COMPARISON OF OPTICAL BIOMETERS ARGOS AND IOL MASTER 700.

PURPOSE: To compare the biometric data obtained by the new optical biometer Argos and the conventionally used biometer IOL Master 700. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the biometric data of 57 patients (106 eyes) who were examined at TANA Ophthalmology Clinic s.r.o in Olomouc. Patient measurements were carried out on both devices on the same day by the same optometrist within the standard preoperative calculation of the intraocular lens before cataract surgery. Evaluated and statistically analyzed biometric data were axial lenght, anterior chamber depth, average keratometry and lens thickness. RESULTS: The correlation between all compared data was high, with statistical significance p < 0.01. Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement with a 95% limit of agreement. Axial lenght, average keratometry and lens thickens did not show significant differences (p = 0.941; p = 0.773; p = 0.860). IOL Master 700 showed flatter average keratometry, however, the differences were numerically small and insignificant. Anterior chamber depths obtained by Argos were longer, with a significance p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The segmental refractive index technology used by Argos caused differences in anterior chamber depths. Overall axial length was, however, not, in our cohort of patients, affected by this. In general, the optical biometers Argos and IOL Master 700 show excellent agreement in the measured biometric data.

Aflibercept for Vascularised Serous Pigment Epithelial Detachment: One-Year Anatomical and Functional Results.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of intravitreal aflibercept on pigment epithelial detachment (PED) secondary to occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in treatment-naive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of thirty-six patients (thirty-eight eyes) with mean age 77 (SD ± 7), who were treated with aflibercept 2.0 mg (Eylea, Bayer) at the Department of Ophthalmology of 1st Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University and the Military University Hospital Prague. All patients were treated in fixed regimen, which means 3 loading doases 1 month apart, followed by further 2-monthly doses over total 12-month period. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated on Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts. Diameters as PED height, width and central retinal thickness (CRT) were assesed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. All previously mentioned were analyzed et the baseline and than at every visit. Therapy complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Borderline significant improvement in the mean of BCVA score of 3.2 letters (SD ± 11.6, p = 0.05) at the end of follow-up period was observed. Mean PED height at 12 months significantly decreased by 140 µm (SD ± 238, p < 0.01). Reductions in PED height were correlated with reductions in central macular thickness (R = 0.94, p < 0.001) simultaneously with PED width (R = 0.45, p < 0.01). There was no significant correlation between PED height decrease and visual acuity. PED rupture was observed in 3 eyes (8 %). CONCLUSION: Aflibercept intravitreal therapy in fixed regimen in patients with PED secondary to occult CNV shows great anatomical effect. However, correlation between PED diameters and visual acuity was not observed.

In vitro development and cytological quality of inter-species (porcine→bovine) cloned embryos are affected by trichostatin A-dependent epigenomic modulation of adult mesenchymal stem cells.

Artificial epigenomic modulation of in vitro cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by applying a non-selective HDAC inhibitor, termed TSA, can facilitate more epigenetic reprogramming of transcriptional activity of the somatic cell-descended nuclear genome in NT pig embryos. The results of the present investigation showed that TSA-dependent epigenomic modulation of nuclear donor MSCs highly affects both the in vitro developmental capability and the cytological quality of inter-species (porcine→bovine) cloned embryos. The developmental competences to reach the blastocyst stage among hybrid (porcine→bovine) nuclear-transferred embryos that had been reconstructed with bovine ooplasts and epigenetically modulated porcine MSCs were maintained at a relatively high level. These competences were higher than those noted in studies by other authors, but they were still decreased compared to those of intra-species (porcine) cloned embryos that had been reconstituted with porcine ooplasts and either the cell nuclei of epigenetically transformed MSCs or the cell nuclei of epigenetically non-transformed MSCs. In conclusion, MSCs undergoing TSA-dependent epigenetic transformation were used for the first time as a source of nuclear donor cells not only for inter-species somatic cell cloning in pigs but also for inter-species somatic cell cloning in other livestock species. Moreover, as a result of the current research, efficient sequential physicochemical activation of inter-species nuclear-transferred clonal cybrids derived from bovine ooplasm and porcine MSC nuclei was developed.

Common origin of left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery from right aortic sinus: presentation of rare variant.

The authors discuss a case of 55-year-old man admitted to hospital with clinical symptoms and electrocardiac signs of myocardial infarction, who underwent invasive diagnosis and one of most rare coronary arteries anomaly was observed: common origin of right coronary artery and anterior interventricular artery (left anterior descending artery) from right aortic sinus. Anatomical variants of coronary arteries are rare amongst general population, ranging between 0.29% to 1.3% and such anomaly is found in 0.03% of all coronarographies and is responsible for 2.3% of all coronary variations. Knowledge about coronary arteries anomalies is helpful not only in making better diagnosis but also in making better therapeutic decisions.

[Evaluation of the clinical results of implantation the hydrophobic-hydrophilic intraocular lens ERIFLEX 877 FAB]. / Hodnocení klinických výsledku implantace hydrofobne-hydrofilní nitroocní cocky EriFlex 877 FAB.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the properties of intraocular lens ERIFLEX 877 FAB, the manipulation during implantation and clinical outcomes after implantation of the new hydrophobic-hydrophilic intraocular lens in patients undergoing routine cataract surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients (38 eyes), mean age 71 ± 8 years (range 53-89 years) with senile cataract. After phacoemulsification intraocular lens ERIFLEX 877 FAB was implanted. Patients were evaluated at 3 months after surgery. We assessed the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, keratometry and the incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO - Posterior capsule opacification). Individual patients and surgeons satisfaction was also documented including manipulation during surgery. RESULTS: Three months after surgery, the mean UCVA was 0.7 ± 0.2 and BCVA was 0.97 ± 0.16. PCO value was 0.15 ± 0.09, that means minimal incidence of PCO. Good UCVA and a minimal incidence of PCO have resulted in a high degree satisfaction of patients. CONCLUSION: The new hydrophobic-hydrophilic intraocular lens ERIFLEX 877 FAB could be easily implanted and after surgery shows a high degree of biocompatibility in patients undergoing routine cataract surgery.