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Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic affected medical practice worldwide due to interventions to prevent spreading. Its effect on ophthalmology practices in Latin America has not yet been explored. We aimed to assess the perceptions about the pandemic from countries' ophthalmological national and subspecialty retina societies affiliated to the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO). Patients and Methods: A survey-based study of leaders of national ophthalmological and retinal societies was conducted. The survey was sent by email to 30 societies, from which 20 responded (12 countries, 66.6% response rate). It included closed- and open-ended questions about (1) operational capacity and precautions, (2) telemedicine and virtual care, (3) procedures, and (4) post-pandemic considerations. Results: There was a marked decline in ophthalmology patient visits (80-95%) and elective surgeries (90%) during 2020 compared to before the pandemic. Precautions like temperature checks, mask usage, and social distancing were widely implemented while personal protective equipment (PPE) availability varied. Telemedicine use was limited due to lack of experience with it. Reopening plans focused on maintaining precautions and gradually resuming activities. Economic and security concerns were raised, and adherence to guidelines was emphasized. Respondents acknowledged the need to adapt to a "new normal". Long duration drugs, fewer imaging studies, and shorter wait times were preferred; however, availability of long duration drugs was limited. Conclusion: The pandemic impacted ophthalmology in Latin America, with reduced patient visits, procedures, and surgeries. Delayed treatment and complications were likely the result of the pandemic.

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BACKGROUND: High mountainous environments are of particular interest as they play an essential role for life and human societies, while being environments which are highly vulnerable to climate change and land use intensification. Despite this, our knowledge of high mountain soils in South America and their microbial community structure is strikingly scarce, which is of more concern considering the large population that depends on the ecosystem services provided by these areas. Conversely, the Central Andes, located in the Mediterranean region of Chile, has long been studied for its singular flora, whose diversity and endemism has been attributed to the particular geological history and pronounced environmental gradients in short distances. Here, we explore soil properties and microbial community structure depending on drainage class in a well-preserved Andean valley on the lower alpine vegetation belt (~2500 m a.s.l.) at 33.5˚S. This presents an opportunity to determine changes in the overall bacterial community structure across different types of soils and their distinct layers in a soil depth profile of a highly heterogeneous environment. METHODS: Five sites closely located (<1.5 km) and distributed in a well preserved Andean valley on the lower alpine vegetation belt (~2500 m a.s.l.) at 33.5˚S were selected based on a pedological approach taking into account soil types, drainage classes and horizons. We analyzed 113 soil samples using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to describe bacterial abundance, taxonomic composition, and co-occurrence networks. RESULTS: Almost 18,427 Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASVs) affiliated to 55 phyla were detected. The bacterial community structure within the same horizons were very similar validating the pedological sampling approach. Bray-Curtis dissimilarity analysis revealed that the structure of bacterial communities in superficial horizons (topsoil) differed from those found in deep horizons (subsoil) in a site-specific manner. However, an overall closer relationship was observed between topsoil as opposed to between subsoil microbial communities. Alpha diversity of soil bacterial communities was higher in topsoil, which also showed more bacterial members interacting and with higher average connectivity compared to subsoils. Finally, abundances of specific taxa could be considered as biological markers in the transition from topsoil to subsoil horizons, like Fibrobacterota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota for shallower soils and Chloroflexi, Latescibacterota and Nitrospirota for deeper soils. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the importance of the soil drainage conditions for the bacterial community composition, suggesting that information of both structure and their possible ecological relationships, might be useful in clarifying the location of the edge of the topsoil-subsoil transition in mountainous environments.

Assuntos

Assuntos

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BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant Müller cell dystrophy is a rare condition we described in 1991. It is characterized by a striking sheen appearance on the retinal surface with progressive retinal changes leading to disorganization and atrophy with a decreased b-wave electroretinograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 45 members of a 4-generation family. Fifteen subjects from three generations were found with the disease, without gender predilection. Seven patients underwent ophthalmic examination including fundus examination, intravenous fluorescein angiogram, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and electroretinogram. Six patients have a 30-year follow-up. Histopathology examination was performed on eyes of the eldest patient. Whole exome sequencing was done in four affected subjects. RESULTS: Findings include a decreased visual acuity, abnormal cellophane-like sheen of the vitreoretinal interface, a "plush" nerve fiber layer, and characteristic macular changes. Electroretinogram showed a selective b-wave diminution. Intravenous fluorescein angiogram presented perifoveal hyperfluorescence and capillary leakage. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed cavitations involving inner and later outer retinal layers with later disorganization. Histopathologic findings included Müller cell abnormalities with cystic disruption of inner retinal layers, pseudoexfoliation in anterior segment, and amyloidosis of extraocular vessels. Pedigree analysis suggests an autosomal dominant inheritance with late onset. DNA analysis demonstrated a previously undescribed heterozygous missense p.Glu109Val mutation in transthyretin. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first family reported with this disorder. Our data support the hypothesis that autosomal dominant Müller cell dystrophy is a distinct retinal dystrophy affecting Müller cells. Mutations in transthyretin gene may manifest as a predominantly retinal disorder.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The kinkajou (Potos flavus) and crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) are carnivores belonging to the family Procyonidae, but both species are characterized by different types of locomotion. Differences can be found in the adaptations that these two species present in the forearm muscles, such as the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), palmaris longus (PL) and interflexorii (IF), which have been described confusingly in previous studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe these muscles in both species together with their innervations to carry out an evolutionary and terminological analysis among carnivorans. Both thoracic limbs were dissected from five P. flavus and three P. cancrivorus that had died of natural causes in Wildlife Care Centers. Two PL muscles (m. palmaris longus lateralis, PLL, and m. palmaris longus medialis, PLM) were found in P. flavus, and the IF were the only superficial flexors of the digits, whereas P. cancrivorus presented the IF and two bellies homologous to the two PLs of P. flavus, where the homologous belly of the PLM sent tendons to digits II-IV. Therefore, it was considered as the FDS due to its similarity to other carnivorans, and the lateral belly is the only PL present in P. cancrivorus. The topology, attachments and innervation of these muscles in P. flavus and P. cancrivorus allowed homologies to be established, hypothesizing their evolutionary derivation from the FDS. It also allowed the differences among PL, FDS and IF muscles to be described, concluding that most carnivorans do not have a PL.

Assuntos