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Purpose Plantar fasciitis is a very common (lifetime incidence ~ 10%) and long-lasting injury with major impact on daily function. Combining corticosteroid injection and physical training (strength training and stretching) was hypothesized to result in a superior effect compared to each treatment separately. Methods A single blinded randomized controlled superiority trial conducted in 2013–2014 with a 2-year follow-up (end Sept 2016). 123 consecutive patients (20–65 years) referred to two study centers in Denmark: Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen and a private rheumatology clinic with symptoms of plantar fasciitis, and ultrasound measured thickness above 4.0 mm were invited. 25 did not fulfill the inclusion criteria (mainly ultrasound criteria) and 8 refused participation. 90 patients were randomized (pulling sealed envelopes) to 3 groups: (1) 3 months strength training and stretching ( n  = 30), (2) corticosteroid injections with monthly intervals until thickness < 4.0 mm (maximum 3 injections) ( n  = 31), (3) combination of the two treatments ( n  = 29). During the 3 months intervention period load reduction was recommended (cushioning shoes and insoles and abstaining from running and jumping). The main outcome was improvement in Pain at function on a 100-mm VAS score and in Foot Function Index (FFI, range 0–230) at 6 months (Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01994759). Results All groups improved significantly over time, but the combination of corticosteroid injection and training (strength training and stretching) had a superior effect at all time points. The mean difference between the combined treatment and training was 40 points in FFI (95% confidence interval (CI) 63–17 points, p  < 0.001) and 20 mm for VAS function pain (CI 35–5 mm, p  < 0.01). The mean difference between the combined treatment and corticosteroid injections only was 29 points in FFI (CI 52–7 points, p  < 0.01) and 17 mm for VAS function pain (CI 32–2 mm, p  < 0.05). All differences were clinically relevant. Conclusion The best treatment for plantar fasciitis is the combination of corticosteroid injections and training (strength training and stretching). This combined treatment is superior both in the short- and in the longterm. Corticosteroid injections combined with controlled training are recommended as first line treatment in patients with plantar fasciitis. Level of evidence 1.

Strabismus is one of the most challenging subspecialties encountered in the field of ophthalmology. The concept of etiology of strabismus is being advanced with the development of newer imaging modalities and increased understanding of the genetics of strabismus. Imaging is also being used to aid in the planning of strabismus surgery. Newer horizons are being explored in the amblyopia management. The good old eye-pad is being replaced with the iPad. Early detection of loss of stereopsis is being used to decide the timing for strabismus surgery. Improvement of binocular summation has been discovered as a benefit of corrective strabismus surgery. Newer surgical techniques such as new transposition procedures are being developed to correct complex strabismus. Strabismus surgeries aided by adjustable sutures have increased the precision of a strabismologist. A new light has been thrown on the psychosocial impact of strabismus. A present-day strabismologist has advanced from the goal of ocular alignment to a bigger perspective \"to regain the paradise lost: stereopsis.\"

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the shift-twist symmetry on pattern formation processes in the visual cortex. First, we describe a generic set of Riemannian metrics of the feature space of orientation preference that obeys properties of the shift-twist, translation, and reflection symmetries. Second, these metrics are embedded in a modified Swift–Hohenberg model. As a result we get a pattern formation process that resembles the pattern formation process in the visual cortex. We focus on the final stable patterns that are regular and periodic. In a third step we analyze the influences on pattern formation using weakly nonlinear theory and mode analysis. We compare the results of the present approach with earlier models.

A consortium formed by Second Sight Medical Products LLC and by the Doheny Retina Institute has performed six implants of 4 × 4 electrode arrays based on cochlear implant electronics; these patients can detect phosphenes at individual electrodes, discriminate crude shapes upon multiple electrode stimulation, and recognize simple stimuli presented via a head-mounted camera.