Single-optic positional accommodating intraocular lenses: a review

Presbyopia is an age-related physiological condition that causes a gradual loss in the ability to focus on near objects, secondary to changes in zonular fibers, ciliary muscle and crystalline lens. Different surgical approaches are being pursued to surgically compensate presbyopia, such as corneal techniques or implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs); however, their inability to restore accommodation has led to the development of single-optic positional accommodative IOLs. The axial shift, with the contraction of the ciliary muscle, of these IOLs increases the refractive power of the eye, improving the level of uncorrected near vision. Single-optic positional accommodative IOLs present few disturbances and larger ocular aberrations that improve near vision. However, reduced amplitudes of accommodation are obtained, little IOL shifts are measured and overall visual outcomes are limited.

Errors Associated to Keratoconus Grading using Systems based on Corneal Power

Purpose: To analyze and define the possible errors that may be introduced in keratoconus classification when the keratometric corneal power is used in such classification. Materials and methods: Retrospective study including a total of 44 keratoconus eyes. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination was performed in all cases, which included a corneal analysis with the Pentacam system (Oculus). Classical keratometric corneal power (Pk), Gaussian corneal power (Pc Gauss), True Net Power (TNP) (Gaussian power neglecting the corneal thickness effect), and an adjusted keratometric corneal power (Pkadj) (keratometric power considering a variable keratometric index) were calculated. All cases included in the study were classified according to five different classification systems: Alió-Shabayek, Amsler-Krumeich, Rabinowitz-McDonnell, collaborative longitudinal evaluation of keratoconus (CLEK), and McMahon. Results: When Pk and Pkadj were compared, differences in the type of grading of keratoconus cases was found in 13.6% of eyes when the Alió-Shabayek or the Amsler-Krumeich systems were used. Likewise, grading differences were observed in 22.7% of eyes with the Rabinowitz-McDonnell and McMahon classification systems and in 31.8% of eyes with the CLEK classification system. All reclassified cases using Pkadj were done in a less severe stage, indicating that the use of Pk may lead to the classification of a cornea as keratoconus, being normal. In general, the results obtained using Pkadj, Pc Gauss or the TNP were equivalent. Differences between Pkadj and Pc Gauss were within ± 0.7D. Conclusion: The use of classical keratometric corneal power may lead to incorrect grading of the severity of keratoconus, with a trend to a more severe grading.

IL28B e vitamina D : preditadores da resposta terapêutica na hepatite C crónica

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014

Europe on the Road to the Third Stage of EMU: Recent Evidence. CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, No. 07.2, 1996

The paper deals with Europe's effort to proceed to the thud stage of EMU and establish a common currency. It is argued that the success of the common currency experiment will greatly depend on the fulfillment of the Optimum Currency Area (OCA) criteria, on the adoption of the proper adjustment policies as well as on the political desirability of the project. The paper is organized as follows: Section 1 deals briefly with the index of criteria that define an OCA. Section 2 examines the extent to which Europe experiences common demand disturbances, while sections 3 and 4 focus on evidence about the mobility of factors of production across Europe, namely labor and capital. Section 5 examines the possibility of an increase in trade volume across the EU under fixed exchange rates or a common currency regime. Section 6 sheds light on the possibility of the EURO (the ex-ECU} to become a vehicle currency in the international financial system, and Section 7 is concerned with the benefits and costs of the establishment of a European Central Bank (ECB), paying special attention to seigniorage revenues. Section 8 deals with the necessity of establishing an EU federal mechanism facilitating adjustment. Section 9 sketches out a proper role for a hegemonic power in a common currency regime. Finally, section 10 examines EMU prospects during the transitional period. The paper closes with some concluding remarks, where the role of politics and coordination of economic policies are particularly emphasized as of cardinal importance on the road to the third stage of EMU.

Immunization with a circumsporozoite epitope fused to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase in conjunction with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 blockade confers protection against Plasmodium berghei liver-stage malaria

The adenylate cyclase toxoid (ACT) of Bordetella pertussis is capable of delivering its N-terminal catalytic domain into the cytosol of CD11b-expressing professional antigen-presenting cells such as myeloid dendritic cells. This allows delivery of CD8+ T-cell epitopes to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation pathway. Recombinant detoxified ACT containing an epitope of the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (CSP), indeed, induced a specific CD8+ T-cell response in immunized mice after a single application, as detected by MHC multimer staining and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) ELISPOT assay. This CSP-specific response could be significantly enhanced by prime-boost immunization with recombinant ACT in combination with anti-CTLA-4 during the boost immunization. This increased response was accompanied by complete protection in a number of mice after a challenge with P. berghei sporozoites. Transient blockade of CTLA-4 may overcome negative regulation and hence provide a strategy to enhance the efficacy of a vaccine by amplifying the number of responding T cells.

The future of photovoltaic energy conversion in developing countries /

"Work Performed Under Contract No. EG-77-C-01-4042."

Direct energy conversion devices : a literature search /

Included are 208 unclassified references on nuclear direct energy conversion devices. Major emphasis is placed on auxiliary power devices suitable for use in satellites including reports on nuclear batteries, thermoelectric cells, thermionic conversion, and all phases of the SNAP program, although not all SNAP devices employ direct conversion. This search supersedes a previous search, TID-3540, Isotopic Power and Thermionic Conversion, compiled by Raymond L. Scott in December 1959.

Direct energy conversion devices : a literature search /

Included are 344 unclassified references on devices utilizing nuclear energy in the production of auxiliary power. The coverage includes nuclear batteries, thermoelectric cells, thermionic cells, and all phases of the SNAP program, although not all SNAP devices employ direct conversion. References from Nuclear Science Abstracts (NSA) through December 15, 1961, are included.

Systems for nuclear auxiliary power (SNAP) : a literature search /

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Report No. TID-3561(REV. 4).

Combined desalination and power generation using coal energy.

Phase I report. Site selection and estimated water costs based on current technology. Phase II report. Investigation of emerging technology, by-product recovery, and very large capacities. Period of performance: June 1965-Oct. 1966.

The optimum temperature for the operation of a non-scaling multi-stage flash evaporator plant,

On cover: Saline water conversion research.

Proceedings of a seminar on Advanced Energy Sources and Conversion Techniques... 3-7 November, 1958.

"Volume I contains all unclassified papers; Volume II contains only classified material."

Proceedings of the Ocean Thermal Conversion (OTEC) Biofouling and Corrosion Symposium, October 10-12, 1977, Seattle, Washington /

Mode of access: Internet.

Draft environmental impact statement for commercial ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) licensing.

"March 1981."