Is the Use of Refrigerated Fixed Combination of Dorzolamide 2%-Timolol 0.5% (COSOPT) Associated with Less Ocular Discomfort: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that the use of refrigerated fixed combination of dorzolamide 2% plus timolol 0.5% solution (COSOPT®) is associated with less ocular discomfort compared with the use of this solution kept at room temperature. METHODS: In this prospective comparative study, 30 primary open-angle patients and 30 healthy subjects filled in the questionnaire on symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index) and subjective stinging feeling scale (1-10), at the start of study and 30 days after continuous use of refrigerated fixed combination or placebo eye drops. Results were processed by applying the methods of descriptive (arithmetical mean, standard deviation) and analytical statistics for evaluation of significance of the difference (Student's t-test). RESULTS: Ocular discomfort parameters were significantly lower after the use of refrigerated fixed combination of dorzolamide 2% plus timolol 0.5% solution (t-test, P < 0.0001). Breakup time, Schirmer 1 test, and intraocular pressure values did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: The use of refrigerated fixed combination of dorzolamide 2% plus timolol 0.5% (COSOPT) solution is associated with less ocular discomfort than the use of the same fixed combination at room temperature.

Unusual eye injuries.

PURPOSE: The analysis of ten unusual eye injuries, and the discussion of appropriate preventive measures. CASE OUTLINE: Ten patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, in the period from January 2000. to December 2009. were presented. Following data were taken in account: sex and age of the patient, injured eye, the mechanism of injury, type of the injury, applied treatment and final visual acuity. The circumstances of the eye injuring of ten patients were described. The eye injuries in all cases occurred in a bizarre way and they were severe enough to require hospital admission. The surgery was necessary in seven patients. Three injured eyes resulted in blindness, and two additional had subnormal vision. CONCLUSION: In three quarters of discussed cases injuries can be avoided. It is necessary to implement protective measures constantly and consistently and to think about the possible consequences of certain activities. Particular attention should be paid on safety of children. The iatrogenic injuries require special consideration.

Gallbladder motility disorders estimated by non-invasive methods.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim is to compare the radionuclide (DC) and ultrasonographic (US) method in the assessment of gallbladder (GB) motility. METHODOLOGY: The study was performed in 15 controls (C), 10 patients with acute cholecystitis (AC), 20 patients with chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC), 26 patients with chronic cholecystitis with calculosis (CCC) as well as in 15 patients with GB dyskinesia (D). GB emptying period (EP), ejection fraction (EF) and ejection rate (ER) were estimated with dynamic cholescintigraphy (DC) and US. RESULTS: The DC and US finding in the patients with AC was typical in all the patients, i.e. GB was not visualized at all on DC, while on US, stone was visible in the cystic duct. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the EF and ER values obtained between C and the three groups of patients CAC, CCC and D, using both methods. However, there were no significant differences in EF, EP and ER values among CAC, CCC and D (p>0.05). There was also high correlation between the results obtained with both methods in all the groups of patients studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained by both methods are valuable for the assessment of GB motility. Although there are no significant differences and there is a high correlation between the values, radionuclide method is more precise, because it can register motility continuously.

Ocular injuries caused by airsoft guns - ten-year experience.

INTRODUCTION: The study describes ocular injuries caused by airsoft guns pellets, type of these injuries and their incidence in different age groups. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of medical charts of patients who were hospitalized due to airsoft guns ocular injuries in ten-year period (from 2000 to 2009). Patient's age, gender, duration of hospitalization, type of treatment and initial and final visual acuity were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall 92 patients with ocular injuries caused by airsoft gun pellets were hospitalized in ten-year period. In all patients only one eye was injured and there were 72 (78.3%) male patients. Injuries involved ocular adnexa, anterior and posterior segment of the eye. On initial examination 41 (44.6%) patients were presented with subconjunctival hemorrhages, 42 (45.6%) with corneal abrasion, 42 (45.6%) patients had corneal edema, 6 (6.5%) had traumatic mydriasis, 90 (97.8%) patients exhibited hyphema, 10 (10.9%) iridodialysis, in 27 (29.3%) patients high intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, one patient had subluxation of intraocular lens (IOL) and one patient had traumatic cataract. Posterior segment findings included vitreous hemorrhage in 3 (3.3%) patients, retinal hemorrhage in 15 (16.3%) patients, retinal edema in 35 (38.0%) patients and one patient had globe rupture. Average duration of hospitalization was 5.7 days (range from 1 to 18 days). Three patients (3.3%) required eye surgery, eight patients (8.7%) had anterior chamber washout while rest of the patients were conservatively managed. Visual acuity at hospital release was significantly improved comparing to initial visual acuity, ranging from counting fingers at 1 meter to 20/60 in 7 (8.6%) patients, from 20/50 to 20/30 in 13 (16.0%) patients and from 20/25 to 20/20 in 61 (75.3%) patients. In 11 patients testing the visual acuity was not possible because of their young age. CONCLUSION: Injuries attributed to airsoft guns were confined mostly to anterior segment. There was also high percentage of severe posterior segment trauma requiring hospital admission. The most important factors in preventing such injuries are restricting access to airsoft guns, especially to minors, as well as mandatory use of protective equipment such as protective eyeglasses.

Monoclonal immunoscintigraphy for detection of metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

AIM: To assess the clinical role of monoclonal immunoscintigraphy for the detection of metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Monoclonal immunoscintigraphy was performed in patients operated on for colorectal adenocarcinoma suspected of local recurrence and metastatic disease. The results were compared with conventional diagnostics. RESULTS: Immunoscintigraphic investigation was done in 53 patients. Tumor recurrence occurred in 38 patients, and was confirmed by other diagnostic modalities in 35. In 15 patients, immunoscintigraphic findings were negative, and confirmed in 14 with other diagnostic methods. Comparative analysis confirmed good correlation of immunoscintigraphic findings and the results of conventional diagnostics and the level of tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen. Statistical analysis of parameters of radiopharmaceutical groups imacis, indimacis and oncoscint presented homogenous characteristics all of three radiopharmaceuticals. The analysis of immunoscintigraphic target focus was clearly improved using tomography. CONCLUSION: Immunoscintigraphy is highly specific and has a good predictive value in local recurrence of colorectal cancer.