Podcasts about bcva

Welcome back to New Insight with Veeral Sheth, MD! Veeral Sheth, MD, is joined by Rich Small, the CEO of Neurotech, to discuss the historic approval of revakinagene taroretcel (ENCELTO) a groundbreaking encapsulated cell therapy for macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). This approval marked the first and only FDA–approved treatment for MacTel, a neurodegenerative disease of the retina that can cause progressive and irreversible vision loss. Speaking with Sheth, Small recounted the long journey of Neurotech, which began in 2007, emphasizing the perseverance required to bring ENCELTO to market. He detailed his transition from Chief Financial Officer to CEO in 2016 and highlighted his team's commitment, many of whom have been with the company for over a decade. The conversation explored the scientific foundation of ENCELTO, which uses genetically modified cells to release neurotrophic factors that protect photoreceptors in the retina. Unlike previous treatments that relied on best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as a clinical endpoint, ENCELTO's approval was enabled by advancements in imaging technology that allowed for direct measurement of photoreceptor health. Sheth and Small discussed the ideal patient profile for ENCELTO, noting that early intervention is key to preserving vision in MacTel patients. With ENCELTO's approval secured, Small indicated the next step is widespread adoption, introducing ENCELTO.com as a patient service hub designed to streamline diagnosis, treatment, and access to care.  #Ophthalmology #Podcast #RareDisease

In 2024, the Battle Creek Veterans Administration Medical Center marked its 100th anniversary.As part of the 2024 special Community Matters episode ahead of Veteran's Day, BCVA spokesperson Brian Pegouske looks back on the center's origins in Battle Creek.Episode ResourcesBattle Creek VA Medical CenterABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERSFormer WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

One of the main items on the agenda at BCVA Congress 2024 in Newport was the bluetongue outbreak that many vets and farmers have faced up to over the past couple of months. Joining Vet Times' chief reporter Allister Webb to discuss the situation and what we may be able to learn from it is Fiona Lovatt, who is a member of the Ruminant Health and Welfare bluetongue working group.

Phase II trial for LHON found no significant changes in BCVA after topical elamipretide, post-hoc analysis showed improvements in central visual field. Single-nucleotide and rare coding variants in over 30 genes were associated with primary angle-closure (PAC) disease. Higher IOP variability and range is associated with faster rate of GCC thinning, suggesting that IOP variations may independently cause macular changes. Higher levels of saccharin were found in well-controlled AMD patients compared to those with chronically active choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

BCVA offers grants to enable research that might not receive funding from other sources; the broad criteria indicates that it should be of direct relevance to cattle vets in the UK. BCVA also aims to use this funding to support our members, who otherwise might not have the opportunity to be involved in research. Up to £5000 is available to share between one or more projects. Kat Hart and James Adams tell us why these are a valuable option for vets at all stages of their career, and how to approach an application and the study itself. (More information about BCVA grants - https://www.bcva.org.uk/resources/clinical-research-grants). MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To predict improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 1 year after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) using artificial intelligence methods on optical coherence tomography B-scan images.

This Vet Times Extra Podcast sees Paul Imrie speaking with Andrew Biggs of The Vale Veterinary Group and Kath Aplin from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health about targeted mastitis therapy. The podcast is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, who bring us Ubropen, Ubrolexin and Metacam. We're going to talk about how mastitis treatment has changed over the years, what affects cure rates and we'll discuss the pros and cons of a targeted mastitis therapy approach using on-farm culture. Treating cows with mastitis is one of the most common reasons for using antibiotics on dairy farms, so it's a highly relevant topic for any vet involved with dairy work. ______________________

Ele Brown, head of the TB policy team at Defra, outlines the ongoing impact of the government's bTB eradication strategy – where there have been improvements and the status of the worst hit Edge Areas. She shows appreciation for the work of the private farm vet and talks to BCVA's Kat Hart – a cattle vet and farmer – about the role of BCG vaccination as the cull strategy starts to wind down. https://tbhub.co.uk/MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As always, BCVA Congress will see the handover of the association's presidency. This year, Colin Mason will be taking over from Elizabeth Berry – and both joined the Vet Times Podcast to discuss objectives, new initiatives and this year's event. Among the topics are the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which is due to launch in England this autumn; roll-out of the new cattle hoof care standards scheme; bovine viral diarrhoea eradication programmes; some of the workshops being held at congress; and the social aspects of this year's event. Congress takes place at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham from 20 to 22 October. ___________________

Ahead of BCVA Congress, we catch up with Fiona Lovatt to discuss progress with the Farm Vet Champions project, which launched last year. Spearheaded by RCVS Knowledge, the project is a collaboration between a number of veterinary organisations – including the BCVA – to empower the livestock profession to establish good antimicrobial stewardship. More than 700 vets have signed up so far – and in May 2022 the ability to set SMART goals was launched, allowing champions to set individual or team targets towards more responsible antibiotic use and healthier stock on farms. Fiona is clinical lead of Farm Vet Champions, and in this episode she discusses the SMART goals platform, how the project is leading the way for the veterinary profession, and future developments with the scheme. __________________

BCVA's Kat Hart talks to Jayne Buxton, author of a new book called The Great Plant-Based Con to explore some of the claims being made in the ongoing conversation about plant-based diets and how the debate around health and the environment is being informed. MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What are the challenges for today's farm vet and how do we nurture positive relationships with our colleagues and clients? Former BVA President, James Russell, talks to Kat Hart about how graduating from the RVC in 2002, having been a part of the student cohort called on to help with the challenges of Foot and Mouth, informed his understanding of the relationship between vets and farmers. Having participated in the development of the BCVA's TB position whilst on Board, he applauds the association for its developing approach to the key issues of the day, such as sustainability and wellbeing. James tells us about being BVA President during a pandemic, liaising with the divisions, the incoming Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, legislative reform, recruitment, and diversity in our profession. He also champions the work of VetLife – did you know there is a regular cohort of 100 people waiting to support our profession via their phoneline?MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Homerosky to discuss her research project on identifying calves at risk for not consuming colostrum within 4 hours of birth with the development of the Beef Calf Vigor Assessment (BCVA).  Homerosky is the 2021 recipient of the AABP James A. Jarrett Award for Young Leaders and a partner at Veterinary Agri-Health Services in Alberta. Find out about their practice and student opportunities at this link. Homerosky discusses the challenges of identifying calves at risk in beef production systems, especially cattle on open range.  A study from Waldner and Rosengren of the University of Saskatchewan, suggests that for optimal passive transfer, calves need 24 g/L of serum IgG and approximately 1/3 of beef calves do not achieve this optimal level of IgG. It can be difficult to assess passive transfer in beef calves versus dairy calves due to the differences in management systems. Homerosky explains that concentration of immunoglobulins in beef cattle is not considered a major risk factor, however, timing of colostrum consumption is critical for passive transfer in beef calves since we rely on the maternal-neonatal bond to allow for nursing within 4-hours. The BCVA is a practical and producer friendly tool that clients can use to identify at-risk calves. The APGAR scoring system used in human neonates has not been found to have a high association with outcomes of interest. In her study, Homerosky identified that the suckle reflex was highly associated with disturbances in blood gas abnormalities and failure of passive transfer. Adding calving ease into the algorithm and applying the BCVA to all calvings will improve the ability to identify at-risk calves. Veterinarians are encouraged to work with their beef producers to identify at-risk calves using the BCVA and providing protocols for interventions when indicated. Relevant publications: Homerosky, E. R., et al. "Clinical indicators of blood gas disturbances, elevated L-lactate concentration and other abnormal blood parameters in newborn beef calves." The Veterinary Journal 219 (2017): 49-57.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.12.001 Homerosky, E. R., et al. "Predictors and impacts of colostrum consumption by 4 h after birth in newborn beef calves." The Veterinary Journal 228 (2017):1-6.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.09.003 Waldner, C.L. and Rosengren, L.B., “Factors associated with serum immunoglobulin levels in beef calves from Alberta and Saskatchewan and association between passive transfer and health outcomes.” Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 2009; 50:275-281

Kat Hart talks to Rachel Hayton about how QuarterPro offers farm vets an entry level approach to managing mastitis and the ability to create tailored strategies for their clients. She outlines the AHDB free tools and resources that are available and how the BCVA training helps farm vets get the most from QuarterPro (online CPD, just £10 for members, £55 for non-members). Rachel also illustrates the 2021 changes to MilkSure that mean from January 2022 only MilkSure trained vets can provide accreditation to their clients. MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gain the ultimate foresight for eye patient protection with Clinical Edge Inc. More details at https://www.clinicaledgeinc.com (https://www.clinicaledgeinc.com)

In the first of our monthly Journal Clubs, Ferdinando Bottoni and Carsten Meyer present their publications on optic disc pit maculopathy and a retinal expansion technique for persistent macular holes respectively. A short synopisis of each paper is given below. The papers were discussed with the authors by a panel chaired by David Steel, Grazia Pertile and Marta Figueroa. Bottoni F, Cereda M, Secondi R, Bochicchio S, Staurenghi G. Vitrectomy for optic disc pit maculopathy: a long-term follow-up study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018 Apr;256(4):675-682. Synopsis: In a retrospective non-comparative study of patients with optic disc pit maculopathy treated with vitrectomy alone, complete resolution of fluid in and under the fovea was achieved in 8 of 10 eyes (80%) without additional treatment.  One additional patient experienced a retinal detachment requiring further surgery. In the successful cases macular detachment resolved in a mean of 14 months after surgery. Postoperative BCVA improved significantly from a mean of 0.63 logMAR compared to a preoperative mean of 0.27 logMAR.  Nine eyes (82%) had a postoperative BCVA of 0.5 or better. The authors concluded that vitrectomy with induction of alone was a safe and successful therapeutic option for the treatment of optic disc pit maculopathy. Vitrectomy for optic disc pit maculopathy: a long-term follow-up study - PubMed (nih.gov)   Meyer CH, Szurman P, Haritoglou C, Maier M, Wolf A, Lytvynchuk L, Priglinger S, Hillenkamp J, Wachtlin J, Becker M, Mennel S, Koss MJ. Application of subretinal fluid to close refractory full thickness macular holes: treatment strategies and primary outcome: APOSTEL study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020 Oct;258(10):2151-2161. In a retrospective non-comparative study by 12 surgeons on 41 eyes with persistent macular holes, the authors reported on their initial surgical, anatomical and functional experience with a technique of retinal expansion by applying balanced saline solution underneath the edges of the holes to free up subretinal adhesions which they postulated had inhibited primary closure. The PMH were closed with this technique in 35 out of the 41 eyes (85%) at 6 weeks after surgery. The postoperative BCVA improved to 0.22 from 0.1 pre op. The application of SR-fluid was not associated with major intraoperative adverse effects. The authors concluded that the technique could achieve a fast and immediate anatomical closure in many cases without serious adverse events. Application of subretinal fluid to close refractory full thickness macular holes: treatment strategies and primary outcome: APOSTEL study - PubMed (nih.gov)

Eplerenone for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy in Patients with Active, Previously Untreated Disease for more than 4 Months (VICI): A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled TrialThe VICI trial is highly topical. Dr Narme Deva, Consultant Ophthalmologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, explores the Eplerenone for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy in patients with active, previously untreated disease for more than 4 months (VICI): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. She explains the results are unequivocal and based on a robust trial of 114 patients. Eplerenone does not improve BCVA in people with chronic CSCR after 12 months of treatment. As ever, Dr Deva reminds listeners that evidence-based medicine includes using reliable data to make decisions, even when patients and ophthalmologists are faced with limited treatment options to prevent vision loss.View article here

It's not about the journey, not the destination! Guests this week: Ari Greenberg chief commercial officer at brightline previously founded and exited BCVA hotel technology platform and hates hotel rooms with shower curtains. Champ Bennett is a recent Miami transplant that has been in tech and startups for the last 2 decades. Currently co-founder and CEO of Capsule, a start-up that's helping businesses create video with their customers and employees. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/infiniteattraction/support

Kat Hart talks to Sarah Tomlinson and Bridget Taylor about new opportunities for farm vets to feel empowered and how they can engage their clients to better manage bTB. Through CHECS TB Entry Level Membership and the associated BCVA training course, everyone can get a clearer view of the potential risk pathways that give us back control – engaging our clients and fine tuning our approaches to reduce wildlife disease and reduce cattle to cattle transmission with accessible, no-risks approaches to biosecurity. MusicFireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have kindly been given permission to repost this episode of the BCVA's Cattlecast, which features Fiona Lovatt, our Farm Vet Champions Clinical Lead.  Fiona Lovatt is an RCVS-recognised Specialist in sheep health and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. She talked to Kat Hart about her role as the Farm Vet Champions Clinical Lead – and how farm vet practices can participate in the initiative in order to advance responsible antibiotic use in cattle practice.     Visit our website for more information on Farm Vet Champions and register your interest.    Read the transcript.    Listen to BCVA's Cattlecast.

Consuming alliums like onions and garlic found to lower colorectal cancer risk by 79 percent China Medical University, July 24, 2020   In a recent study published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chinese researchers found that eating high amounts of allium vegetables corresponded to a 79 percent reduction in colorectal cancer risk. According to senior author Zhi Li from The First Hospital of China Medical University, their findings highlight a trend: The greater the amount of alliums consumed, the better the protection against colorectal cancer. Higher allium consumption linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer For their research, the team compared the food intake of 833 colorectal cancer patients to that of 833 healthy participants (controls) who matched them in terms of age, sex and area of residence. The researchers used food frequency questionnaires to collect the participants' dietary information. The researchers found that those who consumed high amounts of allium vegetables had a 79 percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Li said that their findings shed light on the role of lifestyle intervention in the prevention of colorectal cancer. However, Mary Flynn, an associate professor of medicine at Brown University in Rhode Island, noted that although these findings are interesting, it bears stressing that the colorectal cancer patients had a greater family history of the disease than the controls. The colorectal cancer patients also smoked more and reported consuming less fruits, more alcohol and almost double the amount of red meat than the controls. Together, Flynn says that these factors may have influenced the significant reductions in colorectal cancer risk observed. On the other hand, the link between allium consumption and lower colon cancer risk remained even after these differences were factored into the analysis, suggesting that allium vegetables like onions, garlic, leeks and shallots do have strong cancer-fighting potential. The study is one of many that report the anti-cancer benefits of allium vegetables, which are attributed to their sulfur-containing active components. (Related: Researchers explore the anti-cancer potential of a local onion from Iran.) Garlic, onion and other alliums: promising candidates for holistic cancer treatment Alliums like onions and garlic are among the most studied cancer-fighting foods, besides cruciferous vegetables, because of their abundance of phenolic compounds. In a recent article published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, a team of scientists from the U.S. highlighted the ability of allium vegetables to prevent different types of cancer. In particular, multiple mechanistic studies agree that the sulfur-containing compounds in alliums are responsible for their anti-carcinogenic properties. Some of these compounds include allicin, alliin and ajoene. Alliums also contain other potent plant compounds that contribute to their cancer-fighting potential. These compounds include flavonoids, oligosaccharides, arginine and selenium. According to several epidemiological studies, increased intake of these allium components is linked to a decreased risk of certain cancers, such as stomach, colon, esophageal and prostate cancer. In another recent article published in the journal Food Research International, researchers from the University of Guelph in Canada found a local variety of red onions to be the most effective at killing both colon and breast cancer cells. The team attributed the cancer-fighting potential of Ontario-grown red onions to their high quercetin and anthocyanin content. Both flavonoids have been studied in the past as chemopreventive agents in several cancer models. Taken together, these studies offer ample proof that allium vegetables are excellent natural medicines for various types of cancer.   Link confirmed between a healthy diet and prostate cancer prevention An INRS team shows an association between eating habits and prostate cancer National Institute for Scientific Research (Montreal), July 28, 2020   The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that more than 23,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Among other risk factors, more and more studies point to diet as a major factor in the development of prostate cancer, as it is for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Using data from a study conducted in Montreal between 2005 and 2012, a research team led by Professor Marie-Élise Parent of Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has shown a link between diet and prostate cancer in the article "Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Risk of Prostate Cancer in a Population-Based Case-Control Study in Montreal, Canada", published in Nutrients in June. Three main dietary profiles analyzed INRS PhD student Karine Trudeau, the lead author of the study, based her analysis on three main dietary profiles: healthy diet, salty Western diet including alcohol, and sugar-rich Western diet with beverages. The first profile leans heavily towards fruits, vegetables, and plant proteins like tofu and nuts. The salty Western diet with alcohol includes more meat and beverages such as beer and wine. The third profile is rich in pasta, pizza, desserts, and sugary carbonated drinks. The study took age, ethnicity, education, family history, and date of last prostate cancer screening into account. Marie-Élise Parent and Karine Trudeau found a link between a healthy diet and a lower risk of prostate cancer. Conversely, a Western diet with sweets and beverages was associated with a higher risk and seemed to be a factor in more aggressive forms of cancer. The study did not show any clear link between a Western diet with salt and alcohol and the risk of developing the disease. Moving away from the typical approach used in epidemiological studies, which involves looking at one nutrient or food group at a time, the researchers collected data from a broader dietary profile. "It's not easy to isolate the effect of a single nutrient," explained Ms. Trudeau. "For example, foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, promote iron absorption. Calcium is often found in dairy products, which also contain vitamin D. Our more targeted approach takes this synergy into account to produce more meaningful results that public health authorities can use to formulate recommendations. Rather than counting on one miracle food, people should look at their overall diet." "For a long time we've suspected that diet might play a role in the development of prostate cancer, but it was very hard to pinpoint the specific factors at play," said Professor Parent. "This study is significant because it looks at dietary habits as a whole. We've uncovered evidence that, we hope, can be used to develop prevention strategies for prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in Canada and many other countries." In addition to INRS faculty and students Marie-Élise Parent, Karine Trudeau, Christine Barul, and Marie-Claude Rousseau, Ilona Csizmadi (Cumming School of Medicine) participated in the research. The study was funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the Cancer Research Society (CRS), Fonds de la recherche du Québec--Santé (FRQS), and Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation (MEI).       Study reveals humans are impatient, even down to seconds Ohio University, July 28, 2020 An Ohio University study seeking to understand the psychological mechanisms of waiting for a larger reward in contrast to instant gratification with a smaller reward was recently published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, a flagship journal of the American Psychological Association. The research team discussed in their paper how their findings show that people are impatient not only when thinking about whether to wait or not for a larger reward in the abstract, but they are even more impatient when they actually must wait to receive a larger reward. In the study, the amounts and delays were small (in cents and seconds), but even in the small-scale participants demonstrated myopic behavior, as in preferring the smaller payoff sooner. "In this particular paper, we're interested in how people make decisions that entail comparing the time that it takes to get something versus how much one will get," said Dr. Claudia González Vallejo, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology and second author of the paper. "Those types of experiments are under an umbrella of what is called intertemporal choice, which refers to studying how people make tradeoffs between amounts, either to gain or to lose, relative to the timing of those." The paper's lead author is Dr. Ping Xu, currently of Shenzhen University's School of Psychology, and the third author is Dr. Benjamin Vincent of University of Dundee's School of Social Sciences.  The paper is based on Xu's dissertation from 2019 as she graduated from OHIO under Dr. González Vallejo's mentoring. "I feel lucky, honored and touched. I am proud of my team," Xu said of having the paper finally published.  In the study, the researchers made a realistic situation in which participants could actually experience the time of waiting to receive something, with payoffs and units of time adjusted to be smaller altogether, while at a computer.  This worked by having a participant make decisions between coins that were small and could be received immediately, or larger ones that required a waiting period in seconds before they could be picked up. For each choice, the participant could thus wait and get something larger, or take the smaller reward. Two groups received identical choice options but differed on whether they had to wait to receive the larger payoff after each choice was made or not. In other words, one group experienced the delay after each selection, whereas the other group did not and expected waiting at the end of the experiment instead. Before the results, González Vallejo thought that the time to wait was so small that it wouldn't matter to participants. If it was only a few seconds, surely they would take the larger reward every time, she thought. However, that was not the result.  "We found that in both situations, people did make the tradeoff between time and money. It wasn't that they would just go for few more cents every time because the amounts of time were too small to even think about them. So, delays matter—even seconds to people matter," González Vallejo said. "In general, people are just very impatient."  Xu said, "[The results] overturned our initial plans and predictions, and led us towards something surprising, or to a direction we had never thought of." Using mathematical modeling, two reasons for the findings include that time feels longer when experiencing it and the amount of the reward is devalued when it is delayed, with the study finding support for both reasonings. Future empirical tests are needed to test these ideas further.  Although the research project was started a couple years ago, González Vallejo noted that the findings can be applicable to the current pandemic.  For example, while some countries implemented earlier and longer lockdowns and mask mandates, others showed hesitation to implement such policies or did not wait through the mandates long enough for cases to decrease substantially, with cases continuing to grow.  "I think a lot of experts right now come together and agree on some studies that have shown that if [the United States] had remained in lockdown, or if lockdowns were done earlier and longer, perhaps things would have unfolded differently," González Vallejo said. "Waiting is not easy, as our study showed, and I think future research in terms of analyzing different countries' policies with that in mind will show how some policies requiring patience ended up giving different outcomes for this pandemic."  Publishing in a flagship APA journal is extremely competitive and difficult, thus relief exists among the team for the accomplishment to have the work finally published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General after several months. "When I saw the final publication, I felt that I have graduated for the second time," Xu said. "I am lucky having [that] kind of experience."   Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection Bar Ilan University (Israel), July 28, 2020   Vitamin D is recognized as an important co-factor in several physiological processes linked with bone and calcium metabolism, and also in diverse non-skeletal outcomes, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cognitive decline, and infections. In particular, the pronounced impact of vitamin D metabolites on the immune system response, and on the development of COVID-19 infection by the novel SARS CoV-2 virus, has been previously described in a few studies worldwide. The collaborative group of scientists from the Leumit Health Services (LHS) and the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University aimed to determine associations of low plasma 25(OH)D with the risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. Using the real-world data and Israeli cohort of 782 COVID-19 positive patients and 7,807 COVID-19 negative patients, the groups identified that low plasma vitamin D level appears to be an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. The research was just published in The FEBS Journal. "The main finding of our study was the significant association of low plasma vitamin D level with the likelihood of COVID-19 infection among patients who were tested for COVID-19, even after adjustment for age, gender, socio-economic status and chronic, mental and physical disorders," said Dr. Eugene Merzon, Head of the Department of Managed Care and leading researcher of the LHS group. "Furthermore, low vitamin D level was associated with the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection, although this association wasn't significant after adjustment for other confounders," he added. "Our finding is in agreement with the results of previous studies in the field. Reduced risk of acute respiratory tract infection following vitamin D supplementation has been reported," said Dr. Ilan Green, Head of the LHS Research Institute. "According to our analysis, persons that were COVID-19 positive were older than non-infected persons. Interestingly, the two-peak distributions for age groups were demonstrated to confer increased risk for COVID-19: around ages 25 and 50 years old," said Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern, the leader of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine research group. "The first peak may be explained by high social gathering habits at the young age. The peak at age 50 years may be explained by continued social habits, in conjunction with various chronic diseases," Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern continued. "Surprisingly, chronic medical conditions, like dementia, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease that were considered to be very risky in previous studies, were not found as increasing the rate of infection in our study," noted Prof. Shlomo Vinker, LHS Chief Medical Officer. "However, this finding is highly biased by the severe social contacts restrictions that were imposed on all the population during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we assume that following the Israeli Ministry of Health instructions, patients with chronic medical conditions significantly reduced their social contacts. This might indeed minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection in that group of patients," explained Prof. Vinker. Dr. Dmitry Tworowski and Dr. Alessandro Gorohovski. from the Frenkel-Morgenstern laboratory at Bar-Ilan University's Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, suggest that the study will have a very significant impact. "The main strength of our study is its being large, real-world, and population-based," they explained. Now researchers are planning to evaluate factors associated with mortality due to COVID-19 in Israel. "We are willing to find associations to the COVID-19 clinical outcomes (for example, pre-infection glycemic control of COVID-19 patients) to make the assessment of mortality risk due to COVID-19 infection in Israel," said Dr. Eugene Merzon.   Oral N-acetylcysteine improved cone function in retinitis pigmentosa patients  Johns Hopkins University, July 23, 2020   According to news reporting out of Baltimore, Maryland, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “In retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod photoreceptors degenerate from 1 of many mutations, after which cones are compromised by oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduces oxidative damage and increases cone function/survival in RP models.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Johns Hopkins University, “We tested the safety, tolerability, and visual function effects of oral NAC in RP patients. Subjects (n = 10 per cohort) received 600 mg (cohort 1), 1200 mg (cohort 2), or 1800 mg (cohort 3) NAC bid for 12 weeks and then tid for 12 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular sensitivity, ellipsoid zone (EZ) width, and aqueous NAC were measured. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the rates of changes during the treatment period. There were 9 drug related gastrointestinal adverse events that resolved spontaneously or with dose reduction (maximum tolerated dose 1800 mg bid). During the 24-week treatment period, mean BCVA significantly improved at 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2-0.6, P< 0.001), 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7, P< 0.001), and 0.2 (95% CI: 0.02-0.4, P = 0.03) letters/month in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no significant improvement in mean sensitivity over time in cohorts land 2, but there was in cohort 3 (0.15 dB/month, 95% CI: 0.04-0.26). There was no significant change in mean EZ width in any cohort. Oral NAC is safe and well tolerated in patients with moderately advanced RP and may improve suboptimally functioning macular cones.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “A randomized, placebo-controlled trial is needed to determine if oral NAC can provide long-term stabilization and/or improvement in visual function in patients with RP.”     Excessive screen time for toddlers linked to less physical activity, stunted development National University of Singapore, July 21, 2020   As the world continues to advance, technology is becoming a bigger part of every child's development. Playing on various digital devices for too long, however, can be just as bad for kids as it is for adults. A recent study says excessive screen time may stunt a child's growth, especially if they start using devices around age two or three. Researchers in Singapore examined over 500 children. Their findings lead them to recommend parents follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which advise limiting a child's screen time to one hour per day. This amount should be even less for children younger than five. Tracking the many forms of screen time Study authors say screen time tends to replace time children usually spend sleeping or engaging in physical activity. This can lead to a variety of health problems, including high risk of obesity and lower mental development.                                     Until this report, researchers say most studies focus on school-aged children and adolescents, producing mixed results. “We sought to determine whether screen viewing habits at age two to three affected how children spent their time at age five. In particular we were interested in whether screen viewing affected sleep patterns and activity levels later in childhood,” researcher Falk Müller-Riemenschneider explains in a media release. Parents were asked to report on their children's screen time at age two and again one year later. Activities like playing video games, watching TV, and using a tablet or phone were all included in the results. When the children turned five, they continuously wore an activity tracker for seven days. That tracker monitors sleep, time spent sitting, and how much light-to-strenuous physical activity the youngsters get. How do youngsters spend their time? On average, the average child watches 2.5 hours of television. TV is the most used device. Children spending at least three hours a day in front of a screen are also spending an average of 40 more minutes sitting down compared to more active five year-olds. The results also reveal children at age five are also less active if they've been using devices too much early on. Those youths are getting about 30 minutes less light activity each day and 10 minutes less vigorous exercise as well. “Our findings support public health efforts to reduce screen viewing time in young children,” Bozhi Chen from the National University of Singapore says. Sleep habits do not seem to be heavily affected by too much screen usage. Room for improvement Researchers note the results also need to take into account biases by the parents. They believe some adults may leave out information on their child's diet, sleep patterns, and environmental factors such as childcare. Dr. Dorothea Dumuid of the University of South Australia, who is not a part of the study, argues the findings aren't enough to definitively link screen time with reduced physical activity. “In this rapidly evolving digital age, children's screen use is a key concern for parents and medical bodies. Guidelines to limit screen time have been released by many governments and WHO, however, screens offer digital and social connectedness and educational opportunities,” she says. “Future research is needed to assess the influence of media content, to determine optimum durations of screen time.” Chen and the team from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health say more studies are necessary to determine the long-term health effects of the growing digital influence on kids.         Research shows Mexican walnut can protect the kidneys from ischemic injury Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León School of Medicine (Mexico), July 24, 2020   Some species from the genus Juglans – the largest and most widely distributed of the eight genera in the walnut family – have diverse biological activities, such as anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, lipolytic (fat-metabolizing), anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipidemic and anti-proliferative properties. Studies suggest that these activities may be useful in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments, ranging from minor complaints like diarrhea and stomach pain to more serious conditions like arthritis, diabetes and cancer. Juglans mollis, commonly known as Mexican walnut, is traditionally used to make medicine in northeastern Mexico. Parts of this medium-sized tree are said to be effective against microbial infections and ulcers. Although reports about its biological properties vary, the bark extract of the Mexican walnut tree has consistently been found to have antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-mycobacterial activities. In a recent study, Mexican researchers evaluated the biological activity of Mexican walnut bark extract. Specifically, they investigated whether it can protect against damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Also known as reoxygenation injury, I/R damage occurs when blood supply to a section of tissue or an organ returns (reperfusion) after a period of ischemia, or lack of oxygen. The researchers reported their findings in an article published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Mexican walnut bark exhibits kidney-protective activity Oxidative stress – an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidants – and inflammation are two events involved in I/R injury. But recent studies suggest that Mexican walnut has antioxidant properties that can help reduce the damage caused by I/R. To determine if it can protect the kidneys from I/R damage, the researchers tested its bark extract on a rat model of I/R injury. They divided 24 rats into four groups, which were designated as the sham group, the I/R group, the extract group and the extract plus I/R group. The researchers pretreated two groups with the bark extract (300 mg/kg) for seven?days before inducing I/R. This step involved clamping the renal hilums for 45 minutes then reperfusing the kidneys for 15 hours. The researchers then took blood samples to evaluate the levels of kidney function markers (i.e., alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), oxidative stress markers (i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and pro-inflammatory molecules (i.e., interleukin-1B (IL-1B), IL-6 and TNF-a). The researchers found that the extract plus?I/R group had lower creatinine, ALT, MDA, IL-1B, IL-6 and TNF-a levels than the I/R group. On the other hand, the extract plus?I/R group had higher levels of SOD, an antioxidant enzyme, than the sham group. These findings suggest that the Mexican walnut bark extract can not only reduce kidney injury but also improve blood antioxidant levels. In addition, compared with the sham group, the researchers observed no biochemical or histological damage in the rats treated with the extract. The rats in the extract?plus?I/R group also had less histological damage than the rats in the I/R group. (Related: Black cumin prevents kidney damage.) Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the bark of the Mexican walnut tree can protect against I/R-induced kidney damage. This activity may be attributed to the plant's ability to decrease inflammation and modulate oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA).     Magnesium-Rich Foods and Why You Need Them GreenMedInfo, July 23, 2020   You may have a low level of magnesium in your diet that is preventing you from reaping important health benefits Magnesium (Mg) is considered a healthy mineral essential to your body, but it is estimated that 75% of Americans and people around the world are well below the recommended daily intake of Mg.[i] Luckily, there is an easy fix, since magnesium is bountiful in many foods.  Bright leafy greens/veggies (magnesium gives them that rich green color) top the magnesium-dense list including spinach, chard, broccoli and kale, followed closely by legumes such as lima beans, black beans, peas and edamame (soybean).[ii] When it comes to snacks, seeds[iii] (pumpkin and flax), nuts[iv] (almonds, cashews, peanut butter) and dark chocolate[v] pack a high magnesium punch. Healthy omega-3 fats and magnesium are also abundant in salmon, tuna and avocado.[vi] Whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, buckwheat and even wild rice (technically a grass) are filled with magnesium.[vii] For a list of the top 25 magnesium-rich foods, see Table 1. Table 1 25 Foods Rich in Magnesium Portions Magnesium (100% Daily Value = 420 mg) Spinach 1 cup cooked 157 mg (37%) Chard 1 cup 157 mg (37%) Seeds (Pumpkin and Squash) 1 ounce 156 mg (37%) Lima Beans 1 cup cooked 126 mg (30%) Black Beans 1 cup cooked 120 mg (29%) Quinoa 1 cup 118 mg (28%) Tuna 6 oz fillet (high in mercury) 109 mg (26%) Almonds ¼ cup 105 mg (25%) Cashews ¼ cup 90 mg (21%) Brown Rice 1 cup 86 mg (20%) Buckwheat 1 cup or 1 ounce dry 65 mg (15%) Dark Chocolate 1 ounce square (70% cocoa) 64 mg (15%) Oatmeal 1 cup 60 mg (14%) Avocado medium 58 mg (14%) Salmon ½ fillet (178 grams) 53 mg (13%) Wild Rice 1 cup 52 mg (12%) Edamame (Soybean) ½ cup 50 mg (12%) Broccoli ½ cup (don't overcook) 50 mg (12%) Figs ½ cup 50 mg (12%) Peas 1 cup cooked 50 mg (12%) Peanut Butter 2 Tablespoons 49 mg (12%) Yogurt 1 cup 47 mg (11%) Flaxseed Oil or Flaxseed 1 Tablespoon or ½ Tablespoon 42 mg (10%) Banana 1 cup sliced 41 mg (10%) Kale 1 cup (raw) 37 mg (8%) Benefits of Eating Magnesium-Rich Foods Magnesium in your diet helps to prevent diseases and lessen the harshness of some diseases if you get them. Magnesium has neuroprotective, cardio-protective, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and hypoglycemic properties. A magnesium deficiency or low level of magnesium in your food creates an out of balance condition in your body linked to many diseases from diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome to depression and neurological disorders. Diabetes Magnesium has many protective properties, such as glucose or blood sugar moderating and insulin regulating, lowering risk for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and improving outcomes for Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Magnesium intake significantly improved glucose parameters in people with diabetes and also improved insulin-sensitivity parameters in those at high risk of diabetes in a review of 18 randomized clinical trials, including a total of 670 diabetic and 453 at risk for diabetes patients.[viii] In another meta-analysis of 637,922 individuals, the risk of T2D was reduced by 17% across all the studies; 19% in women and 16% in men when magnesium was increased in their diet.[ix] A magnesium deficiency is seen as a contributing factor in insulin resistance for T2D patients.[x] In a 2017 study of 71 children with T1D, magnesium supplementation improved glycemic control and lipid profiles while decreasing complications such as hypomagnesaemia (clinical magnesium deficiency).[xi] For the 52,684 without known diabetes, dietary magnesium was found to lower fasting glucose and insulin, two risk factors for diabetes.[xii] Heart Disease Because of chronic diseases, medications, decreases in food crop magnesium contents, and higher availability of refined and processed foods, the vast majority of people in modern societies are at risk for magnesium deficiency (often undiagnosed) and magnesium dietary supplementation is an easy and low cost way to lower the risks for a variety of heart diseases.[xiii] In a meta-analysis of 532,979 participants from 19 studies, the greatest risk reduction for cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurred when magnesium intake increased from 150 to 400 milligrams (mg) per day.[xiv] In a meta-analysis of 48 genetic studies with a total of 60,801 coronary artery disease (CAD) cases and 123,504 non-cases, researchers found that serum magnesium levels are inversely associated with risk of heart disease.[xv] Magnesium supplementation is also seen as a successful preventative mechanism (by improving lipid profiles, fasting glucose and blood pressure)[xvi] to heart disease complications (a leading cause of death from T2 diabetes).[xvii],[xviii] Metabolic Syndrome Generally, the triad of obesity, high blood pressure and impaired glucose tolerance, as in T2D (insulin resistance), is referred to as metabolic syndrome.[xix] In a meta-analysis of six studies, including a total of 24,473 individuals and 6,311 cases of metabolic syndrome, a higher dietary magnesium level lowered the risk of metabolic syndrome by 17%.[xx] Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to lower blood pressure measures significantly in those with high blood pressure taking anti-hypertensive medication (135 subjects); systolic blood pressure decreased by 18.7 points and diastolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 10.9 points.    ...

Vaccines are an important part of cattle vets’ armoury and in the health of the nation’s livestock. Discussions about them with farmers have to touch on the economic as well as health benefits. Phil Elkins discusses this important area in this podcast. Phil qualified in 2005 from The University of Edinburgh and, following stints in Cheshire and New Zealand, spent the majority of his career in clinical practice in Cornwall, during which time he gained a certificate in advanced veterinary practice in cattle. Following 15 years in clinical practice and a stint working for an agritech company, Phil now works as an independent consultant to both farms and industry bodies. He is also a board member of BCVA and a former council member of BVA. Phil wrote the Focus article in Vet Times’ 30 June issue (Volume 50, Issue 27, Pages 6-8) on this subject. “Cattle vaccination: health and financial implications” discusses the practical support vets can provide to their clients to help them decide whether to vaccinate their herds. The article is available online at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/?p=216512

Episode One: Join President, Nikki Hopkins, for an update on COVID-19 resources in this inaugural podcast from BCVA. Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardustLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to EyePod Bayer! Today we will discuss an important topic for many of our patients and those of you active within the Ophthalmological Society – namely the Swedish Cataract Register which started in 1992 and is highly recognized and well known within as well as outside the Swedish borders.   The primary aim of the register was to assess waiting time for cataract surgery and BCVA at the time for surgery and has evolved to include outcome of visual function, quality data and incidence of endophthalmitis.  So far the register has contributed to numerous publications with important and helpful outcomes and guidance, valuable both for patients and for cataract surgeons all over the world. It is with honor and joy we welcome today Professor Anders Behndig, currently responsible for the cataract register and Professor Mats Lundström, founder of the register. Welcome! eyepod@bayer.com   MA-EYL-DK-0110-1

Welcome back to EyePod Bayer! Today we will discuss an important topic for many of our patients and those of you active within the Ophthalmological Society – namely the Swedish Cataract Register which started in 1992 and is highly recognized and well known within as well as outside the Swedish borders.   The primary aim of the register was to assess waiting time for cataract surgery and BCVA at the time for surgery and has evolved to include outcome of visual function, quality data and incidence of endophthalmitis.  So far the register has contributed to numerous publications with important and helpful outcomes and guidance, valuable both for patients and for cataract surgeons all over the world. It is with honor and joy we welcome today Professor Anders Behndig, currently responsible for the cataract register and Professor Mats Lundström, founder of the register. Welcome! eyepod@bayer.com     MA-EYL-DK-0104-1

With additional consumer emphasis on animal welfare in the food chain, livestock vets need to be continually engaging with farmers on improving calf health matters. In this episode, Katie Fitzgerald discusses ways vets can motivate farmers on youngstock health issues. – Katie Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2012 and joined a farm 
practice in North Yorkshire, working with a range of dairy, beef and sheep clients. She then spent a year working at a Lancashire practice before returning to Nottingham as a resident. Katie is a director of LLM Farm Vets in Derbyshire and continues with her research into dairy cattle housing. She also sits on the BCVA board, consulting on Government policies. She was a speaker at London Vet Show in the BVA farm stream, with a session on “Engaging with farmers to improve calf health. Within this podcast, she mentions resources made available by, among others, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) [https://ahdb.org.uk], including the Calf to Calving programme [http://bit.ly/2TdYyNM].

In this podcast, Laura Honey talks to Andrew Cobner, president of the BCVA, about his plans for the presidential year.

To assess quality of life in uveal melanoma patients within the first and second year after CyberKnife radiosurgery. Overall, 91 uveal melanoma patients were evaluated for quality of life through the Short-form (SF-12) Health Survey at baseline and at every follow-up visit over 2 years after CyberKnife radiosurgery. Statistical analysis was carried out using SF Health Outcomes Scoring Software and included subgroup analysis of patients developing secondary glaucoma and of patients maintaining a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the treated eye of 0.5 log(MAR) or better. Analysis of variance, Greenhouse-Geisser correction, Student's t-test, and Fisher's exact test were used to determine statistical significance. Physical Functioning (PF) and Role Physical (RP) showed a significant decrease after CyberKnife radiosurgery, whereas Mental Health (MH) improved (P=0.007, P

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between morphological and functionalresults 12 months after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. Methods: 31eyes from 31 consecutive patients with nnetamorphopsia and bestcorrected visual acuity (BCVA) below 20/32 underwent a transconjunctival23-gauge vitrectomy with ERM and internal limiting membrane peeling. Preoperatively and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, we assessed BCVA,microperimetry (MP-1) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT). Photoreceptor inner and outer segment (IS/OS) was graded onSD-OCT images and correlated with microperimetry measurements in thefovea and parafoveal region. Results: The postoperative BCVA wassignificantly better in eyes with an intact IS/OS junction (p < 0.01).In addition, the mean defect depth was postoperatively decreased in thefoveal and parafoveal area in eyes with an intact IS/OS junction. Acorrelation of SD-OCT IS/OS images and microperinnetry in eyes withimprovement in BCVA of at least 2 lines revealed a statisticallysignificant result for the parafoveal quadrants (p < 0.011 for SD-OCTand p < 0.005 for microperimetry) but not for the foveal area alone.Conclusions: The IS/OS regeneration in the parafoveal quadrantscontributes significantly to the recovery of BCVA following ERM surgery.Consequently, functional and morphological tests of the macular areashould not be limited to the fovea but should be extended to theparafoveal region.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of three intravitreal bevacizumab upload injections followed by a dexamethasone implant versus dexamethasone implant monotherapy in eyes with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. Methods: Sixty-four eyes of 64 patients were included in this prospective, consecutive, nonrandomized case series: group 1 consisted of 38 patients (22 with central retinal vein occlusion, CRVO, 16 with branch retinal vein occlusion, BRVO) treated using a dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) alone; group 2 consisted of 26 patients (14 CRVO, 12 BRVO) treated with three consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections at monthly intervals followed by a dexamethasone implant. In case of recurrence, both cohorts received further dexamethasone implants. Preoperatively and monthly best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, ETDRS), central retinal thickness (Spectralis-OCT), intraocular pressure, and wide-angle fundus photodocumentation (Optomap) were performed. The primary clinical endpoint was BCVA at 6 months after initiation of therapy. Secondary endpoints were central retinal thickness and safety of the therapy applied. Results: In group 1, an increase in BCVA of 2.5 (+/- 1.6) letters in the CRVO and of 13.0 (+/- 3.2) letters in BRVO patients was seen after 6 months, in group 2 of 5.9 (+/- 0.4) letters (CRVO) and 3.8 (+/- 2.4) letters (BRVO), which was not statistically significant. When comparing the two treatment groups with respect to the type of vein occlusion, there was a significant advantage for BRVO patients for the dexamethasone implant monotherapy (BRVO patients in group 1, p = 0.005). Central retinal thickness showed a significant reduction after 6 months only in patients of group 1, both for CRVO (p = 0.01) and BRVO (p = 0.003). First recurrence after the first dexamethasone implant injection occurred after 3.8 months (mean) in CRVO and 3.5 months in BRVO patients (group 1), versus 3.2 and 3.7 months, respectively, in group 2. In group 1, 63.6% with CRVO and 50% with BRVO showed an increased intraocular pressure after treatment; in group 2, 57.1% with CRVO and 50.0% with BRVO, respectively. Conclusion: In CRVO, there was no difference between the two treatment strategies investigated. However, in BRVO, dexamethasone implant monotherapy was associated with better functional outcome. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel