as those that had been used by creation of the US-Russian climatic Oceanographic Atlas. It allows to combine hydrochemical and oceanographic information of these Atlases. The first block of the digital arrays contains climatic characteristics calculated using direct observational data. These climatic characteristics were not calculated in the regions without observations, and the information arrays for these regions have gaps. The other block of climatic information in a gridded form was obtained with the help of objective analysis of observational data. Procedure of the objective analysis allowed us to obtain climatic estimates of the hydrochemical characteristics for the whole water area of the Arctic Ocean including the regions not covered by observations. Data of the objective analysis can be widely used, in particular, in hydrobiological investigations and in modeling of hydrochemical conditions of the Arctic Ocean. Array of initial measurements is a separate block. It includes all the available materials of hydrochemical observations in the form, as they were presented in different sources. While keeping in mind that this array contains some amount of perverted information, the authors of the Atlas assumed it necessary to store this information in its primary form. Methods of data quality control can be developed in future in the process of hydrochemical information accumulation. It can be supposed that attitude can vary in future to the data that were rejected according to the procedure accepted in the Atlas. The hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean is the first specialized and electronic generalization of hydrochemical observations in the Arctic Ocean and finishes the program of joint efforts of Russian and US specialists in preparation of a number of atlases for the Arctic. The published Oceanographic Atlas (1997, 1998), Atlas of Arctic Meteorology and Climate (2000), Ice Atlas of the Arctic Ocean prepared for publication and Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean represent a united series of fundamental generalizations of empirical knowledge of Arctic Ocean nature at climatic level. The Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean was elaborated in the result of joint efforts of the SRC of the RF AARI and IARC. Dr. Ye. Nikiforov was scientific supervisor of the Atlas, Dr. R. Colony was manager on behalf of the USA and Dr. L. Timokhov - on behalf of Russia.

Density of 9 sediment cores from the Weddell Sea

The wet bulk density is one of the most important parameters of the physical and geological properties of marine sediments. The density is connected directly with sedimentation history and a few sedirnent properties. Knowledge of the fine scale density-depth structure is the base for many model calculations, for both sedimentological and palaeoclimatic research. A density measurement system was designed and built at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven for measuring the wet buk density of sediment cores with high resolution in a non-destructive way. The density is deterrnined by measuring the absorption of Gamma-rays in the sediment. This principle has been used since the 50's in materials research and in the geosciences. In the present case, Cs137 is used as the radioactive source and the intensity is measured by a detector system (scintillator and photomultiplier). Density values are obtainable in both longitudinal core sections and planar cross-sections (the latter are a function of the axial rotation angle). Special studies on inhomogenity can be applied with core rotation. Detection of ice rafted debris (IRD) is made possible with this option. The processes that run the density measurement system are computer controlled. Besides the absorption measurement the core diameter at every measurement point is determined with a potentiometric system. The data values taken are stored on a personal computer. Before starting routine measurements on the sediment cores, a few experiments conceming the statistical aspects of the gamma-ray signal and its accuracy were carried out. These experiments led to such things as the optimum operational parameters. A high spatial resolution in the mm-range is possible with the 4mm-thin gamma-ray measurements. Within five seconds the wet bulk density can be deterrnined with an absolute accuracy of 1%. A comparison between data measured with the new system and conventional measurements on core samples after core splitting shows an agreement within +I- 5% for most of the values. For this thesis, density determinations were carried out on ten sediment cores. A few sediment characteristics are obtainable from using just the standard measurement results without core rotation. In addition to differentes and steps in the absolute density range, variations in the "frequency" of the density-depth structure can be detected due to the close spatial measurement interval and high resolution. Examples from measurements with small (9°) and great (90°) angle increments show that abrupt and smooth transitional changes of sedirnent layers as well as ice rafted debris of several dimensions can be detected and distiflguished clearly. After the presentation of the wet bulk density results, a comparison with data from other investigations was made. Measurements of the electrical resistivity correlated very well with the density data because both parameters are closely related to the porosity of the sedirnent. Additionally, results from measurements of the magnetic susceptibility and from ultra-sonic wave velocity investigations were considered for a integrative interpretation. The correlation of these both parameters and wet bulk density data is strongly dependent on the local (environmental) conditions. Finally, the densities were compared with recordings from sediment-echographic soundings and an X-ray computer tomography analysis. The individual results of all investigations were then finally combined into an accurate picture of the core. Problems of ambiguity, which exist when just one Parameter is determined alone, can be reduced more or less according to the number of parameters and sedimentary characteristics measured. The important role of the density data among other parameters of such an integrated interpretation is evident. Evidence of this role include the high resolution of the measurement, the excellent accuracy and the key position within methods and parameters concerning marine sediments.

Multimodal Imaging of Cotton Wool Spots in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To describe and follow cotton wool spots (CWS) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) using multimodal imaging. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study including 24 patients with new-onset BRVO, CWS were described and analyzed in color fundus photography (CF), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), infrared (IR) and fluorescein angiography (FA) every 3 months for 3 years. The CWS area on SD-OCT and CF was evaluated using OCT-Tool-Kit software: CWS were marked in each single OCT B-scan and the software calculated the area by interpolation. RESULTS: 29 central CWS lesions were found. 100% of these CWS were visible on SD-OCT, 100% on FA and 86.2% on IR imaging, but only 65.5% on CF imaging. CWS were visible for 12.4 ± 7.5 months on SD-OCT, for 4.4 ± 3 months and 4.3 ± 3.4 months on CF and on IR, respectively, and for 17.5 ± 7.1 months on FA. The evaluated CWS area on SD-OCT was larger than on CF (0.26 ± 0.17 mm(2) vs. 0.13 ± 0.1 mm(2), p < 0.0001). The CWS area on SD-OCT and surrounding pathology such as intraretinal cysts, avascular zones and intraretinal hemorrhage were predictive for how long CWS remained visible (r(2) = 0.497, p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The lifetime and presentation of CWS in BRVO seem comparable to other diseases. SD-OCT shows a higher sensitivity for detecting CWS compared to CF. The duration of visibility of CWS varies among different image modalities and depends on the surrounding pathology and the CWS size.

Detection and Differentiation of Intraretinal Hemorrhage in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to classify and detect intraretinal hemorrhage (IRH) in spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS Initially the presentation of IRH in BRVO-patients in SD-OCT was described by one reader comparing color-fundus (CF) and SD-OCT using dedicated software. Based on these established characteristics, the presence and the severity of IRH in SD-OCT and CF were assessed by two other masked readers and the inter-device and the inter-observer agreement were evaluated. Further the area of IRH was compared. RESULTS About 895 single B-scans of 24 eyes were analyzed. About 61% of SD-OCT scans and 46% of the CF-images were graded for the presence of IRH (concordance: 73%, inter-device agreement: k = 0.5). However, subdivided into previously established severity levels of dense (CF: 21.3% versus SD-OCT: 34.7%, k = 0.2), flame-like (CF: 15.5% versus SD-OCT: 45.5%, k = 0.3), and dot-like (CF: 32% versus SD-OCT: 24.4%, k = 0.2) IRH, the inter-device agreement was weak. The inter-observer agreement was strong with k = 0.9 for SD-OCT and k = 0.8 for CF. The mean area of IRH detected on SD-OCT was significantly greater than on CF (SD-OCT: 11.5 ± 4.3 mm(2) versus CF: 8.1 ± 5.5 mm(2), p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS IRH seems to be detectable on SD-OCT; however, the previously established severity grading agreed weakly with that assessed by CF.