Short-term efficacy of faricimab switch on retinal exudative signs in patients requiring frequent anti-VEGF injections : A real-life study.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of switching from anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to faricimab in reducing exudative signs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients receiving regular injections (every 8 weeks or less) without restarting a standard induction regimen.MethodsThis retrospective, observational, multicenter study included patients with exudative AMD previously treated with aflibercept 2 mg or ranibizumab every ≤8 weeks and switched to faricimab while maintaining their previous injection interval. The first follow-up visit occured after switching to faricimab, with a single injection, and corresponded to the pre-existing injection interval.

Robustness tests for biomedical foundation models should tailor to specifications.

The rise of biomedical foundation models creates new hurdles in model testing and authorization, given their broad capabilities and susceptibility to complex distribution shifts. We suggest tailoring robustness tests according to task-dependent priorities and propose to integrate granular notions of robustness in a predefined specification to guide implementation. Our approach facilitates the standardization of robustness assessments in the model lifecycle and connects abstract AI regulatory frameworks with concrete testing procedures.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Severe Optic Neuritis in a Region with a High Prevalence of Neuromyelitis Optica.

Introduction: The treatment of severe optic neuritis (ON) is an emergency, and the role of therapeutic plasma exchange (PLEX) is still debated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the initial combination of parenteral corticosteroid therapy with therapeutic PLEX for the treatment of severe ON. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted between January 1998 and January 2023.

Psychological resilience among emergency medical teams in Singapore.

Problem: Emergency medical teams (EMTs) responding to mass casualty incidents attend to casualties in a chaotic, high-pressure and resource-limited environment that is vastly different from their day-to-day work. The nature of mass casualty incidents and the work environment can impact psychological resilience, but the psychological resilience of members of EMTs has not been evaluated.

Context: In Singapore, EMTs are deployed from public hospitals, polyclinics and the Singapore Red Cross to disaster sites, where they triage, stabilize and treat casualties before evacuating them to public hospitals for further management.