Especificação e desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta colaborativa de suporte ao desenvolvimento de projectos de reorganização e de implementação de sistemas de informação

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores - Major Automação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Methods of assessment of patients for Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy that correlate with final visual improvement

BACKGROUND: This paper attempts to clarify the usefulness of various simple pre-operative measures in estimating the potential for a visually successful capsulotomy. METHODS: 24 patients attending for capsulotomy had pre-operative measures of glare with BAT tester, visibility of posterior pole and grading of posterior capsular pearls and fibrosis seen at slit lamp. Visual function was measured before and after standardised capsulotomy. Correlations of the various preoperative measures with eventual visual function improvements were calculated. RESULTS: Pearls at slit lamp and poor posterior pole visualisation were all correlated with improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity after capsulotomy. Amount of fibrosis visible at slit lamp and glare assessment were not correlated with vision improvements after laser. CONCLUSION: Of the various measures that are taken prior to Nd : YAG capsulotomy, some correlate with eventual visual improvement but for others no clinical utility was found. Practitioners should note these findings as they are especially of use in more questionable or high-risk cases to help determine whether referral for PCO treatment by Nd: YAG capsulotomy is likely to benefit the patient

Lens stem cells may reside outside the lens capsule: an hypothesis

In this paper, we consider the ocular lens in the context of contemporary developments in biological ideas. We attempt to reconcile lens biology with stem cell concepts and a dearth of lens tumors

Treatment of juxtapapillary hemangioblastoma by intra-arterial (ophthalmic artery) chemotherapy with bevacizumab

Purpose: To report on two cases of treatment-refractory juxtapapillary hemagioblastomas that were managed with intra-arterial bevacizumab delivered via the ophthalmic artery. Observations: Case 1 is a 35 year-old man with juxtapapillary hemangioblastoma who continued to have progressive tractional retinal detachment, optic nerve neovascaularization and cystoid macula edema (CME) despite heavy prior treatment with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and steroid intravitreal injections and laser. Case 2 is a 41 year-old woman with juxtapapillary hemangioblastoma who had progressive tractional retinal detachment, CME and visually-threatening intraocular pressure elevation despite treatment with anti-VEGF injection and laser. Both cases were treated with three infusions of intra-arterial bevacizumab delivered via the ophthalmic artery. Both tumors demonstrated measurable decrease in height, stability of their secondary retinal changes and minimal requirement for additional treatment at 30 mos and 26 mos follow-up, respectively for cases 1 and 2. Conclusions and importance: These cases suggest that higher-dose, targeted delivery of anti-VEGF to hemangioblastomas via ophthalmic artery injection may be useful in stabilizing the disease and abating the typical progression of secondary retinal pathology, at least in the first two years after treatment. Keywords: Retinal angioma, Retinal hemangioblastoma, Intra-arterial, Bevacizumab, Von-Hippel Landa