Detection of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in very Low Birth Weight Babies and Outcome of Management.

The purpose of the present study was to early detection and management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This observational descriptive/ interventional study was carried out to evaluate 96 babies brought by their parents to BIRDEM General Hospital during the period of January 2016 to June 2016 who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Screening of ROP was performed in all 96 babies after taking informed written consent. After screening of ROP, the babies who had ROP, staging was done and treatment was given as per requirement. Descriptive data in the study were shown by cross table and compared by student paired 't' test and Chi-square test. The study included total 96 babies of preterm low birth weight. Among them 64(66.66%) babies had no ROP, where 32(33.33%) babies had different stages of ROP. In these 32 babies, 18 babies didn't need any treatment, only 14 babies needed treatment according to their requirement (14 babies had 28 eyes, where 16 eyes needed Inj. Anti VEGF and laser and 11 eyes needed only laser and one eye had Stage V ROP, so observed that eye). Early detection of ROP and proper management not only restore the anatomical and functional outcome of the retina, but also restore the vision, prevent childhood blindness and decrease morbidity.

Community-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C in drug users: high rates of compliance with therapy despite ongoing drug use.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C infection is common in drug users. Treatment of injectors is possible under controlled conditions, but many have not yet been included in treatment programmes as there are concerns about their ability to comply with therapy. It is not known which factors influence compliance. AIM: To examine the hypothesis that active drug users would comply with anti-viral therapy if treatment was delivered in a convenient manner. METHODS: We established a community-based treatment programme and offered anti-viral therapy to all drug users who wanted it. Few pre-treatment requirements were imposed and, by design, compliance with therapy was reviewed after 50 patients had completed treatment. RESULTS: Of the 441 patients who were known to be HCV RNA positive and attended the specialist addiction services during the period of this study, eighty three patients considered therapy. Twenty patients did not undergo treatment: 14 declined and 6 had medical conditions that precluded it. In 60 episodes (58 patients) where treatment had been completed, compliance was greater than 80% and homelessness, active illicit drug use and pre-treatment antidepressant therapy were not associated with noncompliance. In 25 of 49 treatment episodes that were assessed 6 months after treatment cessation, a sustained virological response (51%) was seen. CONCLUSION: Active drug users using illicit drugs can be successfully treated in community-based clinics.