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Biomedical subjects

S Beatty

Publications and source records attributed to S Beatty.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Bilateral macular holes resulting from septic embolization.

PURPOSE: To report a previously undescribed cause of bilateral macular hole formation. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Septic emboli were noted at the center of the macula in both eyes of a 32-year-old man with acute bacterial endocarditis. Bilateral full-thickness macular holes later developed at the site of these retinal lesions. CONCLUSION: This case represents the first report of fundus lesions in septicemia resulting in full-thickness macular hole formation.

Adult↗

Effect of applanation tonometry on mean corneal curvature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether applanation tonometry affects corneal curvature and if so, the implications for intraocular lens power calculation. SETTING: Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital, Birmingham, England. METHODS: Twenty-two patients attending the preoperative assessment clinic were enrolled in the study. Keratometry was performed immediately before, 1 minute after, and 10 minutes after standard Goldmann tonometry. Main outcome measures were mean corneal refractive power and its reproducibility (coefficient of repeatability). RESULTS: No clinically significant difference was noted between preapplanation and postapplanation readings (P = .6), and reproducibility was not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that corneal applanation before keratometry does not compromise the prediction of postoperative refraction.

Aged↗

Phacoemulsification versus endocapsular cataract extraction in a unique cohort of patients.

The visual recovery and refractive results of 33 consecutive patients (66 eyes) undergoing standard endocapsular cataract extraction in one eye and simultaneous phacoemulsification in the fellow eye are reported. One surgeon performed all the operations. Surgically induced astigmatism was evaluated for the two techniques in terms of: (1) the proportion of eyes with a refractive cylinder of 1.5 dioptres (D) or less; (2) the interocular difference in post-operative astigmatism. Eyes undergoing phacoemulsification had a significantly lower mean induced cylinder (paired Student's t-test: t = 3.729; p < 0.001) and were more likely to exhibit a cylinder of 1.5 D or less (chi-squared test with Yates' correction: chi 2 = 7.88; p < 0.01) than the nuclear expression group. For paired eyes less post-operative astigmatism (Wilcoxon's signed rank test: T = 92; p < 0.01) was seen in the phacoemulsification eye. At the time of the last post-operative assessment a significantly higher proportion of phacoemulsified eyes achieved a corrected Snellen visual acuity of 6/6 or better than their fellow eyes (McNemar's test: p < 0.01). The results of this unique cohort of patients confirm the beneficial effects of phacoemulsification on astigmatism and visual outcome in the early post-operative period.

Aged↗

Day-case trabeculectomies: safety and efficacy.

A comparison of 90 day-case and 102 in-patient trabeculectomies is presented. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of post-operative hyphaema (Chi-squared test p = 0.84), shallow anterior chamber (p = 0.46), flat bleb (p = 0.84) or hypotony (p = 0.87) between the two groups. Casualty attendances, readmissions and further surgery in the postoperative period were seen with similar frequency in each group. Intraocular pressure control three months following surgery was not compromised by undergoing the procedure as a day-case (p = 0.29). This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of ambulatory filtration surgery.

Adult↗

Simultaneous bilateral cataract extraction in the UK.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Simultaneous bilateral extracapsular cataract extraction (SBCE) is not routinely performed in the developed world. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of this procedure as performed in the UK. METHODS: A review of 319 consecutive patients (638 eyes) who underwent SBCE with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is presented. RESULTS: The incidence of intraoperative complications was 7.7%. These included posterior capsule rupture (0.8%) and vitreous loss (0.3%). Postoperative complications were seen in 8.7% of operated eyes and included iris prolapse (0.3%) and raised intraocular pressure (3.0%). Endophthalmitis occurred in one eye (0.15%). There were no major bilateral complications, and, in particular, no cases of bilateral endophthalmitis. Final visual acuities compared favourably with reports for unilateral surgery. Eighty two per cent achieved a final visual acuity of 6/12 or better, and 41% tested 6/6 or better. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that SBCE is not associated with an increased incidence of complications and that the visual results are good. Where indicated, and under strict surgical protocol, this procedure is safe.

Aged↗

Affective reactions to failure as a function of effort and depression.

University students, divided on a quartile split into low (n = 53) and high (n = 42) depression groups (Beck scores of 0-1 or 7 and higher), were presented a series of failure situations in which failure occurred under high effort (with situational factors causing failure) or low effort. Subjects rated their affective reactions to each situation. It was hypothesized that the group low on depression would feel worse after high effort (since this would challenge their sense of self-efficacy) whereas the high depression group would feel better in this condition (since attribution of failure to situational factors would protect their sense of self-esteem). Results were consistent with expectations for the group low on depression. For the group high on depression, the means were rank-ordered as predicted but the difference was not significant.

Depressive Disorder↗

The obstetric and gynaecological implications of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

The obstetric aspects of 54 pregnancies in 20 women with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) have been reviewed. Forty live births were delivered vaginally, three of them were preterm. Twelve pregnancies miscarried at between 6 and 14 weeks gestation and two were terminated in the 8th week for psychiatric reasons. Fetal losses in two instances were attributed to cervical incompetence. One baby died at 4 days of age from a complex congenital cardiac anomaly. No abnormal maternal genital or gastrointestinal bleeding was recorded. Hypertension complicated seven pregnancies. Abdominal striae developed in all patients, the severity of which correlated with weight gain and the number of pregnancies. All the women had normal gynaecological histories, none had excessive menstrual bleeding or increased episodes of menorrhagia. The eye, blood vessels and other organ systems involved in PXE were unaffected by pregnancy. Apart from the increased risk of first trimester miscarriage and the cosmetic deterioration of the abdominal skin, there are few serious complications in pregnancy in patients with PXE.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Protein phosphorylation in a tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-nonproliferative variant of 3T3 cells.

The 3T3-TNR9 cell line is a variant of Swiss 3T3 cells which does not respond mitogenically to tumor promoters, but does respond mitogenically to epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and serum. To elucidate differences between tumor promoters and polypeptide mitogens in the pathway(s) of mitogenesis which might be responsible for the nonresponsiveness of the 3T3-TNR9 cells, we have examined in these cells the early protein phosphorylation events known to be associated with mitogenesis in the parental 3T3 cells. We find that the 3T3-TNR9 cells display levels of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate binding and of a calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity which are at least the equal of those seen in the parental 3T3 cells, implicating some postreceptor event in the nonmitogenic phenotype. In addition, we find that phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and of 80-kDa and 22-kDa proteins, as well as the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein, all proceed normally in the nonmitogenic variant, even though these phosphorylations must depend on the activation of different kinases. Thus, all these early phosphorylation reactions are intact in the 3T3-TNR9 cells. Although these phosphorylations may be necessary, they clearly are insufficient to trigger mitogenesis.

Animals↗

Current concepts and recent advances in the management of age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the Western World in those aged 65 and older. At present, several treatment modalities are utilised and several more are undergoing investigation in an attempt to retard the occurrence and progression of this devastating condition. AIMS: To provide the non-ophthalmologist with an understanding of the current treatment options available to patients suffering from all variants of AMD. METHODS: Medline and Embase search. RESULTS: Several treatment modalities have been investigated and utilised in the treatment of all variants of this condition. While promising results have been reported, no treatment is ideal. CONCLUSION: While no curative treatment for this condition currently exists, early recognition and treatment, if indicated, have been shown to reduce the risk of severe vision loss in patients with this condition.

Aging↗

The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blind registration in the developed world, and yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Oxidative stress, which refers to cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), has been implicated in many disease processes, especially age-related disorders. ROIs include free radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and singlet oxygen, and they are often the byproducts of oxygen metabolism. The retina is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress because of its high consumption of oxygen, its high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and its exposure to visible light. In vitro studies have consistently shown that photochemical retinal injury is attributable to oxidative stress and that the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E protect against this type of injury. Furthermore, there is strong evidence suggesting that lipofuscin is derived, at least in part, from oxidatively damaged photoreceptor outer segments and that it is itself a photoreactive substance. However, the relationships between dietary and serum levels of the antioxidant vitamins and age-related macular disease are less clear, although a protective effect of high plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol has been convincingly demonstrated. Macular pigment is also believed to limit retinal oxidative damage by absorbing incoming blue light and/or quenching ROIs. Many putative risk-factors for AMD have been linked to a lack of macular pigment, including female gender, lens density, tobacco use, light iris color, and reduced visual sensitivity. Moreover, the Eye Disease Case-Control Study found that high plasma levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were associated with reduced risk of neovascular AMD. The concept that AMD can be attributed to cumulative oxidative stress is enticing, but remains unproven. With a view to reducing oxidative damage, the effect of nutritional antioxidant supplements on the onset and natural course of age-related macular disease is currently being evaluated.

Aging↗