PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Forte

Publications and source records attributed to R Forte.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Vitreal alterations in retinitis pigmentosa: biomicroscopic appearance and statistical evaluation.

The authors present a biomicroscopic evaluation of vitreal alterations in a large group of patients affected by primary retinitis pigmentosa (RP). 286 RP patients (571 eyes), 153 (305 eyes) males and 133 (266 eyes) females, have been studied; the mean age of this whole group was 37.26 + or - 14.93 years (age range: 5-77). Vitreal static and dynamic biomicroscopy was performed on fully dilated pupils by means of a Haag-Streit 900 slit-lamp and high-power positive precorneal lenses (+90 and +78 dpt Volk lenses). Most patients showed floating cottonball-like condensations (26.824%) often associated with fibrillary degeneration (15.88%), while non-pigmentary vitreal particulation was detected in 26.609% of cases and the pigmentary type in 12.017%, respectively. Posterior vitreal detachment was detected alone in only 0.43% of cases while 18.24% of examined eyes showed no vitreal alterations. A high statistical correlation between vitreal aspects and pigmentary grading of the fundus oculi (p = 0.0001), as well as duration of the disease (p = 0.0074), was found; at the same time, no statistical correlation with refractive error was demonstrated (p = 0.47).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Clinical heterogeneity of dominant optic atrophy: the contribution of visual function investigations to diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The variability of the visual function impairment in dominant optic atrophy (DOA) makes it difficult to diagnose the disease within genealogies. Physiologic investigations were conducted on a family with DOA to evaluate methods of detecting clinical and subclinical signs in obligate heterozygotes, in order to identify affected subjects within the genealogy and to formulate the individual and reproductive risks. METHODS: Investigations included tests for color vision, contrast sensitivity function (CSF), kinetic and static computerized perimetry, transient pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and steady-state flash VEPs. RESULTS: Eight subjects from the pedigree were diagnosed as having DOA. Two of them were unaware of their affection, and six showed wide clinical variability. CSF paralleled the central visual impairment, but was also slightly impaired in the two unaware subjects. Static computerized perimetry disclosed mild sensitivity defects in the central visual fields in these two patients. VEPs showed heterogeneous results as well, ranging from normal findings to severely altered tracings. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation suggests that combined clinical and functional evaluation is necessary to diagnose DOA. Particularly, the combined use of computerized perimetry, CSF, and VEPs allowed the identification of cases at a subclinical stage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The effect of frostbite on the reconstructed ear.

A 17-year-old patient whose left ear was reconstructed using a lateral arm fascia and skin graft had done well until one episode of cold exposure approximately two years after the reconstruction. This thermal injury resulted in a localized area of composite tissue loss demonstrating that the reconstructed ear had a higher susceptibility to cold temperatures. The transferred fascia did, however, allow a stable base for granulation and reepithelialization, showing the continued vascularity and regenerative capacity of the transferred tissue. A discussion is provided regarding the susceptibility of free transferred fascia and its regenerative capacity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Autosomal dominant simple microphthalmos.

Congenital bilateral microphthalmos is a rare malformation of the eye, which ranges from extreme to mild reduction of total axial length. Microphthalmos may occur as an isolated ocular abnormality or as part of a systemic disorder, and different classifications of the condition have been attempted. We describe a large pedigree with 14 persons in four generations affected with bilateral microphthalmos without other ocular or systemic signs. An autosomal dominant trait with complete penetrance is proposed. Five subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation. The total axial length was measured by A scan ultrasonography in all persons. Ultrasonography showed a reduction of the total axial length (range 18.4-19.7 mm) and a reduced vitreous cavity length (range 11.4-13.5 mm) in all investigated patients. All the patients had microcornea (range 8-9.7 mm). No other ocular anomalies or associated systemic malformations were found. A review of published reports also suggests that simple, partial, posterior, pure microphthalmos and nanophthalmos are similar clinical entities sharing total axial length and vitreous cavity length reduction. Therefore, the term simple microphthalmos is proposed to identify these clinical conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Chemical peeling.

This article explores the wide range of chemical facial peels, which include phenol, trichloroacetic acid, and alpha-hydroxy acids. The application of these substances will be described in addition to the contraindications to this type of treatment.

Chemexfoliation↗
PubMed1992

Prognostic role of flow cytometry in superficial bladder cancer.

Prognostic factors in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were assessed with histopathological and flow cytometry analysis in a series of 61 patients operated transurethrally between 1988 and 1990. In particular, we evaluated the usefulness of flow cytometry in order to identify patients who require a more accurate clinical follow-up or a more aggressive therapy. A multivariate analysis was done in 61 cases, considering patient age and sex, stage, grade and number of lesions (unifocal or multifocal), post-TUR therapy (therapy or not), and DNA ploidy (diploid/aneuploid). DNA pattern and number of recurrences were determinant for selecting risk cases for progression.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) delivery rescue retinal photoreceptors in retinitis pigmentosa?

As previously reported in the literature, hyperbaric oxygen delivery seems to modify the natural course of retinitis pigmentosa. In order to evaluate these first encouraging data, 48 affected subjects were separately studied in two subgroups (cases and controls). All patients underwent yearly an ophthalmological examination completed by a maximum amplitude electroretinogram, conducted according to our 'differential derivation' system, a new recording technique specifically designed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Oxygen delivery was provided regularly for 90 min daily (2.2 Absolute Atmosphere) in three cycles according to a standard protocol. In the cases, electroretinographic mean values were as follows: at T0 (basal) 4.68 +/- 3.81 microV; after one year (T1) 8.46 +/- 5.71 microV; at two years (T2) 10.7 +/- 7.6 microV; at the end of the study (T3) 14.4 +/- 11.7 microV. In the controls, electroretinographic mean values were as follows: at T0 4.92 +/- 3.05 microV; at T1 5.04 +/- 3.07 microV; at T2 3.46 +/- 2.77 microV: at T3 2.97 +/- 3.61 microV. Amplitudes showed a remarkable (p<0.001) increase in the cases, while a slightly significant (p<0.02) decrease was evident at the end of the study in the controls. In our opinion, retinal oxygen availability may be critical in retinal degeneration and hyperbaric oxygen delivery, inducing hyperoxia, seems to be able to bring about the rescue of the retinal photoreceptors helping them in their metabolic requirements. Unfortunately, our study demonstrates an increase in electroretinographic responses only, which may not necessarily also mean an evident change in visual acuity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ophthalmic complications after surgery for nasal and sinus polyposis.

PURPOSE: To describe ophthalmic complications after nasal and sinus surgery. METHODS: Four cases with orbital complications were retrospectively selected from among more than 2000 cases of orbital pathologies. RESULTS: Motility disturbances due to extraocular muscle injury occurred in two patients after intranasal ethmoidectomy and in one patient after a Caldwell-Luc procedure. In the fourth case an orbital apex syndrome was noted after intranasal ethmoidectomies. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic complications may occur after nasal and sinus surgery, even using an endoscopic procedure. Successful handling of these complications could be reached by on their early recognition and treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Deflazacort treatment of cystoid macular edema in patients affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy of a long-term treatment with Deflazacort (DFZ), a third generation synthetic glucocorticoid, in patients affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) complicated by Cystoid Macular Edema (CME). METHODS: A randomized group of 10 RP subjects were selected for this pilot study and treated with DFZ for one year according to a standard protocol. Far and near Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph) and computerized perimetry (Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer) were statistically assessed. RESULTS: Near visual acuities, fluorescein angiographic findings and perimetric data improved significantly (p < 0.01) while far BCVA varied only slightly (p < 0.05). No ocular or systemic side effects were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Further case-control studies, also involving a larger number of patients, are required to confirm these preliminary results. However, the present investigation seem to suggest that DFZ could be effective in reducing fluorescein angiographic findings and improving perimetric data and near visual acuities in RP patients, even though the pathogenesis of CME remains poorly understood.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical pathogenesis of macular holes in patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa.

BACKGROUND: To define the main clinical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of macular holes (MH) in patients affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: 236 RP subjects were enrolled in this study and ophthalmologically examined according to a standard FIARP (Italian Federation of the RP Associations) protocol. The prevalence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) as well as all types of RP-related macular abnormalities--especially vitreoretinal interface alterations (VRIA), cystoid macular edema (CME), "bull's eye maculopathy" (BEM) and MH--was reported; statistical analyses and correlations were assessed by means of Student t test and Pearson chi2. RESULTS: VRIA and CME were observed in 26.15% and 9.45% of the cases respectively and resulted significantly associated with MH, since they were constantly present in 22 of the 25 eyes affected by MH (88%) (chi2 = 50.4; p < 0.01). In particular, in 9 of these cases (40.9%) MH was correlated to both CME and VRIA, while in 11 (50%) and 2 (9.1%) eyes CME or VRIA were present separately. A normal biomicroscopic macular appearance, PVD and BEM were found in 26.81%, 6.6% and 21.54% of the cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies involving a larger number of patients are required to complete these preliminary results. However, the present investigation seem to confirm the data already reported in the literature, i.e. that pathogenesis of MH in RP is strictly correlated to the presence of VRIA, cellophane maculopathy and cystic foveal degeneration with CME.

Adult↗