[Analgesic effect of Sandostatin (SMS 201-995) in acromegaly headache]. / Effetto analgesico della sandostatina (SMS 201-995) sulla cefalea dell'acromegalico.

Somatostatin analogue (Sandostatin; SMS 201-995) is utilized as a therapy in acromegaly because of its efficiency in inhibiting GH secretion; it induces some clinical improvements, such as headache remission in acromegalic patient, which seem to be unrelated to Gh normalization. We have examined 8 acromegalic patients, suffering from headache, after injection of saline solution and subsequently of SMS 201-995 (100 y), in order to study the mechanism of analgesic effect induced by Sandostatin administration. Headache, by autovaluation test, heart rate frequency, PAO, sistolic and diastolic blood velocity in medial cerebral artery, by utilizing Transcranial Doppler Sonography (SDSV), have been measured before and after saline and after SMS 201-995. GH and beta-endorphin have been also assayed in plasma samples. All patients have shown a rapid and complete improvement in headache after Sandostatin administration. At the same time we have observed an increase in SDSV and a parallel slight increase in PAO values, more evident in the diastolic phase. Plasma beta-endorphin assay has shown rather conflicting results after SMS 201-995 administration. Our results confirm an important and rapid analgesis effect of Sandostatin on acromegaly headache unrelated to GH normalization. The cerebral emodinamic changes suggest their involvement in Sandostatin induced analgesia.

Vision care for migrant workers.

Migrant vision care, although encompassing only a small percentage of the population, presents a unique opportunity to the profession through the schools and practitioners. The need for care has been shown through several demonstration projects; viable practice modes have been developed that offer cost-effective care to this population.

The IVEX refraction system: a clinical comparison.

A new refraction system employing traditional modes of testing combined with microprocessor-based electronics and new optical technology was evaluated in a controlled study to determine if the instrument produced subjective refractions corresponding to the traditional refractor. Subjects ranged in age from 14 to 25 years and the study excluded any individual exhibiting ocular or systemic diseases and binocular problems. In addition, tests were made to determine if "instrument myopia" was present. The results showed that data from the IVEX Refraction System correlated highly with data from the standard refractor, but a small amount (0.25 D to 0.37 D) of instrument myopia was present in most instances.

Effects of soft contact lenses on contrast sensitivity.

This study attempts to resolve the conflicting reports relative to contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and soft contact lens wear. Contrast sensitivity was measured at six spatial frequencies for 19 subjects (38 eyes) when corrected with either spectacles or soft lenses. Measured amounts of residual astigmatism and/or sphere were corrected using a trial frame and lenses. Additionally, data were evaluated on more than one occasion in order to investigate the effect of time upon visual performance with the lenses. The results indicate a measurable decrease in contrast sensitivity for only the highest of the spatial frequencies tested (22.8 c/deg) when soft lenses were worn. For those eyes demonstrating a clinically significantly decrease in contrast sensitivity, responsibility appears to be shared by both the contact lens and the cornea. There were no significant changes in CSF over time.