Myopia is the most common refractive error worldwide. This cannot be explained by genetic factors alone, therefore, environmental factors may play an important role. Hence, the main objective of this study was to analyse whether outdoor exposure could exert a protective effect against the development of myopia in a cohort of young adults and to investigate ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF), as a biomarker of time spent outdoors. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out using two cohorts. A total of 208 participants were recruited, 156 medical students and 52 environmental science students. The data showed that 66.66% of the medical students were myopic, while 50% of the environmental science students were myopic (p = 0.021). Environmental science students spent significantly more hours per week doing outdoor activities than medical students (p < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference with respect to near work activities between them. In both cohorts, the degree of myopia was inversely associated with CUVAF, and a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between spherical equivalent and CUVAF (Pearson’s r = 0.248). In conclusion, outdoor activities could reduce the onset and progression of myopia not only in children, but also in young adults. In addition, CUVAF represents an objective, non-invasive biomarker of outdoor exposure that is inversely associated with myopia.

Understanding the knowledge of swelling and stability properties of polymeric spheres are essential for improved oil recovery; these properties will allow guaranteeing an efficient block of high permeability channels and large pore throats. These properties of nano/micron-sized polymeric spheres commercially available for improved oil recovery applications were investigated. The polymeric spheres emulsion was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data analysis reveals uniform and spherical structures with an average diameter of 47 AE 4.8 nm. After hydration, polymeric spheres can swell due to water absorption reaching an average particle diameter of 3.3 AE 0.2 μm. The effect of aging time, thermal treatment, the removal of the oil phase, and the dispersing stabilizer on the swelling and stability was studied. It has been found that polymeric spheres structure suffers deterioration with the progressive aging time, temperature increase, and with the removal of the oil phase and dispersing stabilizer. As a result, crosslinked polymer aggregates are formed which subsequently acquiring fibrillar morphologies. Further, this study provides an understanding of the stability and swelling behavior of polymeric microspheres using polydimethylsiloxane microdevices. The results evidenced that the behavior of the polymeric spheres can be beneficial to improve oil recovery.

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POSTERSMethod: Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was the control group, Group 2 was treated with saline delivered with hydrodynamic force, and Group 3 was treated with both hydrodynamic force and a near infrared diode laser.Results: For both the bacterial species, the use of laser augmented the reduction of Colony Forming Units obtained with hydrodynamic shearing, with an additional reduction in CFUs counts ranging from 0.94-2.18 logs and 0.68-1.15 logs for P Aeroginosa and S Aureus respectively. The overall log reduction obtained by combined modality treatment ranged from 4.57-5.06 for P Aeroginosa and 3.55-3.67 for S Aureus; both of these were statistically significant (P < .005).Conclusion: A combination of hydrodynamic therapy and laser produces superior results in disrupting biofilm in in vitro models, and further studies of this combined modality treatment are warranted in living tissues and animal models. Rhinology/AllergyObjective: Evaluate if the clinical measures SNOT-22 and UPSIT are efficient in monitoring treatment in Brazilian patients with CRS.Method: A total of 16 patients with CRS were treated with topical mometasone (200 microgram BID) for 2 months. SNOT-22, sense of smell score in SNOT-22, UPSIT, Lund-Mackay (for CT) and Lund (for endoscopy) scores were evaluated before and after treatment. Multi-variable correlation tests were used to compare the differences between scales.Results: Improvement in UPSIT scores correlated negatively to the sense of smell score in SNOT-22, (R2: 0.50; P = .0367), demonstrating to be a good tool to quantify smell problems. On the contrary, UPSIT did not correlate with CT and endoscopy scores. Improvement in SNOT-22 scores correlated significantly to improvement in endoscopy scores (R2: 0.49; P = .0297), but not to CT and UPSIT scores.Conclusion: UPSIT is a valuable tool to measure smell changes and monitor the effect of clinical treatment in patients with CRS. SNOT-22 correlated positively to intranasal polyp formation rather than sinusal opacity on CT scans.

POSTERS Conclusion:The present review suggests that the routine use of systemic perioperative prophylactic antibiotics does not reduce the rate of infections or improve the outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery and, therefore, should not be automatically prescribed. Rhinology/Allergy Predictive Factors of Depression on Outcomes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis after Endoscopic Sinus SurgeryFrancisco G. Pernas, MD (presenter); Sharon Hughes; Andrew M. Coughlin, MD; Patricia Maeso, MD Objective: The improvement in quality of life after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been well documented. However, oftentimes patients' mental health is not assessed, ignored, or attributed to other causes. There is a lack of evidence that chronic rhinosinusitis can cause mental anguish and depression, which affects outcomes after FESS.Method: Patients were selected from a busy rhinology tertiary care center. Prior to ESS, participants were given a depression scale and a SNOT-20 sinonasal symptomatology questionnaire, and endoscopic scores were noted. Participants repeated questionnaires at 6 weeks and 3 months after ESS. Endoscopic scores were noted at all three visits.