Association of LOC387715/ARMS2 (rs10490924) Gene Polymorphism with Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Brazilian Population.

BACKGROUND: An association between LOC387715/ARMS2 (rs10490924) gene polymorphism and AMD has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this polymorphism is associated with AMD in a Brazilian cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 126 unrelated AMD patients (mean age 74.17 ± 7.64) were compared with 86 healthy controls (mean age 71.82 ± 7.12). Study subjects were classified according to the International ARM Epidemiological Study Group definition for early and late-stage AMD. LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 polymorphism was evaluated through polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. RESULTS: The T allele frequency was significantly higher in AMD patients than in controls (39.6% compared to 20.3%). The odds ratio (OR) for AMD was 2.05 (95% CI 1.13-3.71) for heterozygotes (TG) and 8.32 (95% CI 2.30-45.99) for homozygotes (TT). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there is a contribution of the rs10490924 SNP of the LOC387715/ARMS2 gene to AMD susceptibility in this sample of the Brazilian population.

Intravitreal ranibizumab as adjuvant treatment for neovascular glaucoma

The purpose of this study was to describe a prospective case series of 5 eyes treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injection for neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Five patients with clinically uncontrolled NVG secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (4 patients) and central retinal vein occlusion (1 patient), non-responsive to maximal tolerable medication and panretinal photocoagulation, received intravitreal ranibizumab injection (0.5 mg). Patients were seen at 1st, 3rd and 7th day after the ranibizumab injection and when it was necessary. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) 21, despite maximal tolerable medication, underwent trabeculectomy with 0.5mg/ml mitomycin C (MMC) for 1 minute. Failure was defined as IOP > 21 mmHg, phthisis bulbi, loss of light perception or additional glaucoma surgery. The primary outcome was 6-month IOP control. Mean IOP before the ranibizumab injection was 37 mmHg (7 mmHg SD). Two out of five eyes underwent only ranibizumab injection, having an IOP control after the procedure. Three patients were submitted to trabeculectomy with MMC on the 7th day after the injection. At 6-month follow-up, the mean IOP was 12mmHg (3 mmHg SD). All eyes showed regression of rubeosis iridis and IOP control. Visual acuity improved in 2 eyes worsened in 1 eye, and remained stable in 2 eyes. These data suggest that intravitreal ranibizumab injection may be a useful tool in the treatment of NVG.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever uma série de casos prospectivos de 5 olhos tratados com ranibizumabe intravítreo para glaucoma neovascular (GNV). Cinco pacientes com GNV refratário, secundário a retinopatia diabética proliferativa (4 pacientes) e oclusão de veia central da retina (1 paciente), não responsivos a terapia medicamentosa máxima tolerada e panfotocoagulação da retina, receberam ranibizumabe intravítreo (0,5 mg). Os pacientes foram vistos no 1º, 3º e 7º dia após a aplicação e conforme necessário. O sucesso foi definido como pressão intraocular (PIO) d"21 mmHg, com ou sem uso de medicação antiglaucomatosa. Aqueles com PIO > 21 mmHg, apesar da medicação máxima tolerada, foram submetidos à trabeculectomia com mitomicina C (MMC) 0,5mg/mL por 1 minuto. Falência foi definida como PIO > 21 mmHg, phthisis bulbi, perda da percepção de luz ou necessidade de cirurgia antiglaucomatosa adicional. O resultado primário avaliado foi o controle da PIO após 6 meses do procedimento. A PIO média antes da injeção era de 37 mmHg (DP=7 mmHg). Dois pacientes foram submetidos somente a injeção intravítrea de ranibizumabe, obtendo controle da PIO após o procedimento. Três pacientes foram submetidos à trabeculectomia com MMC no 7º dia após a injeção. Após 6 meses de seguimento, a PIO média era de 12 mmHg (DP=3 mmHg). Todos os olhos mostraram regressão da rubeosis iriana e controle da PIO. A acuidade visual melhorou em 2 olhos, piorou em 1 olho e permaneceu estável em 2 olhos. Estas informações sugerem que a injeção intravítrea de ranibizumabe pode ser uma ferramenta útil no tratamento do GNV.

E-learning as a complement to presential teaching of blindness prevention: a randomized clinical trial / 'E-learning' como um complemento do ensino presencial de prevenção da cegueira: ensaio clínico

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if E-learning material improves the basal student knowledge level before attending the presential class of blindness prevention (BP) and if helps to fix this information one-month after the class. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students were randomly assigned to have a presential class of BP (Traditional group = TG) or to have a presential class of BP plus an additional E-learning material (E-learning group = ELG). This material was e-mailed one week before the presential class. The students were submitted to a multiple-choice test (with three options each) with seven questions immediately before the presential class, immediately after the class, and one-month later. The three tests had the same questions; however, the answers options were distributed in different sequences. The primary outcome was immediate pretest score. The secondary outcomes were immediate posttest score and one-month posttest score. RESULTS: Among the 120 fourth-year medical students, a random sample of 34 students was assigned to the TG and 34 students was assigned to the ELG. The two groups showed similar immediate posttest score (TG=6.8 and ELG=6.9; P<.754), but the differences at the immediate pretest score (TG=3.6 and ELG=4.7; P<.001), and at the one-month posttest score, were significant (TG=6.1 and ELG=6.8; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The pretest and the one-month posttest results suggested that the E-learning material acts as an effective complementary tool of the presential class of blindness prevention.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se um material disponibilizado através de E-learning antes de aulas presenciais de prevenção da cegueira (PC) melhora o nível de conhecimento basal dos estudantes, e ajuda a manter esse conteúdo um mês após a aula. MÉTODOS: Estudantes do quarto ano do curso médico foram aleatoriamente sorteados para ter aulas presenciais de PC (grupo tradicional = GT) ou ter aulas presenciais precedidas de material adicional por E-learning (grupo E-learning = GEL). Este material foi enviado por correio eletrônico uma semana antes da aula presencial. Os estudantes foram submetidos a testes de múltipla escolha com sete questões (com três alternativas cada) imediatamente antes da aula presencial, imediatamente após a aula, e um mês após a aula. Os três testes tiveram as mesmas questões: entretanto, as respostas foram distribuídas em sequências diferentes. O desfecho primário foi a nota do pré-teste. Os desfechos secundários foram as notas dos pós-teste imediato e do pós-teste tardio. RESULTADOS: Entre os 120 alunos do quarto ano de medicina, uma amostra aleatória de 34 alunos foi selecionada para o grupo GT e 34 alunos para o grupo GEL. Os dois grupos obtiveram nota similar no pós-teste imediato (GT=6.8 e GEL=6.9; P<.754), porém diferenças estatisticamente significativas no pré-teste (GT=3.6 e GEL=4.7; P<.001), e no pós-teste tardio (GT=6.1 e GEL=6.8; P<.001). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do pré-teste e do pós-teste tardio sugerem que o E-learning pode ser um complemento eficiente do ensino presencial de prevenção da cegueira.

Effect of preoperative use of topical prednisolone acetate, ketorolac tromethamine, nepafenac and placebo, on the maintenance of intraoperative mydriasis during cataract surgery: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of preoperative use of topical anti-inflammatory prednisolone acetate, ketorolac tromethamine, nepafenac and placebo, on the maintenance of intraoperative mydriasis during cataract surgery. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, masked, randomized clinical study comprised 140 patients scheduled for cataract surgery. Patients (35 in each group) were randomized to receive placebo, prednisolone acetate, ketorolac tromethamine 0.4% or nepafenac. These eye drops were administered three times daily for the two days prior to surgery. The pupillary diameters were measured by the surgeon using a compass prior to the corneal section and at the end of surgery. The primary outcome was the number of patients with pupil ≥ 6mm at the end of the surgery; the secondary outcome was the number of patients with pupil ≥ 6mm at the beginning of the surgery. RESULTS: All the patients achieved pupil ≥ 6mm at the beginning of the surgery. The number of patients in the prednisolone (29/35), nepafenac (31/35) and ketorolac (30/35) groups with pupil ≥ 6mm was greater than in the placebo group in the maintenance of intraoperative mydriasis (19/35 - P =0.003). There was no statistical difference among the prednisolone, nepafenac and ketorolac groups in the maintenance of intraoperative mydriasis (P =.791). There were no complications during surgery or related to the preoperative use of the eye drops. CONCLUSION: Preoperative use of ketorolac, prednisolone and nepafenac was effective in maintaining intraoperative mydriasis when compared with placebo.