Mosquito Populations from Eastern South Dakota During 2001 and 2002

In 2001, the South Dakota Department of Health initiated a program to monitor mosquitoes in South Dakota for the presence of the West Nile Virus. During the first year (2001), a pilot survey was conducted near Brookings, SD. To collect mosquitoes, CDC miniture light traps were used without carbondioxide baiting, beginning on July 3 and ending on August 2, 2001. Results from this small study (total of 2,042 mosquitoes during 10 collection days) showed that the most common mosquotes were Aedes vexans (88.2%), Culex tarsalis, (5.2%), and Aedes dorsalis (4.9%). An additional survey was conducted during the summer of 2002 focusing on 8 different sites (Brandon, Brookings, Huron, North Sioux City, Oak Lake Field Station, Watertown, Waubay and Yankton) in eastern South Dakota. Mosquitoes were collected with the same traps used for 2001, however, the traps were baited with carbon diaoxide (dry ice). Trapping began on June 1 and ended on September 1, 2002. A total of 18,971 mosquitoes were collected from the 8 sites during the 127 trapping days of this survey. From this population, 21 different mosquito species from 8 different genera were identified. The vast majority of mosquitoes were Aedes vexans (86.3%), but Culex tarsalis was also present in significant numbers (7.2%). Aedes vexans populations varied to a greater degree during the summer than did Culex tarsalis. The public’s perceptions of the danger of West Nile Virus transmission is probably more determined by Aedes population than by Culex populations even though Aedes likely plays little or no role in the transmission of this disease

Long-term outcomes of intravitreal therapy for symptomatic diabetic macular oedema in a real-world setting in Switzerland

Abstract Objective To assess the long-term visual outcomes in eyes with symptomatic diabetic macular oedema (DME) under intravitreal treatment (IVT) in a clinical routine setting. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed DME were included in this retrospective study if they had received at least three IVTs and a follow-up period ≥ 2 years. Due to altered treatment patterns since the approval of ranibizumab for DME in 2012, patients were subdivided according to their first IVT before 2013 (group 1) or thereafter (group 2). The primary outcome measure was the evolution of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over time. Results Of 217 eyes (191 patients) with DME, 151 eyes (117 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria (63 eyes in the first period, 88 in the second period). Mean follow-up time was 7.9 ± 3.1 (group 1) and 4.1 ± 1.4 years (group 2; p &lt; 0.001). Visual gains were similar in the first year (group 1: + 5.3 ± 15.5, group 2: + 7.3 ± 12.2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters; p = 0.44), but not thereafter (after 2 years in group 1: + 4.4 ± 15.0, group 2: + 8.3 ± 13.0 ETDRS letters; p = 0.038). During the first year, group 1 patients received less clinical examinations (group 1: 6.6 ± 3.3, group 2: 7.5 ± 2.1; p = 0.007) and less injections (group 1: 3.6 ± 2.7, group 2: 6.1 ± 2.7; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion A greater visual gain, in response to more intensive treatment during the first year, was maintained for at least 5 years in group 2 subjects. Our data confirm that in a real-world setting, early intensive treatment results in satisfying long-term visual outcomes. </jats:sec

The fate of eyes with wet AMD beyond four years of anti-VEGF therapy.

PURPOSE Real-life studies on long-term functional outcome of anti-VEGF treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) are limited. We therefore assessed the 10-year outcomes in our patients. METHODS In this retrospective study, all patients with newly diagnosed wAMD that had received minimally three intravitreal injections between 2007 and 2012 and a follow-up of ≥48 months were included. Primary outcome measure was the evolution of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over time. For qualitative, quantitative and longitudinal data, Pearson's chi test, the Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were applied at a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS Of 267 eyes (219 patients) with newly diagnosed wAMD treated during this period, 104 eyes (104 patients) had been followed for at least 48 months and were included. Fifty-nine eyes (57.8%) after 7 years were still under active treatment, 29 eyes (25.0%) had interrupted treatment [mean follow-up 7.5 years (4.0-10.1; SD 1.6)], whereas 16 patients had died. BCVA stabilized at -7.3 to -11.9 letters after 3-10 years of follow-up with a mean of 2.8 injections (median; 3.0, SD 1.0; 1-5) and 5.1 visits per year. In two thirds of eyes, treatment was switched to aflibercept or corticosteroid combinations without bearing on functional outcomes. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of eyes maintained driving vision for up to 10 years. CONCLUSIONS Beyond 3 years of treatment, functional stability was maintained for up to 10 years. Further improvement of long-term outcomes might have required a more intensive treatment in the early phase