Long-term effect of optic edge design in a silicone intraocular lens on posterior capsule opacification

PURPOSE: To compare the posterior capsule opacification (PCO) inhibiting effect of the round anterior and sharp posterior optic edge profile of the Clariflex silicone intraocular lens (IOL) [AMO Inc, Santa Ana, California, USA] with that of the double-round edge profile of the SI40 (Phacoflex; AMO Inc, Santa Ana, California, USA) silicone IOL over a period of three years. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, bilateral clinical trial. METHODS: The study took place at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Fifty-two patients with age-related cataracts (104 eyes) were included in the study. Each patient received an SI40 IOL (round edges) in one eye and a Clariflex IOL with OptiEdge (sharp posterior optic edge) in the other eye. Follow-up examinations were at one week, one month, six months, and one, two, and three years. Digital retroillumination images were taken of each eye. The amount of PCO was subjectively assessed with the slit-lamp and objectively assessed by automated image analysis software (the computer program Automated Quantification of After-Cataract [AQUA]; Vienna, Austria) one, two, and three years after surgery. RESULTS: The Clariflex lens showed markedly less PCO at one, two, and three years after surgery. The mean AQUA PCO score was 1.39 for the SI40 and 0.56 for the Clariflex lens after one year, estimated at 1.64 and 0.57 after two years, and at 2.04 and 0.64, respectively, after three years (scale zero to 10; P < .001). The Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rate was far higher in the SI40 group (Five cases vs one case at three years). CONCLUSIONS: The sharp posterior optic edge profile of the Clariflex silicone IOL led to marked and consistently less PCO than the round-edged SI40 IOL one, two, and three years after surgery.     

Biochemical and immunological studies of fibroblasts derived from a patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type IV

Summary Fibroblasts derived from a skin biopsy of a patient with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type IV were cultured in monolayer. The amount of collagen synthesized during a 24-h pulse was not different from that found with normal fibroblasts. Chromatographic procedures and immunofluorescence staining showed a normal synthesis of type I procollagen and collagen but a deficiency in synthesis of type III procollagen and collagen. This could be corroborated by radioimmuno assays showing a reduction in type III procollagen by about 90%. The secretion and degradation of collagens was not altered. The results demonstrate that the molecular defect in this particular patient is due to an impairment of the mechanism controlling the gene expression for type III procollagen.

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Abbreviations BAPN -aminopropionitrile - CM carboxy-methyl - DEAE diethylaminoethyl - EDS Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - EDTA ethylendiaminetetracetate - S.C. subcutaneous     

Intravitreal bevacizumab injections for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion: six-month results of a prospective trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) injections on visual acuity and foveal retinal thickness in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: In this prospective, noncomparative, consecutive, interventional case series, 46 patients received repeated intravitreal injections (1.25 mg) of bevacizumab. Main outcome measures were visual acuity (Snellen and ETDRS charts) and optical coherence tomography measurements in a 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity improved from 20/250 at baseline to 20/80 at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). ETDRS chart findings revealed a mean letter gain +/-SD from baseline to 6 months of 13.9 +/- 14.4 letters. Mean central retinal thickness +/-SD decreased from 535 +/- 148 microm at baseline to 323 +/- 116 microm at the 6-month follow-up. Ischemic CRVO was associated with significantly lower visual acuity than nonischemic CRVO (P < 0.001). However, visual acuity gain was similar in both groups. Independent of duration of symptoms, CRVO was associated with a similar gain in visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab appears to be a new treatment option for patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO.     

The prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy, associated risk factors and vision loss in patients registered with type 2 diabetes in Luganville, Vanuatu

AIM: To determine the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes in Luganville, the second largest town in Vanuatu. Additionally, to investigate risk factors for retinopathy and the effect of retinopathy on visual acuity (VA) within this group. METHOD: All 83 registered patients with type 2 diabetes in Luganville, a town of 13 121 people, were invited for an interview and anthropometric measurements. A questionnaire including assessment of hypertension and glycaemic control, which are known risk factors for diabetic retinopathy, was administered. This sample accounted for approximately 1.07% of Luganville's adult population. Presenting VA was measured. The retina was photographed with a non-mydriatic fundus camera and images later independently graded for the extent of retinopathy. RESULTS: 68 (82%) of the 83 patients attended. The mean (SD) age was 54 (11) years and 31 (46%) were male. Diabetic retinopathy was present in 36 (52.9%) of the sample. Sight-threatening retinopathy requiring urgent referral was present in 15 (22.1%) patients. Presenting VA was worse than 6/12 in the better eye in n = 32 (47%) and in up to half of these cases the principal cause was retinopathy. In addition, four people had uniocular blindness resulting from diabetes. The mean body mass index was lower in those patients with diabetes with retinopathy than in those without (p = 0.010), but there were no other significant differences between the two groups and, specifically, no difference in the frequency of retinopathy risk factors. 42 (61.8%) patients had hypertension (>or=135/85 mm Hg) or were taking antihypertensive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of registered patients with diabetes in Luganville's adult population was 1.07%. Diabetic retinopathy was highly prevalent in the sample (in 36, 52.9%), and in 15 (22.1%) there was a significant threat to sight, with up to 25% of the sample possibly already affected by decreased VA or blindness resulting from diabetes-related eye disease. Retinopathy risk factors were also prevalent. A diabetes screening programme with baseline ophthalmic assessment and follow-up are urgently needed to enable timely intervention and treatment.     

Lens opacities in adults in Pakistan: prevalence and risk factors

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for lens opacity (LO) amongst a nationally representative sample of the adult population of Pakistan. METHODS: This national study of blindness and visual impairment (adults > or =30 years) used multistage, stratified, cluster random sampling. Grading of LO was conducted using the Mehra/Minassian classification system. LO, partly or wholly obscuring the red reflex, or previous cataract surgery were indicators of opacity. RESULTS: 16,402 (94.7%) adults were included in this analysis (study conducted 2002-2003). A total of 4,096 (standardized prevalence 20.9%, 95%CI: 20.3, 21.5%) adults were found to have LO. The highest prevalence of LO was found in Punjab province (22.2%), the lowest in Balochistan Province (18.0%). Significant positive associations were increasing age (multivariable odds ratio (OR) 3.2: 95%CI: 3.1, 3.4), hypertension (OR 1.2, 95%CI: 1.1, 1.3), history of diabetes (OR 2.6: 95%CI 2.0, 3.2) and smoking (OR 1.3: 95%CI: 1.1, 1.5). Higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.8: 95%CI 0.7, 0.9, heavy vs. normal BMI) and attendance to school (OR 0.6: 95%CI: 0.5, 0.8) were associated with lower risk of LO. Individuals in districts classified as hot were at significantly increased risk (OR 1.3: 95%CI: 1.1, 1.5), and those in wet districts (> 600 mm annual rainfall) had lower odds than individuals living in dry districts (OR 0.7: 95%CI: 0.6, 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Almost a fifth of the adult population had LO. Significant positive associations were age, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and increased deprivation level. Protective factors included high BMI and educational achievement. The climatic associations offer novel hypothesis for further research into cataractogenesis.     

Interleukin-4 enhances the survival of severe combined immunodeficient mice engrafted with human B-cell precursor leukemia

Human interleukin-4 (huIL-4) has been shown to inhibit the growth in vitro of cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With the aim of determining whether this cytokine might be useful in the treatment of patients with ALL, the effects of huIL-4 on human B- cell precursor ALL engrafted in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were examined. The inhibition of [3H] thymidine uptake of primary ALL cells by huIL-4 was maintained following engraftment and passage of leukemia in SCID mice. Five of seven xenograft leukemias showed significant inhibition in vitro by huIL-4 at concentrations as low as 0.5 ng/mL; furthermore, huIL-4 counteracted the proliferative effects of IL-7. When used to treat two human leukemias engrafted in SCID mice, huIL-4 200 microgram/kg/d, as a continuous 14-day subcutaneous infusion, suppressed the appearance of circulating lymphoblasts and extended survival of mice by 39% and 108%, respectively, the first demonstration of IL-4 activity against human leukemia in vivo. The mean steady-state huIL-4 level in mouse plasma during the infusion was 1.46 ng/mL (SEM +/- 0.14 ng/mL), which was similar to concentrations found to be effective in vitro. ALL cells obtained from mice relapsing after huIL-4 treatment continued to show inhibition by the cytokine in vitro. These data suggest that IL-4 may be useful in the treatment of patients with ALL.     

Cardiogenic shock: a summary of the randomized SHOCK trial

Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of death for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. The Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock (SHOCK) trial randomly assigned 302 patients with predominant left ventricular failure following an acute myocardial infarction to a strategy of emergency revascularization or initial medical stabilization. Emergency revascularization by either coronary artery bypass grafting or angioplasty was required within 6 hours of randomization. Patients assigned to initial medical stabilization could undergo delayed revascularization at a minimum of 54 hours post-randomization. The primary end point of the study was 30-day all-cause mortality. Overall survival at 30 days did not differ significantly between the emergency revascularization and initial medical stabilization groups (53% vs. 44%; p=0.109). However, at the 6- and 12-month follow-up, there was a significant survival benefit with early revascularization (50% vs. 37%; p=0.027 and 47% vs. 34%; p=0.025, respectively). The benefit appeared to be greatest for those less than 75 years of age, with 20 lives saved at 6 months per 100 patients treated. According to the results of the SHOCK trial, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for myocardial infarction now recommend emergency revascularization for patients younger than 75 years with cardiogenic shock.     

Antipsychotic Augmentation of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Update Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind,Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Background:

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder do not respond adequately to serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Augmentation with antipsychotic drugs can be beneficial in this regard. However, since new relevant randomized controlled trials evaluating new antipsychotics were conducted, a recalculation of the effect sizes appears necessary.

Methods:

We meta-analyzed all double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials comparing augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors with antipsychotics to placebo supplementation in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. The primary outcome was mean change in the Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale total score. Secondary outcomes were obsessions, compulsions, response rates, and attrition rates. The data collection process was conducted independently by 2 authors. Hedges’s g and risks ratios were calculated as effect sizes. In preplanned meta-regressions, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses, we examined the robustness of the results and explored reasons for potential heterogeneity.

Results:

Altogether, 14 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (n=491) investigating quetiapine (N=4, n=142), risperidone (N=4, n=132), aripiprazole (N=2, n=79), olanzapine (N=2, n=70), paliperidone (N=1, n=34), and haloperidol (N=1, n=34) were incorporated. Augmentation with antipsychotics was significantly more efficacious than placebo in Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale total reduction (N=14, n=478; Hedges’s g=-0.64, 95% CI: -0.87 to -0.41; P=<.01). Aripiprazole (Hedges’s g=-1.35), haloperidol (Hedges’s g=-0.82), and risperidone (Hedges’s g=-0.59) significantly outperformed placebo. Antipsychotics were superior to placebo in treating obsessions, compulsions, and achieving response. There was no between-group difference concerning all-cause discontinuation. The nonsignificant meta-regressions suggest no influence of the antipsychotic dose or baseline symptom severity on the meta-analytic results.

Conclusions:

According to our findings, antipsychotic augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be regarded as an evidence-based measure in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.