Reproducibility and repeatability of foveal avascular zone area measurements using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area measurements using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in healthy subjects. METHODS: Sixty-four eyes of 64 healthy volunteers were randomly subjected to FAZ area measurements using SS-OCTA by 2 examiners in 2 different sessions. RESULTS: The FAZ areas measured by the first and second observer were 0.269 ± 0.092 mm2 and 0.270 ± 0.090 mm2, respectively. Within subjects, the coefficients of variations were 2.44% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95% to 2.93%) and 2.66% (95% CI 2.00% to 3.31%) for the first and second observers, respectively. The coefficient of repeatability average measurements of FAZ area were 0.021 mm2 and 0.024 mm2. The intraclass correlation coefficient values were 0.993 (95% CI 0.989 to 0.996) and 0.991 (95% CI 0.986 to 0.995). Interobserver and intraobserver concordance correlation coefficients ranged from 0.998 (95% CI 0.997 to 0.999) to 0.999 (95% CI 0.998 to 0.999) and from 0.989 (95% CI 0.982 to 0.993) to 0.987 (95% CI 0.979 to 0.992), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The FAZ area measurements by means of SS-OCTA showed high reproducibility and repeatability in healthy eyes.

Vinorelbine, bleomycin and methotrexate as a salvage therapy for patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma in relapse after cisplatin/fluorouracil.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) represent the standard chemotherapy for advanced/recurrent head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC); however, the duration of response is often short, with a median survival of only five to six months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HNSC were treated with vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 and methotrexate 50 mg/m2 every week and bleomycin 15 mg/m2 every two weeks. All patients were previously treated with a CDDP/5-FU regimen. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. After a median follow-up of 15 months, 16 patients are still alive and 32 have died. We had one complete response (2%), 12 partial responses (25%) (overall response rate 27%; 95% CI: 14%-39%), 11 stabilizations (23%) and 24 progressions (50%) of disease. Neutropenia grade 3-4 was seen in 12 patients; peripheral neurotoxicity in two patients. There were no toxic deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen, administered in an outpatient setting, revealed some activity as a second-line treatment in patients with HNSC, with acceptable toxicity.

[Indirect bonded prosthesis. Use of an impacted central incisor]. / Prótese adesiva indireta. Aproveitamento de um incisivo central dilacerado.

The authors presents a case about right central superior incisor impacted. After surgical remotion of the retain tooth, this was utilized like pontic in the confeccion of the indirect adhesive prosthesis for the patient.

[Comparative action of (±)-abscisic acid, coumarin, p-coumaric acid and some of their derivatives on the growth of the first wheat leaf]. / Influence comparée de l'(±)-acide abscissique, de la coumarine, de l'acide p-coumarique et de certains de leurs dérivés sur la croissance de la première feuille de blé

The activities of (±)-abscisic acid and a number of compounds derived from p-coumaric acid and coumarin and their interaction with gibberellic acid in the control of the elongation of the first wheat leaf are examined. (±)-Abscisic acid strongly inhibits leaf growth in the presence as well as in the absence of gibberellic acid, but the inhibition is greater in the presence of gibberellic acid (3 µg/l already have an observable effect). Among other compounds, only ferulic acid and coumarin significantly reduce leaf elongation, and they are effective only at high concentrations (1.44 · 10(-4) M/l).