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Biomedical subjects

N Toledano

Publications and source records attributed to N Toledano.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Frosted branch angiitis and late peripheral retinochoroidal scar in a patient with acquired toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute frosted branch angiitis associated with acquired toxoplasmosis in which a late peripheral chorioretinal scar developed. RESULTS: A 32-year-old man without systemic symptoms presented with sudden visual loss in his left eye. Examination demonstrated frosted branch angiitis without necrotizing chorioretinitis. Serologic tests showed elevated Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin M antibody titers. Antitoxoplasmic therapy and oral steroids healed the ocular inflammation. In a follow-up visit one year later, a peripheral chorioretinal scar was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Acute frosted branch angiitis without focal necrotizing chorioretinitis can be a manifestation of acquired toxoplasmosis. This could be an important, and sometimes forgotten, sign of the disease.

Adult↗

Nasolacrimal stents in the management of epiphora: medium-term results of a multicenter prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a prospective multicenter setting the clinical utility of polyurethane stents in the percutaneous management of epiphora. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 163; age range = 22-85 y, mean = 52 y; 29 men, 134 women) with severe epiphora had stents (n = 183) inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in 180 lacrimal systems (unilateral = 146; bilateral = 17) to treat complete (n = 172) or partial (n = 8) obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct or sac. The junction between sac and duct was the most frequent location (n = 102), followed by the sac alone (n = 48), and the duct alone (n = 30). The etiology of the obstruction was idiopathic in 113 cases (63%) and chronic dacryocystitis in 67 (37%). The set designed by Song was used in all patients and the original technique was slightly modified by the authors. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis. Average time of the procedure was 14 minutes (range = 3-70 min). RESULTS: Initial technical success rate of stent placement was 97%. Resolution of epiphora was complete in 175 eyes and partial in five. On follow-up (mean = 450 d; range = 8-730 d), 157 of 183 stents remained patent (85.8%). Of the 24 obstructed, 19 were easily withdrawn and 17 of these patients remained asymptomatic for a mean of 15 months (secondary patency rate = 89.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The procedure is simple and safe. It can be performed on an outpatient basis and the original technique could be improved with some technical modifications. It is well tolerated by patients and may be considered as a valid alternative technique for the resolution of epiphora.

Adult↗

Deposits of topical norfloxacin in the treatment of bacterial keratitis.

PURPOSE: Fluoroquinolone solutions are widely used in therapy of bacterial keratitis. These drugs are safe, and their ocular side effects are mild and not serious in nature. The most frequent untoward effect associated with ciprofloxacin therapy has been a white crystalline deposit. This deposit has not been reported after using the other commercially available quinolones, ofloxacin and norfloxacin. METHODS: We present three cases of norfloxacin deposits after treatment of bacterial keratitis. RESULTS: In the three cases, the norfloxacin was substituted for another antibiotic effective against the bacteria, and the precipitate spontaneously resolved in all cases within a few days with no untoward ocular effect. CONCLUSION: Crystalline corneal deposits can develop during topical norfloxacin therapy. The exact factors contributing to the formation are unknown, although the differences in the tear pH/solubility could be involved. Clinicians should be aware of this ocular side effect.

Aged↗

Influence of topical cyclosporine A and dissolvent on corneal epithelium permeability of fluorescein.

The corneal stroma is the major barrier to penetration for the lipophilic Cyclosporine A (CsA) molecule and prevents the use of the common ophthalmic solvents. At present, corn oil, castor oil and olive oil are the three most commonly used vehicles. The aim of this study was to determine the effect that topically applied CsA dissolved in different oils has on corneal epithelial permeability measured by fluorophotometry. Forty healthy volunteers, with absence of ocular or systemic disease and not receiving topical or systemic drugs were enrolled. Measurements were taken before and 45 min after the instillation of 40 microliters of a 2% aqueous solution of sodium fluorescein without preservatives. Basal corneal permeability and the permeability 24 h after the instillation of 2% CsA-olive oil, olive oil alone, 2% CsA-castor oil, castor oil alone, 2% CsA-corn oil and corn oil alone, were calculated. To prepare the topical 2% CsA, a Sandimmun oral solution (Sandoz, Basel, Switzerland) was employed under sterile conditions. We found that epithelial permeability 24 h after the instillation of any CsA formulations or solvents increased more than 6.62 times (p <0.001). No differences in corneal permeability values were found between any of the CsA formulations and the vehicles. We conclude that oils used to dissolve CsA are mainly responsible for the increased corneal epithelial permeability. No differences were found in the effects of the tested solvents on corneal epithelial permeability.

Administration, Topical↗

Effect of bendazac lysine on lens and retina in diabetics.

The possible beneficial effects on the lens and retina which Bendazac Lysine may have in the treatment of adult diabetic patients were investigated. Twenty patients, ranging in age from 54.80 +/- 5.86 years old, were studied. The average duration of the diabetes was 11.32 +/- 4.10 years. Thirteen patients had background retinopathy. The metabolic controls carried out during the study were satisfactory (HbA1 < 11%). Bendazac Lysine (500 mg three times a day) was administered for 6 months. Blood-retinal barrier permeability (VPR and VPRt) and lens transmittance (t) were evaluated prior to and 6 months after treatment by fluorophotometry. No statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values of the retina permeability were observed, however, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) (initial value: t = 0.813 +/- 0.040 and final value: t = 0.823 +/- 0.037) in the lens transmittance. The authors conclude that Bendazac Lysine has a beneficial effect on the lens in the diabetic adult although no improvement in the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier has been observed.

Administration, Oral↗

Blood-aqueous barrier permeability determination in HLA B27-positive acute anterior uveitis patients.

The blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) permeability was studied by fluorophotometry in 17 healthy control subjects and in 27 eyes from 27 patients with HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitis (HLA-B27 AAU). Twenty of these patients had an associated spondyloarthropathy. BAB permeability was studied during the ocular inflammatory crisis and in the disease-free periods in the same patients. Anterior chamber fluorophotometric scans were performed before and 30 minutes after the intravenous injection of 14 mg/kg of sodium fluorescein. The diffusion coefficient (Kd) was obtained from the ratio between the fluorescein concentration in the anterior chamber and the NPBF. Data were analyzed using the Student's t test and analysis of variance. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) was found between the Kd of active HLA-B27 AAU (61.4 +/- 16.8 x 10(-4) min-1) and the Kd of inactive HLA-B27 AAU (4.8 +/- 1.6 x 10(-4) min-1). No statistically significant differences were found between the Kd of inactive HLA-B27 AAU and the Kd of the control subjects (4.3 +/- 1.0 x 10(-4) min-1). We also failed to detect significant differences between patients with and without spondyloarthropathy either during the acute attack or during the disease-free period. On the basis of these results we conclude that the permeability of the BAB remains intact in inactive HLA-B27-positive AAU. The parallel fluorophotometric behaviour of HLA-B27-positive AAU with spondyloarthropathy and without spondyloarthropathy suggests that both share a common pathogenetic mechanism.

Acute Disease↗

Endothelial morphological and functional evaluation after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess endothelial barrier function, morphological appearance and corneal thickness three months after cataract surgery in order to evaluate intraoperative endothelial damage. METHODS: Endothelial permeability was examined by fluorophotometry, and contact specular microscopy and corneal pachymetry measurements were made in 40 patients (40 eyes) with senile, non-complicated cataracts one month before and three months after cataract surgery. Twenty eyes underwent uneventful phacoemulsification (Group 1) and 20 uneventful extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with continuous curvilinear capsulotomy (Group 2). Results were analyzed using the two-tailed Student's t test, analysis of variance, and multifactorial and regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant postoperative increase in endothelial permeability in both groups (p < 0.001), but no real differences between the postoperative values (p = 0.07). Mean cell loss was 15.2% in ECCE and 18.3% in phacoemulsification (p = 0.4). There was a significant linear correlation between ultrasound time, cell loss and functional damage. Postoperative pachymetric measurements were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial response showed no differences between the surgical techniques. Endothelial barrier function remained disturbed in spite of the apparent morphological stabilization. Corneal pachymetry is not useful for assessing postoperative endothelial changes.

Aged↗

Management and treatment of central steep islands after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND: Permanent central steep islands are an undesirable phenomenon that cause distorted images and a significant reduction in visual acuity. We describe treatment of central steep islands with repeat excimer laser photoablation in the central cornea. METHODS: Three patients with preoperative refractions of -7.50 -2.50 x 170 degrees D (right eye), -8.00 -2.25 x 10 degrees D (right eye) and -6.00 -1.50 x 90 degrees (right eye) developed central steep islands which persisted more than 12 months. All patients lost more than two lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity and complained of visual disturbances. We retreated the central steep islands with a VISX 20/20 excimer laser PRK ablation that matched the size of the central island measured on videokeratography. RESULTS: Symptomatic glare and distortion were significantly reduced and the central steep islands were resolved. Several weeks after reablation, spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved to the preoperative level. CONCLUSION: Central steep island, an infrequent complication of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy, can be safely removed with a repeat laser ablation that matches the central circular steep area.

Adult↗

Peripheral melt of flap after laser in situ keratomileusis.

BACKGROUND: Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is an effective procedure to correct myopia. It may have complications related to the flap, such as epithelial ingrowth and stromal melt. METHODS: We report on a patient who developed extensive epithelial ingrowth and partial keratolysis of the flap following LASIK. This complication was treated by lifting the flap and removing the epithelium from within the interface. RESULTS: Progressive keratolysis (stromal melt) can result in irregular astigmatism and loss of vision as well as photophobia and ciliary injection. The pathogenesis is not completely understood although the epithelial ingrowth in the interface is always present, and epithelial-stromal interaction with production of proteases may be involved. CONCLUSION: Epithelial ingrowth may develop in the lamellar interface after LASIK and be associated with melting of the edge of the flap. This undesirable complication can be successfully managed with early surgical removal of the epithelium and proper attachment of the flap.

Adult↗