Background and Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of using a 1050 nm swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) system to achieve noninvasive retinal vasculature imaging in human eyes. Materials and Methods Volumetric datasets were acquired using a ZEISS 1 µm SS-OCT prototype that operated at an A-line rate of 100 kHz. A scanning protocol designed to allow for motion contrast processing, referred to as OCT angiography or optical microangiography (OMAG), was used to scan ~3 mm × 3 mm area in the central macular region of the retina within ~4.5 seconds. Intensity differentiation based OMAG algorithm was used to extract 3-D retinal functional microvasculature information. Results Intensity signal differentiation generated capillary-level resolution en face OMAG images of the retina. The parafoveal capillaries were clearly visible, thereby allowing visualization of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in normal subjects. Conclusion The capability of OMAG to produce retinal vascular images was demonstrated using the ZEISS 1 µm SS-OCT prototype. This technique can potentially have clinical value for studying retinal vasculature abnormalities.

OMAG provided detailed, depth- resolved information about the perifoveal macular microvasculature in MacTel2. In most cases, images were better using OMAG than FA. The OMAG images demonstrated that most of the leakage seen on FA appeared to arise from the abnormal perifoveal microvasculature in the middle retinal layer.

The objective of this study was to translate and psychometrically assess a Portuguese version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The original English version of the BSES-SF was translated to Portuguese and tested among a sample of 89 mothers in southern Brazil from the 2nd to 12th postpartum week followed by face-to-face interviews. The mean total score of the Portuguese version of the BSES-SF was 63.6 +/- 6.22. The reliability analysis of each item in the scale attained significant Cronbach's alphas of 0.63 or superior. The Cronbach's alpha generated by the entire range of 14 questions was 0.71. A factor analysis identified one factor that contributed to 20% of the variance. This study demonstrates that the original English version of the BSES-SF was successfully adapted to Portuguese. The Portuguese version of the BSES-SF constitutes a reliable research instrument for evaluating breastfeeding self-efficacy in Brazil.

Background and objectivesAdvances in neonatal care promoted increased survival rates of preterm infants, with a consequent increase in the number of children affected by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study estimates the incidence of ROP and evaluates potential risk factors associated.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of preterm infants born in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit was conducted from March 2005 to August 2015. Six hundred and thirty-nine newborns were included based on the following criteria: infants born with less than 32 weeks’ gestation or birth weight below 1500 g; or neonates born with 32–37 weeks’ gestation or birth weight above 1500 g and any of the following associated: multiple gestation, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, blood transfusions or intraventricular hemorrhage. Neonates were followed up until disease resolution or until treatment criteria was achieved.ResultsA total of 602 newborns were evaluated after applying the exclusion criteria. Mean gestational age was 30.7 ± 2.5 weeks. The incidences of ROP at any stage and of type 1 prethreshold ROP were 33.9 and 5.0% respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors associated with ROP at any stage were extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (odds ratio [OR] = 3.10; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:1.73–5.55), pulmonary diseases (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.35–4.59), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.10–4.30), and low gestational age (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73–0.91). The main risk factors associated with type 1 prethreshold ROP were pulmonary diseases (OR = 9.58; 95% CI: 1.27–72.04) and ELBW (OR = 3.66; 95% CI: 1.67–8.00).ConclusionThis study found a significant incidence of ROP (33.9%) in the studied population, and highlighted pulmonary diseases as a significant risk factor for type 1 prethreshold ROP.

There is a strong negative correlation between CT and age (P <.001), with a 25 µm decrease in CT for each decade of life. Increasing axial length demonstrated a negative correlation with CT, decreasing 24.9 µm for each mm of axial length. Future studies of CT measurements can be performed on either instrument and must account for axial length, age, and sex to make appropriate conclusions.