Contrast sensitivity in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty versus penetrating keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To compare the measurements of contrast sensitivity at a distance in patients submitted to penetrating keratoplasty versus patients submitted to deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus treatment. METHODS: Contrast sensitivity of 15 subjects submitted to penetrating keratoplasty and 15 subjects submitted to deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty have been analyzed through the Functional Acuity Contrast Test (F.A.C.T) 301. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the measurements for penetrating keratoplasty and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. CONCLUSION: Contrast sensitivity was similar among the subjects submitted to penetrating keratoplasty and to deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus treatment.     

Confusion regarding mechanisms of injury in the setting of thoracolumbar spinal trauma: a survey of The Spine Trauma Study Group (STSG)

The Spine Trauma Study Group (STSG) developed the thoracolumbar injury severity score to direct the management of thoracolumbar spine injuries. The original system is based on 3 variables: the mechanism of injury as determined by imaging studies, the integrity of the posterior ligamentous complex, and the neurologic status of the patient. Considerable controversy exists among treating physicians in classifying injury mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to survey the STSG on case examples related to the mechanism of thoracolumbar injury. A 2-question survey regarding thoracolumbar injury mechanisms and scoring was distributed to members of the STSG. A total of 27 STSG members completed surveys on defining and scoring thoracolumbar injury mechanisms. Data from these completed surveys were analyzed using a 2-tailed Fisher exact test on a chi2 contingency table. Sixty-seven percent of physicians preferred a definition incorporating posterior ligamentous complex disruption without posterior vertebral body retropulsion over the location of the axis of rotation in differentiating flexion-distraction from advanced stage flexion-compression injuries, representing a statistically significant difference (P=0.0285). There was no statistical consensus on the scoring emphasizing a primary and secondary mechanism of injury in complex injury patterns. Despite the statistical consensus to 1 survey question, there seems to be no dominating opinion on distinguishing thoracolumbar injury mechanisms. Perhaps identifying objective findings on imaging studies and clinical examination in place of guessing injury mechanisms may allow for a more reliable and valid thoracolumbar injury classification system.     

Amelioration of Cisplatin-Induced ototoxicity by fosfomycin

The continued chemotherapeutic application of cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum [II]) necessitates reduction of its doselimiting toxicity without decreasing its tumoricidal effect. This research project evaluated the efficacy of fosfomycin, a phosphonic acid antibiotic, in decreasing or ameliorating the ototoxicity (high frequency sensorineural hearing loss) and nephrotoxicity (renal tubular necrosis and interstitial nephritis) of cisplatin. Experimentally, fosfomycin effectively inhibits aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity in animals and humans. The efficacy of fosfomycin in blocking platinum-induced toxicity in the guinea pig was evaluated histologically and functionally using cytocochleography and light microscopy of the organ of Corti and the auditory brain stem evoked response (ABR), and light microscopy of renal corticomedullary tissues, small bowel, liver, lung, and peripheral nerve. The results demonstrate that fosfomycin ameliorates the acute renal tubular necrosis and interstitial nephritis and markedly inhibits the elevation of ABR thresholds and simultaneous outer hair cell loss that can result from cisplatinum administration. Fosfomycin should be considered apotential antidote for the dose-limiting ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity of cisplatin chemotherapy.     

Treatment of atypical depression with moclobemide: a sequential double controlled study

A double-blind controlled study of moclobemide and diazepam in patients with atypical depression showed both to be effective antidepressants and anxiolytics. Statistical comparison showed diazepam to be significantly better than moclobemide at week 4. However, by week 8 there was no significant difference between the two drugs for depression scores although diazepam was a significantly better anxiolytic. Side-effects were minimal, and the most common side-effects emerging for both drugs were sleep disturbance and physical tiredness.