Efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C for childhood glaucoma: a study of results with long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in the management of childhood glaucoma. INTRODUCTION: The use of antifibrotic agents enhances the success of trabeculectomy performed in both adults and children. METHODS: A retrospective chart review (1991-2001) of 114 patients (114 eyes) from 0-14 years of age with congenital or developmental glaucoma. These patients underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin but had not been previously treated with any antifibrotic agent. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 57.36 51.14 months (range: 0.5-168 months). Treatment was considered successful in 63 eyes (55.26%), with a mean intraocular pressure of 12.11 3.98 mmHg. For patients categorized as successfully treated, the mean follow-up time was 61.16 26.13 months (range 12-113 months). A post-surgical intraocular pressure of < 16 was observed in 47 eyes. The life-table success rates for intraocular pressure control at 24, 36, 48, and 60 months were 90.2%, 78.7%, 60.7% and 50.8%, respectively. The cumulative probability of failure was 40.8% at 12 months. Following surgery, endophthalmitis appeared in eight eyes (4.88%) after an average 36.96 months (range: 1.7-106 months). Other complications included expulsive hemorrhage, flat anterior chamber and bleb leak. DISCUSSION: It has been reported in pediatric patients that trabeculectomy without adjunctive antimetabolites achieves a successful outcome in 30% to 50% of cases. In our study, treatment was considered successful in 63 eyes (55.26%) within 61.16 26.13 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy with mitomycin is safe and effective for short-term or long-term treatment of congenital or developmental glaucoma. The frequency of bleb-related endophthalmitis was no higher in these patients than that described in adults

Comparative study of ultrasound images obtained with 10MHz and 20 MHz probes in the evaluation of the abnormalities of the posterior segment of the globe

A ecografia se constitui em método importante na avaliação de anormalidades do segmento posterior do globo ocular. OBJETIVO: Comparar as vantagens e desvantagens da sonda de 10 e 20 MHz da ultra-sonografia B-scan, na avaliação de imagens do segmento posterior do globo ocular. MÉTODOS: Pacientes acompanhados no ambulatório do Hospital das Clínicas da USP (HCFMUSP) entre fevereiro de 2006 e abril de 2007 foram submetidos a exame ultra-sonográfico usando o aparelho CINE-Scan® (Quantel Medical Inc.) com sondas de 10 e 20 MHz. Os pacientes foram examinados por três oftalmologistas experientes, em decúbito dorsal, após instilação de colírio de tetracaína a 1%, inicialmente com a sonda sobre as pálpebras e em seguida diretamente em contato com a esclera ou córnea. As imagens obtidas com sondas de 10 e 20 MHz foram comparadas entre si, durante e após a realização do exame. RESULTADOS: A sonda de 20 MHz mostrou-se superior na avaliação da detecção, forma e limites de estruturas do pólo posterior e a de 10 MHz avaliou com mais detalhes o humor vítreo. Não foram encontradas diferenças nas imagens obtidas com exame transpalpebral ou transescleral com a sonda de 10 MHz. Com a sonda de 20 MHz, as imagens obtidas em contato direto com o globo ocular apresentaram melhor qualidade. CONCLUSÕES: As sondas de 10 e 20 MHz têm diferentes intervalo de alcance ideal, assim como diferentes meios específicos de aquisição de melhores imagens.The ultrasound is an important method in the evaluation of abnormalities of the posterior segment of the eye. PURPOSE: To compare the advantages and disadvantages of 10 and 20 MHz probe on B- scanning ultra-sonography in evaluation of vitreous and posterior pole diseases, providing recommendations for their use. METHODS: Patients from Hospital das Clinicas of the University of São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), attended between February 2006 and April 2007, were submitted to ultrasound exams using CINE-Scan® (Quantel Medical Inc) B-scan with 10 and 20MHz probe. The patients were examined by three experienced ophthalmologists, in horizontal dorsal position, after instillation of tetracaine 1% drops, first with the probe in direct contact with eyelids, and then with the probe placed directly in contact with the sclera or cornea. Theimages obtained were compared immediately during and after the examination. RESULTS: The 20 MHz probe reveled a superior resolution to study details, like shape and limits, on the posterior pole, and the 10 MHz probe provided better evaluation on vitreous humor. There were no differences if the exam was performed on eyelids or directly on sclera with the 10 MHz probe, but with the 20 MHz probe, the images had better resolution when the probe was used in direct contact with the eye. CONCLUSIONS: The 10 and 20 probes have different ideal range of reach, as different better specific means of image achieving

Relato da pesquisa científica de oftalmologia: o emprego de terminologias greco-latinas Scientific report in ophthalmology: the use of Greek and Latin words

A pesquisa de conhecimentos no campo da oftalmologia constitui processo dinâmico que requer divulgação, em especial por meio de relatos escritos. A redação científica vale-se da terminologia greco-latina. Discutem-se aspectos referentes à clareza, objetividade e precisão da escrita e oferece-se glossário sucinto desses termos aplicados a textos científicos.<br>Scientific research in ophthalmology is a dynamic process usually delivered by means of written reports. Greek and Latin words are commonly used in scientific writing. This paper points out some issues related to the clarity, objectivity and precision of writing and offers a short glossary of terms from Greek and Latin languages which are commonly used in scientific writing

Identification of mTOR and AGO1 IRES trans-acting factors

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally; therefore, its study is crucial to discover new therapies. Under stress, the regular process of protein synthesis (canonical translation) is impaired, while a back-up mechanism mediated by internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) continues to function, allowing the synthesis of proteins that maintain cellular viability. This also happens in cancer cells, contributing for their survival and consequent tumorigenesis. IRES-mediated translation and its regulation by IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) has been correlated to metastasis and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Therefore, our main goal was to validate ITAFs and assess their significance in cancer onset, thus becoming candidates as novel therapeutic targets. A bicistronic reporter system, which contains a first cistron translated via canonical translation and a second one translated by IRES of mTOR1 and AGO12 was used to test IRES-driven translation initiation activity. Experiments were carried out in which several proteins (hnRNPs) were silenced by specific siRNAs to analyse their function as ITAFs of mTOR and AGO1 IRESs. Also, distinct drugs were applied to simulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or hypoxia stress, to evaluate their effect on IRES activity. The relative IRES activity was assessed by luminescence tests and the protein levels by Western blot. In general, knockdown of hnRNPK and hnRNPU seems to decrease the IRES activity by ~60% and ~30% respectively, while hnRNPC knockdown does not show a significant effect. Regarding the ER stress, hnRNPK knockdown seems to decrease even more the IRES activity, while hnRNPU depletion induces a significant increase. On the other hand, in hypoxia, the hnRNPs knockdowns do not significantly affect IRES activity. These results indicate that hnRNPK and hnRNPU may function as ITAFs of mTOR and AGO1 IRES activity in cells under ER stress. Our data can be decisive for a better understanding of carcinogenesis and suggest new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. 1. Marques-Ramos, A., et.al. 2017. RNA. 23, 1712-1728 2. Lacerda, R. 2016. Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de LisboaWork partially supported by UID/MULTI/04046/2019 Research Unit grant from FCT, Portugal (to BioISI)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio