Objective evaluation of vision quality in pseudophakic patients with posterior capsular opacification using double-pass retinal imaging / Avaliação objetiva da qualidade da visão em pacientes pseudofácicos com opacificação capsular posterior pelo método de dupla passagem de luz

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to objectively assess the optical vision quality of patients before and after Nd:YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification using a double-pass retinal imaging system. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 26 pseudophakic eyes with posterior capsular opacification that underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The objective scatter indices, modulation transfer function cutoff frequencies, Strehl ratios, and logMAR corrected distance visual acuities were assessed before and after YAG capsulotomy with a double-pass retinal imaging system (OQAS II, Visiometrics, Spain). We also analyzed data from a subgroup of 10 patients with pre-YAG corrected distance visual acuity of 0.10 logMAR (20/25) or better. Results: Vision quality indices improved in all 26 eyes, resulting in a statistically significant improvement in the corrected distance visual acuity (p=0.007), objective scatter index (p=0.001), modulation transfer function cutoff frequency (p=0.001), and Strehl ratio (p=0.020). The overall mean improvements included 0.12 ± 0.04 logMAR for corrected distance visual acuity, 2.84 ± 0.76 for objective scatter index, 12.29 ± 2.77 for modulation transfer function cutoff frequency, and 0.06 ± 0.03 for Strehl ratio. Our sub-analysis of 10 eyes with 0.10 logMAR (20/25) corrected distance visual acuity or better also showed a statistically significant improvement in the mean objective scatter index (0.76 ± 16; p=0.001), resulting in approximately 35% decrease in intraocular light scatter. Conclusions: The objective vision quality measurements as assessed by the double-pass retinal imaging system showed a significant improvement after YAG capsulotomy. This suggests that the objective scatter index improves after YAG capsulotomy, even in eyes with pre-YAG 0.10 logMAR (Snellen 20/25) corrected distance visual acuity or better.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar objetivamente a qualidade da visão óptica antes e depois da capsulotomia com Nd: YAG, obtida por imagem pelo metodo de dupla passagem de luz em pacientes com opacificação capsular posterior. Método: Análise retrospectiva de 26 olhos pseudofácicos com opacificação capsular posterior visualmente significativa, que foram submetidos à capsulotomia de Nd: YAG. O índice de dispersão objetiva, a função de transferência de modulação, a relação de Strehl e a acuidade visual à distância corrigida foram avaliados antes e após a capsulotomia com YAG usando o dupla passagem de luz (OQAS II, Visiometrics, Espanha). Também foi analisado um subgrupo de pacientes com acuidade visual à distância corrigida pré-YAG de 0,10 logMAR (20/25) ou melhor. Resultados: Os índices de qualidade da visão melhoraram em todos os 26 olhos, resultando em uma melhora estatisticamente significativa na acuidade visual à distância corrigida (p=0,007), índice de dispersão objetiva (p=0,001), função de transferência de modulação (p=0,001) e relação de Strehl (p=0,020). A melhora média na acuidade visual à distância corrigida foi de 0,12 ± 0,04 logMAR, no índice de dispersão objetiva foi de 2,84 ± 0,76, no função de transferência de modulação foi de 12,29 ± 2,77 e na razão de Strehl foi de 0,06 ± 0,03 em todos os olhos. Sub-análise de 10 olhos com 0.10 logMAR (20/25) acuidade visual à distância corrigida ou melhor também mostrou uma melhora estatisticamente significativa no índice de dispersão objetiva (p=0,001). A melhora média no OSI foi de 0,76 ± 16, uma diminuição de 35% na dispersão da luz intraocular. Conclusões: A qualidade da visão avaliada pelo dupla passagem de luz mostra uma melhora significativa nas medidas objetivas da qualidade da visão após a capsulotomia do YAG. O índice de dispersão objetiva melhora após a capsulotomia YAG, mesmo em olhos com acuidade visual à distância corrigida pré-YAG de 0,10 logMAR (Snellen 20/25) ou melhor.

Presentation and management outcomes of pelvic fractures: a single institutional review

Background: Pelvic fractures are orthopaedic emergencies associated with polytrauma. These fractures have gradually increased in recent times as a result of increasing high speed and complex road traffic accidents. Objective: To describe the presentation and management outcome of patients that were managed in our institution for pelvic fractures over the study period. Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of patients who were admitted and treated in our hospital with pelvic injuries from February 2012 to January 2015. Results: Majority 122 (75.8%) of the patients in this study were aged below 40 years. These fractures were mostly caused by road traffic accidents. Most 116 (71.9%) of our patients had Tile class A and B fractures. Polytrauma seen in 41.6% of the patients was the most common associated injury seen with pelvic fractures. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) 31.4 shows that these patients were mostly severely injured patients. The fatality rate in this study was 16.12%. These mortality were higher for patients with Tile class C than B injury and no death was recorded for class A injuries. Conclusion: Majority of the patients were less than 40 years and Road Traffic Accident is the commonest aetiology. Many were successfully managed conservatively particularly those with stable and partially stable injuries. Functional outcome is generally good

Clinical trials in Ghana: evolution and current landscape.

A review of published clinical trials from Ghana shows the earliest trials initiated in the 1970s, were mainly trials of interventions against onchocerciasis and childhood Burkitt’s lymphoma. Subsequent trials in the 1980s and 1990s were more diverse, comprising of preventive as well as therapeutic interventions against major communicable diseases of the period. In more recent times, trials of interventions against malaria have since 2000, been the most dominant and have included some of the most recently developed vaccines. There has, since the early days of clinical trial history in Ghana, been a consistent presence of trials of reproductive health interventions and surgically-related trials. There have been few trials of tuberculosis, or neonatal-related interventions, and trials against major non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders have been virtually non-existent. The clinical trial evolution in Ghana has reflected global health initiatives and external funding exigencies and there is an urgent need for trials that are dynamic and directed towards addressing other significant and especially non-communicable disease causes of morbidity and mortality in Ghana.

Knowledge and behaviour of chest symptomatics in urban slum populations of two states in India towards care-seeking.

Background: Little information is available on triggers and barriers for seeking appropriate healthcare among chest symptomatics (CS) from slum populations in India. Methods: Urban slums in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Karnataka (KA) were selected based on case detection rate (2008), population size and geographic distribution. A door-to-door survey was conducted in 2010 and CS were identified and interviewed. Action taking patterns were collected and factors influencing these among behavers (CS visiting qualified providers) and non-behavers (CS not taking action or resorting to self-medication) compared. Results: Of 1526 CS in UP and 1515 in KA interviewed, 75% in UP and 58% in KA sought care; of them 79% in UP and 99% in KA visited a qualified provider. More than 80% in both UP and KA underwent recommended tests within a week (mean days: UP-1.8; KA-2.4). Only 16% of respondents in UP and 48% in KA reported that private qualified providers recommended sputum microscopy. Important triggers of visiting a qualified provider were being females; of higher economic status, self-efficacy, suspicion of having TB when suffering from persistent cough and that sputum microscopy should be done to diagnose TB. Additional triggers included knowledge that TB is caused by germs and can affect anyone (UP) and perceptions of quality of care and knowledge that TB is curable (KA). Implications: There is need to carry out targeted area-specific communication in slums to improve appropriate treatmentseeking behaviour and demand creation for DOTS by CS. The study recommends investments to focus on changing private provider behaviour.

Age as a risk factor for thrombocytopenia and anaemia in children treated for acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Anaemia is commonly observed in children with malaria, but reports on leucocyte and platelet count abnormalities associated with malaria are inconsistent. This study examined the effect of age, gender, parasite density and temperature on haematological parameters in children with acute uncomplicated malaria. METHODS: Haematological parameters were determined in children with acute uncomplicated malaria, and these were correlated with age, sex, temperature and parasite density. Statistical analysis was done using SAS 9.1. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety five children with acute uncomplicated malaria participated in the study. The mean age was 51.7 months +/- 33.8. At presentation, anaemia occurred in 43.8% of the patients and children <5 yr had a significantly lower haematocrit (28.4% +/- 4.8) than that of older children (32.8% +/- 4.8) (p <0.001), but the haematocrit was not significantly different by days 14 and 28. There was no difference between both sexes. Leucocytosis was more frequently seen than leucopenia (9.5% vs 3%). Thrombocytopenia was found in 59.3% of enrolled patients. More than half of the patients with thrombocytopenia had recovered by Day 28. Baseline platelet count was related to Day 14 (r = 0.6, p < 0.0001) and Day 28 (r = 0.2, p = 0.0015) and the haematocrit on Day 28 (r = 0.12, p = 0.00197). Platelet count showed no correlation with temperature, parasite density and leucocyte count. Haematocrit correlated with age (r = 0.4, p < 0.0001); but not with parasite density or temperature. Leucocyte count showed no correlation with age or parasite density. CONCLUSION: While thrombocytopenia was the most common haematological finding and may be of diagnostic importance, anaemia and leucocytosis were more common in the under fives.

Caroli's Disease Associated with a Gastric Diverticulum

Caroli's disease or communicating ectasia of the intrahepatic biliary tree is a rare disease with unknown aetiology. The coexistence of this along with the uncommon condition of a gastric diverticulum has never been reported before. A deficiency in the fibromuscular matrix of both the bile ducts and the gastric wall may explain why these two pathologies may coexist in a single patient.

Corneal topography after clear penetrating keratoplasty: qualitative classification

The topography of corneas after penetrating keratoplasty is highly variable. We classify the topography into five groups. We performed videokeratography on 45 clear compact penetrating keratoplasties, with all sutures removed. Three ophthalmologists classified the keratographs into five previously defined topographic groups, based on the pattern of the normalized color-coded videokeratograph. The five topographic patterns included: prolate bow tie, 14[30%]; oblate bow tie, 14[30%]; mixed prolate and oblate bow tie, 8[17%]; asymmetric, 3[9%]; and radially asymmetric 6[14%]. The three ophthalmologists agreed in their initial classification in 87% of the cases and after discussion, in 96%. The topography of the cornea after penetrating keratoplasty can be classified into five qualitative groups by trained observers, with good clinical reliability