Prithul Sarker

Jul 21, 2024 | nature.com | Joshua Ong |Benjamin Soares |Ethan Waisberg |Alex Suh |Ritu Sampige |Tuan Nguyen | +3 more

Human spaceflight, particularly for long-duration missions, poses significant challenges to astronaut health and well-being. Understanding the impact of spaceflight on the human body is paramount to ensuring the success and safety of such endeavours [1, 2]. In addition to the neuro-ophthalmic findings of spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), there are also effects on the anterior segment including increased risk for cataract and dry eye symptoms [3, 4].

Jun 10, 2024 | nature.com | Alex Suh |Joshua Ong |Sharif Amit Kamran |Ethan Waisberg |Nasif Zaman |Prithul Sarker | +5 more

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. Early recognition and treatment are important for preventing or minimizing the long-term effects of the disease. Current gold standard modalities of diagnosis (e.g., CSF and MRI) are invasive and expensive in nature, warranting alternative methods of detection and screening. Oculomics, the interdisciplinary combination of ophthalmology, genetics, and bioinformatics to study the molecular basis of eye diseases, has seen rapid development through various technologies that detect structural, functional, and visual changes in the eye. Ophthalmic biomarkers (e.g., tear composition, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, saccadic eye movements) are emerging as promising tools for evaluating MS progression. The eye’s structural and embryological similarity to the brain makes it a potentially suitable assessment of neurological and microvascular changes in CNS. In the advent of more powerful machine learning algorithms, oculomics screening modalities such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), eye tracking, and protein analysis become more effective tools aiding in MS diagnosis. Artificial intelligence can analyse larger and more diverse data sets to potentially discover new parameters of pathology for efficiently diagnosing MS before symptom onset. While there is no known cure for MS, the integration of oculomics with current modalities of diagnosis creates a promising future for developing more sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective approaches to MS detection and diagnosis.

May 27, 2024 | nature.com | Ritu Sampige |Joshua Ong |Prithul Sarker |Alireza Tavakkoli

About 25% of astronauts after short duration spaceflight and 53% of astronauts after long duration spaceflight (LDSF) report a decline in near vision from a hyperopic refractive shift that occurs in microgravity. The refractive change is the primary visual symptom of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) [1, 2]. SANS encompasses a series of neuro-ocular findings seen in astronauts after LDSF [3].

Feb 8, 2024 | nature.com | Benjamin Soares |Joshua Ong |Prithul Sarker |Alireza Tavakkoli

The unique environment of space (including microgravity) exposes long-duration spaceflight (LDSF) participants to numerous physiologic challenges [1, 2]. In preparation for future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Human Research Program has compiled a list of health risks associated with spaceflight [1].

Dec 4, 2023 | nature.com | Ethan Waisberg |Joshua Ong |Mouayad Masalkhi |Prithul Sarker

IntroductionIn late September 2023, Meta unveiled its second generation of smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban [1]. These smart glasses come with several improvements, including enhanced audio and cameras, over and a lighter design. The glasses are equipped with an ultra-wide 12 megapixel camera and immersive audio recording capabilities, allowing users to capture moments with a high level of detail and depth (Fig. 1) [1, 2].