Effect of neodymium-yag laser posterior capsulotomy on intraocular pressure

Background: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) also known as Secondary cataract is the most common complication following cataract surgery. It can occur between few months and many years after implantation of intraocular lenses (IOLs), with incidence figures ranging from <5% to as high as 50%. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of intraocular pressure elevation after Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy for treatment of PCO. Patients and Methods: A prospective non-randomized study that was conducted at Al Zahraa University Hospital. The study included a total of 40 eyes of 31 patients. All patients underwent Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Patients were followed up at 4 hours, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after laser capsulotomy. Nine cases were bilateral, 15 were males (48%) and 16 were females (52%). Results: The majority of patients (90%) showed significant improvement in visual acuity after capsulotomy and about 87.5% of patients had final BCVA of 6/6-6/12, visual acuity after 24 hours was 6/9 in 20 eyes (50%) and 20 eyes (30%) had VA of 6/12. All the 40 patients had visual acuity improvement of 1 or more lines after capsulotomy. No one had further decline in visual acuity after capsulotomy. Conclusion: The present study depicts the Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy as a good, successful treatment of PCO, because it was found to be modern, non-invasive, effective mode of treatment of PCO with lesser complications and it does not require hospitalization

Microleakage Evaluation of Composite Restorations Following Papain-Based Chemo-Mechanical Caries Removal in Primary Teeth.

AIM: To evaluate the microleakage of composite restorations following Papain-based chemo-mechanical caries removal compared to the conventional drilling method. The characteristic of the hybrid layer was also studied using scanning electron microscopy. STUDY DESIGN: The sample included thirty freshly extracted and exfoliated primary molars with open proximal carious dentin lesions. Teeth were divided into two equal groups, according to method of caries removal. Following caries removal, cavity preparations were restored with composite resin. After thermocycling, teeth were sealed apically and coated with nail polish except the surface of restorations and the surrounding 1mm. Teeth were immersed in basic fuschin dye solution, then they were sectioned mesiodistally. The extent of dye penetration was detected using a light stereomicroscope. After microleakage test, the resin/dentin interface was examined using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the degree of leakage between both groups. In the Papacarie group, longer and numerous resin tags were observed with statistically significant thicker hybrid layer than those following the drilling method. However, there was no significant difference between the diameters of resin tags of both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Papacarie does not adversely affect the microleakage of composite restorations and provides a suitable surface for bonding.

Acid Resistance of Enamel Subsurface Lesions Treated with Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Fluoride.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acid resistance of enamel subsurface lesions treated with casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF). METHODS: Fifty extracted primary molars with a standardized window on enamel were immersed in a demineralizing solution for 72 hours to produce subsurface enamel lesions. They were sectioned in a buccolingual direction; one half of the sample was treated with the remineralizing agent CPP-ACPF and the other half remained untreated (control group). After 10 days, the sample was evaluated quantitatively using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The treated samples were reimmersed into the demineralizing solution for 72 hours and the mineral content was re-evaluated. RESULTS: The mean calcium content of the remineralized samples was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<.001) and was higher than the second demineralization values. The mean calcium content of the second demineralization was significantly higher than those of the control group (P<.001). CONCLUSION: CPP-ACPF increased the resistance of enamel surfaces to further demineralization.

Possible role of nitric oxide in hepatic injury secondary to renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Hepatic injury secondary to renal I/R injury has been documented in several studies. This study aimed to investigate the role of NO in hepatic injury secondary to renal I/R in rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were divided into 4 equal groups; sham-operated, I/R injury group (45 min of bilateral renal ischemia), L-arginine group (I/R with 300 mg/kg L-arginine, 20 min before ischemia), L-NAME group (I/R with 50 mg/kg L-NAME, 20 min before ischemia). L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) caused significant elevation in serum creatinine, BUN, liver enzymes, liver histopathological damage score (p ≤ 0.05) and MDA production (p ≤ 0.001); on the other hand significantly decreased NO and GSH levels (p ≤ 0.05). L-arginine significantly decreased serum creatinine, BUN and GSH (p ≤ 0.05) and caused significant elevation in liver enzymes and NO (p ≤ 0.05), and also in MDA levels (p ≤ 0.001) in liver tissues. We conclude that endogenous NO might have protective effect against hepatic injury induced by renal I/R injury and inhibition of this endogenous NO by L-NAME or exogenous administration of NO (by L-arginine) might be harmful.

Visfatin and adiponectin as novel markers for evaluation of metabolic disturbance in recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The aim is to assess metabolic disturbance in early rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to the clinical characteristics of patients. Forty recently diagnosed untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease duration less than 1 year (group I) along with age- and sex-matched forty healthy volunteers who served as controls (group II) were studied. Disease activity score was used to assess disease activity. Blood pressure, BMI, glucose, insulin and complete lipid profile, visfatin, and adiponectin were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Beta-cell function was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-B). Also, rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were measured. Group I had significantly higher fasting insulin, HOMA-(IR, B), visfatin, lipid profile (except HDL), and lower adiponectin versus group II (p = 0.000). There were significant positive correlations between visfatin and the following biochemical parameters: insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C (p = 0.05, 0.029, 0.005, 0.001, 0.002, 0.045, respectively). Also, the disease activity score was positively correlated with visfatin (p = 0.003). Meanwhile, there were significant negative correlations between adiponectin and the following biochemical parameters: insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, visfatin (p = 0.031, 0.023, 0.001, 0.000, 0.000, 0.016, 0.000, respectively). Also, the disease activity score was negatively correlated with adiponectin (p = 0.001). The findings of the present study showed that recently diagnosed untreated RA patients are characterized by a severe metabolic disturbance state that is driven primarily by disease activity.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome and B-non-Hodgkin lymphoma: role of CD4+ T lymphocytopenia.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) is associated with increased risk of lymphoproliferative malignancy, and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is the most frequent type. To evaluate CD4+ T lymphocytes distributions in patients with (PSS) and the association of CD4+ T lymphocytopenia with the development of (B-NHL), this study included 8 (PSS) patients associated with B-NHL (group I), 50 (pSS) patients without B-NHL (group II), and 30 healthy volunteers who served as controls. The frequency of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes distributions and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio was assessed using flow cytometry coulter EPICS-XL and compared between patients groups and controls. There was statistically significant CD4+ T lymphocytopenia in (PSS) patients with B-NHL than those without lymphoma and controls (P = 0.001). Moreover, a significant low CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio 0.8 in group I than group II and controls (P = 0.001) was found. Significant positive correlations of CD4+ T lymphocytopenia with other risk factors (parotid swelling, vasculitis, rheumatoid factors, low complement, cryoglobulinemia) were detected. CD4+ T lymphocytopenia is associated with B-NHL developed in patients with PSS and can be considered as an important predictor of lymphoma.