Systemic effects of repeated intraocular dexamethasone Intravitreal implant in diabetic patients: a retrospective study

Introduction: The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of repeated intraocular dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) injections on metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Retrospective study of 165 type 2 diabetic patients starting Ozurdex treatment who received no less than three consecutive injections. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TGs) were evaluated during 15 months of follow-up after Ozurdex treatment onset. Results: Fifty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Mean baseline values for HbA1c, creatinine, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and TGs before treatment (7.1%, 1.3, 176.7, 51.1, and 125.6 mg/ dl, respectively) were similar to mean values after Ozurdex onset (Wilcoxon test p values were 0.68, 0.41, 0.06, 0.87, and 0.33, respectively) and remained stable during the follow-up period. Mean LDL cholesterol levels increased slightly after Ozurdex treatment onset (90.1 vs 88.2 mg/ dl, p = 0.04) but after 15 months of follow-up they had returned to baseline values. Transient increase in LDL cholesterol was remarkable in the group of 24 bilaterally treated patients (96.8 vs 88.4 mg/dl, p = 0.03). A third of these patients increased their baseline LDL values by more than 20%. Even with continuous injections of Ozurdex, LDL cholesterol levels also declined back to baseline by month 15. Conclusion: Ozurdex injections had no influence on HbA1c or renal function. Lipid profile changes were mild and transient. However, a significant temporary increase has been found in LDL cholesterol levels in patients receiving simultaneous bilateral injections. Lipid levels should be monitored in patients starting with bilateral Ozurdex injections especially in those with recent history of acute myocardial infarction

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown in Spain on structural and functional outcomes of Neovascular AMD patients

This is a retrospective single-center study of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration whose follow-up was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic with at least three months between visits in Madrid, Spain. The purpose of the study was to evaluate best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes and try to identify features in optical coherence tomography (OCT) that could be related to more profound visual loss. It included 270 eyes. The two last visits before lockdown were used for comparison with the visit after lockdown. BCVA changed from 60.2 ± 18.2 to 55.9 ± 20.5 ETDRS letters. 29% of the eyes lost more than 5 letters. OCT was active in 67% of eyes before lockdown and in 80.4% after lockdown. Multiple lineal analysis showed that patients whose OCT before lockdown presented with a combination of intra and subretinal fluid were more likely to suffer a greater visual loss (p = 0.002). These patients should be encouraged to not miss any visits in case a new lockdown is imposed

Herramientas de comunicación en el aprendizaje de la Bioquímica

Sección Deptal. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (Biológicas)Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología MolecularFac. de Ciencias BiológicasFac. de Ciencias QuímicasFALSEsubmitte

Diseño y utilización de unas prácticas de Regulación del Metabolismo como herramienta integradora de conocimientos multidisciplinares en el Grado en Biología (II)

Se pretende la creación de espacios multidisdiplinares en el Grado en Biología,con prácticas integradas de asignaturas que se cursan simultáneamente, que pudieran servir de base a propuestas de Trabajos de Fin de Grado

La ceguera de Rosalba Carriera. Una artista en la oscuridad

Sección Deptal. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (Biológicas)Fac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

La ceguera de Rosalba Carriera. Una artista en la oscuridad

Zlostavljanje moţe biti fiziĉko, emocionalno i seksualno. Svaka vrsta zlostavljanja na djetetu ostavlja dugoroĉne posljedice štetne za njegov daljni razvoj. Razliĉite su karakteristike koje pokazuju djeca koja trpe zlostavljanje. Neke od karakteristika tipiĉne su za odreĊenu vrstu nasilja, ali većina znakova zlostavljanja pojavljuje se u svim vrstama nasilja. Prepoznavanje znakova zlostavljanja kod odgojitelja - ispitanika pokazali su da samo 30% odgojitelja prepoznaje znakove nasilja nad djecom u njihovim vrtićima. Većinom prepoznaju aktivne oblike poremećaja u ponašanju kao posljedice zlostavljanja, dok su pasivni oblici poremećaja u ponašanju kao pokazatelji kod ispitanika zanemarivi. Iskusniji i stariji odgojitelji više i lakše prepoznavaju znakove nasilja nad djecom, a seksualno nasilje je još uvijek najmanje prepoznato. Poznavanje karakteristika zlostavljane djece i njihovih zlostavljaĉa te svjesnost o štetnosti posljedica zlostavljanja mogu pomoći u prevenciji nasilja nad djecom.Abuse (or molestation) can be physical, emotional or sexual. All types of abuse leave long-term consequence on the child that is harmful for its further development. Children who are being molested show different characteristics. Some of those are typical for specific kind of violence, but most of them occur in all kinds of violence. Kindergarten teacher’s recognition of signs of abuse - the respondents showed that only 30% of kindergarten teachers recognize signs of violence against children in their kindergartens. Mostly, they recognize active forms of behaviour disorders as a result of abuse, whilst passive forms of behaviour disorders are negligible as indicators to respondents. Experienced and senior kindergarten teachers are more often and easier recognizing signs of child molestation, and sexual violence is still least recognized. Knowledge about characteristics of abused children and their molesters, as well as the awareness of the damaging effects the abuse, can help in prevention of violence against children

Oct parameters as predictive factors for the visual outcome after ranibizumab therapy in neovascular age related macular degeneration

Objective: To evaluate macular morphological parameters measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) as predictive factors of visual outcome in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with ranibizumab. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 47 patients diagnosed with exudative AMD and treated with intravitreal ranibizumab for 12 months. Central retinal thickness (CRT), extension and thickness of modifications secondary to neovascular process, and status of the bands corresponding to the external limiting membrane (ELM) and to the ellipsoid region of the photoreceptors (ISe) were evaluated by means of SD-OCT. The relationship between these variables and visual acuity was analyzed by statistical methods. Results: At the time of the diagnosis, preservation of ELM and ISe bands, and CRT were correlated with initial visual acuity. Twelve months later, CRT and visual acuity were independent parameters. Bivariate relationship analysis showed a correlation between final visual acuity and the following parameters: initial CRT, initial ISe and ELM status, and ISe and ELM integrity after loading dose. Multiple regression analysis indicated that initial visual acuity and ISe band status after loading dose have a predictive value for final visual acuity. Conclusions: The status of ISe and ELM bands after 12 months of treatment with ranibizumab was associated with visual outcome. Initial visual acuity and status of the ISe band after loading dose are prognostic factors of final visual acuity

ARMS2 A69S polymorphism is associated with the number of ranibizumab injections needed for exudative age-related macular degeneration in a pro re nata regimen during 4 years of follow-up

Purpose to investigate whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be strongly associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have an influence on recurrence rate of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) activity during 4-year ranibizumab treatment for exudative AMD. Methods: This prospective study included 103 treatment-naïve patients (103 eyes) that received initially a loading dose of 3 monthly ranibizumab injections and thereafter, were treated according to an as-needed regimen for a 4-year follow-up period. Baseline values, visual outcome, and recurrence rate were examined. CFH Y402H and ARMS2 A69S polymorphisms were determined and their association with lesion recurrence and visual outcome was analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc comparison tested by Fisher’s LSD method. Multivariate linear regression analysis was then used to identify factors associated with recurrence rate. Results: The cumulative total mean number of ranibizumab injections at the end of each year of the follow-up was 5.3 ± 1.8, 9.2 ± 2.9, 12.6 ± 4.6, and 15.7 ± 6.1. There was great inter-patient variability. Nineteen eyes (18.5%) did not experience recurrence during the first year, and five (4.8%) still displayed inactive CNV after 4 years of follow-up. No significant association was found between the number of injections and mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change or final BCVA at the end of the study period. Genotypes had no influence on baseline characteristics or visual outcome but a significant association was found between the A69S polymorphism and the number of injections needed by the patients. Homozygous for the T risk allele required more retreatments over the 48-month follow-up. Conclusions: The ARMS2 A69S polymorphism was associated with CNV recurrence rate in our patient cohort. Prediction of a greater risk of recurrence could help to design more appropriate follow-up treatment strategies for patients with neovascular AMD

Systemic Effects of Repeated Intraocular Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant in Diabetic Patients: A Retrospective Study

<p><strong>Article full text</strong></p> <p><br> The full text of this article can be found <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13300-017-0307-y"><b>here</b>.</a><br> <br> <strong>Provide enhanced content for this article</strong><br> If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <u>[email protected]</u>.<br> <br> The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.<br> <br> Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:<br> • Slide decks<br> • Videos and animations<br> • Audio abstracts<br> • Audio slides</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p

Diseño y utilización de unas prácticas de Regulación del Metabolismo como herramienta integradora de conocimientos multidisciplinares en el Grado en Biología

Con el diseño de estas prácticas de laboratorio se pretende la creación de espacios multidisdiplinares en el Grado en Biología que puedieran dar paso a un futuro modelo de prácticas integradas de asignaturas que se cursan simultáneamente