Screening for common eye diseases in the elderly with Optos ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy: a pilot study with focus on ocular toxoplasmosis

Purpose

Studies on the occurrence of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) in a general population are rare. Therefore, we conducted this pilot study to assess whether a nonmydriatic ultra-wide-field (UWF) scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) is suitable for a simple, rapid screening procedure.

Methods

The population of this cross-sectional study was randomly recruited from a cohort of hospital-based patients in an urban geriatric hospital. Ophthalmologic evaluation was performed on 201 eyes from 101 participants through nonmydriatic UWF-SLO (Optos Daytona) and assessed for suspicious lesions and other relevant ocular findings. All images were evaluated by two independent examiners. Individuals who presented lesions with a morphological appearance suggestive of OT underwent fundoscopy and serological analysis of Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies.

Results

The mean age of the study group was 76 years, and 63 (62%) were female. Despite many health restrictions, the SLO examination was carried out easily in this geriatric population. Three participants presented findings by SLO suspicious for T. gondii-related injury. Further clinical examination and serological investigation confirmed the diagnosis, with funduscopic evaluation and positive T. gondii ELISA testing. In addition, a high rate of arterial hypertension and dyslipidemias within the cohort led to a high incidence of vascular changes and age-related fundus findings.

Conclusion

In our study, we confirm that UWF-SLO technology is helpful in the rapid detection of peripheral retinal injuries in elderly patients such as OT and may be used as a routine screening tool.

     

Impact of Traits of Metabolic Syndrome on β-Cell Function and Insulin Resistance in Normal Fasting, Normal Glucose Tolerant Subjects

Abstract Objective: Metabolic syndrome, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) predict risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To determine if increased risk preceded development of these abnormalities, β-cell function and insulin resistance were assessed in euglycemic subjects with and without traits of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A total of 562 apparently healthy Latin-American subjects were screened for metabolic syndrome [National Education Cholesterol Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NECP ATP III)]. Early pancreatic insulin response ΔInsulin(0-30)/ΔGlucose(0-30), Matsuda index, disposition index (DI), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ratio were obtained from oral glucose tolerance testing (0-180?min). Results: ΔI(0-30)/ΔG(0-30), Matsuda index, DI, and HOMA-IR deteriorated in direct proportion with number of traits of metabolic syndrome, and with increases in glucose levels within the euglycemic range. DI was the most sensitive index. In subjects with 1, 2, 3, and 4-5 traits, DI was 21.4%, 40%, 57%, and 76% lower, respectively, than in subjects with no traits. As a single trait, abdominal obesity was associated with insulin resistance, whereas, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alone or combined with high triglycerides, was not associated with insulin resistance or β-cell dysfunction. Combined impairments in β-cell function and insulin sensitivity were responsible for the increases in fasting and 2-h plasma glucose concentrations within the euglycemic range. Conclusions: Impaired β-cell function and increased insulin resistance are present much before development of metabolic syndrome, IFG, or IGT. β-Cell function and insulin sensitivity worsen in direct proportion with number of traits of metabolic syndrome and increases in glucose levels. Compared to abdominal obesity, low HDL-C±high triglycerides may bear a lesser weight in predicting risk of T2DM.     

Management of acute left main obstruction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: the “tunnel technique”

Two cases of acute left main (LM) obstruction complicating transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and their management are reported. TAVR with a self-expandable transcatheter aortic prosthesis was performed for treating severe aortic stenosis with small aortic root and severe aortic regurgitation of a degenerated stentless bioprosthesis, respectively. Left main coronary obstruction occurred at a different time from the index procedure. A novel stent-based angioplasty treatment, denominated “the tunnel technique,” was successfully applied in both cases and herein described.