Combined with leukemia is a risk factor for aggravating diabetic retinopathy. A combination of diabetic retinopathy and leukemia can be expected to have a rapid progression and patients often visit the department of ophthalmology first. In addition to the typical manifestations of diabetic retinopathy such as retinal venous tortuous dilation, microaneurysm, retinal hemorrhage and exudation, patients may also be associated with leukemic retinopathy. Areas of extensive capillary non-perfusion and neovascularization may appear in the early stage of mild microangiopathy. Moreover, severe complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, neovascular membranes and traction retinal detachment appear earlier, which may be a prognostic indicator for poor vision. The causes of leukemia aggravating diabetic retinopathy include retinal ischemia due to hyperviscosity, anemia and thrombocytopenia, direct infiltration of tumor cells, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, high level of vascular endothelial growth factor. In clinic, rapidly progressing diabetic retinopathy should alert the ophthalmologist to the underlying hematological disorder. Patients with both diabetes and leukemia need to be screened much earlier and followed up at shorter intervals. Early detection and aggressive management may help preserve visual acuity in such cases.
Coats disease is a relatively rare and idiopathic disorder characterized by retinal telangiectasia and massive intra-retinal and (or) sub-retinal lipid accumulation, resulting in complications including retinal detachment and neovascular glaucoma. Previous reports have revealed that Coats disease can be associated with other disorders, especially some inherited diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Coats disease associated with other inherited disorders is generally called Coats-like retinopathy, which has some unique features that differs from the classic Coats disease, for example there is no sex and age preference, more bilateral cases, more severe cases and more genetic factors involved. Patients of Coats-like retinopathy with RP and FSHD may have mutations in Crumbs homologue gene 1 and D4Z4 genes.
Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a hot topic of research, and it can be used to treat the ROP (Ⅰzone). The current anti-VEGF drugs include bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept and conbercept, etc. However, in recent years, several studies have confirmed that anti-VEGF drugs have an increased recurrence rate and a longer recurrence time than conventional laser photocoagulation therapy. The follow-up period should be extended and repeated injections may be required. Due to the lack of large-scale prospective clinical studies, the recurrence rate, time window of recurrence, risk factors and treatment methods of various anti-VEGF drugs for ROP are still unclear. Anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of ROP needs to accumulate more evidence-based medical evidence.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in prolonging survival and the period free of symptoms for patients with unresectable bile duct cancer. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1977 to May 2007), CNKI (1979 to May 2007) and CBM Disk (1979 to May 2007). The qual ity of included studies was assessed according to the guidance in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Results One randomized controlled trial involving 42 patients with unresectable bile duct cancer fulfilled the inclusion criteria. This found that the median survival time was longer for patients treated with endoprostheses and ILBT compared to those treated with endoprostheses alone (387.9 days versus 298.0 days, Plt;0.05). The stent patency time in patients who were treated with endoprostheses and ILBT was longer than for those treated with endoprostheses alone (378.4 days versus 245.5 days, Plt;0.01). The reductions in bil irubin (mol/l) and alkal ine phosphatase (kat/l) before and after drainage in patients who were treated with endoprostheses and ILBT were similar to those treated with endoprostheses alone (Mean ±SD of bil irubin: before: 219.3 ± 40.5, after: 23.1 ± 37.1 versus before: 227.3 ± 39.8, after: 22.5 ± 44.2; Mean ± SD of alkal ine phosphatase: before: 10.3 ± 5.1. after: 3.6 ± 2.9 versus before: 11.7 ± 5.8, after: 3.7 ± 2.9). No severe adverse effects were observed in the trial. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that ILBT for unresectable bile duct cancer may improve the survival time of patients, prolong the time they spend symptom free, improve their quality of l ife and reduce the burden of treatment. However, it may increase toxicity in normal tissues, which can be managed by adjusting radiation dosage. No serious adverse effects were observed in the 42 patients in the trial in this review. More randomized controlled trials with large sample size are needed to provide rel iable results.
Objective To investigate the effects and complications of the vitrectomy for Eales′ disease with vitreous hemorrhage or traction retinal detachment. Methods Seventy-seven eyes of 69 cases undergoing vitrectomy for Eales′ disease with vitreous hemorrhage or traction retinal detachment were analyzed retrospectively. Results (1) The postoperative visual acuity was enhanced significantly. (2) Complications during the operation in 11 eyes (14.3%): iatrogenic retinal break in 7 eyes, bleeding in 3 eyes and lens damage in 1 eye. (3) Postoperative complications in 20 eyes (26.0%): rebleeding in 14 eyes, elevated IOP in 6 eyes, retinal detachment in 5 eyes, hyphema in 2 eyes, and exudative membrane in anterior chamber in 1 eye. (4) The main long-term complication was cataract formation (9 eyes) and macular disorder (6 eyes). Conclusion Vitrectomy is an effective method to treat Eales′ disease with vitreous hemorrhage or traction retinal detachment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 215-217)
The new mechanisms of automaticity controlled by the calcium and membrane clocks in sinoatrial node are helpful to revealing the sinus arrhythmia, but the present calcium dynamic model is only on the single cell level. In the present study, a central and peripheral single cell model was developed, and by exponentially changing the cell membrane capacitance, size, conductance and gap junction from the center to the periphery, a two-dimensional inhomogeneous sinus and atrial model was created on the basis of the anatomical structure. Five-point difference and finite element methods were used to process the internal grids and the borders. Irregular borders were defined by creating segment trial functions. Quantitative experiments suggested the consistency of the central and peripheral action potentials with related reports in amplitude, cycle length, maximum diastolic potential and upstroke velocity. Functions of the calcium and membrane clocks on the leading pacemaker site and upstroke velocity as well as the effects of the atrial premature beat on the sinus automaticity were also in good agreement with those in other studies. The developed model is helpful for deeply studying relative roles of the calcium and membrane clocks in automaticity and the relations with electrical activities in atrium. At the same time it will lay the foundation for building three-dimensional sinus and atrial organic models.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognosis of photocoagulation and (or) cryotherapy for prethreshold type 1 and threshold disease of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).MethodsThe data of 29 eyes of 15 infants who were diagnosed as with prethreshold type 1 or threshold disease of ROP from Jan 30th, 2003 to Jan 13th, 2005 were retrospectively analysed. Pre- and post-operative conditions of ROP were compared in the follow up. Any related local and systemic complications were recorded.ResultsIn 29 eyes which had undergone photocoagulation and (or) cryotherapy, ROP regressed completely in 19 (65.5%), remained dragged retina was found in 7 (24.1%), and retinal detachment was seen in 3 (103%). ROP regressed completely in 12 eyes (41.4%) after the initial treatment and in 7 eyes (24.1%) after the secondary treatment. During the treatment, temporary corneal haze was found in 2 eyes, vitreous hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye, and inadvertent photocoagulation at macular area happened in 1 eye. No systemic complications were found in all cases.ConclusionTimely treatment of photocoagulation and (or) cryotherapy for prethreshold type 1 and threshold disease of ROP may lead to famous prognosis.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2005,21:278-281)
Objective To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of optic nerve atrophy in eyes with complicated retinal detachment after silicone oil tamponade during the procedure of vitreoretinal operation. Methods The clinical data of 97 patients with complicated retinal detachment who had optic nerve atrophy after silicone oil tamponade during the procedure of vitreoretinal operation were an alyzed retrospectively. Logistic regression analysis by SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the factors like age, disease history, primary diseases, preoperative ocular condition, complications in and after the operation, the time taking out the silicone oil, and emulsification of the silicone oil, and Ple;0.05 was considered to be the symbol of significant difference. Results All of the affected eyes had optic discs with clear border, including paler optic disc in 65 eyes, pale one in 21 eyes, and paler optic disc with enlargement of the cup/disc (ge; 0.6) in 11 eyes. The result of logistic regression analysis showed that the intraocular pressure (P=0.022) and the visual acuity (P=0.001) during the silicone oil removal were in the equation. Conclusion The risk factor of optic nerve atrophy is the chronic increase of intraocular pressure after silicone oil tamponade. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 305-307)