Search Results (27)

Electrical water-bath stunning remains the predominant method used in commercial poultry slaughter worldwide yet its effectiveness and welfare implications may vary among breeds. Taiwanese red-feathered chickens differ from commercial broilers in growth rate and body composition, which may influence their response to electrical stunning. This study investigated the relationships between electrical stunning conditions, electroencephalographic (EEG) indicators of unconsciousness, behavioural reflexes, and carcass quality in Taiwanese red-feathered chickens. A total of 200 female chickens were subjected to direct-current water-bath stunning at 80, 100, 120, 140, or 160 V for 7 s. EEG activity and physical indicators of consciousness were assessed during the first 40 s after stunning, and carcass defects were evaluated post-mortem. Of the 200 birds initially evaluated, EEG data from 153 birds met predefined signal quality criteria and were included in the final analysis. EEG-defined unconsciousness was more frequent and lasted longer at higher voltages (140–160 V), although intermediate voltage levels (e.g., 120 V) did not follow a strictly linear trend. Corneal reflex and spontaneous eye blinking were strongly associated with EEG-based unconsciousness, supporting their use as practical on-site welfare indicators. At the lowest voltage (80 V), birds with higher abdominal fat percentages were more likely to be effectively stunned. In contrast, no statistically significant associations between abdominal fat percentage and stunning effectiveness were observed at 100–160 V. However, higher voltages were also associated with an increased prevalence and severity of carcass defects. These findings suggest that stunning conditions or commercial broilers may not ensure effective unconsciousness in Taiwanese red-feathered chickens. Corneal reflex and spontaneous eye blinking provide reliable, welfare-relevant indicators of unconsciousness under field conditions. Electrical settings must be carefully balanced to achieve effective stunning while minimising adverse welfare outcomes associated with excessive neuro-muscular responses. Full article

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a novel test for diagnosing colour vision deficiencies using reflexive eye movements measured using an unmodified tablet. Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional design, where thirty-three participants aged between 17 and 65 years were recruited. The participant group comprised 23 controls, 8 deuteranopes, and 2 protanopes. An anomaloscope was employed to determine the colour vision status of these participants. The study methodology involved using an Apple iPad Pro’s built-in eye-tracking capabilities to record eye movements in response to coloured patterns drifting on the screen. Through an automated analysis of these movements, the researchers estimated individuals’ red–green equiluminant point and their equivalent luminance contrast. Results: Estimates of the red–green equiluminant point and the equivalent luminance contrast were used to classify participants’ colour vision status with a sensitivity rate of 90.0% and a specificity rate of 91.30%. Conclusions: The novel colour vision test administered using an unmodified tablet was found to be effective in diagnosing colour vision deficiencies and has the potential to be a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. Translation Relevance: The test’s objectivity, its straightforward implementation on a standard tablet, and its minimal requirement for patient cooperation, all contribute to the wider accessibility of colour vision diagnosis. This is particularly advantageous for demographics like children who might be challenging to engage, but for whom early detection is of paramount importance. Full article

Background and Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience visual problems, yet their ophthalmic health remains underexplored due to testability challenges and limited-service access. This study evaluated ophthalmic screening outcomes in children with ASD and examined whether autism severity influenced ocular findings or cooperation during examinations. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 210 children with ASD (mean age 8.18 ± 4.99 years; 83.3% male). Examinations were conducted in an autism education center using non-contact methods: stereopsis (LANG I stereotest; LANG-STEREOTEST AG, Küsnacht, Switzerland), cover–uncover, and Hirschberg tests for strabismus, Spot Vision Screener (Welch Allyn Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY, USA) for refractive errors, and Brückner test for red reflex. Autism severity was assessed with the Turkish version of the Adapted Autism Behavior Checklist (AABC). Results: Refractive errors were identified in 22.3% of participants: astigmatism in 15.2%, myopia in 5.2% (including 3 high myopia), and hyperopia in 1.9%. Strabismus was present in 11.9%, most commonly intermittent exotropia. Nearly half (49.5%) could not complete stereopsis testing, and a weak positive correlation was observed between AABC scores and the higher absolute spherical equivalent (SE) value between the two eyes (r = 0.173, p = 0.044). Children unable to complete stereopsis testing had significantly higher AABC scores (22.66 ± 9.69 vs. 13.39 ± 9.41, p < 0.001). Notably, 50 children (23.8%) had never undergone an eye examination prior to this study. Conclusions: Ophthalmic findings, particularly astigmatism and strabismus, are common in children with ASD. Greater autism severity was associated with reduced testability and modestly worse refractive error status. These findings suggest that tailored, accessible eye-care approaches and systematic vision screening may help to reduce overlooked visual problems and support more equitable care for children with ASD. Full article

Blood samples and testing are routine in healthcare. Presently, there is a growing interest in using tear samples in place of blood. Tear samples can be obtained non-invasively and collection does not require the skills of a trained phlebotomist. Red blood cells and other cells are not present in tears, which avoids centrifugation. Importantly, basal tear samples contain most of the biomarkers present in blood. The difficulty is the small volume of basal tears, which is about 7 μL in each eye. Any contact with the eye results in additional reflex tears with a different chemical composition. The small tear samples are collected with capillary tubes and then sent out for amplified assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results are not available for several days or a week and, therefore, are less useful in an ophthalmology office. We propose the use of a contact lens that contains bound antibodies for fluorescence immunoassays. The lenses could be removed from the patient for point-of-care measurements at the bedside. To prove that this concept is possible, we performed a three-layer protein capture assay that mimics an immunoassay. For convenience, we used lysozyme (Lys), which spontaneously coats silicon hydrogel (SiHG) contact lenses (CL). Anti-lysozyme IgG was the second layer captured, with anti-lysozyme considered to be the target biomarker. The third layer was rhodamine or Alexa Fluor-labeled Ab against the IgG Fc region, considered to be the detection antibody. The multiple protein layers were stable and did not wash off the SiHG lenses. These results strongly suggest the contact lens can be used for capture immunoassays for a wide variety of biomarkers. Full article

The effects of face immersion and concurrent exercise on the diving reflex evoked by breath-hold (BH) differ, yet little is known about the combined effects of different BH conditions on aerobic fitness in elite athletes. This study aimed to assess the acute effects of various BH conditions on 18 male elite rugby players (age: 23.5 ± 1.8 years; height: 183.3 ± 3.4 cm; body mass: 84.8 ± 8.5 kg) and identify the BH condition eliciting the greatest aerobic fitness activation. Participants underwent five warm-up conditions: baseline regular breathing, dynamic dry BH (DD), static dry BH (SD), wet dynamic BH (WD), and wet static BH (WS). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in red blood cells (RBCs), red blood cell volume (RGB), and hematocrit (HCT) pre- and post-warm-up. Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) and relative oxygen uptake (VO₂/kgpeak) varied significantly across conditions, with BH groups showing notably higher values than the regular breathing group (p < 0.05). Interaction effects of facial immersion and movement conditions were significant for VO₂peak, VO₂/kgpeak, and the cardiopulmonary optimal point (p < 0.05). Specifically, VO₂peak and peak stroke volume (SVpeak) were significantly higher in the DD group compared to that in other conditions. Increases in VO₂peak were strongly correlated with changes in RBCs and HCT induced by DD warm-up (r∆RBC = 0.84, r∆HCT = 0.77, p < 0.01). In conclusion, DD BH warm-up appears to optimize subsequent aerobic performance in elite athletes. Full article

This study compares the effects of two different doses of propofol administered intravenously (IV), in the jugular vein, to red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). In this crossover study, 5 or 10 mg/kg propofol was administered to six Trachemys scripta elegans after cannulation of the jugular vein. Each turtle received each dose, G1 (5 mg/kg IV) and G2 (10 mg/kg IV), after a 7-day washout period. The parameters evaluated were heart rate, palpebral reflex, cloacal reflex, muscle relaxation, ease of handling, sensitivity to anterior and posterior pinch stimuli, and possibility of intubation. Additionally, respiratory rate was measured when possible, and the times from propofol administration to full recovery and from intubation to extubation were recorded. None of the turtles in G1 could be intubated, and this dose provided little relaxation and ease of handling, with a duration of effect until full recovery of 12.16 ± 8.32 (SD) min for this group. In G2, five out of the six turtles could be intubated, and the duration of effect was 32.33 ± 5.85 (SD) min. Heart rates were influenced by manipulation for catheter placement. There were statistically significant differences (p value ≤ 0.05) between the two groups in muscle relaxation degree, handling, cloacal reflex, and possibility of intubation. The 5 mg/kg propofol dose was not sufficient to induce anesthesia, even when administered in the jugular vein, in red-eared sliders. A dose of 10 mg/kg IV or higher should be used. Full article

This article employed pupillometry as a non-invasive technique to analyze pupillary light reflex (PLR) using LED flash stimuli. Particularly, for the experiments, only the red LED with a wavelength of 600 nm served as the light stimulation source. To stabilize the initial pupil size, a pre-stimulus (PRE) period of 3 s was implemented, followed by a 1 s stimulation period (ON) and a 4 s post-stimulus period (POST). Moreover, an experimental, low-cost pupillometer prototype was designed to capture pupillary images of 13 participants. The prototype consists of a 2-megapixel web camera and a lighting system comprising infrared and RGB LEDs for image capture in low-light conditions and stimulus induction, respectively. The study reveals several characteristic features for classifying the phenomenon, notably the mobility of Hjórth parameters, achieving classification percentages ranging from 97% to 99%, and offering novel insights into pattern recognition in pupillary activity. Moreover, the proposed device successfully captured the PLR from all the participants with zero reported incidents or health affectations. Full article

Stroke is a severe injury of the central nervous system (CNS) and one of the leading causes of long-term disability and mortality. One of the main symptoms of neurological diseases is spasticity. This is defined as a motor condition characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes with exaggerated tendon jerks and resulting in the hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex. Rehabilitation after a stroke is focused on relearning lost skills and regaining independence. Many new methods in neurorehabilitation have been introduced. This review concentrates on the current evidence for extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) as a noninvasive alternative to treat spasticity. We present the effect of EWST and radial EWST interventions to post-stroke patients with spasticity in the upper limb. Our collected data suggest that different parameters of shockwaves can be used to achieve functional improvementsin the upper limb after a stroke. Our accumulated data imply that ESWT is safe and can be used for pain relief, reduced muscle tension, and an increased range of motion. According to many studies, complications after shockwave treatment are infrequent. Transient complications after shockwave therapy (ESWT) include redness, tingling, pain, and bruising. We reviewed clinical trials that present the possible benefits in upper-limb function after shockwave therapy for post-stroke patients. In this article, we used many database search engines, including PEDro. In the stroke rehabilitation literature, a key methodological problem is the design of double-blind studies, which very often are not feasible. Full article

Chromatic Pupillometry, used to assess Pupil Light Reflex (PLR) to a coloured light stimulus, has regained interest since the discovery of melanopsin in the intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs). This technique has shown the potential to be used as a screening tool for neuro-ophthalmological diseases; however, most of the pupillometers available are expensive and not portable, making it harder for them to be used as a widespread screening tool. In this study, we developed a smartphone-based system for chromatic pupillometry that allows targeted stimulation of the ipRGCs. Using a smartphone, this system is portable and accessible and takes advantage of the location of the ipRGCs in the perifovea. The system incorporates a 3D-printed support for the smartphone and an illumination system. Preliminary tests were carried out on a single individual and then validated on eleven healthy individuals with two different LED intensities. The average Post-Illumination Pupil Light Response 6 s after the stimuli offsets (PIPR-6s) showed a difference between the blue and the red stimuli of 9.5% for both intensities, which aligns with the studies using full-field stimulators. The results validated this system for a targeted stimulation of the ipRGCs for chromatic pupillometry, with the potential to be a portable and accessible screening tool for neuro-ophthalmological diseases. Full article

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW) is a generalized muscle weakness that is clinically detected in critical patients and has no plausible etiology other than critical illness. ICU-AW is uncommon in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Our report sheds light on the highest number of ICU-AW cases observed in a single center on OLT patients with early allograft dysfunction. Out of 282 patients who underwent OLT from January 2015 to June 2023, 7 (2.5%) developed generalized muscle weakness in the ICU and underwent neurophysiological investigations. The neurologic examination showed preserved extraocular, flaccid quadriplegia with the absence of deep tendon reflexes in all patients. Neurophysiological studies, including electromyography and nerve conduction studies, showed abnormalities with fibrillation potentials and the rapid recruitment of small polyphasic motor units in the examined muscles, as well as a reduced amplitude of the compound muscle action potential and sensory nerve action potential, with an absence of demyelinating features. Pre-transplant clinical status was critical in all patients. During ICU stay, early allograft dysfunction, acute kidney injury, prolonged mechanical ventilation, sepsis, hyperglycemia, and high blood transfusions were observed in all patients. Two patients were retransplanted. Five patients were alive at 90 days; two patients died. In non-cooperative OLT patients, neurophysiological investigations are essential for the diagnosis of ICU-AW. In this setting, the high number of red blood cell transfusions is a potential risk factor for ICU-AW. Full article

Purpose/Background: We evaluate how a deep learning model can be applied to extract refractive error metrics from pupillary red reflex images taken by a low-cost handheld fundus camera. This could potentially provide a rapid and economical vision-screening method, allowing for early intervention to prevent myopic progression and reduce the socioeconomic burden associated with vision impairment in the later stages of life. Methods: Infrared and color images of pupillary crescents were extracted from eccentric photorefraction images of participants from Choithram Hospital in India and Dargaville Medical Center in New Zealand. The pre-processed images were then used to train different convolutional neural networks to predict refractive error in terms of spherical power and cylindrical power metrics. Results: The best-performing trained model achieved an overall accuracy of 75% for predicting spherical power using infrared images and a multiclass classifier. Conclusions: Even though the model’s performance is not superior, the proposed method showed good usability of using red reflex images in estimating refractive error. Such an approach has never been experimented with before and can help guide researchers, especially when the future of eye care is moving towards highly portable and smartphone-based devices. Full article

The role of TRPA1 in the thermosensitivity of the corneal cold thermoreceptor nerve endings was studied in young and aged mice. The contribution of the TRPA1-dependent activity to basal tearing and thermally-evoked blink was also explored. The corneal cold thermoreceptors’ activity was recorded extracellularly in young (5-month-old) and aged (18-month-old) C57BL/6WT (WT) and TRPA1^−/− knockout (TRPA1-KO) mice at basal temperature (34 °C) and during cooling (15 °C) and heating (45 °C) ramps. The blink response to cold and heat stimulation of the ocular surface and the basal tearing rate were also measured in young animals using orbicularis oculi muscle electromyography (OOemg) and phenol red threads, respectively. The background activity at 34 °C and the cooling- and heating-evoked responses of the cold thermoreceptors were similar in WT and TRPA1-KO animals, no matter the age. Similar to the aged WT mice, in the young and aged TRPA1-KO mice, most of the cold thermoreceptors presented low frequency background activity, a low cooling threshold, and a sluggish response to heating. The amplitude and duration of the OOemg signals correlated with the magnitude of the induced thermal change in the WT but not in the TRPA1-KO mice. The basal tearing was similar in the TRPA1-KO and WT mice. The electrophysiological data suggest that the TRPA1-dependent nerve activity, which declines with age, contributes to detecting the warming of the ocular surface and also to integrating the thermally-evoked reflex blink. Full article

Background and Objectives: The relevance of red flags in serious spinal pathology (SSP) has evolved throughout the last years. Recently, new considerations have been proposed to expand the consideration of red flags. The purpose of this study was to determine, approve and test a model for the triage and management process of SSPs based on the latest data available in the literature. Materials and Methods: The SSP model was initially built on the basis of a literature review. The model was further determined and approved by an expert panel using a Delphi process. Finally, clinical scenarios were used to test the applicability of the model. Results: After three rounds of the Delphi process, panellists reached a consensus on a final version of the model. The use of clinical scenarios by experts brought about reflexive elements both for the determined model and for the SSPs depicted in the clinical cases. Conclusions: The validation of the model and its implementation in the clinical field could help assess the skills of first-line practitioners managing spinal pain patients. To this end, the development of additional clinical scenarios fitting the determined model should be further considered. Full article

Purpose: To evaluate ocular motility (OM) abnormalities associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, patients with EDS underwent a complete orthoptic examination. The following orthoptic tests were performed: corneal light reflex test, stereoscopic test, cover test, OM assessment, evaluation of eye pain in different gaze positions and red filter test for diplopia. Results: The corneal light reflex test at 33 cm showed an intermittent divergent deviation in 31.7% of patients and an intermittent horizontal deviation associated with a vertical deviation in 4.9% of patients. A manifest strabismus was observed in 2.4% of patients, whereas 2.4% of patients showed a microstrabismus. The corneal light reflex test at 5 m revealed microstrabismus in 9.8% and manifest strabismus in 2.4% of our patients. Moreover, intermittent exotropia was observed in 2.4% of cases. No significant alterations involving the inferior rectus and the superior oblique muscles were observed. Significant associations were observed between medial rectus muscle deficit of both eyes with pain (p = 0.020) and diplopia (p = 0.014). Furthermore, a significant association between lateral rectus muscle alteration of both eyes and pain was observed (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our results show various OM alterations in patients with EDS, specifically superior and medial rectus muscle hypofunction. A full orthoptic evaluation in these patients is recommendable to detect OM involvement and possible ligamentous laxity changes over time through an accurate OM assessment. Full article

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) is a rare and sight-threatening complication of various intraocular surgeries, including cataract surgery. Although the rate of SCH complicating cataract surgery has decreased in the era of phacoemulsification, most likely due to smaller self-sealing incisions and modern equipment, it remains a challenging complication to manage. The aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence of the pathophysiology and management of SCH complicating phaco surgery. A literature review was performed using the PubMed database searching for diagnosis, therapy, and management of SCH during phacoemulsification. The evidence available on the optimal management of this condition is low, and there is no consensus so far. An early diagnosis is thought to be essential to avoid progression to the devastating stage of expulsion of intraocular contents (expulsive hemorrhage). Sudden intraoperative anterior chamber shallowing, red reflex loss, and a significant increase in intraocular pressure are highly suspicious for this severe complication. A fundus examination and ocular ultrasound are crucial to confirm the diagnosis and, if it is confirmed, stabilize the globe immediately. The initial therapeutic approach includes aggressive topical and systemic medication focused on controlling ocular inflammation and intraocular pressure, whereas the timing and the indications of surgical intervention remain controversial. Full article