Occurrence of ocular disease in traumatic brain injury in a selected sample: a retrospective analysis

Primary objective: To determine retrospectively the relative risk of ocular disease in a selected, visually-symptomatic sample of clinic patients having traumatic brain injury (TBI; n = 160) vs. cerebrovascular accident (CVA; n = 60), with all initially presenting at the clinic with symptoms and/or signs of vision dysfunction.

Methods and procedures: To review retrospectively 220 medical records of individuals with TBI (n = 160) vs. CVA (n = 60), as determined by a computer-based query spanning the years 2000-2003, to ascertain the frequency of occurrence of ocular disease in the two major sub-groups of acquired brain injury.

Main outcomes and results: Conditions with high relative risk unique to TBI included corneal abrasion, blepharitis, chalazion/hordeolum, dry eye, traumatic cataract, vitreal prolapse and optic atrophy. This is distinct from those ophthalmic conditions unique to CVA, which included sub-conjunctival haemorrhage and ptosis.

Conclusion: These new findings should alert clinicians to the potential increased frequency of occurrence of specific ocular diseases in a selected, visually-symptomatic population with TBI and their associated rehabilitative and quality-of-life implications.     

Anesthesia for percutaneous transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect

OBJECTIVE: To review the anesthetic management for percutaneous transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) with an Amplatzer asymmetric occluder device and to highlight the hemodynamic effects and potential complications associated with its delivery. DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Nine consecutive children undergoing elective percutaneous transcatheter closure of perimembranous VSD. INTERVENTIONS: General anesthesia with sevoflurane for cardiac catheterization and percutaneous transcatheter device placement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ten anesthetics were delivered in 9 children ages 23 to 65 months with perimembranous VSD for attempted placement of an Amplatzer asymmetric device. The device was successfully placed in 7 patients. In 1 patient the device embolized to the right femoral artery, and was retrieved with a bioptome. Fluoroscopy time (59.8 +/- 17.24 min) was prolonged compared to that in other studies of placement of this device. All patients had episodes of arrhythmia and hemodynamic disturbance. Arrhythmias ranged from atrial or ventricular ectopic events to various degrees of atrioventricular block. Complete heart block occurred during the procedure in 1 patient and after the procedure in another patient. Hypotensive episodes occurred in 7 patients, and were attributed to arrhythmias in 5 patients and hypovolemia in 2 patients. Two patients were given blood transfusions after the procedure because they had signs of hypovolemia and a greater than 10% decrease in hemoglobin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesia for perimembranous VSD occluder placement is associated with hemodynamic instability, arrhythmias, prolonged procedure times, and inevitable and sometimes substantial blood loss.     

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with gallbladder cancer

The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of long-term survival (>24 months) in patients with gall bladder cancer. A retrospective review of 117 cases of gall bladder cancer resected between 1989 and 2000. The resections included 80 simple cholecystectomies and 37 extended procedures. Patients with survival >24 months (n=44) were compared with those having survival <24 months (n=73) for 17 prognostic factors. Overall median survival was 16 months with a 5-year survival of 27%. T status (P=.000) and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (P=.001) were independent predictors of long-term survival. Survival advantage was seen in T3N+ve disease (P=.007) with extended procedures. Complete (R0) resection was attained in 30 patients with a 5-year survival advantage of 30% as compared with incomplete (R1) resection (P=.0002). Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy improved survival in simple cholecystectomy group (P=.0008) but no advantage was seen after extended procedures. Stage III (P=.001) and node-positive disease (P=.0005) had significant benefit with adjuvant therapy. Poor differentiation and vascular invasion were associated with poor long-term survival. R0 resection was associated with prolonged survival. Extended procedures improved survival in patients with T3N+ve disease. Addition of chemoradiotherapy made significant improvement in long-term survival in stage III and node-positive lesions and in patients undergoing simple cholecystectomy. R0 resection predicted long-term survival in gall bladder cancer. T3 N+ve disease had better survival after extended procedures. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy improved survival in stage III and node-positive disease. Poor differentiation and vascular invasion were adverse predictors of survival.     

Development of a species-specific colorimetric-PCR assay for detection and species differentiation of Mycobacterium immunogenum and Mycobacterium chelonae and its comparison with quantitative real-time PCR for field metalworking fluids

Mycobacterium immunogenum and Mycobacterium chelonae are closely related species associated with occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and nosocomial infections. There is a need to develop specific and readily adaptable methods for detection and speciation of these agents. Here we report development of a probe-based colorimetric-PCR assay involving heat shock protein (hsp) gene amplification (228bp) and its detection in an ELISA-like reaction. A quantitative format of this assay was developed and validated on metalworking fluids (MWF). The assay showed a minimum detection limit of 10 fg genomic DNA or 1 mycobacterial cell, albeit with variations depending on type and composition of the MWF matrix. When applied to the field MWF samples, the developed assay was found to be comparable to the real-time PCR assay, and allowed direct speciation of MWF mycobacteria without sequencing and/or restriction pattern analysis. In conclusion, the developed colorimetric PCR allows detection and quantification of MWF mycobacteria without culturing and is the first probe-based assay for unambiguous differentiation between the two phylogenetically closely related species, M. immunogenum and M. chelonae. Considering that the assay offers high throughput format involving relatively simpler instrument infrastructure, it has a potential for applications in routine assessment of MWF mycobacteria in diagnostic and industrial laboratories.     

Eplerenone in the Treatment of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

Overactivation of mineralocorticoid receptor pathways has been implicated in the pathophysiology of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Recently, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists such as eplerenone have demonstrated success in treating subretinal fluid in CSCR. This case demonstrates a patient who was initially presumed to have subretinal fluid secondary to CSCR and was started on a trial of oral eplerenone. It quickly became evident that her subretinal fluid was secondary to a peripapillary polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy network, but she demonstrated a significant improvement with oral eplerenone. To the authors'' knowledge, this is the first case of eplerenone use to treat polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.Key Words: Eplerenone, Mineralocorticoid antagonist, Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy