Determinants of severity at presentation among young patients with early onset glaucoma.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, socio‑economic, and demographic factors associated with the severity at presentation among juvenile primary open angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients. Materials and Methods: Age at diagnosis, family history, baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), access to health‑care, socio‑economic status, and glaucoma awareness among 80 unrelated JOAG patients presenting between 10 years and 40 years of age were analyzed for their association with the severity at presentation. Severity at presentation was graded based on worse eye visual field using the advanced glaucoma intervention study score and on binocular visual field defects at presentation. Results: Patients with a positive family history presented 4 years earlier (P = 0.045, confidence interval [CI]: 0.09‑8.8) compared to those without a family history. Lower socio‑economic status (Odds ratio [OR] 5.7, P = 0.01, CI: 1.5‑22), and higher baseline IOP (OR 7, P = 0.003, CI: 1.9‑26) were associated with severe glaucomatous visual field defect at presentation. A negative family history was associated with a 10 times likelihood of presenting with a severe glaucomatous field defect (OR 0.1, P = 0.007, CI: 0‑0.5). Conclusions: Clinical, socio‑economic, and demographic factors are contributory to the severity at presentation among young patients with early onset glaucoma. Presence of a family history is associated with an earlier presentation among these patients and a reduced risk of the severe presentation

Scanning electron microscopy of the trabecular meshwork: Understanding the pathogenesis of primary angle closure glaucoma.

Purpose: To study ultrastructural changes of the trabecular meshwork in acute and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes by scanning electron microscopy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one trabecular meshwork surgical specimens from consecutive glaucomatous eyes after a trabeculectomy and five postmortem corneoscleral specimens were fixed immediately in Karnovsky solution. The tissues were washed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline, post-fixed in 1% osmium tetraoxide, dehydrated in acetone series (30-100%), dried and mounted. Results: Normal trabecular tissue showed well-defined, thin, cylindrical uveal trabecular beams with many large spaces, overlying flatter corneoscleral beams and numerous smaller spaces. In acute PACG eyes, the trabecular meshwork showed grossly swollen, irregular trabecular endothelial cells with intercellular and occasional basal separation with few spaces. Numerous activated macrophages, leucocytes and amorphous debris were present. Chronic PACG eyes had a few, thickened posterior uveal trabecular beams visible. A homogenous deposit covered the anterior uveal trabeculae and spaces. Converging, fan-shaped trabecular beam configuration corresponded to gonioscopic areas of peripheral anterior synechiae. In POAG eyes, anterior uveal trabecular beams were thin and strap-like, while those posteriorly were wide, with a homogenous deposit covering and bridging intertrabecular spaces, especially posteriorly. Underlying corneoscleral trabecular layers and spaces were visualized in some areas. Conclusions: In acute PACG a marked edema of the endothelium probably contributes for the acute and marked intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Chronically raised IOP in chronic PACG and POAG probably results, at least in part, from decreased aqueous outflow secondary to widening and fusion of adjacent trabecular beams, together with the homogenous deposit enmeshing trabecular beams and spaces.

Hypnosis and pain management.

Nurses have used complementary therapies for many years to relieve anxiety, promote comfort, and reduce or alleviate pain. Physical therapies are most commonly used in our scenario but behavioral approach had been less customary, since familiarity of health personnel is very less (36%) with these techniques (Zaza et al, 1999). Hypnosis is empirically proved best therapy for pain management. Hypnosis is a process involving a hypnotist and a subject who agrees to be hypnotized. Being hypnotized is usually characterized by intense concentration, extreme relaxation and high suggestibility. This paper initially address hypnosis from an historical perspective to give the reader a decent background in which to view current trends in research in the field. Then will explain how hypnosis work followed by the empirical evidences and problems encountered in use of hypnosis when used for pain management.