The initial stages of the evolutionary history of peratheriines, the European herpetotheriid metatherians, are largely unknown, primarily due to their limited morphological dental disparity throughout the Palaeogene, coupled with significant intraspecific variation. Based on eleven molars, we document a new early peratheriine species, Peratherium musivum sp. nov . which is larger than and morphologically similar to the earliest peratheriine, Peratherium constans (MP7). Subtle molar characters are shared with the largest early Eocene peratheriine, Peratheriummaximum comb. nov . We illustrate the importance of studying possible changes in molar cusp – basin proportions and correlated characters that occured during peratheriine evolution. Peratherium musivum sp. nov. which spanned only part of the MP7-MP8 + 9 time interval, and the ~MP8 + 9 Peratherium maximum comb. nov. were probably widespread in Western Europe. The description of a well-preserved mandible of the latter, from La Borie (~MP8 + 9), reveals original features concerning relative size and shape of dental alveoli, partly corroborated using isolated molars. These traits are absent in the younger, most representative species of both peratheriine genera, Peratherium and Amphiperatherium . Based on the aforementioned data and a critical review, it is demonstrated that peratheriine genera lack consistent definitions, so that the Peratherium / Amphiperatherium dichotomy is plausibly inapplicable to early Eocene representatives. This article is registered in ZooBank under urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A2B4DE58-855C-4CB8-BC1D-C9677E6DF97D
bell hooks was a trailblazer. She was a renowned scholar, author, feminist theorist, and cultural critic. She was pivotal to the women’s liberation movement, the feminist movement, feminism, Black womanhood, liberation through education, love, and healing. bell hooks died on December 15, 2021. As we pass the three-year anniversary of her death, we (the authors) millennials, reflect on her life and legacy. We are privileged to engage with her work and enrich our lives with the powerful and prominent lens that bell hooks provided us through her decades of work. bell hooks defined love as a verb. She emphasizes love as a way to create healing and change. Her radical thoughts around creating change, in the way we think, and act will continue to impact and create change for generations to come. “What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe ”- bell hooks
The presentation of ocular sarcoidosis may involve different parts of the eye and/or adnexal tissues. Uveitis is the most common manifestation, and when it involves the posterior segment, it often presents as peripheral multifocal choroiditis. The occurrence of symptomatic occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV) associated with ocular sarcoidosis is not well described in the literature. The objective of this article is to describe well characterized cases of biopsy-proven ocular sarcoidosis presenting with symptomatic ORV. We conducted a retrospective study using the ophthalmological database, to include patients with symptomatic ORV and biopsy-proven sarcoidosis, who were followed at a tertiary ophthalmology and internal medicine center. We described analysis of ocular and systemic manifestations at baseline and response to local and systemic treatments. We identified five cases, all male, including four from sub-Saharan Africa and one from France. Uveitis affected both eyes in all cases, and none showed intermediate uveitis, panuveitis, or peripheral multifocal choroiditis. Ocular manifestations were consistently associated with constitutional symptoms and pulmonary involvement, with a marked increase in acute phase reactants in all cases and lymphocytic meningitis in 2/5. All patients responded well to local and systemic glucocorticoids (GCs), with two patients showing GC dependence requiring the addition of an immunosuppressant. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the clinical findings and management strategies of newly-diagnosed sarcoidosis presenting with symptomatic ORV. Although such cases are unusual, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis should be considered when ORV is encountered.
Authors reported an 18% rate of endophthalmitis in Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) patients, higher than previously reported rates. Most cases occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely due to reduced access to care. Bandage contact lens wear was found to be protective, supporting its role as standard of care in KPro eyes. Black patients experienced higher rates of endophthalmitis, highlighting disparities in eye care. Vancomycin prophylaxis did not reduce the risk of endophthalmitis in KPro eyes and may increase the number of fungal cases, supporting the selective use of topical antibiotics. Despite the higher incidence of endophthalmitis in this study, visual outcomes remained stable, emphasizing the importance of lifelong follow-up and equitable access to care for all KPro patients.
Introduction : The ORTHOPHTALMO study aims to evaluate the diagnostic parameters of the screening protocol for amblyopia and risk factors for amblyopia in 3-year-olds recommended in 2019 by the French Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AFSOP). This protocol uses visual acuity, photoscreening refraction, and cover test examination performed by an orthoptist. Patient referral to an ophthalmologist is only according to recommended referral criteria. Methods : A prospective, single-center study was performed between September 2020 and June 2021 on a consecutive series of 3-year-olds consulting the Ophthalmology Centre of Clinique Rive Gauche, Toulouse, France, for vision screening. Patients were first examined by an orthoptist following the screening protocol recommended by AFSOP. All patients were then systematically examined by an ophthalmologist for cycloplegic refraction measurement (reference examination). The ophthalmologist was blinded to the referral conclusion and refraction measurements of the orthoptist. Results : A total of 300 patients (149 girls and 151 boys) were included. Examination by an orthoptist was unreliable/incomplete in 7% of cases. An abnormality was detected by the orthoptist in ≥1 of the screening tests among 42% of patients; these patients were thus considered as requiring referral to an ophthalmologist. Reference ophthalmological examination found 41% of patients required treatment. The diagnostic parameters of this screening protocol were 90% for sensitivity and 89% for specificity. Discussion : We validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the AFSOP screening protocol for detection of amblyopia and risk factors for amblyopia in 3-year-olds as well as the recommended criteria for referral to an ophthalmologist. ClinicalTrials.gov https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04395560 . Number: NCT04395560.
Social rehabilitation of aggression following an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is critically important for persons with ABI due to increased vulnerability of criminal behaviour related to post-injury changes in functioning. This review presents findings from studies that evaluated aggression interventions in both community and forensic populations of people with ABI. We searched PsycINFO, EMBASE, SocINDEX, CINAHL and Medline databases for studies published between 1 st January 2000 and 15 th October 2023. There were 15 studies (14 community-based, one forensic) that met inclusion criteria. Pharmacological management (6) was largely ineffective and anger management interventions (6) presented with inconsistent effectiveness. Emotion regulation (1) may be effective for externalised aggression. Both mindfulness and transcranial direct current stimulation (1) were effective, and the results of a forensic peer group approach (1) were not tested for statistical significance. There was variability in the measurement of aggression, injury severity, and cognitive impairment. Whilst community interventions for aggression in persons with ABI are prevalent, findings for effectiveness have been mixed and there is a paucity of evaluated interventions in forensic samples. Further research is needed to unravel the complex interplay of factors contributing to aggression and develop effective social rehabilitation for persons with ABI.
To explore the effects of the Personalized Citizen Assistance for Social Participation (APIC), an intervention adapted here for visual impairment, involving weekly stimulation sessions over six to twelve months, provided by trained and supervised attendants, on seven outcomes (social participation, leisure, independence, mobility, quality of life, health-related quality of life, and empowerment) in older adults with visual impairment, and to document its facilitators and barriers. A mixed-method design, which included a pre-experimental and an exploratory qualitative clinical research component, was used on 8 older adults (7 women) with visual impairment aged 70–86, and 8 attendants (5 women) aged 20–74. Before the intervention, directly after, and four months later, older adults completed questionnaires on the 7 outcomes. During the intervention, attendants completed diaries and participated in monthly meetings. Semi-structured interviews were administered to all participants after the intervention. Social participation, leisure, mobility, quality of life and empowerment had increased immediately after the APIC. These improvements were still generally observed four months later. Participants reported that the APIC improved older adults’ capabilities, social participation, and social environment. The APIC is a promising intervention which helps older adults with visual impairment to deal with social restrictions.