A novel use of reticulated hyaluronic acid (Healaflow) for hypotony eyes in patients with uveitis.

Persistent ocular hypotony is a complex and ongoing challenge faced in ophthalmology. It can result in early ocular phthisis and associated visual decline, pain and deformity. We present the first case series, in which repeated intracameral injections of highly reticulated hyaluronic acid (Healaflow) have successfully prevented the complications of ocular hypotony in the long term. We believe it is a viable management option that can bring about a significant improvement to the quality of life in this subgroup of patients while avoiding frequent intervention.

Is admission for epistaxis more common in Caucasian than in Asian people? A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis is a common ENT complaint. Although casual observation suggested that it is more common in Caucasian, compared with Asian people, a literature search failed to find any studies investigating ethnicity and epistaxis. The aim of this study was to identify any differences in emergency admission rates for epistaxis between Asian and Caucasian people. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study using hospital computerised data (HISS). SETTING: Large University Hospital accepting ENT emergencies. PARTICIPANTS: All Asian and Caucasian patients admitted under ENT care as an emergency (1 January 2000 to 30 November 2005), split into two groups: one composed of epistaxis patients, the other of all other ENT emergency admissions. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The proportions of Asian and Caucasian patients among the two patient groups, either epistaxis admissions or other ENT emergency admissions. RESULTS: The proportions of Asian and Caucasian patients in the group admitted with emergency epistaxis were 7.1% (100/1410) and 92.9% (1310/1410) respectively. However, the proportions of Asian and Caucasian patients in the group composed of any other ENT emergency were 13.2% (729/5515) and 86.8% (4786/5515), respectively (chi-squared P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Caucasian people form an unexpectedly large, and Asians a smaller proportion of emergency epistaxis admissions. The possibility of an ethnic risk factor for epistaxis warrants further investigation.

Subintimal recanalisation and stenting of a common iliac artery occlusion by a left axillary and an ipsilateral femoral retrograde approach using modified gooseneck grab aided by balloon dilatation of "dissection port".

The technique of recanalisation using deliberate subintimal dissection of an occluded iliac artery is being increasingly used and practised via ipsilateral and or contralateral approaches. There remains, however, a fair proportion of cases where, in spite of using gooseneck snares, the wire manipulation to traverse the occlusion can prove unsuccessful resulting in failed de-obliteration of the occlusion. We describe a technique to aid successful re-establishment of the patency using balloon dilatation of the dissection "entry port" with modified gooseneck snare grab.

Evaluation of a series of anticonvulsant 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl-benzamides.

SAR studies around a series of N-(tetrahydroisoquinolinyl)-2-methoxybenzamides, identified by high-throughput screening at the novel SB-204269 binding site, have provided compounds such as 13, 29-33 with high affinity and excellent anticonvulsant activity in animal models.