Search Results (40)

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the magnitude, axis and age-related changes in corneal astigmatism in patients before cataract surgery. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional, and observational study, data from 2152 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification were evaluated. Keratometric values were obtained using the IOL Master 500 device. The frequency, magnitude and axis of corneal astigmatism were determined. The astigmatism axis was categorized as with the rule (WTR), against the rule (ATR), and oblique astigmatism. Quantitative analysis was performed using the power vector method (J0 and J45). The distribution and characteristics of corneal astigmatism data according to age were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 70.56 ± 8.88 years (range 40–94 years) and 1010 (46.9%) were males. Mean corneal astigmatism, J0 and J45 values were 0.96 ± 0.72, 0.05 ± 0.51, 0.01 ± 0.30 diopters (D), respectively. The most common range of magnitudes was 0.50–0.99 D with 38.8%, followed by <0.50 D (25.3%), 1.00–1.49 D (20.3%), and 1.50–1.99 D (8.7%). The cubic regression curve showed a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between age and corneal astigmatism (p < 0.001). The most common type of astigmatism was WTR with 43.4%, followed by ATR with 37.5% and oblique astigmatism with 19.1%. With the increase in age, the astigmatism axis gradually changed from WTR to ATR. There was a linear trend in the rate of these types of astigmatism across age groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, in patients under 65 years of age, WTR astigmatism was negatively correlated with age, while in patients 65 years of age and older, ATR astigmatism was positively correlated with age (r = −0.217, p < 0.001; r = 0.153, p < 0.001, respectively). Linear regression analyses revealed that the J0 value decreased significantly with age, whereas J45 showed no significant relationship. Specifically, J0 decreased by 0.014 D per year of age (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.011–0.016; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results obtained in this study may provide information to guide surgeons in the management of astigmatism and the choice of toric intraocular lens in cataract surgery. Full article

This study investigates the hydrography and geochemical signature in Ilha Grande Bay (RJ, Brazil), focusing on the seasonal intrusion of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and its interaction with lead sources. CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) data revealed the presence of SACW during the summer campaigns (Mangaratiba/2011 and Frade/2012), characterized by temperatures below 20 °C and salinity between 34.6 and 36. The intrusion is driven by northeasterly winds that favor coastal upwelling, establishing a classic thermohaline stratification. The winter campaigns did not detect SACW, confirming its seasonal nature. Isotopic analysis of Pb in sediments identified six Pb²⁰⁶/Pb²⁰⁷ intervals, indicating multiple sources, including natural contributions, industrial waste, and urban effluents. The Pb²⁰⁶/Pb²⁰⁷ ranges were defined based on cluster analysis and frequency histograms, which are common methods in isotopic provenance studies. An overlap between the most radiogenic isotopic signatures and the presence of SACW suggests that this water mass acts as a vector for transporting trace elements from the deep oceanic region to the coast. This study provides the first evidence that the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) acts as a seasonal vector, importing a distinct radiogenic Pb isotopic signature onto the continental shelf of Ilha Grande Bay. By synoptically coupling physical water-mass analysis (CTD) with Pb isotopic tracers, we introduce a novel approach that successfully discriminates oceanic from anthropogenic Pb sources, offering a new framework for understanding contaminant transport in coastal areas influenced by boundary currents. It is concluded that the coastal dynamics in Ilha Grande Bay are governed by the seasonal interaction of coastal, continental, and oceanic waters, and that the integration of physical and geochemical data is crucial for understanding mixing processes and contaminant transport in this complex environment. Full article

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. HIV-1-infected and uninfected Hu-mice served as controls. After one month of infection (HIV-1_ADA), ECG intervals/segments were significantly altered. ECG changes progressively worsened as the duration of untreated infection increased. Treating HIV-1-infected animals with the DTG/TDF/FTC for eight weeks, starting four weeks after infection, prevented worsening, but did not restore ECG intervals/segments to those before infection. In hearts from DTG/TDF/FTC-treated animals, steady-state levels of the sarco-(endo) plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA2) were reduced by 35%. Steady-state levels of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) did not change, but its phosphorylation status at Ser2808 was 2-fold higher than that of uninfected controls, indicative of a gain-of-function. The density of perfused micro vessels and fibrosis in hearts of DTG/TDF/FTC-treated animals was not significantly different from that of HIV-1-infected and uninfected Hu-mice. These data show for the first time that HIV-1 infection is triggering abnormalities in the ECG of Hu-mice, and changes in ECG persisted with DTG/TDF/FTC treatment, independent of ischemia and/or fibrosis. They also indicate that chronic DTG/TDF/FTC treatment did not worsen ECG changes, including the QT interval. Since phosphorylation of RyR2 at Ser2808 occurs via β-adrenergic activation of protein kinase A, these new data also suggest that chronic hyperadrenergic activity may be increasing the risk of SCD via Ca²⁺ leak through RyR2. Full article

Since 1975, it has been known that the Hurwitz zeta-function has a unique property to approximate by its shifts all analytic functions defined in the strip $\mathfrak{D}=\{s=\sigma +it:1/2<\sigma <1\}$. However, such an approximation causes efficiency problems, and applying short intervals is one of the measures to make that approximation more effective. In this paper, we consider the simultaneous approximation of a tuple of analytic functions in the strip $\mathfrak{D}$ by discrete shifts $(\zeta (s+ik{h}_1,{\alpha }_1),\dots ,\zeta (s+ik{h}_r,{\alpha }_r))$ with positive $h_1,\dots ,h_r$ of Hurwitz zeta-functions in the interval $[N,N+M]$ with $M={max}_{1⩽j⩽r}\left(h_j^{-1},{\left(N{h}_j\right)}^{23/70}\right)$. Two cases are considered: $1^{°}$ the set $\{(h_{j}log(m+{\alpha }_j),m\in {\mathbb{N}}_0,j=1,\dots ,r),2\pi \}$ is linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$; and $2^{°}$ a general case, where ${\alpha }_j$ and $h_j$ are arbitrary. In case $1^{°}$, we obtain that the set of approximating shifts has a positive lower density (and density) for every tuple of analytic functions. In case $2^{°}$, the set of approximated functions forms a certain closed set. For the proof, an approach based on new limit theorems on weakly convergent probability measures in the space of analytic functions in short intervals is applied. The power $\eta =23/70$ comes from a new mean square estimate for the Hurwitz zeta-function. Full article

Background: Adolescents suffering from obesity are at higher risk of bone fragility due to hepatic steatosis, which may lead to an inflammatory microenvironment in the bone marrow. We therefore aimed to assess the reliability of measuring the bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF) and T2* of the lumbar vertebral marrow using the proton density fat fraction (PDFF) sequence for adolescents with obesity and liver steatosis. Method: This was an observational feasibility pilot study on adolescents living with obesity and liver steatosis. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Participants underwent abdominal MRI, MR elastography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Regions of interest were drawn using the radiology interface from the central L1 to L4 vertebrae on fat and T2* maps from the PDFF sequence. ImageJ was used to measure abdominal compartment fat areas. Descriptive analyses, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and correlation results were obtained from anthropometric, adiposity, BMFF, and T2* measurements. Results: We recruited 23 adolescents with a body mass index > 85th percentile and mean age = 14.7 years (interval 12–17 years), and n = 18 (78%) were boys. BMFF and T2* measurements were successful in 100% of cases. The intra-operator reproducibility of the BMFF and T2* measurements was excellent: ICC = 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.986; 0.999]) and ICC = 0.99 (95% CI [0.992; 0.999]), respectively. The inter-operator ICC was good for BMFF (ICC = 0.89; 95% CI [0.705; 0.963]) and moderate for T2* (ICC = 0.66; 95% CI [0.239; 0.873]). Only BMFF was inversely correlated with vertebral-bone mineral density (r = −0.67; p = 0.0009). However, T2* measurements showed a positive linear relationship with the total body fat tissue percentage measured by DXA (r = 0.48; p = 0.03) and the total abdominal fat area (r = 0.45; p = 0.04). Conclusions: PDFF could be a reliable imaging biomarker for bone health assessment in adolescents living with obesity. Full article

It was known in antiquity that the sum of the three angles of a triangle equals $\pi$. Surprisingly, it was not until 1952 that the corresponding question for a tetrahedron was addressed. In that year, J.W. Gaddum proved that the sum of the four solid angles in a tetrahedron lies within the interval of $[0,2\pi ]$ and those lower and upper bounds are the best possible. In 2020, H. Katsuura showed that $2\pi$ was unachievable. In this paper, we generalize these results to show that for a non-degenerate n-simplex in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ with $n\ge 3$, the solid angles at the vertices add up to a positive number that is less than one-half the $(n-1)$-dimensional area of the unit sphere in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. We also show that there are examples for which the sum can be made arbitrarily close to the extreme values of 0 and one-half the $(n-1)$-dimensional area of the unit sphere in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. Full article

Background: This prospective observational study was conducted to systematically assess immediate changes occurring (within one hour) in corneal endothelial cell morphology and anterior segment parameters following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in pseudophakic patients and to analyze the correlation between these changes and laser energy parameters. Methods: A single-arm, within-subject pre–post design was employed to evaluate corneal endothelial morphology (cell density, count, area, coefficient of variation and hexagonal percentage) and anterior chamber parameters (depth, angle, volume) before and one hour after the procedure using specular microscopy and Pentacam analysis. Patient demographics (age), clinical parameters (best corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure), postoperative-YAG laser interval, and laser energy parameters (energy per shot, pulse count, and total applied energy) were also documented. Results: Thirty-two pseudophakic patients (mean age 56.3 ± 19.2 years) underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy with mean energy per shot of 3.15 ± 1.07 mJ and pulse count of 34.3 ± 20.4. Specular microscopy revealed significant post-procedural decreases in endothelial cell density (2184.05 to 2057.2 cells/mm²; p = 0.006) and increases in average cell area (529.25 ± 242.72 to 587.75 ± 281.09 µm²; p = 0.004) and minimum cell area (199.3 ± 170.62 to 248.35 ± 202.7 µm²; p = 0.035). Corneal topography also decreased significantly in the anterior chamber angle (40.07 ± 10.34 to 35.42 ± 6.78 degrees; p = 0.048), with positive correlations between energy per shot and endothelial cell density (r = 0.557; p = 0.011) and average cell area (r = 0.544; p = 0.013). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy causes immediate, energy-dependent alterations in corneal endothelial density and anterior chamber parameters within one hour post-procedurally. The identification of energy per shot as a key determinant represents a preliminary observation for optimizing laser parameters and reducing potential complications in pseudophakic patients. Full article

Kirchhoff’s current law was originally derived for systems such as telegraphs that switch in 0.1 s. It is used widely today to design circuits in computers that switch in ~0.1 nanoseconds, one billion times faster. Current behaves differently in one second and one-tenth of a nanosecond. A derivation of a current law from the fundamental equations of electrodynamics—the Maxwell equations—is needed. Here is a derivation in one line: $\mathbf{d}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{v} \mathbf{c}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{r}\mathbf{l}\mathbf{B}/{\mathsf{\mu }}_0=0=\mathbf{d}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{v}\left(\mathbf{J}+({\mathsf{\epsilon }}_{\mathit{r}}-1){\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\mathbf{\partial }\mathbf{E}/\mathbf{\partial }\mathbf{t}+{\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\mathbf{\partial }\mathbf{E}/\mathbf{\partial }\mathbf{t}\right)=\mathbf{d}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{v}{\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}$. Maxwell’s ‘true’ current is defined as ${\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}$. The universal displacement current found everywhere is ${\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\partial \mathbf{E}/\partial \mathrm{t}$. The conduction current $\mathbf{J}$ is carried by any charge with mass, no matter how small, brief, or transient, driven by any source, e.g., diffusion. The second term $({\mathsf{\epsilon }}_r-1){\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\partial \mathbf{E}/\partial \mathrm{t}$ is the usual approximation to the polarization currents of ideal dielectrics. The dielectric constant ${\mathsf{\epsilon }}_r$ is a dimensionless real number. Real dielectrics can be very complicated. They require a complete theory of polarization to replace the $({\mathsf{\epsilon }}_r-1){\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\partial \mathbf{E}/\partial \mathrm{t}$ term. The Maxwell current law $\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{v}{\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}=0$ defines the solenoidal field of total current that has zero divergence, typically characterized in two dimensions by streamlines that end where they begin, flowing in loops that form circuits. Note that the conduction current $\mathbf{J}$ is not solenoidal. Conduction current $\mathbf{J}$ accumulates significantly in many chemical and biological applications. Total current ${\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}$ does not accumulate in any time interval or in any circumstance where the Maxwell equations are valid. ${\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}$ does not accumulate during the transitions of electrons from orbital to orbital within a chemical reaction, for example. ${\mathbf{J}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}$ should be included in chemical reaction kinetics. The classical Kirchhoff current law $\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{v} \mathbf{J}=0$ is an approximation used to analyze idealized topological circuits found in textbooks. The classical Kirchhoff current law is shown here by mathematics to be valid only when $\mathbf{J}\gg {\mathsf{\epsilon }}_0\partial \mathbf{E}/\partial \mathrm{t},$ typically in the steady state. The Kirchhoff current law is often extended to much shorter times to help topological circuits approximate some of the displacement currents not found in the classical Kirchhoff current law. The original circuit is modified. Circuit elements—invented or redefined—are added to the topological circuit for that purpose. Full article

Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) is used in the rehabilitation of patients with shoulder periarthritis (SP) to promote tendon regeneration. This quasi-experimental non-randomized comparative study included 36 cases of SP, divided into two groups, and aimed to comparatively investigate the analgesic and functional effects of two different rESWT protocols. In Group One, the protocol involved an energy level of 210 J/session, a frequency of 10 Hz, and 2500 impulses per session. In Group Two, the protocol used an energy level of 190 J/session, a frequency of 10–15 Hz, and 2000 impulses per session. Treatments were administered over three sessions in Group One and five sessions in Group Two, with one-week intervals between sessions. Both rESWT protocols were combined with a physical therapy program consisting of ten daily sessions of analgesic physiotherapy and kinesiotherapy. Before and after the rehabilitation program, patients were assessed for pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS) and shoulder function using range of motion (ROM) measurements (via goniometry) and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Significantly better outcomes were observed in Group One (p < 0.001), particularly in terms of pain reduction and improvements in shoulder functionality, especially external rotation. These results support the effectiveness of the rESWT protocol used in Group One, which combined lower energy and frequency levels with a higher number of impulses over fewer sessions. Full article

Background/Objectives: We generated a novel recombinant Vibrio cholerae ghost (rVCG)-based subunit vaccine incorporating the A1 subunit of cholera toxin (CTA1) and a multiepitope Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) antigen (MECA) derived from five chlamydial outer membrane proteins (rVCG-MECA). The ability of this vaccine to protect against a CT transcervical challenge was evaluated. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice were immunized thrice at two-week intervals with rVCG-MECA or rVCG-gD2 (antigen control) via the intramuscular (IM) or intranasal (IN) route. PBS-immunized mice or mice immunized with live CT served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Results: Vaccine delivery stimulated robust humoral and cell-mediated immune effectors, characterized by local mucosal and systemic CT-specific IgG, IgG2c, and IgA antibody and IFN-γ (Th1 cytokine) responses. The elicited mucosal and systemic IgG2c and IgA antibody responses persisted for 16 weeks post-immunization. Immunization with rVCG-MECA afforded protection comparable to that provided by IN immunization with live CT EBs without any side effects, irrespective of route of vaccine delivery. Conclusions: The results underline the potential of a multiepitope vaccine as a promising resource for protecting against CT genital infection and the potential of CTA1 on the VCG platform as a mucosal and systemic adjuvant for developing CT vaccines. Full article

Background: Section Camellia is the most diverse group in the genus Camellia L., and this group of plants has a long history of cultivation in China as popular ornamental flowers and oil plants. Sect. Camellia plants present diverse morphological variations and complexity among species, resulting in uncertainty in the classification of species, which has resulted in a degree of inconvenience and confusion in the use of plant resources and research. Methods: Here, We sequenced and assembled the chloroplast genomes of 6 sect. Camellia and performed comparative chloroplast genome analysis and phylogenetic studies combined with 15 existing sect. Camellia plants. Results: The chloroplast genome of 21 species in sect. Camellia species were quadripartite with length of 156,587–157,068 bp base pairs (bp), and a highly conserved and moderately differentiated chloroplast genome arrangement. The 21 sect. Camellia chloroplast genomes were similar to those of angiosperms, with high consistency in gene number, gene content and gene structure. After the annotation process, we identified a total of 132 genes, specifically 87 sequences coding for proteins (CDS), 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The ycf1 gene in 21 species of the sect. Camellia was present only in the small single-copy/inverted repeat of a (SSC/IRa) region. Sequence variation was greater in the large single-copy (LSC) region than in the IR region, and the majority of the protein-coding genes presented high codon preferences. The chloroplast genomes of 21 plant species exhibit relatively conserved SC (single copy region)/IR (inverted repeat region) boundaries. We detected a total of 2975 single sequence repeats (SSRs) as well as 833 dispersed nuclear elements (INEs). Among these SSRs, A/T repeats and AT/AT repeats dominated, while among INEs, forward repeats and palindromic repeats predominated. Codon usage frequencies were largely similar, with 30 high-frequency codons detected. Comparative analysis revealed five hotspot regions (rps16, psaJ, rpl33, rps8, and rpl16) and two gene intervals (atpH-atpI and petD-rpoA) in the cp genome, which can be used as potential molecular markers. In addition, the phylogenetic tree constructed from the chloroplast genome revealed that these 21 species and Camellia oleifera aggregated into a single branch, which was further subdivided into two evolutionarily independent sub-branches. Conclusions: It was confirmed that sect. Camellia and C. oleifera Abel are closely related in Camellia genus. These findings will enhance our knowledge of the sect. Camellia of plants, deepen our understanding of their genetic characteristics and phylogenetic pathways, and provide strong support for the scientific development and rational utilization of the plant resources of the sect. Camellia. Full article

Background: Since accommodation may be a source of error affecting the inter-optometrist repeatability of subjective refraction, this study investigated whether the use of cycloplegia could improve this repeatability. Methods: A randomized cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 young hyperopes (18.2 ± 7.7 years, range 6 to 31 years). Subjective refraction was performed by two different optometrists in two measurement sessions: one day without cycloplegia and, on a different day, with cycloplegia, in random order. The inter-optometrist repeatability of all refractive variables (M, J0, and J45) was analyzed, selecting one eye randomly, in terms of the 95% confidence interval of repeatability (r). Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the optometrists for any refractive variable, both with and without cycloplegia (p ≥ 0.05). Furthermore, no correlation was found between participants’ age and the refractive differences between optometrists under both cycloplegic conditions (p ≥ 0.05). However, the use of cycloplegia improved the inter-optometrist repeatability of M (r = 0.37 D) compared to the non-cycloplegic measurements (r = 0.62 D). Conclusions: These results suggest that accommodation in young hyperopes is likely a primary source of error that could explain the discrepancies in subjective refraction between optometrists. Full article

Background: The conventional double-lumen tube (DLT) insertion method requires a rotatory maneuver that was developed using direct laryngoscopy and may not be optimal for video laryngoscopy. This study compared a new non-rotatory maneuver with the conventional method for DLT insertion using video laryngoscopy. Methods: Patients scheduled for thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation were randomly assigned to either the rotating (R) or non-rotating (NR) method groups. All patients were intubated using a customized rigid J-shaped stylet, a video laryngoscope, and a left-sided silicone DLT. The conventional rotatory maneuver was performed in the R group. In the NR group, the stylet was inserted with its tip oriented anteriorly (12 o’clock direction) while maintaining the bronchial lumen towards the left (9 o’clock direction). After reaching the glottic opening, the tube was inserted using a non-rotatory maneuver, maintaining the initial orientation. The primary endpoint was the intubation time. Secondary endpoints included first-trial success rate, sore throat, hoarseness, and airway injury. Results: Ninety patients (forty-five in each group) were included. The intubation time was significantly shorter in the NR group compared to the R group (22.0 [17.0, 30.0] s vs. 28.0 [22.0, 34.0] s, respectively), with a median difference of 6 s (95% confidence interval [CI], 3–11 s; p = 0.017). The NR group had a higher first-attempt success rate and a lower incidence of sore throats. Conclusions: The non-rotatory technique with video laryngoscopy significantly reduced intubation time and improved first-attempt success rate, offering a viable and potentially superior alternative to the conventional rotatory technique. Full article

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the inter-examiner repeatability of subjective refraction across diverse age cohorts, an aspect not previously investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional, randomized study enrolled 86 participants (mean age: 37.0 ± 18.0 years), distributed into three groups: youth, non-presbyopic adults, and presbyopic adults. Each participant underwent three subjective refractions by three different optometrists on separate days. Repeatability analysis encompassed all refractive variables (M, J0, and J45). Results: There were no significant differences between optometrists in all refractive variables for either the overall sample or across age groups (p ≥ 0.05). Additionally, no correlation was found between participants’ age and the mean difference in refractive variables across optometrists (p ≥ 0.05). The 95% confidence interval of repeatability (r) for the total sample was ±0.70 D for M, ±0.29 for J0, and ±0.21 D for J45. Conclusions: Based on these findings and previous research, it is suggested to establish 95% limits of agreement of ±0.75 D for M, and between ±0.25 D and ±0.50 D for both J0 and J45 when validating new refraction systems compared to subjective refraction as the gold standard, regardless of the age of the subjects evaluated. Full article

Background: Candida albicans and similar species are significant pathogens in immunocompromised and hospitalized individuals, known for mucosal colonization and bloodstream/organ invasion. Many pathogenic fungi, including these species, exhibit autofluorescence (R/OF) under specific light conditions, a feature crucial for their detection. Aim: We investigated the use of a 405 nm diode laser for the direct observation of red/orange autofluorescence of Candida spp., common in the oral cavity, exploring its potential in health screenings. Methods: This study utilized cultures of Candida spp. on Sabouraud dextrose agar with Qdot 655 and 685 for fluorescence benchmarking, illuminated using a 405 nm diode laser (continuous wave, power 250 mW, 0.0425 J/cm² fluence, 0.0014 W/cm² power density). Images were captured using a yellow-filter camera at set intervals (48 to 144 h). Visual and computational analyses evaluated the R/OF in terms of presence, intensity, coloration, and intra-colony variation. Results: Most Candida strains displayed red/orange autofluorescence at all observation times, characterized by varied coloration and intra-colony distribution. Initially, there was an increase in R/OF intensity, which then stabilized in the later stages of observation. Conclusions: The majority of the Candida strains tested are capable of emitting R/OF under 405 nm laser light. This finding opens up new possibilities for integrating R/OF detection into routine dental screenings for Candida spp. Full article