Evaluation of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese

We evaluated whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese. A total of 2059 elderly Japanese (730 men and 1329 women), aged 60 - 79 years, were enrolled in the cross-sectional investigation study. Anthropometric parameters, whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance were measured. Whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in 70’s than those in 60’s in both sexes. Two hundred twenty seven men (31.1%) and 533 women (40.1%) were having no medications. In men, whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in subjects with medications than those in subjects without in 60’s. However, significant differences of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance between subjects with and without medications in men with 70’s and women with 60’s and 70’s were not noted. This standard mean value may provide a useful reference database for evaluating whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in Japanese elderly subjects.

Effects of subject’s wakefulness state and health status on approximated entropy during eye opening and closure test of routine EEG examination

This study tested a novel method designed to provide useful information for medical diagnosis and treatment. We measured electroencephalography (EEG) during a test of eye opening and closing, a common test in routine EEG examination. This test is mainly used for measuring the degree of alpha blocking and sensitivity during eyes opening and closing. However, because these factors depend on the subject’s awareness, drowsiness can interfere with accurate diagnosis. We sought to determine the optimal EEG frequency band and optimal brain region for distinguishing healthy individuals from patients suffering from several neurophysiological diseases (including dementia, cerebrovascular disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and epilepsy) while fully awake, and while in an early drowsy state. We tested four groups of subjects (awake healthy subjects, drowsy healthy subjects, awake patients and drowsy patients). The complexity of EEG band frequencies over five lobes in the human brain was analyzed using wavelet-based approximate entropy (ApEn). Two-way analysis of variance tested the effects of the two factors of interest (subjects’ health state, and subjects’ wakefulness state) on five different lobes of the brain during eyes opening and closing. The complexity of the theta and delta bands over frontal and central regions, respectively, was significantly greater in the healthy state during eyes opening. In contrast, patients exhibited increased complexity of gamma band activity over the temporal region only, during eyes-close. The early drowsy state and wakefulness state increased the complexity of theta band activity over the temporal region only during eyes-close and eyes-open states respectively, and this change was significantly greater in control subjects compared with patients. We propose that this method may be useful in routine EEG examination, to aid medical doctors and clinicians in distinguishing healthy individuals from patients, regardless of whether the subject is fully awake or in the early stages of drowsiness.

Developmental and Condition-Related Changes in the Prefrontal Cortex Activity during Rest

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in cognitive process related to executive function, but is also active during resting states. Quantifying prefrontal cortex activity during resting states provides a baseline for interpreting task-induced brain activity. Researchers commonly use resting conditions where participants are prompted to stare at a screen (eyes open) or close their eyes (eyes closed). Are these two conditions equivalent representations of a baseline resting state? Further, does prefrontal cortex activity during these conditions change as a function of development? The aim of this study was to examine differences in prefrontal cortex activity between eyes open and eyes closed conditions during resting states in children and adults to provide a rationale of proper selection of baseline condition in future research. Thirty-six participants in 3 age groups were recruited in this study including twenty-four adults, five 12 - 15 years old children, and seven 8 - 11 years old children. Relative changes in concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (Δoxy-Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (Δdeoxy-Hb) were obtained by using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO) conditions, 3 minutes each. Contrasts were tested to compare the differences of Δoxy-Hb and Δdeoxy-Hb between eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The EC condition had significantly higher Δoxy-Hb than EO when all groups were combined (t (17.268) = 3.021, p = .008, Cohen’s d = –0.72). When comparing Δoxy-Hb between eyes conditions within each group, the younger group had significantly higher Δoxy-Hb in EC than EO (t (9.459) = 2.734, p = 0.022, Cohen’s d = –1.46). Based on these results, the EO condition may be a better baseline condition, particularly in studies with younger children, since it has less activity in the PFC that could interfere with interpretations of task-induced activity.

Predictive value and applicability of ocular trauma scores and pediatric ocular trauma scores in pediatric globe injuries

AIM: To evaluate the predictive value and applicability of Ocular Trauma Score(OTS) and Pediatric Ocular Trauma Score(POTS) for closed and open globe injuries in the pediatric group.METHODS: A retrospective study of closed and open globe injuries in children age of 0-18-year-old between 2012-2019 was conducted.Medical records were collected,and injuries were classified using Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System(BETTS).The predictive value and applicability of both OTS and POTS to final visual acuity(VA) were analyzed.RESULTS: Of 84 patients,59(70.2%) presented with closed globe injuries(CGI) and 25(29.8%) with open globe injuries(OGI).The mean of initial VA was 0.832±0.904 log MAR.OTS and POTS was calculated.Initial VA(P<0.001) and traumatic cataract(P<0.001) were significantly associated with visual outcome,followed by organic/unclean wound (P=0.001),delay of surger y(P=0.001),iris prolapse(P=0.003),and globe rupture(P=0.008).A strong correlation between OTS and POTS and final VA(r=-0.798,P<0.001;r=-0.612,P<0.001) was found.OTS was more applicable in all age group of pediatric and in contrast to POTS,it was designed for 0-15 years old.POTS requires eleven parameters and OTS six parameters.Even though initial VA was not available,we could still calculate into POTS equation.CONCLUSION: OTS and POTS are highly predictive prognostic tools for final VA in CGI and OGI's in children.

Relationship among eye condition sensitivities, photosensitivity and epileptic syndromes

Background Electroencephalogram （EEG） activity in normal subjects and epileptic patients is often closely related to the eye＇s status such as eye opened （EO）, eye closure （ECL） and eyes closed （EC）. ECL is the period immediately after closing of the eyes and only lasts for less than 3 seconds if the eyes remain closed. EC is the period as long as the eyes are closed. Epileptiform changes on EEG induced by ECL or EC are called the changes of ECL sensitivity （ECLS） or EC sensitivity （ECS）. ECLS occurs mainly but not exclusively in photosensitive patients and ECS has been seen rarely in photosensitive patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among ECLS, ECS, photosensitivity and epilepsy syndromes in children. Methods EEG records from child patients in the EEG Department of Peking University First Hospital during the period of May 2005 to May 2007 were examined for the presence of ECLS or ECS. Open-close eye tests and intermittent photic stimulations were carried out during video-EEG monitoring for examining ECLS, ECS and photosensitivity. Results Based on ECLS and ECS on their EEGs, 30 patients were divided into ECLS group （16 cases） and ECS group （14 cases）. There were more boys than girls in the two groups. The mean age of initial detection of ECLS and ECS was 10 years, and the average onset age of seizures was 9 years. The epilepsy syndromes in the ECLS group included idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, Panayiotopoulos syndrome, symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, eyelid myoclonia with absences, epilepsy with grand mal on awakening and pure photosensitive epilepsy with mainly generalized tonic clonic seizures. Those in the ECS group were juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, Panayiotopoulos syndrome and Gastaut type-idiopathic children occipital epilepsy. Photosensitivity was detected in 88% of patients with ECLS and 29% of patients with ECS. Conclusions ECLS and ECS are relatively common in females. Comparing with ECS, ECLS is found in more epilepsy syndromes. However, ECS and ECLS could exist in the same epilepsy syndrome. ECLS and ECS can be associated or dissociated with photosensitivity. The rate of ECLS with photosensitivity is higher than that of ECS with photosensitivity, suggesting that mechanisms for ECLS, ECS and photosensitivity may be different but correlated.

Epidemiological profile of pediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital of northern India

Purpose： Ocular trauma is one of the most common causes of acquired blindness in children. It measures about 8%-14% of total childhood injuries. This study aims to determine the epidemiological profile of ocular trauma in the pediatric age group attending a tertiary hospital in northern India. Methods： A retrospective study was conducted in our hospital between June 2014 to July 2015 and all the children aged 0-16 years presenting with ocular trauma in eye outpatient department and emergency were enrolled in the study. Various epidemiological parameters like age, sex distribution, duration of presentation, mode of injury, type of injury and final visual outcome were analyzed. Results： Of total 357 patients, 271 （76%） were below the age of 12 years： 41.1% of children with ocular trauma belonged to age group 2-6 years. The male to female ratio was 2.9：1. Out of total patients, 242 （67.8%） presented with closed globe injury. Among the closed globe injury, the history of fall was present in about 35% of children, followed by trauma while playing with bat/ball （15.7%） and finger nail trauma （13.2%）. Among open globe injury, trauma with needle, knife, glass and pen were common causes. Home was the most common place of injury （47.8%）, followed by streets （17.9%） and playground （14.9%）. Conclusion： Children are vulnerable to ocular trauma and need more supervision. Sharp objects like needles, knives, household chemicals like acids should be out of reach of children.