Investigation of the association between glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori infection using the 14C-urea breath test.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori infection by evaluating for the presence of H. pylori infection in patients with glaucoma using the 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT). METHODS: Using 14C-UBT, H. pylori infection positivity was compared between a group of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and a control group with normal intraocular pressure and a normal optic disc or normal perimetry. RESULTS: The 14C-UBT was positive in 18 (51.42%) out of 35 patients in the glaucoma group and in 15 (42.85%) out of 35 patients in the control group. H. pylori infection positivity rates were similar between the glaucoma and control groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the 14C-UBT, there is no association between primary open-angle glaucoma and H. pylori infection.

Investigation of the association between glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori infection using the 14C-urea breath test / Investigação de associação entre glaucoma e infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori pelo teste respiratório da ureia 14C

ABSTRACTPurpose:To investigate the association between glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori infection by evaluating for the presence of H. pylori infection in patients with glaucoma using the 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT).Methods:Using 14C-UBT, H. pylori infection positivity was compared between a group of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and a control group with normal intraocular pressure and a normal optic disc or normal perimetry.Results:The 14C-UBT was positive in 18 (51.42%) out of 35 patients in the glaucoma group and in 15 (42.85%) out of 35 patients in the control group. H. pylori infection positivity rates were similar between the glaucoma and control groups (p>0.05).Conclusion:According to the 14C-UBT, there is no association between primary open-angle glaucoma and H. pylori infection.

RESUMOObjetivo:Investigar a associação entre glaucoma e infecção por H. pyloripor meio do teste para a presença de infecção por H. pylori em pacientes com glaucoma usando o teste de respiração da ureia 14C (14C-UBT).Métodos:Foi feita uma comparação em relação a positividade H. pyloriutilizando 14C-UBT entre um grupo de pacientes com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e um grupo controle com pressão intraocular normal e sem verificação de disco óptico glaucomatosa.Resultados:O 14C-UBT foi positivo em 18 (51,42%) dos 35 pacientes no grupo de glaucoma e em 15 (42,85%) dos 35 pacientes no grupo de controle. As taxas de positividade foram semelhantes entre os grupos de glaucoma e de controle e não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos (p>0,05).Conclusão:De acordo com o 14C-UBT, não há associação entre o glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e H. pylori.

Spectral domain-optical coherence tomographic findings in patients with ankylosing spondylitis under anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockade on the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers (GCIPL), and the macula in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients under anti-TNF-α therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with AS received etanercept, or adalimumab, or infliximab for at least 6 months. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores were measured before and 6 months after the beginning of the treatment. Peripapillary RNFL, four regional fields (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal), GCIPL, and macular thicknesses of the patients were analyzed by optical coherence tomography before the treatment, at 3 months and 6 months after the beginning of the treatment. RESULTS: The mean BASDAI, ESR, and CRP values were 5.2 ± 1.5, 31.6 ± 21.7, and 15.7 ± 13.9, respectively, at the beginning of the treatment and 2.3 ± 1.7, 21.3 ± 15.1, and 10.1 ± 10.3, respectively, 6 months after the beginning of treatment. There were significant differences among the mean BASDAI, ESR, and CRP values at the beginning of treatment and 6 months later (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, and p = 0.009, respectively). There were no significant differences among peripapillary RNFL (p = 0.24), four regional fields (p = 0.98, p = 0.23, p = 0.09, p = 0.47), GCIPL (p = 0.25), or macular (p = 0.33) thicknesses of the patients during anti-TNF-α treatment. In addition, the mean intraocular pressure levels throughout the follow-up did not show significant variation on repeated-measures ANOVA (p = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α blockade does not seem to influence RNFL, GCIPL, or macular thickness of patients with AS in the short term.

The injection of air/oxygen bubble into the anterior chamber of rabbits as a treatment for hyphema in patients with sickle cell disease.

Purpose. To investigate the changes of partial oxygen pressure (PaO2) in aqueous humour after injecting air or oxygen bubble into the anterior chamber in sickle cell hyphema. Methods. Blood samples were taken from the same patient with sickle cell disease. Thirty-two rabbits were divided into 4 groups. In group 1 (n = 8), there was no injection. Only blood injection constituted group 2 (n = 8), both blood and air bubble injection constituted group 3 (n = 8), and both blood and oxygen bubble injection constituted group 4 (n = 8). Results. The PaO2 in the aqueous humour after 10 hours from the injections was 78.45 ± 9.9 mmHg (Mean ± SD) for group 1, 73.97 ± 8.86 mmHg for group 2, 123.35 ± 13.6 mmHg for group 3, and 306.47 ± 16.5 mmHg for group 4. There was statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 2, when compared with group 3 and group 4. Conclusions. PaO2 in aqueous humour was increased after injecting air or oxygen bubble into the anterior chamber. We offer to leave an air bubble in the anterior chamber of patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies and hyphema undergoing an anterior chamber washout.

Is there a relationship between pathologic myopia and dry eye syndrome?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pathologic myopia and the dry eye syndrome. METHODS: Forty-five patients with a spherical equivalence (SE) greater than -6.0 diopters (D) and an axial length (AL) >26.5 mm were assigned to the pathological myopia group (group 1). Forty-four healthy individuals were selected from subjects with emmetropia whose SE values ranged from -1.0 to +1.0 D (group 2). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores of all the patients were determined. All the participants underwent the following: Schirmer 1 test without anesthesia, corneal staining, tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer 1 test with anesthesia, and AL measurement. RESULTS: The mean age of group 1 and group 2 patients was 40.2 ± 12.3 and 38.8 ± 9.3 years. The mean values of SE, keratometry, and AL were -9.6 ± 3.8 D, 43.9 ± 1.1 D, and 27.4 ± 0.6 mm in group 1 and -0.1 ± 0.5 D, 42.3 ± 1.4 D, and 23.0 ± 0.2 mm in group 2. The mean values of the Schirmer 1 test without and with anesthesia were 14.4 ± 6.1 and 9.5 ± 4.5 mm in group 1 and 16.7 ± 6.2 and 11.4 ± 6.0 mm in group 2. The mean TBUT in group 1 was 7.2 ± 3.4 seconds, whereas that in group 2 was 13.6 ± 3.7 seconds. There was a significant difference between the groups in SE, keratometry, AL, TBUT, and OSDI scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pathologic myopia have lower TBUT scores and higher OSDI scores when compared with healthy individuals.