Purpose To demonstrate axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to evaluate the ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect RNFL degeneration and retinal thinning in these patients. Methods PD patients (n ¼ 100) and healthy subjects (n ¼ 100) were included in the study and underwent visual acuity, color vision, and OCT examinations using two nextgeneration Fourier-domain devices (Spectralis and Cirrus). Differences in the RNFL thicknesses were compared between patients and controls. Results RNFL thicknesses were significantly reduced in PD patients compared with healthy subjects, especially those obtained using the Spectralis OCT, in the inferotemporal quadrant (155.6 ± 16.5 lm in healthy eyes vs 142.1 ± 24.9 lm in patients, P ¼ 0.040) and in the superotemporal quadrant (142.6±20.9 lm in healthy eyes vs 132.77±18.6 lm in PD patients, P ¼ 0.046). Significant differences were observed between controls and patients in relation to mean macular thickness (P ¼ 0.031), foveal thickness (P ¼ 0.030), and inferior outer thickness (P ¼ 0.019). Conclusion PD is associated with RNFL loss and retinal thinning, which is detectable by Fourier-domain OCT measurements.

Axonal loss in the optic nerve of patients with MS is greater than that expected in healthy subjects, regardless of the presence of a previous optic neuritis.

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 748–752 Abstract. Purpose:  This study aimed to evaluate the presence of abnormalities in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with normal ophthalmic examination, and to compare the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) to detect axonal loss. Methods:  Patients with MS and disease‐free controls were invited to enrol in the study from 1 February 2007 to 30 June 2008. Ophthalmic examination, including evaluation of visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF), showed normal results in all subjects. Retinal nerve fibre layer properties were measured by means of OCT and GDx. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were also recorded. Results:  Forty eyes of 40 MS patients and 20 eyes of age‐ and sex‐matched controls were included in the study. Despite normal VA and VF results, significant differences between the two groups were observed in VF mean deviation (MD), most of the RNFL measurements provided by OCT and GDx, and VEP P100 latency and amplitude. There was a significant correlation between OCT and GDx parameters, and between these parameters and VEP results. Nineteen MS eyes (35.7%) showed RNFL abnormalities detected either by OCT or GDx. Discussion:  Sub‐clinical ganglion cell loss can be detected in MS patients with normal visual function. Both OCT and GDx are useful complementary tools with which to identify this damage.

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has been introduced into new geographic areas, including the Mediterranean region, where it has become a serious threat to tomato production. Three greenhouse trials conducted in tomato crops during 2009 and 2010 explored control strategies using the egg-parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti compared with chemical control. The effectiveness of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) was also tested. In greenhouses with early pest infestations (discrete generations), periodic inundative releases (eight releases at a rate of 50 adults/m2, twice a week) were necessary to achieve an adequate parasitism level (85.63 +/- 5.70%) early in the growing season. However, only one inoculative release (100 adults/m2) was sufficient to achieve a comparatively high parasitism level (91.03 +/- 12.58%) under conditions of high pest incidence and overlapping generations. Some intraguild competition was observed between T. achaeae and the predator, N. tenuis. This mirid species is commonly used in Mediterranean greenhouse tomato crops for the control of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Tomato cultivars were also observed to influence the activity of natural enemies, mainly N. tenuis (whose average numbers ranged between 0.17 +/- 0.03 and 0.41 +/- 0.05 nymphs per leaf depending on the cultivar). This may be because of differences in plant nutrients in different cultivars, which may affect the feeding of omnivorous insects. In contrast, cultivar effects on T. achaeae were less apparent or possibly nonexistent. Nevertheless, there was an indirect effect in as much as T. achaeae was favored in cultivars not liked by N. tenuis.

Multiple sclerosis patients exhibit a progressive axonal loss in the optic nerve fiber layer. Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning based on OCT results is a useful marker for assessing MS progression and correlates with increased disability and reduced QOL.