A single intraoperative sub-Tenon's capsule triamcinolone acetonide injection for the treatment of post-cataract surgery inflammation

Purpose: To compare a single intraoperative sub-Tenon's capsule triamcinolone acetonicle injection with steroid drops in the treatment of ocular inflammation after cataract surgery.Design: Randomized, double-masked controlled trial.Participants: A total of 100 patients were randomized prospectively into 2 groups: 50 patients treated with 1% prednisolone eyedrops (control group A) and 50 patients treated with sub-Tenon's capsule triamcinolone (treatment group B).Methods: All patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular posterior lens implantation. After surgery, patients were randomized to receive either (group B) an intraoperative 40 mg triamcinolone acetonicle sub-Tenon's capsule injection or (group A) 1% prednisolone acetate eyedrops, according to the following schedule: 1 drop 4 times daily (week 1), 3 times daily (week 2), 2 times daily (week 3), once daily (week 4). To mask the study, group B received vehicle drops administered on a similar schedule, and group A received an intraoperative sub-Tenon's capsule injection of a 1 ml balanced salt solution.Main Outcome Measures: the main outcome measures included inflammation (cell, flare, ciliary flush), intraocular pressure, and lack of response.Results: Triamcinolone was shown to have anti-inflammatory efficacy clinically equivalent to conventional 1% prednisolone eyedrops in reducing intraocular inflammation, as measured by clinical methods. Triamcinolone was found to be as safe as the prednisolone in terms of adverse effects, changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and biomicroscopic and ophthalmoscopic variables. on the third, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-eighth postoperative days, a significantly lower intraocular pressure (P<0.01) was noted in the triamcinolone group than in the prednisolone group.Conclusions: A single intraoperative 40-mg triamcinolone acetonide sub-Tenon's capsule injection demonstrated a clinically equivalent therapeutic response and ocular tolerance compared with 1% prednisolone drops in controlling postoperative inflammation after uncomplicated cataract surgery and merits further investigation. (C) 2004 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

B-mode ultrasonography biometry of the Amazon Parrot (Amazona aestiva) eye

PurposeUltrasonographic evaluation of the eye is a relatively recent addition to routine ophthalmic diagnostics in small animal ophthalmology. Some parameters for ophthalmic biometry have been established. There are few studies in clinical avian ophthalmology that describe ultrasound images of eye in some nocturnal avian species and in other birds that do not belong to the Brazilian fauna, but the psittacine family is not represented. The purpose of this study was to describe the following measurements: the distances between cornea and anterior lens capsule (D1) between the anterior and posterior lens capsule (D2), between posterior lens capsule and optic papilla (D3) and the axial length.MethodSixty four transpalpebral ocular ultrasound examinations were performed on 32 Blue fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) with no history of previous ophthalmic disease.Result and DiscussionThe measurements were taken in sagital planes using a 10 MHz linear probe without a standoff pad. The mean values for the left eye were; D1 0.17 +/- 0.03 cm, D2 0.35 +/- 0.02 cm, D3 0.73 +/- 0.04 cm and the axial length 1.26 +/- 0.06 cm. In the right eye D1 0.17 +/- 0.02 cm, D2 0.34 +/- 0.02 cm, D3 0.74 +/- 0.03 cm and the axial length 1.25 +/- 0.05 cm. No significant statistical difference was observed among the birds or between the left and right eye. The description of these parameters will allow the veterinary practitioner to evaluate the structural changes that specific diseases may cause in these animals.

The use of preserved equine renal capsule to repair lamellar corneal lesions in normal dogs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of equine renal capsule preserved in 98% glycerine to repair lamellar corneal lesions in normal dogs. For this purpose, 12 dogs, divided into six groups (n = 2), were used to evaluate the 1st to 7th day, 15th day and 30th to 60th postoperative day. In order to perform the histologic study, the clinical procedures were analyzed, while the recipient's corneas were collected. The photophobia and blepharospasm also were more intense in the 1st to 7th postoperative day, and regressed in the 15th postoperative day. Therefore, the edema and the vascular events were both more frequent in the intermediary phases and regressed in the late periods. On the other hand, the morphological evaluation demonstrated an inflamatory exudate, also in the intermediary and late periods. These results suggested that the equine renal preserved capsule could be a useful alternative tissue to repair lamellar corneal lesions in dogs.

Optic neuropathy in sheep associated with overdosage of closantel

This report describes clinical and pathological findings in 2 flocks in Brazil where blindness and deaths in sheep occurred after closantel overdosage. Depression, weakness, and blindness affected 37 animals and 17 died in 2 flocks of 190 animals. Two animals submitted for ophthalmic examination showed no inflammation in the anterior segment of both eyes; posterior segment evaluation by indirect ophthalmoscopy suggested retinal degeneration. One postmortem evaluation local spongy vacuolization was in several regions of the brain and the optical nerves had severe axonal degeneration.

Subluxation of the crystalline lens: A no-ring approach

Purpose: To report the surgical technique and outcomes of a no-ring approach to posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children and young adults with subluxation of the crystalline lens. Methods: A three-piece 5.5-mm hydrophobic acrylic IOL was implanted in which the optic and one haptic were inside the capsular bag and the other haptic was in the ciliary sulcus. The implantations were done in 13 eyes of 10 patients with lens subluxation. One haptic was fixated in the ciliary sulcus by passing it through an operculum-shaped opening in the capsular bag edge, made between 2 and 3 clock hours, clockwise from the middle point of the subluxated area. Results: The mean age of the 10 patients was 12.61 ± 8.04 years and the mean follow-up was 21.38 ± 11.29 months. The mean preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.15 ± 0.58 and 0.37 ± 0.17 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, respectively, in 11 measured eyes. The postoperative BCVA was 20/40 or better in 4 eyes (36.36%), between 20/40 and 20/60 in 6 eyes (54.54%), and between 20/80 and 20/100 in 1 eye (9.09%). The BCVA improved in all eyes. Postoperative IOL decentration between 1.0 and 1.5 mm occurred in 3 of 13 eyes (23.08%). Conclusion: The results indicate that the no-ring technique allows centration of an IOL implanted into a subluxated capsular bag without using capsule tension rings. © SLACK Incorporated.

Avaliação da capacidade de mineralização e citotoxicidade do MTA, Sealapex e Sealapex plus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

THE RETINAL TARGETS OF CENTRIFUGAL NEURONS AND THE RETINAL NEURONS PROJECTING TO THE ACCESSORY OPTIC-SYSTEM

In birds, neurons of the isthmo-optic nucleus (ION), as well as ''ectopic'' neurons, send axons to the retina, where they synapse on cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL). Previous work has shown that centrifugal axons can be divided into two anatomically distinct types depending on their mode of termination: either ''convergent'' or ''divergent'' (Ramon y Cajal, 1889; Maturana and Frenk, 1965). We show that cytochrome-oxidase histochemistry specifically labels ''convergent'' centrifugal axons and target neurons which appear to be amacrine cells, as well as three ''types'' of ganglion cells: two types found in the INL (displaced ganglion cells) and one in the ganglion cell layer. Labeled target amacrine cells have distinct darkly labeled ''nests'' of boutons enveloping the somas, are associated with labeled centrifugal fibers, and are confined to central retina. Lesions of the isthmo-optic tract abolish the cytochrome-oxidase labeling in the centrifugal axons and in the target amacrine cells but not in the ganglion cells. Cytochromeoxidase-labeled ganglion cells in the INL are large; one type is oval and similar to the classical displaced ganglion cells of Dogiel, which have been reported to receive centrifugal input; the other type is rounder. Rhodamine beads injected into the accessory optic system results in retrograde label in both types of cells, showing that two distinct types of displaced ganglion cells project to the accessory optic system in chickens. The ganglion cells in the ganglion cell layer that label for cytochrome oxidase also project to the accessory optic system. These have proximal dendrites that ramify in the outer inner plexiform layer. Neither the target amacrine cells nor either of the displaced ganglion cells are immunoreactive for the inhibitory transmitter gamma aminobutyric acid. At least some of the target amacrine cells may, however, be cholinoceptive: we found that the antibody to the alpha-7 subunit of the nicotinic ACh receptor labels a population of cells in the INL that are similar in location, size, and the presence of labeled bouton-like structures to those we find labeled with cytochrome oxidase. This antibody also labels neurons in the ION proper but not ectopic cells. In conclusion, it appears that cytochrome oxidase may be a marker for ''convergent'' centrifugal axons and at least one of their target cells in the INL.

Geometrical parameter analysis of a high-sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Molecular analysis of the PROP1 and HESX1 genes in patients with septo-optic dysplasia and/ or pituitary hormone deficiency

Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the PROP1 and HESX1 genes in a group of patients with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and pituitary hormone deficiency (combined – CPHD; isolated GH deficiency – GHD). Eleven patients with a clinical and biochemical presentation consistent with CPHD, GHD or SOD were evaluated. Subjects and methods: In all patients, the HESX1 gene was analyzed by direct sequence analysis and in cases of CPHD the PROP1 gene was also sequenced. Results: A polymorphism (1772 A > G; N125S) was identified in a patient with SOD. We found three patients carrying the allelic variants 27 T > C; A9A and 59 A > G; N20S in exon 1 of the PROP1 gene. Mutations in the PROP1 and HESX1 genes were not identified in these patients with sporadic GHD, CPHD and SOD. Conclusion: Genetic alterations in one or several other genes, or non-genetic mechanisms, must be implicated in the pathogenic process.