Ocular complications of severe corneal abrasions after cosmetic blepharopigmentation

A 53-year-old woman with hemiparesis and poor dexterity, underwent cosmetic blepharopigmentation on the both upper eyelids in the dermatology clinic of a private hospital. She was not asked for any information on her medical history and no informed consent was obtained and the procedure was performed without any protective ocular shields. The patient experienced severe lacrimation, discomfort, and increased sensitivity to light during and after the procedure. She also noticed blurred vision after the procedure. Ophthalmologic examination revealed tender and oedematous eyelids and corneal abrasions in both of her eyes. Topical antibiotics and preservative-free lubricants were able to recover her from her signs and symptoms at 1-week follow-up. It is recommended that cosmetic blepharopigmentation should be applied cautiously with patient’s informed consent after obtaining a thorough medical history and with protective ocular shields to avoid potential complications.     

The effects of dexamethasone and levobupivacaine on postoperative pain in Modified Radiofrequency Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (MRAUP) surgery

The objective of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the effect of pre-emptive local infiltration of lidocaine, lidocaine plus dexamethasone, levobupivacaine and levobupivacaine plus dexamethasone on postoperative pain in Modified Radiofrequency Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (MRAUP) cases. Sixty adult patients (44 males and 16 females) aged 32–51 years with simple snoring were divided into four groups. The anesthesia of the patients in the first group was achieved with lidocaine HCl, in the second group, with lidocaine HCl and dexamethasone sodium phosphate, in the third group, with levobupivacaine, and in the fourth group, levobupivacaine and dexamethasone sodium phosphate. All the patients were applied Modified Radiofrequency Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty technique. The pain experienced by the patients during swallowing and at rest on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th day and analgesic consumption were evaluated using standard 10 cm visual analog scales. The mean duration of operation in the group that received lidocaine HCl was 22 ± 3 min, while in the group that received levobupivacaine HCl was 27 ± 4 min. There were statistically significant differences between the groups for analgesic effects on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day and for the amount of analgesics used, on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day. The best results were obtained in the group that received levobupivacaine HCl and steroid (p < 0.001). Steroid and local anesthetic combinations are superior to controls in the management of postoperative pain in MRAUP surgery.     

A multi-resolution textural approach to diagnostic neuropathology reporting

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - We present a computer aided diagnostic workflow focusing on two diagnostic branch points in neuropathology (intraoperative consultation and p53 status in tumor biopsy...     

Influence of isoprostane F2alpha-III on reflow after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To investigate whether the vasoconstrictor isoprostane F2alpha-III (iPF2alpha-III), released during myocardial reperfusion, contributes to the low/no reflow phenomenon observed following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI had iPF2alpha-III measured by high-performance liquid and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Isoprostane F2alpha-III concentrations were significantly higher following PCI than in controls (1.5+/-1.3 vs.16+/-0.06 nM, p < 0.001). Mean iPF2alpha-III concentration correlated positively with ST-segment resolution at 90 min (R = 0.62, p < 0.05). In the isolated murine heart: (a) coronary vasoconstriction occurred at, or above, iPF2alpha-III concentrations of 1 microM. From 1 to 10 microM, iPF2alpha-III induced dose-dependent vasoconstriction (p = 0.005) with reduction in coronary flows (f) of 57+/-5% and 31+/-4% (percentage baseline), respectively; (b) SQ29548 1 microM completely reversed the vasoconstrictive effects of iPF2alpha-III 10 microM; (c) SQ29548 1 microM infused during reperfusion following 30 min ischaemia had no effect on CF or infarct volume. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of iPF2alpha-III released into the venous circulation during reperfusion following AMI in humans are significantly lower than those required to diminish coronary flow in the murine heart; increased levels indicate successful reperfusion. Inhibition of iPF2alpha-III has no effect on coronary flow or infarct size in the murine heart, suggesting that iPF2alpha-III alone does not account for the low/no reflow phenomenon observed following AMI.     

The effects of hypothyroidism in rats on serum leptin concentrations and leptin mRNA levels in adipose tissue and relationship with body fat composition

Both thyroid hormones and leptin affect sympathetic nervous system activity, basal metabolic rate, body fat mass, food intake, and thermogenesis, and each one also affects the actions of the other. We examined the alterations in serum leptin concentrations and leptin mRNA expression in hypothyroid rats and investigated the relation between serum leptin and leptin mRNA levels with the total adipose tissue mass and total body weight. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups, euthyroid and hypothyroid. Their body compositions were examined by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry at the beginning and end of the study. Serum leptin concentrations and levels of leptin mRNA in the retroperitoneal white adipose tissue were measured at the end of the study. Serum leptin concentrations did not show any difference between the two groups (1.9 +/- 0.2 ng/ml in the hypo and euthyroid group, P > 0.05), but the fat mass of the hypothyroid rats were lower than the euthyroid rats (21.1 +/- 2.5 g in the euthyroid group and 14.2 +/- 1.9 g in the hypothyroid group, P > 0.05 between groups at the end of the study) although the difference between the groups was statistically not significant. Leptin mRNA level was significantly higher in the hypothyroid group than in the euthyroid group (21.6 +/- 1.6 vs. 15.1 +/- 1.2 ng respectively, P = 0.002) although the dissected retroperitoneal fat weight was significantly lower in the hypothyroid group versus the euthyroid group (1.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2 g respectively, P = 0.013). In conclusion, the change of leptin mRNA expression in white adipocytes was thought to be the direct result of hypothyroidism or a compensatory response to metabolic changes caused by hypothyroidism.