Effects of anti-VEGF treatment on the recovery of the developing retina following oxygen-induced retinopathy.

PURPOSE: Inhibition of VEGF is widely used in patients to control neovascularization and decrease vascular permeability. To date, the effect of VEGF inhibition has not been evaluated in the developing retina such as that seen in premature infants. The goal of this study was to address the effect of anti-VEGF treatment on retinal development of a mouse model of retinopathy. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were evaluated using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Test animals were treated at postnatal day (P) 14 with intravitreal injections of the VEGF inhibitor aflibercept (2.5 or 10 µg) in one eye. Control animals were treated with injection of PBS in one eye. The noninjected fellow eyes were used as internal controls. Areas of avascular retina and neovascular tufts in injected (treated) eyes and noninjected fellow eyes were determined at P17, and the difference related to these characteristics was obtained among them. To evaluate the effect of VEGF inhibition on neurogenesis, focal ERG was performed at P21 and P42. Histologic evaluation of the retinal structure was also evaluated at P42. RESULTS: Aflibercept treatment reduced the amount of neovascular tufts but significantly increased the area of avascular retina (low dose and high dose) at P17. The delayed vascular growth corresponded to decreased ERG amplitudes (at P21 and P42) and structural changes in the retinal layers that persisted (at P42), despite vascular recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of VEGF in developing eyes has the short-term effect of delayed vascular growth and the long-term effects of decreased function with persistent changes in the neuroretinal structures.

Retinal vascular rescue of oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice by norrin.

PURPOSE: Wnt-signaling has been implicated in retinal development. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of improving retinal vasculature in an animal model of retinopathy by activating Wnt-signaling. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were evaluated using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Test animals were divided in three groups and treated at postnatal day (P) 14 with intravitreal injections of Wnt-signaling modulators (respectively, norrin, Dickkopf-related protein 1 [DKK1], and norrin + DKK1) in one eye. A fourth group of animals were treated with injection of PBS in one eye as well and used as a control group. Areas of avascular retina and neovascular tufts in injected (treated) eyes and noninjected fellow eyes were determined in each of the four groups at P17 (3 days after intravitreal injection) and the difference related to these characteristics was obtained among them. To evaluate the effect of norrin on progression of retinopathy, a fifth litter (eight animals) was also treated with norrin and these retinas were evaluated at different time points. RESULTS: Modulation of Wnt-signaling consistently shows a statistically significant decrease in the avascular area of the retinas. Treatment with norrin (Wnt-signaling activator) or DKK1 (canonical signaling inhibitor) results in a statistically significant reduction of retinal avascular area compared with control eyes. Neovascular tufts were also reduced in treated eyes, albeit to a lesser extent. CONCLUSIONS: Modulation of Wnt-signaling improves retinal vascularization and accelerates vascular recovery after induction of retinopathy in the OIR mouse. Activation of Wnt-signaling (norrin) and inhibition of Wnt-canonical signaling (DKK1) result in similar improvement, indicating that norrin promotes improved vascularization, at least in part, by way of noncanonical Wnt-signaling.

Estudo comparativo do desempenho visual e análise de frente de onda entre as lentes intra-oculares multifocais difrativas Tecnis® ZM900 e AcrySof® ResTor® SN60D3 / Comparison between OPD-Scan results and visual outcomes of Tecnis® ZM900 and Restor® SN60D3 diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses

OBJETIVOS: Comparar o desempenho visual e a análise de frente de onda entre as lentes intra-oculares (LIOs) multifocal difrativa Tecnis® ZM900 asférica e AcrySof® Restor® esférica SN60D3. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo prospectivo comparativo que incluiu 78 olhos de 39 pacientes. A avaliação oftalmológica contou com medida da acuidade visual para longe, intermediária e curta distância, sem correção e com a melhor correção óptica, teste de sensibilidade ao contraste e análise de frente de onda por meio do aberrômetro OPD-Scan. RESULTADOS: Acuidade visual para longe e para perto sem correção óptica e análise de aberrometria foram estatisticamente semelhantes em relação a ambas as LIOs; já a visão intermediária e a sensibilidade ao contraste em condições fotópicas revelaram diferença estatisticamente significante entre as duas lentes a favor da Tecnis ZM900. CONCLUSÃO: Ambas as lentes intra-oculares promoveram excelente visão para longe e para perto em situações de alto contraste. A LIO Tecnis multifocal necessita de menos luminosidade para visão em situações de alto contraste, apresenta menos aberrações ópticas e melhor visão intermediária que a LIO ResTor.

PURPOSE: Comparison of the visual performance and wavefront analysis between patients with Tecnis® ZM900 aspheric and AcrySof ReStor® SN60D3 spheric diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOL). METHODS: This prospective comparative study included 78 eyes of 39 patients. The performed ophthalmologic evaluation included near, intermediate and distance corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity measurement (under photopic and mesopic conditions) and wavefront analysis with the OPD-Scan aberrometrer. RESULTS: Uncorrected near and distance visual acuity and aberrometry analysis were similar with both intraocular lenses; nevertheless, intermediate visual acuity and contrast sensitivity under photopic conditions were statistically better with Tecnis ZM900. CONCLUSION: Both studied intraocular lenses promoted excellent near and distance postoperative visual acuity, in high contrast situations. Tecnis ZM900 IOL provided good quality of vision with high contrast condition in low luminosity with reduction in spherical aberration and improvements in intermediate visual acuity when compared to Restor IOL.

[Comparison between OPD-Scan results and visual outcomes of Tecnis ZM900 and Restor SN60D3 diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses]. / Estudo comparativo do desempenho visual e análise de frente de onda entre as lentes intra-oculares multifocais difrativas Tecnis ZM900 e AcrySof ResTor SN60D3.

PURPOSE: Comparison of the visual performance and wavefront analysis between patients with Tecnis ZM900 aspheric and AcrySof ReStor SN60D3 spheric diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOL). METHODS: This prospective comparative study included 78 eyes of 39 patients. The performed ophthalmologic evaluation included near, intermediate and distance corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity measurement (under photopic and mesopic conditions) and wavefront analysis with the OPD-Scan aberrometrer. RESULTS: Uncorrected near and distance visual acuity and aberrometry analysis were similar with both intraocular lenses; nevertheless, intermediate visual acuity and contrast sensitivity under photopic conditions were statistically better with Tecnis ZM900. CONCLUSION: Both studied intraocular lenses promoted excellent near and distance postoperative visual acuity, in high contrast situations. Tecnis ZM900 IOL provided good quality of vision with high contrast condition in low luminosity with reduction in spherical aberration and improvements in intermediate visual acuity when compared to Restor IOL.

Ki-67 cell proliferation in familial and in esporadic unilateral retinoblastoma: case report.

PURPOSE: Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is expressed at all phases of the cell cycle except the resting phase. This study is a clinicopathologic observational case report that aims to report on the cell proliferation rates, as measured by the Ki-67 antigen, in two enucleated retinoblastoma eyes. METHODS: One unilateral familial (mother with unilateral disease - patient 1) and one unilateral sporadic retinoblastoma (patient 2) patients were submitted to enucleation without previous treatment. The tumor cell proliferation rate was assessed by the Ki-67 antigen labeling index (stained cells / 100 cells) in five different fields of the tumor. RESULTS: Patient 1 was 23 months old and the tumor was exophytic with associated neovascularization of the iris; patient 2 was 6 years old and the tumor was endophytic with coarse vitreous seeds. Both enucleated eyes presented optic nerve with free surgical margins. Positive Ki-67 cell index in patient 1 varied from 75 to 90 (MD +/- SD: 79.5 +/- 6.61) and in patient 2 from 38 to 60 (MD +/- SD: 46.6 +/- 8.2). CONCLUSIONS: The familial retinoblastoma, besides the earlier age presentation, showed 45.8% more Ki-67 positive cells than the same stage sporadic one. This proliferation rate may explain the earlier presentation age of the tumor in the inherited disease.

Ki-67 cell proliferation in familial and in esporadic unilateral retinoblastoma: case report

PURPOSE: Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is expressed at all phases of the cell cycle except the resting phase. This study is a clinicopathologic observational case report that aims to report on the cell proliferation rates, as measured by the Ki-67 antigen, in two enucleated retinoblastoma eyes. METHODS: One unilateral familial (mother with unilateral disease - patient 1) and one unilateral sporadic retinoblastoma (patient 2) patients were submitted to enucleation without previous treatment. The tumor cell proliferation rate was assessed by the Ki-67 antigen labeling index (stained cells / 100 cells) in five different fields of the tumor. RESULTS: Patient 1 was 23 months old and the tumor was exophytic with associated neovascularization of the iris; patient 2 was 6 years old and the tumor was endophytic with coarse vitreous seeds. Both enucleated eyes presented optic nerve with free surgical margins. Positive Ki-67 cell index in patient 1 varied from 75 to 90 (MD ± SD: 79.5 ± 6.61) and in patient 2 from 38 to 60 (MD ± SD: 46.6 ± 8.2). CONCLUSIONS: The familial retinoblastoma, besides the earlier age presentation, showed 45.8 percent more Ki-67 positive cells than the same stage sporadic one. This proliferation rate may explain the earlier presentation age of the tumor in the inherited disease.

OBJETIVO: O Ki-67 é antígeno nuclear que se expressa em todas as fases do ciclo celular, exceto no período de repouso. Este é um estudo de casos com correlação clínico-patológica que visa avaliar a taxa de proliferação celular, medida pelo antígeno Ki-67, em 2 olhos enucleados com retinoblastoma. MÉTODOS: Um paciente com retinoblastoma unilateral familiar (mãe com doença unilateral - paciente 1) e outro com retinoblastoma unilateral esporádico (paciente 2) foram submetidos à enucleação ocular sem outro tratamento prévio. A taxa de proliferação celular foi avaliada segundo índice obtido pela contagem de células marcadas com Ki-67, em 5 campos sob microscópia óptica (células marcadas/100 células). RESULTADOS: O paciente 1, com 23 meses de idade, apresentou tumor exofítico com neovascularização de íris associada; o paciente 2, de 6 anos, apresentou tumor de crescimento endofítico, com sementes vítreas importantes. Ambos os olhos enucleados apresentaram margens cirúrgicas do nervo óptico livres de neoplasia. O índice de células positivas no paciente 1 variou de 75 a 90 (Média ± DP: 79,5 ± 6,61), e no paciente 2, de 38 a 60 (Média ± DP: 46,6 ± 8,2). O retinoblastoma familiar, além de sua manifestação em idade mais precoce, apresentou 45,8 por cento mais células positivas que o retinoblastoma esporádico com o mesmo estadiamento. CONCLUSÃO: O retinoblastoma familiar, além de surgimento mais precoce, apresentou 45,8 por cento mais células em proliferação que o retinoblastoma esporádico em mesmo estádio. Essa taxa de proliferação pode explicar a menor idade de aparecimento do tumor nos casos de doença herdada.

Ligation of the thoracic duct for the treatment of chylothorax in heart diseases.

In children, chylothorax occurs mainly after cardiac and thoracic surgeries. One of the recommended postsurgery treatments is ligation of the thoracic tract, when all other conservative treatments have failed. We report 4 cases of chylothorax in patients who were successfully treated with this approach, which resulted in a decrease in pleural drainage without recurrent chylothorax.

Ligadura do ducto torácico para o tratamento de quilotórax em cardiopatas / Ligation of the thoracic duct for the treatment of chylothorax in heart diseases

In children, chylothorax occurs mainly after cardiac and thoracic surgeries. One of the recommended postsurgery treatments is ligation of the thoracic tract, when all other conservative treatments have failed. We report 4 cases of chylothorax in patients who were successfully treated with this approach, which resulted in a decrease in pleural drainage without recurrent chylothorax

Gestacao e doenca hemorroidaria / Pregnancy and hemorrhoidal disease

Importantes alteracoes fisiologicas ocorrem na mulher no periodo gestacional, sendo que sintomas decorrentes da doenca hemorroidaria frequentemente iniciam-se nesta fase, podendo se agravar durante o parto. Muitas gestantes apresentam constipacao intestinal, fator desencadeante da...

Correlaçäo entre dados antropométricos de doadores de múltiplos órgäos com o peso do pâncreas / Correlation between the antropometric parameters of multiple organ doanors and the pancreas weight

O transplante de ilhotas de Langerhans representa técnica promissora no tratamento do Diabetes mellitus. Dados antropométricos do doador, estäo diretamente relacionados com a quantidade de ilhotas viáveis obtidas após o processamento do pâncreas, o que relaciona-se diretamente com o sucesso do transplante de ilhotas. o objetivo do trabalho é verificar se existe correlaçäo do peso e do IMC de doadores cadáveres com o peso do pâncreas. Para isso foram removidos 35 pâncreas de doadores de múltiplos órgäos e coletou-se os dados antropométricos e epidemiológicos dos doadores, realizando também a pesagem dos pâncreas. Através de índice de correlaçäo de Pearson e do modelo de regressäo linear múltipla - método Stepwise, analisamos a relaçäo entre altura, peso, IMC e idade dos doadores com o peso de seus respectivos pâncreas. Com um índice de correlaçäo de Pearson (CP) de 0,683 (p<0,000), a altura do doador representou a principal variável correlacionada com o peso do pâncreas. Entretanto, o peso com CP igual a 0,682 também foi significativo, com CP praticamente igual a da altura. Concluiu-se que a altura do doador pode ser um dado valorizado na estimativa da quantidade de ilhotas obtida a partir de pâncreas de doadores cadáveres