Variations occurring in intraocular pressure and refraction during pregnancy

Background: pregnancy represents an important challenge in the female's life that she needs close observation during it and also needs counseling by her physician about the changes that are going through her body in this stressful period

Aim of the Work: the purpose of our study was to detect the changes that occur in the women's eyes during pregnancy and postpartum period regarding intraocular pressure and refraction

Patients and Methods: we studied 40 pregnant healthy women whose ages ranged from 18 to 35 years and we exclude any ocular diseases such as keratoconus, amblyopia or diabetic retinopathy. We measured the intraocular pressure using a Goldmann applanation tonometer, best corrected visual acuity using the Snellen's chart and k reading using autorefractor-keratometer

Results: we found that the IOP decreases only in the 3rd trimester with more decrease in women with multiple fetuses and multiple pregnancies. We found that the BCVA decreases only in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. We also found that the K reading increases only in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Intraocular pressure, best corrected visual acuity and k reading returned to the normal values after delivery

Conclusion: the physiologic changes that occur in the women's eyes during pregnancy and postpartum period are usually marked in second and third trimester; this is because at this period, hormonal activity is at its peak, and however these changes are transient because several weeks postpartum, all hormonal activities return to their prenatal levels

Computed tomography [CT] versus magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] in differentiation between neoplastic orbital lesions

To compare between the role of CT and MRI in diagnosis of neoplastic orbital lesions. The study included 126 patients proved to have orbital neoplasm and were subjected to CT and MRI. The study included. 59 males and 67 females with age ranged from 12 days to 91 years. The orbital lesions were bilateral in 16 patients. The lesions were distributed according to their location in one or more of the five orbital compartments including optic nerve, globe, conal intraconal, extra-conal and preseptal space. The most frequent encountered lesion was lymphoma followed by following order: uveal melanoma, optic nerve glioma, juxtaorbital meningioma, retinoblastoma, optic nerve meningioma, rhabdomyosarcoma, metastases, pleomorphic carcinoma, leukemia, aneurysmal bone cyst, schwannoma, neurofibroma, capillary hemangioma, basal cell fibroma, lacrimal gland carcinoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant teratoma, osteoma, assifying fibroma and esthesioneuroblastoma. CT assessed the attenuation values of the lesion, presence of enhancement, bony changes and calc/lcations. MRJ assessed signal changes on T1 and T2WI and enhancement. CT and MRI are complimentary studies for imaging of orbital neoplasm

cross sectional study of hepatitis B, C, some trace elements, heavy metals, aflatoxin B1 and schistosomiasis in a rural population, Egypt

Chronic liver diseases are disastrous to health. Many factors are associated with their prevalence, hence endemicity. These are mainly infectious, parasitic and toxic. A survey was conducted in a village south to Cairo. Large industries concerned with iron and steel industry, metals smelting, cement manufacturing and electric station were located north to the village. A systematic random sample of houses was selected. All individuals inside the houses were invited to share in the study. Sample size was 84 individuals. Hepatitis markers were done [HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies]. The levels of some heavy metals were assessed; which were lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, manganese, nickel, chromium and cadmium. Levels of some trace elements were assessed. These were copper, iron, selenium and zinc. Aflatoxin B1 was assessed in serum. Assessment of schistosomal circulating antigen and antibodies was carried out. Abdominal ultrasonograghy was done to assess liver condition. Univariate logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between studied variables and HBsAg or anti-HCV sero-positive subjects. The association between studied variables and bilharzial or fatty liver, diagnosed by ultrasonography, were also assessed. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed odds ratios at the following results. For HBsAg sero positive subjects, aflatoxin B1, lead, chromium and schistosomal antigen and antibodies were higher than negative ones where odds ratios were; 6.2, 1.6, 1.6, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively. None of the variables showed statistically significant difference. For anti-HCV antibodies sero-positive subjects, aflatoxin Bi and chromium had the highest odds ratios among the studied variables, [odds ratios were 2.5 and 2.4, respectively]. Bilharzial liver showed higher significant positivity of anti-HCV antibodies and insignificant decreased level of zinc than negative ones [odds ratios were 7.2 and 4.5, respectively]. Fatty liver cases showed higher statistically significant positivity of anti-HCV antibodies and chromium than negative ones. Odds ratios were 8.0 and 7.1, respectively. Statistically significant lower level of aflatoxin B1 was shown in fatty liver than normal liver subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for fatty liver showed that only anti-HCV antibodies sero-positivity had statistically significant odds ratio in comparison to chromium level and aflatoxin B1. It is concluded that some heavy metals, and Aflatoxin B1 had a definite association with liver diseases in the area under study. Having anti-HCV antibodies had a relation with fatty liver and with bilharzial liver more than having HBsAg. It is recommended that environmental management to factories nearby the village is urgently needed to decrease exposure to heavy metals. Prevention of hepatitis infection and aflatoxin exposure through different means is also recommended, other wise health care authorities would be confronted with unusual cases of HCC in the nearby future

Neuropsychological functioning and health of dentists exposed to mercury

Objectives: To study if there is an effect of chronic exposure to mercury on health and cognitive functions of dentists and to study the effects

Methods: A case control study of 90 male dentists were asked to complete a questionnaire that included items on handling of amalgam, symptoms experienced, possible influences on psychomotor function, and the 12 item general health questionnaire. Dentists were asked to complete a dental chart of their own mouths and to give samples of urine, hair, and ails for mercury analysis. Environmental measurements of mercury in dentists' surgeries were made and participants undertook a package of computerized psychomotor tests. Another 90 male control subjects underwent similar procedure, completing a questionnaire, having their amalgam surfaces counted, giving urine, hair, and nail samples and undergoing the psychomotor test package

Results: Dentists hail, on average, urinary mercury concentrations over four times that of control subjects. Dentists were significantly more likely than control subjects to have had disorders of the kidney and memory disturbance. These symptoms were not significantly associated with urinary mercury concentration. Differences were found between the psychomotor performance of dentists and controls, but there was no significant association between changes in psychomotor response and mercury concentrations in urine, hair, or nails

Conclusions: Several differences in health and cognitive functioning between dentists and controls were found. These differences could not be directly attributed to their exposure to mercury. However, as similar health effects are known to be associated with mercury exposure, it would be appropriate to consider a system of health surveillance of dental staff with particular emphasis on symptoms associated with mercury toxicity where there is evidence of high levels of exposure to work environmental mercury