Visual impairment and blindness among the students of blind schools in Allahabad and its vicinity: A causal assessment.

PubMed

Bhalerao, Sushank Ashok; Tandon, Mahesh; Singh, Satyaprakash; Dwivedi, Shraddha; Kumar, Santosh; Rana, Jagriti

2015-03-01

Information on eye diseases in blind school children in Allahabad is rare and sketchy. A cross-sectional study was performed to identify causes of blindness (BL) in blind school children with an aim to gather information on ocular morbidity in the blind schools in Allahabad and in its vicinity. A cross-sectional study was carried out in all the four blind schools in Allahabad and its vicinity. The students in the blind schools visited were included in the study and informed consents from parents were obtained. Relevant ocular history and basic ocular examinations were carried out on the students of the blind schools. A total of 90 students were examined in four schools of the blind in Allahabad and in the vicinity. The main causes of severe visual impairment and BL in the better eye of students were microphthalmos (34.44%), corneal scar (22.23%), anophthalmos (14.45%), pseudophakia (6.67%), optic nerve atrophy (6.67%), buphthalmos/glaucoma (3.33%), cryptophthalmos (2.22%), staphyloma (2.22%), cataract (2.22%), retinal dystrophy (2.22%), aphakia (1.11%), coloboma (1.11%), retinal detachment (1.11%), etc. Of these, 22 (24.44%) students had preventable causes of BL and another 12 (13.33%) students had treatable causes of BL. It was found that hereditary diseases, corneal scar, glaucoma and cataract were the prominent causes of BL among the students of blind schools. Almost 38% of the students had preventable or treatable causes, indicating the need of genetical counseling and focused intervention.

Survey of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Botswana

PubMed Central

Nallasamy, Sudha; Anninger, William V; Quinn, Graham E; Kroener, Brian; Zetola, Nicola M; Nkomazana, Oathokwa

2014-01-01

Background/aims In terms of blind-person years, the worldwide burden of childhood blindness is second only to cataracts. In many developing countries, 30–72% of childhood blindness is avoidable. The authors conducted this study to determine the causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment (VI) in Botswana, a middle-income country with limited access to ophthalmic care. Methods This study was conducted over 4 weeks in eight cities and villages in Botswana. Children were recruited through a radio advertisement and local outreach programmes. Those ≤15 years of age with visual acuity <6/18 in either eye were enrolled. The WHO/Prevention of Blindness Eye Examination Record for Children with Blindness and Low Vision was used to record data. Results The authors enrolled 241 children, 79 with unilateral and 162 with bilateral VI. Of unilateral cases, 89% were avoidable: 23% preventable (83% trauma-related) and 66% treatable (40% refractive error and 31% amblyopia). Of bilateral cases, 63% were avoidable: 5% preventable and 58% treatable (33% refractive error and 31% congenital cataracts). Conclusion Refractive error, which is easily correctable with glasses, is the most common cause of bilateral VI, with cataracts a close second. A nationwide intervention is currently being planned to reduce the burden of avoidable childhood VI in Botswana. PMID:21242581

Survey of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Botswana.

PubMed

Nallasamy, Sudha; Anninger, William V; Quinn, Graham E; Kroener, Brian; Zetola, Nicola M; Nkomazana, Oathokwa

2011-10-01

In terms of blind-person years, the worldwide burden of childhood blindness is second only to cataracts. In many developing countries, 30-72% of childhood blindness is avoidable. The authors conducted this study to determine the causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment (VI) in Botswana, a middle-income country with limited access to ophthalmic care. This study was conducted over 4 weeks in eight cities and villages in Botswana. Children were recruited through a radio advertisement and local outreach programmes. Those ≤ 15 years of age with visual acuity <6/18 in either eye were enrolled. The WHO/Prevention of Blindness Eye Examination Record for Children with Blindness and Low Vision was used to record data. The authors enrolled 241 children, 79 with unilateral and 162 with bilateral VI. Of unilateral cases, 89% were avoidable: 23% preventable (83% trauma-related) and 66% treatable (40% refractive error and 31% amblyopia). Of bilateral cases, 63% were avoidable: 5% preventable and 58% treatable (33% refractive error and 31% congenital cataracts). Refractive error, which is easily correctable with glasses, is the most common cause of bilateral VI, with cataracts a close second. A nationwide intervention is currently being planned to reduce the burden of avoidable childhood VI in Botswana.

Blindness and Severe Visual Impairment in Pupils at Schools for the Blind in Burundi

PubMed Central

Ruhagaze, Patrick; Njuguna, Kahaki Kimani Margaret; Kandeke, Lévi; Courtright, Paul

2013-01-01

Purpose: To determine the causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils attending schools for the blind in Burundi in order to assist planning for services in the country. Materials and Methods: All pupils attending three schools for the blind in Burundi were examined. A modified WHO/PBL eye examination record form for children with blindness and low vision was used to record the findings. Data was analyzed for those who became blind or severely visually impaired before the age of 16 years. Results: Overall, 117 pupils who became visually impaired before 16 years of age were examined. Of these, 109 (93.2%) were blind or severely visually impaired. The major anatomical cause of blindness or severe visual impairment was cornea pathology/phthisis (23.9%), followed by lens pathology (18.3%), uveal lesions (14.7%) and optic nerve lesions (11.9%). In the majority of pupils with blindness or severe visual impairment, the underlying etiology of visual loss was unknown (74.3%). More than half of the pupils with lens related blindness had not had surgery; among those who had surgery, outcomes were generally poor. Conclusion: The causes identified indicate the importance of continuing preventive public health strategies, as well as the development of specialist pediatric ophthalmic services in the management of childhood blindness in Burundi. The geographic distribution of pupils at the schools for the blind indicates a need for community-based programs to identify and refer children in need of services. PMID:23580854

Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi.

PubMed

Ruhagaze, Patrick; Njuguna, Kahaki Kimani Margaret; Kandeke, Lévi; Courtright, Paul

2013-01-01

To determine the causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils attending schools for the blind in Burundi in order to assist planning for services in the country. All pupils attending three schools for the blind in Burundi were examined. A modified WHO/PBL eye examination record form for children with blindness and low vision was used to record the findings. Data was analyzed for those who became blind or severely visually impaired before the age of 16 years. Overall, 117 pupils who became visually impaired before 16 years of age were examined. Of these, 109 (93.2%) were blind or severely visually impaired. The major anatomical cause of blindness or severe visual impairment was cornea pathology/phthisis (23.9%), followed by lens pathology (18.3%), uveal lesions (14.7%) and optic nerve lesions (11.9%). In the majority of pupils with blindness or severe visual impairment, the underlying etiology of visual loss was unknown (74.3%). More than half of the pupils with lens related blindness had not had surgery; among those who had surgery, outcomes were generally poor. The causes identified indicate the importance of continuing preventive public health strategies, as well as the development of specialist pediatric ophthalmic services in the management of childhood blindness in Burundi. The geographic distribution of pupils at the schools for the blind indicates a need for community-based programs to identify and refer children in need of services.

An epidemiological study of blindness in an Indian rural community.

PubMed Central

Srivastava, R N; Verma, B L

1978-01-01

A house-to-house survey of blindness in an Indian rural community covering a population of 20 134 in 12 villages revealed a prevalence rate of 35 blind and 144 partially blind persons per 10 000 population. Blindness was significantly associated with the age, sex, marital status, occupation, and socioeconomic status of the respondents. Caratact, glaucoma, smallpox and trachoma were the main causes of blindness. Preventive measures can reduce the toll of blindness in such a community. PMID:681587

Effects of blind spot monitoring systems on police-reported lane-change crashes.

PubMed

Cicchino, Jessica B

2018-06-21

To examine the effectiveness of blind spot monitoring systems in preventing police-reported lane-change crashes. Poisson regression was used to compare crash involvement rates per insured vehicle year in police-reported lane-change crashes in 26 U.S. states during 2009-2015 between vehicles with blind spot monitoring and the same vehicle models without the optional system, controlling for other factors that can affect crash risk. Crash involvement rates in lane-change crashes were 14% lower (95% confidence limits -24% to -2%) among vehicles with blind spot monitoring than those without. Blind spot monitoring systems are effective in preventing police-reported lane-change crashes when considering crashes of all severities. If every U.S. vehicle in 2015 were equipped with blind spot monitoring that performed like the study systems, it is estimated that about 50,000 crashes could have been prevented.

Dexamethasone for Prevention of Postoperative Shivering: A Randomized Double-Blind Comparison with Pethidine

PubMed Central

Entezariasl, Masood; Isazadehfar, Khatereh

2013-01-01

Background: Postoperative shivering is very common and followed by many problems such as increasing oxygen consumption, blood pressure, intracranial and intraocular pressure, and postoperative pain. Therefore, prevention of shivering is important, especially in elderly and ischemic heart disease patients. The goal of this study was to compare the effect of pethidine (meperidine), dexamethasone, and placebo on prevention of shivering. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was carried out on 120 patients who were candidates for surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia for all patients were similar. Temperature of patients was measured every 5 min interval. After induction, saline 0.9%, dexamethasone and pethidine were injected to groups a, b, and c, respectively. In recovery, patients were controlled for visible shivering. All data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests. Results: There were no significant differences among three mentioned groups regarding gender, age, duration of surgery and anesthesia, extubation time, duration of recovery, and basic clinical characteristics. Nineteen cases (47.5%) of placebo group had postoperative shivering, whereas in dexamethasone group only four cases (10%) had shivering and the difference between the two groups was significant. Also in pethidine group, 15 cases (37.5%) had shivering and the difference with placebo group was significant (P value = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that pethidine and dexamethasone are effective drugs for prevention of postoperative shivering in elective surgery and the effect of dexamethasone in preventing the postoperative shivering is better than pethidine. PMID:24049601

The Sokoto blind beggars: causes of blindness and barriers to rehabilitation services.

PubMed

Balarabe, Aliyu Hamza; Mahmoud, Abdulraheem O; Ayanniyi, Abdulkabir Ayansiji

2014-01-01

To determine the causes of blindness and the barriers to accessing rehabilitation services (RS) among blind street beggars (bsb) in Sokoto, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 202 bsb (VA < 3/60) using interviewer administered questionnaire. The causes of blindness were diagnosed by clinical ophthalmic examination. There were 107 (53%) males and 95 (47%) females with a mean age of 49 years (SD 12.2). Most bsb 191 (94.6%) had non-formal education. Of 190 (94.1%) irreversibly bsb, 180/190 (94.7%) had no light perception (NPL) bilaterally. The major causes of blindness were non-trachomatous corneal opacity (60.8%) and trachoma corneal opacity (12.8%). There were 166 (82%) blind from avoidable causes and 190 (94.1%) were irreversibly blind with 76.1% due to avoidable causes. The available sub-standard RS were educational, vocational and financial support. The barriers to RS in the past included non-availability 151 (87.8%), inability to afford 2 (1.2%), unfelt need 4 (2.3%), family refusal 1 (0.6), ignorance 6 (3.5%) and being not linked 8 (4.7%). The barriers to RS during the study period included inability of 72 subjects (35.6%) to access RS and 59 (81.9%) were due to lack of linkage to the existing services. Corneal opacification was the major cause of blindness among bsb. The main challenges to RS include the inadequate services available, societal and users factors. Renewed efforts are warranted toward the prevention of avoidable causes of blindness especially corneal opacities. The quality of life of the blind street beggar should be improved through available, accessible and affordable well-maintained and sustained rehabilitation services.

Corneal blindness: a global perspective.

PubMed Central

Whitcher, J. P.; Srinivasan, M.; Upadhyay, M. P.

2001-01-01

Diseases affecting the cornea are a major cause of blindness worldwide, second only to cataract in overall importance. The epidemiology of corneal blindness is complicated and encompasses a wide variety of infectious and inflammatory eye diseses that cause corneal scarring, which ultimately leads to functional blindness. In addition, the prevalence of corneal disease varies from country to country and even from one population to another. While cataract is responsible for nearly 20 million of the 45 million blind people in the world, the next major cause is trachoma which blinds 4.9 million individuals, mainly as a result of corneal scarring and vascularization. Ocular trauma and corneal ulceration are significant causes of corneal blindness that are often underreported but may be responsible for 1.5-2.0 million new cases of monocular blindness every year. Causes of childhood blindness (about 1.5 million worldwide with 5 million visually disabled) include xerophthalmia (350,000 cases annually), ophthalmia neonatorum, and less frequently seen ocular diseases such as herpes simplex virus infections and vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Even though the control of onchocerciasis and leprosy are public health success stories, these diseases are still significant causes of blindness--affecting a quarter of a million individuals each. Traditional eye medicines have also been implicated as a major risk factor in the current epidemic of corneal ulceration in developing countries. Because of the difficulty of treating corneal blindness once it has occurred, public health prevention programmes are the most cost-effective means of decreasing the global burden of corneal blindness. PMID:11285665

[Frequency and causes of blindness and visual impairment in schools for the blind in Yaoundé (Cameroon)].

PubMed

Noche, Christelle Domngang; Bella, Assumpta Lucienne

2010-01-01

To determine the causes of blindness and visual impairment in students attending schools for the blind in Yaounde (Cameroon) and to estimate their frequencies. This study examined all 56 students at three schools for the blind in Yaoundé from September 15 through October 15, 2006. We collected data about their age, sex, medical and surgical history. Visual acuity was measured to determine their vision status according to the World Health Organization categories for blindness and visual impairment. All subjects underwent an ocular examination. Epi Info 3.5.1. was used for the statistical analysis of age, sex, visual acuity, causes of blindness and visual impairment, and etiologies. Fifty six people were examined: 37 men (66.1%) and 19 women (33.9%). Their mean age was 21.57 ± 10.53 years (min-max: 5-49), and 48.2% were in the 10-19 years age group (n = 27). In all, 87.5% were blind, 7.14% severely visually impaired, and 1.78% moderately visually impaired. The main causes of blindness and visual impairment in our sample were corneal disease (32.14%), optic nerve lesions (26.78%), cataract and its surgical complications (19.64%), retinal disorders (10.71%), glaucoma (8.92%, and malformations of the eyeball (1.78%). Their etiologies included congenital cataracts (19.64%), meningitis/fever (8.92%), glaucoma (7.14%), measles (5.35%), ocular trauma (5.35%), albinism (3.57%), Lyell syndrome (1.8%), and alcohol ingestion (1.8%). Etiology was unknown in 46.42%. Fifty per cent of these causes of blindness and visual impairment were treatable and/or preventable. Corneal lesions were the main cause of blindness and visual impairment in our sample. Fifty per cent of the causes found were treatable and/or preventable. Thus, substantial efforts are required to ensure access to better quality specialist ocular care. Furthermore, local authorities should create more centers specialised in the rehabilitation of the visual handicapped.

The Sokoto Blind Beggars: Causes of Blindness and Barriers to Rehabilitation Services

PubMed Central

Balarabe, Aliyu Hamza; Mahmoud, Abdulraheem O.; Ayanniyi, Abdulkabir Ayansiji

2014-01-01

Purpose: To determine the causes of blindness and the barriers to accessing rehabilitation services (RS) among blind street beggars (bsb) in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 202 bsb (VA < 3/60) using interviewer administered questionnaire. The causes of blindness were diagnosed by clinical ophthalmic examination. Results: There were 107 (53%) males and 95 (47%) females with a mean age of 49 years (SD 12.2). Most bsb 191 (94.6%) had non-formal education. Of 190 (94.1%) irreversibly bsb, 180/190 (94.7%) had no light perception (NPL) bilaterally. The major causes of blindness were non-trachomatous corneal opacity (60.8%) and trachoma corneal opacity (12.8%). There were 166 (82%) blind from avoidable causes and 190 (94.1%) were irreversibly blind with 76.1% due to avoidable causes. The available sub-standard RS were educational, vocational and financial support. The barriers to RS in the past included non-availability 151 (87.8%), inability to afford 2 (1.2%), unfelt need 4 (2.3%), family refusal 1 (0.6), ignorance 6 (3.5%) and being not linked 8 (4.7%). The barriers to RS during the study period included inability of 72 subjects (35.6%) to access RS and 59 (81.9%) were due to lack of linkage to the existing services. Conclusion: Corneal opacification was the major cause of blindness among bsb. The main challenges to RS include the inadequate services available, societal and users factors. Renewed efforts are warranted toward the prevention of avoidable causes of blindness especially corneal opacities. The quality of life of the blind street beggar should be improved through available, accessible and affordable well-maintained and sustained rehabilitation services. PMID:24791106

Do open label blinded outcome studies of novel anticoagulants versus warfarin have equivalent validity to those carried out under double-blind conditions?

PubMed

O'Neil, William M; Welner, Sharon A; Lip, Gregory Y H

2013-03-01

Recent anticoagulants for stroke prevention in AF have been tested in active comparator controlled studies versus warfarin using two designs: double-blind, double-dummy and prospective randomised, open blinded endpoint (PROBE). The former requires elaborate procedures to maintain blinding, while PROBE does not. Outcomes of double-blind and PROBE designed studies of novel anticoagulants for AF, focusing on warfarin controls, were explored. Major, Phase III warfarin-controlled trials for stroke prevention in AF were identified. Odds ratios (ORs) of key outcomes for active comparators versus VKA and event rates for VKA arms were compared between designs, in context of baseline demographics and inclusion criteria. Identified trials studied five novel anticoagulants in three each of PROBE and double-blind design. For ORs of results across studies and outcomes, there was little pattern differentiating the two designs. Among VKA-control subjects, event rates for the primary outcome (stroke or systemic embolism) in PROBE trials at 1.74 %/year (95% confidence interval: 1.54-1.95) was not significantly different from that in double-blind trials, at 1.88 (1.73-2.03). Among other outcomes, VKA-treated subjects in both trial designs had similar event rates, apart from higher all-cause mortality in ROCKET AF, and lower myocardial infarction rates among the PROBE study patients. Although there are differences in outcome between PROBE and double blind trials, they do not appear to be design-related. The exacting requirements of double-blinding in AF trials may not be necessary.

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in students in schools for the blind in Northwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Asferaw, Mulusew; Woodruff, Geoffrey; Gilbert, Clare

2017-01-01

To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) among students in schools for the blind in Northwest Ethiopia and to identify preventable and treatable causes. Students attending nine schools for the blind in Northwest Ethiopia were examined and causes assigned using the standard WHO record form for children with blindness and low vision in May and June 2015. 383 students were examined, 357 (93%) of whom were severely visually impaired or blind (<6/60 in their better eye). 253 (70.9%) were aged 16 years or above and 228 (63.9%) were males. 100 students aged <16 years were blind and four were SVI, total 104. The major anatomical site of visual loss among those 0-15 years was cornea/phthisis (47.1%), usually due to measles and vitamin A deficiency, followed by whole globe (22.1%), lens (9.6%) and uvea (8.7%). Among students aged 16 years and above, corneal/phthisis (76.3%) was the major anatomical cause, followed by lens (6.3%), whole globe (4.7%), uvea (3.6%) and optic nerve (3.2%). The leading underlying aetiology among students aged <16 years was childhood factors (39.4%) (13.5% measles, 10.6% vitamin A deficiency), followed by unknown aetiology (54.8%), perinatal (2.9%) and hereditary factors (2.9%). In the older group, childhood factors (72.3%) (25% measles, 15% vitamin A deficiency) were major causes, followed by unknown aetiology (24.1%), perinatal (2.4%) and hereditary factors (0.8%). Over 80% of the causes were avoidable with majority being potentially preventable (65%). Corneal blindness, mainly as the result of measles and vitamin A deficiency, is still a public health problem in Northwest Ethiopia, and this has not changed as observed in other low-income countries. More than three-fourth of causes of SVI/BL in students in schools for the blind are potentially avoidable, with measles/vitamin A deficiency and cataract being the leading causes.

Implementation of a Novel Adherence Monitoring Strategy in a Phase III, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, HIV-1 Prevention Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Husnik, Marla J; Brown, Elizabeth R; Marzinke, Mark; Livant, Edward; Palanee-Phillips, Thesla; Hendrix, Craig W; Matovu Kiweewa, Flavia; Nair, Gonasagrie; Soto-Torres, Lydia E; Schwartz, Katie; Hillier, Sharon L; Baeten, Jared M

2017-11-01

Placebo-controlled HIV-1 prevention trials of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have not generally used concurrent measurement of adherence because of the potential risk of unblinding. However, several pre-exposure prophylaxis trials for HIV-1 prevention among women failed to show effectiveness because of low product adherence. Evaluation of product adherence objectively during a study provides the opportunity for strengthening adherence activities at sites having low adherence. During MTN-020/ASPIRE, a phase III, placebo-controlled trial of the dapivirine intravaginal ring, we implemented an adherence monitoring system. Monitoring began in quarter 1 (Q1) 2013 and continued through the conclusion of the trial. Blood plasma was collected quarterly and tested for dapivirine concentrations while maintaining blinding among study team members involved in participant management. Dapivirine concentrations >95 pg/mL, reflecting >8 hours of continuous use, were assessed as signaling product use. Study leadership monitored results on a monthly basis and provided feedback to site investigators. Experiences were shared across sites to motivate staff and counsel participants to strive toward higher adherence levels. An upward trend in adherence was observed (P < 0.0001); the proportion of samples from subjects in the active arm with dapivirine >95 pg/mL increased from 63% in Q1 2013 to 84% by Q1 2015. Ongoing drug level testing as a marker of adherence in MTN-020/ASPIRE demonstrates the feasibility of real-time adherence monitoring while maintaining study blinding at the level of participants, sites, and study leadership. This approach is novel for large-scale effectiveness studies for HIV-1 prevention.

Serving the Deaf-Blind Population: Planning for 1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brewer, Garry D.; Kakalik, James S.

Discussed in the report on planning for services to deaf-blind persons are the impact of the 1963-65 rubella epidemic on service delivery, the need for service system information and control, prevention of rubella as a cost-effective alternative to after care, estimates of the size of the 1980 deaf-blind population, and the projected (1980)cost of…

The pattern of childhood blindness in Karnataka, South India.

PubMed

Gogate, Parikshit; Kishore, H; Dole, Kuldeep; Shetty, Jyoti; Gilbert, Clare; Ranade, Satish; Kumar, Mohan; Srihari; Deshpande, Madan

2009-01-01

To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in southern Karnataka state of India. Children aged less than 16 years with a visual acuity of < 6/60 in the better eye, attending the residential schools for the blind were examined in 2005-2006, in the Karnataka state in the south of India. History taking, visual acuity estimation, external ocular examination, retinoscopy, and fundoscopy were done on all students. Refraction and low vision work-up done where indicated. The anatomical and etiological causes of severe visual impairment (< 6/60-3/60) and blindness (< 3/60 in the better eye) were classified using the World Health Organization's prevention of blindness programs' record system. A total of 1,179 students were examined, 891 of whom fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The major anatomical sites of visual loss were congenital anomalies (microphthalmos, anophthalmos) (321, 35.7%), corneal conditions (mainly scarring due to vitamin A deficiency, measles, trauma) (133, 14.9%), cataract or aphakia in 102 (11.4%), and retinal disorders (mainly dystrophies) in 177 children (19.9%). Nearly one-fourth of children were blind from conditions which could have been prevented or treated (27.8%), 87 of whom were referred for surgery. Low vision devices improved near acuity in 27 children (3%), and 43 (4.8%) benefited from refraction. Congenital anomalies, cataract, and retinal conditions account for most of the blindness in children.

Security of a sessional blind signature based on quantum cryptograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tian-Yin; Cai, Xiao-Qiu; Zhang, Rui-Ling

2014-08-01

We analyze the security of a sessional blind signature protocol based on quantum cryptograph and show that there are two security leaks in this protocol. One is that the legal user Alice can change the signed message after she gets a valid blind signature from the signatory Bob, and the other is that an external opponent Eve also can forge a valid blind message by a special attack, which are not permitted for blind signature. Therefore, this protocol is not secure in the sense that it does not satisfy the non-forgeability of blind signatures. We also discuss the methods to prevent the attack strategies in the end.

AAV Gene Therapy for MPS1-associated Corneal Blindness.

PubMed

Vance, Melisa; Llanga, Telmo; Bennett, Will; Woodard, Kenton; Murlidharan, Giridhar; Chungfat, Neil; Asokan, Aravind; Gilger, Brian; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Samulski, R Jude; Hirsch, Matthew L

2016-02-22

Although cord blood transplantation has significantly extended the lifespan of mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS1) patients, over 95% manifest cornea clouding with about 50% progressing to blindness. As corneal transplants are met with high rejection rates in MPS1 children, there remains no treatment to prevent blindness or restore vision in MPS1 children. Since MPS1 is caused by mutations in idua, which encodes alpha-L-iduronidase, a gene addition strategy to prevent, and potentially reverse, MPS1-associated corneal blindness was investigated. Initially, a codon optimized idua cDNA expression cassette (opt-IDUA) was validated for IDUA production and function following adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector transduction of MPS1 patient fibroblasts. Then, an AAV serotype evaluation in human cornea explants identified an AAV8 and 9 chimeric capsid (8G9) as most efficient for transduction. AAV8G9-opt-IDUA administered to human corneas via intrastromal injection demonstrated widespread transduction, which included cells that naturally produce IDUA, and resulted in a >10-fold supraphysiological increase in IDUA activity. No significant apoptosis related to AAV vectors or IDUA was observed under any conditions in both human corneas and MPS1 patient fibroblasts. The collective preclinical data demonstrate safe and efficient IDUA delivery to human corneas, which may prevent and potentially reverse MPS1-associated cornea blindness.

AAV Gene Therapy for MPS1-associated Corneal Blindness

PubMed Central

Vance, Melisa; Llanga, Telmo; Bennett, Will; Woodard, Kenton; Murlidharan, Giridhar; Chungfat, Neil; Asokan, Aravind; Gilger, Brian; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Samulski, R. Jude; Hirsch, Matthew L.

2016-01-01

Although cord blood transplantation has significantly extended the lifespan of mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS1) patients, over 95% manifest cornea clouding with about 50% progressing to blindness. As corneal transplants are met with high rejection rates in MPS1 children, there remains no treatment to prevent blindness or restore vision in MPS1 children. Since MPS1 is caused by mutations in idua, which encodes alpha-L-iduronidase, a gene addition strategy to prevent, and potentially reverse, MPS1-associated corneal blindness was investigated. Initially, a codon optimized idua cDNA expression cassette (opt-IDUA) was validated for IDUA production and function following adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector transduction of MPS1 patient fibroblasts. Then, an AAV serotype evaluation in human cornea explants identified an AAV8 and 9 chimeric capsid (8G9) as most efficient for transduction. AAV8G9-opt-IDUA administered to human corneas via intrastromal injection demonstrated widespread transduction, which included cells that naturally produce IDUA, and resulted in a >10-fold supraphysiological increase in IDUA activity. No significant apoptosis related to AAV vectors or IDUA was observed under any conditions in both human corneas and MPS1 patient fibroblasts. The collective preclinical data demonstrate safe and efficient IDUA delivery to human corneas, which may prevent and potentially reverse MPS1-associated cornea blindness. PMID:26899286

Prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill Chinese patients: a randomized, double-blind study evaluating esomeprazole and cimetidine.

PubMed

Lou, Wenhui; Xia, Ying; Xiang, Peng; Zhang, Liangqing; Yu, Xiangyou; Lim, Sam; Xu, Mo; Zhao, Lina; Rydholm, Hans; Traxler, Barry; Qin, Xinyu

2018-04-20

To assess the efficacy and safety of esomeprazole in preventing upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in critically ill Chinese patients, using cimetidine as an active comparator. A pre-specified non-inferiority limit (5%) was used to compare rates of significant upper GI bleeding in this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 study across 27 intensive care units in China. Secondary endpoints included safety and tolerability measures. Patients required mechanical ventilation and had at least one additional risk factor for stress ulcer bleeding. Patients were randomized to receive either active esomeprazole 40 mg, as a 30-min intravenous (IV) infusion twice daily, and an IV placebo cimetidine infusion or active cimetidine 50 mg/h, as a continuous infusion following an initial bolus of 300 mg, and placebo esomeprazole injections, given up to 14 days. Patients were blinded using this double-dummy technique. Of 274 patients, 2.7% with esomeprazole and 4.6% with cimetidine had significant upper GI bleeding (bright red blood in the gastric tube not clearing after lavage or persistent Gastroccult-positive "coffee grounds" material). Non-inferiority of esomeprazole to cimetidine was demonstrated. The safety profiles of both drugs were similar and as expected in critically ill patients. Esomeprazole is effective in preventing upper GI bleeding in critically ill Chinese patients, as demonstrated by the non-inferiority analysis using cimetidine as an active control. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02157376.

Dietary antioxidants prevent age-related retinal pigment epithelium actin damage and blindness in mice lacking αvβ5 integrin

PubMed Central

Yu, Chia-Chia; Nandrot, Emeline F.; Dun, Ying; Finnemann, Silvia C.

2011-01-01

In the aging human eye, oxidative damage and accumulation of pro-oxidant lysosomal lipofuscin cause functional decline of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which contributes to age-related macular degeneration. In mice with an RPE-specific phagocytosis defect due to lack of αvβ5 integrin receptors, RPE accumulation of lipofuscin suggests that the age-related blindness we previously described in this model may also result from oxidative stress. Cellular and molecular targets of oxidative stress in the eye remain poorly understood. Here we identify actin among 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) adducts formed specifically in β5−/− RPE but not neural retina with age. HNE modification directly correlated with loss of resistance of actin to detergent extraction, suggesting cytoskeletal damage in aging RPE. Dietary enrichment with natural antioxidants grapes or marigold extract containing macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin was sufficient to prevent HNE-adduct formation, actin solubility, lipofuscin accumulation, and age-related cone and rod photoreceptor dysfunction in β5−/− mice. Acute generation of HNE-adducts directly destabilized actin but not tubulin cytoskeletal elements of RPE cells. These findings identify destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton as a consequence of physiological, sublethal oxidative burden of RPE cells in vivo that is associated with age-related blindness and that can be prevented by consuming an antioxidant-rich diet. PMID:22178979

[Usage of Calendula officinalis in the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial].

PubMed

Schneider, Franciane; Danski, Mitzy Tannia Reichembach; Vayego, Stela Adami

2015-04-01

To evaluate the efficacy of Calendula officinalis in relation to Essential Fatty Acids for the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis. This is a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial with 51 patients with head and neck cancer in radiotherapy treatment divided into two groups: control (27) and experimental (24). There is statistically significant evidence (p-value = 0.0120) that the proportion of radiodermatitis grade 2 in Essential Fatty Acids group is higher than Calendula group. Through the Kaplan-Meier survival curve we observed that Essential Fatty Acids group has always remained below the Calendula group survival curve, due to the lower risk of developing radiodermatitis grade 1, which makes the usage of Calendula more effective, with statistical significance (p-value = 0.00402). Calendula showed better therapeutic response than the Essential Fatty Acids in the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-237v4b.

The first rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) in Thailand.

PubMed

Isipradit, Saichin; Sirimaharaj, Maytinee; Charukamnoetkanok, Puwat; Thonginnetra, Oraorn; Wongsawad, Warapat; Sathornsumetee, Busaba; Somboonthanakij, Sudawadee; Soomsawasdi, Piriya; Jitawatanarat, Umapond; Taweebanjongsin, Wongsiri; Arayangkoon, Eakkachai; Arame, Punyawee; Kobkoonthon, Chinsuchee; Pangputhipong, Pannet

2014-01-01

The majority of vision loss is preventable or treatable. Population surveys are crucial for planning, implementation, and monitoring policies and interventions to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairments. This is the first rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) study in Thailand. A cross-sectional study of a population in Thailand age 50 years old or over aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairments. Using the Thailand National Census 2010 as the sampling frame, a stratified four-stage cluster sampling based on a probability proportional to size was conducted in 176 enumeration areas from 11 provinces. Participants received comprehensive eye examination by ophthalmologists. The age and sex adjusted prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (VA) <20/400), severe visual impairment (VA <20/200 but ≥20/400), and moderate visual impairment (VA <20/70 but ≥20/200) were 0.6% (95% CI: 0.5-0.8), 1.3% (95% CI: 1.0-1.6), 12.6% (95% CI: 10.8-14.5). There was no significant difference among the four regions of Thailand. Cataract was the main cause of vision loss accounted for 69.7% of blindness. Cataract surgical coverage in persons was 95.1% for cut off VA of 20/400. Refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and corneal opacities were responsible for 6.0%, 5.1%, 4.0%, and 2.0% of blindness respectively. Thailand is on track to achieve the goal of VISION 2020. However, there is still much room for improvement. Policy refinements and innovative interventions are recommended to alleviate blindness and visual impairments especially regarding the backlog of blinding cataract, management of non-communicative, chronic, age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, prevention of childhood blindness, and establishment of a robust eye health information system.

The First Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) in Thailand

PubMed Central

Isipradit, Saichin; Sirimaharaj, Maytinee; Charukamnoetkanok, Puwat; Thonginnetra, Oraorn; Wongsawad, Warapat; Sathornsumetee, Busaba; Somboonthanakij, Sudawadee; Soomsawasdi, Piriya; Jitawatanarat, Umapond; Taweebanjongsin, Wongsiri; Arayangkoon, Eakkachai; Arame, Punyawee; Kobkoonthon, Chinsuchee; Pangputhipong, Pannet

2014-01-01

Background The majority of vision loss is preventable or treatable. Population surveys are crucial for planning, implementation, and monitoring policies and interventions to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairments. This is the first rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) study in Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study of a population in Thailand age 50 years old or over aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairments. Using the Thailand National Census 2010 as the sampling frame, a stratified four-stage cluster sampling based on a probability proportional to size was conducted in 176 enumeration areas from 11 provinces. Participants received comprehensive eye examination by ophthalmologists. Results The age and sex adjusted prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (VA) <20/400), severe visual impairment (VA <20/200 but ≥20/400), and moderate visual impairment (VA <20/70 but ≥20/200) were 0.6% (95% CI: 0.5–0.8), 1.3% (95% CI: 1.0–1.6), 12.6% (95% CI: 10.8–14.5). There was no significant difference among the four regions of Thailand. Cataract was the main cause of vision loss accounted for 69.7% of blindness. Cataract surgical coverage in persons was 95.1% for cut off VA of 20/400. Refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and corneal opacities were responsible for 6.0%, 5.1%, 4.0%, and 2.0% of blindness respectively. Conclusion Thailand is on track to achieve the goal of VISION 2020. However, there is still much room for improvement. Policy refinements and innovative interventions are recommended to alleviate blindness and visual impairments especially regarding the backlog of blinding cataract, management of non-communicative, chronic, age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, prevention of childhood blindness, and establishment of a robust eye health information system. PMID:25502762

Blindness and poverty in India: the way forward.

PubMed

Khanna, Rohit; Raman, Usha; Rao, Gullapalli N

2007-11-01

A few recent studies have shown that poverty is an exacerbating and often determining factor in the incidence of disabling conditions, including visual impairment. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that 90 per cent of all those affected by visual impairment live in the poorest countries of the world. India is home to one-fifth of the world's visually impaired people and therefore, any strategies to combat avoidable blindness must take into account the socio-economic conditions within which people live. This paper looks at the relationship between poverty and blindness in India and suggests strategies to address blindness prevention in a comprehensive manner.

Blind-Side, High-Temperature Fastener Lock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matza, E. C.; While, D. M.

1985-01-01

Formed-in-place staple provides positive mechanical lock. Post-supported, advanced carbon/carbon standoff panels, currently under consideration as alternate thermal protection system for Shuttle orbiter, locking feature applicable to temperatures of 1,600 degrees F (870 degrees C) and higher and employable after panel installed, resulting in blind application. Blind-side locking technique employs wire staple inserted into grooves in post, formed in place by ramped portion of post grooves. This splays out wire ends that move into castellated end of grommet, mechanically locking post and grommet against relative rotation. Splayed ends provide mechanical lock to prevent wire from falling out.

A Novel Quantum Proxy Blind Signature Scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Wei; Xie, Shu-Cui; Zhang, Jian-Zhong

2017-05-01

A novel quantum proxy blind signature scheme is proposed. In this scheme, a special type of non-maximally entangled three-qubit state is introduced as a quantum channel, which can realize perfect teleportation. The message sender U blinds his message by means of preparing two groups of non-orthogonal single-photon states. According to the original signer Charlie's delegation message, the proxy signer Alice generates a corresponding signature. The arbitrator Trent can help the receiver Bob verify the signature, and also prevent Bob from doing any damage. The above-mentioned advantages make this scheme different from some existing schemes. It is showed that our scheme has the properties of undeniability, unforgeability, blindness, untraceability. Moreover, it is free from intercept-resend attack.

An update on progress and the changing epidemiology of causes of childhood blindness worldwide.

PubMed

Kong, Lingkun; Fry, Melinda; Al-Samarraie, Mohannad; Gilbert, Clare; Steinkuller, Paul G

2012-12-01

To summarize the available data on pediatric blinding disease worldwide and to present current information on childhood blindness in the United States. A systematic search of world literature published since 1999 was conducted. Data also were solicited from each state school for the blind in the United States. In developing countries, 7% to 31% of childhood blindness and visual impairment is avoidable, 10% to 58% is treatable, and 3% to 28% is preventable. Corneal opacification is the leading cause of blindness in Africa, but the rate has decreased significantly from 56% in 1999 to 28% in 2012. There is no national registry of the blind in the United States, and most schools for the blind do not maintain data regarding the cause of blindness in their students. From those schools that do have such information, the top three causes are cortical visual impairment, optic nerve hypoplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity, which have not changed in past 10 years. There are marked regional differences in the causes of blindness in children, apparently based on socioeconomic factors that limit prevention and treatment schemes. In the United States, the 3 leading causes of childhood blindness appear to be cortical visual impairment, optic nerve hypoplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity; a national registry of the blind would allow accumulation of more complete and reliable data for accurate determination of the prevalence of each. Copyright © 2012 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for the blind in Myanmar.

PubMed

Muecke, James; Hammerton, Michael; Aung, Yee Yee; Warrier, Sunil; Kong, Aimee; Morse, Anna; Holmes, Martin; Yapp, Michael; Hamilton, Carolyn; Selva, Dinesh

2009-01-01

To determine the causes of visual impairment and blindness amongst children in schools for the blind in Myanmar; to identify the avoidable causes of visual impairment and blindness; and to provide spectacles, low vision aids, orientation and mobility training and ophthalmic treatment where indicated. Two hundred and eight children under 16 years of age from all 7 schools for the blind in Myanmar were examined and the data entered into the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Examination Record for Childhood Blindness (WHO/PBL ERCB). One hundred and ninety nine children (95.7%) were blind (BL = Visual Acuity [VA] < 3/60 in the better eye) and 3 had severe visual impairment (SVI = VA < 6/60 to 3/60 in the better eye). Most children had corneal abnormalities as the major anatomical site of SVI/BL (100, 49.5%), however the cause of SVI/BL was unknown in the majority (88, 43.6%). Measles keratitis was the commonest identifiable cause (17.4%) and 88 children had avoidable causes of SVI/BL (43.6%). Nearly 16% of children required an optical device and 24.2% required medical attention, with a potential for visual improvement through intervention in 15.8%. Nearly half of the children in schools for the blind in Myanmar had potentially avoidable causes of SVI/BL. With measles being both the commonest identifiable and commonest avoidable cause, the data supports the need for a measles immunization campaign. There is also a need for a dedicated pediatric eye care center with regular ophthalmology visits to the schools, and improved optometric, low vision and orientation and mobility services in Myanmar.

Causes of childhood blindness in Ghana: results from a blind school survey in Upper West Region, Ghana, and review of the literature.

PubMed

Huh, Grace J; Simon, Judith; Grace Prakalapakorn, S

2017-06-13

Data on childhood blindness in Ghana are limited. The objectives of this study were to determine the major causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment (SVI) at Wa Methodist School for the Blind in Northern Ghana, and to compare our results to those published from other studies conducted in Ghana. In this retrospective study, data from an eye screening at Wa Methodist School in November 2014 were coded according to the World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness standardized reporting methodology. Causes of blindness/SVI were categorized anatomically and etiologically, and were compared to previously published studies. Of 190 students screened, the major anatomical causes of blindness/SVI were corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (CS/PB) (n = 28, 15%) and optic atrophy (n = 23, 12%). The major etiological causes of blindness/SVI were unknown (n = 114, 60%). Eighty-three (44%) students became blind before age one year. Of four published blind school surveys conducted in Ghana, CS/PB was the most common anatomical cause of childhood blindness. Over time, the prevalence of CS/PB within blind schools decreased in the north and increased in the south. Measles-associated visual loss decreased from 52% in 1987 to 10% in 2014 at Wa Methodist School. In a blind school in northern Ghana, CS/PB was the major anatomical cause of childhood blindness/SVI. While CS/PB has been the most common anatomical cause of childhood blindness reported in Ghana, there may be regional changes in its prevalence over time. Being able to identify regional differences may guide future public health strategies to target specific causes.

The South Asian Origins of the Global Network to Eradicate Blindness: WHO, NGOs, and Decentralization.

PubMed

Williams, Logan D A

2018-03-01

The global network to eradicate blindness emerged out of the work of Western and South Asian professionals to eradicate smallpox which was endemic in South Asia. The history of the emergence of the global network to eradicate blindness demonstrates a shift from vertical command and control public health programs directed by the WHO, to the decentralized public health services originating in non-profit, non-governmental organizations and coordinated by the WHO. The WHO constitution started with a federal regionalist structure that encouraged collaboration and coordination with NGOs. In South Asia in particular, epidemiologists and general medical practitioners moved from eradicating smallpox through the WHO to creating their own domestic and international NGOs based in various countries with a mission to control blindness in South Asia and Africa. In 1975, pushed by the WHO Director General, these new NGOs in turn joined with individual ophthalmologists and existing blind member associations to form the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Thus, the WHO was shaped by, and shaping, international NGOs such as the IAPB. The IAPB pushed for the formation of the WHO Prevention of Blindness program. This was the earliest example of how the IAPB facilitates bottom-up agenda-setting in the WHO. In 1980, when the WHO officially closed the smallpox program, the Prevention of Blindness program first received independent funding. Presently, the IAPB acts as a decentralized arm of the WHO. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Childhood blindness in the context of VISION 2020--the right to sight.

PubMed Central

Gilbert, C.; Foster, A.

2001-01-01

The major causes of blindness in children vary widely from region to region, being largely determined by socioeconomic development, and the availability of primary health care and eye care services. In high-income countries, lesions of the optic nerve and higher visual pathways predominate as the cause of blindness, while corneal scarring from measles, vitamin A deficiency, the use of harmful traditional eye remedies, and ophthalmia neonatorum are the major causes in low-income countries. Retinopathy of prematurity is an important cause in middle-income countries. Other significant causes in all countries are cataract, congenital abnormalities, and hereditary retinal dystrophies. It is estimated that, in almost half of the children who are blind today, the underlying cause could have been prevented, or the eye condition treated to preserve vision or restore sight. The control of blindness in children is a priority within the World Health Organization's VISION 2020 programme. Strategies need to be region specific, based on activities to prevent blindness in the community--through measles immunization, health education, and control of vitamin A deficiency--and the provision of tertiary-level eye care facilities for conditions that require specialist management. PMID:11285667

Causes of blindness and visual impairment among students in integrated schools for the blind in Nepal.

PubMed

Shrestha, Jyoti Baba; Gnyawali, Subodh; Upadhyay, Madan Prasad

2012-12-01

To identify the causes of blindness and visual impairment among students in integrated schools for the blind in Nepal. A total of 778 students from all 67 integrated schools for the blind in Nepal were examined using the World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness Eye Examination Record for Children with Blindness and Low Vision during the study period of 3 years. Among 831 students enrolled in the schools, 778 (93.6%) participated in the study. Mean age of students examined was 13.7 years, and the male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Among the students examined, 85.9% were blind, 10% had severe visual impairment and 4.1% were visually impaired. The cornea (22.8%) was the most common anatomical site of visual impairment, its most frequent cause being vitamin A deficiency, followed by the retina (18.4%) and lens (17.6%). Hereditary and childhood factors were responsible for visual loss in 27.9% and 22.0% of students, respectively. Etiology could not be determined in 46% of cases. Overall, 40.9% of students had avoidable causes of visual loss. Vision could be improved to a level better than 6/60 in 3.6% of students refracted. More than one third of students were visually impaired for potentially avoidable reasons, indicating lack of eye health awareness and eye care services in the community. The cause of visual impairment remained unknown in a large number of students, which indicates the need for introduction of modern diagnostic tools.

Blindness - resources

MedlinePlus

Resources - blindness ... The following organizations are good resources for information on blindness : American Foundation for the Blind -- www.afb.org Foundation Fighting Blindness -- www.blindness.org National Eye Institute -- ...

Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment among school children in south-western Nigeria.

PubMed

Ajaiyeoba, A I; Isawumi, M A; Adeoye, A O; Oluleye, T S

2005-01-01

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and identify the causes of blindness and visual impairment in school children of Ilesa-East Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 1144 school children in primary and secondary schools were selected using a 2-stage random sampling method and examined to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment. A total of 17 (1.48%) children were blind or visually impaired. These comprised of 11 (0.96%) children who were visually impaired and 4 (0.3%) who were severely visually impaired. Only 2 (0.15%) school children were blind. The causes of visual impairment were refractive error 10 (0.87%) and immature cataract 1 (0.08%), causes of severe visual impairment included corneal opacities 2 (0.2%), amblyopia leading to squint 1 (0.08%) and 1 cataract 1 (0.08%). The causes of blindness in school children were corneal scars presumed to be due to vitamin A deficiency 1 (0.08%) and keratoconus 1 (0.08%). Causes of blindness and visual impairment in children attending regular schools in Nigeria were treatable. Prevention, early recognition and prompt treatment of these diseases by regular screening of school children would definitely reduce unnecessary visual handicap in Nigerian school children so that they can attain their full potential in the course of their education. Also, information from this study is relevant for the purpose of planning eye care programmes for the prevention of blindness in Nigerian school children. This will go a long way in the prevention of unnecessary blindness and visual impairment in school children.

Blind Astronomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hockey, Thomas A.

2011-01-01

The phrase "blind astronomer” is used as an allegorical oxymoron. However, there were and are blind astronomers. What of famous blind astronomers? First, it must be stated that these astronomers were not martyrs to their craft. It is a myth that astronomers blind themselves by observing the Sun. As early as France's William of Saint-Cloud (circa 1290) astronomers knew that staring at the Sun was ill-advised and avoided it. Galileo Galilei did not invent the astronomical telescope and then proceed to blind himself with one. Galileo observed the Sun near sunrise and sunset or through projection. More than two decades later he became blind, as many septuagenarians do, unrelated to their profession. Even Isaac Newton temporarily blinded himself, staring at the reflection of the Sun when he was a twentysomething. But permanent Sun-induced blindness? No, it did not happen. For instance, it was a stroke that left Scotland's James Gregory (1638-1675) blind. (You will remember the Gregorian telescope.) However, he died days later. Thus, blindness little interfered with his occupation. English Abbot Richard of Wallingford (circa 1291 - circa 1335) wrote astronomical works and designed astronomical instruments. He was also blind in one eye. Yet as he further suffered from leprosy, his blindness seems the lesser of Richard's maladies. Perhaps the most famous professionally active, blind astronomer (or almost blind astronomer) is Dominique-Francois Arago (1786-1853), director until his death of the powerful nineteenth-century Paris Observatory. I will share other _ some poignant _ examples such as: William Campbell, whose blindness drove him to suicide; Leonhard Euler, astronomy's Beethoven, who did nearly half of his life's work while almost totally blind; and Edwin Frost, who "observed” a total solar eclipse while completely sightless.

A survey of severe visual impairment and blindness in children attending thirteen schools for the blind in sri lanka.

PubMed

Gao, Zoe; Muecke, James; Edussuriya, Kapila; Dayawansa, Ranasiri; Hammerton, Michael; Kong, Aimee; Sennanayake, Saman; Senaratne, Tissa; Marasinghe, Nirosha; Selva, Dinesh

2011-02-01

To identify the causes of blindness and severe visual impairment (BL/SVI) in children attending schools for the blind in Sri Lanka, and to provide optical devices and ophthalmic treatment where indicated. Two hundred and six children under 16 years from 13 schools for the blind in Sri Lanka were examined by a team of ophthalmologists and optometrists. Data were entered in the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Eye Examination Record for Childhood Blindness (WHO/PBL ERCB). Of the 206 children, 83.5% were blind (BL = Visual acuity [VA] <3/60), and 9.2% had severe visual impairment (SVI = VA <6/60 to 3/60 in the better eye). The major anatomical site of BL/SVI was the retina in 35.9% of cases, followed by the whole globe in 22.4% of cases. The major underlying aetiologies of BL/SVI were unknown in 43.8% of cases and hereditary in 37.5%. Avoidable causes of BL/SVI accounted for 34.9% of cases; retinopathy of prematurity made up the largest proportion of this subgroup. One third of the children required an optical device to improve their vision. Just over one third of the children in schools for the blind in Sri Lanka had potentially avoidable causes of BL/SVI. Vision could also be improved in a third of children. The data support the need to develop specialized pediatric ophthalmic services, particularly in the face of advancing neonatal life support in Sri Lanka, and the need for increased provision of optical support.

Prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in Baotou

PubMed Central

Zhang, Guisen; Li, Yan; Teng, Xuelong; Wu, Qiang; Gong, Hui; Ren, Fengmei; Guo, Yuxia; Liu, Lei; Zhang, Han

2016-01-01

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Multistage sampling was used to select samples. The visual acuity was estimated using LogMAR and corrected by pinhole as best-corrected visual acuity. There were 7000 samples selected and 5770 subjects included in this investigation. The overall bilateral prevalence rates of low vision and blindness were 3.66% (95% CI: 3.17–4.14) and 0.99% (95% CI: 0.73–1.24), respectively. The prevalence of bilateral low vision, blindness, and visual impairment increased with age and decreased with education level. The main leading cause of low vision and blindness was cataract. Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration were found to be the second leading causes of blindness in Baotou. The low vision and blindness were more prevalent in elderly people and subjects with low education level in Baotou. Cataract was the main cause for visual impairment and more attention should be paid to fundus diseases. In order to prevent blindness, much more eye care programs should be established. PMID:27631267

Visual loss in a school for the blind in Nigeria.

PubMed

Okoye, O I; Aghaji, A E; Ikojo, I N

2009-01-01

There are an estimated 1.4 million blind children worldwide, it has been observed that almost 90% of the so-called blind population (children inclusive) do not have total loss of visual function, but retain a degree of usable residual vision. The study aims to determined the sites and causes of visual loss in the students of a school for the blind in Nigeria, and also the proportion of those students who could benefit from low vision devices. Forty-five students of the school were examined using the standard World Health Organization/Prevention of blindness examination record for childhood blindness. Refraction and assessment for low vision devices were conducted, where necessary. Glaucoma/buphthalmos (22.2%) and corneal lesions (20%) were the major causes of vision loss. Six students (13.3%) benefited from spectacles and/or low vision devices. Glaucoma/buphthalmos is assuming great significance in this study population, though most of the causes of vision loss are avoidable (77.7%). There is need for low vision service in the schools for the blind in South East Nigeria.

Brief communication: Plio-Pleistocene eagle predation on fossil cercopithecids from the Humpata Plateau, southern Angola.

PubMed

Gilbert, Christopher C; McGraw, W Scott; Delson, Eric

2009-07-01

Recent studies suggest a large raptor such as the crowned eagle (Stephanaoetus coronatus) was responsible for collecting at least a portion of the primate fauna from the South African fossil site of Taung, including its lone hominin specimen. This taphonomic signature at Taung is currently regarded as a unique and, most likely, isolated case in primate and human evolution. However, the activities of large, carnivorous birds should also be detectable at other primate fossil localities in Africa if raptors have been a strong selective force throughout primate evolution. Over the last 60 years, a collection of extinct cercopithecids has been assembled from several cave breccias on the Humpata Plateau in southern Angola. The material, dated near the Plio-Pleistocene boundary, includes an assortment of craniodental and postcranial remains variably assigned to Papio (Dinopithecus) cf. quadratirostris, Parapapio, Cercopithecoides, and Theropithecus. We compare the Angolan and Taung material to remains of extant primates killed by crowned eagles in the Ivory Coast's Tai National Park. Our analysis indicates that the size distribution and composition of fauna from the localities is quite similar and that there are striking consistencies in damage to the crania from each site. The absence of large bodied (>20 kg) primates and other mammalian taxa at the Taung hominin locality and Tai, and their rarity in Angola, combined with the strong likelihood that raptor nests were positioned near fissure openings at both fossil localities, provides additional support for eagle involvement. On the basis of this evidence, we conclude that at least some of the Angolan cercopithecids were most likely raptor prey and hypothesize that raptor predation has been a strong and perhaps underappreciated selective force during the course of primate evolution.

Laser photocoagulation at birth prevents blindness in Norrie's disease diagnosed using amniocentesis.

PubMed

Chow, Clement C; Kiernan, Daniel F; Chau, Felix Y; Blair, Michael P; Ticho, Benjamin H; Galasso, John M; Shapiro, Michael J

2010-12-01

To report the first case of prophylactic laser treatment to prevent blindness in a patient who was diagnosed with Norrie's disease by genetic testing with amniocentesis. Case report. A 2-year-old white boy with Norrie's disease. A 37-week gestational age male with a family history of Norrie's disease was born via Cesarean section after the mother had undergone prenatal amniocentesis fetal-genetic testing at 23 weeks of gestation. A C520T (nonsense) mutation was found in the Norrie's disease gene. After examination under anesthesia confirmed the diagnosis on the first day of life, laser photocoagulation was applied to the avascular retina bilaterally. The patient was followed closely by ophthalmology, pediatrics, and occupational therapy departments. Functional outcome, as documented by Teller visual acuity and formal occupational therapy testing, and anatomic outcome, as documented by Retcam photography and fluorescein angiography. Complete regression of extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation was observed 1 month after laser treatment. No retinal detachment had occurred to date at 24 months. Teller visual acuity at 23 months of life was 20/100 in both eyes. The patient's vision and developmental milestones were age appropriate. Pre-term genetic diagnosis with immediate laser treatment after birth may preserve vision in individuals affected with Norrie's disease. Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of preventive immunotherapy with E.P.D., in the treatment of seasonal allergic disease.

PubMed

Di Stanislao, C; Di Berardino, L; Bianchi, I; Bologna, G

1997-02-01

Control of seasonal symptoms by means of a preventive and easy to use (only one intradermal injection eight weeks before the pollen peak) immunotherapy, is recommended nowadays. We verified the clinical efficacy of E.P.D. (Enzyme Potentiated Desensibilization) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. This particular immunotherapy consists of an intradermal injection mix, made up of allergenic extracts at extremely low doses and an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase. The vaccine is administered once a year, eight weeks before pollen peaks. We studied a group of 40 patients allergic to grass pollen. The results, analysed statistically on the basis of a symptoms score, showed good clinical efficacy and a significant reduction of drug consumption during the high pollen period. Due to the clinical effectiveness, easy administration (only on injection) and excellent tolerance of the immunotherapy, E.P.D. is particularly suited for the prevention of seasonal symptoms in patients allergic to grass pollen.

Pharmacotherapy Relapse Prevention in Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Phillips, Katharine A.; Keshaviah, Aparna; Dougherty, Darin; Stout, Robert L.; Menard, William; Wilhelm, Sabine

2016-01-01

Objective Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is common, distressing, and often severely impairing. Serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) appear efficacious for BDD, but the few existing pharmacotherapy studies were short-term (≤4 months), and no relapse prevention studies or continuation phase studies have been conducted. We report results from the first BDD relapse prevention study. Method Adults (N=100) with DSM-IV BDD received open-label escitalopram for 14 weeks (Phase 1); 58 responders were then randomized to double-blind continuation treatment with escitalopram versus switch to placebo for six months (Phase 2). Reliable and valid outcome measures were utilized. Results Phase 1: Overall, 67.0% of treated subjects and 81.1% of completers were escitalopram responders (p’s<0.0001). BDD severity, BDD-related insight, depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life significantly improved from baseline to end of Phase 1 (all p's<0.0001). Phase 2: Time to relapse was significantly longer for subjects receiving escitalopram than those receiving placebo (hazard ratio=2.72, 95% CI [1.01, 8.57], p=0.049). Phase 2 relapse proportions were 18% for escitalopram versus 40% for placebo. In escitalopram-treated subjects, BDD severity significantly decreased over time during the continuation treatment phase (p=0.036); further improvement occurred in 35.7% of the escitalopram group. There were no significant group differences in BDD severity, insight, depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, or quality of life. Conclusions Continuation-phase escitalopram delayed time to relapse, and fewer escitalopram-treated subjects relapsed compared with placebo-treated subjects. BDD severity significantly further improved during six additional months of escitalopram treatment following acute response; more than one-third of escitalopram-treated subjects had further improvement during continuation phase treatment. PMID:27056606

Pharmacotherapy Relapse Prevention in Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Phillips, Katharine A; Keshaviah, Aparna; Dougherty, Darin D; Stout, Robert L; Menard, William; Wilhelm, Sabine

2016-09-01

Body dysmorphic disorder is common, distressing, and often severely impairing. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors appear efficacious, but the few existing pharmacotherapy studies were short term (≤4 months), and no relapse prevention studies or continuation phase studies have been conducted to the authors' knowledge. The authors report results from the first relapse prevention study in body dysmorphic disorder. Adults (N=100) with DSM-IV body dysmorphic disorder received open-label escitalopram for 14 weeks (phase 1); 58 responders were then randomized to double-blind continuation treatment with escitalopram versus switch to placebo for 6 months (phase 2). Reliable and valid outcome measures were utilized. In phase 1, 67.0% of treated subjects and 81.1% of subjects who completed phase 1 responded to escitalopram. Body dysmorphic disorder severity (in both the intent-to-treat and the completer groups) and insight, depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life significantly improved from baseline to end of phase 1. In phase 2, time to relapse was significantly longer with escitalopram than with placebo treatment (hazard ratio=2.72, 95% CI=1.01-8.57). Phase 2 relapse proportions were 18% for escitalopram and 40% for placebo. Among escitalopram-treated subjects, body dysmorphic disorder severity significantly decreased over time during the continuation phase, with 35.7% of subjects showing further improvement. There were no significant group differences in body dysmorphic disorder severity or insight, depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, or quality of life. Continuation-phase escitalopram delayed time to relapse, and fewer escitalopram-treated subjects relapsed than did placebo-treated subjects. Body dysmorphic disorder severity significantly improved during 6 additional months of escitalopram treatment following acute response; more than one-third of escitalopram-treated subjects experienced further improvement.

Antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of kwashiorkor in Malawian children: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial

PubMed Central

Ciliberto, Heather; Ciliberto, Michael; Briend, Andreé; Ashorn, Per; Bier, Dennis; Manary, Mark

2005-01-01

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in preventing kwashiorkor in a population of Malawian children at high risk of developing kwashiorkor. Design Prospective, double blind, placebo controlled trial randomised by household. Setting 8 villages in rural southern Malawi. Participants 2372 children in 2156 households aged 1-4 years were enrolled; 2332 completed the trial. Intervention Daily supplementation with an antioxidant powder containing riboflavin, vitamin E, selenium, and N-acetylcysteine in a dose that provided about three times the recommended dietary allowance of each nutrient or placebo for 20 weeks. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the incidence of oedema. Secondary outcomes were the rates of change for weight and length and the number of days of infectious symptoms. Results 62 children developed kwashiorkor (defined by the presence of oedema); 39/1184 (3.3%) were in the antioxidant group and 23/1188 (1.9%) were in the placebo group (relative risk 1.70, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 2.42). The two groups did not differ in rates of weight or height gain. Children who received antioxidant supplementation did not experience less fever, cough, or diarrhoea. Conclusions Antioxidant supplementation at the dose provided did not prevent the onset of kwashiorkor. This finding does not support the hypothesis that depletion of vitamin E, selenium, cysteine, or riboflavin has a role in the development of kwashiorkor. PMID:15851401

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in the Republic of Suriname.

PubMed

Heijthuijsen, Astrid Anna Maria; Beunders, Victoria Apollonia Annemarie; Jiawan, Dinesh; de Mesquita-Voigt, Anne-Marie Bueno; Pawiroredjo, Jerrel; Mourits, Maarten; Tanck, Michael; Verhoeff, Joost; Saeed, Peerooz

2013-07-01

To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in Suriname (Dutch Guyana) and to identify preventable and treatable causes. 4643 children under 16 years of age were recruited from two locations: 33 children attending the only school for the blind were examined and 4610 medical records were analysed at an eye clinic. Data have been collected using the WHO Prevention of Blindness Programme eye examination record for children. 65 children were identified with SVI/BL, 58.5% were blind and 41.5% were severely visually impaired (SVI). The major anatomical site of SVI/BL was the retina in 33.8%, lens in 15.4% and normal appearing globe in 15.4%. The major underlying aetiology of SVI/BL was undetermined in 56.9% (mainly cataract and abnormality since birth) and perinatal factors 21.5% (mainly retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)). Avoidable causes of SVI/BL accounted for 40% of cases; 7.7% were preventable and 32.3% were treatable with cataracts and ROP the most common causes (15.4% and 12.3%, respectively). More than a third of the SVI/BL causes are potentially avoidable, with childhood cataract and ROP the leading causes. Corneal scarring from vitamin A deficiency does not seem to be a continuing issue in Suriname.

Effect of characteristics of women on attendance in blind and non-blind randomised trials: analysis of recruitment data from the EPHT Trial.

PubMed

Veerus, Piret; Fischer, Krista; Hemminki, Elina; Hovi, Sirpa-Liisa; Hakama, Matti

2016-10-18

To analyse the effect of women's characteristics on their willingness to join a blind or a non-blind subtrial or to be excluded by physicians. Primary prevention trial of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT). A 2×2, randomised design with a non-blind HT arm or control arm and a blind HT arm or placebo arm. 3 clinical centres in Estonia. Interest in joining the trial was asked in a questionnaire together with demographic and health status data. Interested and eligible women were invited to a health examination that also informed whether they belonged to a blind or to a non-blind subtrial; the arm was not revealed. Trial physicians made further exclusions when checking the women's eligibility. Thereafter, informed consent was asked as detailed in the flow chart. Comparisons were made between non-blind and blind subtrials. Analyses were carried out for each of the background variables. The proportion of willingness, eligibility and attendance. Women randomised to the non-blind subtrial were more willing to join (relative risk (RR) 1.17) and more likely to be found eligible by physicians (RR 1.10) than women in the blind subtrial, resulting in larger attendance (RR 1.29). Women with higher education were differentially more willing to join the non-blind trial (RR 1.29) than those with basic education (RR 1.08); the differential willingness of never-smokers (RR 1.20) was larger than that of current smokers (RR 1.07). The differential exclusion by physicians by education and smoking were small. Some subjective symptoms (eg, diarrhoea/constipation, stomach pain) had reverse differential effects on attendance in the non-blind subtrial in comparison to the blind subtrial. Menopausal symptoms did not affect the differential interest, eligibility or attendance. Blinding in RCT reduces attendance, due to decisions of the women and the trial physicians. Differential attendance by blinding may affect the generalisability of the results from trials. ISRCTN35338757. Published by

Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Review of the World Literature.

PubMed

Beleznay, Katie; Carruthers, Jean D A; Humphrey, Shannon; Jones, Derek

2015-10-01

As the popularity of soft tissue fillers increases, so do the reports of adverse events. The most serious complications are vascular in nature and include blindness. To review the cases of blindness after filler injection, to highlight key aspects of the vascular anatomy, and to discuss prevention and management strategies. A literature review was performed to identify all the cases of vision changes from filler in the world literature. Ninety-eight cases of vision changes from filler were identified. The sites that were high risk for complications were the glabella (38.8%), nasal region (25.5%), nasolabial fold (13.3%), and forehead (12.2%). Autologous fat (47.9%) was the most common filler type to cause this complication, followed by hyaluronic acid (23.5%). The most common symptoms were immediate vision loss and pain. Most cases of vision loss did not recover. Central nervous system complications were seen in 23.5% of the cases. No treatments were found to be consistently successful in treating blindness. Although the risk of blindness from fillers is rare, it is critical for injecting physicians to have a firm knowledge of the vascular anatomy and to understand key prevention and management strategies.

Auditory spatial representations of the world are compressed in blind humans.

PubMed

Kolarik, Andrew J; Pardhan, Shahina; Cirstea, Silvia; Moore, Brian C J

2017-02-01

Compared to sighted listeners, blind listeners often display enhanced auditory spatial abilities such as localization in azimuth. However, less is known about whether blind humans can accurately judge distance in extrapersonal space using auditory cues alone. Using virtualization techniques, we show that auditory spatial representations of the world beyond the peripersonal space of blind listeners are compressed compared to those for normally sighted controls. Blind participants overestimated the distance to nearby sources and underestimated the distance to remote sound sources, in both reverberant and anechoic environments, and for speech, music, and noise signals. Functions relating judged and actual virtual distance were well fitted by compressive power functions, indicating that the absence of visual information regarding the distance of sound sources may prevent accurate calibration of the distance information provided by auditory signals.

Perception and Attitude of a Rural Community Regarding Adult Blindness in North Central Nigeria.

PubMed

Olatunji, Victoria A; Adepoju, Feyi G; Owoeye, Joshua F A

2015-01-01

To determine the perception and attitudes of a rural community regarding the etiology, prevention, and treatment of blindness in adults. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in a rural community in Kwara State, Nigeria using semi-structured questionnaire. All adults aged 40 years or older who were residents for a minimum of 6 months in the community were included. Data were collected on patient demographics, knowledge, attitude, perception, and use of the eye care facility. A total of 290 participants were interviewed. The male-to-female ratio was 1:2. Consumption of certain types of food was an important cause of blindness as perceived by 57.9% of the respondents, followed by supernatural forces (41.7%) and aging (19%). Sixty percent of respondents thought blindness could be prevented. Age (P = 0.04) and level of education (P =0.003) significantly affected the beliefs on the prevention of blindness. Most respondents (79.3%) preferred orthodox eye care, but only 65% would accept surgical intervention if required. The level of education significantly affected the acceptance of surgery (P = 0.04). Reasons for refusing surgery were, fear (64%), previous poor outcomes in acquaintances (31%), belief that surgery is not required (3%), and cost (2%). About 65% used one form of traditional eye medication or the other. Over half (56.6%) believed that spectacles could cure all causes of blindness. Of those who had ocular complaints, 57.1% used orthodox care without combining with either traditional or spiritual remedies. This rural Nigerian community had some beliefs that were consistent with modern knowledge. However, the overall knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of this community need to be redirected to favor the eradication of avoidable blindness. Although an eye care facility was available, use by the community was suboptimal. Age and the level of education affected their overall perception and attitudes.

Blind Quantum Signature with Blind Quantum Computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wei; Shi, Ronghua; Guo, Ying

2017-04-01

Blind quantum computation allows a client without quantum abilities to interact with a quantum server to perform a unconditional secure computing protocol, while protecting client's privacy. Motivated by confidentiality of blind quantum computation, a blind quantum signature scheme is designed with laconic structure. Different from the traditional signature schemes, the signing and verifying operations are performed through measurement-based quantum computation. Inputs of blind quantum computation are securely controlled with multi-qubit entangled states. The unique signature of the transmitted message is generated by the signer without leaking information in imperfect channels. Whereas, the receiver can verify the validity of the signature using the quantum matching algorithm. The security is guaranteed by entanglement of quantum system for blind quantum computation. It provides a potential practical application for e-commerce in the cloud computing and first-generation quantum computation.

Understanding and Preventing Learned Helplessness in Children Who Are Congenitally Deaf-Blind.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marks, S. B.

1998-01-01

Links the literature on learned helplessness with best practices in teaching children who are deaf-blind. Defines "learned helplessness" and "mastery motivation;" considers identification of learned helplessness; and offers suggestions such as rewarding independent rather than dependent behaviors and integrating orientation, mobility, and…

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in the Republic of Suriname

PubMed Central

Heijthuijsen, Astrid Anna Maria; Beunders, Victoria Apollonia Annemarie; Jiawan, Dinesh; de Mesquita-Voigt, Anne-Marie Bueno; Pawiroredjo, Jerrel; Mourits, Maarten; Tanck, Michael; Verhoeff, Joost; Saeed, Peerooz

2013-01-01

Aims To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in Suriname (Dutch Guyana) and to identify preventable and treatable causes. Methods 4643 children under 16 years of age were recruited from two locations: 33 children attending the only school for the blind were examined and 4610 medical records were analysed at an eye clinic. Data have been collected using the WHO Prevention of Blindness Programme eye examination record for children. Results 65 children were identified with SVI/BL, 58.5% were blind and 41.5% were severely visually impaired (SVI). The major anatomical site of SVI/BL was the retina in 33.8%, lens in 15.4% and normal appearing globe in 15.4%. The major underlying aetiology of SVI/BL was undetermined in 56.9% (mainly cataract and abnormality since birth) and perinatal factors 21.5% (mainly retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)). Avoidable causes of SVI/BL accounted for 40% of cases; 7.7% were preventable and 32.3% were treatable with cataracts and ROP the most common causes (15.4% and 12.3%, respectively). Conclusions More than a third of the SVI/BL causes are potentially avoidable, with childhood cataract and ROP the leading causes. Corneal scarring from vitamin A deficiency does not seem to be a continuing issue in Suriname. PMID:23603759

Can We Stop the Current Epidemic of Blindness From Retinopathy of Prematurity?

PubMed

Dutta, Sourabh; Raghuveer, Talkad; Vinekar, Anand; Dogra, Mangat Ram

2016-11-07

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a retinal vascular disease of the premature infant. There have been significant advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis, prevention, detection and treatment of severe ROP. In developed countries, all premature infants at risk for ROP are screened routinely based on national guidelines and treatment is prompt, resulting in good visual outcomes. Blindness from ROP is a rare event in these countries. However, there is an ongoing epidemic of ROP- induced blindness in India. The reasons for this epidemic of ROP blindness are many and include increasing survival of premature infants, lack of equipment such as oxygen-blenders and pulse oximeters that are necessary for safe use of supplemental oxygen in premature infants, lack of routine screening for ROP, lack of trained personnel for ROP screening, and lack of Ophthalmologists to promptly initiate treatment when infants develop severe ROP. All the identified causes can be resolved with a concerted national co-operative effort of Pediatricians, Neonatologists, Ophthalmologists, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, National Neonatology Forum, Indian Academy of Ophthalmologists, Government of India, and parents of premature infants. We feel that tt is possible to stop the current epidemic of preventable childhood blindness from ROP with concerted action by all stakeholders.

Childhood blindness and severe visual impairment in Malaysia: a nationwide study

PubMed Central

Patel, D K; Tajunisah, I; Gilbert, C; Subrayan, V

2011-01-01

Aim To determine the causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment (BL/SVI) in schools for the blind in Malaysia. Methods All children ≤15years attending 24 schools for the blind throughout the country were examined using the WHO Prevention of Blindness Programme (WHO/PBL) eye examination record for children, and visual loss was classified according to the International Classification of Disease (ICD). Results In all, 469 children were examined, of whom 448 (95.6%) had BL/SVI. The major causes of visual loss were retinal disorders (n=148, 33% mainly retinopathy of prematurity (n=78, 17.4%)), cataract/pseudophakia/aphakia (n=77, 17.2%), and anomalies affecting the whole globe. (n=86, 19.2%). The major underlying etiology was undetermined (n=193, 43.1%), followed by hereditary factors, 21.7% (mainly retinal dystrophies), and perinatal factors, 20.5%. More than 34 (7.6%) cases were considered potentially preventable and 192 (42.9%) potentially treatable. Conclusion Diseases of the retina are the major cause of visual impairment, with retinopathy of prematurity being an important avoidable cause. This reflects expansion of neonatal services in Malaysia, and improved survival of very low birth weight and preterm babies. Lens-related causes of visual impairment reflect the need to further improve pediatric ophthalmology services in Malaysia. PMID:21350565

Blindness and Visual Impairment Profile and Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in South East Asia: Analysis of New Data. 2017 APAO Holmes Lecture.

PubMed

Das, Taraprasad

2018-03-13

The International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) South East Asia region (SEAR) that consists of 11 countries contains 26% of the world's population (1,761,000,000). In this region 12 million are blind and 78.5 million are visually impaired. This amounts to 30% of global blindness and 32% of global visual impairment. Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey analysis. RAAB, either a repeat or a first time survey, was completed in 8 countries in this decade (2010 onwards). These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste. Cataract is the principal cause of blindness and severe visual impairment in all countries. Refractive error is the principal cause of moderate visual impairment in 4 countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka; cataract continues to be the principal cause of moderate visual impairment in 4 other countries: Bhutan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Timor Leste. Outcome of cataract surgery is suboptimal in the Maldives and Timor Leste. Rigorous focus is necessary to improve cataract surgery outcomes and correction of refractive error without neglecting the quality of care. At the same time allowances must be made for care of the emerging causes of visual impairment and blindness such as glaucoma and posterior segment disorders, particularly diabetic retinopathy. Copyright 2018 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.

Blindness and eye diseases in Tibet: findings from a randomised, population based survey

PubMed Central

Dunzhu, S; Wang, F S; Courtright, P; Liu, L; Tenzing, C; Noertjojo, K; Wilkie, A; Santangelo, M; Bassett, K L

2003-01-01

Background: Public health officials of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China requested a survey of blindness, eye diseases, and eye care service utilisation to assist the development of a 10 year blindness prevention and treatment plan. The objective of the survey was to determine the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment, as well as cataract surgical coverage and surgical outcome in the TAR. Methods: The Tibet Eye Care Assessment was a cross sectional prevalence study of three of the seven prefectures (provinces) of the TAR (Lhoka, Nakchu, and Lingzhr) selected to represent its three main environmental regions. The survey sample was selected using a random multistage cluster method. Two teams conducted the survey in a standardised fashion in each prefecture, Lhoka during May and Nakchu during June 1999, and Lingzhr during May 2000. Visual acuity, cause of vision loss, trachoma, and vitamin A deficiency were included in the clinical examination. Results: Among the 15 900 people enumerated, 12 644 were examined for an overall response rate of 79.6%. The crude prevalence of blindness (presenting better eye visual acuity of less than 6/60) was 2.3%; age and sex adjusted blindness prevalence was 1.4% (95% CI 1.3 to 1.5). Visual impairment (better eye presenting visual acuity of 6/24 to 6/60) was found in 10.9% (95% CI 10.5 to 11.2) of the population (age and sex adjusted). Cataract was the primary cause of blindness (50.7%), followed by macular degeneration (12.7%) and corneal opacity (9.7%). Conclusion: Blindness is a serious public health problem in Tibet, with prevalence higher than in similar studies in eastern China. As elsewhere in the world, women have an excess burden of blindness compared to men. About 75% of blindness in Tibet can be either prevented or treated. Eye care planning for Tibet must focus on cataract, particularly among women. PMID:14660448

Causes of low vision and blindness in rural Indonesia

PubMed Central

Saw, S-M; Husain, R; Gazzard, G M; Koh, D; Widjaja, D; Tan, D T H

2003-01-01

Aim: To determine the prevalence rates and major contributing causes of low vision and blindness in adults in a rural setting in Indonesia Methods: A population based prevalence survey of adults 21 years or older (n=989) was conducted in five rural villages and one provincial town in Sumatra, Indonesia. One stage household cluster sampling procedure was employed where 100 households were randomly selected from each village or town. Bilateral low vision was defined as habitual VA (measured using tumbling “E” logMAR charts) in the better eye worse than 6/18 and 3/60 or better, based on the WHO criteria. Bilateral blindness was defined as habitual VA worse than 3/60 in the better eye. The anterior segment and lens of subjects with low vision or blindness (both unilateral and bilateral) (n=66) were examined using a portable slit lamp and fundus examination was performed using indirect ophthalmoscopy. Results: The overall age adjusted (adjusted to the 1990 Indonesia census population) prevalence rate of bilateral low vision was 5.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2 to 7.4) and bilateral blindness was 2.2% (95% CI 1.1 to 3.2). The rates of low vision and blindness increased with age. The major contributing causes for bilateral low vision were cataract (61.3%), uncorrected refractive error (12.9%), and amblyopia (12.9%), and the major cause of bilateral blindness was cataract (62.5%). The major causes of unilateral low vision were cataract (48.0%) and uncorrected refractive error (12.0%), and major causes of unilateral blindness were amblyopia (50.0%) and trauma (50.0%). Conclusions: The rates of habitual low vision and blindness in provincial Sumatra, Indonesia, are similar to other developing rural countries in Asia. Blindness is largely preventable, as the major contributing causes (cataract and uncorrected refractive error) are amenable to treatment. PMID:12928268

Perception of blindness and blinding eye conditions in rural communities.

PubMed

Ashaye, Adeyinka; Ajuwon, Ademola Johnson; Adeoti, Caroline

2006-06-01

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the causes and management of blindness and blinding eye conditions as perceived by rural dwellers of two Yoruba communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. Four focus group discussions were conducted among residents of Iddo and Isale Oyo, two rural Yoruba communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. Participants consisted of sighted, those who were partially or totally blind and community leaders. Ten patent medicine sellers and 12 traditional healers were also interviewed on their perception of the causes and management of blindness in their communities. Blindness was perceived as an increasing problem among the communities. Multiple factors were perceived to cause blindness, including germs, onchocerciasis and supernatural forces. Traditional healers believed that blindness could be cured, with many claiming that they had previously cured blindness in the past. However, all agreed that patience was an important requirement for the cure of blindness. The patent medicine sellers' reports were similar to those of the traditional healers. The barriers to use of orthodox medicine were mainly fear, misconception and perceived high costs of care. There was a consensus of opinion among group discussants and informants that there are severe social and economic consequences of blindness, including not been able to see and assess the quality of what the sufferer eats, perpetual sadness, loss of sleep and dependence on other persons for daily activities. Local beliefs associated with causation, symptoms and management of blindness and blinding eye conditions among rural Yoruba communities identified have provided a bridge for understanding local perspectives and basis for implementing appropriate primary eye care programs.

Retinopathy of prematurity as a major cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in Guadalajara city, Mexico.

PubMed

Zepeda-Romero, L C; Barrera-de-Leon, J C; Camacho-Choza, C; Gonzalez Bernal, C; Camarena-Garcia, E; Diaz-Alatorre, C; Gutierrez-Padilla, J A; Gilbert, C

2011-11-01

To determine the causes of blindness in students attending schools for the blind in Guadalajara city, Mexico and to assess the availability of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in local neonatal intensive care units. Information on causes of blindness was obtained by interview with parents and teachers, review of records and examination. Causes of visual loss in children with a distance visual acuity of <6/60 (ie, severely visually impaired or blind) were determined and classified according to the WHO's classification system for children. Of 153 children in the two participating schools, 144 were severely visual impaired or blind. Their ages ranged from 4 months to 15 years and 58% were female. ROP was the most common cause of visual loss (34.7%), followed by optic nerve lesions (17.4%) and glaucoma (14.6%). 25/59 (42.3%) children aged 0-4 years were blind from ROP compared with 6/32 (18.8%) children aged 10-15 years. 78% of children blind from ROP had psychomotor delay and less than half (46%) had not received treatment for ROP. All five privately funded neonatal intensive care units in the city regularly screen for ROP compared with only four of the 12 units in the public sector. ROP is the leading cause of blindness in children in Mexico despite national guidelines being in place. Health policies promoting primary prevention through improved neonatal care need to be implemented. Advocacy is required so that the time ophthalmologists spend screening and treating ROP is included in their job description and hence salaried.

Nonhuman Primate Studies to Advance Vision Science and Prevent Blindness.

PubMed

Mustari, Michael J

2017-12-01

Most primate behavior is dependent on high acuity vision. Optimal visual performance in primates depends heavily upon frontally placed eyes, retinal specializations, and binocular vision. To see an object clearly its image must be placed on or near the fovea of each eye. The oculomotor system is responsible for maintaining precise eye alignment during fixation and generating eye movements to track moving targets. The visual system of nonhuman primates has a similar anatomical organization and functional capability to that of humans. This allows results obtained in nonhuman primates to be applied to humans. The visual and oculomotor systems of primates are immature at birth and sensitive to the quality of binocular visual and eye movement experience during the first months of life. Disruption of postnatal experience can lead to problems in eye alignment (strabismus), amblyopia, unsteady gaze (nystagmus), and defective eye movements. Recent studies in nonhuman primates have begun to discover the neural mechanisms associated with these conditions. In addition, genetic defects that target the retina can lead to blindness. A variety of approaches including gene therapy, stem cell treatment, neuroprosthetics, and optogenetics are currently being used to restore function associated with retinal diseases. Nonhuman primates often provide the best animal model for advancing fundamental knowledge and developing new treatments and cures for blinding diseases. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending four schools for the blind in Cambodia.

PubMed

Sia, David I T; Muecke, James; Hammerton, Michael; Ngy, Meng; Kong, Aimee; Morse, Anna; Holmes, Martin; Piseth, Horm; Hamilton, Carolyn; Selva, Dinesh

2010-08-01

To identify the causes of blindness and severe visual impairment (BL/SVI) in children attending four schools for the blind in Cambodia and to provide spectacles, low vision aids, orientation and mobility training and ophthalmic treatment. Children < 16 years of age were recruited from all 4 schools for the blind in Cambodia. Causes of visual impairment and blindness were determined and categorized using World Health Organization methods. Of the 95 children examined, 54.7% were blind (BL) and 10.5% were severely visually impaired (SVI). The major anatomical site of BL/SVI was the lens in 27.4%, cornea in 25.8%, retina in 21% and whole globe in 17.7%. The major underlying etiologies of BL/SVI were hereditary factors (mainly cataract and retinal dystrophies) in 45.2%, undetermined/unknown (mainly microphthalmia and anterior segment dysgenesis) in 38.7% and childhood factors in 11.3%. Avoidable causes of BL/SVI accounted for 50% of the cases; 12.9% of the total were preventable with measles being the commonest cause (8.1% of the total); 37.1% were treatable with cataracts and glaucoma being the commonest causes (22.6% and 4.8% respectively). More than 35% of children required an optical device and 27.4% had potential for visual improvement with intervention. Half of the BL/SVI causes were potentially avoidable. The data support the need for increased coverage of measles immunization. There is also a need to develop specialized pediatric ophthalmic services for the management of surgically remediable conditions, to provide optometric, low vision and orientation and mobility services. Genetic risk counseling services also may be considered.

Forskolin compared with beclomethasone for prevention of asthma attacks: a single-blind clinical trial.

PubMed

Huerta, M; Urzúa, Z; Trujillo, X; González-Sánchez, R; Trujillo-Hernández, B

2010-01-01

This single-blind study compared the efficacy of oral forskolin versus inhaled beclomethasone for mild or moderately persistent adult asthma. Patients were randomly assigned to receive forskolin (one 10-mg capsule orally per day; n = 30) or beclomethasone (two 50 microg inhalations every 12 h; n = 30) for 2 months. No statistically significant improvement occurred in any lung function parameter in the forskolin-treated patients. Subjects in the beclomethasone-treated group presented a slight but statistically significant improvement in percentage forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), percentage forced expiratory flow in the middle (25 - 75%) expiratory phase (FEF(25 - 75%)) and percentage forced vital capacity (FVC) after 2 months of treatment, though the improvement in absolute values for FEV(1), FEF(25 - 75%), FVC and FEV(1):FVC did not reach statistical significance. There was no statistically significant difference between the forskolin and beclomethasone treatment groups for any lung function parameter at baseline or after treatment. None of the beclomethasone-treated patients had an asthma attack and one forskolin-treated patient had a mild asthma attack during the 2-month study period. More studies are needed in adult asthma patients to confirm whether forskolin may be a useful preventive treatment for mild or moderately persistent adult asthma.

Blindness following cosmetic injections of the face.

PubMed

Lazzeri, Davide; Agostini, Tommaso; Figus, Michele; Nardi, Marco; Pantaloni, Marcello; Lazzeri, Stefano

2012-04-01

Complications following facial cosmetic injections have recently heightened awareness of the possibility of iatrogenic blindness. The authors conducted a systematic review of the available literature to provide the best evidence for the prevention and treatment of this serious eye injury. The authors included in the study only the cases in which blindness was a direct consequence of a cosmetic injection procedure of the face. Twenty-nine articles describing 32 patients were identified. In 15 patients, blindness occurred after injections of adipose tissue; in the other 17, it followed injections of various materials, including corticosteroids, paraffin, silicone oil, bovine collagen, polymethylmethacrylate, hyaluronic acid, and calcium hydroxyapatite. Some precautions may minimize the risk of embolization of filler into the ophthalmic artery following facial cosmetic injections. Intravascular placement of the needle or cannula should be demonstrated by aspiration before injection and should be further prevented by application of local vasoconstrictor. Needles, syringes, and cannulas of small size should be preferred to larger ones and be replaced with blunt flexible needles and microcannulas when possible. Low-pressure injections with the release of the least amount of substance possible should be considered safer than bolus injections. The total volume of filler injected during the entire treatment session should be limited, and injections into pretraumatized tissues should be avoided. Actually, no safe, feasible, and reliable treatment exists for iatrogenic retinal embolism. Nonetheless, therapy should theoretically be directed to lowering intraocular pressure to dislodge the embolus into more peripheral vessels of the retinal circulation, increasing retinal perfusion and oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissues. Risk, V.

Perception of blindness and blinding eye conditions in rural communities.

PubMed Central

Ashaye, Adeyinka; Ajuwon, Ademola Johnson; Adeoti, Caroline

2006-01-01

PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the causes and management of blindness and blinding eye conditions as perceived by rural dwellers of two Yoruba communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. METHODS: Four focus group discussions were conducted among residents of Iddo and Isale Oyo, two rural Yoruba communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. Participants consisted of sighted, those who were partially or totally blind and community leaders. Ten patent medicine sellers and 12 traditional healers were also interviewed on their perception of the causes and management of blindness in their communities. FINDINGS: Blindness was perceived as an increasing problem among the communities. Multiple factors were perceived to cause blindness, including germs, onchocerciasis and supernatural forces. Traditional healers believed that blindness could be cured, with many claiming that they had previously cured blindness in the past. However, all agreed that patience was an important requirement for the cure of blindness. The patent medicine sellers' reports were similar to those of the traditional healers. The barriers to use of orthodox medicine were mainly fear, misconception and perceived high costs of care. There was a consensus of opinion among group discussants and informants that there are severe social and economic consequences of blindness, including not been able to see and assess the quality of what the sufferer eats, perpetual sadness, loss of sleep and dependence on other persons for daily activities. CONCLUSION: Local beliefs associated with causation, symptoms and management of blindness and blinding eye conditions among rural Yoruba communities identified have provided a bridge for understanding local perspectives and basis for implementing appropriate primary eye care programs. PMID:16775910

Blindness to Curvature and Blindness to Illusory Curvature.

PubMed

Bertamini, Marco; Kitaoka, Akiyoshi

2018-01-01

We compare two versions of two known phenomena, the Curvature blindness and the Kite mesh illusions, to highlight how similar manipulations lead to blindness to curvature and blindness to illusory curvature, respectively. The critical factor is a change in luminance polarity; this factor interferes with the computation of curvature along the contour, for both real and illusory curvature.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Monitoring of Early Stage Disease in Australian General Practice: Tackling Preventable Blindness within a Chronic Care Model.

PubMed

Crossland, Lisa; Askew, Deborah; Ware, Robert; Cranstoun, Peter; Mitchell, Paul; Bryett, Andrew; Jackson, Claire

2016-01-01

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia. Up to 50% of people with proliferative DR who do not receive timely treatment will become legally blind within five years. Innovative and accessible screening, involving a variety of primary care providers, will become increasingly important if patients with diabetes are to receive optimal eye care. An open controlled trial design was used. Five intervention practices in urban, regional, and rural Australia partnered with ophthalmologists via telehealth undertook DR screening and monitoring of type 2 diabetes patients and were compared with control practices undertaking usual care 2011-2014. Recorded screening rates were 100% across intervention practices, compared with 22-53% in control practices. 31/577 (5%) of patients in the control practices were diagnosed with mild-moderate DR, of whom 9 (29%) had appropriate follow-up recorded. This was compared with 39/447 (9%) of patients in the intervention group, of whom 37 (95%) had appropriate follow-up recorded. General practice-based DR screening via Annual Cycle of Care arrangements is effective across differing practice locations. It offers improved recording of screening outcomes for Australians with type 2 diabetes and better follow-up of those with screen abnormalities.

Childhood and Adolescent Migraine Prevention (CHAMP) Study: A Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled, Comparative Effectiveness Study of Amitriptyline, Topiramate and Placebo in the Prevention of Childhood and Adolescent Migraine

PubMed Central

Hershey, Andrew D.; Powers, Scott W.; Coffey, Christopher S.; Eklund, Dixie D.; Chamberlin, Leigh Ann; Korbee, Leslie L.

2013-01-01

Background Migraine is one of the most common health problems for children and adolescents. If not successfully treated, it can impact patients and families with significant disability due to loss of school, work and social function. When headaches become frequent, it is essential to try to prevent the headaches. For children and adolescents this is guided by extrapolation from adult studies, a limited number of small studies in children and adolescents and practitioner preference. The aim of the Childhood and Adolescent Migraine Prevention (CHAMP) study is to determine the most effective preventive agent to use in children and adolescents. Methods CHAMP is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center, comparative-effectiveness study of amitriptyline and topiramate for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine, designed to mirror real-world practice, sponsored by the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health (U01NS076788). The study will recruit 675 subjects between the ages of 8 and 17 years old, inclusive, who have migraine with or without aura or chronic migraine as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition, with at least 4 headaches in the 28 days prior to randomization. The subjects will be randomized in a 2:2:1 (amitriptyline: topiramate: placebo) ratio. Doses are weight based and will be slowly titrated over an 8 week period to a target dose of 1 mg/kg of amitriptyline and 2 mg/kg of topiramate. The primary outcome will be a 50% reduction in headache frequency between the 28 day baseline and the final 28 days of treatment (weeks 20–24). Conclusions The goal of the CHAMP study is to obtain level 1 evidence for the effectiveness of amitriptyline and topiramate in the prevention of migraine in children and adolescents. If this study proves to be positive, it will provide information to the practicing physician as how to best prevent migraine in children and

A randomized, double-blinded comparison of ondansetron, granisetron, and placebo for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after supratentorial craniotomy.

PubMed

Jain, Virendra; Mitra, Jayanta K; Rath, Girija P; Prabhakar, Hemanshu; Bithal, Parmod K; Dash, Hari H

2009-07-01

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are frequent and distressing complications after neurosurgical procedures. We evaluated the efficacy of ondansetron and granisetron to prevent PONV after supratentorial craniotomy. In a randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial, 90 adult American Society of Anesthesiologists I, II patients were included in the study. A standard anesthesia technique was followed. Patients were divided into 3 groups to receive either placebo (saline), ondansetron 4 mg, or granisetron 1 mg intravenously at the time of dural closure. After extubation, episodes of nausea and vomiting were noted for 24 hours postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using chi2 test and 1-way analysis of variance. Demographic data, duration of surgery, intraoperative fluids and analgesic requirement, and postoperative pain (visual analog scale) scores were comparable in all 3 groups. It was observed that the incidence of vomiting in 24 hours, severe emetic episodes, and requirement of rescue antiemetics were less in ondansetron and granisetron groups as compared with placebo (P<0.001). Both the study drugs had comparable effect on vomiting. However, the incidence of nausea was comparable in all 3 groups (P=0.46). A favorable influence on the patient satisfaction scores, and number needed to prevent emesis was seen in the 2 drug groups. No significant correlation was found between neurosurgical factors (presence of midline shift, mass effect, pathologic diagnosis of tumor, site of tumor) and the occurrence of PONV. We conclude that ondansetron 4 mg and granisetron 1 mg are comparably effective at preventing emesis after supratentorial craniotomy. However, neither drugs prevented nausea effectively.

What the comprehensive economics of blindness and visual impairment can help us understand.

PubMed

Frick, Kevin D

2012-01-01

Since the year 2000, the amount written about the economics of blindness and visual impairment has increased substantially. In some cases, the studies listed under this heading are calculations of the costs related to vision impairment and blindness at a national or global level; in other cases the studies examine the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent or modify visual impairment or blindness that are intended to be applied as a guide to treatment recommendations and coverage decisions. In each case the references are just examples of many that could be cited. These important studies have helped advocates, policy makers, practitioners, educators, and others interested in eye and vision health to understand the magnitude of the impact that visual impairment and blindness have on the world, regions, nations, and individuals and the tradeoffs that need to be made to limit the impact. However, these studies only begin to tap into the insights that economic logic might offer to those interested in this field. This paper presents multiple case studies that demonstrate that the economics of blindness and visual impairment encompasses much more than simply measures of the burden of the condition. Case studies demonstrating the usefulness of economic insight include analysis of the prevention of conditions that lead to impairment, decisions about refractive error and presbyopia, decisions about disease and injury treatment, decisions about behavior among those with uncorrectable impairment, and decisions about how to regulate the market all have important economic inputs.

What the comprehensive economics of blindness and visual impairment can help us understand

PubMed Central

Frick, Kevin D

2012-01-01

Since the year 2000, the amount written about the economics of blindness and visual impairment has increased substantially. In some cases, the studies listed under this heading are calculations of the costs related to vision impairment and blindness at a national or global level; in other cases the studies examine the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent or modify visual impairment or blindness that are intended to be applied as a guide to treatment recommendations and coverage decisions. In each case the references are just examples of many that could be cited. These important studies have helped advocates, policy makers, practitioners, educators, and others interested in eye and vision health to understand the magnitude of the impact that visual impairment and blindness have on the world, regions, nations, and individuals and the tradeoffs that need to be made to limit the impact. However, these studies only begin to tap into the insights that economic logic might offer to those interested in this field. This paper presents multiple case studies that demonstrate that the economics of blindness and visual impairment encompasses much more than simply measures of the burden of the condition. Case studies demonstrating the usefulness of economic insight include analysis of the prevention of conditions that lead to impairment, decisions about refractive error and presbyopia, decisions about disease and injury treatment, decisions about behavior among those with uncorrectable impairment, and decisions about how to regulate the market all have important economic inputs. PMID:22944750

A double-blinded randomized controlled trial of silymarin for the prevention of antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury.

PubMed

Luangchosiri, Chote; Thakkinstian, Ammarin; Chitphuk, Sermsiri; Stitchantrakul, Wasana; Petraksa, Supanna; Sobhonslidsuk, Abhasnee

2015-09-23

Hepatitis is a common adverse effect of antituberculosis drugs. Silymarin prevented drug-induced hepatoxicity in animals with anti-oxidative mechanisms but its effect in human has been unknown. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of silymarin for preventing antituberculosis-drug induced liver injury (antiTB-DILI) in patients with tuberculosis. A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was performed. Tuberculosis patients were randomly allocated to receive placebo or silymarin. The outcomes of interests were antiTB-DILI and the maximum liver enzymes at week 4. Antioxidative enzymes (i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione and malondialdehyde assays) were assessed. The risks of antiTB-DILI between the two groups were compared. A number need to treat was estimated. A total of 55 out of 70 expected numbers of patients were enrolled. There were 1/27 (3.7%) and 9/28 (32.1%) patients who developed antiTB-DILI in the silymarin and the placebo groups. Risk reduction was 0.28 (0.10, 0.47), i.e., receiving silymarin was 28% at lower risk for antiTB-DILI than placebo. This led to prevention of 28 patients from being antiTB-DILI among 100 treated patients. Median (IQR) of ALT levels at week 4 in the placebo and the silymarin group were 35.0 (15, 415) IU/L and 31.5 (20, 184) IU/L (p = 0.455). The decline of SOD level at week 4 in the silymarin group was less than the placebo group (p < 0.027). Silymarin reduced the incidence of antiTB-DILI. The benefit of silymarin may be explained from superoxide dismutase restoration. Larger clinical trials are required to confirm the result of our small study [Clinicaltrials.Gov Identifier Nct01800487].

[Blindness: Three Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jernigan, Kenneth

Three papers by the president of the National Federation of the Blind are presented. The first, "A Definition of Blindness," examines definitions of blindness, asserting the advantages of a functional or sociological definition over a physical or medical definition. He cites harm in legal distinctions between partial and full blindness and between…

Countermeasure against blinding attacks on low-noise detectors with a background-noise-cancellation scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Min Soo; Park, Byung Kwon; Woo, Min Ki; Park, Chang Hoon; Kim, Yong-Su; Han, Sang-Wook; Moon, Sung

2016-12-01

We developed a countermeasure against blinding attacks on low-noise detectors with a background-noise-cancellation scheme in quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. Background-noise cancellation includes self-differencing and balanced avalanche photon diode (APD) schemes and is considered a promising solution for low-noise APDs, which are critical components in high-performance QKD systems. However, its vulnerability to blinding attacks has been recently reported. In this work, we propose a countermeasure that prevents this potential security loophole from being used in detector blinding attacks. An experimental QKD setup is implemented and various tests are conducted to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed method. The obtained measurement results show that the proposed scheme successfully detects occurring blinding-attack-based hacking attempts.

Blindness and visual impairment in Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria: a hospital-based study.

PubMed

Otulana, T O

2012-09-01

This study was conducted to determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment in Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. A retrospective clinic based study to analyse the cases of patients with blindness in general hospitals of Iperu and Isara areas of Ogun state between May 2005 and December 2005. The data of demographic characteristics and diagnosis were retrieved from the outpatient cards. Three hundred and sixty-nine cases registered in the eye clinic during the period of the study and were examined. 177 were males and 190 were females. The age range of patients seen was between 17 days and 89years with a mean age of 43.3 years, ± 23.62(SD). 116 patients were aged 70years and above while 13 patients were less than 10years. 29.5% of the clinic attendance were uniocularly blind, 21.1% were bilaterally blind while 25 2% were visually impaired. 55.1% of the bilateral blindness was in males. 30.8% cases of the bilaterally blind were from age related cataract, 23.1% from glaucoma, 6 cases were due to Retinitis Pigmentosa and 3 from pterygium, Cataract followed by glaucoma was the leading cause of uniocular blindness. Cataract was responsible for 66.7% of visually impairment. Blindness and visual impairment is a public health problem in Remo Ogun State, Nigeria; cataract, glaucoma and pterygium were the important causes of blindness and visual impairment. The major causes of blindness in this part of Ogun state are preventable.

The Economic Impact of Blindness in Europe.

PubMed

Chakravarthy, Usha; Biundo, Eliana; Saka, Rasit Omer; Fasser, Christina; Bourne, Rupert; Little, Julie-Anne

2017-08-01

To estimate the annual loss of productivity from blindness and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI) in the population aged >50 years in the European Union (EU). We estimated the cost of lost productivity using three simple models reported in the literature based on (1) minimum wage (MW), (2) gross national income (GNI), and (3) purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP-PPP) losses. In the first two models, assumptions included that all individuals worked until 65 years of age, and that half of all visual impairment cases in the >50-year age group would be in those aged between 50 and 65 years. Loss of productivity was estimated to be 100% for blind individuals and 30% for those with MSVI. None of these models included direct medical costs related to visual impairment. The estimated number of blind people in the EU population aged >50 years is ~1.28 million, with a further 9.99 million living with MSVI. Based on the three models, the estimated cost of blindness is €7.81 billion, €6.29 billion and €17.29 billion and that of MSVI €18.02 billion, €24.80 billion and €39.23 billion, with their combined costs €25.83 billion, €31.09 billion and €56.52 billion, respectively. The estimates from the MW and adjusted GDP-PPP models were generally comparable, whereas the GNI model estimates were higher, probably reflecting the lack of adjustment for unemployment. The cost of blindness and MSVI in the EU is substantial. Wider use of available cost-effective treatment and prevention strategies may reduce the burden significantly.

Causes of childhood blindness in the northeastern states of India.

PubMed

Bhattacharjee, Harsha; Das, Kalyan; Borah, Rishi Raj; Guha, Kamalesh; Gogate, Parikshit; Purukayastha, S; Gilbert, Clare

2008-01-01

The northeastern region (NER) of India is geographically isolated and ethno-culturally different from the rest of the country. There is lacuna regarding the data on causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children from this region. To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness amongst children from schools for the blind in the four states of NER of India. Survey of children attending special education schools for the blind in the NER. Blind and severely visually impaired children (best corrected visual acuity < 20/200 in the better eye, aged up to 16 years) underwent visual acuity estimation, external ocular examination, retinoscopy and fundoscopy. Refraction and low vision workup was done where indicated. World Health Organization's reporting form was used to code anatomical and etiological causes of visual loss. Microsoft Excel Windows software with SPSS. A total of 376 students were examined of whom 258 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The major anatomical causes of visual loss amongst the 258 were congenital anomalies (anophthalmos, microphthalmos) 93 (36.1%); corneal conditions (scarring, vitamin A deficiency) 94 (36.7%); cataract or aphakia 28 (10.9%), retinal disorders 15 (5.8%) and optic atrophy 14 (5.3%). Nearly half of the children were blind from conditions which were either preventable or treatable (48.5%). Nearly half the childhood blindness in the NER states of India is avoidable and Vitamin A deficiency forms an important component unlike other Indian states. More research and multisectorial effort is needed to tackle congenital anomalies.

Representing vision and blindness.

PubMed

Ray, Patrick L; Cox, Alexander P; Jensen, Mark; Allen, Travis; Duncan, William; Diehl, Alexander D

2016-01-01

There have been relatively few attempts to represent vision or blindness ontologically. This is unsurprising as the related phenomena of sight and blindness are difficult to represent ontologically for a variety of reasons. Blindness has escaped ontological capture at least in part because: blindness or the employment of the term 'blindness' seems to vary from context to context, blindness can present in a myriad of types and degrees, and there is no precedent for representing complex phenomena such as blindness. We explore current attempts to represent vision or blindness, and show how these attempts fail at representing subtypes of blindness (viz., color blindness, flash blindness, and inattentional blindness). We examine the results found through a review of current attempts and identify where they have failed. By analyzing our test cases of different types of blindness along with the strengths and weaknesses of previous attempts, we have identified the general features of blindness and vision. We propose an ontological solution to represent vision and blindness, which capitalizes on resources afforded to one who utilizes the Basic Formal Ontology as an upper-level ontology. The solution we propose here involves specifying the trigger conditions of a disposition as well as the processes that realize that disposition. Once these are specified we can characterize vision as a function that is realized by certain (in this case) biological processes under a range of triggering conditions. When the range of conditions under which the processes can be realized are reduced beyond a certain threshold, we are able to say that blindness is present. We characterize vision as a function that is realized as a seeing process and blindness as a reduction in the conditions under which the sight function is realized. This solution is desirable because it leverages current features of a major upper-level ontology, accurately captures the phenomenon of blindness, and can be

[The prevalence of blindness caused by primary angle closure glaucoma in middle-aged Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis].

PubMed

Liu, M L; Wang, Y X

2017-05-11

Objective: To evaluate the rate of blindness caused by primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Chinese population of more than 40 years old, and to explore the effectiveness of a prevention and treatment system on PACG. Methods: We searched the databases of Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, CNKI and Wanfang Data and collected all the original studies of the prevalence and blindness of angle closure glaucoma in China. The population was limited to over 40 years old. The research site was limited to the community-based, while the published time was not limited. Two researchers completed the literature search, data extraction and methodological quality assessment independently, with same criteria. Meta analysis was performed using R software. Results: Five papers were included in this study finally. A total of 26 437 cases of natural population over the age of 40 were observed, and 306 cases of angle closure glaucoma were found, of which 113 cases had binocular or monocular blindness caused by PACG. The random effect model meta-analysis results showed that the overall blindness rate was 38.3% [95% CI (28.1%, 49.6%)]. In Beijing, where the prevention and treatment system was well established, the blindness rate was far lower than that in the areas where the system was poorly established. Compared with the past, the blindness rate caused by PACG in Beijing decreased sharply. Conclusions: The rate of blindness caused by PACG is still high in the mainland of China. The prevention and treatment system is effective and worth promoting. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 373 - 377) .

Secondary Prevention of Chronic PTSD by Early and Short-Term Administration of Escitalopram: A Prospective Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial.

PubMed

Zohar, Joseph; Fostick, Leah; Juven-Wetzler, Alzabeta; Kaplan, Zeev; Shalev, Hadar; Schreiber, Gavriel; Miroshnik, Natalie; Shalev, Arieh Y; Stein, Dan J; Seedat, Soraya; Suliman, Sharain; Klein, Ehud

Prospective studies have not identified a viable pharmacologic strategy for secondary prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The authors examined whether preventive intervention via early and short-term administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), within 1 month of exposure to a traumatic event (before diagnosis of PTSD could be made), may reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms according to DSM-IV at 13 months' follow-up. Over 25,000 screening calls to patients referred to an emergency department for a traumatic event performed between June 2006 and December 2008 yielded 353 participants who were recruited within the month following a traumatic event . Participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to escitalopram (n = 176) or placebo (n = 177). The per-protocol analysis comprised 198 participants (escitalopram, n = 102; placebo, n = 96) who received treatment for 12 to 24 weeks and were available for follow-up at week 56. The primary outcome measure, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), revealed no prevention effect. However, a secondary outcome, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), showed better results for the SSRI group than for the placebo group. For a subset of participants who experienced intentional trauma (missile attacks, rape, or physical assault; n = 50), the prevention effect was found on both primary and secondary measures (CAPS, PSQI and measures of depression and global illness severity). Early and short-term administration of escitalopram was not shown to prevent PTSD, although it did improve sleep quality. In a subgroup of participants who experienced intentional trauma, however, this early-treatment approach may be effective as secondary prevention. This large study is the first to investigate the preventive effect of early administration of escitalopram on PTSD. It highlights the relevance of the type of trauma (intentional vs unintentional) to the outcome. Clinical

A survey of severe visual impairment in children attending schools for the blind in a coastal district of Andhra Pradesh in South India.

PubMed

Krishnaiah, S; Subba Rao, B; Lakshmi Narasamma, K; Amit, G

2012-08-01

To identify the major causes of severe childhood visual impairment and blindness among students attending schools for the blind in a coastal district of Andhra Pradesh (AP) in South India. Children ≤ 16 years of age attending six schools for the blind in the study area were interviewed and examined in the year 2009, and causes were classified according to the World Health Organization Program for Prevention of Blindness (WHO/PBL) childhood blindness proforma. A total of 113 children underwent a detailed eye examination by an experienced ophthalmologist. The major causes of blindness were congenital eye anomalies in 46 children (41.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 32.3-50.6), followed by retinal disorders in 21 children (18.9%; 95% CI: 11.6-26.2), cataract in 9 children (9.7%; 95% CI: 2.9-12.9), and corneal conditions (scar and Staphyloma) in 8 children (7.1%; 95% CI: 2.4-11.8). More than half the children (56.6%) were blind due to conditions that could have been treated or prevented. Congenital anomalies were found to be the most common cause of blindness. The majority of the cases were due to avoidable causes of blindness. Therefore, robust screening measures may help reduce the burden of visual impairment in children.

Prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in Baotou: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Zhang, Guisen; Li, Yan; Teng, Xuelong; Wu, Qiang; Gong, Hui; Ren, Fengmei; Guo, Yuxia; Liu, Lei; Zhang, Han

2016-09-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.A cross-sectional study was carried out. Multistage sampling was used to select samples. The visual acuity was estimated using LogMAR and corrected by pinhole as best-corrected visual acuity.There were 7000 samples selected and 5770 subjects included in this investigation. The overall bilateral prevalence rates of low vision and blindness were 3.66% (95% CI: 3.17-4.14) and 0.99% (95% CI: 0.73-1.24), respectively. The prevalence of bilateral low vision, blindness, and visual impairment increased with age and decreased with education level. The main leading cause of low vision and blindness was cataract. Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration were found to be the second leading causes of blindness in Baotou.The low vision and blindness were more prevalent in elderly people and subjects with low education level in Baotou. Cataract was the main cause for visual impairment and more attention should be paid to fundus diseases. In order to prevent blindness, much more eye care programs should be established.

Irrelevant speech does not interfere with serial recall in early blind listeners.

PubMed

Kattner, Florian; Ellermeier, Wolfgang

2014-01-01

Phonological working memory is known be (a) inversely related to the duration of the items to be learned (word-length effect), and (b) impaired by the presence of irrelevant speech-like sounds (irrelevant-speech effect). As it is discussed controversially whether these memory disruptions are subject to attentional control, both effects were studied in sighted participants and in a sample of early blind individuals who are expected to be superior in selectively attending to auditory stimuli. Results show that, while performance depended on word length in both groups, irrelevant speech interfered with recall only in the sighted group, but not in blind participants. This suggests that blind listeners may be able to effectively prevent irrelevant sound from being encoded in the phonological store, presumably due to superior auditory processing. The occurrence of a word-length effect, however, implies that blind and sighted listeners are utilizing the same phonological rehearsal mechanism in order to maintain information in the phonological store.

Causes of childhood blindness in the northeastern states of India

PubMed Central

Bhattacharjee, Harsha; Das, Kalyan; Borah, Rishi Raj; Guha, Kamalesh; Purukayastha, S; Gilbert, Clare

2008-01-01

Background: The northeastern region (NER) of India is geographically isolated and ethno-culturally different from the rest of the country. There is lacuna regarding the data on causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children from this region. Aim: To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness amongst children from schools for the blind in the four states of NER of India. Design and Setting: Survey of children attending special education schools for the blind in the NER. Materials and Methods: Blind and severely visually impaired children (best corrected visual acuity <20/200 in the better eye, aged up to 16 years) underwent visual acuity estimation, external ocular examination, retinoscopy and fundoscopy. Refraction and low vision workup was done where indicated. World Health Organization′s reporting form was used to code anatomical and etiological causes of visual loss. Statistical Analysis: Microsoft Excel Windows software with SPSS. Results: A total of 376 students were examined of whom 258 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The major anatomical causes of visual loss amongst the 258 were congenital anomalies (anophthalmos, microphthalmos) 93 (36.1%); corneal conditions (scarring, vitamin A deficiency) 94 (36.7%); cataract or aphakia 28 (10.9%), retinal disorders 15 (5.8%) and optic atrophy 14 (5.3%). Nearly half of the children were blind from conditions which were either preventable or treatable (48.5%). Conclusion: Nearly half the childhood blindness in the NER states of India is avoidable and Vitamin A deficiency forms an important component unlike other Indian states. More research and multisectorial effort is needed to tackle congenital anomalies. PMID:18974521

Efficacy of Atorvastatin in Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy in High-risk Patients Undergoing Angiography: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Syed, Maaz Hussain; Khandelwal, Prakash Narayan; Thawani, Vijay R; Katare, S S

2017-01-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin (ATN) 80 mg in the prevention of contrast medium- induced nephropathy (CIN) in high risk patients undergoing angiograph. This was a prospective, double-blind, two-arm, parallel group RCT. A total of 216 patients undergoing coronary angiography were screened, and 188 eligible patients were randomized to two treatment arms. Patients in Group A received tablet N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 1200 mg once daily, and patients in Group B received tablet atorvastatin 80 mg + NAC 1200 mg once daily, for 3 days before, and 2 days after angiography. A total of 160 patients completed the trial. Postprocedure, nine and two CIN cases were found in Group A and B, respectively. The mean change in serum creatinine was 0.086 ± 0.168 in Group A and 0.021 ± 0.083 in Group B, which was statistically significant ( P = 0.0289). Postprocedure, the estimated glomerular filteration rate was reduced by 19.52 in Group A and 13.55 in Group B ( P = 0.003). This trial indicates the positive role of statins in preventive strategy against CIN along with NAC.

Efficacy of Atorvastatin in Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy in High-risk Patients Undergoing Angiography: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Syed, Maaz Hussain; Khandelwal, Prakash Narayan; Thawani, Vijay R.; Katare, S. S.

2017-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin (ATN) 80 mg in the prevention of contrast medium- induced nephropathy (CIN) in high risk patients undergoing angiograph. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, two-arm, parallel group RCT. A total of 216 patients undergoing coronary angiography were screened, and 188 eligible patients were randomized to two treatment arms. Patients in Group A received tablet N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 1200 mg once daily, and patients in Group B received tablet atorvastatin 80 mg + NAC 1200 mg once daily, for 3 days before, and 2 days after angiography. Results: A total of 160 patients completed the trial. Postprocedure, nine and two CIN cases were found in Group A and B, respectively. The mean change in serum creatinine was 0.086 ± 0.168 in Group A and 0.021 ± 0.083 in Group B, which was statistically significant (P = 0.0289). Postprocedure, the estimated glomerular filteration rate was reduced by 19.52 in Group A and 13.55 in Group B (P = 0.003). Conclusion: This trial indicates the positive role of statins in preventive strategy against CIN along with NAC. PMID:28706398

Equity and Blindness: Closing Evidence Gaps to Support Universal Eye Health.

PubMed

Ramke, Jacqueline; Zwi, Anthony B; Palagyi, Anna; Blignault, Ilse; Gilbert, Clare E

2015-01-01

The World Health Organization Program for the Prevention of Blindness adopted the principles of universal health coverage (UHC) in its latest plan, Universal Eye Health: A Global Action Plan, 2014-2019. This plan builds on the achievements of Vision 2020, which aimed to reduce the global prevalence of avoidable blindness, and its unequal distribution, by the year 2020. We reviewed the literature on health equity and the generation and use of evidence to promote equity, particularly in eye health. We describe the nature and extent of the equity-focused evidence to support and inform eye health programs on the path to universal eye health, and propose ways to improve the collection and reporting of this evidence. Blindness prevalence decreased in all regions of the world between 1990 and 2010, albeit not at the same rate or to the same extent. In 2010, the prevalence of blindness in West Africa (6.0%) remained 15 times higher than in high-income regions (0.4%); within all regions, women had a higher prevalence of blindness than men. Beyond inter-regional and sex differences, there is little comparable data on the distribution of blindness across social groups within regions and countries, or on whether this distribution has changed over time. Similarly, interventions known to address inequity in blindness are few, and equity-relevant goals, targets and indicators for eye health programs are scarce. Equity aims of eye health programs can benefit from the global momentum towards achieving UHC, and the progress being made on collecting, communicating and using equity-focused evidence.

Topiramate for prevention of olanzapine associated weight gain and metabolic dysfunction in schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Narula, Preeta Kaur; Rehan, H S; Unni, K E S; Gupta, Neeraj

2010-05-01

Olanzapine associated weight gain (WG) is a major concern in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of topiramate to prevent olanzapine induced WG in these cases. We also studied various metabolic parameters. In this 12-week, double-blind, parallel group study, seventy-two drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients were randomized to receive olanzapine+placebo (olanzapine group) or olanzapine+topiramate (100mg/day) (topiramate group). Weight, body mass index, fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (IR), leptin, lipids and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. The patients were clinically evaluated using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and were monitored for adverse effects. Topiramate resulted in a weight loss of 1.27+/-2.28 kg (p<0.01), decrease in leptin (p<0.001), glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride levels and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In the olanzapine group, there was a significant WG, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, increased IR, hyperleptinemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia (p<0.001).There was a greater clinical improvement (PANSS scores) (p<0.001) in the topiramate group. The adverse effects were well tolerated. Topiramate could prevent olanzapine induced weight gain and adverse metabolic effects. It also results in a greater clinical improvement when used with olanzapine in schizophrenia. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Color blindness

MedlinePlus

Color deficiency; Blindness - color ... Color blindness occurs when there is a problem with the pigments in certain nerve cells of the eye that sense color. These cells are called cones. They are found ...

Overview on Deaf-Blindness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Barbara

1995-01-01

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals with deaf-blindness. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

A survey of severe visual impairment in children attending schools for the blind in a coastal district of Andhra Pradesh in South India

PubMed Central

Krishnaiah, S; Subba Rao, B; Lakshmi Narasamma, K; Amit, G

2012-01-01

Purpose To identify the major causes of severe childhood visual impairment and blindness among students attending schools for the blind in a coastal district of Andhra Pradesh (AP) in South India. Methods Children ≤16 years of age attending six schools for the blind in the study area were interviewed and examined in the year 2009, and causes were classified according to the World Health Organization Program for Prevention of Blindness (WHO/PBL) childhood blindness proforma. A total of 113 children underwent a detailed eye examination by an experienced ophthalmologist. Results The major causes of blindness were congenital eye anomalies in 46 children (41.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 32.3–50.6), followed by retinal disorders in 21 children (18.9% 95% CI: 11.6–26.2), cataract in 9 children (9.7% 95% CI: 2.9–12.9), and corneal conditions (scar and Staphyloma) in 8 children (7.1% 95% CI: 2.4–11.8). More than half the children (56.6%) were blind due to conditions that could have been treated or prevented. Discussion Congenital anomalies were found to be the most common cause of blindness. The majority of the cases were due to avoidable causes of blindness. Therefore, robust screening measures may help reduce the burden of visual impairment in children. PMID:22576826

Access to healthcare for disabled persons. How are blind people reached by HIV services?

PubMed

Saulo, Bryson; Walakira, Eddy; Darj, Elisabeth

2012-03-01

Disabled people are overlooked and marginalised globally. There is a lack of information on blind people and HIV-related services and it is unclear how HIV-services target blind people in a sub-Saharan urban setting. To explore how blind people are reached by HIV-services in Kampala, Uganda. A purposeful sample of blind people and seeing healthcare workers were interviewed, and data on their opinions and experiences were collected. The data were analysed by qualitative content analysis, with a focus on manifest content. Three categories emerged from the study, reaching for HIV information and knowledge, lack of services, and experiences of discrimination. General knowledge on HIV prevention/transmission methods was good; however, there was scepticism about condom use. Blind people mainly relied on others for accessing HIV information, and a lack of special services for blind people to be able to test for HIV was expressed. The health service for blind people was considered inadequate, unequal and discriminatory, and harassment by healthcare staff was expressed, but not sexual abuse. Concerns about disclosure of personal medical information were revealed. Access to HIV services and other healthcare related services for blind people is limited and the objectives of the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2007-2012 have not been achieved. There is a need for alternative methods for sensitisation and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for blind people. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Global data on blindness.

PubMed Central

Thylefors, B.; Négrel, A. D.; Pararajasegaram, R.; Dadzie, K. Y.

1995-01-01

Globally, it is estimated that there are 38 million persons who are blind. Moreover, a further 110 million people have low vision and are at great risk of becoming blind. The main causes of blindness and low vision are cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, onchocerciasis, and xerophthalmia; however, insufficient data on blindness from causes such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration preclude specific estimations of their global prevalence. The age-specific prevalences of the major causes of blindness that are related to age indicate that the trend will be for an increase in such blindness over the decades to come, unless energetic efforts are made to tackle these problems. More data collected through standardized methodologies, using internationally accepted (ICD-10) definitions, are needed. Data on the incidence of blindness due to common causes would be useful for calculating future trends more precisely. PMID:7704921

Causes of Childhood Vision Impairment in the School for the Blind in Eritrea.

PubMed

Gyawali, Rajendra; Moodley, Vanessa R

2017-12-01

Our study provides the much-needed evidence on causes of childhood blindness in Eritrea. This will assist authorities to plan appropriate strategies and implement preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services to address these causes of vision loss in children in this resource-limited country. This study aims to identify the causes of severe vision impairment and blindness in children attending the only school for the blind in Eritrea. All children enrolled in the school were examined, and the World Health Organization form for the examination of visually impaired children was used to record the data. Examination included visual acuity, refraction, anterior segment, and fundus assessment. Causes of vision loss for children with severe vision impairment (visual acuity <6/60 to 3/60) and blindness (visual acuity <3/60) are reported. Causes were classified by the anatomical site affected and by underlying etiology based on the timing of the insult and causal factor. A total of 92 children were examined, and 71 (77.2%) of them had severe vision impairment and blindness. The major causes of vision loss were corneal scars (16.9%), cataract (12.7%), phthisis bulbi (11.3%), congenital eye deformities (11.3%), optic atrophy (9.3%), and presumed chorioretinal Toxoplasma scars (7.0%). Hereditary factors were the major known etiological category (15.5%) followed by the sequel of eye injuries (12.7%). Blindness due to vitamin A deficiency was not found, whereas infectious causes such as measles and ophthalmia neonatorum were relatively absent (one case each). Potentially avoidable causes of vision impairment were accounted for in 47.9% of children. This study provides the first direct evidence on childhood vision impairment in Eritrea. Despite the limitations, it is clearly shown that nearly half of the vision loss is due to avoidable causes. Thus, preventive public health strategies, specialist pediatric eye care, and rehabilitative services are recommended to address

The role of diabetic retinopathy in blindness and poor sight in Split-Dalmatia County 2000-2010.

PubMed

Galetović, Davor; Olujić, Ivana; Znaor, Ljubo; Bućan, Kajo; Karlica, Dobrila; Lesin, Mladen; Susac, Tihomir

2013-12-01

Diabetic retinopathy is the fifth leading cause of blindness in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the number of blind persons in the Split-Dalmatia County in the 2000-2010 period and how many of them are blind due to diabetic retinopathy. Records of 160 members of the Association of the Blind in the Split-Dalmatia County, enrolled from 2000 to 2010, were retrospectively analyzed. The leading causes of blindness were diabetic retinopathy (25.6%), glaucoma (13.1%), retinal dystrophy (16.2%), and age related macular degeneration (11.8%). The annual incidence of blindness was 8.4/100,000 inhabitants. The largest number of the blind were found in the 70-80 (21.2%) to > 80 (24.3%) age group. Diabetic retinopathy was the cause of blindness in 24 (15%) men and 17 (10.6%) women. The annual incidence of diabetic retinopathy was 2.16 per 100,000. No case of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed in patients younger than 30 years of age, while the highest prevalence was found in the 70-80 age group (34%). Proliferative diabetic retinopathy was the cause of blindness in 92.7% and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in 7.3% of cases. Study results show that diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of blindness. Early identification of high-risk patients is the key factor in prevention and timely detection of ophthalmoscopic changes, thus enabling effective and duly treatment.

Blindness and visual impairment in the Americas and the Caribbean

PubMed Central

Muñoz, B; West, S K

2002-01-01

Aim: To summarise available data on the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in the Americas and the Caribbean. Methods: The published literature was searched in Medline and LILACS using the following key words: blindness, visual impairment, prevalence. Articles were reviewed, and the references of the articles were also searched for relevant articles, which were also reviewed. Results: Using the mortality in children under the age of 5 as an indicator, the overall prevalence of childhood blindness (in the under age 15 group) for the region was estimated at 0.45/1000, with the majority (67%) living in countries with mortality of children under age 5 above 30/1000 live births. Corneal opacities were more common in countries where the under 5 year mortality are above 30/1000 live births and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was an important cause in countries with intermediate death rates. For adults, overall blindness rates were not estimated because of the social, economic, and ethnic diversity in the region. The primary causes of visual loss in adults in the Americas were age related eye diseases, notably cataract and glaucoma in the African-American and Hispanic populations, and age related macular degeneration in the white population. Uncorrected refractive error was a significant cause of decreased vision across ages, ethnic groups, and countries. Conclusion: More data are needed on the magnitude and causes of visual loss for the Caribbean and Latin American countries. Rates of blindness and visual loss from available data within these countries are widely disparate. Prevention and control of avoidable blindness needs to be an ongoing focus in this region. PMID:11973241

Efficacy and Safety of Pueraria lobata Extract in Gray Hair Prevention: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

PubMed Central

Jo, Seong Jin; Shin, Hyoseung; Paik, Seung Hwan; Na, Sun Jae; Jin, Yingji; Park, Won Seok; Kim, Su Na

2013-01-01

Background Graying of hair-a sign of aging-raises cosmetic concerns. Individuals with gray hair often look older than others their age; therefore, some dye their hair for aesthetic purposes. However, hair colorants can induce many problems including skin irritation, allergic reaction and hair-breakage. Objective This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed in order to examine the effects of APHG-1001, a compound including an extract from Pueraria lobata, on graying hair. Methods A total of 44 female subjects were randomly treated with either APHG-1001 or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. Using the phototrichogram analysis, a count of newly developed gray hair was estimated. Investigator assessment and subject self-assessment were also performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of the compound. Results The mean number of newly developed gray hair at 24 weeks was 6.3/cm2 in the APHG-1001 group and 11.4/cm2 in the placebo group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). However, the investigator assessment and subject self-assessment did not show any significant change in the gross appearance of hair grayness by the end of the study. No severe adverse events in either group were observed. Moreover, the incidence of adverse events did not differ between the groups. Conclusion This clinical trial revealed that APHG-1001, which contains an extract of P. lobata, could prevent the development of new gray hair without any remarkable adverse effects. Thus, it can be considered as a viable treatment option for the prevention of gray hair. PMID:23717015

Political liberalism and religious claims: Four blind spots.

PubMed

Stoeckl, Kristina

2017-01-01

This article gives an overview of 4 important lacunae in political liberalism and identifies, in a preliminary fashion, some trends in the literature that can come in for support in filling these blind spots, which prevent political liberalism from a correct assessment of the diverse nature of religious claims. Political liberalism operates with implicit assumptions about religious actors being either 'liberal' or 'fundamentalist' and ignores a third, in-between group, namely traditionalist religious actors and their claims. After having explained what makes traditionalist religious actors different from liberal and fundamentalist religious actors, the author develops 4 areas in which political liberalism should be pushed further theoretically in order to correctly theorize the challenge which traditional religious actors pose to liberal democracy. These 4 areas (blind spots) are: (1) the context of translation; (2) the politics of exemptions; (3) the multivocality of theology; and (4) the transnational nature of norm-contestation.

Face transplantation for the blind: more than being blind in a sighted world.

PubMed

Lee, Joseph

2018-06-01

Face transplantation (FT) is a landmark in reconstructive surgery involving vascularised composite allotransplantation. A recent issue of FT for patients who are blind has arisen. Some bioethicists recommend not excluding a patient who is blind, as this may amount to discrimination. From an ethical standpoint, FT for those with blindness is appropriate in selected candidates. This article seeks to add to the clinical evidence supporting FT for those with blindness by detailing a complementary psychosocial perspective. Currently, there is little relevant research about the subjectivity of the blind. This is critical since the arguments against FT for the blind refer to their inability to see their face and to view the reaction of others to their disfigured faces. We begin with a brief look at examples of FT involving blindness and associated arguments. The next part is a multidisciplinary investigation of the experiences of the blind. These are gleaned from a close reading of the literature and drawing inferences, as direct studies are rare. The discussion analyses identity themes of the blind in relation to their faces: as they experience it; the face they wish to show to the world; and how others perceive and react to their face in a saturated environment of imagery and visual communication. Disability and the blind person's experience of faces are well-founded considerations for medical practitioners and ethics boards in the process of FT decision-making. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Can Vitamin A be Improved to Prevent Blindness due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Stargardt Disease and Other Retinal Dystrophies?

PubMed

Saad, Leonide; Washington, Ilyas

2016-01-01

We discuss how an imperfect visual cycle results in the formation of vitamin A dimers, thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of various retinal diseases, and summarize how slowing vitamin A dimerization has been a therapeutic target of interest to prevent blindness. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of vitamin A dimerization, an alternative form of vitamin A, one that forms dimers more slowly yet maneuvers effortlessly through the visual cycle, was developed. Such a vitamin A, reinforced with deuterium (C20-D3-vitamin A), can be used as a non-disruptive tool to understand the contribution of vitamin A dimers to vision loss. Eventually, C20-D3-vitamin A could become a disease-modifying therapy to slow or stop vision loss associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Stargardt disease and retinal diseases marked by such vitamin A dimers. Human clinical trials of C20-D3-vitamin A (ALK-001) are underway.

Fear of blindness and perceptions about blind people. The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.

PubMed

Giridhar, Pyda; Dandona, Rakhi; Prasad, Mudigonda N; Kovai, Vilas; Dandona, Lalit

2002-09-01

This study assessed the fear of being affected by illness and disability including blindness, and perceptions of the population towards blind people in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 11,786 subjects of all ages were sampled from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural study areas of Andhra Pradesh using stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling to represent the population of this state. A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages underwent a detailed interview and dilated ocular evaluation. Subjects > 15 years of age (7,432) were interviewed regarding fear of illness/disability and their perceptions of blind people. The fear of blindness was assessed in comparison to cancer, severe mental illness, heart attack, losing limbs, deafness, inability to speak, and paralysis. A majority of the study population feared all the illnesses and disabilities assessed. The prevalence of fear of blindness was 90.9% (95% confidence interval 89.1-92.8%) and 92.1% (95% confidence interval 90.6-93.6%) in urban and rural study areas respectively. With multiple logistic regression the fear of blindness was significantly higher for those with any level of education and for those living in the rural study areas. The proportion of those having positive feelings towards blind people was higher in the urban study area. A high prevalence of blindness, 1.84%, has been reported in this population previously. These data suggest that this population feared blindness, and yet there is a high rate of blindness. This reflects the need for increasing awareness about blindness in this population through eye health promotion strategies in order to reduce blindness, and awareness regarding the availability of rehabilitation services.

A randomized, double-blind, pilot study of rifaximin 550 mg versus placebo in the prevention of travelers' diarrhea in Mexico during the dry season.

PubMed

Flores, Jose; Dupont, Herbert L; Jiang, Zhi-Dong; Okhuysen, Pablo C; Melendez-Romero, Juan H; Gonzalez-Estrada, Alexei; Carrillo, Ismael; Paredes, Mercedes

2011-01-01

Rifaximin has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing travelers' diarrhea (TD) during the summer season. The goal of this double-blinded multicenter trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of rifaximin 550 mg administered once daily for 14 days compared with placebo in the prevention of TD during the dry season in Mexico. There were 101 participants randomized. Overall, 25 participants developed TD during the 3 weeks of the study: 22% from the rifaximin group and 29% from the placebo group (p = 0.4). Mild diarrhea (defined as only one or two unformed stools during a 24-h period plus at least one abdominal symptoms) developed in only 3 (6%) participants taking rifaximin compared with 10 (21%) taking placebo during the first week of study (p = 0.03). No clinically significant or serious adverse events were reported. Antibiotic prophylaxis of TD in Mexico during the dry season needs to be further studied and its benefits weighed against the benefits of self-treatment. © 2011 International Society of Travel Medicine.

Lafutidine prevents low-dose aspirin and loxoprofen induced gastric injury: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled study.

PubMed

Kato, Mototsugu; Kamada, Go; Yamamoto, Keiko; Nishida, Urara; Imai, Aki; Yoshida, Takeshi; Ono, Shouko; Nakagawa, Manabu; Nakagawa, Soichi; Shimizu, Yuichi; Asaka, Masahiro

2010-10-01

The concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a risk factor for low-dose aspirin (LDA)-associated upper gastrointestinal toxicity. Lafutidine is an H2-receptor antagonist with gastroprotective activity, produced by acting on capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons. To evaluate the preventive effect of lafutidine on gastric damage caused by LDA alone and by the combination of both LDA and loxoprofen, we conducted a clinical study using healthy volunteers. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study was carried out. Sixteen healthy volunteers without Helicobacter pylori infection were randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups received 81 mg of aspirin once daily for 14 days (on days 1 to 14) and 60 mg of loxoprofen three times daily for the last 7 days (on days 8 to 14). Placebo or 10 mg of lafutidine was administered twice daily for 14 days in each group. After a 2-week washout period, placebo and lafutidine were crossed over. Endoscopic findings of gastric mucosal damage were evaluated according to the modified Lanza score. The mean modified Lanza score was 2.19 ± 1.06 (SD) for aspirin plus placebo as compared with 0.50 ± 0.77 for aspirin plus lafutidine (P < 0.001), and 3.00 ± 1.56 for aspirin plus loxoprofen and placebo as compared with 1.25 ± 1.37 for aspirin plus loxoprofen and lafutidine (P < 0.01). The addition of loxoprofen to LDA increases gastric mucosal damage. Standard-dose lafutidine significantly prevents gastric mucosal damage induced by LDA alone or LDA plus loxoprofen in H. pylori-negative volunteers. Larger controlled studies are needed to strengthen these findings. © 2010 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Randomised double-blind study comparing tropisetron alone and in combination with dexamethasone in the prevention of acute and delayed cisplatin-induced emesis.

PubMed

Garcia-del-Muro, X; Vadell, C; Pérez Manga, G; Bover, I; Rifá, J; Beltrán, M; Barros, M M; Germá, J R; Fabregat, X; Moreno, V; Salvador, A; Viladiu, P

1998-01-01

In a randomised, double-blind and parallel-design multicentre study, 282 chemotherapy-naive cancer patients received tropisetron 5 mg intravenously (i.v.) before high-dose cisplatin on day 1, and oral tropisetron 5 mg daily on days 2-6, in combination with either placebo (n = 143) or dexamethasone (n = 135), given i.v. on day 1 and orally on days 2-6. Complete protection from acute vomiting/nausea was achieved in 76.3%/79.3% of patients receiving the combination and in 55.2%/61.5% of those receiving tropisetron alone. Complete protection on days 2-6 from delayed vomiting/nausea was obtained in 60%/60% and 39.2%/40.6%, respectively. Tropisetron in combination with dexamethasone is safe and more effective than tropisetron alone in the prevention of both acute and delayed cisplatin-induced emesis.

Causes of childhood blindness in a school for the visually impaired in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Fan, D S P; Lai, T Y Y; Cheung, E Y Y; Lam, D S C

2005-04-01

To identify the causes of blindness in children attending a school for the blind in Hong Kong. Cross-sectional observational study. School for blind children in Hong Kong. Eighty-two blind students at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired were examined between December 1998 and August 1999. Demographic data were obtained from students and a questionnaire assessment made of their medical and ocular history. Visual acuity was assessed and visual loss classified according to the World Health Organization classification of visual impairment. Complete ophthalmic assessments were performed in all students including slit-lamp examination and dilated binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. The mean age of the students was 12.2 years. Ten (12.2%) had a family history of eye disease. Major past medical illnesses were reported in 50% with prematurity and diseases of the central nervous system found in 26.8% and 11.0% of students, respectively. The most common anatomical site for visual impairment was the retina (47.6%), followed by diseases of the optic nerve (14.6%), and diseases of the anterior segment and the lens (14.6%). The pattern of childhood blindness in Hong Kong is similar to that seen in other developed countries. Preventable causes of childhood blindness, such as prematurity and birth asphyxia, were responsible for a large proportion of cases. Early diagnosis and treatment of such conditions may reduce the incidence of childhood blindness in Hong Kong.

Repetition blindness and homophone blindness in young and older adults.

PubMed

Tyrrell, Caitlin J; James, Lori E; Noble, Paula M

2016-11-01

We tested age effects on repetition blindness (RB), defined as the reduced probability of reporting a target word following presentation of the same word in a rapidly presented list. We also tested age effects on homophone blindness (HB), in which the first word is a homophone of the target word rather than a repeated word. Thirty young and 28 older adults viewed rapidly presented lists of words containing repeated, homophone, or unrepeated word pairs and reported all of the words immediately after each list. Older adults exhibited a greater degree of RB and HB than young adults using a conditional scoring method that provides certainty that blindness has occurred. The existence of RB and HB for both age groups, and increased blindness for older compared to young adults, supports predictions of a binding theory that has successfully accounted for a wide range of phenomena in cognitive aging.

[Visual impairment and blindness in children in a Malawian school for the blind].

PubMed

Schulze Schwering, M; Nyrenda, M; Spitzer, M S; Kalua, K

2013-08-01

The aim of this study was to determine the anatomic sites of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in an integrated school for the blind in Malawi, and to compare the results with those of previous Malawian blind school studies. Children attending an integrated school for the blind in Malawi were examined in September 2011 using the standard WHO/PBL eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision. Visual acuity [VA] of the better eye was classified using the standardised WHO reporting form. Fifty-five pupils aged 6 to 19 years were examined, 39 (71 %) males, and 16 (29 %) females. Thirty eight (69%) were blind [BL], 8 (15 %) were severely visually impaired [SVI], 8 (15 %) visually impaired [VI], and 1 (1.8 %) was not visually impaired [NVI]. The major anatomic sites of visual loss were optic nerve (16 %) and retina (16 %), followed by lens/cataract (15 %), cornea (11 %) and lesions of the whole globe (11 %), uveal pathologies (6 %) and cortical blindness (2 %). The exact aetiology of VI or BL could not be determined in most children. Albinism accounted for 13 % (7/55) of the visual impairments. 24 % of the cases were considered to be potentially avoidable: refractive amblyopia among pseudophakic patients and corneal scaring. Optic atrophy, retinal diseases (mostly albinism) and cataracts were the major causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in an integrated school for the blind in Malawi. Corneal scarring was now the fourth cause of visual impairment, compared to being the commonest cause 35 years ago. Congenital cataract and its postoperative outcome were the commonest remedial causes of visual impairment. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Programs for the Deaf-Blind.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1991

1991-01-01

This directory lists contact information for programs for the deaf-blind in the United States in 3 categories: (1) programs for deaf-blind children and youth (29 programs listed); (2) Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults (1 national and 10 regional offices); and (3) programs for training teachers of the deaf-blind (4…

Definition of blindness under National Programme for Control of Blindness: Do we need to revise it?

PubMed Central

Vashist, Praveen; Senjam, Suraj Singh; Gupta, Vivek; Gupta, Noopur; Kumar, Atul

2017-01-01

A review appropriateness of the current definition of blindness under National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), Government of India. Online search of peer-reviewed scientific published literature and guidelines using PubMed, the World Health Organization (WHO) IRIS, and Google Scholar with keywords, namely blindness and visual impairment, along with offline examination of reports of national and international organizations, as well as their cross-references was done until December 2016, to identify relevant documents on the definition of blindness. The evidence for the historical and currently adopted definition of blindness under the NPCB, the WHO, and other countries was reviewed. Differences in the NPCB and WHO definitions were analyzed to assess the impact on the epidemiological status of blindness and visual impairment in India. The differences in the criteria for blindness under the NPCB and the WHO definitions cause an overestimation of the prevalence of blindness in India. These variations are also associated with an over-representation of refractive errors as a cause of blindness and an under-representation of other causes under the NPCB definition. The targets for achieving elimination of blindness also become much more difficult to achieve under the NPCB definition. Ignoring differences in definitions when comparing the global and Indian prevalence of blindness will cause erroneous interpretations. We recommend that the appropriate modifications should be made in the NPCB definition of blindness to make it consistent with the WHO definition. PMID:28345562

Definition of blindness under National Programme for Control of Blindness: Do we need to revise it?

PubMed

Vashist, Praveen; Senjam, Suraj Singh; Gupta, Vivek; Gupta, Noopur; Kumar, Atul

2017-02-01

A review appropriateness of the current definition of blindness under National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), Government of India. Online search of peer-reviewed scientific published literature and guidelines using PubMed, the World Health Organization (WHO) IRIS, and Google Scholar with keywords, namely blindness and visual impairment, along with offline examination of reports of national and international organizations, as well as their cross-references was done until December 2016, to identify relevant documents on the definition of blindness. The evidence for the historical and currently adopted definition of blindness under the NPCB, the WHO, and other countries was reviewed. Differences in the NPCB and WHO definitions were analyzed to assess the impact on the epidemiological status of blindness and visual impairment in India. The differences in the criteria for blindness under the NPCB and the WHO definitions cause an overestimation of the prevalence of blindness in India. These variations are also associated with an over-representation of refractive errors as a cause of blindness and an under-representation of other causes under the NPCB definition. The targets for achieving elimination of blindness also become much more difficult to achieve under the NPCB definition. Ignoring differences in definitions when comparing the global and Indian prevalence of blindness will cause erroneous interpretations. We recommend that the appropriate modifications should be made in the NPCB definition of blindness to make it consistent with the WHO definition.

Unconditionally Secure Blind Signatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hara, Yuki; Seito, Takenobu; Shikata, Junji; Matsumoto, Tsutomu

The blind signature scheme introduced by Chaum allows a user to obtain a valid signature for a message from a signer such that the message is kept secret for the signer. Blind signature schemes have mainly been studied from a viewpoint of computational security so far. In this paper, we study blind signatures in unconditional setting. Specifically, we newly introduce a model of unconditionally secure blind signature schemes (USBS, for short). Also, we propose security notions and their formalization in our model. Finally, we propose a construction method for USBS that is provably secure in our security notions.

Repetition Blindness in Rapid Lists: Activation and Inhibition Versus Construction and Attribution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whittlesea, Bruce W. A.; Masson, Michael E. J.

2005-01-01

The authors examine the repetition blindness effect--the failure to report one of the occurrences of a word presented twice in a rapid list. This phenomenon has been ascribed to inhibitory processes that prevent immediate tokenization of the 2nd occurrence of a repeated word. The authors present several kinds of evidence against that account,…

Progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancy (STOPPIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Norman, Jane E; Mackenzie, Fiona; Owen, Philip; Mactier, Helen; Hanretty, Kevin; Cooper, Sarah; Calder, Andrew; Mires, Gary; Danielian, Peter; Sturgiss, Stephen; MacLennan, Graeme; Tydeman, Graham; Thornton, Steven; Martin, Bill; Thornton, James G; Neilson, James P; Norrie, John

2009-06-13

Women with twin pregnancy are at high risk for spontaneous preterm delivery. Progesterone seems to be effective in reducing preterm birth in selected high-risk singleton pregnancies, albeit with no significant reduction in perinatal mortality and little evidence of neonatal benefit. We investigated the use of progesterone for prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancy. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 500 women with twin pregnancy were recruited from nine UK National Health Service clinics specialising in the management of twin pregnancy. Women were randomised, by permuted blocks of randomly mixed sizes, either to daily vaginal progesterone gel 90 mg (n=250) or to placebo gel (n=250) for 10 weeks from 24 weeks' gestation. All study personnel and participants were masked to treatment assignment for the duration of the study. The primary outcome was delivery or intrauterine death before 34 weeks' gestation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Additionally we undertook a meta-analysis of published and unpublished data to establish the efficacy of progesterone in prevention of early (<34 weeks' gestation) preterm birth or intrauterine death in women with twin pregnancy. This study is registered, number ISRCTN35782581. Three participants in each group were lost to follow-up, leaving 247 analysed per group. The combined proportion of intrauterine death or delivery before 34 weeks of pregnancy was 24.7% (61/247) in the progesterone group and 19.4% (48/247) in the placebo group (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% CI 0.89-2.09; p=0.16). The rate of adverse events did not differ between the two groups. The meta-analysis confirmed that progesterone does not prevent early preterm birth in women with twin pregnancy (pooled OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.89-1.51). Progesterone, administered vaginally, does not prevent preterm birth in women with twin pregnancy. Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorate.

From Perception to Metacognition: Auditory and Olfactory Functions in Early Blind, Late Blind, and Sighted Individuals

PubMed Central

Cornell Kärnekull, Stina; Arshamian, Artin; Nilsson, Mats E.; Larsson, Maria

2016-01-01

Although evidence is mixed, studies have shown that blind individuals perform better than sighted at specific auditory, tactile, and chemosensory tasks. However, few studies have assessed blind and sighted individuals across different sensory modalities in the same study. We tested early blind (n = 15), late blind (n = 15), and sighted (n = 30) participants with analogous olfactory and auditory tests in absolute threshold, discrimination, identification, episodic recognition, and metacognitive ability. Although the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed no overall effect of blindness and no interaction with modality, follow-up between-group contrasts indicated a blind-over-sighted advantage in auditory episodic recognition, that was most pronounced in early blind individuals. In contrast to the auditory modality, there was no empirical support for compensatory effects in any of the olfactory tasks. There was no conclusive evidence for group differences in metacognitive ability to predict episodic recognition performance. Taken together, the results showed no evidence of an overall superior performance in blind relative sighted individuals across olfactory and auditory functions, although early blind individuals exceled in episodic auditory recognition memory. This observation may be related to an experience-induced increase in auditory attentional capacity. PMID:27729884

Olfactory Performance in a Large Sample of Early-Blind and Late-Blind Individuals.

PubMed

Sorokowska, Agnieszka

2016-10-01

Previous examinations of olfactory sensitivity in blind people have produced contradictory findings. Thus, whether visual impairment is associated with increased olfactory abilities is unclear. In the present investigation, I aimed to resolve the existing questions via a relatively large-scale study comprising early-blind (N = 43), and late-blind (N = 41) and sighted (N = 84) individuals matched in terms of gender and age. To compare the results with those of previous studies, I combined data from a free odor identification test, extensive psychophysical testing (Sniffin' Sticks test), and self-assessed olfactory performance. The analyses revealed no significant effects of sight on olfactory threshold, odor discrimination, cued identification, or free identification scores; neither was the performance of the early-blind and late-blind participants significantly different. Additionally, the self-assessed olfactory abilities of the blind people were no different than those of the sighted people. These results suggest that sensory compensation in visually impaired is not pronounced with regards to olfactory abilities as measured by standardized smell tests. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Preventive Effect of Korean Red Ginseng for Acute Respiratory Illness: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Lee, Ju-Hyung; Oh, Mira; Choi, Kyung-Min; Jeong, Mi Ran; Park, Jong-Dae; Kwon, Dae Young; Ha, Ki-Chan; Park, Eun-Ock; Lee, Nuri; Kim, Sun-Young; Choi, Eun-Kyung; Kim, Min-Gul; Chae, Soo-Wan

2012-01-01

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a functional food and has been well known for keeping good health due to its anti-fatigue and immunomodulating activities. However, there is no data on Korean red ginseng for its preventive activity against acute respiratory illness (ARI). The study was conducted in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers (Clinical Trial Number: NCT01478009). Our primary efficacy end point was the number of ARI reported and secondary efficacy end point was severity of symptoms, number of symptoms, and duration of ARI. A total of 100 volunteers were enrolled in the study. Fewer subjects in the KRG group reported contracting at least 1 ARI than in the placebo group (12 [24.5%] vs 22 [44.9%], P = 0.034), the difference was statistically significant between the two groups. The symptom duration of the subjects who experienced the ARI, was similar between the two groups (KRG vs placebo; 5.2 ± 2.3 vs 6.3 ± 5.0, P = 0.475). The symptom scores were low tendency in KRG group (KRG vs placebo; 9.5 ± 4.5 vs 17.6 ± 23.1, P = 0.241). The study suggests that KRG may be effective in protecting subjects from contracting ARI, and may have the tendency to decrease the duration and scores of ARI symptoms. PMID:23255845

Survey of Low Vision among Students Attending Schools for the Blind in Nigeria: A Descriptive and Interventional Study

PubMed Central

Mosuro, Adedamola L.; Ajaiyeoba, Ayotunde I.; Bekibele, Charles O.; Eniola, Michael S.; Adedokun, Babatunde A.

2012-01-01

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of low vision among students attending all the schools for the blind in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study set out to determine the proportion of students with low vision/severe visual impairment after best correction, to determine the causes of the low vision, to document the associated pathologies, to determine the types of treatment and visual aid devices required, and to provide the visual aids needed to the students in the schools. Materials and Methods: All schools students for the blind in Oyo State were evaluated between August 2007 and January 2008. All the students underwent a thorough ophthalmic examination that included measurement of visual acuity, retinoscopy and subjective refraction, tests for visual aids where indicated, and a structured questionnaire was administered. Results: A total of 86 students were included in the study and the mean age was 19.4 ± 8.19 years. Twenty six (30%) were under 16 years of age. The most common cause of blindness was bilateral measles keratopathy/vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in 25 students (29.1%). The most common site affected was the cornea in 25 students (29.1%), the lens in 23 (26.7%), and the retina/optic nerve in 16 (18.6%). Preventable blindness was mainly from measles keratopathy/VAD (29.1%). Eleven students benefited from refraction and correction with visual aids; two having severe visual impairment (SVI), and nine having visual impairment (VI) after correction. Conclusion: The prevalence of low vision in the schools for the blind in Oyo State is 2.3%, while the prevalence of visual impairment is 10.5%. These results suggest that preventable and treatable ocular conditions are the source of significant childhood blindness in Oyo State. PMID:23248540

Survey of low vision among students attending schools for the blind in Nigeria: a descriptive and interventional study.

PubMed

Mosuro, Adedamola L; Ajaiyeoba, Ayotunde I; Bekibele, Charles O; Eniola, Michael S; Adedokun, Babatunde A

2012-10-01

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of low vision among students attending all the schools for the blind in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study set out to determine the proportion of students with low vision/severe visual impairment after best correction, to determine the causes of the low vision, to document the associated pathologies, to determine the types of treatment and visual aid devices required, and to provide the visual aids needed to the students in the schools. All schools students for the blind in Oyo State were evaluated between August 2007 and January 2008. All the students underwent a thorough ophthalmic examination that included measurement of visual acuity, retinoscopy and subjective refraction, tests for visual aids where indicated, and a structured questionnaire was administered. A total of 86 students were included in the study and the mean age was 19.4 ± 8.19 years. Twenty six (30%) were under 16 years of age. The most common cause of blindness was bilateral measles keratopathy/vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in 25 students (29.1%). The most common site affected was the cornea in 25 students (29.1%), the lens in 23 (26.7%), and the retina/optic nerve in 16 (18.6%). Preventable blindness was mainly from measles keratopathy/VAD (29.1%). Eleven students benefited from refraction and correction with visual aids; two having severe visual impairment (SVI), and nine having visual impairment (VI) after correction. The prevalence of low vision in the schools for the blind in Oyo State is 2.3%, while the prevalence of visual impairment is 10.5%. These results suggest that preventable and treatable ocular conditions are the source of significant childhood blindness in Oyo State.

Childhood Fears among Children Who Are Blind: The Perspective of Teachers Who Are Blind

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Zboon, Eman

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate childhood fears in children who are blind from the perspective of teachers who are blind. The study was conducted in Jordan. Forty-six teachers were interviewed. Results revealed that the main fear content in children who are blind includes fear of the unknown; environment-, transportation- and…

Causes of vision impairment and assessment of need for low vision services for students of blind schools in Nepal.

PubMed

Kansakar, I; Thapa, H B; Salma, K C; Ganguly, S; Kandel, R P; Rajasekaran, S

The present study is first of its kind to evaluate causes of visual impairment of blind students in Nepal and assess their need for low vision rehabilitation services. To evaluate causes of vision impairment of students enrolled in blind schools in Nepal and assess the need for low vision rehabilitation services in these students. A survey was conducted in 12 blind schools in Nepal, which were registered with Nepal Association for Welfare of Blindness (NAWB).It was conducted by a team of an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, by using standard eye examination protocols of the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Program (WHO/PBL). Of the 345 students enrolled in 12 schools, 285 students were examined (response rate of 82.61%). The students were in the 5 - 29 years age group. Nearly three-fourth of the children had become blind within one year of age and 52.3% visually impaired at birth and 20.7% developed vision impairment within one year of age. After refraction, 26 students (9.12%) had mild visual impairment, 21 students (7.37%) had severe visual impairment and 238 students (83.51%) were blind. The main cause of vision impairment was found to be corneal 35.79% and retina diseases, mainly dystrophy, 20.35% followed by problems with the whole globe, lens and optic nerve, accounting for 13.33%, 12.63% and 12.98% respectively. The major etiological factors were those of childhood such as Vitamin A deficiency, measles and similar causes (42.11%) followed by hereditary causes (25.26%). Of the total students examined, 48.07% were visually impaired due to preventable causes and 16.14% treatable aggregating to 64.21% of avoidable blindness. Fifty seven (28.22%) students could read smaller than 2 M print size after low vision assessment for near and 33(15.78%) students benefited with telescopic trial for distance low vision. In Nepal, renewed focus on providing best possible quality of life for visually impaired children by proper low vision assessment and eye

Comparison of the effect of topiramate and sodium valporate in migraine prevention: a randomized blinded crossover study.

PubMed

Shaygannejad, Vahid; Janghorbani, Mohsen; Ghorbani, Abbas; Ashtary, Fereshteh; Zakizade, Naser; Nasr, Vida

2006-04-01

Topiramate and sodium valporate are anticonvulsants, demonstrated to be effective as monotherapy for migraine prevention in placebo-controlled trials. To compare the relative efficacy of topiramate and sodium valporate in the prevention of migraine. A 24-week, randomized, double-blind, crossover, clinical trial was conducted from October 2003 to September 2004. A total of 64 patients with migraine headache, aged 14 to 57 years, were randomly allocated to the 2 treatment groups. The first group received topiramate (25 mg daily increment over 1 week to 50 mg) for a total of 2 months. The second group received sodium valporate (200 mg daily increment over 1 week to 400 mg) for 2 months. Response to treatment was assessed at 0, 1, 8, 16, and 24 weeks after start of therapy. Topiramate appeared to be equivalent in efficacy and safety to sodium valporate. A significant decrease in duration, monthly frequency, and intensity of headache occurred in both groups. Of the 32 patients treated with sodium valporate, the mean standard deviation (SD) of monthly migraine frequency decreased from 5.4 (2.5) to 4.0 (2.8) episode per month, headache intensity from 7.7 (1.2) to 5.8 (1.7) by visual analog scale (VAS), and headache duration from 21.3 (14.6) to 12.3 (10.7) hours (P < .001). Correspondingly, in the 32 patients treated with topiramate, the mean SD of monthly headache frequency decreased from 5.4 (2.0) to 3.2 (1.9) per month, headache intensity from 6.9 (1.2) to 3.7 (1.3), and headache duration from 17.3 (8.4) to 3.9 (2.7) hours (P < .001). This study demonstrates that treatment with topiramate and sodium valporate both significantly reduce migraine headache. This effect of topiramate and sodium valporate has previously been shown to reduce migraine headache, and we postulate that treatment with topiramate and sodium valporate may have a similar benefit.

Causes of blindness and career choice among pupils in a blind school; South Western Nigeria.

PubMed

Fadamiro, Christianah Olufunmilayo

2014-01-01

The causes of Blindness vary from place to place with about 80% of it been avoidable. Furthermore Blind people face a lot of challenges in career choice thus limiting their economic potential and full integration into the society. This study aims at identifying the causes of blindness and career choice among pupils in a school for the blind in South -Western Nigeria. This is a descriptive study of causes of blindness and career choice among 38 pupils residing in a school for the blind at Ikere -Ekiti, South Western Nigeria. Thirty eight pupils comprising of 25 males (65.8%) and 13 females (34.2%) with age range from 6-39 years were seen for the study, The commonest cause of blindness was cataract with 14 cases (36.84%) while congenital glaucoma and infection had an equal proportion of 5 cases each (13.16%). Avoidable causes constituted the greatest proportion of the causes 27 (71.05%) while unavoidable causes accounted for 11 (28.9%). The law career was the most desired profession by the pupils 11 (33.3%) followed by Teaching 9 (27.3%), other desired profession includes engineering, journalism and farming. The greatest proportion of causes of blindness identified in this study is avoidable. There is the need to create public awareness on some of the notable causes particularly cataract and motivate the community to utilize available eye care services Furthermore there is need for career talk in schools for the blind to enable them choose career where their potential can be fully maximized.

Education of Blind Persons in Ethiopia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maru, A. A.; Cook, M. J.

1990-01-01

The paper reviews the historical and cultural attitudes of Ethiopians toward blind children, the education of blind children, the special situation of orphaned blind children, limitations of existing educational models, and development of a new model that relies on elements of community-based rehabilitation and the employment of blind high school…

Humanizing Blindness through Public Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Augusto, C. R.; McGraw, J. M.

1990-01-01

Public attitudes toward blindness are shaped by limited contacts with visually impaired people and unrealistic portrayals of blind people in the media. Proactive efforts including national and local public education programs are needed to change stereotyped thinking, humanize blindness, and lead to greater opportunities for fuller participation in…

Programs for the Deaf Blind.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1987

1987-01-01

The directory lists 30 programs for deaf-blind children and youth, the 10 regional offices of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, and five programs for training teachers of the deaf-blind. Provided for each program is address, director's name, and phone number. (DB)

Vibration-enhanced posture stabilization achieved by tactile supplementation: may blind individuals get extra benefits?

PubMed

Magalhães, Fernando Henrique; Kohn, André Fabio

2011-08-01

Diminished balance ability poses a serious health risk due to the increased likelihood of falling, and impaired postural stability is significantly associated with blindness and poor vision. Noise stimulation (by improving the detection of sub-threshold somatosensory information) and tactile supplementation (i.e., additional haptic information provided by an external contact surface) have been shown to improve the performance of the postural control system. Moreover, vibratory noise added to the source of tactile supplementation (e.g., applied to a surface that the fingertip touches) has been shown to enhance balance stability more effectively than tactile supplementation alone. In view of the above findings, in addition to the well established consensus that blind subjects show superior abilities in the use of tactile information, we hypothesized that blind subjects may take extra benefits from the vibratory noise added to the tactile supplementation and hence show greater improvements in postural stability than those observed for sighted subjects. If confirmed, this hypothesis may lay the foundation for the development of noise-based assistive devices (e.g., canes, walking sticks) for improving somatosensation and hence prevent falls in blind individuals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction to Deaf-Blindness Workshop.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhodes, Larry

This document presents the agenda and materials distributed at a 1-day introductory workshop on deaf-blindness. Introductory material explains the workshop's purpose and rules. A short test contrasts facts and myths about deaf-blindness. A handout presents information on the dynamics of deaf-blindness, etiologies in the adult deaf-blind…

Blindness and visual impairment in opera.

PubMed

Aydin, Pinar; Ritch, Robert; O'Dwyer, John

2018-01-01

The performing arts mirror the human condition. This study sought to analyze the reasons for inclusion of visually impaired characters in opera, the cause of the blindness or near blindness, and the dramatic purpose of the blindness in the storyline. We reviewed operas from the 18 th century to 2010 and included all characters with ocular problems. We classified the cause of each character's ocular problem (organic, nonorganic, and other) in relation to the thematic setting of the opera: biblical and mythical, blind beggars or blind musicians, historical (real or fictional characters), and contemporary or futuristic. Cases of blindness in 55 characters (2 as a choir) from 38 operas were detected over 3 centuries of repertoire: 11 had trauma-related visual impairment, 5 had congenital blindness, 18 had visual impairment of unknown cause, 9 had psychogenic or malingering blindness, and 12 were symbolic or miracle-related. One opera featured an ophthalmologist curing a patient. The research illustrates that visual impairment was frequently used as an artistic device to enhance the intent and situate an opera in its time.

"Color-Blind" Racism.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carr, Leslie G.

Examining race relations in the United States from a historical perspective, this book explains how the constitution is racist and how color blindness is actually a racist ideology. It is argued that Justice Harlan, in his dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson, meant that the constitution and the law must remain blind to the existence of race…

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 1998-1999.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malloy, Peggy, Ed.

1998-01-01

This collection of three issues focuses on competencies for teachers of learners who are deaf-blind, living with deaf-blindness, and resources in Australia for parents and families of students who are deaf-blind. Articles include: (1) "Research-to-Practice Focus: Competencies for Teachers of Learners Who Are Deafblind" (Marianne Riggio),…

Can Valeriana officinalis root extract prevent early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after CABG surgery? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Hassani, Soghra; Alipour, Abbas; Darvishi Khezri, Hadi; Firouzian, Abolfazl; Emami Zeydi, Amir; Gholipour Baradari, Afshin; Ghafari, Rahman; Habibi, Wali-Allah; Tahmasebi, Homeyra; Alipour, Fatemeh; Ebrahim Zadeh, Pooneh

2015-03-01

We hypothesized that valerian root might prevent cognitive dysfunction in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients through stimulating serotonin receptors and anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Valeriana officinalis root extract on prevention of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after on-pump CABG surgery. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 61 patients, aged between 30 and 70 years, scheduled for elective CABG surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), were recruited into the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups who received either one valerian capsule containing 530 mg of valerian root extract (1,060 mg/daily) or placebo capsule each 12 h for 8 weeks, respectively. For all patients, cognitive brain function was evaluated before the surgery and at 10-day and 2-month follow-up by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. Mean MMSE score decreased from 27.03 ± 2.02 in the preoperative period to 26.52 ± 1.82 at the 10th day and then increased to 27.45 ± 1.36 at the 60th day in the valerian group. Conversely, its variation was reduced significantly after 60 days in the placebo group, 27.37 ± 1.87 at the baseline to 24 ± 1.91 at the 10th day, and consequently slightly increased to 24.83 ± 1.66 at the 60th day. Valerian prophylaxis reduced odds of cognitive dysfunction compared to placebo group (OR = 0.108, 95 % CI 0.022-0.545). We concluded that, based on this study, the cognitive state of patients in the valerian group was better than that in the placebo group after CABG; therefore, it seems that the use of V. officinalis root extract may prevent early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after on-pump CABG surgery.

Safety and efficacy of AMG 334 for prevention of episodic migraine: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

PubMed

Sun, Hong; Dodick, David W; Silberstein, Stephen; Goadsby, Peter J; Reuter, Uwe; Ashina, Messoud; Saper, Joel; Cady, Roger; Chon, Yun; Dietrich, Julie; Lenz, Robert

2016-04-01

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway is a promising target for preventive therapies in patients with migraine. We assessed the safety and efficacy of AMG 334, a fully human monoclonal antibody against the CGRP receptor, for migraine prevention. In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, patients aged 18-60 years with 4 to 14 migraine days per month were enrolled at 59 headache and clinical research centres in North America and Europe, and randomly assigned in a 3:2:2:2 ratio to monthly subcutaneous placebo, AMG 334 7 mg, AMG 334 21 mg, or AMG 334 70 mg using a sponsor-generated randomisation sequence centrally executed by an interactive voice response or interactive web response system. Study site personnel, patients, and the sponsor study personnel were masked to the treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was the change in monthly migraine days from baseline to the last 4 weeks of the 12-week double-blind treatment phase. The primary endpoint was calculated using the least squares mean at each timepoint from a generalised linear mixed-effect model for repeated measures. Safety endpoints were adverse events, clinical laboratory values, vital signs, and anti-AMG 334 antibodies. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01952574. An open-label extension phase of up to 256 weeks is ongoing and will assess the long-term safety of AMG 334. From Aug 6, 2013, to June 30, 2014, 483 patients were randomly assigned to placebo (n=160), AMG 334 7 mg (n=108), AMG 334 21 mg (n=108), or AMG 334 70 mg (n=107). The mean change in monthly migraine days at week 12 was -3·4 (SE 0·4) days with AMG 334 70 mg versus -2·3 (0·3) days with placebo (difference -1·1 days [95% CI -2·1 to -0·2], p=0·021). The mean reductions in monthly migraine days with the 7 mg (-2·2 [SE 0·4]) and the 21 mg (-2·4 [0·4]) doses were not significantly different from that with placebo. Adverse events were recorded in 82 (54

Programs for the Deaf-Blind.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1990

1990-01-01

The directory lists 28 state or multistate programs for deaf blind children and youth, the national center and 10 regional offices of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, and 4 programs for training teachers of the deaf-blind. Information usually provided includes, address, director's name, and phone number. (DB)

When Emotion Blinds: A Spatiotemporal Competition Account of Emotion-Induced Blindness

PubMed Central

Wang, Lingling; Kennedy, Briana L.; Most, Steven B.

2012-01-01

Emotional visual scenes are such powerful attractors of attention that they can disrupt perception of other stimuli that appear soon afterward, an effect known as emotion-induced blindness. What mechanisms underlie this impact of emotion on perception? Evidence suggests that emotion-induced blindness may be distinguishable from closely related phenomena such as the orienting of spatial attention to emotional stimuli or the central resource bottlenecks commonly associated with the attentional blink. Instead, we suggest that emotion-induced blindness reflects relatively early competition between targets and emotional distractors, where spontaneous prioritization of emotional stimuli leads to suppression of competing perceptual representations potentially linked to an overlapping point in time and space. PMID:23162497

Blind Data Attack on BGP Routers

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

implement blind attack protection, leaving long -standing connections, such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) sessions, vulnerable to exploitation. This...protection measures should a discovered vulnerability reduce attack complexity. 14. SUBJECT TERMS BGP, TCP, blind attack, blind data attack 15. NUMBER OF...implementations may not properly implement blind attack protection, leaving long -standing connections, such as BorderGateway Protocol (BGP) sessions

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 1997-1998.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 1998

1998-01-01

This one-year collection of three serial issues focuses on problem solving skills for children with deaf-blindness, the history and change in the education of children who are deaf-blind since the rubella epidemic of the 1960's, and early identification of infants who are deaf-blind. Specific articles include: (1) "Research to Practice Focus…

Preventing ICU Subsyndromal Delirium Conversion to Delirium with Low Dose IV Haloperidol: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Al-Qadheeb, Nada S.; Skrobik, Yoanna; Schumaker, Greg; Pacheco, Manuel; Roberts, Russel; Ruthazer, Robin; Devlin, John W

2016-01-01

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of scheduled low-dose, haloperidol vs. placebo for the prevention of delirium [Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) ≥ 4)] administered to critically ill adults with subsyndromal delirium (ICDSC = 1-3). Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting Three 10-bed ICUs (2 medical; 1 surgical) at an academic medical center in the U.S. Patients Sixty-eight mechanically ventilated patients with subsyndromal delirium without complicating neurologic conditions, cardiac surgery or requiring deep sedation. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to receive intravenous haloperidol 1 mg or placebo every six hours until either delirium (ICDSC ≥ 4 with psychiatric confirmation), therapy ≥ 10 days or ICU discharge occurred. Measurements and Main Results Baseline characteristics were similar between the haloperidol (n=34) and placebo (n=34) groups. A similar number of patients given haloperidol [12/34 (35%)] and placebo [8/34 (23%)] patients developed delirium (p=0.29). Haloperidol use reduced the hours per study day spent agitated (SAS ≥ 5) (p=0.008), but did not influence the proportion of 12-hour ICU shifts patients’ spent alive without coma (SAS ≤ 2) or delirium (p=0.36), the time to first delirium occurrence (p=0.22) nor delirium duration (p=0.26). Days of mechanical ventilation (p=0.80), ICU mortality (p=0.55) and ICU patient disposition (p=0.22) were similar in the two groups. The proportion of patients who developed QTc-interval prolongation (p=0.16), extrapyramidal symptoms (p=0.31), excessive sedation (p=0.31) or new-onset hypotension (p=1.0) that resulted in study drug discontinuation was comparable between the two groups. Conclusions Low-dose scheduled haloperidol, initiated early in the ICU stay, does not prevent delirium and has little therapeutic advantage in mechanically ventilated, critically ill adults with subsyndromal delirium. PMID:26540397

Preventing ICU Subsyndromal Delirium Conversion to Delirium With Low-Dose IV Haloperidol: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

PubMed

Al-Qadheeb, Nada S; Skrobik, Yoanna; Schumaker, Greg; Pacheco, Manuel N; Roberts, Russel J; Ruthazer, Robin R; Devlin, John W

2016-03-01

To compare the efficacy and safety of scheduled low-dose haloperidol versus placebo for the prevention of delirium (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist ≥ 4) administered to critically ill adults with subsyndromal delirium (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist = 1-3). Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Three 10-bed ICUs (two medical and one surgical) at an academic medical center in the United States. Sixty-eight mechanically ventilated patients with subsyndromal delirium without complicating neurologic conditions, cardiac surgery, or requiring deep sedation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive IV haloperidol 1 mg or placebo every 6 hours until delirium occurred (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist ≥ 4 with psychiatric confirmation), 10 days of therapy had elapsed, or ICU discharge. Baseline characteristics were similar between the haloperidol (n = 34) and placebo (n = 34) groups. A similar number of patients given haloperidol (12/34 [35%]) and placebo (8/34 [23%]) developed delirium (p = 0.29). Haloperidol use reduced the hours per study day spent agitated (Sedation Agitation Scale ≥ 5) (p = 0.008), but it did not influence the proportion of 12-hour ICU shifts patients spent alive without coma (Sedation Agitation Scale ≤ 2) or delirium (p = 0.36), the time to first delirium occurrence (p = 0.22), nor delirium duration (p = 0.26). Days of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.80), ICU mortality (p = 0.55), and ICU patient disposition (p = 0.22) were similar in the two groups. The proportion of patients who developed corrected QT-interval prolongation (p = 0.16), extrapyramidal symptoms (p = 0.31), excessive sedation (p = 0.31), or new-onset hypotension (p = 1.0) that resulted in study drug discontinuation was comparable between the two groups. Low-dose scheduled haloperidol, initiated early in the ICU stay, does not prevent delirium and has little therapeutic advantage in mechanically ventilated, critically ill adults

Our Blind Child: Bringing Up a Blind Child During Its Early Years.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pielasch, Helmut, Ed.; And Others

The document contains 10 author contributed chapters (in four languages) which resulted from a 1976 international symposium on problems concerning the preschool education of blind children and the guidance of their parents. Chapters have the following titles (with authors and nationality in parentheses): "Development of the Blind Child"…

Blind-Anchor-Nut-Installation Fixture (BANIF)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willey, Norman F., Jr.; Linker, James F.

1994-01-01

Blind-anchor-nut-installation fixture, BANIF, developed for replacing or installing anchor nuts in blind holes or other inaccessible places. Attachment of anchor nut to BANIF enables placement of anchor nut on blind side of component.

Baby Shampoo versus Commercial Anti-fogging Solution to Prevent Fogging during Nasal Endoscopy: A Randomized Double-Blinded, Matched-Pair, Equivalent Trial.

PubMed

Chainansamit, Seksun; Piromchai, Patorn; Anantpinijwatna, Intira; Kasemsiri, Pornthep; Thanaviratananich, Sanguansak

2015-08-01

To compare the minimization of the fog condensation during nasal endoscopy between a commercial anti-fogging agent and baby shampoo. This randomized double-blinded matched pair study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University during February 4, 2013 to March 14, 2013. The commercial anti-fogging solution (Ultrastop®) and baby shampoo solution (Johnson's® no more tear®) were compared. A computer generated randomization was performed to select the solution applying on the lens for nasal endoscopy of the right nasal cavity. The other solution was then used for the left one. Three passes of endoscopy were performed to examine the floor of the nose, the sphenoethmoidal recess and the middle meatus area which spent about 30 seconds for each time of endoscopy. The time to become foggy on the lens and the preferred solution assessed by the endoscopists were recorded. There were 71 eligible patients recruited in the study, 37 males (52.1%) and 34 females (47.9%). There was no fogging during a 30-second nasal endoscopy either by baby shampoo or commercial anti-fogging solution. However, 9.86% (95% C12.75-16.97) of endoscopists preferred commercial anti-fogging agent, 7.04% (95% CI 0.94-13.14) preferred baby shampoo and 83.10% (95% CI 74.16-92.03) had equal satisfaction. Both agents had no statistically significant difference for preventing foggy on the lens. Baby shampoo is an effective agent to prevent fogging during nasal endoscopy and comparable with the commercial anti-fogging agent.

Efficacy of prophylactic droperidol, ondansetron or both in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in major gynaecological surgery. A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

PubMed

Peixoto, A J; Peixoto Filho, A J; Leães, L F; Celich, M F; Barros, M A

2000-10-01

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing droperidol 1.25 mg intravenously (i.v.) (group 1, n = 30), ondansetron 4 mg i.v. (group 2, n = 30), or both (group 3, n = 30) in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 h following major gynaecological procedures under combined general and epidural anaesthesia. PONV was analysed by a linear nausea/vomiting score, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and the need for antiemetic rescue. Our results showed a similar incidence of nausea and vomiting in all groups (G1 33%, G2 40%, G3 43%). However, when comparisons were made according to the time of assessment, combination therapy resulted in significantly lower PONV than droperidol in the first hour (0% vs. 13%, P < 0.05) and second hour (0% vs. 13%, P < 0.05), and than ondansetron on the first hour (0% vs. 13%, P < 0.05). A trend persisted up to the fourth hour but was not statistically significant in either group. In conclusion, droperidol and ondansetron are effective agents in the prevention of PONV, and their combination seems to provide slightly better results than either drug alone.

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 2000

2000-01-01

This annual directory lists programs for deaf-blind children and adults including programs for deaf-blind children and youth (national and state level), the Helen Keller Centers for deaf-blind youth and adults, and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. (DB)

Isoniazid plus antiretroviral therapy to prevent tuberculosis: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

PubMed Central

Rangaka, Molebogeng X; Wilkinson, Robert J; Boulle, Andrew; Glynn, Judith R; Fielding, Katherine; van Cutsem, Gilles; Wilkinson, Katalin A; Goliath, Rene; Mathee, Shaheed; Goemaere, Eric; Maartens, Gary

2014-01-01

Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the risk of tuberculosis, but the incidence still exceeds that in HIV-uninfected people. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), which decreases the risk of tuberculosis in people not on ART, may offer additional protection. Methods Pragmatic randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 12 months IPT among participants established on or newly starting ART, in Khayelitsha, South Africa (NCT00463086, Lancet D-09-02885). Tuberculosis was excluded at screening by sputum culture. Incident tuberculosis was the primary endpoint. Findings 1,329 participants contributed 3,227 person-years (PY) of follow up in the modified intention-to-treat analysis; 662 on IPT and 667 on placebo. There were 95 incident tuberculosis cases: 2.3 (95%CI 1.6-3.1) versus 3.6 (95%CI 2.8-4.7) per 100 PY in the IPT and placebo arms respectively (hazard ratio 0.63, 95%CI 0.41-0.94). Study drug was discontinued due to grade 3 or 4 raised ALT in 19/662 in the IPT and 10/667 in the placebo arm, risk ratio=1.9 (95%CI 0.90-4.09). In secondary analyses, there was no evidence that the effect of IPT was restricted to those who were positive on tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon gamma release assay (IGRA): adjusted hazard ratio for those with negative tests 0.43 (95%CI 0.21-0.86) and 0.43 (95%CI 0.20-0.96); for positive tests 0.86 (95%CI 0.37-2.00) and 0.55 (95%CI 0.26-1.24) respectively. No all cause mortality benefit of IPT was demonstrated Interpretation IPT reduced the incidence of tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals on ART. In this high incidence setting, individuals on ART who have TST or IGRA negative results may also benefit from IPT. IPT can easily be implemented in ART clinics. PMID:24835842

Blindness

MedlinePlus

... is to “conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye ... Media Policies and Other Important Links NEI Employee Emergency Information NEI Intranet (Employees Only) *PDF files require ...

Poverty and blindness in Pakistan: results from the Pakistan national blindness and visual impairment survey.

PubMed

Gilbert, Clare E; Shah, S P; Jadoon, M Z; Bourne, R; Dineen, B; Khan, M A; Johnson, G J; Khan, M D

2008-01-05

To explore the association between blindness and deprivation in a nationally representative sample of adults in Pakistan. Cross sectional population based survey. 221 rural and urban clusters selected randomly throughout Pakistan. Nationally representative sample of 16 507 adults aged 30 or above (95.3% response rate). Associations between visual impairment and poverty assessed by a cluster level deprivation index and a household level poverty indicator; prevalence and causes of blindness; measures of the rate of uptake and quality of eye care services. 561 blind participants (<3/60 in the better eye) were identified during the survey. Clusters in urban Sindh province were the most affluent, whereas rural areas in Balochistan were the poorest. The prevalence of blindness in adults living in affluent clusters was 2.2%, compared with 3.7% in medium clusters and 3.9% in poor clusters (P<0.001 for affluent v poor). The highest prevalence of blindness was found in rural Balochistan (5.2%). The prevalence of total blindness (bilateral no light perception) was more than three times higher in poor clusters than in affluent clusters (0.24% v 0.07%, P<0.001). The prevalences of blindness caused by cataract, glaucoma, and corneal opacity were lower in affluent clusters and households. Reflecting access to eye care services, cataract surgical coverage was higher in affluent clusters (80.6%) than in medium (76.8%) and poor areas (75.1%). Intraocular lens implantation rates were significantly lower in participants from poorer households. 10.2% of adults living in affluent clusters presented to the examination station wearing spectacles, compared with 6.7% in medium clusters and 4.4% in poor cluster areas. Spectacle coverage in affluent areas was more than double that in poor clusters (23.5% v 11.1%, P<0.001). Blindness is associated with poverty in Pakistan; lower access to eye care services was one contributory factor. To reduce blindness, strategies targeting poor people will

The sensory construction of dreams and nightmare frequency in congenitally blind and late blind individuals.

PubMed

Meaidi, Amani; Jennum, Poul; Ptito, Maurice; Kupers, Ron

2014-05-01

We aimed to assess dream content in groups of congenitally blind (CB), late blind (LB), and age- and sex-matched sighted control (SC) participants. We conducted an observational study of 11 CB, 14 LB, and 25 SC participants and collected dream reports over a 4-week period. Every morning participants filled in a questionnaire related to the sensory construction of the dream, its emotional and thematic content, and the possible occurrence of nightmares. We also assessed participants' ability of visual imagery during waking cognition, sleep quality, and depression and anxiety levels. All blind participants had fewer visual dream impressions compared to SC participants. In LB participants, duration of blindness was negatively correlated with duration, clarity, and color content of visual dream impressions. CB participants reported more auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory dream components compared to SC participants. In contrast, LB participants only reported more tactile dream impressions. Blind and SC participants did not differ with respect to emotional and thematic dream content. However, CB participants reported more aggressive interactions and more nightmares compared to the other two groups. Our data show that blindness considerably alters the sensory composition of dreams and that onset and duration of blindness plays an important role. The increased occurrence of nightmares in CB participants may be related to a higher number of threatening experiences in daily life in this group. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Investigation and strategy research of eye disease prevention resources in community health service centers in Shanghai].

PubMed

He, Jiangnan; Zou, Haidong; Zhu, Jianfeng; He, Xiangui; Lu, Lina

2015-07-01

To investigate the status of eye disease prevention resources in community health service centers, to understand the distribution of ophthalmology service resources in each community, and to understand the main problems existing in the work of blindness prevention and treatment in Shanghai, so as to strengthen the prevention of blindness and improve the primary eye care level. Using the survey method, we carried out the investigation of disease control and prevention resources in all community health service centers to obtain the data of eye disease prevention and treatment resources. Using the descriptive statistics, we described the distribution of resources of eye disease prevention and treatment in different districts. There were 244 communities in 17 districts and counties in Shanghai, of which 236 (96.72%) communities participated in the survey and completed the questionnaires. Forty-nine (20.8%) communities had independent outpatient departments of ophthalmology, 96 (40.7%) had departments of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, 33 (14%) had ophthalmology doctor visits from secondary or tertiary medical institutions, and 87 (36.9%) had no outpatient department of ophthalmology. There were 82 oculists, 129 general or otorhinolaryngology doctors treating eye disease, 9 ophthalmic nurses, and 1 optometrist. There were 36 specialized personnel for public health of eye protection and 217 part-time personnel. Moreover, there were a total of 1 103 pieces of ophthalmic equipment in all communities with the use rate of 91%. Uneven ophthalmology resources and eye care professional ability in community health service centers, lack of technical and public health personnel for prevention of eye disease, backward eye disease screening equipment, and inadequate investment in prevention and treatment of eye disease are major problems. More government supports for prevention and treatment of eye disease in communities and continuous improvement in three-level blindness

42 CFR 435.530 - Definition of blindness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Definition of blindness. 435.530 Section 435.530... ISLANDS, AND AMERICAN SAMOA Categorical Requirements for Eligibility Blindness § 435.530 Definition of blindness. (a) Definition. The agency must use the same definition of blindness as used under SSI, except...

5 CFR 2634.403 - Qualified blind trusts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Qualified blind trusts. 2634.403 Section... Qualified blind trusts. (a) Definition. A qualified blind trust is a trust in which the filer, his spouse... instrument which establishes a blind trust must adhere substantively to model drafts circulated by the Office...

Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness among Cocoa Farmers in Ghana.

PubMed

Boadi-Kusi, Samuel Bert; Hansraj, Rekha; Mashige, Khathutshelo Percy; Osafo-Kwaako, Alfred; Ilechie, Alex Azuka; Abokyi, Samuel

2017-02-01

To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among cocoa farmers in Ghana in order to formulate early intervention strategies. A cross-sectional study using multistage random sampling from four cocoa growing districts in Ghana was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014. A total of 512 cocoa farmers aged 40 years and older were interviewed and examined. The brief interview questionnaire was administered to elicit information on the demographics and socioeconomic details of participants. The examination included assessment of visual acuity (VA), retinoscopy, subjective refraction, direct ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and intraocular pressure (IOP). For quality assurance, a random sample of cocoa farmers were selected and re-examined independently. Moderate to severe visual impairment (VA <6/18 to 3/60 in the better-seeing eye) was present in 89 participants (17.4%) and 27 (5.3%) were blind (presenting VA <3/60 in the better eye) defined using presenting VA. The main causes of visual impairment were cataract (45, 38.8%), uncorrected refractive error (42, 36.2%), posterior segment disorders (15, 12.9%), and corneal opacity (11, 9.5%). The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness among cocoa farmers in Ghana is relatively high. The major causes of visual impairment and blindness are largely preventable or treatable, indicating the need for early eye care service interventions.

"VisionTouch Phone" for the Blind.

PubMed

Yong, Robest

2013-10-01

Our objective is to enable the blind to use smartphones with touchscreens to make calls and to send text messages (sms) with ease, speed, and accuracy. We believe that with our proposed platform, which enables the blind to locate the position of the keypads, new games and education, and safety applications will be increasingly developed for the blind. This innovative idea can also be implemented on tablets for the blind, allowing them to use information websites such as Wikipedia and newspaper portals.

Reversible blindness associated with alcoholic ketoacidosis.

PubMed

Yanagawa, Youichi; Kiyozumi, Teturou; Hatanaka, Kousuke; Itoh, Toshitaka; Sakamoto, Toshihisa; Okada, Yoshiaki

2004-04-01

To report a case of reversible blindness associated with severe alcoholic ketoacidosis. Observational case report. A 44-year-old male presented with gradual bilateral blindness that developed within a 24-hour period. He suffered from ethanol-induced severe ketoacidosis and shock and was resuscitated with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate. The treatment of acidosis led to a rapid resolution of the patient's blindness. It is important to understand the role of severe acidosis as the sole causative factor of reversible bilateral blindness.

Preoperative exercise training prevents functional decline after lung resection surgery: a randomized, single-blind controlled trial.

PubMed

Sebio García, Raquel; Yáñez-Brage, Maria Isabel; Giménez Moolhuyzen, Esther; Salorio Riobo, Marta; Lista Paz, Ana; Borro Mate, Jose María

2017-08-01

To investigate the effects of a preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation programme in patients with lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery. Randomized, single-blind controlled trial. Teaching hospital. Patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery. Participants were randomized to either a prehabilitation group or a control group. Participants in the prehabilitation group underwent a combination of moderate endurance and resistance training plus breathing exercises three to five times per week. The primary outcome of the study was exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength (Senior Fitness Test), health-related quality of life (Short-Form 36) and the postoperative outcomes. Patients were evaluated at baseline (before randomization), presurgery (only the prehabilitation group), after surgery and three months post-operatively. A total of 40 patients were randomized and 22 finished the study (10 in the prehabilitation group and 12 in the control group). Three patients were lost to follow-up at three months. After the training, there was a statistically significant improvement in exercise tolerance (+397 seconds, p = 0.0001), the physical summary component of the SF-36 (+4.4 points, p = 0.008) and muscle strength ( p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between groups after surgery. However, three months postoperatively, significant differences were found in the mean change of exercise capacity ( p = 0.005), physical summary component ( p = 0.001) and upper and lower body strength ( p = 0.045 and p = 0.002). A pulmonary rehabilitation programme before video-assisted thoracic surgery seems to improve patients' preoperative condition and may prevent functional decline after surgery. Clinical Registration Number: NCT01963923 (Registration date 10/10/2013).

Poverty and Blindness in Nigeria: Results from the National Survey of Blindness and Visual Impairment.

PubMed

Tafida, A; Kyari, F; Abdull, M M; Sivasubramaniam, S; Murthy, G V S; Kana, I; Gilbert, Clare E

2015-01-01

Poverty can be a cause and consequence of blindness. Some causes only affect the poorest communities (e.g. trachoma), and poor individuals are less likely to access services. In low income countries, cataract blind adults have been shown to be less economically active, indicating that blindness can exacerbate poverty. This study aims to explore associations between poverty and blindness using national survey data from Nigeria. Participants ≥40 years were examined in 305 clusters (2005-2007). Sociodemographic information, including literacy and occupation, was obtained by interview. Presenting visual acuity (PVA) was assessed using a reduced tumbling E LogMAR chart. Full ocular examination was undertaken by experienced ophthalmologists on all with PVA <6/12 in either eye. Causes of vision loss were determined using World Health Organization guidelines. Households were categorized into three levels of poverty based on literacy and occupation at household level. A total of 569/13,591 participants were blind (PVA <3/60, better eye; prevalence 4.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.8-4.6%). Prevalences of blindness were 8.5% (95% CI 7.7-9.5%), 2.5% (95% CI 2.0-3.1%), and 1.5% (95% CI 1.2-2.0%) in poorest, medium and affluent households, respectively (p = 0.001). Cause-specific prevalences of blindness from cataract, glaucoma, uncorrected aphakia and corneal opacities were significantly higher in poorer households. Cataract surgical coverage was low (37.2%), being lowest in females in poor households (25.3%). Spectacle coverage was 3 times lower in poor than affluent households (2.4% vs. 7.5%). In Nigeria, blindness is associated with poverty, in part reflecting lower access to services. Reducing avoidable causes will not be achieved unless access to services improves, particularly for the poor and women.

Suicide prevention for psychoanalytic institutes and societies.

PubMed

Kernberg, Otto F

2012-08-01

What follows are guidelines for rescue teams dedicated to suicide prevention for psychoanalytic institutes and societies. They provide a general orientation and presuppose intensive individual and organizational training by the rescue teams. Some general notes of caution: suicide prevention is a complex, delicate effort that requires specific training, experience, knowledge, patience, and courage. It is a well-known fact that drowning persons may resist rescue efforts, thereby posing the danger of drowning the rescuer along with themselves. Similarly, expect desperate, blind resistance to your efforts, particularly when the suicidal temptation is urgent and overwhelming.

Blind Adolescents' Perceptions of Parental Attitudes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agarwal, Rita; Piplani, Rashmi

1990-01-01

This study examined the perception of parental attitudes of 50 blind adolescents in northern India. Results indicated that blind girls perceived their parents as being more accepting and less rejecting than did blind boys, a result explained by culturally determined differences in social sex roles. (DB)

20 CFR 416.983 - How we evaluate statutory blindness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false How we evaluate statutory blindness. 416.983... AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.983 How we evaluate statutory blindness. We will find that you are blind if you are statutorily blind within the meaning of...

Diagnostic survey at Yamanashi School for Blind: importance of heredity.

PubMed

Tsukahara, S; Sasamoto, M; Watanabe, I; Phillips, C I

1985-01-01

The commonest cause of blindness among the 67 patients at the Yamanashi School for the Blind was congenital cataract (16). Next was retinitis pigmentosa or choroido-retinal degeneration (8), then retinopathy of prematurity (7). Congenital glaucoma and brain tumor each contributed five. Four were due to microphthalmia/micro-cornea and five to high myopia. Direct ocular trauma caused three. Two each were attributable to complete albinism, aniridia, congenital nystagmus and bilateral retinoblastoma. Single cases each of anophthalmos, Behçet's disease, Hallerman-Streiff syndrome, hydrocephalus, macular degeneration and optic atrophy were recorded. 41.8% of all cases were "very probably" hereditary and a further 10.4% "probably" so. 12.2% of the hereditary cases had consanguineous parents. An autosomal recessive (AR) cause is the likeliest explanation for the majority of the nonenvironmental causes (42.9% very probably AR and 14.3% probably AR), so that the possibility of prevention by genetic counseling was limited, but should have been given as soon as the first affected child was born. Parental consanguinity supports an autosomal recessive cause. 10.2% are very definitely due to an autosomal dominant gene; in them, counseling may well also have had a limited effect but might have prevented the birth of one or both of the siblings with aniridia inherited from the mother, and at least two, if not all three, of the three siblings with congenital cataract also inherited from the mother.

20 CFR 416.982 - Blindness under a State plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Blindness under a State plan. 416.982 Section..., BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.982 Blindness under a State... plan because of your blindness for the month of December 1973; and (c) You continue to be blind as...

42 CFR 436.530 - Definition of blindness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Definition of blindness. 436.530 Section 436.530... Requirements for Medicaid Eligibility Blindness § 436.530 Definition of blindness. (a) Definition. The agency must use the definition of blindness that is used in the State plan for AB or AABD. (b) State plan...

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1995

1995-01-01

This report of the annual survey of programs for deaf-blind children and adults lists, by state, programs for deaf-blind children and youth, Helen Keller Centers for deaf-blind youth and adults, and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. Provided are program names, addresses, telephone numbers, and names of directors. (DB)

Blindness and the age of enlightenment: Diderot's letter on the blind.

PubMed

Margo, Curtis E; Harman, Lynn E; Smith, Don B

2013-01-01

Several months after anonymously publishing an essay in 1749 with the title "Letter on the Blind for the Use of Those Who Can See," the chief editor of the French Encyclopédie was arrested and taken to the prison fortress of Vincennes just east of Paris, France. The correctly assumed author, Denis Diderot, was 35 years old and had not yet left his imprint on the Age of Enlightenment. His letter, which recounted the life of Nicolas Saunderson, a blind mathematician, was intended to advance secular empiricism and disparage the religiously tinged rationalism put forward by Rene Descartes. The letter's discussion of sensory perception in men born blind dismissed the supposed primacy of visual imagery in abstract thinking. The essay did little to resolve any philosophical controversy, but it marked a turning point in Western attitudes toward visual disability.

Early social-emotional development in blind infants.

PubMed

Tröster, H; Brambring, M

1992-01-01

In order to study the impact of blindness on social and emotional development during the first year of life, the level of social-emotional development was compared in blind and sighted 9- and 12-month-old infants. The five 9-month-old and the 17 12-month-old blind infants were completely blind from birth and exhibited no further serious disabilities. Social-emotional development was assessed with a scale from the Bielefeld Developmental Test for Blind Infants and Preschoolers containing three subscales on emotions, social interaction and impulse control. Compared to non-disabled infants, blind infants exhibited a more limited repertoire of facial expressions and less responsiveness. They less frequently attempted to initiate contact with their mothers (self-initiated interactions) or comply with simple requests and prohibitions than sighted infants. These differences in the social-emotional development of blind and sighted infants are traced back to the effects of blindness on the mother-child interaction. The lack of visual perception appears to impede particularly the acquisition of a dialogue concept.

Caries-preventive effectiveness of fluoride varnish as adjunct to oral health promotion and supervised tooth brushing in preschool children: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Agouropoulos, A; Twetman, S; Pandis, N; Kavvadia, K; Papagiannoulis, L

2014-10-01

To evaluate the effect of biannual fluoride varnish applications in preschool children as an adjunct to school-based oral health promotion and supervised tooth brushing with 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste. 424 preschool children, 2-5 year of age, from 10 different pre schools in Athens were invited to this double-blind randomized controlled trial and 328 children completed the 2-year programme. All children received oral health education with hygiene instructions twice yearly and attended supervised tooth brushing once daily. The test group was treated with fluoride varnish (0.9% diflurosilane) biannually while the control group had placebo applications. The primary endpoints were caries prevalence and increment; secondary outcomes were gingival health, mutans streptococci growth and salivary buffer capacity. The groups were balanced at baseline and no significant differences in caries prevalence or increment were displayed between the groups after 1 and 2 years, respectively. There was a reduced number of new pre-cavitated enamel lesions during the second year of the study (p=0.05) but the decrease was not statistically significant. The secondary endpoints were unaffected by the varnish treatments. Under the present conditions, biannual fluoride varnish applications in preschool children did not show significant caries-preventive benefits when provided as an adjunct to school-based supervised tooth brushing with 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste. In community based, caries prevention programmes, for high caries risk preschool children, a fluoride varnish may add little to caries prevention, when 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste is used daily. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multiply-Impaired Blind Children: A National Problem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Milton D.

In 1966, a national survey reported on 8,887 multiply impaired (MI) blind children. About 56% were boys; 85% had been blind since before age 3, and half were totally blind. The principal causes of blindness were retrolental fibroplasia and congenital cataracts. Almost 63% had two or more additional disabilities (86.8% of those under age 6), such…

Blindness after cardiac arrest

PubMed Central

Sabah, A. H.

1968-01-01

Three cases of isolated blindness after cardiac arrest are described. Blindness was associated with normal pupillary light reflexes and no observable changes in the fundi, features identifying it as cortical. Possible mechanisms have been discussed. It is suggested that this complication is more common than has been reported in the literature. PMID:5667108

Sleeping in moderate hypoxia at home for prevention of acute mountain sickness (AMS): a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind study.

PubMed

Dehnert, Christoph; Böhm, Astrid; Grigoriev, Igor; Menold, Elmar; Bärtsch, Peter

2014-09-01

Acclimatization at natural altitude effectively prevents acute mountain sickness (AMS). It is, however, unknown whether prevention of AMS is also possible by only sleeping in normobaric hypoxia. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study 76 healthy unacclimatized male subjects, aged 18 to 50 years, slept for 14 consecutive nights at either a fractional inspired oxygen (Fio2) of 0.14 to 0.15 (average target altitude 3043 m; treatment group) or 0.209 (control group). Four days later, AMS scores and incidence of AMS were assessed during a 20-hour exposure in normobaric hypoxia at Fio2 = 0.12 (equivalent to 4500 m). Because of technical problems with the nitrogen generators, target altitude was not achieved in the tents and only 21 of 37 subjects slept at an average altitude considered sufficient for acclimatization (>2200 m; average, 2600 m). Therefore, in a subgroup analysis these subjects were compared with the 21 subjects of the control group with the lowest sleeping altitude. This analysis showed a significantly lower AMS-C score (0.38; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.54) vs 1.10; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.62; P = .04) and lower Lake Louise Score (3.1; 95% CI, 2.2 to 4.1 vs 5.1; 95% CI, 3.6 to 6.6; P = .07) for the treatment subgroup. The incidence of AMS defined as an AMS-C score greater than 0.70 was also significantly lower (14% vs 52%; P < .01). Sleeping 14 consecutive nights in normobaric hypoxia (equivalent to 2600 m) reduced symptoms and incidence of AMS 4 days later on exposure to 4500 m. Copyright © 2014 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Spatial Cognition of Blind Pedestrians.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollyfield, Rebecca L.; Foulke, Emerson

1983-01-01

Four groups (sighted, blindfolded sighted, legally blind, and blind) of adults were trained to traverse a five-block route in a residential neighborhood and were then asked to reconstruct the route from memory. Results showed the blind and sighted adults demonstrated similar abilities to learn routes but showed significant differences in memorial…

Blinding trachoma in postconflict southern Sudan.

PubMed

Ngondi, Jeremiah; Ole-Sempele, Francis; Onsarigo, Alice; Matende, Ibrahim; Baba, Samson; Reacher, Mark; Matthews, Fiona; Brayne, Carol; Emerson, Paul

2006-12-01

Trachoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness. Reports from eye surgery camps and anecdotal data indicated that blinding trachoma is a serious cause of visual impairment in Mankien payam (district) of southern Sudan. We conducted this study to estimate the prevalence of trachoma, estimate targets for interventions, and establish a baseline for monitoring and evaluation. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2005. A two-stage cluster random sampling with probability proportional to size was used to select the sample population. Participants were examined for trachoma by experienced graders using the World Health Organization simplified grading scheme. A total of 3,567 persons were examined (89.7% of those enumerated) of whom 2,017 were children aged less than 15 y and 1,550 were aged 15 y and above. Prevalence of signs of active trachoma in children aged 1-9 y was: trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) = 57.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.5%-60.4%); trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) = 39.8% (95% CI, 36.3%-43.5%); and TF and/or TI (active trachoma) = 63.3% (95% CI, 60.1%-66.4%). Prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis was 9.6% (95% CI, 8.4%-10.9%) in all ages, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.6%-3.2%) in children aged under 15 y, and 19.2% (95% CI, 17.0%-21.7%) in adults. Men were equally affected by trichiasis as women: odds ratio = 1.09 (95% CI, 0.81%-1.47%). It is estimated that there are up to 5,344 persons requiring trichiasis surgery in Mankien payam. Trachoma is a serious public health problem in Mankien, and the high prevalence of trichiasis in children underscores the severity of blinding trachoma. There is an urgent need to implement the surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental change (SAFE) strategy for trachoma control in Mankien payam, and the end of the 21-y civil war affords an opportunity to do this.

Brain morphometry in blind and sighted subjects.

PubMed

Maller, Jerome J; Thomson, Richard H; Ng, Amanda; Mann, Collette; Eager, Michael; Ackland, Helen; Fitzgerald, Paul B; Egan, Gary; Rosenfeld, Jeffrey V

2016-11-01

Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated structural brain alterations in blind subjects, but most have focused on primary open angle glaucoma or retinopathy of prematurity, used low-field scanners, a limited number of receive channels, or have presented uncorrected results. We recruited 10 blind and 10 age and sex-matched controls to undergo high-resolution MRI using a 3T scanner and a 32-channel receive coil. We evaluated whole-brain morphological differences between the groups as well as manual segmentation of regional hippocampal volumes. There were no hippocampal volume differences between the groups. Whole-brain morphometry showed white matter volume differences between blind and sighted groups including localised larger regions in the visual cortex (occipital gyral volume and thickness) among those with blindness early in life compared to those with blindness later in life. Hence, in our patients, blindness resulted in brain volumetric differences that depend upon duration of blindness. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cranberry versus placebo in the prevention of urinary infections in multiple sclerosis: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

PubMed

Gallien, Philippe; Amarenco, Gérard; Benoit, Nicolas; Bonniaud, Véronique; Donzé, Cécile; Kerdraon, Jacques; de Seze, Marianne; Denys, Pierre; Renault, Alain; Naudet, Florian; Reymann, Jean Michel

2014-08-01

Our aim was to assess the usefulness of cranberry extract in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suffering from urinary disorders. In total, 171 adult MS outpatients with urinary disorders presenting at eight centers were randomized (stratification according to center and use of clean intermittent self-catheterization) to cranberry versus placebo in a 1-year, prospective, double-blind study that was analyzed using a sequential method on an intent-to-treat basis. An independent monitoring board analyzed the results of the analyses each time 40 patients were assessed on the main endpoint. Cranberry extract (36 mg proanthocyanidins per day) or a matching placebo was taken by participants twice daily for 1 year. The primary endpoint was the time to first symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), subject to validation by a validation committee. The second sequential analyses allowed us to accept the null hypothesis (no difference between cranberry and placebo). There was no difference in time to first symptomatic UTI distribution across 1 year, with an estimated hazard ratio of 0.99, 95% CI [0.61, 1.60] (p = 0.97). Secondary endpoints and tolerance did not differ between groups. Taking cranberry extract versus placebo twice a day did not prevent UTI occurrence in MS patients with urinary disorders. Trial Registration NCT00280592. © The Author(s) 2014.

Memory for environmental sounds in sighted, congenitally blind and late blind adults: evidence for cross-modal compensation.

PubMed

Röder, Brigitte; Rösler, Frank

2003-10-01

Several recent reports suggest compensatory performance changes in blind individuals. It has, however, been argued that the lack of visual input leads to impoverished semantic networks resulting in the use of data-driven rather than conceptual encoding strategies on memory tasks. To test this hypothesis, congenitally blind and sighted participants encoded environmental sounds either physically or semantically. In the recognition phase, both conceptually as well as physically distinct and physically distinct but conceptually highly related lures were intermixed with the environmental sounds encountered during study. Participants indicated whether or not they had heard a sound in the study phase. Congenitally blind adults showed elevated memory both after physical and semantic encoding. After physical encoding blind participants had lower false memory rates than sighted participants, whereas the false memory rates of sighted and blind participants did not differ after semantic encoding. In order to address the question if compensatory changes in memory skills are restricted to critical periods during early childhood, late blind adults were tested with the same paradigm. When matched for age, they showed similarly high memory scores as the congenitally blind. These results demonstrate compensatory performance changes in long-term memory functions due to the loss of a sensory system and provide evidence for high adaptive capabilities of the human cognitive system.

[Red reflex: prevention way to blindness in childhood].

PubMed

de Aguiar, Adriana Sousa Carvalho; Cardoso, Maria Vera Lúcia Moreira Leitão; Lúcio, Ingrid Martins Leite

2007-01-01

This study had as objective to investigate the result and the colour gradation of red reflex test in newborns (NB). It is a exploratory, quantitative study and the sample was 180 NB from maternity ward in Fortaleza-CE. From this, 156 showed result "no altered" and 24 "suspect". About the aspect of red reflex, 144 NB showed the same coloration in the two eyes, in 35 of this, the colour was red, in 33, orange reddish, in 46 orange colour, in 24 light yellow, in 6 yellow with whitish stains central. Of the suspect cases, the reflex was light yellow with whitish stains with lines. The nurse trained to accomplish the red reflex test can have important role at Neonatal Unit with actions about the prevention of ocular alterations in the childhood.

Red-green colour blindness in Singaporean children.

PubMed

Chia, Audrey; Gazzard, Gus; Tong, Louis; Zhang, Xiaoe; Sim, Ee-Ling; Fong, Allan; Mei Saw, Seang

2008-07-01

X-linked red-green colour blindness is the most common form of colour blindness. Various studies suggest that, worldwide, 2-8% of men are afflicted with this condition. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of red-green colour blindness in Singaporean schoolchildren. A total of 1249 children aged 13-15 years were screened using the Ishihara 24-plate edition book during the School Cohort study of the Risk factors for Myopia visit. A total of 1210 children (96.8%) managed to correctly identify at least 13 of the initial 15 plates and were deemed to have normal colour vision.Thirty-three children (32 boys, one girl) were only able to identify nine or less plates and were considered to be colour blind. Overall, 5.4% (95% confidence interval 3%, 7%) of Chinese, 4.9% (1%, 9%) of Malay and 4.9% (2%, 11%) of Indian boys were colour blind (P = 0.97). Classification plates 16-17 were useful in determining deutran or protan tendencies in only 14 (43%) of the 33 children identified as being colour blind. 5.3% of boys and 0.2% of girls were found to be colour blind in this Singapore-based study. Although the Ishihara test proved useful in identifying colour-blind children, other tests are required to accurately classify the types of red-green colour blindness in these children.

Topical Silymarin Administration for Prevention of Capecitabine-Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Elyasi, Sepideh; Shojaee, Farzaneh Sadat Rezazadeh; Allahyari, Abolghasem; Karimi, Gholamreza

2017-09-01

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a frequent dose-limiting adverse reaction of capecitabine in patient with gastrointestinal cancers. Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from the Silybum marianum that exhibits strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated silymarin efficacy in prevention of capecitabine-induced HFS in patients with gastrointestinal cancers, as the first human study. During this pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of silymarin gel 1%, which is applied on the palms and soles twice daily starting at the first day of chemotherapy for 9 weeks, on HFS occurrence was assessed. Forty patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria assigned to the silymarin or placebo group. World Health Organization HFS grading scale scores were recorded at baseline and every 3 weeks during these 9 weeks. The median WHO HFS scores were significantly lower in silymarin group at the end of the 9 th week (p < 0.05). The scores increased significantly in both placebo and silymarin groups during chemotherapy, but there was a delay for HFS development and progression in silymarin group. Prophylactic administration of silymarin topical formulation could significantly reduce the severity of capecitabine-induced HFS and delays its occurrence in patients with gastrointestinal cancer after 9 weeks of application. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Randomized, double-blind trial of fluconazole versus voriconazole for prevention of invasive fungal infection after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

PubMed Central

Carter, Shelly L.; Walsh, Thomas J.; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Small, Trudy N.; Baden, Lindsey R.; Gersten, Iris D.; Mendizabal, Adam M.; Leather, Helen L.; Confer, Dennis L.; Maziarz, Richard T.; Stadtmauer, Edward A.; Bolaños-Meade, Javier; Brown, Janice; DiPersio, John F.; Boeckh, Michael; Marr, Kieren A.

2010-01-01

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a serious threat after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). This multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial compared fluconazole (N = 295) versus voriconazole (N = 305) for the prevention of IFI in the context of a structured fungal screening program. Patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HCT were randomized before HCT to receive study drugs for 100 days, or for 180 days in higher-risk patients. Serum galactomannan was assayed twice weekly for 60 days, then at least weekly until day 100. Positive galactomannan or suggestive signs triggered mandatory evaluation for IFI. The primary endpoint was freedom from IFI or death (fungal-free survival; FFS) at 180 days. Despite trends to fewer IFIs (7.3% vs 11.2%; P = .12), Aspergillus infections (9 vs 17; P = .09), and less frequent empiric antifungal therapy (24.1% vs 30.2%, P = .11) with voriconazole, FFS rates (75% vs 78%; P = .49) at 180 days were similar with fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Relapse-free and overall survival and the incidence of severe adverse events were also similar. This study demonstrates that in the context of intensive monitoring and structured empiric antifungal therapy, 6-month FFS and overall survival did not differ in allogeneic HCT recipients given prophylactic fluconazole or voriconazole. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00075803. PMID:20826719

Overview on Deaf-Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Barbara

2008-01-01

It may seem that deaf-blindness refers to a total inability to see or hear. However, in reality deaf-blindness is a condition in which the combination of hearing and visual losses in children cause "such severe communication and other develop mental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for…

How "Blind" Are Double-Blind Studies?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Margraf, Jurgen; And Others

1991-01-01

Compared alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo in the treatment of panic disorder patients (n=59) to investigate concerns about the internal validity of the double-blind design. Found that the great majority of patients and physicians were able to rate accurately whether active drug or placebo had been given and physicians could distinguish between…

Tactile Sensitivity and Braille Reading in People with Early Blindness and Late Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oshima, Kensuke; Arai, Tetsuya; Ichihara, Shigeru; Nakano, Yasushi

2014-01-01

Introduction: The inability to read quickly can be a disadvantage throughout life. This study focused on the associations of braille reading fluency and individual factors, such as the age at onset of blindness and number of years reading braille, and the tactile sensitivity of people with early and late blindness. The relationship between reading…

Results from a blind and a non-blind randomised trial run in parallel: experience from the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (EPHT) Trial.

PubMed

Veerus, Piret; Fischer, Krista; Hakama, Matti; Hemminki, Elina

2012-04-04

The Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (EPHT) Trial assigned 4170 potential participants prior to recruitment to blind or non-blind hormone therapy (HT), with placebo or non-treatment the respective alternatives. Before having to decide on participation, women were told whether they had been randomised to the blind or non-blind trial. Eligible women who were still willing to join the trial were recruited. After recruitment participants in the non-blind trial (N = 1001) received open-label HT or no treatment, participants in the blind trial (N = 777) remained blinded until the end of the trial. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of blinding on internal and external validity of trial outcomes. Effect of blinding was calculated as the hazard ratio of selected chronic diseases, total mortality and all outcomes. For analysing the effect of blinding on external validity, the hazard ratios from women recruited to the placebo arm and to the non-treatment arm were compared with those not recruited; for analysing the effect of blinding on internal validity, the hazard ratios from the blind trial were compared with those from the non-blind trial. The women recruited to the placebo arm had less cerebrovascular disease events (HR 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26-0.71) and all outcomes combined (HR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63-0.91) than those who were not recruited. Among women recruited or not recruited to the non-treatment arm, no differences were observed for any of the outcomes studied.Among women recruited to the trial, the risk for coronary heart disease events (HR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64-0.93), cerebrovascular disease events (HR 0.66; 95%CI: 0.47-0.92), and all outcomes combined (HR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72-0.94) was smaller among participants in the blind trial than in the non-blind trial. There was no difference between the blind and the non-blind trial for total cancer (HR 0.95; 95% CI: 0.64-1.42), bone fractures (0.93; 95% CI: 0.74-1.16), and total mortality (HR 1.03; 95% CI: 0

In blind pursuit of racial equality?

PubMed

Apfelbaum, Evan P; Pauker, Kristin; Sommers, Samuel R; Ambady, Nalini

2010-11-01

Despite receiving little empirical assessment, the color-blind approach to managing diversity has become a leading institutional strategy for promoting racial equality, across domains and scales of practice. We gauged the utility of color blindness as a means to eliminating future racial inequity--its central objective--by assessing its impact on a sample of elementary-school students. Results demonstrated that students exposed to a color-blind mind-set, as opposed to a value-diversity mind-set, were actually less likely both to detect overt instances of racial discrimination and to describe such events in a manner that would prompt intervention by certified teachers. Institutional messages of color blindness may therefore artificially depress formal reporting of racial injustice. Color-blind messages may thus appear to function effectively on the surface even as they allow explicit forms of bias to persist.

Blinded by irrelevance: pure irrelevance induced "blindness".

PubMed

Eitam, Baruch; Yeshurun, Yaffa; Hassan, Kinneret

2013-06-01

To what degree does our representation of the immediate world depend solely on its relevance to what we are currently doing? We examined whether relevance per se can cause "blindness," even when there is no resource limitation. In a novel paradigm, people looked at a colored circle surrounded by a differently colored ring-the task relevance of which was previously manipulated-and were subsequently asked to identify these colors. Whereas knowledge of the task-relevant color was near perfect, up to a quarter of the participants could not name the color of the irrelevant stimulus, even though a control experiment indicated there were sufficient resources to process both stimuli. The results are a first demonstration of blindness when mental resources are clearly available and challenge attentional theories predicting strong selection only when resources are taxed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

Special Premie Oxygen Targeting (SPOT): a program to decrease the incidence of blindness in infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

PubMed

Coe, Kristi; Butler, Mandy; Reavis, Nicole; Klinepeter, Mary Ellen; Purkey, Connie; Oliver, Tonya; Starbuck, Alisa; Griffin, Jennifer; Wilmoth, Cathy; Block, Steven

2006-01-01

Infants born prematurely have a plethora of medical problems. Some have cerebral palsy, resulting in limited mobility, while others require oxygen, hearing aids, and/or glasses for medical problems. Most of these could have been prevented if preterm birth was avoided, but efforts to curb this have been slow. This article discusses how blindness can be prevented in infants born prematurely by accepting lower oxygen saturations when on oxygen in the intensive care nursery.

Prevention of age-related macular degeneration

PubMed Central

Koo, Simon Chi Yan; Chan, Clement Wai Nang

2010-01-01

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the developed world. Although effective treatment modalities such as anti-VEGF treatment have been developed for neovascular AMD, there is still no effective treatment for geographical atrophy, and therefore the most cost-effective management of AMD is to start with prevention. This review looks at current evidence on preventive measures targeted at AMD. Modalities reviewed include (1) nutritional supplements such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula, lutein and zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acid, and berry extracts, (2) lifestyle modifications, including smoking and body-mass-index, and (3) filtering sunlight, i.e. sunglasses and blue-blocking intraocular lenses. In summary, the only proven effective preventive measures are stopping smoking and the AREDS formula. PMID:20862519

Prevention of age-related macular degeneration.

PubMed

Wong, Ian Yat Hin; Koo, Simon Chi Yan; Chan, Clement Wai Nang

2011-02-01

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the developed world. Although effective treatment modalities such as anti-VEGF treatment have been developed for neovascular AMD, there is still no effective treatment for geographical atrophy, and therefore the most cost-effective management of AMD is to start with prevention. This review looks at current evidence on preventive measures targeted at AMD. Modalities reviewed include (1) nutritional supplements such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula, lutein and zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acid, and berry extracts, (2) lifestyle modifications, including smoking and body-mass-index, and (3) filtering sunlight, i.e. sunglasses and blue-blocking intraocular lenses. In summary, the only proven effective preventive measures are stopping smoking and the AREDS formula.

Prevention of colonic neoplasia with polyethylene glycol: A short term randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded trial.

PubMed

Wali, Ramesh K; Bianchi, Laura; Kupfer, Sonia; De La Cruz, Mart; Jovanovic, Borko; Weber, Christopher; Goldberg, Michael J; Rodriguez, L M; Bergan, Raymond; Rubin, David; Tull, Mary Beth; Richmond, Ellen; Parker, Beth; Khan, Seema; Roy, Hemant K

2018-01-01

Chemoprevention represents an attractive modality against colorectal cancer (CRC) although widespread clinical implementation of promising agents (e.g. aspirin/NSAIDS) have been stymied by both suboptimal efficacy and concerns over toxicity. This highlights the need for better agents. Several groups, including our own, have reported that the over-the-counter laxative polyethylene glycol (PEG) has remarkable efficacy in rodent models of colon carcinogenesis. In this study, we undertook the first randomized human trial to address the role of PEG in prevention of human colonic neoplasia. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm trial where eligible subjects were randomized to 8g PEG-3350 (n = 27) or 17g PEG-3350 (n = 24), or placebo (n = 24; maltodextrin) orally for a duration of six months. Our initial primary endpoint was rectal aberrant crypt foci (ACF) but this was changed during protocol period to rectal mucosal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Of the 87 patients randomized, 48 completed study primary endpoints and rectal EGFR unchanged PEG treatment. Rectal ACF had a trend suggesting potentially reduction with PEG treatment (pre-post change 1.7 in placebo versus -0.3 in PEG 8+ 17g doses, p = 0.108). Other endpoints (proliferation, apoptosis, expression of SNAIL and E-cadherin), previously noted to be modulated in rodent models, appeared unchanged with PEG treatment in this clinical trial. We conclude that PEG was generally well tolerated with the trial failing to meet primary efficacy endpoints. However, rectal ACFs demonstrated a trend (albeit statistically insignificant) for suppression with PEG. Moreover, all molecular assays including EGFR were unaltered with PEG underscoring issues with lack of translatability of biomarkers from preclinical to clinical trials. This data may provide the impetus for future clinical trials on PEG using more robust biomarkers of chemoprevention. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00828984.

Prevention of colonic neoplasia with polyethylene glycol: A short term randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded trial

PubMed Central

Wali, Ramesh K.; Bianchi, Laura; Kupfer, Sonia; De La Cruz, Mart; Jovanovic, Borko; Weber, Christopher; Goldberg, Michael J.; Rodriguez, L. M.; Bergan, Raymond; Rubin, David; Tull, Mary Beth; Richmond, Ellen; Parker, Beth; Khan, Seema

2018-01-01

Chemoprevention represents an attractive modality against colorectal cancer (CRC) although widespread clinical implementation of promising agents (e.g. aspirin/NSAIDS) have been stymied by both suboptimal efficacy and concerns over toxicity. This highlights the need for better agents. Several groups, including our own, have reported that the over-the-counter laxative polyethylene glycol (PEG) has remarkable efficacy in rodent models of colon carcinogenesis. In this study, we undertook the first randomized human trial to address the role of PEG in prevention of human colonic neoplasia. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm trial where eligible subjects were randomized to 8g PEG-3350 (n = 27) or 17g PEG-3350 (n = 24), or placebo (n = 24; maltodextrin) orally for a duration of six months. Our initial primary endpoint was rectal aberrant crypt foci (ACF) but this was changed during protocol period to rectal mucosal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Of the 87 patients randomized, 48 completed study primary endpoints and rectal EGFR unchanged PEG treatment. Rectal ACF had a trend suggesting potentially reduction with PEG treatment (pre-post change 1.7 in placebo versus -0.3 in PEG 8+ 17g doses, p = 0.108). Other endpoints (proliferation, apoptosis, expression of SNAIL and E-cadherin), previously noted to be modulated in rodent models, appeared unchanged with PEG treatment in this clinical trial. We conclude that PEG was generally well tolerated with the trial failing to meet primary efficacy endpoints. However, rectal ACFs demonstrated a trend (albeit statistically insignificant) for suppression with PEG. Moreover, all molecular assays including EGFR were unaltered with PEG underscoring issues with lack of translatability of biomarkers from preclinical to clinical trials. This data may provide the impetus for future clinical trials on PEG using more robust biomarkers of chemoprevention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00828984 PMID

Blindness and Visual Impairment in an Urban West African Population: The Tema Eye Survey

PubMed Central

Budenz, Donald L.; Bandi, Jagadeesh R.; Barton, Keith; Nolan, Winifred; Herndon, Leon; Whiteside-de Vos, Julia; Hay-Smith, Graham; Kim, Hanna; Tielsch, James

2012-01-01

Objective To determine the prevalence, etiologies, and risk factors of blindness and visual impairment among persons age 40 years and older residing in an urban West African location. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Participants Five thousand six hundred and three participants residing in Tema, Ghana. Methods Proportionate random cluster sampling was used to select participants age 40 and over living in the city of Tema. Presenting distance visual acuity was measured at 4 and 1 meters using a reduced Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) tumbling E chart and then with trial frame based on autorefraction. A screening examination was performed in the field on all participants. Complete clinical examination by an ophthalmologist was performed on participants with best corrected visual acuity < 20/40 or failure of any screening test. Main Outcome Measures Age- and gender-specific prevalence, causes, and risk factors for blindness (visual acuity in the better eye of < 20/400, World Health Organization definition) and visual impairment (visual acuity in the better eye of < 20/40). Results Six thousand eight hundred and six eligible participants were identified of which 5603 (82.3%) participated in the study. The mean age (±standard deviation) of participants was 52.7±10.9. The prevalence of visual impairment was 17.1% and blindness was 1.2%. After refraction and spectacle correction, the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness decreased to 6.7% and 0.75% respectively, suggesting that refractive error is the major correctable etiology of visual impairment and blindness in this population. Of 65 subjects having visual acuity < 20/400, 22 (34%) were correctable with refraction, 21 to the level of visual impairment, and one to normal. The remaining 43 (66%) had underlying pathology (19 cataract, 9 glaucoma, 3 non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy, 3 corneal opacities, 3 retinal disease, 5 undetermined) that prevented refractive correction

Sad Facial Expressions Increase Choice Blindness.

PubMed

Wang, Yajie; Zhao, Song; Zhang, Zhijie; Feng, Wenfeng

2017-01-01

Previous studies have discovered a fascinating phenomenon known as choice blindness-individuals fail to detect mismatches between the face they choose and the face replaced by the experimenter. Although previous studies have reported a couple of factors that can modulate the magnitude of choice blindness, the potential effect of facial expression on choice blindness has not yet been explored. Using faces with sad and neutral expressions (Experiment 1) and faces with happy and neutral expressions (Experiment 2) in the classic choice blindness paradigm, the present study investigated the effects of facial expressions on choice blindness. The results showed that the detection rate was significantly lower on sad faces than neutral faces, whereas no significant difference was observed between happy faces and neutral faces. The exploratory analysis of verbal reports found that participants who reported less facial features for sad (as compared to neutral) expressions also tended to show a lower detection rate of sad (as compared to neutral) faces. These findings indicated that sad facial expressions increased choice blindness, which might have resulted from inhibition of further processing of the detailed facial features by the less attractive sad expressions (as compared to neutral expressions).

Prevalence and causes of corneal blindness.

PubMed

Wang, Haijing; Zhang, Yaoguang; Li, Zhijian; Wang, Tiebin; Liu, Ping

2014-04-01

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of corneal blindness in a rural northern Chinese population. Cross-sectional study. The cluster random sampling method was used to select the sample. This population-based study included 11 787 participants of all ages in rural Heilongjiang Province, China. These participants underwent a detailed interview and eye examination that included the measurement of visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy. An eye was considered to have corneal blindness if the visual acuity was <9/18 because of corneal diseases. The main outcome measure was prevalence rates of corneal blindness and low vision. Among the 10 384 people enrolled in the study, the prevalence of corneal blindness is 0.3% (95% confidence interval 0.2-0.4%). The leading cause was keratitis in childhood (40.0%), followed by ocular trauma (33.3%) and keratitis in adulthood (20.0%). Age and illiteracy were found to be associated with an increased prevalence of corneal blindness. Blindness because of corneal diseases in rural areas of Northern China is a significant public health problem that needs to be given more attention. © 2013 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

Blind Braille readers mislocate tactile stimuli.

PubMed

Sterr, Annette; Green, Lisa; Elbert, Thomas

2003-05-01

In a previous experiment, we observed that blind Braille readers produce errors when asked to identify on which finger of one hand a light tactile stimulus had occurred. With the present study, we aimed to specify the characteristics of this perceptual error in blind and sighted participants. The experiment confirmed that blind Braille readers mislocalised tactile stimuli more often than sighted controls, and that the localisation errors occurred significantly more often at the right reading hand than at the non-reading hand. Most importantly, we discovered that the reading fingers showed the smallest error frequency, but the highest rate of stimulus attribution. The dissociation of perceiving and locating tactile stimuli in the blind suggests altered tactile information processing. Neuroplasticity, changes in tactile attention mechanisms as well as the idea that blind persons may employ different strategies for tactile exploration and object localisation are discussed as possible explanations for the results obtained.

Minimum entropy deconvolution and blind equalisation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Satorius, E. H.; Mulligan, J. J.

1992-01-01

Relationships between minimum entropy deconvolution, developed primarily for geophysics applications, and blind equalization are pointed out. It is seen that a large class of existing blind equalization algorithms are directly related to the scale-invariant cost functions used in minimum entropy deconvolution. Thus the extensive analyses of these cost functions can be directly applied to blind equalization, including the important asymptotic results of Donoho.

Blindness. [prosthetic devices and sensory aids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pudenz, R. H.

1974-01-01

The possibilities are considered that modern electronics and engineering have to offer the individual with a damaged or disordered nervous system, especially the blind person. Discussed are the incidence and principal causes of blindness, past research activities, and a capsule review of some of the more interesting programs designed to provide the blind with the ability to be mobile in their environment and to read printed matter.

Universal Blind Quantum Computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fitzsimons, Joseph; Kashefi, Elham

2012-02-01

Blind Quantum Computing (BQC) allows a client to have a server carry out a quantum computation for them such that the client's inputs, outputs and computation remain private. Recently we proposed a universal unconditionally secure BQC scheme, based on the conceptual framework of the measurement-based quantum computing model, where the client only needs to be able to prepare single qubits in separable states randomly chosen from a finite set and send them to the server, who has the balance of the required quantum computational resources. Here we present a refinement of the scheme which vastly expands the class of quantum circuits which can be directly implemented as a blind computation, by introducing a new class of resource states which we term dotted-complete graph states and expanding the set of single qubit states the client is required to prepare. These two modifications significantly simplify the overall protocol and remove the previously present restriction that only nearest-neighbor circuits could be implemented as blind computations directly. As an added benefit, the refined protocol admits a substantially more intuitive and simplified verification mechanism, allowing the correctness of a blind computation to be verified with arbitrarily small probability of error.

Tactile spatial resolution in blind braille readers.

PubMed

Van Boven, R W; Hamilton, R H; Kauffman, T; Keenan, J P; Pascual-Leone, A

2000-06-27

To determine if blind people have heightened tactile spatial acuity. Recently, studies using magnetic source imaging and somatosensory evoked potentials have shown that the cortical representation of the reading fingers of blind Braille readers is expanded compared to that of fingers of sighted subjects. Furthermore, the visual cortex is activated during certain tactile tasks in blind subjects but not sighted subjects. The authors hypothesized that the expanded cortical representation of fingers used in Braille reading may reflect an enhanced fidelity in the neural transmission of spatial details of a stimulus. If so, the quantitative limit of spatial acuity would be superior in blind people. The authors employed a grating orientation discrimination task in which threshold performance is accounted for by the spatial resolution limits of the neural image evoked by a stimulus. The authors quantified the psychophysical limits of spatial acuity at the middle and index fingers of 15 blind Braille readers and 15 sighted control subjects. The mean grating orientation threshold was significantly (p = 0.03) lower in the blind group (1.04 mm) compared to the sighted group (1.46 mm). The self-reported dominant reading finger in blind subjects had a mean grating orientation threshold of 0.80 mm, which was significantly better than other fingers tested. Thresholds at non-Braille reading fingers in blind subjects averaged 1.12 mm, which were also superior to sighted subjects' performances. Superior tactile spatial acuity in blind Braille readers may represent an adaptive, behavioral correlate of cortical plasticity.

Epidemiology of blindness in children.

PubMed

Solebo, Ameenat Lola; Teoh, Lucinda; Rahi, Jugnoo

2017-09-01

An estimated 14 million of the world's children are blind. A blind child is more likely to live in socioeconomic deprivation, to be more frequently hospitalised during childhood and to die in childhood than a child not living with blindness. This update of a previous review on childhood visual impairment focuses on emerging therapies for children with severe visual disability (severe visual impairment and blindness or SVI/BL).For children in higher income countries, cerebral visual impairment and optic nerve anomalies remain the most common causes of SVI/BL, while retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and cataract are now the most common avoidable causes. The constellation of causes of childhood blindness in lower income settings is shifting from infective and nutritional corneal opacities and congenital anomalies to more resemble the patterns seen in higher income settings. Improvements in maternal and neonatal health and investment in and maintenance of national ophthalmic care infrastructure are the key to reducing the burden of avoidable blindness. New therapeutic targets are emerging for childhood visual disorders, although the safety and efficacy of novel therapies for diseases such as ROP or retinal dystrophies are not yet clear. Population-based epidemiological research, particularly on cerebral visual impairment and optic nerve hypoplasia, is needed in order to improve understanding of risk factors and to inform and support the development of novel therapies for disorders currently considered 'untreatable'. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Blind topological measurement-based quantum computation.

PubMed

Morimae, Tomoyuki; Fujii, Keisuke

2012-01-01

Blind quantum computation is a novel secure quantum-computing protocol that enables Alice, who does not have sufficient quantum technology at her disposal, to delegate her quantum computation to Bob, who has a fully fledged quantum computer, in such a way that Bob cannot learn anything about Alice's input, output and algorithm. A recent proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating blind quantum computation in an optical system has raised new challenges regarding the scalability of blind quantum computation in realistic noisy conditions. Here we show that fault-tolerant blind quantum computation is possible in a topologically protected manner using the Raussendorf-Harrington-Goyal scheme. The error threshold of our scheme is 4.3 × 10(-3), which is comparable to that (7.5 × 10(-3)) of non-blind topological quantum computation. As the error per gate of the order 10(-3) was already achieved in some experimental systems, our result implies that secure cloud quantum computation is within reach.

Blind topological measurement-based quantum computation

PubMed Central

Morimae, Tomoyuki; Fujii, Keisuke

2012-01-01

Blind quantum computation is a novel secure quantum-computing protocol that enables Alice, who does not have sufficient quantum technology at her disposal, to delegate her quantum computation to Bob, who has a fully fledged quantum computer, in such a way that Bob cannot learn anything about Alice's input, output and algorithm. A recent proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating blind quantum computation in an optical system has raised new challenges regarding the scalability of blind quantum computation in realistic noisy conditions. Here we show that fault-tolerant blind quantum computation is possible in a topologically protected manner using the Raussendorf–Harrington–Goyal scheme. The error threshold of our scheme is 4.3×10−3, which is comparable to that (7.5×10−3) of non-blind topological quantum computation. As the error per gate of the order 10−3 was already achieved in some experimental systems, our result implies that secure cloud quantum computation is within reach. PMID:22948818

Blind topological measurement-based quantum computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morimae, Tomoyuki; Fujii, Keisuke

2012-09-01

Blind quantum computation is a novel secure quantum-computing protocol that enables Alice, who does not have sufficient quantum technology at her disposal, to delegate her quantum computation to Bob, who has a fully fledged quantum computer, in such a way that Bob cannot learn anything about Alice's input, output and algorithm. A recent proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating blind quantum computation in an optical system has raised new challenges regarding the scalability of blind quantum computation in realistic noisy conditions. Here we show that fault-tolerant blind quantum computation is possible in a topologically protected manner using the Raussendorf-Harrington-Goyal scheme. The error threshold of our scheme is 4.3×10-3, which is comparable to that (7.5×10-3) of non-blind topological quantum computation. As the error per gate of the order 10-3 was already achieved in some experimental systems, our result implies that secure cloud quantum computation is within reach.

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1994

1994-01-01

This directory lists programs for deaf-blind children and youth, regional offices of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. Programs are listed alphabetically by state, with contact information provided. (DB)

Front blind spot crashes in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Cheng, Yuk Ki; Wong, Koon Hung; Tao, Chi Hang; Tam, Cheok Ning; Tam, Yiu Yan; Tsang, Cheuk Nam

2016-09-01

In 2012-2014, our laboratory had investigated a total of 9 suspected front blind spot crashes, in which the medium and heavy goods vehicles pulled away from rest and rolled over the pedestrians, who were crossing immediately in front of the vehicles. The drivers alleged that they did not see any pedestrians through the windscreens or the front blind spot mirrors. Forensic assessment of the goods vehicles revealed the existence of front blind spot zones in 3 out of these 9 accident vehicles, which were attributed to the poor mirror adjustments or even the absence of a front blind spot mirror altogether. In view of this, a small survey was devised involving 20 randomly selected volunteers and their goods vehicles and 5 out of these vehicles had blind spots at the front. Additionally, a short questionnaire was conducted on these 20 professional lorry drivers and it was shown that most of them were not aware of the hazards of blind spots immediately in front of their vehicles, and many did not use the front blind spot mirrors properly. A simple procedure for quick measurements of the coverage of front blind spot mirrors using a coloured plastic mat with dimensional grids was also introduced and described in this paper. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Emphasis on promotion of the adaptive technology is the sky point of improving of treatment and prevention level of glaucoma].

PubMed

Wang, Ning-li

2013-11-01

Promoting the control of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is most important prevention program of blindness in China. PACG has been incorporated into the prevention program of blindness in China based on the population-based screening studies. However, the clinical screening should be strengthened in POAG. The creation of a series of appropriate technologies suitable for glaucoma prevention and management has been achieved in China, especially for PACG. The technologies have been evaluated in the pilot areas and obtained very good results in China. It is recommended to develop new technology suitable for glaucoma management using the following workflow: research, development, and evaluation by large scale hospitals, and then clinical trial in the pilot areas. After a cost-benefit analysis is made, the new technology can be promoted and applied in clinical practice nationwide. We propose to gradually formed a strategical mode of "screening in township hospitals, intervention in county hospitals, and technical support and tackling in provincial hospitals" in order to improve the level of prevention and treatment of glaucoma and reduce the blindness incidence rate caused by glaucoma.

The role of Octenidol(®), Glandomed(®) and chlorhexidine mouthwash in the prevention of mucositis and in the reduction of the oropharyngeal flora: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Mutters, Nico T; Neubert, Thomas R; Nieth, Rudolf; Mutters, Reinier

2015-01-01

The oropharyngeal flora is of importance for the development of oral mucositis, which is a frequent complication in oncologic practice. It also plays a role in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Mucositis is associated with significantly worse clinical and economic outcomes. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of Octenidol(®), Glandomed(®) and chlorhexidine mouthwash in the prevention of mucositis and reduction of the oropharyngeal flora. A prospective, double-blinded RCT including two strata was conducted between October 2008 and November 2010. Stratum i consisted of ventilated cardiothoracic surgical patients. Stratum ii consisted of medical patients with haemato-oncological malignancies requiring stem cell transplantation. The primary outcome measures were development of mucositis regarding to OMAS/WHO score and reduction of the oropharyngeal flora. Both strata showed low OMAS/WHO scores which did not differ significantly between the groups. The overall mean reduction of colony forming units was significantly higher in the Octenidol(®) group compared to the chlorhexidine and the Glandomed(®) groups. No significant differences in the development of mucositis were found, thus all solutions proved successful in the prevention of mucositis. However, Octenidol(®) was superior in the reduction of the oropharyngeal flora. Hence, the preventive effect on nosocomial infections might be higher in patients using Octenidol(®) rather than chlorhexidine or Glandomed(®).

Lifetime risk of blindness in open-angle glaucoma.

PubMed

Peters, Dorothea; Bengtsson, Boel; Heijl, Anders

2013-10-01

To determine the lifetime risk and duration of blindness in patients with manifest open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Retrospective chart review. We studied glaucoma patients who died between January 2006 and June 2010. Most glaucoma patients living in the catchment area (city of Malmö; n = 305 000) are managed at the Department of Ophthalmology at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö. From the patient records we extracted visual field status, visual acuity, and low vision or blindness as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and caused by glaucoma at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. We also noted age at diagnosis and death and when low vision or blindness occurred. Five hundred and ninety-two patients were included. At the time of the last visit 250 patients (42.2%) had at least 1 blind eye because of glaucoma, while 97 patients (16.4%) were bilaterally blind, and 12 patients (0.5%) had low vision. Median time with a glaucoma diagnosis was 12 years (<1-29), median age when developing bilateral blindness was 86 years, and median duration of bilateral blindness was 2 years (<1-13). The cumulative incidences of blindness in at least 1 eye and bilateral blindness from glaucoma were 26.5% and 5.5%, respectively, after 10 years, and 38.1% and 13.5% at 20 years. Approximately 1 out of 6 glaucoma patients was bilaterally blind from glaucoma at the last visit. Median duration of bilateral blindness was 2 years. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PARENT Quick Blind Round-Robin Test Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Braatz, Brett G.; Heasler, Patrick G.; Meyer, Ryan M.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT) whose goal is to investigate the effectiveness of current and novel nondestructive examination procedures and techniques to find flaws in nickel-alloy welds and base materials. This is to be done by conducting a series of open and blind international round-robin tests on a set of piping components that include large-bore dissimilar metal welds, small-bore dissimilar metal welds, and bottom-mounted instrumentation penetration welds. The blind testing is being conducted in two segments, one is called Quick-Blind and the other is called Blind. Themore » Quick-Blind testing and destructive analysis of the test blocks has been completed. This report describes the four Quick-Blind test blocks used, summarizes their destructive analysis, gives an overview of the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques applied, provides an analysis inspection data, and presents the conclusions drawn.« less

Unblinding the dark matter blind spots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, Tao; Kling, Felix; Su, Shufang

The dark matter (DM) blind spots in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) refer to the parameter regions where the couplings of the DM particles to the $Z$-boson or the Higgs boson are almost zero, leading to vanishingly small signals for the DM direct detections. In this paper, we carry out comprehensive analyses for the DM searches under the blind-spot scenarios in MSSM. Guided by the requirement of acceptable DM relic abundance, we explore the complementary coverage for the theory parameters at the LHC, the projection for the future underground DM direct searches, and the indirect searches from the relicmore » DM annihilation into photons and neutrinos. We find that (i) the spin-independent (SI) blind spots may be rescued by the spin-dependent (SD) direct detection in the future underground experiments, and possibly by the indirect DM detections from IceCube and SuperK neutrino experiments; (ii) the detection of gamma rays from Fermi-LAT may not reach the desirable sensitivity for searching for the DM blind-spot regions; (iii) the SUSY searches at the LHC will substantially extend the discovery region for the blind-spot parameters. As a result, the dark matter blind spots thus may be unblinded with the collective efforts in future DM searches.« less

Unblinding the dark matter blind spots

DOE PAGES

Han, Tao; Kling, Felix; Su, Shufang; ...

2017-02-10

The dark matter (DM) blind spots in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) refer to the parameter regions where the couplings of the DM particles to the $Z$-boson or the Higgs boson are almost zero, leading to vanishingly small signals for the DM direct detections. In this paper, we carry out comprehensive analyses for the DM searches under the blind-spot scenarios in MSSM. Guided by the requirement of acceptable DM relic abundance, we explore the complementary coverage for the theory parameters at the LHC, the projection for the future underground DM direct searches, and the indirect searches from the relicmore » DM annihilation into photons and neutrinos. We find that (i) the spin-independent (SI) blind spots may be rescued by the spin-dependent (SD) direct detection in the future underground experiments, and possibly by the indirect DM detections from IceCube and SuperK neutrino experiments; (ii) the detection of gamma rays from Fermi-LAT may not reach the desirable sensitivity for searching for the DM blind-spot regions; (iii) the SUSY searches at the LHC will substantially extend the discovery region for the blind-spot parameters. As a result, the dark matter blind spots thus may be unblinded with the collective efforts in future DM searches.« less

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 2000-2001.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malloy, Peggy, Ed.

2001-01-01

These three issues of "Deaf-Blind Perspectives" feature the following articles: (1) "A Group for Students with Usher Syndrome in South Louisiana" (Faye Melancon); (2) "Simply Emily," which discusses a budding friendship between a girl with deaf-blindness and a peer; (3) "Intervener Update" (Peggy Malloy and…

Reflective insulating blinds for windows and the like

DOEpatents

Barnes, P.R.; Shapira, H.B.

1979-12-07

Energy-conserving window blinds are provided. The blinds are fabricated from coupled and adjustable slats, each slat having an insulation layer and a reflective surface to face outwardly when the blinds are closed. A range of desired light and air transmission may be selected with the reflective surfaces of the slats adapted to direct sunlight upward toward the ceiling when the blinds are open. When the blinds are closed, the insulation of the slats reduces the heat loss or gain produced by the windows. If desired, the reflective surfaces of the slats may be concave. The edges of the slats are designed to seal against adjacent slats when the blinds are closed to ensure minimum air flow between slats.

Reflective insulating blinds for windows and the like

DOEpatents

Barnes, Paul R.; Shapira, Hanna B.

1981-01-01

Energy-conserving window blinds are provided. The blinds are fabricated from coupled and adjustable slats, each slat having an insulation layer and a reflective surface to face outwardly when the blinds are closed. A range of desired light and air transmission may be selected with the reflective surfaces of the slats adapted to direct sunlight upward toward the ceiling when the blinds are open. When the blinds are closed, the insulation of the slats reduces the heat loss or gain produced by the windows. If desired, the reflective surfaces of the slats may be concave. The edges of the slats are designed to seal against adjacent slats when the blinds are closed to ensure minimum air flow between slats.

Saccharomyces boulardii for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adult hospitalized patients: a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Pozzoni, Pietro; Riva, Alessia; Bellatorre, Alessandro Giacco; Amigoni, Maria; Redaelli, Elena; Ronchetti, Anna; Stefani, Mariangela; Tironi, Rosangela; Molteni, Edoardo Ennio; Conte, Dario; Casazza, Giovanni; Colli, Agostino

2012-06-01

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) are common complications of antibiotic use. Probiotics were effective in preventing AAD and CDAD in several randomized controlled trials. This study was aimed at testing the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on the occurrence of AAD and CDAD in hospitalized patients. A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was performed. Patients being prescribed antibiotics or on antibiotic therapy for <48 h were eligible. Exclusion criteria were ongoing diarrhea, recent assumption of probiotics, lack of informed consent, inability to ingest capsules, and severe pancreatitis. Patients received a capsule containing S. boulardii or an indistinguishable placebo twice daily within 48 h of beginning antibiotic therapy, continued treatment for 7 days after antibiotic withdrawal, and were followed for 12 weeks after ending antibiotic treatment. Of 562 consecutive eligible patients, 275 patients aged 79.2 ± 9.8 years (134 on placebo) were randomized and 204 aged 78.4 ± 10.0 years (98 on placebo) completed the follow-up. AAD developed in 13.3% (13/98) of the patients receiving placebo and in 15.1% (16/106) of those receiving S. boulardii (odds ratio for S. boulardii vs. placebo, 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53-2.56). Five cases of CDAD occurred, 2 in the placebo group (2.0%) and 3 in the probiotic group (2.8%; odds ratio for S. boulardii vs. placebo, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.23-8.55). There was no difference in mortality rates (12.7% vs. 15.6%, P=0.60). In elderly hospitalized patients, S. boulardii was not effective in preventing the development of AAD.

Congenital Blindness Leads to Enhanced Vibrotactile Perception

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wan, Catherine Y.; Wood, Amanda G.; Reutens, David C.; Wilson, Sarah J.

2010-01-01

Previous studies have shown that in comparison with the sighted, blind individuals display superior non-visual perceptual abilities and differ in brain organisation. In this study, we investigated the performance of blind and sighted participants on a vibrotactile discrimination task. Thirty-three blind participants were classified into one of…

Glaucoma Blindness at a Tertiary Eye Care Center.

PubMed

Stone, Jordan S; Muir, Kelly W; Stinnett, Sandra S; Rosdahl, Jullia A

2015-01-01

Glaucoma is an important cause of irreversible blindness. This study describes the characteristics of a large, diverse group of glaucoma patients and evaluates associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and blindness. Data were gathered via retrospective chart review of patients (N = 1,454) who were seen between July 2007 and July 2010 by glaucoma service providers at Duke Eye Center. Visual acuity and visual field criteria were used to determine whether patients met the criteria for legal blindness. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed on the glaucoma patients who were not blind (n = 1,258) and those who were blind (n = 196). A subgroup analysis of only those patients with primary open-angle glaucoma was also performed. In this tertiary care population, 13% (n = 196) of glaucoma patients met criteria for legal blindness, nearly one-half of whom (n = 94) were blind from glaucoma, and another one-third of whom (n = 69) had glaucoma-related blindness. The most common glaucoma diagnosis at all levels of vision was primary open-angle glaucoma. A larger proportion of black patients compared with white patients demonstrated vision loss; the odds ratio (OR) for blindness was 2.25 (95% CI, 1.6-3.2) for black patients compared with white patients. The use of systemic antihypertensive medications was higher among patients who were blind compared with patients who were not blind (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.1). A subgroup analysis including only patients with primary open-angle glaucoma showed similar results for both black race and use of systemic antihypertensive medications. The relationship between use of systemic antihypertensive medications and blindness was not different between black patients and white patients (interaction P = .268). Data were based on chart review, and associations may be confounded by unmeasured factors. Treated systemic hypertension may be correlated with blindness, and the cause cannot be explained solely

Glaucoma Blindness at a Tertiary Eye Care Center

PubMed Central

Stone, Jordan S.; Muir, Kelly W.; Stinnett, Sandra S.; Rosdahl, Jullia A.

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND Glaucoma is an important cause of irreversible blindness. This study describes the characteristics of a large, diverse group of glaucoma patients and evaluates associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and blindness. METHODS Data were gathered via retrospective chart review of patients (N = 1,454) who were seen between July 2007 and July 2010 by glaucoma service providers at Duke Eye Center. Visual acuity and visual field criteria were used to determine whether patients met the criteria for legal blindness. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed on the glaucoma patients who were not blind (n = 1,258) and those who were blind (n = 196). A subgroup analysis of only those patients with primary open-angle glaucoma was also performed. RESULTS In this tertiary care population, 13% (n = 196) of glaucoma patients met criteria for legal blindness, nearly one-half of whom (n = 94) were blind from glaucoma, and another one-third of whom (n = 69) had glaucoma-related blindness. The most common glaucoma diagnosis at all levels of vision was primary open-angle glaucoma. A larger proportion of black patients compared with white patients demonstrated vision loss; the odds ratio (OR) for blindness was 2.25 (95% CI, 1.6–3.2) for black patients compared with white patients. The use of systemic antihypertensive medications was higher among patients who were blind compared with patients who were not blind (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4–3.1). A subgroup analysis including only patients with primary open-angle glaucoma showed similar results for both black race and use of systemic antihypertensive medications. The relationship between use of systemic antihypertensive medications and blindness was not different between black patients and white patients (interaction P = .268). LIMITATIONS Data were based on chart review, and associations may be confounded by unmeasured factors. CONCLUSIONS Treated systemic hypertension may be correlated

“VisionTouch Phone” for the Blind

PubMed Central

YONG, Robest

2013-01-01

Our objective is to enable the blind to use smartphones with touchscreens to make calls and to send text messages (sms) with ease, speed, and accuracy. We believe that with our proposed platform, which enables the blind to locate the position of the keypads, new games and education, and safety applications will be increasingly developed for the blind. This innovative idea can also be implemented on tablets for the blind, allowing them to use information websites such as Wikipedia and newspaper portals. PMID:24643391

Enhanced verbal abilities in the congenitally blind.

PubMed

Occelli, Valeria; Lacey, Simon; Stephens, Careese; Merabet, Lotfi B; Sathian, K

2017-06-01

Numerous studies have found that congenitally blind individuals have better verbal memory than their normally sighted counterparts. However, it is not known whether this reflects superiority of verbal or memory abilities. In order to distinguish between these possibilities, we tested congenitally blind participants and normally sighted control participants, matched for age and education, on a range of verbal and spatial tasks. Congenitally blind participants were significantly better than sighted controls on all the verbal tasks but the groups did not differ significantly on the spatial tasks. Thus, the congenitally blind appear to have superior verbal, but not spatial, abilities. This may reflect greater reliance on verbal information and the involvement of visual cortex in language processing in the congenitally blind.

Enhanced Verbal Abilities in The Congenitally Blind

PubMed Central

Occelli, Valeria; Lacey, Simon; Stephens, Careese; Merabet, Lotfi B.; Sathian, K.

2017-01-01

Numerous studies have found that congenitally blind individuals have better verbal memory than their normally sighted counterparts. However, it is not known whether this reflects superiority of verbal or memory abilities. In order to distinguish between these possibilities, we tested congenitally blind participants and normally sighted control participants, matched for age and education, on a range of verbal and spatial tasks. Congenitally blind participants were significantly better than sighted controls on all the verbal tasks but the groups did not differ significantly on the spatial tasks. Thus, the congenitally blind appear to have superior verbal, but not spatial, abilities. This may reflect greater reliance on verbal information and the involvement of visual cortex in language processing in the congenitally blind. PMID:28280879

Early but not late blindness leads to enhanced arithmetic and working memory abilities.

PubMed

Dormal, Valérie; Crollen, Virginie; Baumans, Christine; Lepore, Franco; Collignon, Olivier

2016-10-01

Behavioural and neurophysiological evidence suggest that vision plays an important role in the emergence and development of arithmetic abilities. However, how visual deprivation impacts on the development of arithmetic processing remains poorly understood. We compared the performances of early (EB), late blind (LB) and sighted control (SC) individuals during various arithmetic tasks involving addition, subtraction and multiplication of various complexities. We also assessed working memory (WM) performances to determine if they relate to a blind person's arithmetic capacities. Results showed that EB participants performed better than LB and SC in arithmetic tasks, especially in conditions in which verbal routines and WM abilities are needed. Moreover, EB participants also showed higher WM abilities. Together, our findings demonstrate that the absence of developmental vision does not prevent the development of refined arithmetic skills and can even trigger the refinement of these abilities in specific tasks. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Global prevalence of vision impairment and blindness: magnitude and temporal trends, 1990-2010.

PubMed

Stevens, Gretchen A; White, Richard A; Flaxman, Seth R; Price, Holly; Jonas, Jost B; Keeffe, Jill; Leasher, Janet; Naidoo, Kovin; Pesudovs, Konrad; Resnikoff, Serge; Taylor, Hugh; Bourne, Rupert R A

2013-12-01

Vision impairment is a leading and largely preventable cause of disability worldwide. However, no study of global and regional trends in the prevalence of vision impairment has been carried out. We estimated the prevalence of vision impairment and its changes worldwide for the past 20 years. Systematic review. A systematic review of published and unpublished population-based data on vision impairment and blindness from 1980 through 2012. Hierarchical models were fitted fitted to estimate the prevalence of moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; defined as presenting visual acuity <6/18 but ≥ 3/60) and the prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity <3/60) by age, country, and year. Trends in the prevalence of MSVI and blindness for the period 1990 through 2010. Globally, 32.4 million people (95% confidence interval [CI], 29.4-36.5 million people; 60% women) were blind in 2010, and 191 million people (95% CI, 174-230 million people; 57% women) had MSVI. The age-standardized prevalence of blindness in older adults (≥ 50 years) was more than 4% in Western Sub-Saharan Africa (6.0%; 95% CI, 4.6%-7.1%), Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (5.7%; 95% CI, 4.4%-6.9%), South Asia (4.4%; 95% CI, 3.5%-5.1%), and North Africa and the Middle East (4.6%; 95% CI, 3.5%-5.8%), in contrast to high-income regions with blindness prevalences of ≤ 0.4% or less. The MSVI prevalence in older adults was highest in South Asia (23.6%; 95% CI, 19.4%-29.4%), Oceania (18.9%; 95% CI, 11.8%-23.7%), and Eastern and Western Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa and the Middle East (95% CI, 15.9%-16.8%). The MSVI prevalence was less than 5% in all 4 high-income regions. The global age-standardized prevalence of blindness and MSVI for older adults decreased from 3.0% (95% CI, 2.7%-3.4%) worldwide in 1990 to 1.9% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.2%) in 2010 and from 14.3% (95% CI, 12.1%-16.2%) worldwide to 10.4% (95% CI, 9.5%-12.3%), respectively. When controlling for age, women's prevalence of blindness was

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1998

1998-01-01

This directory of programs for deaf-blind children and adults lists these programs alphabetically by state. It also lists Helen Keller Centers for Deaf Blind Youth and Adults and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. Complete contact information (names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail, Web site) is provided. (DB)

Programs for Deaf-blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 2001

2001-01-01

This directory provides information on programs for deaf-blind children and adults including national and state programs, the Helen Keller Centers for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. Within each broad category, programs are listed alphabetically by state and provide detailed contact…

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1999

1999-01-01

This directory of programs for deaf-blind children and adults lists program name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, Web site, and administrator name. The directory also lists, with similar information, Helen Keller Centers for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, and programs for training teachers of deaf-blind students. (DB)

Effect of Oral Silymarin Administration on Prevention of Radiotherapy Induced Mucositis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Elyasi, Sepideh; Hosseini, Sare; Niazi Moghadam, Mohammad Reza; Aledavood, Seyed Amir; Karimi, Gholamreza

2016-11-01

Mucositis is a frequent severe complication of radiation therapy in patient with head and neck cancer. Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from the milk thistle that exhibits strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluate silymarin efficacy in prevention of radiotherapy induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer, as the first human study. During this pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of oral silymarin 420 mg daily in three divided doses starting at the first day of radiotherapy for 6 weeks, on oral mucositis occurrence was assessed. Twenty-seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria assigned to the silymarin or placebo group. World Health Organization and National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria oral mucositis grading scale scores were recorded at baseline and weekly during these 6 weeks. The median World Health Organization and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria scores were significantly lower in silymarin group at the end of the first to sixth week (p < 0.05). The scores increased significantly in both placebo and silymarin groups during radiotherapy, but there was a delay for mucositis development and progression in silymarin group. Prophylactic administration of conventional form of silymarin tablets could significantly reduce the severity of radiotherapy induced mucositis and delay its occurrence in patients with head and neck cancer. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Congenital color blindness in young Turkish men.

PubMed

Citirik, Mehmet; Acaroglu, Golge; Batman, Cosar; Zilelioglu, Orhan

2005-04-01

We investigated a healthy population of men from different regions of Turkey for the presence of congenital red-green color blindness. Using Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates, 941 healthy men from the Turkish army were tested for congenital red-green color blindness. The prevalence of red-green color blindness was 7.33 +/- 0.98% (5.10% protans and 2.23% deutans). These ratios were higher than other reported samples from Mediterranean Europe. Higher percentages of color blindness were found in regions with a lower education level and more consanguineous marriages.

Acetyl-L-carnitine for alcohol craving and relapse prevention in anhedonic alcoholics: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

PubMed

Martinotti, Giovanni; Reina, Daniela; Di Nicola, Marco; Andreoli, Sara; Tedeschi, Daniela; Ortolani, Ilaria; Pozzi, Gino; Iannoni, Emerenziana; D'Iddio, Stefania; Janiri, Luigi

2010-01-01

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), at different doses, in relapse prevention and craving in anhedonic detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study in 64 alcohol-dependent anhedonic patients: 23 received ALC at a dose of 3 g/day, 21 received ALC at a dosage of 1 g/day and 20 were given placebo. Intensity of alcohol craving was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale. Subjects were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and after 10, 30, 60 and 90 days. Survival analysis showed that patients treated with ALC remained completely abstinent for longer than those treated with placebo (Z = -2.27; P < 0.05). From the 10th day onwards, a greater reduction of craving was observed in the ALC 1 g group than with placebo (P = 0.035). The two groups did not differ in the percentage of subjects remaining abstinent for the entire study period or the number of subjects who relapsed (defined as five or more standard drinks (four for women) on a single occasion or drinking on five or more days in 1 week). The results of this study suggest that ALC can reduce craving and the time to first drink. ALC use was safe. Further studies are needed to clarify to confirm, over longer periods, these short-term outcome benefits.

Drug user treatment failure blindness?

PubMed

Einstein, Stan

2012-01-01

An ethnographic case study of a "failed" single goal (abstinence) based individual and group therapy treatment of a New York City, Harlem-based, single, young-adult of color, IDU, mother, which ended in "death by overdose," after a period of abstinence, is presented almost 50 years later, in which complex, multidimensional structural barriers, "normed," consensualized, ideologically-driven preconceptions and an array of contextual, situational and relevant stakeholder factors, which may have resulted in intervention "failure blindness," are reviewed. The need to introduce failure analysis, blindness and management, as well as success analysis, blindness and management, as integral parts of treatment planning, implementation and assessment is raised.

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1993

1993-01-01

The 1992-93 directory of programs for children and adults with deaf-blindness lists (1) 27 state or multistate programs; (2) the national headquarters and the 10 regional offices of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf Blind Youth and Adults; and (3) seven programs for training teachers of deaf blind students. (DB)

READING MACHINES FOR THE BLIND.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

FREIBERGER, HOWARD; MURPHY, EUGENE F.

AT A TECHNICAL SESSION, SIXTY-ONE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND AGENCIES OF THE BLIND DISCUSSED RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF READING MACHINES WHICH PERMIT BLIND PERSONS GREATER INDEPENDENCE IN READING THE PRINTED PAGE. THEY ALSO EXPLORED PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THESE EFFORTS AND PROPOSED…

Vibratory Stimuli: A Novel Rehabilitation Method for Preventing Post-Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-01

AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-15-1-0287 TITLE: Vibratory Stimuli, A Novel Rehabilitation Method for Preventing Post – Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis ...August 2015 – 31 July 2016 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Vibratory Stimuli, A Novel Rehabilitation Method for Preventing Post – Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis ... osteoarthritis . While the specific aims will not be realized and cannot be analyzed until the study’s completion in Year 3 due to the single-blind

Auditory motion processing after early blindness

PubMed Central

Jiang, Fang; Stecker, G. Christopher; Fine, Ione

2014-01-01

Studies showing that occipital cortex responds to auditory and tactile stimuli after early blindness are often interpreted as demonstrating that early blind subjects “see” auditory and tactile stimuli. However, it is not clear whether these occipital responses directly mediate the perception of auditory/tactile stimuli, or simply modulate or augment responses within other sensory areas. We used fMRI pattern classification to categorize the perceived direction of motion for both coherent and ambiguous auditory motion stimuli. In sighted individuals, perceived motion direction was accurately categorized based on neural responses within the planum temporale (PT) and right lateral occipital cortex (LOC). Within early blind individuals, auditory motion decisions for both stimuli were successfully categorized from responses within the human middle temporal complex (hMT+), but not the PT or right LOC. These findings suggest that early blind responses within hMT+ are associated with the perception of auditory motion, and that these responses in hMT+ may usurp some of the functions of nondeprived PT. Thus, our results provide further evidence that blind individuals do indeed “see” auditory motion. PMID:25378368

Attack and improvements of fair quantum blind signature schemes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Xiangfu; Qiu, Daowen

2013-06-01

Blind signature schemes allow users to obtain the signature of a message while the signer learns neither the message nor the resulting signature. Therefore, blind signatures have been used to realize cryptographic protocols providing the anonymity of some participants, such as: secure electronic payment systems and electronic voting systems. A fair blind signature is a form of blind signature which the anonymity could be removed with the help of a trusted entity, when this is required for legal reasons. Recently, a fair quantum blind signature scheme was proposed and thought to be safe. In this paper, we first point out that there exists a new attack on fair quantum blind signature schemes. The attack shows that, if any sender has intercepted any valid signature, he (she) can counterfeit a valid signature for any message and can not be traced by the counterfeited blind signature. Then, we construct a fair quantum blind signature scheme by improved the existed one. The proposed fair quantum blind signature scheme can resist the preceding attack. Furthermore, we demonstrate the security of the proposed fair quantum blind signature scheme and compare it with the other one.

The societal burden of blindness secondary to retinopathy of prematurity in Lima, Peru.

PubMed

Dave, Hreem B; Gordillo, Luz; Yang, Zhou; Zhang, Monica S; Hubbard, G Baker; Olsen, Timothy W

2012-10-01

To determine the cost-effectiveness of laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Lima, Peru. A cost-of-illness study (in US dollars) to determine the direct cost of treatment, the indirect lifetime cost of blindness, and the quality-adjusted life years. The direct cost of ROP-related treatment was determined by reviewing data retrospectively from a social security sector hospital. The indirect cost was determined using national economic data of Peru published by the Central Information Agency (CIA), including the per capita gross domestic product, the sex-adjusted income distribution, and years spent in the work force. Indirect costs per child that were avoided by treatment were calculated using the known natural history of ROP vs evidence-based treatment. For ROP-related neonatal blindness in Peru, we estimate the total indirect cost saving at $197,753 per child and the direct cost of laser treatment at $2496 per child. The societal lifetime cost saving per child is estimated at $195,257. The mean annual income per educated adult in Peru is $8000 and treating 1 child is equivalent to employing 24 educated Peruvians per year. The generational cost savings for society is approximately $516 million, or the equivalent of 64,500 educated Peruvian work years. The societal burden of blindness far exceeds the costs of treatment per child. Proper screening and treatment of ROP prevents blindness and leads to substantial cost savings for society. Public health policy in Peru and other middle-income countries should consider financial impact when allocating healthcare resources. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced heat discrimination in congenital blindness.

PubMed

Slimani, Hocine; Ptito, Maurice; Kupers, Ron

2015-04-15

There is substantial evidence that congenitally blind individuals perform better than normally sighted controls in a variety of auditory, tactile and olfactory discrimination tasks. However, little is known about the capacity of blind individuals to make fine discriminatory judgments in the thermal domain. We therefore compared the capacity to detect small temperature increases in innocuous heat in a group of 12 congenitally blind and 12 age and sex-matched normally sighted participants. In addition, we also tested for group differences in the effects of spatial summation on temperature discrimination. Thermal stimuli were delivered with either a 2.56 or 9 cm(2) Peltier-based thermode. We applied for 5-8s lasting non-painful thermal stimuli to the forearm and asked participants to detect small increments in temperature (ΔT = 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 or 1.6°C) that occurred at random time intervals. Blank trials (ΔT = 0°C) were also included to test for false positive responses. We used signal detection theory model to analyze the data. Our data revealed that blind participants have a higher accuracy than the sighted (d': Blind=2.4 ± 1.0, Sighted=1.8 ± 0.7, p=0.025), regardless of the size of the stimulated skin surface or magnitude of the temperature shift. Increasing the size of the stimulated skin area increased the response criterion in the blind (p=0.022) but not in the sighted. Together, these findings show that congenitally blind individuals have enhanced temperature discrimination accuracy and are more susceptible to spatial summation of heat. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early but not late-blindness leads to enhanced auditory perception.

PubMed

Wan, Catherine Y; Wood, Amanda G; Reutens, David C; Wilson, Sarah J

2010-01-01

The notion that blindness leads to superior non-visual abilities has been postulated for centuries. Compared to sighted individuals, blind individuals show different patterns of brain activation when performing auditory tasks. To date, no study has controlled for musical experience, which is known to influence auditory skills. The present study tested 33 blind (11 congenital, 11 early-blind, 11 late-blind) participants and 33 matched sighted controls. We showed that the performance of blind participants was better than that of sighted participants on a range of auditory perception tasks, even when musical experience was controlled for. This advantage was observed only for individuals who became blind early in life, and was even more pronounced for individuals who were blind from birth. Years of blindness did not predict task performance. Here, we provide compelling evidence that superior auditory abilities in blind individuals are not explained by musical experience alone. These results have implications for the development of sensory substitution devices, particularly for late-blind individuals.

Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of topical 2 % lidocaine for the prevention and treatment of oral mucosal pain in children.

PubMed

Coudert, Amélie E; Ostertag, Agnès; Baaroun, Vanessa; Artaud, Catherine; Ifi-Naulin, Chantal; Druo, Jean-Patick; Princ, Guy; Descroix, Vianney

2014-05-01

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy in pain reduction of topical 2 % lidocaine compared to a placebo cream in children with oral mucosal lesions due to trauma or aphthous ulcers or in the prevention of clamp placement pain. The design was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-center trial on 64 patients. Pain intensity and relief were measured using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). One-tailed Student's t test and ANOVA were used for statistical analyses. Independent of the pain origin, application of 2 % lidocaine cream led to a mean reduction in VAS pain intensity of 19.7 mm ± 18.3, which was significantly greater than that obtained with the placebo cream (p = .025). Analyses showed a statistically significant efficacy of the 2 % lidocaine cream (p < .0001). Its efficacy was not associated to any local or systemic adverse drug reaction, as reported by the patients. As the most important population represented in our patients was children whom a rubber dam clamp was placed, we also specifically analysed this population, and we were able to demonstrate a significantly greater efficacy of the 2 % lidocaine cream on the pain caused by the rubber dam clamp placement in comparison to the placebo cream (p < .005). A significant reduction in pain intensity occurred after application of 2 % lidocaine cream, and the effect was significantly greater than that obtained with the placebo cream. Considering the study's limitations, this product appears safe for use in children. For painful benign lesions of the oral mucosa (trauma or aphthous ulcers) or for preventing painful iatrogenic procedures such as rubber dam clamp placement, it is essential to treat or prevent pain onset, especially in the pediatric population for whom a painful experience could end in refusal of dental care. Application of a topical anesthetic in this specific situation is of particular interest, as is defining its efficacy and safety.

Pretreatment with remifentanil, fentanyl, or lidocaine to prevent withdrawal after rocuronium using venous occlusion technique in children and adolescents: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study.

PubMed

Abu-Halaweh, S A; Aloweidi, A K; Qudaisat, I Y; Al-Hussami, M O; Al Zaben, K R; Abu-Halaweh, A S

2014-12-01

Pain caused by intravenous injection of the muscle relaxant rocuronium bromide is common in children and adolescents. The cause of this unwanted effect is still unclear, and different pretreatment drugs have been administered in attempts to alleviate this side effect, with varying degrees of success. This study used a 60-s venous occlusion technique to evaluate the effectiveness of pretreatment with lidocaine, fentanyl, or remifentanil in preventing pain-induced withdrawal caused by intravenous injection of rocuronium bromide during the induction of general anesthesia. One hundred and one child and adolescent patients, ASA Ι-II, requiring various surgical procedures under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation and mechanical ventilation, were enrolled. Patients were allocated randomly using computer-generated randomization into one of four pretreatment groups: a remifentanil group (1 µg/kg, n = 25), fentanyl group (1 µg/kg, n = 26), lidocaine 1% group (0.5 mg/kg, n = 25), and normal saline group (n = 25). Drug doses were prepared in normal saline to a total volume of 5 ml. Venous occlusion was applied 10 cm above the venous access site. Pretreatment drugs were injected and retained for 60 s at the site of injection by an anesthetist blinded to group allocation. After release of the tourniquet, rocuronium (0.5 mg/kg) was then injected over 5 s, and withdrawal was recorded by another anesthetist blinded to group allocation. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and a chi-squared test were used to statistically analyze the results as appropriate. Compared to normal saline, all other pretreatment groups scored a significantly lower mean of withdrawal response (P < 0.001). Lidocaine was superior to both remifentanil (P < 0.05) and fentanyl (P < 0.05) in suppressing the withdrawal response to rocuronium injection. Remifentanil was superior to fentanyl in suppressing the withdrawal response caused by rocuronium injection (P < 0.001). Using a venous occlusion

Prevalence of blindness and cataract surgical coverage in Narayani Zone, Nepal: a rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) study.

PubMed

Pradhan, Sangita; Deshmukh, Avnish; Giri Shrestha, Puspa; Basnet, Prajwal; Kandel, Ram Prasad; Lewallen, Susan; Sapkota, Yuddha Dhoj; Bassett, Ken; Yin, Vivian T

2018-03-01

The 1981 Nepal Blindness Survey first identified the Narayani Zone as one of the regions with the highest prevalence of blindness in the country. Subseuqently, a 2006 survey of the Rautahat District of the Narayani Zone found it to have the country's highest blindness prevalence. This study examines the impact on blind avoidable and treatable eye conditions in this region after significant increase in eye care services in the past decade. The rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) methodology was used with mobile data collection using the mRAAB smartphone app. Data analysis was done using the standard RAAB software. Based on the 2011 census, 100 clusters of 50 participants aged 50 years or older were randomly sampled proportional to population size. Of the 5000 participants surveyed, 4771 (95.4%) were examined. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence of bilateral blindness, severe visual impairment (SVI) and moderate visual impairment (MVI) were 1.2% (95% CI 0.9% to 1.5%), 2.5% (95% CI 2.0% to -3.0%) and 13.2% (95% CI 11.8% to 14.5%), respectively. Cataract remains the primary cause of blindness and SVI despite cataract surgery coverage (CSC) of 91.5% for VA<3/60. Women still account for two-thirds of blindness. The prevalence of blindness in people over the age of 50 years has decreased from 6.9% in 2006 to 1.2%, a level in keeping with the national average; however, significant gender inequity persists. CSC has improved but continues to favour men. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

An Overwhelming Desire to Be Blind: Similarities and Differences between Body Integrity Identity Disorder and the Wish for Blindness.

PubMed

Gutschke, Katja; Stirn, Aglaja; Kasten, Erich

2017-01-01

The urge to be permanently blind is an extremely rare mental health disturbance. The underlying cause of this desire has not been determined yet, and it is uncertain whether the wish for blindness is a condition that can be included in the context of body integrity identity disorder, a condition where people feel an overwhelming need to be disabled, in many cases by amputation of a limb or through paralysis. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that people with a desire for blindness suffer from a greater degree of visual stress in daily activities than people in a healthy visual control group. We created a Likert scale questionnaire to measure visual stress, covering a wide range of everyday situations. The wish for blindness is extremely rare and worldwide only 5 people with an urge to be blind were found to participate in the study (4 female, 1 male). In addition, a control group of 35 (28 female, 7 male) visually healthy people was investigated. Questions addressing issues that may be experienced by participants with a desire to be blind were integrated into the questionnaire. The hypothesis that people with a desire for blindness suffer from a significantly higher visual overload in activities of daily living than visually healthy subjects was confirmed; the significance of visual stress between these groups was p < 0.01. In addition, an interview with the 5 affected participants supported the causal role of visual overload. The desire for blindness seems to originate from visual overload caused by either ophthalmologic or organic brain disturbances. In addition, psychological reasons such as certain personal character traits may play an active role in developing, maintaining, and reinforcing one's desire to be blind.

Individual differences in susceptibility to inattentional blindness.

PubMed

Seegmiller, Janelle K; Watson, Jason M; Strayer, David L

2011-05-01

Inattentional blindness refers to the finding that people do not always see what appears in their gaze. Though inattentional blindness affects large percentages of people, it is unclear if there are individual differences in susceptibility. The present study addressed whether individual differences in attentional control, as reflected by variability in working memory capacity, modulate susceptibility to inattentional blindness. Participants watched a classic inattentional blindness video (Simons & Chabris, 1999) and were instructed to count passes among basketball players, wherein 58% noticed the unexpected: a person wearing a gorilla suit. When participants were accurate with their pass counts, individuals with higher working memory capacity were more likely to report seeing the gorilla (67%) than those with lesser working memory capacity (36%). These results suggest that variability in attentional control is a potential mechanism underlying the apparent modulation of inattentional blindness across individuals.

Enhancing Community Knowledge and Health Behaviors to Eliminate Blinding Trachoma in Mali Using Radio Messaging as a Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bamani, Sanoussi; Toubali, Emily; Diarra, Sadio; Goita, Seydou; Berte, Zana; Coulibaly, Famolo; Sangare, Hama; Tuinsma, Marjon; Zhang, Yaobi; Dembele, Benoit; Melvin, Palesa; MacArthur, Chad

2013-01-01

The National Blindness Prevention Program in Mali has broadcast messages on the radio about trachoma as part of the country's trachoma elimination strategy since 2008. In 2011, a radio impact survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted in the regions of Kayes and Segou to assess radio listening habits, coverage of the broadcasts,…

Blinded by Irrelevance: Pure Irrelevance Induced "Blindness"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eitam, Baruch; Yeshurun, Yaffa; Hassan, Kinneret

2013-01-01

To what degree does our representation of the immediate world depend solely on its relevance to what we are currently doing? We examined whether relevance per se can cause "blindness," even when there is no resource limitation. In a novel paradigm, people looked at a colored circle surrounded by a differently colored ring--the task relevance of…

[Rudolph Tegner: The blind from Marrakech (1949-1950)].

PubMed

Norn, M; Permin, H

1999-01-01

The Danish sculptor and painter Rudolph Tegner (1873-1950) has built his own Museum in Dronningmolle, where his sculptures enrich the unique landscape. His last and incomplete plaster on a simple, raw wooden scaffold sculpture The Blind from Marrakech (Fig. 1) show five persons moan about, carrying a dead body. All persons are missing their arms. Tegner had a number of years earlier been in Marrakech and had watched a funeral procession, where blind beggars had carried a dead old woman raised high above the bearers on a kind of pall. In a small version of the statue cast, later in bronze from 1963, showed 15 bearers, on both sides of the bier (Fig. 2 & 3). Nine and 15 bearers are looking up, two right in front, and the rest are looking down. Totally blind people can not see the light but can see up to the divine Heaven. Some blind have kept the gleam. The confusion with the eye direction shows that they really are blind. However 10 of the 15 blind people had hollow in the eye (excenteratio orbitae) in contrast to the dead woman. The dead woman had been the blinds' mistress. The last work The Blind in Marrakech may also be the despair of the artist.

Overview on Deaf-Blindness. DB-LINK Fact Sheet. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Barbara

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

College Students Who Are Deaf-Blind. Practice Perspectives--Highlighting Information on Deaf-Blindness. Number 7

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arndt, Katrina

2011-01-01

Imagine being in college and being deaf-blind. What opportunities might you have? What types of challenges would you face? This publication describes a study that begins to answer these questions. During the study, 11 college students with deaf-blindness were interviewed about their college experiences. They were like most college students in many…

Spatial navigation by congenitally blind individuals.

PubMed

Schinazi, Victor R; Thrash, Tyler; Chebat, Daniel-Robert

2016-01-01

Spatial navigation in the absence of vision has been investigated from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. These different approaches have progressed our understanding of spatial knowledge acquisition by blind individuals, including their abilities, strategies, and corresponding mental representations. In this review, we propose a framework for investigating differences in spatial knowledge acquisition by blind and sighted people consisting of three longitudinal models (i.e., convergent, cumulative, and persistent). Recent advances in neuroscience and technological devices have provided novel insights into the different neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation by blind and sighted people and the potential for functional reorganization. Despite these advances, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the extent to which locomotion and wayfinding depend on amodal spatial representations. This challenge largely stems from methodological limitations such as heterogeneity in the blind population and terminological ambiguity related to the concept of cognitive maps. Coupled with an over-reliance on potential technological solutions, the field has diffused into theoretical and applied branches that do not always communicate. Here, we review research on navigation by congenitally blind individuals with an emphasis on behavioral and neuroscientific evidence, as well as the potential of technological assistance. Throughout the article, we emphasize the need to disentangle strategy choice and performance when discussing the navigation abilities of the blind population. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. © 2015 The Authors. WIREs Cognitive Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sad Facial Expressions Increase Choice Blindness

PubMed Central

Wang, Yajie; Zhao, Song; Zhang, Zhijie; Feng, Wenfeng

2018-01-01

Previous studies have discovered a fascinating phenomenon known as choice blindness—individuals fail to detect mismatches between the face they choose and the face replaced by the experimenter. Although previous studies have reported a couple of factors that can modulate the magnitude of choice blindness, the potential effect of facial expression on choice blindness has not yet been explored. Using faces with sad and neutral expressions (Experiment 1) and faces with happy and neutral expressions (Experiment 2) in the classic choice blindness paradigm, the present study investigated the effects of facial expressions on choice blindness. The results showed that the detection rate was significantly lower on sad faces than neutral faces, whereas no significant difference was observed between happy faces and neutral faces. The exploratory analysis of verbal reports found that participants who reported less facial features for sad (as compared to neutral) expressions also tended to show a lower detection rate of sad (as compared to neutral) faces. These findings indicated that sad facial expressions increased choice blindness, which might have resulted from inhibition of further processing of the detailed facial features by the less attractive sad expressions (as compared to neutral expressions). PMID:29358926

Shape Perception and Navigation in Blind Adults

PubMed Central

Gori, Monica; Cappagli, Giulia; Baud-Bovy, Gabriel; Finocchietti, Sara

2017-01-01

Different sensory systems interact to generate a representation of space and to navigate. Vision plays a critical role in the representation of space development. During navigation, vision is integrated with auditory and mobility cues. In blind individuals, visual experience is not available and navigation therefore lacks this important sensory signal. In blind individuals, compensatory mechanisms can be adopted to improve spatial and navigation skills. On the other hand, the limitations of these compensatory mechanisms are not completely clear. Both enhanced and impaired reliance on auditory cues in blind individuals have been reported. Here, we develop a new paradigm to test both auditory perception and navigation skills in blind and sighted individuals and to investigate the effect that visual experience has on the ability to reproduce simple and complex paths. During the navigation task, early blind, late blind and sighted individuals were required first to listen to an audio shape and then to recognize and reproduce it by walking. After each audio shape was presented, a static sound was played and the participants were asked to reach it. Movements were recorded with a motion tracking system. Our results show three main impairments specific to early blind individuals. The first is the tendency to compress the shapes reproduced during navigation. The second is the difficulty to recognize complex audio stimuli, and finally, the third is the difficulty in reproducing the desired shape: early blind participants occasionally reported perceiving a square but they actually reproduced a circle during the navigation task. We discuss these results in terms of compromised spatial reference frames due to lack of visual input during the early period of development. PMID:28144226

Visual Impairment and Blindness in Adults in the United States: Demographic and Geographic Variations from 2015 to 2050

PubMed Central

Varma, Rohit; Vajaranant, Thasarat S.; Burkemper, Bruce; Wu, Shuang; Torres, Mina; Hsu, Chunyi; Choudhury, Farzana; McKean-Cowdin, Roberta

2016-01-01

Importance This paper describes the current and projected prevalence of visual impairment (VI) (visual acuity worse than 20/40, but better than 20/200) and blindness (visual acuity 20/200 or worse) in the United States. Objective To determine the demographic and geographic variations in VI and blindness in adults in the US population in 2015 and to estimate the projected prevalence through 2050 Design Descriptive Setting Population-based cross-sectional Participants Pooled data from adults, 40 years and older, from six major population-based studies on VI and blindness in the US. Prevalence of VI and blindness were reported by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and per capita prevalence by state, using the US census projections (2015 – 2050). Main Outcome and Measures Prevalence of VI and blindness Results In 2015, 1.02 million people were blind, and approximately 3.22 million people in the US had VI (best-corrected VA in the better-seeing eye), while up to 8.2 million people had VI due to uncorrected refractive error. By 2050, the number of these conditions are projected to double to approximately 2.01 million people with blindness, 6.95 million people with VI, and 16.4 million with VI due to uncorrected refractive error. The highest numbers of these conditions are predicted among non-Hispanic whites, women, and older adults, however African Americans are projected to experience the highest prevalence of blindness. By 2050, the highest prevalence of VI among minorities will shift from African Americans to Hispanics. From 2015-2050, the states projected to have the highest per-capita prevalence of VI are Florida and Hawaii and highest projected per-capita prevalence of blindness are Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. Conclusion & Relevance These data suggest that vision screening for refractive error and early eye disease may reduce or prevent a high proportion of individuals from experiencing unnecessary vision loss and blindness, decrease associated costs to the US

34 CFR 395.11 - Training program for blind individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Training program for blind individuals. 395.11 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.11 Training program for blind... be provided to blind individuals as vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act...

Considerations in the Treatment of the Adult Blind Patient.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shulman, Dennis G.

1986-01-01

Contends that blindness is not a single clinical determinant, but, rather, that two groups of blind people exist. For those congenitally blind, lack of vision can cause developmental difficulties. For those who later acquire blindness, the premorbid psychodynamics and object relationships are most important in understanding the persons' reactions…

34 CFR 395.11 - Training program for blind individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Training program for blind individuals. 395.11 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.11 Training program for blind... be provided to blind individuals as vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act...

34 CFR 395.11 - Training program for blind individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2011-07-01 2010-07-01 true Training program for blind individuals. 395.11 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.11 Training program for blind... be provided to blind individuals as vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act...

34 CFR 395.11 - Training program for blind individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Training program for blind individuals. 395.11 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.11 Training program for blind... be provided to blind individuals as vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act...

34 CFR 395.11 - Training program for blind individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true Training program for blind individuals. 395.11 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.11 Training program for blind... be provided to blind individuals as vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act...

Subcortical functional reorganization due to early blindness

PubMed Central

Jiang, Fang; Fine, Ione; Watkins, Kate E.; Bridge, Holly

2015-01-01

Lack of visual input early in life results in occipital cortical responses to auditory and tactile stimuli. However, it remains unclear whether cross-modal plasticity also occurs in subcortical pathways. With the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, auditory responses were compared across individuals with congenital anophthalmia (absence of eyes), those with early onset (in the first few years of life) blindness, and normally sighted individuals. We find that the superior colliculus, a “visual” subcortical structure, is recruited by the auditory system in congenital and early onset blindness. Additionally, auditory subcortical responses to monaural stimuli were altered as a result of blindness. Specifically, responses in the auditory thalamus were equally strong to contralateral and ipsilateral stimulation in both groups of blind subjects, whereas sighted controls showed stronger responses to contralateral stimulation. These findings suggest that early blindness results in substantial reorganization of subcortical auditory responses. PMID:25673746

Causes of childhood visual impairment and unmet low-vision care in blind school students in Ghana.

PubMed

Ntim-Amponsah, C T; Amoaku, W M K

2008-10-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the causes of childhood visual impairment and blindness in students of a school for blind children, to determine how many students had some residual vision, and to evaluate any unmet low-vision care. A survey of students in the blind school was conducted in two parts in May-June and then October 2003. The sample consisted of 201 students who became blind before the age of 16. Information was obtained from student interviews, doctors' referral notes and ophthalmic examination of all students who consented. Students with residual vision had low-vision assessments. These investigations were supplemented with active participation of the investigators in Parent-Teacher Association meetings and focus group discussions with parents. One hundred and ninety-nine students consented and were recruited, whereas two declined. Ninety-six became visually impaired within their first year of life and 33 by the age of 5 years. Pathology of the cornea and then the lens were the commonest causes of blindness. One hundred and eight students were totally blind, whereas 87 (43.7%) had some residual vision and formed the target for the second part of the study. Fifty-one out of 77 of this target group who turned up for low-vision examination had useful residual vision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) low-vision examination chart. Spectacle magnifiers aided two students to read normal print at N5 and N8, respectively. Different visual aids would help enhance the residual vision in some of the others. Emotional trauma was apparent in parents and teachers. Children who became blind later in life remained in shock for a longer time and adapted less well to their visual impairment. Visual impairment in the population is not uncommon. Some causes are preventable. There is a significant unmet need for low-vision care, particularly amongst children in Ghana, and perhaps many countries in the West Africa subregion. It is hoped that the findings from

Fuzzy-based simulation of real color blindness.

PubMed

Lee, Jinmi; dos Santos, Wellington P

2010-01-01

About 8% of men are affected by color blindness. That population is at a disadvantage since they cannot perceive a substantial amount of the visual information. This work presents two computational tools developed to assist color blind people. The first one tests color blindness and assess its severity. The second tool is based on Fuzzy Logic, and implements a method proposed to simulate real red and green color blindness in order to generate synthetic cases of color vision disturbance in a statistically significant amount. Our purpose is to develop correction tools and obtain a deeper understanding of the accessibility problems faced by people with chromatic visual impairment.

Behaviors of Sighted Individuals Perceived by Blind Persons as Hindrances to Self-Reliance in Blind Persons.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rickelman, Bonnie L.; Blaylock, Jerry N.

1983-01-01

Situations in which sighted people behaved inappropiately toward blind individuals were recalled by 60 blind subjects, who described their reactions and feelings and offered suggestions for sighted people. A lack of knowledge and understanding of the skills, abilities, and feelings of visually impaired individuals were revealed. (SEW)

Assessment of the efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate in acute mania and prevention of recurrence: experience from multicentre, double-blind, randomised phase II clinical studies in patients with bipolar disorder I.

PubMed

Grunze, Heinz; Kotlik, Eduardo; Costa, Raquel; Nunes, Teresa; Falcão, Amílcar; Almeida, Luis; Soares-da-Silva, Patrício

2015-03-15

Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is an anticonvulsant approved as an adjunctive therapy in adults with partial-onset seizures. To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ESL in the treatment of acute mania and prevention of recurrence in bipolar disorder I. Two 3-week multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies in acute mania (study BIA-2093-203: dose titrated by response, ESL 600-1800mg or 800-2400mg, once-daily; study BIA-2093-204: fixed doses of 600, 1200 and 1800mg, once-daily) were followed by a recurrence prevention study consisting of a 2-week open-label period (900mg, once-daily) continued by a double-blind, parallel-group, fixed dose (300, 900 and 1800mg, once-daily) period for a minimum of 6 months. The primary endpoint was changed from baseline until the end of the 3-week treatment period in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) in studies BIA-2093-203 and BIA-2093-204, and the proportion of patients showing no worsening according to the Clinical Global Impressions - Bipolar Version (CGI-BP) over Part II in study BIA-2093-205. In study BIA-2093-203 (n=160, ITT), neither dose group was statistically different from placebo in the primary endpoint, though the ESL 800-2400mg showed a greater reduction in YMRS score (p=0.0523). CGI-BP score changes for mania and overall bipolar illness indicate a significant improvement in patient symptomatology for the ESL 800-2400mg group (from preceding and worst phase) and for ESL 600-1800mg group (from worst phase only) when compared to placebo. Study BIA-2093-204 (n=38) results were inconclusive due to premature termination caused by recruitment difficulties. In study BIA-2093-205 (n=85, ITT), at least 50% of patients showed no worsening in all treatment groups (p=0.250). ESL adverse events were mostly of mild and moderate intensities and consistent with previously reported observations for ESL. ESL treatment was not significantly different from placebo in manic patients in the primary outcome

A Double Blind Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Affective Lability and Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

SUBJECT TERMS Traumatic Brain Injury, Alcohol Use , Mood , Mood Stabilization 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: U 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18...1995 for this indication. Also, it is used in conjunction with lithium or carbamazepine to prevent recurrent manic or depressive episodes during long...0652 TITLE: A Double Blind Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Affective Lability and Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury PRINCIPAL

Haloperidol versus placebo for delirium prevention in acutely hospitalised older at risk patients: a multi-centre double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Schrijver, Edmée J M; de Vries, Oscar J; van de Ven, Peter M; Bet, Pierre M; Kamper, Ad M; Diepeveen, Sabine H A; van Marum, Rob J; van Strien, Astrid M; Anten, Sander; Lagaay, Anne M; Boelaarts, Leo; Bloemers, Frank W; Kramer, Mark H H; Nanayakkara, Prabath W B

2018-01-01

because the few randomised placebo-controlled trials investigating the potential role for prophylactic haloperidol in delirium prevention have focused on specific surgical populations, we investigated its efficacy and safety in acutely hospitalised older patients. this multi-centre, double-blind, stratified, block randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at six Dutch hospitals. Patients age ≥70 years, acutely admitted through the emergency department for general medicine or surgical specialties and at risk for delirium were randomised (n = 245) to haloperidol or placebo 1 mg orally twice-daily (maximum of 14 doses) on top of standard nonpharmacological prevention strategies. The primary outcome was delirium incidence. Other endpoints included delirium severity and duration, drug safety and clinical outcomes. intention-to-treat analysis included 242 participants (calculated sample size n = 390, statistical power of current sample 59%) allocated to haloperidol (n = 118) or placebo (n = 124). In the haloperidol and placebo group, delirium incidence was 19.5 versus 14.5% (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.72 to 2.78); median (IQR) delirium duration 4 (2, 5) versus 3 (1, 6) days (P = 0.366); maximum DRS-R-98 score 16 (9.8, 19.5) versus 10 (5.5, 22.5) (P = 0.549; 53.7% missing data); hospital LOS 7 (4, 10.3) versus 7 (5, 11.8) days (P = 0.343); 3-month mortality 9.9 versus 12.5% (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.75), respectively. No treatment-limiting side effects were noted. prophylactic low-dose oral haloperidol did not reduce delirium incidence in acutely hospitalised older patients. Therefore, prophylactic use of haloperidol in this population is not recommended. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges in children with alleged cow's milk allergy: prevention of unnecessary elimination diets and determination of eliciting doses.

PubMed

Dambacher, Wendy M; de Kort, Ellen H M; Blom, W Marty; Houben, Geert F; de Vries, Esther

2013-02-08

Children with cow's milk allergy (CMA) need a cow's milk protein (CMP) free diet to prevent allergic reactions. For this, reliable allergy-information on the label of food products is essential to avoid products containing the allergen. On the other hand, both overzealous labeling and misdiagnosis that result in unnecessary elimination diets, can lead to potentially hazardous health situations. Our objective was to evaluate if excluding CMA by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) prevents unnecessary elimination diets in the long term. Secondly, to determine the minimum eliciting dose (MED) for an acute allergic reaction to CMP in DBPCFC positive children. All children with suspected CMA under our care (Oct'05-Jun'09) were prospectively enrolled in a DBPCFC. Placebo and verum feedings were administered on two randomly assigned separate days. The MED was determined by noting the 'lowest observed adverse effect level' (LOAEL) in DBPCFC-positive children. Based on the outcomes of the DBPCFC a dietary advice was given. Parents were contacted by phone several months later about the diet of their child. 116 children were available for analysis. In 76 children CMA was rejected. In 60 of them CMP was successfully reintroduced, in 2 the parents refused introduction, in another 3 the parents stopped reintroduction. In 9 children CMA symptoms reappeared. In 40 children CMA was confirmed. Infants aged ≤ 12 months in our study group have a higher cumulative distribution of MED than older children. Excluding CMA by DBPCFC successfully stopped unnecessary elimination diets in the long term in most children. The MEDs form potential useful information for offering dietary advice to patients and their caretakers.

Causes of blindness and visual impairment in Pakistan. The Pakistan national blindness and visual impairment survey

PubMed Central

Dineen, B; Bourne, R R A; Jadoon, Z; Shah, S P; Khan, M A; Foster, A; Gilbert, C E; Khan, M D

2007-01-01

Objective To determine the causes of blindness and visual impairment in adults (⩾30 years old) in Pakistan, and to explore socio‐demographic variations in cause. Methods A multi‐stage, stratified, cluster random sampling survey was used to select a nationally representative sample of adults. Each subject was interviewed, had their visual acuity measured and underwent autorefraction and fundus/optic disc examination. Those with a visual acuity of <6/12 in either eye underwent a more detailed ophthalmic examination. Causes of visual impairment were classified according to the accepted World Health Organization (WHO) methodology. An exploration of demographic variables was conducted using regression modeling. Results A sample of 16 507 adults (95.5% of those enumerated) was examined. Cataract was the most common cause of blindness (51.5%; defined as <3/60 in the better eye on presentation) followed by corneal opacity (11.8%), uncorrected aphakia (8.6%) and glaucoma (7.1%). Posterior capsular opacification accounted for 3.6% of blindness. Among the moderately visually impaired (<6/18 to ⩾6/60), refractive error was the most common cause (43%), followed by cataract (42%). Refractive error as a cause of severe visual impairment/blindness was significantly higher in rural dwellers than in urban dwellers (odds ratio (OR) 3.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 11.7). Significant provincial differences were also identified. Overall we estimate that 85.5% of causes were avoidable and that 904 000 adults in Pakistan have cataract (<6/60) requiring surgical intervention. Conclusions This comprehensive survey provides reliable estimates of the causes of blindness and visual impairment in Pakistan. Despite expanded surgical services, cataract still accounts for over half of the cases of blindness in Pakistan. One in eight blind adults has visual loss from sequelae of cataract surgery. Services for refractive errors need to be further expanded and integrated into eye care services

Update of the Preventive Antibiotics in Stroke Study (PASS): statistical analysis plan.

PubMed

Westendorp, Willeke F; Vermeij, Jan-Dirk; Dippel, Diederik W J; Dijkgraaf, Marcel G W; van der Poll, Tom; Prins, Jan M; Vermeij, Frederique H; Roos, Yvo B W E M; Brouwer, Matthijs C; Zwinderman, Aeilko H; van de Beek, Diederik; Nederkoorn, Paul J

2014-10-01

Infections occur in 30% of stroke patients and are associated with unfavorable outcomes. Preventive antibiotic therapy lowers the infection rate after stroke, but the effect of preventive antibiotic treatment on functional outcome in patients with stroke is unknown. The PASS is a multicenter, prospective, phase three, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point (PROBE) trial of preventive antibiotic therapy in acute stroke. Patients are randomly assigned to either ceftriaxone at a dose of 2 g, given every 24 h intravenously for 4 days, in addition to standard stroke-unit care, or standard stroke-unit care without preventive antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study is to assess whether preventive antibiotic treatment improves functional outcome at 3 months by preventing infections. This paper presents in detail the statistical analysis plan (SAP) of the Preventive Antibiotics in Stroke Study (PASS) and was submitted while the investigators were still blinded for all outcomes. The primary outcome is the score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), assessed by ordinal logistic regression analysis according to a proportional odds model. Secondary analysis of the primary outcome is the score on the mRS dichotomized as a favorable outcome (mRS 0 to 2) versus unfavorable outcome (mRS 3 to 6). Secondary outcome measures are death rate at discharge and 3 months, infection rate during hospital admission, length of hospital admission, volume of post-stroke care, use of antibiotics during hospital stay, quality-adjusted life years and costs. Complications of treatment, serious adverse events (SAEs) and suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) are reported as safety outcomes. The data from PASS will establish whether preventive antibiotic therapy in acute stroke improves functional outcome by preventing infection and will be analyzed according to this pre-specified SAP. Current controlled trials; ISRCTN66140176. Date of registration: 6 April 2010.

The Exercise Capacity of Blind Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jankowski, L. W.; Evans, J. K.

1981-01-01

To determine whether blind children in a well-equipped modern institution are receiving enough physical education activities to maintain good physical condition, the physiological characteristics of 20 institutionalized blind children were measured according to body composition, pulmonary function, and tolerance for exercise. (Author)

34 CFR 395.14 - The State Committee of Blind Vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false The State Committee of Blind Vendors. 395.14 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.14 The State Committee of Blind... Blind Vendors which, to the extent possible, shall be fully representative of all blind vendors in the...

34 CFR 395.14 - The State Committee of Blind Vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false The State Committee of Blind Vendors. 395.14 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.14 The State Committee of Blind... Blind Vendors which, to the extent possible, shall be fully representative of all blind vendors in the...

34 CFR 395.14 - The State Committee of Blind Vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false The State Committee of Blind Vendors. 395.14 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.14 The State Committee of Blind... Blind Vendors which, to the extent possible, shall be fully representative of all blind vendors in the...

Subcortical functional reorganization due to early blindness.

PubMed

Coullon, Gaelle S L; Jiang, Fang; Fine, Ione; Watkins, Kate E; Bridge, Holly

2015-04-01

Lack of visual input early in life results in occipital cortical responses to auditory and tactile stimuli. However, it remains unclear whether cross-modal plasticity also occurs in subcortical pathways. With the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, auditory responses were compared across individuals with congenital anophthalmia (absence of eyes), those with early onset (in the first few years of life) blindness, and normally sighted individuals. We find that the superior colliculus, a "visual" subcortical structure, is recruited by the auditory system in congenital and early onset blindness. Additionally, auditory subcortical responses to monaural stimuli were altered as a result of blindness. Specifically, responses in the auditory thalamus were equally strong to contralateral and ipsilateral stimulation in both groups of blind subjects, whereas sighted controls showed stronger responses to contralateral stimulation. These findings suggest that early blindness results in substantial reorganization of subcortical auditory responses. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Sports injuries in Brazilian blind footballers.

PubMed

Magno e Silva, M P; Morato, M P; Bilzon, J L J; Duarte, E

2013-03-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics and prevalence of sports-related injuries in visually disabled athletes of the Brazilian football 5-a-side team. The participants were 13 male athletes, all classified as B1 visual class, members of the Brazilian team, who played in five consecutive international competitions. Data were collected using the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Blind report form. From the total of 13 athletes, 11 succumbed to some form of injury during the 5 competitions, which incorporated 23 matches, representing a prevalence of 84.6%. A total of 35 sports injuries were recorded, giving a clinical incidence of 2.7 injuries per athlete and an injury risk of 0.85 and an incidence rate of 0.12 injuries per match. Traumatic injuries (80%) were more common than overuse injuries (20%) (p<0.05). The highest distribution of injury was in the lower limbs (80%), followed by the head (8.6%), spine (5.7%) and upper limbs (5.7%). The body regions most affected were the knee (28.6%), feet (17.1%), ankle (11.4%) and thigh (11.4%). Contusions (31.4%), sprains (25.7%) and tendinopathy (8.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. This is the first study to describe the nature and prevalence of sports-related injuries in 5-a-side football in blind athletes. The results are important in guiding strategies to inform the implementation of preventive pathways and provide a strong rationale for the compulsory use of additional protective equipment. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Future trends in global blindness

PubMed Central

Resnikoff, Serge; Keys, Tricia U

2012-01-01

The objective of this review is to discuss the available data on the prevalence and causes of global blindness, and some of the associated trends and limitations seen. A literature search was conducted using the terms “global AND blindness” and “global AND vision AND impairment”, resulting in seven appropriate articles for this review. Since 1990 the estimate of global prevalence of blindness has gradually decreased when considering the best corrected visual acuity definition: 0.71% in 1990, 0.59% in 2002, and 0.55% in 2010, corresponding to a 0.73% reduction per year over the 2002–2010 period. Significant limitations were found in the comparability between the global estimates in prevalence or causes of blindness or visual impairment. These limitations arise from various factors such as uncertainties about the true cause of the impairment, the use of different definitions and methods, and the absence of data from a number of geographical areas, leading to various extrapolation methods, which in turn seriously limit comparability. Seminal to this discussion on limitations in the comparability of studies and data, is that blindness has historically been defined using best corrected visual acuity. PMID:22944747

Enhanced Chemosensory Detection of Negative Emotions in Congenital Blindness

PubMed Central

Iversen, Katrine D.; Ptito, Maurice; Møller, Per; Kupers, Ron

2015-01-01

It is generally acknowledged that congenitally blind individuals develop superior sensory abilities in order to compensate for their lack of vision. Substantial research has been done on somatosensory and auditory sensory information processing of the blind. However, relatively little information is available about compensatory plasticity in the olfactory domain. Although previous studies indicate that blind individuals have superior olfactory abilities, no studies so far have investigated their sense of smell in relation to social and affective communication. The current study compares congenitally blind and normal sighted individuals in their ability to discriminate and identify emotions from body odours. A group of 14 congenitally blind and 14 age- and sex-matched sighted control subjects participated in the study. We compared participants' abilities to detect and identify by smelling sweat from donors who had been watching excerpts from emotional movies showing amusement, fear, disgust, or sexual arousal. Our results show that congenitally blind subjects outperformed sighted controls in identifying fear from male donors. In addition, there was a strong tendency that blind individuals were also better in detecting disgust. Our findings reveal that congenitally blind individuals are better at identifying ecologically important emotions and provide new insights into the mechanisms of social and affective communication in blindness. PMID:25878902

Changing trends over the last decade in the aetiology of childhood blindness: a study from a tertiary referral centre.

PubMed

Ozturk, Taylan; Er, Duygu; Yaman, Aylin; Berk, A Tulin

2016-02-01

To discern treatable and preventable causes of childhood blindness by evaluating the aetiologic factors, and to compare the distribution of the most commonly affected anatomic sites of severe visual impairment (SVI) with our previous published data. The charts of 11 871 patients followed between June 2002 and May 2014 were reviewed retrospectively, and 695 patients (5.9%) who had SVI or blindness in accordance with WHO criteria were enrolled. The results of ophthalmologic examinations and coexistence of any systemic disease were documented and checked against our published clinic data concerning the aetiology of childhood blindness before 2002. χ(2) test was used for statistics. Mean age was 47.0±51.9 months (median: 24 months). Cortical visual impairment (CVI) was present in 212 cases (30.5%) and 20.3% of those had a history of premature birth. The most common anatomic sites of SVI were retina (24.6%) and crystalline lens (17.1%). When compared with our previous data, we found a significant increase in the prevalence of CVI (p=0.046) and decrease in the frequency of SVI due to uveal disorders (p<0.001). Prevalence of blindness secondary to retinopathy of prematurity reduced by a third (p=0.280), and a significant decrease in aphakia-related SVI (p=0.028) was achieved within the last decade. The prevalence of CVI was found to be relatively increased due to the significant reduction in the frequency of preventable causes of SVI. Furthermore our clinical practice for visual rehabilitation in aphakia has resulted in a considerable decrease in SVI in the last decade. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Enhanced tactile encoding and memory recognition in congenital blindness.

PubMed

D'Angiulli, Amedeo; Waraich, Paul

2002-06-01

Several behavioural studies have shown that early-blind persons possess superior tactile skills. Since neurophysiological data show that early-blind persons recruit visual as well as somatosensory cortex to carry out tactile processing (cross-modal plasticity), blind persons' sharper tactile skills may be related to cortical re-organisation resulting from loss of vision early in their life. To examine the nature of blind individuals' tactile superiority and its implications for cross-modal plasticity, we compared the tactile performance of congenitally totally blind, low-vision and sighted children on raised-line picture identification test and re-test, assessing effects of task familiarity, exploratory strategy and memory recognition. What distinguished the blind from the other children was higher memory recognition and higher tactile encoding associated with efficient exploration. These results suggest that enhanced perceptual encoding and recognition memory may be two cognitive correlates of cross-modal plasticity in congenital blindness.

Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Bhutan.

PubMed

Lepcha, Nor Tshering; Chettri, Chandra Kumar; Getshen, Kunzang; Rai, Bhim Bahadur; Ramaswamy, Shamanna Bindiganavale; Saibaba, Saravanan; Nirmalan, Praveen Kumar; Demarchis, Emilia Hansson; Tabin, Geoffrey; Morley, Michael; Morley, Katharine

2013-08-01

To conduct a rapid assessment of avoidable blindness survey in Bhutan to obtain estimates of blindness, visual impairment, and cataract surgical coverage, outcomes and barriers among persons ≥50 years old. A total of 82 clusters of 50 people ≥50 years were selected using probability proportionate to size sampling. Eligible participants were selected from households using compact segment sampling, and underwent ophthalmic examination for visual acuity, followed by penlight and direct ophthalmoscopy. Participants with cataract were interviewed regarding surgical outcomes and barriers to surgery. Overall, 4046 of 4100 persons enumerated (98.7%) underwent ophthalmic examination. Adjusting for age and sex, the prevalence of bilaterally blind persons with available correction was 1.5% (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.89). Most blindness (67.1%) and severe visual impairment (74.1%) resulted from cataract, but 22.1% resulted from posterior segment pathology. Cataract surgical coverage for bilaterally blind persons was 72.7%. Almost 90% of patients reported moderate or good satisfaction, despite poor surgical outcomes in 23.6%. The prevalence of blindness in people aged ≥50 years in Bhutan was relatively low when compared with neighboring countries and World Health Organization sub-region estimates. Areas for improvement include community outreach, surgical outcomes, and posterior segment diseases.

Differences between early-blind, late-blind, and blindfolded-sighted people in haptic spatial-configuration learning and resulting memory traces.

PubMed

Postma, Albert; Zuidhoek, Sander; Noordzij, Matthijs L; Kappers, Astrid M L

2007-01-01

The roles of visual and haptic experience in different aspects of haptic processing of objects in peripersonal space are examined. In three trials, early-blind, late-blind, and blindfolded-sighted individuals had to match ten shapes haptically to the cut-outs in a board as fast as possible. Both blind groups were much faster than the sighted in all three trials. All three groups improved considerably from trial to trial. In particular, the sighted group showed a strong improvement from the first to the second trial. While superiority of the blind remained for speeded matching after rotation of the stimulus frame, coordinate positional-memory scores in a non-speeded free-recall trial showed no significant differences between the groups. Moreover, when assessed with a verbal response, categorical spatial-memory appeared strongest in the late-blind group. The role of haptic and visual experience thus appears to depend on the task aspect tested.

National survey of blindness and low vision in Lebanon

PubMed Central

Mansour, A; Kassak, K.; Chaya, M.; Hourani, T.; Sibai, A.; Alameddine, M

1997-01-01

AIMS—To survey level of blindness and low vision in Lebanon.
METHODS—A population survey was undertaken in 10 148 individuals to measure the prevalence and identify the causes of blindness in Lebanon.
RESULTS—The prevalence of blindness was 0.6% and that of low vision 3.9%. The major causes of blindness were cataract (41.3%) and uncorrected large refractive error (12.6%).
CONCLUSION—Most causes of blindness in Lebanon can be controlled by various educational and medical programmes.

 PMID:9486035

A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial on N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PubMed

Ataei, Sara; Hadjibabaie, Molouk; Moslehi, Amirhossein; Taghizadeh-Ghehi, Maryam; Ashouri, Asieh; Amini, Elham; Gholami, Kheirollah; Hayatshahi, Alireza; Vaezi, Mohammad; Ghavamzadeh, Ardeshir

2015-06-01

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is associated with increased mortality. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a thiol compound with antioxidant and vasodilatory properties that has been investigated for the prevention of AKI in several clinical settings. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of intravenous NAC on the prevention of AKI in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted, and 80 patients were recruited to receive 100 mg/kg/day NAC or placebo as intermittent intravenous infusion from day -6 to day +15. AKI was determined on the basis of the Risk-Injury-Failure-Loss-End-stage renal disease and AKI Network criteria as the primary outcome. We assessed urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) on days -6, -3, +3, +9 and +15 as the secondary outcome. Moreover, transplant-related outcomes and NAC adverse reactions were evaluated during the study period. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric methods including Kaplan-Meier for AKI and generalized estimating equation for uNGAL. At the end of the trial, data from 72 patients were analysed (NAC: 33 patients and placebo: 39 patients). Participants of each group were not different considering baseline characteristics. AKI was observed in 18% of NAC recipients and 15% of placebo group patients, and the occurrence pattern was not significantly different (p = 0.73). Moreover, no significant difference was observed between groups for uNGAL measures (p = 0.10). Transplant-related outcomes were similar for both groups, and all patients had successful engraftment. Three patients did not tolerate NAC because of abdominal pain, shortness of breath and rash with pruritus and were dropped from the intervention group before transplantation. However, the frequency of adverse reactions was not significantly different between

House fire injury prevention update. Part II. A review of the effectiveness of preventive interventions

PubMed Central

Warda, L.; Tenenbein, M.; Moffatt, M.

1999-01-01

Objective—To evaluate and summarize the house fire injury prevention literature. Methods—MEDLINE (1983 to March 1997) was searched by keyword: fire, burn, etiology, cause, prevention, epidemiology, and smoke detector/alarm. ERIC (1966 to March 1997) and PSYCLIT (1974 to June 1997) were searched by keyword: as above, and safety, skills, education, and training. Other sources included references of retrieved publications, review articles, and books; Injury Prevention hand search; government documents; and internet sources. Sources relevant to residential fire injury prevention were selected, evaluated, and summarized. Results—Forty three publications were selected for review, including seven randomized controlled trials, nine quasiexperiments, two natural experiments, 21 prospective cohort studies, two cross sectional surveys, one case report, and one program evaluation. These studies examined the following types of interventions: school (9), preschool (1), and community based educational programs (5); fire response training programs for children (7), blind adolescents (2), and mentally retarded adults (5) and children (1); office based counseling (4); home inspection programs (3); smoke detector giveaway campaigns (5); and smoke detector legislation (1). Conclusions—This review of house fire prevention interventions underscores the importance of program evaluation. There is a need for more rigorous evaluation of educational programs, particularly those targeted at schools. An evidence based, coordinated approach to house fire injury prevention is critical, given current financial constraints and the potential for program overload for communities and schools. PMID:10518271

Retrieval and phenomenology of autobiographical memories in blind individuals.

PubMed

Tekcan, Ali Í; Yılmaz, Engin; Kızılöz, Burcu Kaya; Karadöller, Dilay Z; Mutafoğlu, Merve; Erciyes, Aslı Aktan

2015-01-01

Although visual imagery is argued to be an essential component of autobiographical memory, there have been surprisingly few studies on autobiographical memory processes in blind individuals, who have had no or limited visual input. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how blindness affects retrieval and phenomenology of autobiographical memories. We asked 48 congenital/early blind and 48 sighted participants to recall autobiographical memories in response to six cue words, and to fill out the Autobiographical Memory Questionnaire measuring a number of variables including imagery, belief and recollective experience associated with each memory. Blind participants retrieved fewer memories and reported higher auditory imagery at retrieval than sighted participants. Moreover, within the blind group, participants with total blindness reported higher auditory imagery than those with some light perception. Blind participants also assigned higher importance, belief and recollection ratings to their memories than sighted participants. Importantly, these group differences remained the same for recent as well as childhood memories.

A Double Blind Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Affective Liability and Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

approved it in 1995 for this indication. Also, it is used in conjunction with lithium or carbamazepine to prevent recurrent manic or depressive...TITLE: A Double Blind Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Affective L ability and Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury PRINCIPAL...NUMBER Liability and Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d

Congenital blindness improves semantic and episodic memory.

PubMed

Pasqualotto, Achille; Lam, Jade S Y; Proulx, Michael J

2013-05-01

Previous studies reported that congenitally blind people possess superior verb-generation skills. Here we tested the impact of blindness on capacity and the fidelity of semantic memory by using a false memory paradigm. In the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, participants study lists of words that are all semantically related to a lure that is not presented. Subsequently, participants frequently recall the missing lure. We found that congenitally blind participants have enhanced memory performance for recalling the presented words and reduced false memories for the lure. The dissociation of memory capacity and fidelity provides further evidence for enhanced verbal ability in the blind, supported by their broader structural and functional brain reorganisation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Iterated Gate Teleportation and Blind Quantum Computation.

PubMed

Pérez-Delgado, Carlos A; Fitzsimons, Joseph F

2015-06-05

Blind quantum computation allows a user to delegate a computation to an untrusted server while keeping the computation hidden. A number of recent works have sought to establish bounds on the communication requirements necessary to implement blind computation, and a bound based on the no-programming theorem of Nielsen and Chuang has emerged as a natural limiting factor. Here we show that this constraint only holds in limited scenarios, and show how to overcome it using a novel method of iterated gate teleportations. This technique enables drastic reductions in the communication required for distributed quantum protocols, extending beyond the blind computation setting. Applied to blind quantum computation, this technique offers significant efficiency improvements, and in some scenarios offers an exponential reduction in communication requirements.

Randomized placebo controlled blinded study to assess valsartan efficacy in preventing left ventricle remodeling in patients with dual chamber pacemaker--Rationale and design of the trial.

PubMed

Tomasik, Andrzej; Jacheć, Wojciech; Wojciechowska, Celina; Kawecki, Damian; Białkowska, Beata; Romuk, Ewa; Gabrysiak, Artur; Birkner, Ewa; Kalarus, Zbigniew; Nowalany-Kozielska, Ewa

2015-05-01

Dual chamber pacing is known to have detrimental effect on cardiac performance and heart failure occurring eventually is associated with increased mortality. Experimental studies of pacing in dogs have shown contractile dyssynchrony leading to diffuse alterations in extracellular matrix. In parallel, studies on experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury have shown efficacy of valsartan to inhibit activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9, to increase the activity of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and preserve global contractility and left ventricle ejection fraction. To present rationale and design of randomized blinded trial aimed to assess whether 12 month long administration of valsartan will prevent left ventricle remodeling in patients with preserved left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 40%) and first implantation of dual chamber pacemaker. A total of 100 eligible patients will be randomized into three parallel arms: placebo, valsartan 80 mg/daily and valsartan 160 mg/daily added to previously used drugs. The primary endpoint will be assessment of valsartan efficacy to prevent left ventricle remodeling during 12 month follow-up. We assess patients' functional capacity, blood plasma activity of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors, NT-proBNP, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and Troponin T. Left ventricle function and remodeling is assessed echocardiographically: M-mode, B-mode, tissue Doppler imaging. If valsartan proves effective, it will be an attractive measure to improve long term prognosis in aging population and increasing number of pacemaker recipients. ClinicalTrials.org (NCT01805804). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Perceptual Repetition Blindness Effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hochhaus, Larry; Johnston, James C.; Null, Cynthia H. (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

Before concluding Repetition Blindness is a perceptual phenomenon, alternative explanations based on memory retrieval problems and report bias must be rejected. Memory problems were minimized by requiring a judgment about only a single briefly displayed field. Bias and sensitivity effects were empirically measured with an ROC-curve analysis method based on confidence ratings. Results from five experiments support the hypothesis that Repetition Blindness can be a perceptual phenomenon.

33 CFR 117.861 - Blind Slough.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blind Slough. 117.861 Section 117.861 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BRIDGES DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements Oregon § 117.861 Blind Slough. The draws of the Portland and...

Wyoming Deaf/Blind Grant. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitson, Joanne B.

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Wyoming Deaf-Blind Grant, a 3-year federally supported project to identify children who have deaf-blindness and to provide technical assistance in the development of educational services for these children. Major accomplishments of the project included: identification of more…

33 CFR 117.861 - Blind Slough.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Blind Slough. 117.861 Section 117.861 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BRIDGES DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements Oregon § 117.861 Blind Slough. The draws of the Portland and...

33 CFR 117.861 - Blind Slough.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Blind Slough. 117.861 Section 117.861 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BRIDGES DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements Oregon § 117.861 Blind Slough. The draws of the Portland and...

33 CFR 117.861 - Blind Slough.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Blind Slough. 117.861 Section 117.861 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BRIDGES DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements Oregon § 117.861 Blind Slough. The draws of the Portland and...

33 CFR 117.861 - Blind Slough.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Blind Slough. 117.861 Section 117.861 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BRIDGES DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements Oregon § 117.861 Blind Slough. The draws of the Portland and...

PHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

PubMed Central

Beharry, Kay D.; Valencia, G.B.; Lazzaro, D.R.; Aranda, J.V.

2016-01-01

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a significant morbidity in prematurely born infants, is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in children and persists till adulthood. Strict control of oxygen therapy and prevention of intermittent hypoxia are key in the prevention of ROP, but pharmacologic interventions have decreased risk of ROP. Various drug classes such as methylxanthines (caffeine), VEGF inhibitors, anti-oxidants, and others have decreased ROP occurrence. The timing of pharmacologic intervention remains unsettled, but early prevention rather than controlling disease progression may be preferred. These drugs act through different mechanisms and synergistic approaches should be considered to maximize efficacy and safety. PMID:26831641

Two-step egg introduction for prevention of egg allergy in high-risk infants with eczema (PETIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Natsume, Osamu; Kabashima, Shigenori; Nakazato, Junko; Yamamoto-Hanada, Kiwako; Narita, Masami; Kondo, Mai; Saito, Mayako; Kishino, Ai; Takimoto, Tetsuya; Inoue, Eisuke; Tang, Julian; Kido, Hiroshi; Wong, Gary W K; Matsumoto, Kenji; Saito, Hirohisa; Ohya, Yukihiro

2017-01-21

Evidence is accumulating that early consumption is more beneficial than is delayed introduction as a strategy for primary prevention of food allergy. However, allergic reactions caused by early introduction of such solid foods have been a problematic issue. We investigated whether or not early stepwise introduction of eggs to infants with eczema combined with optimal eczema treatment would prevent egg allergy at 1 year of age. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled infants 4-5 months of age with eczema from two centres in Japan. Exclusion criteria were being born before 37 weeks of gestational age, experience of ingestion of hen's eggs or egg products, history of immediate allergic reaction to hen's eggs, history of non-immediate allergic reaction to a particular type of food, and complications of any severe disease. Infants were randomly assigned (block size of four; stratified by institution and sex) to early introduction of egg or placebo (1:1). Participants in the egg group consumed orally 50 mg of heated egg powder per day from 6 months to 9 months of age and 250 mg per day thereafter until 12 months of age. We aggressively treated participants' eczema at entry and maintained control without exacerbations throughout the intervention period. Participants and physicians were masked to assignment, and allocation was concealed. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with hen's egg allergy confirmed by open oral food challenges at 12 months of age, assessed blindly by standardised methods, in all randomly allocated participants who received the intervention. This trial is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, number UMIN000008673. Between Sept 18, 2012, and Feb 13, 2015, we randomly allocated 147 participants (73 [50%] to the egg group and 74 [50%] to the placebo group). This trial was terminated on the basis of the results of the scheduled interim analysis of

Low-Dose Adrenaline, Promethazine, and Hydrocortisone in the Prevention of Acute Adverse Reactions to Antivenom following Snakebite: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

de Silva, H. Asita; Pathmeswaran, Arunasalam; Ranasinha, Channa D.; Jayamanne, Shaluka; Samarakoon, Senarath B.; Hittharage, Ariyasena; Kalupahana, Ranjith; Ratnatilaka, G. Asoka; Uluwatthage, Wimalasiri; Aronson, Jeffrey K.; Armitage, Jane M.; Lalloo, David G.; de Silva, H. Janaka

2011-01-01

Background Envenoming from snakebites is most effectively treated by antivenom. However, the antivenom available in South Asian countries commonly causes acute allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions being particularly serious. We investigated whether adrenaline, promethazine, and hydrocortisone prevent such reactions in secondary referral hospitals in Sri Lanka by conducting a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Methods and Findings In total, 1,007 patients were randomized, using a 2×2×2 factorial design, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adrenaline (0.25 ml of a 1∶1,000 solution subcutaneously), promethazine (25 mg intravenously), and hydrocortisone (200 mg intravenously), each alone and in all possible combinations. The interventions, or matching placebo, were given immediately before infusion of antivenom. Patients were monitored for mild, moderate, or severe adverse reactions for at least 96 h. The prespecified primary end point was the effect of the interventions on the incidence of severe reactions up to and including 48 h after antivenom administration. In total, 752 (75%) patients had acute reactions to antivenom: 9% mild, 48% moderate, and 43% severe; 89% of the reactions occurred within 1 h; and 40% of all patients were given rescue medication (adrenaline, promethazine, and hydrocortisone) during the first hour. Compared with placebo, adrenaline significantly reduced severe reactions to antivenom by 43% (95% CI 25–67) at 1 h and by 38% (95% CI 26–49) up to and including 48 h after antivenom administration; hydrocortisone and promethazine did not. Adding hydrocortisone negated the benefit of adrenaline. Conclusions Pretreatment with low-dose adrenaline was safe and reduced the risk of acute severe reactions to snake antivenom. This may be of particular importance in countries where adverse reactions to antivenom are common, although the need to improve the quality of available antivenom cannot be overemphasized

Genetics Home Reference: X-linked congenital stationary night blindness

MedlinePlus

... Health Conditions X-linked congenital stationary night blindness X-linked congenital stationary night blindness Printable PDF Open ... Javascript to view the expand/collapse boxes. Description X-linked congenital stationary night blindness is a disorder ...

Perceptual, not memorial, disruption underlies emotion-induced blindness.

PubMed

Kennedy, Briana L; Most, Steven B

2012-04-01

Emotion-induced blindness refers to impaired awareness of stimuli appearing in the temporal wake of an emotionally arousing stimulus (S. B. Most, Chun, Widders, & Zald, 2005). In previous emotion-induced blindness experiments, participants withheld target responses until the end of a rapid stream of stimuli, even though each target appeared in the middle of the stream. The resulting interval between the targets' offset and participants' initiation of a response leaves open the possibility that emotion-induced blindness reflects a failure to encode or maintain target information in memory rather than a failure of perception. In the present study, participants engaged in a typical emotion-induced blindness task but initiated a response immediately upon seeing each target. Emotion-induced blindness was nevertheless robust. This suggests that emotion-induced blindness is not attributable to the delay between awareness of a target and the initiation of a response, but rather reflects the disruptive impact of emotional distractors on mechanisms driving conscious perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).

Proceedings of Training Institute for Rehabilitation Teachers of the Blind Teaching the Newly Blinded Homemaker (Lincoln, Nebraska, July 12-17, 1970).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwab, Lois O.

The proceedings are composed of nine papers that discuss different aspects of the rehabilitation teacher of the blind in his effort to teach the newly blinded homemaker. The introductory paper explains briefly the way in which different sources work together toward rehabilitating the blind homemaker. The following three papers then discuss, in…

Enhanced auditory spatial localization in blind echolocators.

PubMed

Vercillo, Tiziana; Milne, Jennifer L; Gori, Monica; Goodale, Melvyn A

2015-01-01

Echolocation is the extraordinary ability to represent the external environment by using reflected sound waves from self-generated auditory pulses. Blind human expert echolocators show extremely precise spatial acuity and high accuracy in determining the shape and motion of objects by using echoes. In the current study, we investigated whether or not the use of echolocation would improve the representation of auditory space, which is severely compromised in congenitally blind individuals (Gori et al., 2014). The performance of three blind expert echolocators was compared to that of 6 blind non-echolocators and 11 sighted participants. Two tasks were performed: (1) a space bisection task in which participants judged whether the second of a sequence of three sounds was closer in space to the first or the third sound and (2) a minimum audible angle task in which participants reported which of two sounds presented successively was located more to the right. The blind non-echolocating group showed a severe impairment only in the space bisection task compared to the sighted group. Remarkably, the three blind expert echolocators performed both spatial tasks with similar or even better precision and accuracy than the sighted group. These results suggest that echolocation may improve the general sense of auditory space, most likely through a process of sensory calibration. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Childhood blindness: a new form for recording causes of visual loss in children.

PubMed Central

Gilbert, C.; Foster, A.; Négrel, A. D.; Thylefors, B.

1993-01-01

The new standardized form for recording the causes of visual loss in children is accompanied by coding instructions and by a database for statistical analysis. The aim is to record the causes of childhood visual loss, with an emphasis on preventable and treatable causes, so that appropriate control measures can be planned. With this standardized methodology, it will be possible to monitor the changing patterns of childhood blindness over a period of time in response to changes in health care services, specific interventions, and socioeconomic development. PMID:8261552

Demonstration of measurement-only blind quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greganti, Chiara; Roehsner, Marie-Christine; Barz, Stefanie; Morimae, Tomoyuki; Walther, Philip

2016-01-01

Blind quantum computing allows for secure cloud networks of quasi-classical clients and a fully fledged quantum server. Recently, a new protocol has been proposed, which requires a client to perform only measurements. We demonstrate a proof-of-principle implementation of this measurement-only blind quantum computing, exploiting a photonic setup to generate four-qubit cluster states for computation and verification. Feasible technological requirements for the client and the device-independent blindness make this scheme very applicable for future secure quantum networks.

Ethnicity and Deprivation are Associated With Blindness Among Adults With Primary Glaucoma in Nigeria: Results From the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey.

PubMed

Kyari, Fatima; Wormald, Richard; Murthy, Gudlavalleti V S; Evans, Jennifer R; Gilbert, Clare E

2016-10-01

We explored the risk factors for glaucoma blindness among adults aged 40 years and above with primary glaucoma in Nigeria. A total of 13,591 participants aged 40 years and above were examined in the Nigeria Blindness Survey; 682 (5.02%; 95 CI, 4.60%-5.47%) had glaucoma by ISGEO's criteria. This was a case-control study (n=890 eyes of 629 persons): glaucoma blind persons were cases and glaucoma not-blind were controls. Education and occupation were used to determine socioeconomic status scores, which were divided into 3 tertiles (affluent, medium, deprived). We assessed sociodemographic, biophysical, and ocular factors by logistic regression analysis for association with glaucoma blindness. Multinomial regression analysis was also performed with nonglaucoma as the reference category. A total of 119/629 (18.9%; 95% CI, 15.9%-22.4%) persons were blind in both eyes; 510 were controls. There was interethnic variation in odds of blindness; age, male sex, socioeconomic status, prior diagnosis of glaucoma, hypertension, intraocular pressure, and lens opacity were associated with glaucoma blindness. Axial length, mean ocular perfusion pressure, and angle-closure glaucoma were associated with blind glaucoma eyes. In multivariate analysis, Igbo ethnicity (OR=2.79; 95% CI, 1.03-7.57) had higher risk as was being male (OR=4.59; 95% CI, 1.73-12.16) and unmarried (OR=2.50; 95% CI, 1.03-6.07). Deprivation (OR=3.57; 95% CI, 1.46-8.72), prior glaucoma diagnosis (OR=5.89; 95% CI, 1.79-19.40), and intraocular pressure (OR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.09) were also independent risk factors for glaucoma blindness. Approximately 1 in 5 people with primary glaucoma were blind. Male sex, ethnicity and deprivation were strongly associated with blindness. Services for glaucoma need to improve in Nigeria, focusing on poor communities and men.

RUDO: A Home Ambient Intelligence System for Blind People

PubMed Central

Hudec, Milan

2017-01-01

The article introduces an ambient intelligence system for blind people which besides providing assistance in home environment also helps with various situations and roles in which blind people may find themselves involved. RUDO, the designed system, comprises several modules that mainly support or ensure recognition of approaching people, alerting to other household members’ movement in the flat, work on a computer, supervision of (sighted) children, cooperation of a sighted and a blind person (e.g., when studying), control of heating and zonal regulation by a blind person. It has a unified user interface that gives the blind person access to individual functions. The interface for blind people offers assistance with work on a computer, including writing in Braille on a regular keyboard and specialized work in informatics and electronics (e.g., programming). RUDO can complement the standard aids used by blind people at home, it increases their independence and creates conditions that allow them to become fully involved. RUDO also supports blind people sharing a home with sighted people, which contributes to their feeling of security and greater inclusion in society. RUDO has been implemented in a household for two years, which allows an evaluation of its use in practice. PMID:28829372

RUDO: A Home Ambient Intelligence System for Blind People.

PubMed

Hudec, Milan; Smutny, Zdenek

2017-08-22

The article introduces an ambient intelligence system for blind people which besides providing assistance in home environment also helps with various situations and roles in which blind people may find themselves involved. RUDO, the designed system, comprises several modules that mainly support or ensure recognition of approaching people, alerting to other household members' movement in the flat, work on a computer, supervision of (sighted) children, cooperation of a sighted and a blind person (e.g., when studying), control of heating and zonal regulation by a blind person. It has a unified user interface that gives the blind person access to individual functions. The interface for blind people offers assistance with work on a computer, including writing in Braille on a regular keyboard and specialized work in informatics and electronics (e.g., programming). RUDO can complement the standard aids used by blind people at home, it increases their independence and creates conditions that allow them to become fully involved. RUDO also supports blind people sharing a home with sighted people, which contributes to their feeling of security and greater inclusion in society. RUDO has been implemented in a household for two years, which allows an evaluation of its use in practice.

Impact of color blindness on recognition of blood in body fluids.

PubMed

Reiss, M J; Labowitz, D A; Forman, S; Wormser, G P

2001-02-12

Color blindness is a common hereditary X-linked disorder. To investigate whether color blindness affects the ability to detect the presence of blood in body fluids. Ten color-blind subjects and 20 sex- and age-matched control subjects were shown 94 photographs of stool, urine, or sputum. Frank blood was present in 57 (61%) of the photographs. Surveys were done to determine if board-certified internists had ever considered whether color blindness would affect detection of blood and whether an inquiry on color blindness was included in their standard medical interview. Color-blind subjects were significantly less able to identify correctly whether pictures of body fluids showed blood compared with non-color-blind controls (P =.001); the lowest rate of correct identifications occurred with pictures of stool (median of 26 [70%] of 37 for color-blind subjects vs 36.5 [99%] of 37 for controls; P<.001). The more severely color-blind subjects were significantly less accurate than those with less severe color deficiency (P =.009). Only 2 (10%) of the 21 physicians had ever considered the possibility that color blindness might affect the ability of patients to detect blood, and none routinely asked their patients about color blindness. Color blindness impairs recognition of blood in body fluids. Color-blind individuals and their health care providers need to be made aware of this limitation.

Blindness and low vision in Germany 1993-2009.

PubMed

Wolfram, Christian; Pfeiffer, Norbert

2012-02-01

To describe the development of the prevalence of blindness and low vision in the German population between 1993 and 2009 with respect to major demographic changes and to investigate how the prevalence of blindness would have developed without demographic aging. Investigation of the prevalence for blindness and low vision in the German population on the basis of the official German statistics for severely handicapped people and population statistics between 1993 and 2009. Age-specific prevalence rates and the prevalence based on a standardized population were calculated and the progression is demonstrated. The overall prevalence of blindness and low vision in Germany increased between 1993 and 2009 by 12.3% from 314,404 to 352,943 subjects. The absolute number of blind or visually impaired persons in the eldest group (75 years and above) has grown by 38.2% from 126,023 to 174,127 subjects. At the same time, both age-specific prevalence rates as well as the prevalence that was based on a standardized population decreased, matching more than 30,000 fewer cases of blindness in 2009 as compared to 1993. The increase in absolute prevalence numbers for blindness and low vision implies an increase in the ophthalmic workload. At the same time, the decrease in the age-specific and standardized prevalence indicates possible improvements in the overall eye health status of the population since 1993.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Asenapine Maintenance Therapy in Adults With an Acute Manic or Mixed Episode Associated With Bipolar I Disorder.

PubMed

Szegedi, Armin; Durgam, Suresh; Mackle, Mary; Yu, Sung Yun; Wu, Xiao; Mathews, Maju; Landbloom, Ronald P

2018-01-01

The authors determined the efficacy and safety of asenapine in preventing recurrence of any mood episode in adults with bipolar I disorder. Adults with an acute manic or mixed episode per DSM-IV-TR criteria were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled trial consisting of an initial 12- to 16-week open-label period and a 26-week double-blind randomized withdrawal period. The target asenapine dosage was 10 mg b.i.d. in the open-label period but could be titrated down to 5 mg b.i.d. After completing the open-label period, subjects meeting stabilization/stable-responder criteria were randomized to asenapine or placebo treatment in the double-blind period. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to recurrence of any mood event during the double-blind period. Kaplan-Meier estimation was performed, and 95% confidence intervals were determined. Safety was assessed throughout. A total of 549 subjects entered the open-label period, of whom 253 enrolled in the double-blind randomized withdrawal period (127 in the placebo group; 126 in the asenapine group). Time to recurrence of any mood episode was statistically significantly longer for asenapine- than placebo-treated subjects. In post hoc analyses, significant differences in favor of asenapine over placebo were seen in time to recurrence of manic and depressive episodes. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were somnolence (10.0%), akathisia (7.7%), and sedation (7.7%) in the open-label period and mania (11.9% of the placebo group compared with 4.0% of the asenapine group) and bipolar I disorder (6.3% compared with 1.6%) in the double-blind period. Long-term treatment with asenapine was more effective than placebo in preventing recurrence of mood events in adults with bipolar I disorder and was generally well-tolerated.

[Causes of blindness in students at the school for blind children in Ilvesheim. Changes between 1885 and 2008].

PubMed

Rohrschneider, K; Mackensen, I

2013-04-01

Since 1868, the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg has been providing care for the pupils of the school for blind and visually handicapped children in Ilvesheim, Germany. Previous studies on the causes of low vision have demonstrated the effects of the advances in medicine and ophthalmology with an explicit decrease in the number of inflammatory corneal diseases, followed by a reduced number of students suffering from congenital cataract and glaucoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate current data and to compare it to previous data. Ophthalmological data and additional disorders could be evaluated in 268 students visiting the special education school Schloßschule Ilvesheim between 2000 and 2008. The findings were compared to the results of previous studies concerning the degree of visual impairment and diagnosis. The children were divided according to German social law into blind, severely visually handicapped and visually handicapped. Out of the 268 students 83 (31.0%) were premature infants and 69 of these had additional disabilities, 130 were blind and 51 severely visually handicapped. Of the students 142 had additional learning, mental and/or motor handicaps. The most frequent cause of blindness or severe visual impairment was optic nerve atrophy (36.2 % and 37.3 %, respectively). The frequency of hereditary retinal diseases among the blind children was slightly higher with 24.6 % as compared to the data analysis from 1981 and was 15.7 % and 17.1 % among the severely visually handicapped and visually handicapped, respectively. Retinopathy of prematurity was diagnosed in approximately 20% of blind and severely visually handicapped children. As a result of the enormous advances of medical capabilities during the last decades the number of (formerly) premature infants has markedly increased. Most of these students are multiply handicapped and need extensive assistance. While the number of students suffering from hereditary

Visible-blind and solar-blind detection induced by defects in AlGaN high electron mobility transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armstrong, Andrew M.; Klein, Brianna; Allerman, Andrew A.; Douglas, Erica A.; Baca, Albert G.; Crawford, Mary H.; Pickrell, Greg W.; Sanchez, Carlos A.

2018-03-01

Visible- and solar-blind detection was demonstrated using Al0.45Ga0.55N/Al0.30Ga0.70N and Al0.85Ga0.25N/Al0.70Ga0.30N high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), respectively. Peak responsivities (S) of 3.9 × 106 A/W in the saturation mode and 6.2 × 104 A/W in the pinch-off mode were observed for the visible-blind Al0.45Ga0.55N/Al0.30Ga0.70N HEMT, and a peak S of 4.9 × 104 A/W was observed for the solar-blind Al0.85Ga0.15N/Al0.70Ga0.30N HEMT in the saturation mode. Spectrally resolved photocurrent investigation indicated that sub-bandgap absorption by defect states was the primary origin of the HEMTs' photoresponse. Defect-mediated responsivity caused slow photocurrent rise and fall times, but electrical pulsing was used to improve the bandwidth at the cost of optical gain. Operating HEMTs in this dynamic mode achieved a 25 Hz bandwidth with S = 2.9 × 105 A/W in accumulation and S = 2.0 × 104 A/W in pinch-off for visible-blind detection and S = 5.1 × 103 A/W for solar-blind detection.

75 FR 47304 - Accessible Mobile Phone Options for People Who Are Blind, Deaf-Blind, or Have Low Vision

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-05

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [CG Docket No. 10-145; DA 10-1324] Accessible Mobile Phone Options for People Who Are Blind, Deaf- Blind, or Have Low Vision AGENCY: Federal Communications... wireless communication access by these populations; the cost and feasibility of technical solutions to...

20 CFR 404.1582 - A period of disability based on blindness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false A period of disability based on blindness..., SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (1950- ) Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 404.1582 A period of disability based on blindness. If we find that you are blind and you meet the insured status...

Visual impairment and blindness in Hungary.

PubMed

Szabó, Dorottya; Sándor, Gábor László; Tóth, Gábor; Pék, Anita; Lukács, Regina; Szalai, Irén; Tóth, Georgina Zsófia; Papp, András; Nagy, Zoltán Zsolt; Limburg, Hans; Németh, János

2018-03-01

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness, severe visual impairment (SVI), moderate visual impairment (MVI), and early visual impairment (EVI) and its causes in an established market economy of Europe. A cross-sectional population-based survey. A sample size of 3675 was calculated using the standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) software in Hungary. A total of 105 clusters of 35 people aged 50 years or older were randomly selected with probability proportionate to size by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. Households within the clusters were selected using compact segment sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was assessed with a Snellen tumbling E-chart with or without a pinhole in the households. The adjusted prevalences of bilateral blindness, SVI, MVI and EVI were 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6-1.2), 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-0.7), 5.1% (95% CI: 4.3-5.9) and 6.9% (95% CI: 5.9-7.9), respectively. The major causes of blindness in Hungary were age-related macular degeneration (AMD; 27.3%) and other posterior segment diseases (27.3%), cataract (21.2%) and glaucoma (12.1%). Cataract was the main cause of SVI, MVI and EVI. Cataract surgical coverage (CSC) was 90.7%. Of all bilateral blindness in Hungary, 45.5% was considered avoidable. This study proved that RAAB methodology can be successfully conducted in industrialized countries, which often lack reliable epidemiologic data. The prevalence of blindness was relatively low, with AMD and other posterior segment diseases being the leading causes, and cataract is still a significant cause of visual impairment. © 2017 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mentoring Transition-Age Youth with Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Edward C.

2012-01-01

This article reports on a mentoring project designed for transition-age youth (ages 16-26) who are persons with legal blindness. Youth were matched with adult mentors who were also persons with blindness but who have achieved academic and career success. Results demonstrate that youth who participated in the project for 2 years had significant…

34 CFR 395.33 - Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. 395.33... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY Federal Property Management § 395.33 Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. (a) Priority in the operation of cafeterias by blind vendors on Federal property shall be...

34 CFR 395.33 - Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. 395.33... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY Federal Property Management § 395.33 Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. (a) Priority in the operation of cafeterias by blind vendors on Federal property shall be...

Does semantic preactivation reduce inattentional blindness?

PubMed

Kreitz, Carina; Schnuerch, Robert; Furley, Philip A; Gibbons, Henning; Memmert, Daniel

2015-04-01

We are susceptible to failures of awareness if a stimulus occurs unexpectedly and our attention is focused elsewhere. Such inattentional blindness is modulated by various parameters, including stimulus attributes, the observer's cognitive resources, and the observer's attentional set regarding the primary task. In three behavioral experiments with a total of 360 participants, we investigated whether mere semantic preactivation of the color of an unexpected object can reduce inattentional blindness. Neither explicitly mentioning the color several times before the occurrence of the unexpected stimulus nor priming the color more implicitly via color-related concepts could significantly reduce the susceptibility to inattentional blindness. Even putting the specific color concept in the main focus of the primary task did not lead to reduced inattentional blindness. Thus, we have shown that the failure to consciously perceive unexpected objects was not moderated by semantic preactivation of the objects' most prominent feature: its color. We suggest that this finding reflects the rather general principle that preactivations that are not motivationally relevant for one's current selection goals do not suffice to make an unexpected object overcome the threshold of awareness.

A phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of misoprostol rectal suppositories to prevent acute radiation proctitis in patients with prostate cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hille, Andrea; Schmidberger, Heinz; Hermann, Robert M.

2005-12-01

Purpose: Acute radiation proctitis is the most relevant complication of pelvic radiation and is still mainly treated supportively. Considering the negative impact of acute proctitis symptoms on patients' daily activities and the potential relationship between the severity of acute radiation injury and late damage, misoprostol was tested in the prevention of acute radiation-induced proctitis. Methods and Materials: A total of 100 patients who underwent radiotherapy for prostate cancer were entered into this phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with misoprostol or placebo suppositories. Radiation-induced toxicity was evaluated weekly during radiotherapy using the Common Toxicity Criteria. Results: Between the placebo andmore » the misoprostol groups, no significant differences in proctitis symptoms occurred: 76% of patients in each group had Grade 1 toxicity, and 26% in the placebo group and 36% in the misoprostol group had Grade 2 toxicity. No differences were found in onset or symptom duration. Comparing the peak incidence of patients' toxicity symptoms, significantly more patients experienced rectal bleeding in the misoprostol group (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Misoprostol given as a once-daily suppository did not decrease the incidence and severity of radiation-induced acute proctitis and may increase the incidence of acute bleeding.« less

What It's Like to Be Color Blind

MedlinePlus

... Search English Español What It's Like to Be Color Blind KidsHealth / For Kids / What It's Like to ... and green is on the bottom. Cones and Color To understand what causes color blindness, you need ...

Blinding laser weapons.

PubMed

Peters, A

1996-01-01

At its October 1995 Review Conference, the Convention on Conventional Weapons added a protocol banning the use and transfer of blinding laser weapons. The background to, and significance and limitations of this ban are discussed.

Simple pendulum for blind students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goncalves, A. M. B.; Cena, C. R.; Alves, D. C. B.; Errobidart, N. C. G.; Jardim, M. I. A.; Queiros, W. P.

2017-09-01

Faced with the need to teach physics to the visually impaired, in this paper we propose a way to demonstrate the dependence of distance and time in a pendulum experiment to blind students. The periodic oscillation of the pendulum is translated, by an Arduino and an ultrasonic sensor, in a periodic variation of frequency in a speaker. The main advantage of this proposal is the possibility that a blind student understands the movement without necessity of touching it.

34 CFR 395.33 - Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. 395.33 Section... BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY Federal Property Management § 395.33 Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors. (a) Priority in the operation of cafeterias by blind vendors on Federal property shall be...

Guiding Blind Pedestrians with a Personal Navigation System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dodson, A. H.; Moon, G. V.; Moore, T.; Jones, D.

With the assistance provided by the white cane or guide dog, most blind pedestrians can find their way to known destinations along familiar routes. Finding new or known destinations along unfamiliar routes is more challenging. Before such a journey is attempted, detailed instructions must be acquired. The difficulty of obtaining and then reliably following such instructions deters many blind pedestrians from travelling alone in unknown areas. This paper demonstrates a technological approach, by way of field trials, that supplements the existing aids and eliminates the need for sighted guides. The approach has the potential to offer greater independence to the blind person. The investigation suggests that the methodology used in personal navigation systems for the sighted is sub-optimal for guiding the blind pedestrian. Suitable extensions are introduced, and the results show the proposed methodology is efficient for guiding the blind individual to unknown destinations in the chosen field trial environment.

RISK FACTORS FOR FOUR-YEAR INCIDENT VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS: THE LOS ANGELES LATINO EYE STUDY

PubMed Central

Yonekawa, Yoshihiro; Varma, Rohit; Choudhury, Farzana; Torres, Mina; Azen, Stanley P.

2016-01-01

Purpose To identify independent risk factors for incident visual impairment (VI) and monocular blindness. Design Population-based prospective cohort study. Participants 4,658 Latinos aged 40 years in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) Methods A detailed history and comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed at baseline and at the 4-year follow-up on 4,658 Latinos aged 40 years and older from Los Angeles, California. Incident VI was defined as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <20/40 and >20/200 in the better-seeing eye at the 4 year follow-up examination in persons who had a BCVA of ≥20/40 in the better seeing eye at baseline. Incident monocular blindness was defined as BCVA of ≤20/200 in one eye at follow-up in persons who had a BCVA >20/200 in both eyes at baseline. Socio-demographic and clinical risk factors identified at the baseline interview and examination and associated with incident VI and loss of vision were determined using multivariable regression. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for those variables that were independently associated with visual impairment and monocular blindness. Main Outcome Measures ORs for various risk factors for incident VI and monocular blindness Results Independent risk factors for incident VI were older age (70–79 years OR=4.8, ≥80 years OR=17.9), being unemployment (OR=3.5), and having diabetes mellitus (OR=2.2). Independent risk factors for monocular blindness were being retired (OR=3.4) or widowed (OR=3.7), having diabetes mellitus (OR=2.1) or any ocular disease (OR=5.6) at baseline. Persons with self-reported excellent/good vision were less likely to develop VI or monocular blindness (OR=0.4–0.5). Conclusion Our data highlight that older Latinos and Latinos with diabetes mellitus or self-reported eye diseases are at high risk of developing vision loss. Furthermore, being unemployed, widowed or retired confers an independent risk of monocular blindness. Interventions that prevent, treat

Risk factors for four-year incident visual impairment and blindness: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.

PubMed

Yonekawa, Yoshihiro; Varma, Rohit; Choudhury, Farzana; Torres, Mina; Azen, Stanley P

2011-09-01

To identify independent risk factors for incident visual impairment (VI) and monocular blindness. Population-based prospective cohort study. A total of 4658 Latinos aged 40 years in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES). A detailed history and comprehensive ophthalmologic examination was performed at baseline and at the 4-year follow-up on 4658 Latinos aged ≥40 years from Los Angeles, California. Incident VI was defined as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <20/40 and >20/200 in the better-seeing eye at the 4-year follow-up examination in persons who had a BCVA of ≥20/40 in the better-seeing eye at baseline. Incident monocular blindness was defined as BCVA of ≤20/200 in 1 eye at follow-up in persons who had a BCVA >20/200 in both eyes at baseline. Sociodemographic and clinical risk factors identified at the baseline interview and examination and associated with incident VI and loss of vision were determined using multivariable regression. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for those variables that were independently associated with VI and monocular blindness. Odds ratios for various risk factors for incident VI and monocular blindness. Independent risk factors for incident VI were older age (70-79 years, OR 4.8; ≥80 years OR 17.9), unemployment (OR 3.5), and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.2). Independent risk factors for monocular blindness were being retired (OR 3.4) or widowed (OR 3.7) and having diabetes mellitus (OR 2.1) or any ocular disease (OR 5.6) at baseline. Persons with self-reported excellent/good vision were less likely to develop VI or monocular blindness (OR 0.4-0.5). Our data highlight that older Latinos and Latinos with diabetes mellitus or self-reported eye diseases are at high risk of developing vision loss. Furthermore, being unemployed, widowed, or retired confers an independent risk of monocular blindness. Interventions that prevent, treat, and focus on the modifiable factors may reduce the burden of vision loss in this fastest growing

Rehabilitation of cortical blindness secondary to stroke.

PubMed

Gaber, Tarek A-Z K

2010-01-01

Cortical blindness is a rare complication of posterior circulation stroke. However, its complex presentation with sensory, physical, cognitive and behavioural impairments makes it one of the most challenging. Appropriate approach from a rehabilitation standpoint was never reported. Our study aims to discuss the rehabilitation methods and outcomes of a cohort of patients with cortical blindness. The notes of all patients with cortical blindness referred to a local NHS rehabilitation service in the last 6~years were examined. Patients' demographics, presenting symptoms, scan findings, rehabilitation programmes and outcomes were documented. Seven patients presented to our service, six of them were males. The mean age was 63. Patients 1, 2 and 3 had total blindness with severe cognitive and behavioural impairments, wandering and akathisia. All of them failed to respond to any rehabilitation effort and the focus was on damage limitation. Pharmacological interventions had a modest impact on behaviour and sleep pattern. The 3 patients were discharged to a nursing facility. Patients 4, 5, 6 and 7 had partial blindness with variable severity. All of them suffered from significant memory impairment. However, none suffered from any behavioural, physical or other cognitive impairment. Rehabilitation efforts on 3 patients were carried out collaboratively between brain injury occupational therapists and sensory disability officers. All patients experienced significant improvement in handicap and they all maintained community placements. This small cohort of patients suggests that the rehabilitation philosophy and outcomes of these 2 distinct groups of either total or partial cortical blindness differ significantly.

Blind guidance system based on laser triangulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jih-Huah; Wang, Jinner-Der; Fang, Wei; Lee, Yun-Parn; Shan, Yi-Chia; Kao, Hai-Ko; Ma, Shih-Hsin; Jiang, Joe-Air

2012-05-01

We propose a new guidance system for the blind. An optical triangulation method is used in the system. The main components of the proposed system comprise of a notebook computer, a camera, and two laser modules. The track image of the light beam on the ground or on the object is captured by the camera and then the image is sent to the notebook computer for further processing and analysis. Using a developed signal-processing algorithm, our system can determine the object width and the distance between the object and the blind person through the calculation of the light line positions on the image. A series of feasibility tests of the developed blind guidance system were conducted. The experimental results show that the distance between the test object and the blind can be measured with a standard deviation of less than 8.5% within the range of 40 and 130 cm, while the test object width can be measured with a standard deviation of less than 4.5% within the range of 40 and 130 cm. The application potential of the designed system to the blind guidance can be expected.

Public-Facilities Locator For The Blind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, Kevin D.

1988-01-01

Proposed optoelectronic system guides blind people to important locations in public buildings, With system, sightless person easily determines directions and distances of restrooms, water fountains, stairways, emergency exits, and elevators. Circuitry uncomplicated and inexpensive, in both transmitter and receiver. Readily-available light-emitting diodes, photodiodes, and integrated-circuit chips used to build locator aid for the blind.

Universal blind quantum computation for hybrid system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, He-Liang; Bao, Wan-Su; Li, Tan; Li, Feng-Guang; Fu, Xiang-Qun; Zhang, Shuo; Zhang, Hai-Long; Wang, Xiang

2017-08-01

As progress on the development of building quantum computer continues to advance, first-generation practical quantum computers will be available for ordinary users in the cloud style similar to IBM's Quantum Experience nowadays. Clients can remotely access the quantum servers using some simple devices. In such a situation, it is of prime importance to keep the security of the client's information. Blind quantum computation protocols enable a client with limited quantum technology to delegate her quantum computation to a quantum server without leaking any privacy. To date, blind quantum computation has been considered only for an individual quantum system. However, practical universal quantum computer is likely to be a hybrid system. Here, we take the first step to construct a framework of blind quantum computation for the hybrid system, which provides a more feasible way for scalable blind quantum computation.

The scene and the unseen: manipulating photographs for experiments on change blindness and scene memory: image manipulation for change blindness.

PubMed

Ball, Felix; Elzemann, Anne; Busch, Niko A

2014-09-01

The change blindness paradigm, in which participants often fail to notice substantial changes in a scene, is a popular tool for studying scene perception, visual memory, and the link between awareness and attention. Some of the most striking and popular examples of change blindness have been demonstrated with digital photographs of natural scenes; in most studies, however, much simpler displays, such as abstract stimuli or "free-floating" objects, are typically used. Although simple displays have undeniable advantages, natural scenes remain a very useful and attractive stimulus for change blindness research. To assist researchers interested in using natural-scene stimuli in change blindness experiments, we provide here a step-by-step tutorial on how to produce changes in natural-scene images with a freely available image-processing tool (GIMP). We explain how changes in a scene can be made by deleting objects or relocating them within the scene or by changing the color of an object, in just a few simple steps. We also explain how the physical properties of such changes can be analyzed using GIMP and MATLAB (a high-level scientific programming tool). Finally, we present an experiment confirming that scenes manipulated according to our guidelines are effective in inducing change blindness and demonstrating the relationship between change blindness and the physical properties of the change and inter-individual differences in performance measures. We expect that this tutorial will be useful for researchers interested in studying the mechanisms of change blindness, attention, or visual memory using natural scenes.

Blindness Clues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Science Teacher, 2005

2005-01-01

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older adults, yet researchers are still in the dark about many of the factors that cause this incurable disease. But new insight from University of Florida (UF) and German researchers about a genetic link between rhesus monkeys with macular degeneration and humans could unlock…

Motion-Dependent Filling-In of Spatiotemporal Information at the Blind Spot

PubMed Central

Maus, Gerrit W.; Whitney, David

2016-01-01

We usually do not notice the blind spot, a receptor-free region on the retina. Stimuli extending through the blind spot appear filled in. However, if an object does not reach through but ends in the blind spot, it is perceived as “cut off” at the boundary. Here we show that even when there is no corresponding stimulation at opposing edges of the blind spot, well known motion-induced position shifts also extend into the blind spot and elicit a dynamic filling-in process that allows spatial structure to be extrapolated into the blind spot. We presented observers with sinusoidal gratings that drifted into or out of the blind spot, or flickered in counterphase. Gratings moving into the blind spot were perceived to be longer than those moving out of the blind spot or flickering, revealing motion-dependent filling-in. Further, observers could perceive more of a grating’s spatial structure inside the blind spot than would be predicted from simple filling-in of luminance information from the blind spot edge. This is evidence for a dynamic filling-in process that uses spatiotemporal information from the motion system to extrapolate visual percepts into the scotoma of the blind spot. Our findings also provide further support for the notion that an explicit spatial shift of topographic representations contributes to motion-induced position illusions. PMID:27100795

Motion-Dependent Filling-In of Spatiotemporal Information at the Blind Spot.

PubMed

Maus, Gerrit W; Whitney, David

2016-01-01

We usually do not notice the blind spot, a receptor-free region on the retina. Stimuli extending through the blind spot appear filled in. However, if an object does not reach through but ends in the blind spot, it is perceived as "cut off" at the boundary. Here we show that even when there is no corresponding stimulation at opposing edges of the blind spot, well known motion-induced position shifts also extend into the blind spot and elicit a dynamic filling-in process that allows spatial structure to be extrapolated into the blind spot. We presented observers with sinusoidal gratings that drifted into or out of the blind spot, or flickered in counterphase. Gratings moving into the blind spot were perceived to be longer than those moving out of the blind spot or flickering, revealing motion-dependent filling-in. Further, observers could perceive more of a grating's spatial structure inside the blind spot than would be predicted from simple filling-in of luminance information from the blind spot edge. This is evidence for a dynamic filling-in process that uses spatiotemporal information from the motion system to extrapolate visual percepts into the scotoma of the blind spot. Our findings also provide further support for the notion that an explicit spatial shift of topographic representations contributes to motion-induced position illusions.

Protocol for a pilot, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of prophylactic use of tranexamic acid for preventing postpartum haemorrhage (TAPPH-1)

PubMed Central

Alam, Asim; Bopardikar, Ameya; Au, Shelly; Barrett, Jon; Callum, Jeannie; Kiss, Alex; Choi, Stephen

2017-01-01

Introduction Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of multiple uterotonic agents, the incidence of PPH continues to rise. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to be a safe, effective and inexpensive therapeutic option for the treatment of PPH, however, its use prophylactically in mitigating the risk of PPH is unknown. This pragmatic randomised prospective trial assesses the feasibility and safety of administering TXA at the time of delivery for the prevention of PPH. Methods and analysis A pilot pragmatic randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled trial will be performed. 58 singleton parturients at term >32 weeks, undergoing either spontaneous vaginal delivery, or caesarean section will be randomised to receive 1 g of TXA or placebo (0.9% saline) intravenously. The primary outcome assessed will be the feasibility of administrating TXA, along with collecting data regarding safety of drug administration. The groups will also be analysed on efficacy of mitigating the onset of PPH and clinically relevant variables. Demographic, feasibility, safety and clinical endpoints will be summarised and the appropriate measures of central tendency and dispersion will be presented. Ethics and dissemination This protocol was approved by the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Research Ethics Board (number: 418-2016). The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and at scientific meetings. Trial registration number NCT03069859; Pre-results. PMID:29025850

Colorectal Chemoprevention with Calcium and Vitamin D | Division of Cancer Prevention

Cancer.gov

In this application we propose to complete CA098286, a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of supplementation with vitamin D and/or calcium for the prevention of colorectal adenomas. The study builds on extensive epidemiological and experimental data indicating that both vitamin D and calcium have anti-neoplastic effects in the large bowel and that these agents

20 CFR 416.981 - Meaning of blindness as defined in the law.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Meaning of blindness as defined in the law... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.981 Meaning of blindness as defined in the law. We will consider you blind under the law for payment of...

Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Annals of the Deaf, 1997

1997-01-01

Lists programs for children and youth with deaf-blindness, Helen Keller Centers for youth and adults with deafness that provide extensive evaluative and rehabilitative services, and programs for training teachers of students with deaf-blindness. Programs are listed by state. (CR)

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention for Students with Disabilities: A Call to Educators. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCombs, Kathryn; Moore, Dennis

This digest summarizes basic information on substance abuse prevention and intervention for students with disabilities. It identifies risks associated with specific disabilities including mental retardation/developmental disability, emotional disturbance (at highest risk for substance abuse), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, blindness,…

Identifying Autism in Children with Blindness and Visual Impairments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gense, Marilyn H.; Gense, D. Jay

1994-01-01

This paper offers guidelines to compare the characteristics observed in children with autism and blindness and those observed in children with blindness alone. It distinguishes between stereotypic behaviors (blindisms) in blind individuals and similar stereotypic behaviors of children with autism. A table presents typical behavior patterns of…

Xylitol pediatric topical oral syrup to prevent dental caries: a double blind, randomized clinical trial of efficacy

PubMed Central

Milgrom, Peter; Ly, Kiet A.; Tut, Ohnmar K.; Mancl, Lloyd; Roberts, Marilyn C.; Briand, Kennar; Gancio, Mary Jane

2009-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a xylitol pediatric topical oral syrup to reduce the incidence of dental caries of very young children. Design Randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial. Setting Communities in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Participants 108 children aged 9 to 15 months were screened and 100 were enrolled. Intervention Children were randomized and parents administered topical oral xylitol syrup two times (Xyl-2X, two xylitol 4.00 g/dose + one sorbitol dose) or three times (Xyl-3X, three xylitol 2.67 g/dose) per day (total 8 g) or control (one xylitol 2.67 g/dose + two sorbitol dose). Outcome Measures The outcome end-point of the study was the number of decayed primary teeth. Results Ninety-four of 100 children (mean±SD age, 15.0±2.7 months at randomization) with at least one follow-up exam were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. The mean±SD follow-up period was 10.5±2.2 months. Nearly 52% of children in the control condition had tooth decay compared to 40.6% among Xyl-3X and 24.2% among Xyl-2X conditions. The mean±SD number of decayed teeth was 1.9±2.4 for control, 1.0±1.4 for Xyl-3X, and 0.6±1.1 for Xyl-2X condition. Compared to controls, there was significantly fewer decayed teeth in the Xyl-2X (relative risk [RR], 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13, 0.66; P=.003) and Xyl-3X (RR, 0.50; 95% CI 0.26, 0.96; P=0.037) conditions. There was no statistical difference between the two xylitol treatment conditions (P=0.22). Conclusion Oral xylitol syrup administered topically two or three times each day at a total dose of 8 g was effective in preventing Early Childhood Caries. PMID:19581542

Blindness enhances tactile acuity and haptic 3-D shape discrimination.

PubMed

Norman, J Farley; Bartholomew, Ashley N

2011-10-01

This study compared the sensory and perceptual abilities of the blind and sighted. The 32 participants were required to perform two tasks: tactile grating orientation discrimination (to determine tactile acuity) and haptic three-dimensional (3-D) shape discrimination. The results indicated that the blind outperformed their sighted counterparts (individually matched for both age and sex) on both tactile tasks. The improvements in tactile acuity that accompanied blindness occurred for all blind groups (congenital, early, and late). However, the improvements in haptic 3-D shape discrimination only occurred for the early-onset and late-onset blindness groups; the performance of the congenitally blind was no better than that of the sighted controls. The results of the present study demonstrate that blindness does lead to an enhancement of tactile abilities, but they also suggest that early visual experience may play a role in facilitating haptic 3-D shape discrimination.

Validity of false belief tasks in blind children.

PubMed

Brambring, Michael; Asbrock, Doreen

2010-12-01

Previous studies have reported that congenitally blind children without any additional impairment reveal a developmental delay of at least 4 years in perspective taking based on testing first-order false-belief tasks. These authors interpret this delay as a sign of autism-like behavior. However, the delay may be caused by testing blind children with false-belief tasks that require visual experience. Therefore, the present study gave alternative false-belief tasks based on tactile or auditory experience to 45 congenitally blind 4-10-year-olds and 37 sighted 3-6-year-olds. Results showed criterion performance at 80 months (6; 8 years) in blind children compared with 61 months (5; 1 years) in sighted controls. It is concluded that this 19-month (1; 7 year) difference, which is comparable with delays in other developmental areas, is a developmental delay caused by the fact of congenital blindness rather than a sign of a psychopathological disorder of autism-like behavior.

A Weak Quantum Blind Signature with Entanglement Permutation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lou, Xiaoping; Chen, Zhigang; Guo, Ying

2015-09-01

Motivated by the permutation encryption algorithm, a weak quantum blind signature (QBS) scheme is proposed. It involves three participants, including the sender Alice, the signatory Bob and the trusted entity Charlie, in four phases, i.e., initializing phase, blinding phase, signing phase and verifying phase. In a small-scale quantum computation network, Alice blinds the message based on a quantum entanglement permutation encryption algorithm that embraces the chaotic position string. Bob signs the blinded message with private parameters shared beforehand while Charlie verifies the signature's validity and recovers the original message. Analysis shows that the proposed scheme achieves the secure blindness for the signer and traceability for the message owner with the aid of the authentic arbitrator who plays a crucial role when a dispute arises. In addition, the signature can neither be forged nor disavowed by the malicious attackers. It has a wide application to E-voting and E-payment system, etc.

The global problem of blindness and visual dysfunction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lakshminarayanan, Vasudevan

2012-10-01

According to World Health Organization statistics there are approximately 285 million people who are blind, have severe low vision, or are near-blind. Of these, 39 million are blind, and 246 million have low vision problems. About 90% of these live in developing countries. The major causes are uncorrected refractive errors (42%), and cataracts (38%). In the US, there are about 6 million people over the age of 65 who have age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness. For each decade after age 40, it is found that there is a three-fold increase in the prevalence of blindness and low vision. This paper will address the question of what can we, as optical physicists and engineers, do? There is a need for efficient methods to detect problems, investigate function, provide solutions, and develop rehabilitation devices for the visually impaired. Here I will sketch out the magnitude and variety of the problem, examples and future research directions.

Watch Me Grow! A Text for the Early Education of the Blind Child = Miradme! Texto para la Educacion Precoz del Nino Ciego.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blind Children's Fund, Aburndale, MA.

This text assists parents and other caregivers in stimulating the young child with a severe visual impairment, in order to encourage development of normal behaviors which blindness delays and to prevent the appearance of psychological disturbances. Simple language and illustrations describe the stages of child development from newborn to 3 years…

Pharmacologic interventions for the prevention and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

PubMed

Beharry, Kay D; Valencia, Gloria B; Lazzaro, Douglas R; Aranda, Jacob V

2016-04-01

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a significant morbidity in prematurely born infants, is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in children and persists till adulthood. Strict control of oxygen therapy and prevention of intermittent hypoxia are the keys in the prevention of ROP, but pharmacologic interventions have decreased risk of ROP. Various drug classes such as methylxanthines (caffeine), VEGF inhibitors, antioxidants, and others have decreased ROP occurrence. The timing of pharmacologic intervention remains unsettled, but early prevention rather than controlling disease progression may be preferred. These drugs act through different mechanisms, and synergistic approaches should be considered to maximize efficacy and safety. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Blind Ambition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Catherine Applefeld

2009-01-01

No matter how dedicated they may be, some teachers are daunted by extreme challenges. Carol Agler, music director at the Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB), is not one of those teachers. Since joining the OSSB staff 11 years ago, Agler has revived the school's long-dormant band program and created its first marching band. Next January, she…

Georgia Deaf-Blind Project. Final Report, 1992-1995. State and Multi-State Projects for Children with Deaf-Blindness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgia State Dept. of Education, Atlanta.

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Georgia Deaf-Blind Project, a 3-year federally supported project encompassing 159 counties and providing technical assistance to 237 infants, children, and youth with deaf-blindness along with their families and their service providers. Project accomplishments included: (1) more…

Color-Blind Racism, Color-Blind Theology, and Church Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hearn, Mark

2009-01-01

Color-blind racism develops when persons ignore color in people and see them simply as individuals. As persons of color in racialized societies such as the United States are unequally treated on account of their color, the issue becomes a matter of faith and religious experience as religious leaders and educators, who disregard color, overlook…

Blindness and partial sight in an elderly population.

PubMed Central

Gibson, J M; Lavery, J R; Rosenthal, A R

1986-01-01

A cross sectional, prevalence survey of eye disease in the population over 75 years old of Melton Mowbray has been used to examine the accuracy and completeness of the Blind and Partially Sighted Registers. The Blind Register had high sensitivity and specificity but was found to underestimate the prevalence of blindness by a factor of 1.1. The Partially Sighted Register had high specificity, but the sensitivity was only 50% and it underestimated the prevalence of partial sight by a factor of 1.5. Seven persons eligible for registration, but previously not registered, were found, two as blind and five as partially sighted. This represented 21% of the registrable visually impaired population. PMID:3756128

Working memory and inattentional blindness.

PubMed

Bredemeier, Keith; Simons, Daniel J

2012-04-01

Individual differences in working memory predict many aspects of cognitive performance, especially for tasks that demand focused attention. One negative consequence of focused attention is inattentional blindness, the failure to notice unexpected objects when attention is engaged elsewhere. Yet, the relationship between individual differences in working memory and inattentional blindness is unclear; some studies have found that higher working memory capacity is associated with greater noticing, but others have found no direct association. Given the theoretical and practical significance of such individual differences, more definitive tests are needed. In two studies with large samples, we tested the relationship between multiple working memory measures and inattentional blindness. Individual differences in working memory predicted the ability to perform an attention-demanding tracking task, but did not predict the likelihood of noticing an unexpected object present during the task. We discuss the reasons why we might not expect such individual differences in noticing and why other studies may have found them.

Viagra, surgery and anesthesia: a dangerous cocktail with a risk of blindness.

PubMed

Fodale, V; Di Pietro, R; Santamaria, S

2007-01-01

Since the launch in 1998 of the anti-impotence drug sildenafil (viagra), the American food and drug administration has identified 50 cases of drug-related blindness, the so-called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. This, very serious, side effect frequently leads to sudden, mostly irreversible loss of vision, and there is no proven effective treatment to cure patients or to prevent recurrence. The mechanism of ischemic optic neuropathy is not clear, but it could be related to the fact that the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries have an autoregulation of their own blood flow without any autonomic nerve supply; vasoreactivity could be lower albeit efficient, and therefore more vulnerable to systemic modifications of the circulation. But decreased visual acuity and loss of visual ability also are, although uncommon, anesthesiological and surgical complications. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sildenafil, surgery and anesthesia, taken together, could be a potentially dangerous cocktail of risk factors for sudden irreversible loss of vision. To reduce the risk, sildenafil use should be avoided at least one week before surgical operations, since the reported cases of blindness developed 36h after drug ingestion.

Characteristics of Individuals with Congenital and Acquired Deaf-Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dalby, Dawn M.; Hirdes, John P.; Stolee, Paul; Strong, J. Graham; Poss, Jeff; Tjam, Erin Y.; Bowman, Lindsay; Ashworth, Melody

2009-01-01

Using a standardized assessment instrument, the authors compared 182 adults with congenital deaf-blindness and those with acquired deaf-blindness. They found that those with congenital deaf-blindness were more likely to have impairments in cognition, activities of daily living, and social interactions and were less likely to use speech for…

Proceedings of the National Deaf-Blind Educational/Rehabilitation Exchange.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Southwestern Region Deaf-Blind Center, Sacramento, CA.

The document contains seven papers from the National Deaf-Blind Educational/Rehabilitation Exchange involving parents, teachers, and rehabilitators of deaf blind persons. In the keynote address "The Challenge of Creating Rainbows," R. Kinney comments on the declaration of rights of the deaf blind person adpoted by the Helen Keller World Conference…

Reduced Left Lateralization of Language in Congenitally Blind Individuals.

PubMed

Lane, Connor; Kanjlia, Shipra; Richardson, Hilary; Fulton, Anne; Omaki, Akira; Bedny, Marina

2017-01-01

Language processing depends on a left-lateralized network of frontotemporal cortical regions. This network is remarkably consistent across individuals and cultures. However, there is also evidence that developmental factors, such as delayed exposure to language, can modify this network. Recently, it has been found that, in congenitally blind individuals, the typical frontotemporal language network expands to include parts of "visual" cortices. Here, we report that blindness is also associated with reduced left lateralization in frontotemporal language areas. We analyzed fMRI data from two samples of congenitally blind adults (n = 19 and n = 13) and one sample of congenitally blind children (n = 20). Laterality indices were computed for sentence comprehension relative to three different control conditions: solving math equations (Experiment 1), a memory task with nonwords (Experiment 2), and a "does this come next?" task with music (Experiment 3). Across experiments and participant samples, the frontotemporal language network was less left-lateralized in congenitally blind than in sighted individuals. Reduction in left lateralization was not related to Braille reading ability or amount of occipital plasticity. Notably, we observed a positive correlation between the lateralization of frontotemporal cortex and that of language-responsive occipital areas in blind individuals. Blind individuals with right-lateralized language responses in frontotemporal cortices also had right-lateralized occipital responses to language. Together, these results reveal a modified neurobiology of language in blindness. Our findings suggest that, despite its usual consistency across people, the neurobiology of language can be modified by nonlinguistic experiences.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II trial of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (rhuLIF, emfilermin, AM424) to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

PubMed

Davis, Ian D; Kiers, Lynette; MacGregor, Lachlan; Quinn, Michael; Arezzo, Joseph; Green, Michael; Rosenthal, Mark; Chia, Michael; Michael, Michael; Bartley, Peter; Harrison, Leonie; Daly, Michael

2005-03-01

To determine whether recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (rhuLIF, AM424, emfilermin) can prevent or ameliorate the development of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after treatment with carboplatin (AUC 6) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2) over 3 hours). Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. Eligible patients had solid tumors for which treatment with carboplatin/paclitaxel was appropriate. The primary end point was a standardized composite peripheral nerve electrophysiology (CPNE) score, based on nerve velocities and amplitudes, measured at baseline and after four cycles of chemotherapy. Secondary efficacy end points included CPNE score at last cycle and at exit evaluation, vibration perception threshold, H-reflex latency, symptom scores, and quantitative assessment of neurologic signs. Study drug was given s.c. daily for 7 days starting the day before chemotherapy. Patients were randomized to receive low-dose rhuLIF (2 microg/kg), high-dose rhuLIF (4 microg/kg), or placebo. Patients (n = 117) were randomized across seven neurology test centers. Thirty-six patients received low dose rhuLIF (2 microg/kg), 39 received high dose rhuLIF (4 microg/kg) and 42 received placebo. rhuLIF was well tolerated with 95% compliance and no adverse effects on quality of life. No differences between groups in CPNE or any of the individual neurologic testing variables were observed between baseline and cycle 4 or by the secondary efficacy variables. rhuLIF is not effective in preventing CIPN caused by carboplatin and paclitaxel. CPNE is a reliable and valid tool that was sensitive to the onset and progression of CIPN.

[Prevention of migraine with flunarizine and acetylsalicylic acid. A double-blind study].

PubMed

Pothmann, R

1987-09-01

30 children between 7 and 17 years suffering from at least 2 attacks/month of common or classical migraine since more than 1 year were studied. After clinical exclusion of symptomatic headache 4 weeks were documented by means of a migraine diary. Prophylaxis with Calcium entry blocker Flunarizine (Sibelium) or Thromboxane A inhibitor Acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) was carried out in a double blind design for 3 months. Medication was given as one dosage in the evening: 2-5 mg/kg KG ASS or 5-10 mg Flunarizine. Documented attack frequency and duration were controlled at monthly physical examinations. Final results showed no differences in significant reduction of attack frequency or symptoms between both different therapeutic principals. 72.4% (ASS 73.3%; Flunarizine 71.4%) of patients were attack-free or had at least a 50% reduction. Migraine frequency of initially 7-8 was reduced to 1-2 attacks/month. Duration remained constant in both groups (1-3 h). Side effects were slight body weight gain or abdominal pain after intake, prophylaxis had not to be interrupted therefore. Longtime prognosis is not yet possible because the time of observation is too short so far. Both substances are definitely useful and have few side effects in childhood migraine. If the response to one is insufficient the other substance should be tried.

Estimated medical cost reductions for paliperidone palmitate vs placebo in a randomized, double-blind relapse-prevention trial of patients with schizoaffective disorder.

PubMed

Joshi, K; Lin, J; Lingohr-Smith, M; Fu, D J

2015-01-01

The objective of this economic model was to estimate the difference in medical costs among patients treated with paliperidone palmitate once-monthly injectable antipsychotic (PP1M) vs placebo, based on clinical event rates reported in the 15-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of paliperidone palmitate evaluating time to relapse in subjects with schizoaffective disorder. Rates of psychotic, depressive, and/or manic relapses and serious and non-serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were obtained from the long-term paliperidone palmitate vs placebo relapse prevention study. The total annual medical cost for a relapse from a US payer perspective was obtained from published literature and the costs for serious and non-serious TEAEs were based on Common Procedure Terminology codes. Total annual medical cost differences for patients treated with PP1M vs placebo were then estimated. Additionally, one-way and Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses were conducted. Lower rates of relapse (-18.3%) and serious TEAEs (-3.9%) were associated with use of PP1M vs placebo as reported in the long-term paliperidone palmitate vs placebo relapse prevention study. As a result of the reduction in these clinical event rates, the total annual medical cost was reduced by $7140 per patient treated with PP1M vs placebo. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that variations in relapse rates had the greatest impact on the estimated medical cost differences (range: -$9786, -$4670). Of the 10,000 random cycles of Monte Carlo simulations, 100% showed a medical cost difference <$0 (reduction) for patients using PPIM vs placebo. The average total annual medical differences per patient were -$8321 for PP1M monotherapy and -$6031 for PPIM adjunctive therapy. Use of PP1M for treatment of patients with schizoaffective disorder was associated with a significantly lower rate of relapse and a reduction in medical costs compared to placebo. Further evaluation in the

Vision after 53 years of blindness.

PubMed

Sikl, Radovan; Simecček, Michal; Porubanová-Norquist, Michaela; Bezdíček, Ondřej; Kremláček, Jan; Stodůlka, Pavel; Fine, Ione; Ostrovsky, Yuri

2013-01-01

Several studies have shown that visual recovery after blindness that occurs early in life is never complete. The current study investigated whether an extremely long period of blindness might also cause a permanent impairment of visual performance, even in a case of adult-onset blindness. We examined KP, a 71-year-old man who underwent a successful sight-restoring operation after 53 years of blindness. A set of psychophysical tests designed to assess KP's face perception, object recognition, and visual space perception abilities were conducted six months and eight months after the surgery. The results demonstrate that regardless of a lengthy period of normal vision and rich pre-accident perceptual experience, KP did not fully integrate this experience, and his visual performance remained greatly compromised. This was particularly evident when the tasks targeted finer levels of perceptual processing. In addition to the decreased robustness of his memory representations, which was hypothesized as the main factor determining visual impairment, other factors that may have affected KP's performance were considered, including compromised visual functions, problems with perceptual organization, deficits in the simultaneous processing of visual information, and reduced cognitive abilities.

The global state of cataract blindness.

PubMed

Lee, Cameron M; Afshari, Natalie A

2017-01-01

Cataracts are a significant cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. The present article reviews the literature and describes the current extent of cataracts globally, barriers to treatment, and recommendations for improving the treatment of cataracts. Prevalence and absolute number of blind because of cataracts remain high, although rates are declining in many areas globally. The age-standardized prevalence of blindness in adults older than 50 remains highest in western sub-Saharan Africa, with a rate of 6.0%. The greatest declines in age-standardized blindness because of cataracts in adults older than 50 between 1990 and 2010 were in East Asia, tropical Latin America, and western Europe. Recent studies have largely found higher rates of cataracts in women than in men. A new simulator for training ophthalmologists in manual small-incision cataract surgery holds promise for the future. The rates of cataract surgery are increasing and postoperative outcomes are improving worldwide, yet challenges to reducing the cataract burden further remain. Cost, an insufficient number of ophthalmologists, and low government funding remain significant barriers but investment in further eye care infrastructure and training of additional ophthalmologists would improve the current situation.

20 CFR 416.931 - The meaning of presumptive disability or presumptive blindness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... presumptive blindness. 416.931 Section 416.931 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Presumptive Disability and Blindness § 416.931 The meaning of presumptive disability or presumptive blindness. If you are...

Vincristine-induced blindness: a case report and review of literature.

PubMed

Adhikari, Subodh; Dongol, Raj Man; Hewett, Yvonne; Shah, Binay Kumar

2014-11-01

Neurotoxicity is a dose-limiting side-effect of vincristine therapy. Blindness is a rare central neurotoxicity of vincristine with few case reports. In the present article, we report a rare case of vincristine-induced blindness in a patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Literature search identified eleven published cases of vincristine-induced blindness. We reviewed patient characteristics, chemotherapy used and type of blindness. Vincristine-induced blindness is rare and unpredictable. Prompt recognition and discontinuation of vincristine may lead to recovery of vision. Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Optical system design of solar-blind UV target receiver with large FOV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu; Huo, Furong; Zheng, Liqin

2014-11-01

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation of 200nm-300nm waveband from the sun is absorbed by atmosphere, which is often referred to the solar-blind region of the solar spectrum. Solar-blind characteristics of this waveband have important application value in forest-fire prevention, UV security communication, UV corona detection and other aspects. Especially in military fields such as missile warning, the application of solar-blind waveband has developed very rapidly, which is receiving more and more attention recently. In this paper, ZEMAX software is used to design an optical system of solar-blind UV target receiver with waveband 240nm-280nm, with which UV target signal can be detected. The optional materials are very few for UV optical systems to choose from, in which only CaF2 and JGS1 are commonly used. Various aberrations are not easy to be corrected. So it is very difficult to design a good UV system. Besides, doublet or triplet cannot be used in UV optical system considering possible cracking for different thermal expansion coefficients of different materials. So the doublet in initial structure is separated for this reason. During the optimization process, an aspheric surface is used to correct the aberrations. But this surface is removed before the design is finished to save production cost and enhance the precision of fabrication and test, which still keeps the image quality meeting the usage requirements. What we care for is the converging condition for different field of view from the far object on image plane. So this is an energy system. Spot diagram is taken as the evaluation criterion of image quality. The system is composed of 6 lenses with field of view (FOV) 31 degrees. In the final design results, the root mean square (RMS) radius for marginal FOV is less than 6.3 microns, while the value is only 4 microns for zero FOV. Point Spread Function and diffraction encircled energy diagram within the maximum FOV confirms the good performance of system further.

Hypnotic color blindness and performance on the Stroop test.

PubMed

Mallard, D; Bryant, R A

2001-10-01

A suggestion for hypnotic color blindness was investigated by administering a reverse Stroop color-naming task. Prior to the suggestion for color blindness, participants learned associations between color names and shapes. Following the color blindness suggestion, participants were required to name the shapes when they appeared in colors that were either congruent or incongruent with the learned associations. The 18 high hypnotizable participants who passed the suggestion were slower to name (a) shapes in which the color name was incongruent with the color in which it was printed, (b) "unseen" rather than "seen" shapes, and (c) color-incongruent shapes that were printed in the color in which they were "color-blind." These patterns are discussed in terms of potential cognitive and social mechanisms that may mediate responses to hypnotic color blindness.

Deaf-Blind Perspectives. Volume 3, 1995-1996.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 1996

1996-01-01

These three newsletter issues present feature articles and resources on individuals with deaf-blindness. The following articles are included: (1) "Current Status for Reauthorization of IDEA" (Joseph McNulty); (2) "Utah Enhances Services for Children Who Are Deaf-Blind" (Paddi Henderson and John Killoran); (3) "Families and…

Exploring medication use by blind patients in Saudi Arabia

PubMed Central

Kentab, Basma Y.; Al-Rowiali, Kholuod Z.; Al-Harbi, Rehab A.; Al-Shammari, Nouf H.; Balhareth, Wiam M.; Al-Yazeed, Huda F.

2014-01-01

Objective To explore the characteristics of medication use and challenges experienced by the blind patients. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study included blind persons living in Saudi Arabia who were at least 18 years of age. Participants were recruited through a number of nongovernmental blind associations (in the central, western, eastern regions), universities, social networks, and specialized websites for the blind. A questionnaire was designed and administered via face-to-face meetings with participants and made available online through Google Docs. Results There were a total of 121 respondents of which 26 were excluded based on their ability to visually identify their medications or being <18 years old. The majority of the respondents were 18–29 years old (68%), 49% were male and 51% were female. Around 57% had a college degree while 27% had a high school degree. Diagnosis with a chronic disease was reported by 71 participants (79%, 5 missing). The most common diseases were diabetes and asthma (22%) followed by hypertension (17%). Most blind patients (75%) believed that physicians were the most reliable source of medication information. The medication information and services provided by pharmacists were viewed as inadequate by 46%. The most common challenges encountered by blind patients were linked to drug identification (75%), dose recognition (82%), and identification of expiration date (92%). A large number of patients had to rely on persons with normal vision for dispensing and administering the medications. Conclusions Pharmacists can no longer ignore the medication use problems encountered by the blind people. This study may serve as an initial step for planning improvements in pharmaceutical services provided to blind patients. The government, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists must work in collaboration to address the special needs of the blind. PMID:25685049

Milestones on the road to independence for the blind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed, Kenneth

1997-02-01

Ken will talk about his experiences as an end user of technology. Even moderate technological progress in the field of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence can be, often surprisingly, of great help to the blind. An example is the providing of portable bar code scanners so that a blind person knows what he is buying and what color it is. In this age of microprocessors controlling everything, how can a blind person find out what his VCR is doing? Is there some technique that will allow a blind musician to convert print music into midi files to drive a synthesizer? Can computer vision help the blind cross a road including predictions of where oncoming traffic will be located? Can computer vision technology provide spoken description of scenes so a blind person can figure out where doors and entrances are located, and what the signage on the building says? He asks 'can computer vision help me flip a pancake?' His challenge to those in the computer vision field is 'where can we go from here?'

Physics Education for Blind Students: The Teachers' Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, Amauri; Dickman, Adriana

2008-03-01

We discuss the challenge high school teachers face when teaching physics to the blind. Using the oral history method, we interview physics teachers who have dealt with the inclusion of blind students in regular classrooms. Based on our study, we find that the performance of these students varies, depending on the studied subject. The narrative makes clear the teachers' lack of preparation to deal with inclusion, and their search for alternative methods to improve blind students' learning.

Parallelization of a blind deconvolution algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matson, Charles L.; Borelli, Kathy J.

2006-09-01

Often it is of interest to deblur imagery in order to obtain higher-resolution images. Deblurring requires knowledge of the blurring function - information that is often not available separately from the blurred imagery. Blind deconvolution algorithms overcome this problem by jointly estimating both the high-resolution image and the blurring function from the blurred imagery. Because blind deconvolution algorithms are iterative in nature, they can take minutes to days to deblur an image depending how many frames of data are used for the deblurring and the platforms on which the algorithms are executed. Here we present our progress in parallelizing a blind deconvolution algorithm to increase its execution speed. This progress includes sub-frame parallelization and a code structure that is not specialized to a specific computer hardware architecture.

The blind student’s interpretation of two-dimensional shapes in geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andriyani; Budayasa, I. K.; Juniati, D.

2018-01-01

The blind student’s interpretation of two-dimensional shapes represents the blind student’s mental image of two-dimensional shapes that they can’t visualize directly, which is related to illustration of the characteristics and number of edges and angles. The objective of this research is to identify the blind student’s interpretation of two-dimensional shapes. This research was an exploratory study with qualitative approach. A subject of this research is a sixth-grade student who experiencing total blind from the fifth grade of elementary school. Researchers interviewed the subject about his interpretation of two-dimensional shapes according to his thinking.The findings of this study show the uniqueness of blind students, who have been totally blind since school age, in knowing and illustrating the characteristics of edges and angles of two-dimensional shapes by utilizing visual experiences that were previously obtained before the blind. The result can inspire teachers to design further learning for development of blind student geometry concepts.

Is adding a new class of cones to the retina sufficient to cure color-blindness?

PubMed

Cornelissen, Frans W; Brenner, Eli

2015-01-01

New genetic methods have made it possible to substitute cone pigments in the retinas of adult nonhuman primates. Doing so influences the animals' visual abilities, demonstrating that the gene therapy was effective. However, we argue that no studies conducted so far have unambiguously demonstrated that the experimental animals have also acquired the ability to make new color distinctions. Simply put, it has been shown that animals that underwent the gene treatment can now-in addition to finding a red ball on a grayish background-find a green ball on a grayish background. However, it has not been shown that the animals can distinguish a red ball from a green one. For most people, that essential ability would be the primary reason for wanting to undergo a treatment for color-blindness in the first place, for instance, because their color-blindness currently prevents them from pursuing a career as a pilot or firefighter. It is important to point out such possible limitations of gene therapy for color-blindness to avoid unwarranted expectations in both clinicians and patients. To explain the origin of our concerns, we simulate how replacing the pigment of some cones is expected to influence the outcomes on the behavioral test used so far. The simulations show that this test does not provide conclusive evidence that the animals acquired the ability to make new chromatic distinctions. In our view, it is therefore premature to claim that human color-blindness can be cured through gene therapy. We propose a test that would provide more conclusive evidence of fundamentally altered color vision after gene therapy.

Lead Poisoning in Blind Children

PubMed Central

Ames, A. C.; Swift, P. N.

1968-01-01

Many partially sighted children use the mouth, lips, and tongue as an aid in identifying objects—this has been termed discriminatory pica. Investigation of a case of lead poisoning in a pupil at a residential school for the blind led to the discovery of others with asymptomatic lead poisoning, all of whom had the same habit. All the children recovered without treatment when they abandoned their habit of discrimination by use of the mouth. Authorities responsible for schools for the blind should be aware of this risk. PMID:5662547

A Taxonomy for Mannerisms of Blind Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eichel, Valerie J.

1979-01-01

The investigation involving 24 blind children (2-11 years old) set out to develop and validate a coding procedure which employed a set of 34 descriptors with their corresponding definitions. The use of the taxonomy enabled a detailed, systematic study of manneristic behavior in blind children. (Author/SBH)

Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Inattentional Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seegmiller, Janelle K.; Watson, Jason M.; Strayer, David L.

2011-01-01

Inattentional blindness refers to the finding that people do not always see what appears in their gaze. Though inattentional blindness affects large percentages of people, it is unclear if there are individual differences in susceptibility. The present study addressed whether individual differences in attentional control, as reflected by…

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, Fall 1994-Spring 1995.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deaf-Blind Perspectives, 1995

1995-01-01

This document consists of the three second-year issues of a newsletter concerning people with deaf-blindness. These issues include the following major articles: "A Report on Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Collaboration" (Paddi Henderson and Rich Mulholland); "Rabbits and Retards" (Joyce Ford), in which a parent describes an…

The relationship between sustained inattentional blindness and working memory capacity.

PubMed

Beanland, Vanessa; Chan, Esther Hiu Chung

2016-04-01

Inattentional blindness, whereby observers fail to detect unexpected stimuli, has been robustly demonstrated in a range of situations. Originally research focused primarily on how stimulus characteristics and task demands affect inattentional blindness, but increasingly studies are exploring the influence of observer characteristics on the detection of unexpected stimuli. It has been proposed that individual differences in working memory capacity predict inattentional blindness, on the assumption that higher working memory capacity confers greater attentional capacity for processing unexpected stimuli. Unfortunately, empirical investigations of the association between inattentional blindness and working memory capacity have produced conflicting findings. To help clarify this relationship, we examined the relationship between inattentional blindness and working memory capacity in two samples (Ns = 195, 147) of young adults. We used three common variants of sustained inattentional blindness tasks, systematically manipulating the salience of the unexpected stimulus and primary task practice. Working memory capacity, measured by automated operation span (both Experiments 1 & 2) and N-back (Experiment 1 only) tasks, did not predict detection of the unexpected stimulus in any of the inattentional blindness tasks tested. Together with previous research, this undermines claims that there is a robust relationship between inattentional blindness and working memory capacity. Rather, it appears that any relationship between inattentional blindness and working memory is either too small to have practical significance or is moderated by other factors and consequently varies with attributes such as the sample characteristics within a given study.

Superior Orthonasal but Not Retronasal Olfactory Skills in Congenital Blindness

PubMed Central

Gagnon, Lea; Ismaili, Abd Rahman Alaoui; Ptito, Maurice; Kupers, Ron

2015-01-01

Sight is undoubtedly important for finding and appreciating food, and cooking. Blind individuals are strongly impaired in finding food, limiting the variety of flavours they are exposed to. We have shown before that compared to sighted controls, congenitally blind individuals have enhanced olfactory but reduced taste perception. In this study we tested the hypothesis that congenitally blind subjects have enhanced orthonasal but not retronasal olfactory skills. Twelve congenitally blind and 14 sighted control subjects, matched in age, gender and body mass index, were asked to identify odours using grocery-available food powders. Results showed that blind subjects were significantly faster and tended to be better at identifying odours presented orthonasally. This was not the case when odorants were presented retronasally. We also found a significant group x route interaction, showing that although both groups performed better for retronasally compared to orthonasally presented odours, this gain was less pronounced for blind subjects. Finally, our data revealed that blind subjects were more familiar with the orthonasal odorants and used the retronasal odorants less often for cooking than their sighted counterparts. These results confirm that orthonasal but not retronasal olfactory perception is enhanced in congenital blindness, a result that is concordant with the reduced food variety exposure in this group. PMID:25822780

Implicit Binding of Facial Features During Change Blindness

PubMed Central

Lyyra, Pessi; Mäkelä, Hanna; Hietanen, Jari K.; Astikainen, Piia

2014-01-01

Change blindness refers to the inability to detect visual changes if introduced together with an eye-movement, blink, flash of light, or with distracting stimuli. Evidence of implicit detection of changed visual features during change blindness has been reported in a number of studies using both behavioral and neurophysiological measurements. However, it is not known whether implicit detection occurs only at the level of single features or whether complex organizations of features can be implicitly detected as well. We tested this in adult humans using intact and scrambled versions of schematic faces as stimuli in a change blindness paradigm while recording event-related potentials (ERPs). An enlargement of the face-sensitive N170 ERP component was observed at the right temporal electrode site to changes from scrambled to intact faces, even if the participants were not consciously able to report such changes (change blindness). Similarly, the disintegration of an intact face to scrambled features resulted in attenuated N170 responses during change blindness. Other ERP deflections were modulated by changes, but unlike the N170 component, they were indifferent to the direction of the change. The bidirectional modulation of the N170 component during change blindness suggests that implicit change detection can also occur at the level of complex features in the case of facial stimuli. PMID:24498165

Implicit binding of facial features during change blindness.

PubMed

Lyyra, Pessi; Mäkelä, Hanna; Hietanen, Jari K; Astikainen, Piia

2014-01-01

Change blindness refers to the inability to detect visual changes if introduced together with an eye-movement, blink, flash of light, or with distracting stimuli. Evidence of implicit detection of changed visual features during change blindness has been reported in a number of studies using both behavioral and neurophysiological measurements. However, it is not known whether implicit detection occurs only at the level of single features or whether complex organizations of features can be implicitly detected as well. We tested this in adult humans using intact and scrambled versions of schematic faces as stimuli in a change blindness paradigm while recording event-related potentials (ERPs). An enlargement of the face-sensitive N170 ERP component was observed at the right temporal electrode site to changes from scrambled to intact faces, even if the participants were not consciously able to report such changes (change blindness). Similarly, the disintegration of an intact face to scrambled features resulted in attenuated N170 responses during change blindness. Other ERP deflections were modulated by changes, but unlike the N170 component, they were indifferent to the direction of the change. The bidirectional modulation of the N170 component during change blindness suggests that implicit change detection can also occur at the level of complex features in the case of facial stimuli.

Obstacle Crossing Differences Between Blind and Blindfolded Subjects After Haptic Exploration.

PubMed

Forner-Cordero, Arturo; Garcia, Valéria D; Rodrigues, Sérgio T; Duysens, Jacques

2016-01-01

Little is known about the ability of blind people to cross obstacles after they have explored haptically their size and position. Long-term absence of vision may affect spatial cognition in the blind while their extensive experience with the use of haptic information for guidance may lead to compensation strategies. Seven blind and 7 sighted participants (with vision available and blindfolded) walked along a flat pathway and crossed an obstacle after a haptic exploration. Blind and blindfolded subjects used different strategies to cross the obstacle. After the first 20 trials the blindfolded subjects reduced the distance between the foot and the obstacle at the toe-off instant, while the blind behaved as the subjects with full vision. Blind and blindfolded participants showed larger foot clearance than participants with vision. At foot landing the hip was more behind the foot in the blindfolded condition, while there were no differences between the blind and the vision conditions. For several parameters of the obstacle crossing task, blind people were more similar to subjects with full vision indicating that the blind subjects were able to compensate for the lack of vision.

Pain Perception Is Increased in Congenital but Not Late Onset Blindness

PubMed Central

Slimani, Hocine; Danti, Sabrina; Ptito, Maurice; Kupers, Ron

2014-01-01

There is now ample evidence that blind individuals outperform sighted individuals in various tasks involving the non-visual senses. In line with these results, we recently showed that visual deprivation from birth leads to an increased sensitivity to pain. As many studies have shown that congenitally and late blind individuals show differences in their degree of compensatory plasticity, we here address the question whether late blind individuals also show hypersensitivity to nociceptive stimulation. We therefore compared pain thresholds and responses to supra-threshold nociceptive stimuli in congenitally blind, late blind and normally sighted volunteers. Participants also filled in questionnaires measuring attention and anxiety towards pain in everyday life. Results show that late blind participants have pain thresholds and ratings of supra-threshold heat nociceptive stimuli similar to the normally sighted, whereas congenitally blind participants are hypersensitive to nociceptive thermal stimuli. Furthermore, results of the pain questionnaires did not allow to discriminate late blind from normal sighted participants, whereas congenitally blind individuals had a different pattern of responses. Taken together, these results suggest that enhanced sensitivity to pain following visual deprivation is likely due to neuroplastic changes related to the early loss of vision. PMID:25244529

20 CFR 416.984 - If you are statutorily blind and still working.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false If you are statutorily blind and still... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.984 If you are statutorily blind and still working. There is no requirement that you be unable to work in order...

20 CFR 416.984 - If you are statutorily blind and still working.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false If you are statutorily blind and still... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.984 If you are statutorily blind and still working. There is no requirement that you be unable to work in order...

20 CFR 416.984 - If you are statutorily blind and still working.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false If you are statutorily blind and still... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.984 If you are statutorily blind and still working. There is no requirement that you be unable to work in order...

20 CFR 416.984 - If you are statutorily blind and still working.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false If you are statutorily blind and still... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.984 If you are statutorily blind and still working. There is no requirement that you be unable to work in order...

20 CFR 416.984 - If you are statutorily blind and still working.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false If you are statutorily blind and still... INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED Determining Disability and Blindness Blindness § 416.984 If you are statutorily blind and still working. There is no requirement that you be unable to work in order...

Gender-Blind Sexism and Rape Myth Acceptance.

PubMed

Stoll, Laurie Cooper; Lilley, Terry Glenn; Pinter, Kelly

2017-01-01

The purpose of this article is to explore whether gender-blind sexism, as an extension of Bonilla-Silva's racialized social system theory, is an appropriate theoretical framework for understanding the creation and continued prevalence of rape myth acceptance. Specifically, we hypothesize that individuals who hold attitudes consistent with the frames of gender-blind sexism are more likely to accept common rape myths. Data for this article come from an online survey administered to the entire undergraduate student body at a large Midwestern institution (N = 1,401). Regression analysis showed strong support for the effects of gender-blind sexism on rape myth acceptance. © The Author(s) 2016.

Anticholinergic premedication to prevent bradycardia in combined spinal anesthesia and dexmedetomidine sedation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Ahn, Eun Jin; Park, Jun Ha; Kim, Hyo Jin; Kim, Kyung Woo; Choi, Hey Ran; Bang, Si Ra

2016-12-01

When dexmedetomidine is used in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia, high incidence of bradycardia in response to parasympathetic activation is reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of atropine premedication for preventing the incidence of bradycardia and the hemodynamic effect on patients undergoing spinal anesthesia with sedation by dexmedetomidine. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Operating room. One hundred fourteen patients (age range, 2-65 years; American Society of Anesthesiology class I-II) participated in this study, willing to be sedated and to undergo spinal anesthesia. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A and group C. After performing spinal anesthesia, dexmedetomidine was infused at a loading dose of 0.6 μg/kg for 10 minutes, followed by an infusion at 0.25 μg/(kg h). Simultaneously with the loading dose of dexmedetomidine, patients in group A received an intravenous bolus of 0.5 mg atropine, whereas patients in group C received an intravenous normal saline bolus. Data on administration of atropine and ephedrine were collected. Hemodynamic data including heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean blood pressure (MBP) were also recorded. The incidence of bradycardia requiring atropine treatment was significantly higher in group C than group A (P=.035). However, the incidence of hypotension needing ephedrine treatment showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P=.7). Systolic blood pressure and heart rate showed no significant differences between the 2 groups (P=.138 and .464, respectively). However, group A showed significant increases in DBP and MBP, and group C did not (P=.014 and .008, respectively). Prophylactic atropine reduces the incidence of bradycardia in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia with dexmedetomidine sedation. However, DBP and MBP showed significant increases in patients when prophylactic atropine was administrated. Therefore

Task-irrelevant memory load induces inattentional blindness without temporo-parietal suppression.

PubMed

Matsuyoshi, Daisuke; Ikeda, Takashi; Sawamoto, Nobukatsu; Kakigi, Ryusuke; Fukuyama, Hidenao; Osaka, Naoyuki

2010-08-01

We often fail to consciously detect an unexpected object when we are engaged in an attention-demanding task (inattentional blindness). The inattentional blindness which is induced by visual short-term memory (VSTM) load has been proposed to result from a suppression of temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) activity that involves stimulus-driven attention. However, the fact that, inversely proportional to TPJ activity, intraparietal sulcus (IPS) activity correlates with VSTM load renders questionable the account of inattentional blindness based only on TPJ activity. Here, we investigated whether the TPJ is solely responsible for inattentional blindness by decoupling IPS and TPJ responses to VSTM load and then using the same manipulation to test the behavioral inattentional blindness performance. Experiment 1 showed that TPJ activity was not suppressed by task-irrelevant load while the IPS responded to both task-relevant and task-irrelevant load. Although the TPJ account of inattentional blindness predicts that the degree of inattentional blindness should track TPJ activity, we found in Experiment 2 that inattentional blindness was induced not only by task-relevant load but also by task-irrelevant load, showing inconsistency between the extent of inattentional blindness and TPJ response. These findings suggest that inattentional blindness can be induced without suppression of TPJ activity and seem to offer the possibility that the IPS contributes to conscious perception. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advances in pharmacological strategies for the prevention of cataract development

PubMed Central

Gupta, S K; Selvan, V Kalai; Agrawal, S S; Saxena, Rohit

2009-01-01

Cataractous-opacification of the lens is one of the leading causes of blindness in India. The situation can be managed by surgical removal of the cataractous lens. Various pharmacological strategies have been proposed for the prevention and treatment of cataract. Information on possible benefits of putative anticataract agents comes from a variety of approaches, ranging from laboratory experiments, both in vitro and in vivo, to epidemiological studies in patients. This review deals with the various mechanisms, and possible pharmacological interventions for the prevention of cataract. The article also reviews research on potential anticataractous agents, including aldose reductase inhibitors, glutathione boosters, antiglycating agents, vitamins and various drugs from indigenous sources. PMID:19384010

Eye conditions and blindness in children: Priorities for research, programs, and policy with a focus on childhood cataract

PubMed Central

Gilbert, Clare; Muhit, Mohammed

2012-01-01

The major causes of blindness in children encompass intrauterine and acquired infectious diseases, teratogens and developmental and molecular genetics, nutritional factors, the consequences of preterm birth, and tumors. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore needed. In terms of the major avoidable causes (i.e., those that can be prevented or treated) the available evidence shows that these vary in importance from country to country, as well as over time. This is because the underlying causes closely reflect socioeconomic development and the social determinants of health, as well as the provision of preventive and therapeutic programs and services from the community through to tertiary levels of care. The control of blindness in children therefore requires not only strategies that reflect the local epidemiology and the needs and priorities of communities, but also a well functioning, accessible health system which operates within an enabling and conducive policy environment. In this article we use cataract in children as an example and make the case for health financing systems that do not lead to ‘catastrophic health expenditure’ for affected families, and the integration of eye health for children into those elements of the health system that work closely with mothers and their children. PMID:22944758

[Recurrent cortical blindness after LSD-intake].

PubMed

Bernhard, M K; Ulrich, K

2009-02-01

Recurrent disturbances of vision associated with headaches are typical signs of a migraine. A 15-year-old girl suffered from common migraine. The patient had a headache and nausea five days after a first and proved intake of LSD. Shortly later, a complete blindness of both eyes developed within seconds. These symptoms continued for 48 hours. As the pupillar reactions were intact the findings were consistent with cortical blindness. MRI and MR-angiography of the brain, analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood investigations for thrombophilia were normal. The EEG showed a bilateral symmetrical delta wave slowing over the occipital areas. Within the following three months the girl had three more episodes with complete blindness over a period of 12-36 hours. There have never been any visual disturbances in between the episodes and afterwards. Extended diagnosis with long term blood pressure measurement, Doppler sonography and visual evoked potentials were normal. The occipital slowing in the EEG persisted for 18 months. As the symptoms were unusually long and severe for a complicated migraine it is possible that the temporary blindness was the correlate of flash backs caused by the LSD. LSD intake could trigger additional, local cortical dysfunction (e. g. in the occipital areas) in preexisting migraine.

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in eastern Africa: changes in the last 14 years.

PubMed

Njuguna, Margaret; Msukwa, Gerald; Shilio, Bernadeth; Tumwesigye, Cillasy; Courtright, Paul; Lewallen, Susan

2009-01-01

To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children attending schools for the blind in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania and to compare the findings with those of a 1994 study. Children attending schools for the blind or annexes in 4 eastern African countries were examined. The major anatomical site of and underlying etiology of severe visual impairment and blindness was recorded using the standardized World Health Organization (WHO) reporting form. A total of 1062 children aged below 16 years were examined of whom 701 (65.2%) had severe visual impairment or blindness. The major anatomical sites of visual loss overall (% and 95% CI) were cornea scar/phthisis bulbi (19%,16.1-21.9), whole globe lesions (15.7%,13.0-18.4), retina (15.4 %, 12.7-18.1), lens related disorders (13.1%, 10.7-15.5), and optic nerve disorders (12.3%, 9.9-14.7). Corneal scar/phthisis was not distributed equally among the countries and was highest in Malawi, similar to findings in 1995. The major etiology of visual loss was childhood factors (29.9%) and an estimated 40% of severe visual impairment and blindness was due to potentially avoidable causes. The major causes of severe visual impairment and blindness overall have not changed appreciably since 1995. There are important differences among countries, however, and using overall estimates for planning may be misleading.

Blinded by Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snyder, Tom

1994-01-01

Huge infusion of technology is coming into education; nothing can stop it, because so much money is involved. With computer marketers in driver seat instead of teachers, schools risk being blinded by science. Vendors have coopted progressive education buzzwords, including "frontal teaching,""linear thinking," and "computer…

Odour discrimination and identification are improved in early blindness.

PubMed

Cuevas, Isabel; Plaza, Paula; Rombaux, Philippe; De Volder, Anne G; Renier, Laurent

2009-12-01

Previous studies showed that early blind humans develop superior abilities in the use of their remaining senses, hypothetically due to a functional reorganization of the deprived visual brain areas. While auditory and tactile functions have been investigated for long, little is known about the effects of early visual deprivation on olfactory processing. However, blind humans make an extensive use of olfactory information in their daily life. Here we investigated olfactory discrimination and identification abilities in early blind subjects and age-matched sighted controls. Three levels of cuing were used in the identification task, i.e., free-identification (no cue), categorization (semantic cues) and multiple choice (semantic and phonological cues). Early blind subjects significantly outperformed the controls in odour discrimination, free-identification and categorization. In addition, the larger group difference was observed in the free-identification as compared to the categorization and the multiple choice conditions. This indicated that a better access to the semantic information from odour perception accounted for part of the improved olfactory performances in odour identification in the blind. We concluded that early blind subjects have both improved perceptual abilities and a better access to the information stored in semantic memory than sighted subjects.

Index finger somatosensory evoked potentials in blind Braille readers.

PubMed

Giriyappa, Dayananda; Subrahmanyam, Roopakala Mysore; Rangashetty, Srinivasa; Sharma, Rajeev

2009-01-01

Traditionally, vision has been considered the dominant modality in our multi-sensory perception of the surrounding world. Sensory input via non-visual tracts becomes of greater behavioural relevance in totally blind individuals to enable effective interaction with the world around them. These include audition and tactile perceptions, leading to an augmentation in these perceptions when compared with normal sighted individuals. The objective of the present work was to study the index finger somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in totally blind and normal sighted individuals. SEPs were recorded in 15 Braille reading totally blind females and compared with 15 age-matched normal sighted females. Latency and amplitudes of somatosensory evoked potential waveforms (N9, N13, and N20) were measured. Amplitude of N20 SEP (a cortical somatosensory evoked potential) was significantly larger in the totally blind than in normal sighted individuals (p < 0.05). The amplitudes of N9 and N13 SEP and the latencies of all recorded SEPs showed no significant differences. Blindness has a profound effect on the Braille reading right index finger. Totally blind Braille readers have larger N20 amplitude, suggestive of greater somatosensory cortical representation of the Braille reading index finger.

Kalman Filtering Approach to Blind Equalization

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, California •GR AD13 DTIC 94-07381 AR 0C199 THESIS S 0 LECTE4u KALMAN FILTERING APPROACH TO BLIND EQUALIZATION by...FILTERING APPROACH 5. FUNDING NUMBERS TO BLIND EQUALIZATION S. AUTHOR(S) Mehmet Kutlu 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) S...which introduces errors due to intersymbol interference. The solution to this problem is provided by equalizers which use a training sequence to adapt to

20 CFR 404.1584 - Evaluation of work activity of blind people.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Evaluation of work activity of blind people... Evaluation of work activity of blind people. (a) General. If you are blind (as explained in § 404.1581), we... gainful activity are the same for blind people as for others. See § 404.1574(b)(2) for the earnings...

The Community of the Blind: Applying the Theory of Community Formation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Yoon Hough

Eighty-five blind adults in Minneapolis served as subject in a sociological study designed to test a theory of the formation of communities. It was theorized that the blind form a minority sub-community in which stereotypes of blindness by the sighted are a contributing factor in the limitation of a blind person's social life mainly to other blind…

20 CFR 404.1584 - Evaluation of work activity of blind people.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Evaluation of work activity of blind people... Evaluation of work activity of blind people. (a) General. If you are blind (as explained in § 404.1581), we... gainful activity are the same for blind people as for others. See § 404.1574(b)(2) for the earnings...

20 CFR 404.1584 - Evaluation of work activity of blind people.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Evaluation of work activity of blind people... Evaluation of work activity of blind people. (a) General. If you are blind (as explained in § 404.1581), we... gainful activity are the same for blind people as for others. See § 404.1574(b)(2) for the earnings...

20 CFR 404.1584 - Evaluation of work activity of blind people.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Evaluation of work activity of blind people... Evaluation of work activity of blind people. (a) General. If you are blind (as explained in § 404.1581), we... gainful activity are the same for blind people as for others. See § 404.1574(b)(2) for the earnings...

20 CFR 404.1584 - Evaluation of work activity of blind people.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Evaluation of work activity of blind people... Evaluation of work activity of blind people. (a) General. If you are blind (as explained in § 404.1581), we... gainful activity are the same for blind people as for others. See § 404.1574(b)(2) for the earnings...

Intraoperative ketamine for prevention of postoperative delirium or pain after major surgery in older adults: an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

Avidan, Michael S; Maybrier, Hannah R; Abdallah, Arbi Ben; Jacobsohn, Eric; Vlisides, Phillip E; Pryor, Kane O; Veselis, Robert A; Grocott, Hilary P; Emmert, Daniel A; Rogers, Emma M; Downey, Robert J; Yulico, Heidi; Noh, Gyu-Jeong; Lee, Yonghun H; Waszynski, Christine M; Arya, Virendra K; Pagel, Paul S; Hudetz, Judith A; Muench, Maxwell R; Fritz, Bradley A; Waberski, Witold; Inouye, Sharon K; Mashour, George A

2017-07-15

Delirium is a common and serious postoperative complication. Subanaesthetic ketamine is often administered intraoperatively for postoperative analgesia, and some evidence suggests that ketamine prevents delirium. The primary purpose of this trial was to assess the effectiveness of ketamine for prevention of postoperative delirium in older adults. The Prevention of Delirium and Complications Associated with Surgical Treatments [PODCAST] study is a multicentre, international randomised trial that enrolled adults older than 60 years undergoing major cardiac and non-cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia. Using a computer-generated randomisation sequence we randomly assigned patients to one of three groups in blocks of 15 to receive placebo (normal saline), low-dose ketamine (0·5 mg/kg), or high dose ketamine (1·0 mg/kg) after induction of anaesthesia, before surgical incision. Participants, clinicians, and investigators were blinded to group assignment. Delirium was assessed twice daily in the first 3 postoperative days using the Confusion Assessment Method. We did analyses by intention-to-treat and assessed adverse events. This trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT01690988. Between Feb 6, 2014, and June 26, 2016, 1360 patients were assessed, and 672 were randomly assigned, with 222 in the placebo group, 227 in the 0·5 mg/kg ketamine group, and 223 in the 1·0 mg/kg ketamine group. There was no difference in delirium incidence between patients in the combined ketamine groups and the placebo group (19·45% vs 19·82%, respectively; absolute difference 0·36%, 95% CI -6·07 to 7·38, p=0·92). There were more postoperative hallucinations (p=0·01) and nightmares (p=0·03) with increasing ketamine doses compared with placebo. Adverse events (cardiovascular, renal, infectious, gastrointestinal, and bleeding), whether viewed individually (p value for each >0·40) or collectively (36·9% in placebo, 39·6% in 0·5 mg/kg ketamine, and 40·8% in 1·0

Computer Reader for the Blind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

Optacon II uses the same basic technique of converting printed information into a tactile image as did Optacon. Optacon II can also be connected directly to a personal computer, which opens up a new range of job opportunities for the blind. Optacon II is not limited to reading printed words, it can convert any graphic image viewed by the camera. Optacon II demands extensive training for blind operators. TSI provides 60-hour training courses at its Mountain View headquarters and at training centers around the world. TeleSensory discontinued production of the Optacon as of December 1996.

Contrast discrimination, non-uniform patterns and change blindness.

PubMed Central

Scott-Brown, K C; Orbach, H S

1998-01-01

Change blindness--our inability to detect large changes in natural scenes when saccades, blinks and other transients interrupt visual input--seems to contradict psychophysical evidence for our exquisite sensitivity to contrast changes. Can the type of effects described as 'change blindness' be observed with simple, multi-element stimuli, amenable to psychophysical analysis? Such stimuli, composed of five mixed contrast elements, elicited a striking increase in contrast increment thresholds compared to those for an isolated element. Cue presentation prior to the stimulus substantially reduced thresholds, as for change blindness with natural scenes. On one hand, explanations for change blindness based on abstract and sketchy representations in short-term visual memory seem inappropriate for this low-level image property of contrast where there is ample evidence for exquisite performance on memory tasks. On the other hand, the highly increased thresholds for mixed contrast elements, and the decreased thresholds when a cue is present, argue against any simple early attentional or sensory explanation for change blindness. Thus, psychophysical results for very simple patterns cannot straightforwardly predict results even for the slightly more complicated patterns studied here. PMID:9872004

Change Blindness Phenomena for Virtual Reality Display Systems.

PubMed

Steinicke, Frank; Bruder, Gerd; Hinrichs, Klaus; Willemsen, Pete

2011-09-01

In visual perception, change blindness describes the phenomenon that persons viewing a visual scene may apparently fail to detect significant changes in that scene. These phenomena have been observed in both computer-generated imagery and real-world scenes. Several studies have demonstrated that change blindness effects occur primarily during visual disruptions such as blinks or saccadic eye movements. However, until now the influence of stereoscopic vision on change blindness has not been studied thoroughly in the context of visual perception research. In this paper, we introduce change blindness techniques for stereoscopic virtual reality (VR) systems, providing the ability to substantially modify a virtual scene in a manner that is difficult for observers to perceive. We evaluate techniques for semiimmersive VR systems, i.e., a passive and active stereoscopic projection system as well as an immersive VR system, i.e., a head-mounted display, and compare the results to those of monoscopic viewing conditions. For stereoscopic viewing conditions, we found that change blindness phenomena occur with the same magnitude as in monoscopic viewing conditions. Furthermore, we have evaluated the potential of the presented techniques for allowing abrupt, and yet significant, changes of a stereoscopically displayed virtual reality environment.

Improving Services to Deaf-Blind/Multihandicapped Individuals in Residential Facilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Education Agency, Austin.

The 35 articles represent presentations made during a conference on improving services to deaf-blind/multihandicapped individuals in residential facilities. Among entries are the following titles and authors: "Federal Thrust of Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Funding" (J. Franklin); "Prevocational Training for Deaf-Blind (A Research Endeavor)" (J.…

Verification for measurement-only blind quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morimae, Tomoyuki

2014-06-01

Blind quantum computing is a new secure quantum computing protocol where a client who does not have any sophisticated quantum technology can delegate her quantum computing to a server without leaking any privacy. It is known that a client who has only a measurement device can perform blind quantum computing [T. Morimae and K. Fujii, Phys. Rev. A 87, 050301(R) (2013), 10.1103/PhysRevA.87.050301]. It has been an open problem whether the protocol can enjoy the verification, i.e., the ability of the client to check the correctness of the computing. In this paper, we propose a protocol of verification for the measurement-only blind quantum computing.

Blindness following bleb-related infection in open angle glaucoma.

PubMed

Yamada, Hiroki; Sawada, Akira; Kuwayama, Yasuaki; Yamamoto, Tetsuya

2014-11-01

To estimate the risk of blindness following bleb-related infection after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in open angle glaucoma, utilizing data obtained from two prospective multicenter studies. The incidence of bleb-related infection in open angle glaucoma after the first or second glaucoma surgery was calculated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis and data from the Collaborative Bleb-related Infection Incidence and Treatment Study (CBIITS). The rate of blindness following bleb-related infection was calculated using data from the Japan Glaucoma Society Survey of Bleb-related Infection (JGSSBI). Finally, the rate of blindness following bleb-related infection after filtering surgery was estimated based on the above two data sets. Blindness was defined as an eye with a visual acuity of 0.04 or less. The incidences of development of bleb-related infection at 5 years were 2.6 ± 0.7 % (calculated cumulative incidence ± standard error) for all infections and 0.9 ± 0.4 % for endophthalmitis in all cases in the CBIITS data. The rates of blindness in the JGSSBI data were 14 % for the total cases with bleb-related infection and 30 % for the endophthalmitis subgroup. The rate of blindness developing within 5 years following trabeculectomy was estimated to be approximately 0.24-0.36 %. The rate of blindness following bleb-related infection within 5 years after trabeculectomy is considerable and thus careful consideration must be given to the indication for trabeculectomy and the selection of surgical techniques.

[Survey and treatment of the blind in Xinhui, Guangdong, China].

PubMed

Mao, W; Xu, J; Wu, Z; Zhu, S; Zhang, X; Li, X; Li, X; Deng, D; Chen, B; Li, S

1992-12-01

Co-operating with Helen Keller International (HKI) in 1987 and 1988, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center made a large scale prevalent survey of the blind in Xinhui, Guangdong, China. Three screening methods were used in the project. The first was a house-to-house visit by ophthalmologists. The second was performed initially by trained country health workers and then checked by ophthalmologists. In the third one, the blind people were asked to come together to be examined by ophthalmologists. The second method was found to be the most effective. The survey revealed that the prevalent rate of blindness was 0.24% in the county. Of all the blind, 89% were over 50 years old, 73% were females. Cataract accounted for 47% of the blindness. Thirty percent of the blind from cataract received surgical treatment. The postoperative re-examination half a year later showed that the corrected visual acuity in 86% of the patients was more than 0.05.

Blind Childrens Center Annual Report, 2008-2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blind Childrens Center, 2009

2009-01-01

When entering the Blind Childrens Center (BCC), what a person might not realize is that four of the five visually impaired children in a classroom share the same diagnosis of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (OHN). ONH is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in young children. It is important that these children participate in an inclusive…

Semantic and Phonemic Verbal Fluency in Blinds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nejati, Vahid; Asadi, Anoosh

2010-01-01

A person who has suffered the total loss of a sensory system has, indirectly, suffered a brain lesion. Semantic and phonologic verbal fluency are used for evaluation of executive function and language. The aim of this study is evaluation and comparison of phonemic and semantic verbal fluency in acquired blinds. We compare 137 blinds and 124…

The Institute for Deaf-Blind Studies: Proceedings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scheffler, Joye A.; And Others

The document contains 16 papers from the Institute for Deaf Blind Studies, a program to bring together many disciplines and to place emphasis on every aspect of the learning and teaching activity involved in the development of deaf-blind children. The following titles and authors are included: "Current Status of the Rubella Problem" (P. Ziring);…

Drunk, but not blind: the effects of alcohol intoxication on change blindness.

PubMed

Colflesh, Gregory J H; Wiley, Jennifer

2013-03-01

Alcohol use has long been assumed to alter cognition via attentional processes. To better understand the cognitive consequences of intoxication, the present study tested the effects of moderate intoxication (average BAC between .071 and .082) on attentional processing using complex working memory capacity (WMC) span tasks and a change blindness task. Intoxicated and sober participants were matched on baseline WMC performance, and intoxication significantly decreased performance on the complex span tasks. Surprisingly, intoxication improved performance on the change blindness task. The results are interpreted as evidence that intoxication decreases attentional control, causing either a shift towards more passive processing and/or a more diffuse attentional state. This may result in decreased performance on tasks where attentional control or focus are required, but may actually facilitate performance in some contexts. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Intravenous Amisulpride for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Two Concurrent, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trials.

PubMed

Gan, Tong J; Kranke, Peter; Minkowitz, Harold S; Bergese, Sergio D; Motsch, Johann; Eberhart, Leopold; Leiman, David G; Melson, Timothy I; Chassard, Dominique; Kovac, Anthony L; Candiotti, Keith A; Fox, Gabriel; Diemunsch, Pierre

2017-02-01

Two essentially identical, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III studies evaluated the efficacy of intravenous amisulpride, a dopamine D2/D3 antagonist, in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adult surgical patients. Adult inpatients undergoing elective surgery during general anesthesia and having at least two of the four Apfel risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting were enrolled at 9 U.S. and 10 European sites. A single 5-mg dose of amisulpride or matching placebo was given at induction of anesthesia. The primary endpoint was complete response, defined as no vomiting/retching and no use of antiemetic rescue medication in the 24-h postoperative period. Nausea incidence was a secondary endpoint. Across the two studies, 689 patients were randomized and dosed with study medication, of whom 626 were evaluable per protocol. In the U.S. study, 46.9% (95% CI, 39.0 to 54.9) of patients achieved complete response in the amisulpride group compared to 33.8% (95% CI, 26.2 to 42.0) in the placebo group (P = 0.026). In the European study, complete response rates were 57.4% (95% CI, 49.2 to 65.3) for amisulpride and 46.6% (95% CI, 38.8 to 54.6) for placebo (P = 0.070). Nausea occurred less often in patients who received amisulpride than those who received placebo. There was no clinically significant difference in the safety profile of amisulpride and placebo; in particular, there were no differences in terms of QT prolongation, extrapyramidal side effects, or sedation. One of the two trials demonstrated superiority, while pooling both in a post hoc change to the plan of analysis supported the hypothesis that amisulpride was safe and superior to placebo in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in a population of adult inpatients at moderate to high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Causes of blindness in children attending four schools for the blind in Thailand and the Philippines. A comparison between urban and rural blind school populations.

PubMed

Gilbert, C; Foster, A

1993-08-01

Using WHO definitions of visual loss and a standardised methodology, 256 children were examined in schools for the blind in Thailand (1 school) and the Philippines (3 schools). 244 (95%) were blind (BL) or severely visually impaired (SVI). Causes of SVI and blindness were classified anatomically and aetiologically, and avoidable causes identified. Causes of visual loss in Khon Kaen, Thailand (n = 65) and Manila, Philippines, (n = 113) were similar, with conditions of the whole globe accounting for 27.7 and 27.4% of SVI/BL; retinal disease 29.2 and 23.0%; cataract 16.9 and 16.8%; corneal disease 12.3 and 13.4%; and optic nerve disease and glaucoma 6.2 and 8.8%. Perinatal factors accounted for 20.0 and 23.0% of SVI/BL; hereditary disease 13.8 and 17.7%; and 12.3 and 15.0% was due to events occurring during childhood. The underlying aetiology could not be determined in 50.8 and 41.6% of cases, respectively. In the two schools together twenty six children (15%) were blind from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and 16 (9%) from corneal scarring attributed to Vitamin A deficiency. 103 of 178 (58%) children had avoidable causes of visual loss. In the Filipino towns of Baguio and Davao (n = 66), the causes of visual loss were different from those in Khon Kaen and Manila, with 54.8 and 42.9% of SVI/BL being due to corneal disease, and only 3.2 and 8.5% to retinal disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factors associated with lifetime risk of open-angle glaucoma blindness.

PubMed

Peters, Dorothea; Bengtsson, Boel; Heijl, Anders

2014-08-01

To investigate factors associated with bilateral glaucoma blindness, particularly factors available at the time of diagnosis. Retrospective chart review of all patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) followed at the Department of Ophthalmology or Low Vision Center of Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, who died between January 2006 and June 2010. Disease stage at diagnosis was defined by a simplified version of Mills' glaucoma staging system using perimetric mean deviation (MD) to define six stages of severity. Blindness was defined according to WHO criteria. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association between risk factors and glaucoma blindness. Four hundred and 23 patients were included; 60% POAG and 40% PEXG. Sixty-four patients (15%) became blind from glaucoma. Blind patients had significantly longer mean duration with diagnosed disease than patients who did not go blind (14.8 years ± 5.8 versus 10.6 years ± 6.5, p < 0.001). The risk of blindness increased with higher intraocular pressure (IOP) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13) and with each stage of more advanced field loss at time of diagnosis (OR 1.80 95% CI 1.34-2.41). Older age at death was also associated with an increased risk of blindness (OR 1.09 95% CI 1.03-1.14), while age at diagnosis was unimportant. PEXG was not an independent risk factor for blindness. Higher IOP and worse visual field status at baseline were important risk factors, as was older age at death. © 2013 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The importance of selection in the evolution of blindness in cavefish.

PubMed

Cartwright, Reed A; Schwartz, Rachel S; Merry, Alexandra L; Howell, Megan M

2017-02-07

Blindness has evolved repeatedly in cave-dwelling organisms, and many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this observation, including both accumulation of neutral loss-of-function mutations and adaptation to darkness. Investigating the loss of sight in cave dwellers presents an opportunity to understand the operation of fundamental evolutionary processes, including drift, selection, mutation, and migration. Here we model the evolution of blindness in caves. This model captures the interaction of three forces: (1) selection favoring alleles causing blindness, (2) immigration of sightedness alleles from a surface population, and (3) mutations creating blindness alleles. We investigated the dynamics of this model and determined selection-strength thresholds that result in blindness evolving in caves despite immigration of sightedness alleles from the surface. We estimate that the selection coefficient for blindness would need to be at least 0.005 (and maybe as high as 0.5) for blindness to evolve in the model cave-organism, Astyanax mexicanus. Our results indicate that strong selection is required for the evolution of blindness in cave-dwelling organisms, which is consistent with recent work suggesting a high metabolic cost of eye development.

Comparative Efficacy and Durability of Continuation Phase Cognitive Therapy for Preventing Recurrent Depression: Design of a Double-Blinded, Fluoxetine- and Pill-Placebo–Controlled, Randomized Trial with 2-Year Follow-up

PubMed Central

Thase, Michael E.

2010-01-01

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent and associated with disability and chronicity. Although cognitive therapy (CT) is an effective short-term treatment for MDD, a significant proportion of responders subsequently suffer relapses or recurrences. Purpose This design prospectively evaluates: 1) a method to discriminate CT-treated responders at lower versus higher risk for relapse; and 2) the subsequent durability of 8-month continuation phase therapies in randomized higher risk responders followed for an additional 24-months. The primary prediction is: after protocol treatments are stopped, higher risk patients randomly assigned to continuation phase CT (C-CT) will have a lower risk of relapse/recurrence than those randomized to fluoxetine (FLX). Methods Outpatients, aged 18 to 70 years, with recurrent MDD received 12–14 weeks of CT provided by 15 experienced therapists from two sites. Responders (i.e., no MDD and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ≤ 12) were stratified into higher and lower risk groups based on stability of remission during the last 6 weeks of CT. The lower risk group entered follow-up for 32 months; the higher risk group was randomized to 8 months of continuation phase therapy with either C-CT or clinical management plus either double-blinded FLX or pill placebo. Following the continuation phase, higher risk patients were followed by blinded evaluators for 24 months. Results The trial began in 2000. Enrollment is complete (N=523). The follow-up continues. Conclusions The trial evaluates the preventive effects and durability of acute and continuation phase treatments in the largest known sample of CT responders collected worldwide. PMID:20451668

The Assessment of Cognitive Development in Blind Infants and Preschoolers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brambring, M.; Troster, H.

1994-01-01

This study evaluated the Bielefeld Developmental Test for Blind Infants and Preschoolers by comparing cognitive performance of blind and sighted children (ages three and four). Results indicated that even this test (with "blind-neutral" items) did not permit a fair comparative assessment, though it did prove suitable for within-group…

Facts About Color Blindness

MedlinePlus

... color perception of its employees, such as graphic design, photography, and food quality inspection. The Farnsworth Lantern ... challenging. Color blindness can go undetected for some time since children will often try to hide their ...

Overview on Deaf-Blindness

MedlinePlus

... Inclusion IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Assistive Technology History of Deaf-Blind Education Transition to Adulthood > Transition Self Determination Person Centered Planning Postsecondary Education Independent Living ... > Intervener Services Support Service Provider Personnel Development & ...

34 CFR 395.14 - The State Committee of Blind Vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2011-07-01 2010-07-01 true The State Committee of Blind Vendors. 395.14 Section 395... EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VENDING FACILITY PROGRAM FOR THE BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.14 The State Committee of Blind Vendors. (a...

34 CFR 395.14 - The State Committee of Blind Vendors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 2 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true The State Committee of Blind Vendors. 395.14 Section 395... EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VENDING FACILITY PROGRAM FOR THE BLIND ON FEDERAL AND OTHER PROPERTY The State Licensing Agency § 395.14 The State Committee of Blind Vendors. (a...

Selenium and Prostate Cancer Prevention: Insights from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)

PubMed Central

Nicastro, Holly L.; Dunn, Barbara K.

2013-01-01

The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) was conducted to assess the efficacy of selenium and vitamin E alone, and in combination, on the incidence of prostate cancer. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial design clinical trial found that neither selenium nor vitamin E reduced the incidence of prostate cancer after seven years and that vitamin E was associated with a 17% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to placebo. The null result was surprising given the strong preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting chemopreventive activity of selenium. Potential explanations for the null findings include the agent formulation and dose, the characteristics of the cohort, and the study design. It is likely that only specific subpopulations may benefit from selenium supplementation; therefore, future studies should consider the baseline selenium status of the participants, age of the cohort, and genotype of specific selenoproteins, among other characteristics, in order to determine the activity of selenium in cancer prevention. PMID:23552052

Sensory Augmentation for the Blind

PubMed Central

Kärcher, Silke M.; Fenzlaff, Sandra; Hartmann, Daniela; Nagel, Saskia K.; König, Peter

2012-01-01

Common navigational aids used by blind travelers during large-scale navigation divert attention away from important cues of the immediate environment (i.e., approaching vehicles). Sensory augmentation devices, relying on principles similar to those at work in sensory substitution, can potentially bypass the bottleneck of attention through sub-cognitive implementation of a set of rules coupling motor actions with sensory stimulation. We provide a late blind subject with a vibrotactile belt that continually signals the direction of magnetic north. The subject completed a set of behavioral tests before and after an extended training period. The tests were complemented by questionnaires and interviews. This newly supplied information improved performance on different time scales. In a pointing task we demonstrate an instant improvement of performance based on the signal provided by the device. Furthermore, the signal was helpful in relevant daily tasks, often complicated for the blind, such as keeping a direction over longer distances or taking shortcuts in familiar environments. A homing task with an additional attentional load demonstrated a significant improvement after training. The subject found the directional information highly expedient for the adjustment of his inner maps of familiar environments and describes an increase in his feeling of security when exploring unfamiliar environments with the belt. The results give evidence for a firm integration of the newly supplied signals into the behavior of this late blind subject with better navigational performance and more courageous behavior in unfamiliar environments. Most importantly, the complementary information provided by the belt lead to a positive emotional impact with enhanced feeling of security. The present experimental approach demonstrates the positive potential of sensory augmentation devices for the help of handicapped people. PMID:22403535

Xylitol pediatric topical oral syrup to prevent dental caries: a double-blind randomized clinical trial of efficacy.

PubMed

Milgrom, Peter; Ly, Kiet A; Tut, Ohnmar K; Mancl, Lloyd; Roberts, Marilyn C; Briand, Kennar; Gancio, Mary Jane

2009-07-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of a xylitol pediatric topical oral syrup to reduce the incidence of dental caries among very young children and to evaluate the effect of xylitol in reducing acute otitis media in a subsequent study. Double-blind randomized controlled trial. Communities in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. One hundred eight children aged 9 to 15 months were screened, and 100 were enrolled. Intervention Children were randomized to receive xylitol topical oral syrup (administered by their parents) twice a day (2 xylitol [4.00-g] doses and 1 sorbitol dose) (Xyl-2 x group) or thrice per day (3 xylitol [2.67-g] doses) (Xyl-3x group) vs a control syrup (1 xylitol [2.67-g] dose and 2 sorbitol doses) (control group). The primary outcome end point of the study was the number of decayed primary teeth. A secondary outcome end point was the incidence of acute otitis media for reporting in a subsequent report. Ninety-four children (mean [SD] age, 15.0 [2.7] months at randomization) with at least 1 follow-up examination were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 10.5 (2.2) months. Fifteen of 29 of the children in the control group (51.7%) had tooth decay compared with 13 of 32 children in the Xyl-3x group (40.6%) and eight of 33 children in the Xyl-2x group (24.2%). The mean (SD) numbers of decayed teeth were 1.9 (2.4) in the control group, 1.0 (1.4) in the Xyl-3x group, and 0.6 (1.1) in the Xyl-2x group. Compared with the control group, there were significantly fewer decayed teeth in the Xyl-2x group (relative risk, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.66; P = .003) and in the Xyl-3x group (0.50; 0.26-0.96; P = .04). No statistical difference was noted between the 2 xylitol treatment groups (P = .22). Xylitol oral syrup administered topically 2 or 3 times daily at a total daily dose of 8 g was effective in preventing early childhood caries.

Comparison of an extended-release formulation of granisetron (APF530) versus palonosetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting associated with moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy: results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority phase 3 trial.

PubMed

Raftopoulos, Harry; Cooper, William; O'Boyle, Erin; Gabrail, Nashat; Boccia, Ralph; Gralla, Richard J

2015-03-01

Subcutaneous APF530 provides controlled sustained release of granisetron to prevent acute (0-24 h) and delayed (24-120 h) chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This randomized, double-blind phase 3 trial compared APF530 and palonosetron in preventing acute and delayed CINV after moderately (MEC) or highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Patients receiving single-day MEC or HEC received single-dose APF530 250 or 500 mg subcutaneously (SC) (granisetron 5 or 10 mg) or intravenous palonosetron 0.25 mg. Primary objectives were to establish APF530 noninferiority to palonosetron for preventing acute CINV following MEC or HEC and delayed CINV following MEC and to determine APF530 superiority to palonosetron for preventing delayed CINV following HEC. The primary efficacy end point was complete response (CR [using CI difference for APF530-palonosetron]). A lower confidence bound greater than -15 % indicated noninferiority. In the modified intent-to-treat population (MEC = 634; HEC = 707), both APF530 doses were noninferior to palonosetron in preventing acute CINV after MEC (CRs 74.8 % [-9.8, 9.3] and 76.9 % [-7.5, 11.4], respectively, vs. 75.0 % palonosetron) and after HEC (CRs 77.7 % [-11.5, 5.5] and 81.3 % [-7.7, 8.7], respectively, vs. 80.7 % palonosetron). APF530 500 mg was noninferior to palonosetron in preventing delayed CINV after MEC (CR 58.5 % [-9.5, 12.1] vs. 57.2 % palonosetron) but not superior in preventing delayed CINV after HEC. Adverse events were generally mild and unrelated to treatment, the most common (excluding injection-site reactions) being constipation. A single subcutaneous APF530 injection offers a convenient alternative to palonosetron for preventing acute and delayed CINV after MEC or HEC.

Neural networks for Braille reading by the blind.

PubMed

Sadato, N; Pascual-Leone, A; Grafman, J; Deiber, M P; Ibañez, V; Hallett, M

1998-07-01

To explore the neural networks used for Braille reading, we measured regional cerebral blood flow with PET during tactile tasks performed both by Braille readers blinded early in life and by sighted subjects. Eight proficient Braille readers were studied during Braille reading with both right and left index fingers. Eight-character, non-contracted Braille-letter strings were used, and subjects were asked to discriminate between words and non-words. To compare the behaviour of the brain of the blind and the sighted directly, non-Braille tactile tasks were performed by six different blind subjects and 10 sighted control subjects using the right index finger. The tasks included a non-discrimination task and three discrimination tasks (angle, width and character). Irrespective of reading finger (right or left), Braille reading by the blind activated the inferior parietal lobule, primary visual cortex, superior occipital gyri, fusiform gyri, ventral premotor area, superior parietal lobule, cerebellum and primary sensorimotor area bilaterally, also the right dorsal premotor cortex, right middle occipital gyrus and right prefrontal area. During non-Braille discrimination tasks, in blind subjects, the ventral occipital regions, including the primary visual cortex and fusiform gyri bilaterally were activated while the secondary somatosensory area was deactivated. The reverse pattern was found in sighted subjects where the secondary somatosensory area was activated while the ventral occipital regions were suppressed. These findings suggest that the tactile processing pathways usually linked in the secondary somatosensory area are rerouted in blind subjects to the ventral occipital cortical regions originally reserved for visual shape discrimination.

Perspectiva General sobre la Sordo-Ceguera (Overview on Deaf-Blindness). DB-LINK.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Barbara

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

‘They Shall See His Face’: Blindness in British India, 1850–1950

PubMed Central

Nair, Aparna

2017-01-01

This paper explores the social, medical, institutional and enumerative histories of blindness in British India from 1850 to 1950. It begins by tracing the contours and causes of blindness using census records, and then outlines how colonial physicians and observers ascribed both infectious aetiologies and social pathologies to blindness. Blindness was often interpreted as the inevitable consequence of South Asian ignorance, superstition and backwardness. This paper also explores the social worlds of the Blind, with a particular focus on the figure of the blind beggar. This paper further interrogates missionary discourse on ‘Indian’ blindness and outlines how blindness was a metaphor for the perceived civilisational inferiority and religious failings of South Asian peoples. This paper also describes the introduction of institutions for the Blind in addition to the introduction of Braille and Moon technologies. PMID:28260563

Minnesota Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kloos, Eric

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the 3-year federally supported Minnesota Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project. The project provided training and technical assistance, information sharing, and support services to families of children with deaf-blindness. Activities and accomplishments included: collaboration with…

Acute Blindness.

PubMed

Meekins, Jessica M

2015-09-01

Sudden loss of vision is an ophthalmic emergency with numerous possible causes. Abnormalities may occur at any point within the complex vision pathway, from retina to optic nerve to the visual center in the occipital lobe. This article reviews specific prechiasm (retina and optic nerve) and cerebral cortical diseases that lead to acute blindness. Information regarding specific etiologies, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for vision is discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A double-blind, crossover, randomized comparison of granisetron and ramosetron for the prevention of acute and delayed cisplatin-induced emesis in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: is patient preference a better primary endpoint?

PubMed

Koizumi, Wasaburo; Tanabe, Satoshi; Nagaba, Shizuka; Higuchi, Katsuhiko; Nakayama, Norisuke; Saigenji, Katsunori; Nonaka, Miwa; Yago, Kazuo

2003-12-01

Serotonin receptor antagonists are recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology for the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced emesis. However, the most effective agent in this class of antiemetic drugs for preventing emesis has not been clearly defined. We therefore performed a double-blind, crossover, randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of granisetron and ramosetron, using patient preference as the primary endpoint. Thirty patients receiving two courses of combined chemotherapy (including > or =60 mg/m(2) cisplatin) for gastric or esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to the granisetron-ramosetron group (treatment phase 1: granisetron, 3 mg; treatment phase 2: ramosetron, 0.3 mg) or the ramosetron-granisetron group (treatment phase 1: ramosetron, 0.3 mg; treatment phase 2: granisetron, 3 mg). All patients received methylprednisolone sodium, 250 mg i.v., during each treatment phase. The efficacy of granisetron and ramosetron was similar in terms of the suppression of emesis and appetite status. However, the majority of patients (19/30, 63.3%) expressed a preference for granisetron, as compared with 9 patients (30.0%) who preferred ramosetron; 2 patients (6.7%) had no preference (chi(2) test: p = 0.008; Fisher's exact test: p = 0.015). (1) A significant proportion of patients prefer granisetron over ramosetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced emesis. (2) Granisetron and ramosetron possess similar effectiveness for the suppression of emesis. (3) The variable of 'patient preference' should be accepted as a primary endpoint of antiemetic drug efficacy. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel