Posterior capsule opacity in Retinitis Pigmentosa according to different biomaterials of intraocular lenses: Our clinical experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Complicated Cataract is frequently associated with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). This retinopathy is a great cause of visual impairment, and cataract surgery may resolve partially the situation and restore sight. Unfortunately, in this case there is a very high incidence of Posterior Capsule Opacity (PCO) ranging in several studies a percentage of 100% at six months. Our goal was to evaluate whether the high incidence of PCO is associated to specific type of Intraocular Lens (IOL) biomaterials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational retrospective study deals with 75 eyes of 43 patients affected with RP who underwent to cataract surgery with posterior chamber IOL implants (40% ECCE and 60% Phaco). Selected biomaterials were: 30 Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), 11 silicone, 34 acrylic. Observations were performed with retro-illumination camera and when recorded capsular fibrosis a PCO YAG laser capsulotomy was made. The patients were controlled at 3-6-12 months after the initial surgical treatment. RESULTS: At three months of follow up, 80% of patients with PMMA, 81.8% silicone implants underwent to YAG capsulotomy while only 44% of acrylic type. At six months of follow-up 83.3% of patients with PMMA and 81.8% silicone implants underwent to YAG capsulotomy while only 49.88% of acrylic type. At 12 months of follow up 89.9% of patients with PMMA and 90.95 silicone implants underwent to YAG capsulotomy while only 52.82% of acrylic type. CONCLUSIONS: We could not be able to differentiate incidence between different brand type of lens in PMMA. For Acrylic lens instead we noted an incidence of PCO of 41.38% with hydrophobic material and 60.0% of hydrophilic material. In conclusion to avoid massive PCO in RP, our experience is statistically significant, in fact the protective action of smooth material hydrophobic lens avoids the epithelial growth and fibrosis towards the center of visual axis.

Genetic polymorphisms and retinal vein occlusion in an Italian population.

In this study, we assessed the prevalence of polymorphisms in genes involved in hyperhomocysteinemia or hemostasis to shed light on their role, if any, in retinal vein occlusion (RVO). We recruited 37 Italian patients (17 men and 20 women) with a diagnosis of central or branch RVO based on fundus examination and retinal fluorescein angiography, as well as 45 healthy controls. Risk factors and family history of RVO of all subjects were recorded. The distributions of polymorphisms in patients and controls were evaluated using the χ(2) test and OR. We confirmed an increased risk in subjects with dyslipidemia (high density lipoprotein <59 mg/dL: 17.8% of controls, 43.2% of patients, P = 0.0002; low density lipoprotein >130 mg/dL: 26.7% controls, 54.1% patients, P = 0.0002), arterial hypertension (60% controls, 75.7% patients, P = 0.023), and high body mass index (28.9% controls, 70.3% patients, P < 0.0001, and excluded involvement of the selected polymorphisms in RVO. Overall, the tested polymorphisms did not appear to be useful for assessing predisposition or for the diagnosis and prognosis of RVO.

Polymorphism of UGT1A1*28 (TA)7 and liver damage in hepatitis B virus-positive patients in Albania.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the infectious agent of both acute and chronic hepatitis. HBV exists in multiple genotypic variants that differ in their capacity to become persistent chronic infections and in their clinical manifestations, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The 8 genotypes (A-H) of HBV show a specific worldwide geographic distribution and are correlated with different disease course, severity, and response to therapy. We isolated DNA from 75 HBV-positive blood donors, chosen randomly from the database of the National Blood Bank in Tirana, to specifically analyze the UGT1A1 polymorphism to determine its correlations with bilirubin levels and liver function. The large number of subjects who were HBV-positive carriers of heterozygosis or homozygosis for the UGT1A1*28 (TA)7 polymorphism suggests that these individuals may be more susceptible to cancer and should follow a strict regime of prevention.

Damage of Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) (Gennadius, 1889 ) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and vertical distribution of nymphs in soybean Glycine Max (L.) merril cultivars in the greenhouse / Danos da Mosca- Branca Bemisia Tabaci (Genn. ) e distribuição vertical das ninfas em cultivares de soja em casa de vegetação

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) causes damage in the soybean crop by sucking the plant sap, transmission of viruses and promoting sooty mold that affect the growing and the soybean production. The goal of this work was to evaluate the direct damage of the whitefly, and the vertical nymph distribution, on soybean cultivars under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 10 cultivars in a 10 x 2 factorial scheme (infestation and without infestation) and 4 replications. Counts were made of the number of eggs and nymphs in the upper, middle and lower third of the plants. The productive indices were: number of pods per plant and grains per pod, weight of 100 grains, and weight of 2 plants. The data were submitted to variance analysis and F test (; 0.05), and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability, obtaining the least significant difference between treatments. The cultivars were not affected by the B. tabaci attack at the infestations levels registered. CD 219 RR was the cultivar most infested by the whitefly nymphs. For better efficiency and use of time in the evaluations, in greenhouse studies it is suggested that they be carried out in the upper and middle thirds of the soybean plants.

A mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci causa danos em plantas de soja em decorrência da sucção de seiva, transmissão de vírus e favorecimento da fumagina, que afetam o desenvolvimento e a produção da cultura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os danos diretos da mosca-branca e a distribuição vertical de ninfas em cultivares de soja em condições de casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com 10 cultivares no esquema fatorial 10 x 2 (com e sem infestação) e 4 repetições. Contabilizou-se o número de ovos e ninfas em todos os folíolos e, separadamente, em um folíolo do terços superior, médio e inferior das plantas Os índices de produtividade analisados foram: número de vagens por planta e de grãos por vagem, massa de 100 grãos e massa total de duas plantas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste F (; 0,05) e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de 5% de probabilidade, obtendo-se as diferenças mínimas significativas entre os tratamentos. As cultivares estudadas não foram afetadas pelo ataque de B. tabaci nos níveis de infestação registrados. CD 219 RR foi o cultivar mais infestada por ninfas de mosca-branca. Para melhorar a eficiência e o uso de tempo nas avaliações, em estudos em casa de vegetação, indica-se que estas sejam realizadas nos terços superior e médio das plantas.

Clinical and molecular genetic study of 12 Italian families with autosomal recessive Stargardt disease.

Stargardt disease was diagnosed in 12 patients from 12 families using complete ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. DNA was extracted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing (ABCA4 gene). Genetic counseling and eye examination were offered to 16 additional family members. Various patterns of presentation were observed in patients with clinical diagnoses of Stargardt disease. The genetic study identified 2 mutations in 75% of families (9/12); a second mutation could not be found in the remaining 25% of families (3/12). The most frequent mutation was G1961E, found in 17% of families (2/12). This finding is similar to that of a previous analysis report of an Italian patient series. Four new mutations were also identified: Tyr1858Asp, Leu1195fsX1196, p.Tyr850Cys, and p.Thr959Ala. Our results suggest that PCR and direct DNA sequencing are the most appropriate techniques for the analysis of the ABCA4 gene. However, this method requires supplementation with specific PCR analysis to diagnose large deletions. The study of the families identified healthy carriers and affected subjects in presymptomatic stages and was also useful for evaluating the risk of transmission to progeny. Combined ophthalmologic and genetic evaluation enabled better clinical management of these families.