Cataract and cognitive impairment: a review of the literature

Acquired cataract and cognitive impairment are both common age-related problems, and ophthalmologists are increasingly likely to encounter patients who have both. Patients with dementia types who display early visuoperceptual impairment may present first to ophthalmology services. When these patients have coexisting cataract, it may be difficult to distinguish visual complaints due to cataract from those due to dementia. The interaction between visual impairment due to cataract and neurodegenerative disorders affecting the central visual pathways, is not fully understood. Visual impairment due to cataract may stress impaired attentional mechanisms and cataract extraction may improve cognitive performance in some patients with early cognitive impairment; however, the benefits of cataract surgery in established dementia are less clear. In this study, the literature on this subject was reviewed and the implications for practice were considered.

Republished review: cataract and cognitive impairment: a review of the literature

Acquired cataract and cognitive impairment are both common age-related problems, and ophthalmologists are increasingly likely to encounter patients who have both. Patients with dementia types who display early visuoperceptual impairment may present first to ophthalmology services. When these patients have coexisting cataract, it may be difficult to distinguish visual complaints due to cataract from those due to dementia. The interaction between visual impairment due to cataract and neurodegenerative disorders affecting the central visual pathways, is not fully understood. Visual impairment due to cataract may stress impaired attentional mechanisms and cataract extraction may improve cognitive performance in some patients with early cognitive impairment; however, the benefits of cataract surgery in established dementia are less clear. In this study, the literature on this subject was reviewed and the implications for practice were considered.

Quantitative analysis of extracapsular extension of metastatic lymph nodes and its significance in radiotherapy planning in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

We performed a histopathologic analysis to assess the extent of the extracapsular extension (ECE) beyond the capsule of metastatic lymph nodes (LN) in head and neck cancer to determine appropriate clinical target volume (CTV) expansions.

Incidence of small lymph node metastases with evidence of extracapsular extension: clinical implications in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Small lymph nodes (LN) show evidence of extracapsular extension (ECE) in a significant number of patients. This study was performed to determine the impact of ECE in LN 7 mm as compared with ECE in larger LN.

Stability of Contour Augmentation and Esthetic Outcomes of Implant Supported Single Crowns in the Esthetic Zone. 3-Year Results of a Prospective Study With Early Implant Placement Post Extraction

Early implant placement is one of the treatment options after tooth extraction. Implant surgery is performed after a healing period of 4 to 8 weeks and combined with a simultaneous contour augmentation using the guided bone regeneration technique to rebuild stable esthetic facial hard- and soft-tissue contours.

Multicentre validation study of nucleic acids extraction from FFPE tissues

In most pathology laboratories worldwide, formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples are the only tissue specimens available for routine diagnostics. Although commercial kits for diagnostic molecular pathology testing are becoming available, most of the current diagnostic tests are laboratory-based assays. Thus, there is a need for standardized procedures in molecular pathology, starting from the extraction of nucleic acids. To evaluate the current methods for extracting nucleic acids from FFPE tissues, 13 European laboratories, participating to the European FP6 program IMPACTS (www.impactsnetwork.eu), isolated nucleic acids from four diagnostic FFPE tissues using their routine methods, followed by quality assessment. The DNA-extraction protocols ranged from homemade protocols to commercial kits. Except for one homemade protocol, the majority gave comparable results in terms of the quality of the extracted DNA measured by the ability to amplify differently sized control gene fragments by PCR. For array-applications or tests that require an accurately determined DNA-input, we recommend using silica based adsorption columns for DNA recovery. For RNA extractions, the best results were obtained using chromatography column based commercial kits, which resulted in the highest quantity and best assayable RNA. Quality testing using RT-PCR gave successful amplification of 200 bp-250 bp PCR products from most tested tissues. Modifications of the proteinase-K digestion time led to better results, even when commercial kits were applied. The results of the study emphasize the need for quality control of the nucleic acid extracts with standardised methods to prevent false negative results and to allow data comparison among different diagnostic laboratories.

Modern cataract surgery for radiation-induced cataracts in retinoblastoma

Surgery of radiation-induced cataracts in children with retinoblastoma (RB) is a challenge as early intervention is weighted against the need to delay surgery until complete tumour control is obtained. This study analyses the safety and functional results of such surgery.

Granulomatous uveitis and congenital cataract: a rare association

The association of a granulomatous uveitis and congenital cataract and is rarely observed in newborn children. We describe the history of two patients presenting simultaneously with these two features in the absence of a TORCH infection.

Extraction of maxillary first molars improves second and third molar inclinations in Class II Division 1 malocclusion

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in inclination of the maxillary second (M2) and third (M3) molars after orthodontic treatment of Class II Division 1 malocclusion with extraction of maxillary first molars.

Extracapsular extension but not the tumour burden of lymph node metastases is an independent adverse risk factor in lymph node-positive bladder cancer

To evaluate risk factors in lymph node-positive bladder cancer.

Prospective Study of Foveal Thickness Alterations after Cataract Surgery Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography

Background/Aims: To evaluate the alterations of mean foveal thickness (MFT) and visual acuity (VA) outcomes after uncomplicated cataract surgery in different groups of patients. Methods: This study included eyes of consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery between November 2007 and June 2009. The patients included in the study were divided into 4 groups, as follows: history-free patients, patients with diabetes mellitus without macular involvement at baseline, patients with glaucoma, and patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM). Preoperatively and at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively, patients were evaluated for MFT by optical coherence tomography at the central 1-mm macular zone and for logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best spectacle-corrected VA (BSCVA). Results: A total of 202 eyes were included in the study. MFT values demonstrated a statistically significant increase (p < 0.01) after cataract surgery in all groups at the first and third postoperative month. The history-free (p = 0.09) and glaucoma (p = 0.19) groups did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in MFT values between the preoperative and 6-month measurements. MFT values 6 months after cataract surgery in the diabetes and ERM groups remained significantly higher (p < 0.01). Despite these findings, VA increased significantly (p < 0.01) in all groups at all postoperative follow-ups. Conclusions: MFT values increased significantly in all groups at the first and third months after cataract surgery. At 6 months, MFT values returned to preoperative levels in the history-free and glaucoma patients, while they remained significantly higher in the diabetic and ERM patients. Despite these macular alterations, BSCVA improved significantly after cataract surgery in all groups at all postoperative follow-ups.

Percutaneous treatment of biliary cast syndrome after orthotopic liver transplantation: comparison of mechanical versus hydraulic rheolytic cast extraction

Biliary cast syndrome (BCS) is the presence of casts within the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary system after orthotopic liver transplantation. Our work compares two percutaneous methods for BCS treatment: the mechanical cast-extraction technique (MCE) versus the hydraulic cast-extraction (HCE) technique using a rheolytic system.