Biomedical subjects

Paulo Augusto de Arruda Mello

Publications and source records attributed to Paulo Augusto de Arruda Mello.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Normal tension glaucoma].

Normal tension glaucoma is an optic neuropathy in which the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is reduced, the optic nerve is pathologically excavated, and the visual field is disturbed, although intraocular pressure is classified as normal. Patients with normal tension glaucoma are a heterogeneous group in which many systemic pathologic conditions may be present, and presenting ocular clinical signs that are difficult to be identified in the early stages of the disease. Treatment is more challenging than in hypertensive glaucomas. The authors sought to review the pathophysiology and differential diagnosis of this condition assessing vascular, rheumatic, neurological and genetic aspects that should be studied, as well as its treatment. The sources of references are PubMed (MEDLINE), LILACS and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) databases.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed2005

Influence of pupillary diameter, ciliary muscle tone, and ambient light on nerve fiber layer measurements with scanning laser polarimetry.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of the pupillary diameter, ciliary muscle tone, and room light on nerve fiber layer measurements with the scanning laser polarimeter (GDx). METHODS: One randomly selected eye of ten normal volunteers was examined with the GDx in a two-day protocol under eight testing conditions (pilocarpine 1%, phenylephrine 10%, tropicamide 1%, or no drops with room lights on or off). The twelve parameters, obtained by the GDx, were compared under the eight testing conditions, using two way ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey HSD post hoc test. RESULTS: Ten of the twelve parameters were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05) when measured under the three medication or no medication conditions, controlling for the ambient light status. There were no significant differences when measured with the light on or off, controlling for use of drops. CONCLUSIONS: Nerve fiber layer measurements with the GDx were influenced by drugs affecting pupillary diameter, but not by the status of room light or ciliary muscle tone.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Results of the Susanna implant in patients with refractory primary congenital glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of the Susanna implant in children with primary congenital glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors report a retrospective noncomparative interventional case series of data from 24 eyes from 24 pediatric patients who underwent Susanna implant surgery for primary congenital glaucoma. All the patients were operated by the same surgeon. The postoperative follow-up time was 24 months for all patients. Success was defined by an IOP higher than 6 mm Hg and less than or equal to 15 mm Hg, with the concomitant use of a single medication if necessary. RESULTS: The age range of the patients was 1 to 15 years and the mean age was 5.04 +/- 4.12 years. At 12 months, 87.5% of the patients were considered as success, and at 24 months, the proportion dropped to 79.16%. Mean preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure were 26.17 +/- 5.16 and 14.04 +/- 4.19 mm Hg ( p < 0.001), respectively. All 24 children had undergone previous glaucoma surgeries. Cataract was the only complication found during follow-up, occurring in three patients. Cox's regression model did not show influence of gender ( P = 0.740) and previous surgery ( P = 0.262) on the outcome through time. Age at the time of surgery was the only variable which was statistically associated with success through time, younger patients presenting higher probability of failure ( P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study reinforce the role of drainage implants as a safe alternative in difficult cases of primary congenital glaucoma, after failure of the initial approach.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Safety of unoprostone isopropyl as mono- or adjunctive therapy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

This review summarises the safety of unoprostone isopropyl (both at the 0.12 and 0.15% concentrations) instilled twice daily in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). For unoprostone 0.15%, combined data from two 12-month comparative monotherapy studies are reported, as well as data from three adjunctive therapy studies and two special population studies. With unoprostone monotherapy, most adverse events were mild or moderate and transient in nature. Less than 7% of unoprostone-treated patients discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. The most common adverse events associated with unoprostone were burning/stinging, burning/stinging directly upon drug instillation, ocular itching, and conjunctival hyperaemia. Unoprostone had no clinically notable effects on vital signs, laboratory profiles, or comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. One of 659 unoprostone 0.15%-treated patients had a change in iris colour after 12 months of monotherapy. Except for a higher incidence of burning/stinging and burning/stinging upon instillation, unoprostone was comparable to timolol 0.5% twice daily and betaxolol 0.5% twice daily. No safety concerns were raised with use of unoprostone as adjunctive therapy. Unoprostone had no significant effect on exercise-induced heart rate in healthy subjects or on pulmonary function in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. The safety profile of unoprostone 0.15% was consistent with published information on the 0.12% formulation. In conclusion, unoprostone has an excellent safety profile in patients with POAG or OH.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lack of circadian change of concentration of C-type natriuretic peptide in rabbit aqueous humor.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a circadian change of the concentration of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in rabbit aqueous humor. METHODS: Forty-one male white New Zealand rabbits were submitted to a 12 h light and 12 dark lighting schedule; lights on was at 0 h, lights off at 12 h. C-type natriuretic peptide was assayed at 3 light (2 h, 6 h and 10 h) and 3 dark (14,18 and 22 h) times. All groups consisted of four animals but two had more animals to increase the power of tests (6 h, n = 12; 22 h, n = 13). Dependence between the two eyes was tested by Pearson's correlation. The mean of two eyes was considered for analysis. Differences in concentration in pg/200 ml were evaluated by one-way ANOVA, t test and COSINOR analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 6 analyzed groups (one-way ANOVA p = 0.157). Pooled into two groups (light and dark), the C-type natriuretic peptide concentration of the light group was lower, 2.626 +/- 0.92 pg/200 ml compared with the dark group 3.02 +/- 1.16 pg/200 ml but did not reach a significant difference (t test; p = 0.23). COSINOR analysis was not statistically significant (R% = 7.72 p = 0.209). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the concentration of CNP in aqueous humor did not show a statistically significant circadian change in rabbits entrained to a 12 h light: 12 h dark lighting schedule.

Analysis of Variance↗