Association of socio-economic status and visual impairment: A population-based study in Iran

Backgrounds: To assess the role of socio-economic inequality in visual impairment (VI) in Varamin district, Iran. Patients and Methods: Using multistage cluster sampling method, 60 clusters (each with 50 subjects) were recruited and underwent clinical eye examinations. Socio-economic status (SES) was identified based on education, occupation, family assets and housing conditions that were measured at the participants’ households using a semi-structured questionnaire and a two-step cluster analysis model. In addition, principal component analysis and the concentration index were used to identify the gap between high and low SES groups. Results: Participants were categorized in high (522, 24.4%), moderate (974, 43.1%) and low (763, 33.7%) socio-economic levels. In these levels, the prevalence of VI was 5.9% (95% CI: 3.3 to 8.6), 10.4% (95% CI: 8.4-12.4), and 12.6% (95% CI: 10.1 to 15.1), respectively. The prevalence of VI in people with low SES was significantly greater than those in high SES level. The proportions of avoidable causes were relatively high in all SES levels (more than 80%) with no significant difference between different levels. Conclusions: There is significant inequality in VI prevalence in Varamin district. Avoidable causes are high in all SES groups. Therefore, community-based modalities and preventive programs with a specific notice to poorer SES groups are recommended to improve eye health in this district. © 2017, Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved

Efficacy, Reliability and Potential Side Effects Reported from Selected Covid-19 Vaccination Trials

The COVID-19 disease arisen in Wuhan on December-2019 and was avowed as a contagion. Globally, at present, there have been 517,648,631 verified cases of COVID-19, including 6,261,708 deceased, reported to WHO. The scientific focus on vaccine development has become the ultimatum of the global community. Vaccination is the process of administering a vaccine to develop a defense mechanism against an infection with the help of hosts immune system. The types include protein subunit, RNA-based, non-replicating and replicating virus-like particle, viral vector, live-attenuated virus, replicating bacterial vector, inactivated virus. Though the vaccine has unparallel benefits it also has potential side effects such as thrombocytopenia, anaphylaxis, local side effects, neurological effects, orofacial effects, effects in cancer patients, effects on women due to estrogen, shingles and associated vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. Thus, it is of paramount importance to evaluate the vaccine safety, including the side effects. The objective of this article is to present an information of the adverse side effects of COVID-19 vaccination. &nbsp

role of NF-\u3ci\u3ek\u3c/i\u3eB signaling in multiple myeloma

Genomic DNA was purified from Multiple Myeloma Cell Line JJN3, and BMF promoter region was PCR amplified and cloned into pCR 2.1 TOPO vector using One Shot® Chemically Competent E. coli. After confirmation of the clone through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction analysis, BMF promoter (2.5 Kb) was released from TOPO vector and subcloned into pGL3 promoter vector. The resulting pGL3-BMF-promoter vector was further amplified for MaxiPrep preparation. This plasmid can be used to study the regulation of BMF promoter by various transcription factors including NF-κB family members

Cyclic Esotropia: a Case Report

In this case report, two cases with diagnosis of cyclic esotropia are presented. Both patients complained of periodic alternative inside eye deviation with an interval of one day. Para- clinical tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and electroretinogram (ERG) were normal and no neurological abnormality or paralysis was detected. Patients were observed in two consecutive days to confirm the diagnosis of cyclic esotropia. Both patients underwent bilateral medial rectus recession surgery as routinely performed for non- cyclic esotropic patients, and the postoperative orthotropia with the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 was obtained in both cases. In conclusion surgical and non-surgical treatments can be used for cyclic esotropia similar to what is routinely performed for non- cyclic strabismic patients. Successful therapeutic outcomes might be obtained in such patients achieving normal binocular fusion in several days with no ocular deviation. Keywords: Cyclic; Esotropia; Treatment

Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia in Adults; a Case Report

Purpose:  The aim of this manuscript was to report the clinical characteristics of two patients suffering from acute acquired comitant esotropia presented in adulthood.Case report: Both patients reported intermittent diplopia especially during car driving before their diplopia becoming constant. They had 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity and a cyclorefraction of + 0.50 D with normal extraocular function except very mild lateral rectus underaction (< 1) in their both eyes. In alternate prism cover test, the manifest esotropia of 25 - 30 Δ was measured at both far and near distances. They did not show any signs of neurological disorders such as marked extraocular underaction or different esotropia on lateral gazes compared with esotropia in primary position. No abnormality was found on electromyography, visual field measurements and magnetic resonance imaging for both cases.Conclusion: Based on our clinical assessment, hereditary causes, mild lateral rectus underaction or inability to compensate esotropia due to decreased divergence amplitude and fusion could be considered as the probable risk factors for acute acquired comitant esotropia in adults, although the actual etiology of this disease has not been determined.Keywords: Acquired; Esotropia; Acute; Etiology; Adult; Risk factor

Guidance for Ophthalmologists and Ophthalmology Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract

Essays on Brand Trust

Brand Trust is defined as the “willingness of the average consumer to rely on the ability of the brand to perform its stated function” (Chaudhuri and Holbrook 2001, p. 82). Trust plays a key role in brand success by lowering customers’ purchase risk and easing their decision making. Despite the importance of brand trust, industry reports indicate alarming decline in consumer trust in brands across the world. For example, Young & Rubicam (2011) reported that the percentage of brands that customers trusted dropped from 49% in 2001 to 25% in 2010. In the meantime, despite growing managerial interest in brand trust, marketing literature lacks generalizable insights regarding antecedents and consequences of brand trust. Specifically, there is need for research to investigate the impact of marketing activities on brand trust, the implications and consequences of brand trust (and violation of brand trust), and the characteristics that explain the heterogeneity in relationships between brand trust and related concepts. I address these issues in three studies. In the first study, I examine the relationship between five marketing mix instruments (advertising, new product introduction, distribution, price, price promotion) and brand trust. Using a unique dataset that combines consumer surveys and scanner panel data on 589 leading national brands in 46 CPG categories across 13 countries, I also examine category and country level characteristics that moderate the relationships between marketing mix activities and brand trust. In the second study of this dissertation, I examine the dynamics of the most important consequence of brand trust – i.e., brand equity – and the impact of economic business cycles on brand equity. Moreover, I study category and brand level moderators that safeguard brand equity against macroeconomic fluctuations. In doing so, I use monthly data on 150 leading CPG brands in 36 categories across 17 years. In the final study, I investigate violation of brand trust. In doing so, I examine 143 product recalls in 12 European countries and focus on the impact of price promotions. Additionally, I study recall, category, and country level characteristics that explain the heterogeneity in post-recall performance and price promotion effectiveness.Doctor of Philosoph