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Biomedical subjects

G Calabria

Publications and source records attributed to G Calabria.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Detection of glaucomatous optic nerve head by using Heidelberg topographic maps.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the capacity of a new topographic map analysis to detect abnormal optic discs from healthy ones in a new cohort of subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Only one eye was chosen randomly from each subject included in the study. In total, 20 normal eyes with a normal visual field, an IOP of <22 mmHg and no history of glaucoma in their family, and 20 glaucomatous eyes with an abnormal visual field and an open angle were selected. All the subjects were examined with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT, Heidelberg Engineering GMBH, Heidelberg, Germany) and Humphrey Perimeter, program 30-2 (Humphrey Instrument, Inc., San Leandro, CA, USA). Topographic maps analysis was performed to each HRT optic nerve head image. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic precision were calculated. RESULTS: When the topographic map analysis was applied to the group, a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 75%, and a diagnostic precision of 77.5% were obtained. CONCLUSION: Using the topographic map analysis, the HRT capacity to differentiate normal optic discs from those with glaucoma was similar to those already published in the literature, but using this technique there is no input from the observer to draw the contourline and reference plane is not necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Quality of vision with presbyopic contact lens correction: subjective and light sensitivity rating.

PURPOSE: To quantify the quality of vision achieved with multifocal and bifocal contact lenses. METHODS: We analyzed differential light sensitivity by computerized automatic perimetry in 21 patients wearing monofocal soft contact lenses (group 1, controls) and multifocal and bifocal contact lenses (groups 2 and 3, respectively). Seven patients each were fitted with multifocal or bifocal contact lenses; seven patients were without contact lenses (without correction for testing the visual periphery and with near-vision correction using monofocal contact lens for testing the central 30 degrees of vision). The type of correction was randomly changed in a crossover fashion so that each eye was examined at different times with different corrections. Humphrey 640 VFA computerized automated perimetry was used to test visual fields at baseline, 45 days, and 3, 4.5, and 6 months. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the global sensitivities (GS) of the central visual field in patients with near-vision monofocal contact lenses and with bifocal contact lenses (P=0.0273) and between the GS of the central visual fields with multifocal contact lenses and with bifocal contact lenses (P=0.0261). In both cases, the GS were significantly reduced with bifocal contact lenses (total GS: group 1, 11256 dB (Decibels); group 2, 11154 dB; group 3, 10679 dB). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there is reduced differential light sensitivity in the central 30 deg of the visual field with bifocal contact lenses compared with multifocal contact lenses and monofocal contact lenses (controls).

Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic↗
PubMed2001

Daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery.

AIM: To evaluate daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery in patients with cataract only and in patients with cataract and glaucoma. METHODS: 108 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 57 patients with cataract only (normal) and 51 with cataract and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). All patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) (manual technique with long wound), phacoemulsification (automated technique with short wound), or nucleus capture (manual technique with short wound). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by Goldmann tonometry in all patients every 2 hours for 12 hours before the operation and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 79 patients completed the 6 month examination. ECCE resulted in greater reductions in IOP than the other procedures (ECCE: 27% and 36% in normal patients and those with POAG, respectively; nucleus capture: 20% and 31%, respectively; phacoemulsification: 19% and 22%, respectively). The fluctuations in IOP before and after surgery were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery in normal patients reduces IOP but does not eliminate fluctuations which are directly proportional to the IOP value and result partly from circadian rhythms. This important finding might influence our approach to treatment of patients with glaucoma.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Paclitaxel and carboplatin as outpatient therapy for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: To determine the toxicity and the response rate of a three-hour paclitaxel infusion and carboplatin administered as outpatient treatment for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Forty-three patients with stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer underwent cytoreductive surgery and then received paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3-hr infusion and carboplatin AUC5 every 21 days for six cycles. Elegible patients had adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function; G-CSF was recommended if white cell count fell under 3,000/mm3. RESULTS: No patients had hypersensivity reactions; 15 out of 43 patients (35%) required colony-stimulating factors, 39 patients (91%) had general alopecia, three patients (7%) had severe emesis, 20 patients (46%) had mild emesis, four patients (9%) had severe myalgias, eight patients (18%) had moderate myalgias, one patient (2%) had grade 3 neurotoxicity. Three patients experienced grade 3 thrombocytopenia (7%). At a median follow-up of 29 months, 32 of 43 patients are alive (74%). Median progression-free survival is 14 months. Median overall survival has not been reached. CONCLUSIONS: Three-hour infusion paclitaxel and carboplatin is an effective and safe outpatient therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Women with a pelvic mass: indicators of malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of five methods: pelvic examination (PE), transvaginal ultrasonography (US), Doppler ultrasonography, serum CA125 assay and serum CA72-4 assay, alone or associated, to predict malignancy in patients presenting a pelvic mass originating in the ovary. METHODS: 92 patients underwent a standard protocol for physical examination, CA125, CA72-4, transvaginal ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: Eighteen women were dropped from the study because they had clearly benign masses; two women were dropped from the study because they had clearly malignant lesions. Twenty-two malignant (30%) and 50 benign (70%) pelvic tumors were found. When one method was considered alone the best sensitivity (SENS) was found in physical examination (90%) and the best specificity (SPEC) was found in CA72-4: 88%. If all indicators were positive, the SPEC was 100% but the SENS was 40%. Logistic regression analysis prediction of the character of the pelvic masses was correct in 86%. CONCLUSION: Some additional information to discriminate between malignant and benign pelvic masses can be obtained from the valuation of serum tumor markers, particularly CA72-4. Also Doppler ultrasonography appeared to be useful in the differential diagnosis of pelvic tumors. The prediction of the character of the pelvic masses calculated by a logistic model in which PE, US, CA 125, and CA72-4 are included is very good.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Deficit-undamaged visual field area monitoring in glaucomatous patients with advanced perimetric damage: its usefulness.

This report contains the observations of the authors on the behaviour with time of the visual field areas (VF) which appear undamaged by deficit within the perimetric findings where at the same time there is advanced glaucomatous damage. A retrospective study has been made on the records of a Humphrey perimeter 640 VFA relating to glaucomatous patients with these perimetric characteristics in whom at least 12 examinations (programme "Central 30-2 threshold test") had been made and who, for a good part of the period of observation at least, had recorded a topographic stability of the deficits. There were found 12 series of examinations responding to the required necessities. The analysis of the findings used a method that separated from the global mean deviation (MD) that part concerning the pathological area and that referring to the "healthy" area of the visual field (VF). In 7 of the 8 cases where, at a certain point in the follow-up, there became evident a trend towards worsening, there was also a significant increase in the MD of the undamaged, which occurred before the deterioration of the "healthy" area became evident by the appearance of "probability symbols" in the "total deviation" map. In the 4 cases where there was stability with time, the MD values relating to the undamaged area of the VF were quite constant with time.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

A comparative study of computerised visual field testing and optic disc morphometric parameters in the follow-up of primary open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between computerised visual field testing and optic disc morphometric parameters (rim area, rim/disc area ratio, cup/disc area ratio and optic disc surface smoothness (ODSS)) in the follow-up of a group of patients affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Reliable automated perimetry (Humphrey 640 VFA, central 30-2 threshold program) was performed at T0 (the enrollment time), T1 (after 6 +/- 1 months; range 5-7 months), T2 (12 +/- 1 months), T3 (18 +/- 1 months), and T4 (the end of the follow-up period: 24 +/- 2 months) in one eye randomly chosen from each of 30 POAG patients. Computerised optic disc analysis (IMAGEnet X Rev-3-51b, Topcon Europe, The Netherlands) was performed at T0 and T4. To evaluate the correlation between morphometric parameters and computerised visual field testing, the stability or worsening of visual field test was evaluated by means of 'Mean Deviation linear regression analysis' (STATPAC 2 software); that of morphometric parameters was studied using their coefficients of variation. A rank of '0' was assigned to stability and a rank of '1' to worsening. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate statistically the correlations between visual field analysis and morphometric parameters. Furthermore kappa statistic was used to evaluate the agreement of morphometric parameter changes with visual field progression analysis. RESULTS: According to the MD slope regression analysis, in 18 patients the visual fields were stable while in 12 they were worsening during the follow-up period. In 86.65% of patients (n = 26) the morphometric parameter ODSS and visual field analysis were concordant (p < 0.0001). In 80% of patients (n = 24) the cup/disc area ratio and visual field analysis were concordant (p < 0.001). The other morphometric parameters (rim area, rim/dics area ratio) were less correlated with visual field analysis than ODSS (p < 0.05). The agreement of visual field analysis with all the morphometric parameters was good (kappa = 0.690, 95% confidence interval (CI) of kappa = 0.589-0.790). The agreement of visual field analysis with ODSS and cup/disc area (kappa = 0.688; 95% CI = 0.511-0.864) was better than the agreement of visual field analysis with rim area and rim/disc area ratio (kappa = 0.438; 95% CI = 0.260-0.655). CONCLUSION: Analysis of the progression of visual field damage and optic nerve head morphometric parameters should both be taken into account in glaucoma follow-up. Among the morphometric parameters evaluated by means of Topcon IMAGEnet, ODSS and (to a lesser extent) the cup/disc ratio should have the greatest weight.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Bacterial load and protein deposits on 15-day versus 1-day disposable hydrophilic contact lenses.

PURPOSE: This study quantified the bacterial load and protein deposits on 1- and 15-day disposable contact lenses after use in normal wearers. METHODS: Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to a 1-day contact lens (1-Day Acuvue) in one eye and to a 15-day contact lens (Acuvue) in the contralateral eye. Only one specified solution was allowed for the care of 15-day lenses. All patients were evaluated every month for 6 months (at times T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6). At times T1, T3, and T5, the lenses were removed in a sterile fashion and sent for laboratory quantification of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At T2, T4, and T6, quantification of protein deposits was determined, and at T0 and T6, impression cytology of the conjunctiva was performed. RESULTS: P. aeruginosa was not identified on any lens. At T1, T3, and T5, S. aureus was significantly greater on the 1-day versus 15-day lenses (p < 0.001). In contrast, protein deposits were significantly greater on the 15-day lenses at all time points (T2, T6: p < 0.01; T4: p < 0.05). Impression cytology of the 15-day lens eyes revealed a worsening trend compared to the 1-day lens; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that the use of cleaning and preservative solutions can alter the ocular surface bacterial environment of the contact lens wearer and that these changes are not a direct consequence of contact lens wear. The bactericidal activity of these solutions could, with time, also affect ocular surface cells, leading to contact lens intolerance and ocular surface disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Low spatial-contrast sensitivity in dry eyes.

PURPOSE: Blurred vision in keratoconjunctivitis sicca eyes could be the result of the loss of the glossy surface of the tear film because of changes in composition or thickness irregularities. Spatial-contrast sensitivity in keratoconjunctivitis sicca and normal control eyes was tested before and after a tear substitute. METHODS: Three different groups of subjects were enrolled: one group of dry eyes with nonsignificant signs of epithelial disease (n = 12), the second group of dry eye positive with 1% Bengal rose staining of the cornea and of the conjunctiva (n = 18), and a third of normal eyes as control group (n = 15). In all the 45 eyes, spatial-contrast sensitivity was tested under the best correction by means of the Vistech Multivision Contrast Tester 8000 (Vistech Consultants, Dayton, OH, U.S.A.) before and 15 min after the instillation of a 0.4% Na-hyaluronate tear substitute without preservatives. RESULTS: A significant decrease of spatial-contrast sensitivity ranging from 35 to 70% was present in keratoconjunctivitis sicca eyes compared with a third group of age-matched normal eyes used as control. The spatial-contrast sensitivity was significantly lower also in the presence of preserved corneal surface. The addition of a tear substitute improved spatial contrast-sensitivity thresholds in all groups. CONCLUSION: Tear-film disease can affect the transfer function of modulation of the ocular surface.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

RA/DA cumulative curve analysis of local and diffuse neuroretinal rim area damage in glaucoma patients.

AIM: To evaluate the validity of cumulative rim/disc area (RA/DA) curve analysis as a clinical tool for the identification of glaucoma induced optic disc pathology. METHODS: 71 normal and 83 glaucomatous eyes were evaluated from a series of 154 subjects recruited for this study. For each eye, the cumulative distribution of RA/DA was calculated from 36 equally spaced rim sectors of each optic disc obtained by the automatic evaluation of simultaneous videographics (Image-net X Rev.3/51b). To increase the sensitivity of this analysis in early glaucoma and in normal eyes, these cumulative curves were subsequently divided into two equal segments and the slopes of their respective regression lines compared. RESULTS: The median RA/DA value obtained from the 36 sectors was significantly different in glaucomatous eyes compared with normals (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the curves (5th-95th percentile of the cumulative curves distribution) of early glaucomatous eyes fell within the normal range. When the cumulative curve of these marginal cases was then divided into two equal segments, the comparison of the slopes of the regression lines showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in 100% of early glaucomatous eyes. Furthermore, normal eyes were shown to be true negatives in 93% of the cases in which no significant difference between the two slopes was observed. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the RA/DA cumulative curve from 36 sectors of the optic disc was a valid method for the identification of glaucomatous disc pathology; however, a further calculation of the slopes of the two RA/DA regression lines was needed to identify early glaucomatous damage.

Female↗
PubMed1995

Study of the correlation between average values of optic disc parameters and their measurement variability using stereovideographic digital analysis.

Purpose of our study was to find whether there is a correlation between average values of optic nerve head parameters and their coefficient of variation for repeated measurements. Disc stereo video images were taken with Topcon Imagenet (IS100) and analyzed with the Optic Disc Analysis program. Eleven normal and 9 glaucomatous eyes were selected. A significant correlation was found for horizontal cup/disc ratio (r = -0.037, p = 0.037) and disc area (r = 0.776, p = 0.027) in intra-observer intra-image repeated measurements. Vertical, horizontal and average cup/disc ratios (r = -0.81, r = -0.74, r = -0.78 p < 0.05) showed a significant correlation for intra-observer inter-image repeated measurements. For inter-observer intra-image measurements, a significant correlation was present for average cup/disc ratio (r = -0.64, p = 0.043). Our data show that bidimensional semiquantitative parameters in use for optic nerve head assessment, analyzed by computerized stereovideography, have an intrinsic measurement variability. The variability is significantly related to the value of the measured parameter only when their reference points are determined manually by the operator.

Adult↗