[Comparision of two new optical biometry devices with an ultrasonic immersion biometer]. / Compararea a doua noi biometre optice cu un biometru ultrasonic.

PURPOSE: To compare two new optical biometry devices with an ultrasonic immersion biometer. SETTING: Oftaprof Clinic, Iasi, Romania. METHODS: In this prospective comparative observational study were included 420 eyes that underwent cataract extraction. Axial length measurements were performed using a Allegro BioGraph biometer, which uses optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR), an IOLMaster 500 biometer, which uses partial coherence interferometry (PCI) and an OcuScan ultrasonic biometer. The measurement duration and the number of eyes in which the measurements with each device could be performed were compared. Intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation was performed and the IOL prediction error was calculated for each eye four weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean difference in axial length measurements was 0.02 mm +/- 0.04 (SD) between the new PCI and the OLCR device, 0.14 +/- 0.13 (SD) mm between the ultrasonic biometer and the new PCI device and 0.18 +/- 0.09 (SD) mm between the ultrasonic biometer and the OLCR device (P=.52, P=.001 and P<.001, respectively). Measurements with the OLCR device took significantly longer than with the ultrasonic device (mean difference 88 +/- 27 seconds), and measurements with the ultrasonic device took significantly longer than with the new PCI device (mean difference 188 +/- 46 seconds) (P<.001). The mean absolute error in IOL power prediction was 0.49 D +/- 0.29 (SD) with the OLCR device and 0.52 +/- 0.33 (SD) D with the PCI unit and 0.77 +/- 0.65 (SD) with the ultrasonic biometer. The measurements could be performed in 420 eyes (100%) with the ultrasonic biometer, in 152 eyes (36.2%) with the OLCR device and in 151 eyes (35,9%) with the new PCI device. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of the axial length were comparable between OLCR device and the new PCI device. There was a good correlation between the measurements with optical devices and the ultrasonic biometer. Measurements with the OLCR device took the longest to perform. Implant power calculation were comparable between the two optical devices. The ultrasonic biometry remains a very useful tool in cases with severe lens opacification which are extremely frequent in our service.

Preliminary Study on the Tears Oxidative Stress Status and Sleep Disturbances in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients.

According to the latest gastrointestinal disorders diagnostic criteria (ROME IV), the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is mainly characterized by the presence of abdominal pain and changes in intestinal transit. However, both sleep impairments and oxidative status changes (in patients' sera, mucosal level, and other body fluids) were reported IBS. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate several aspects regarding the oxidative stress status in patients' tears as well as sleep disturbances by comparison with the intensity of IBS symptoms, as assessed by the visual analogue scale for irritable bowel syndrome (VAS-IBS). Ten IBS patients and fourteen healthy sex- and age-matched volunteers were recruited from the Oftaprof Ophthalmological Clinic (Iași, Romania). Visual analogue scale for irritable bowel syndrome and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires were administered to all the patients. Tear samples were collected using the Schirmer test procedure and were subjected to biochemical analysis-superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, malondialdehyde, and total soluble proteins levels were determined. Standard statistical analysis was applied. We found significant differences in oxidative stress marker dynamics in IBS patients as compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls: increased superoxide dismutase activity (p = 0.02), increased malondialdehyde (p = 0.007), and total soluble proteins levels (p = 0.019). We found no significant differences in tear glutathione peroxidase activity in IBS patients as compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls (p = 0.55). Furthermore, we observed that the oxidative stress tear markers are correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms severity (as evaluated by VAS-IBS) but not correlated to the sleep quality index and items (as evaluated by PSQI), with significant differences according to patient sex and IBS subtype stratification. In this way, this study brings additional evidence of the oxidative stress role in IBS pathology alongside the evaluation of tear fluid molecular dynamics in IBS for the first time in our best knowledge.

Translating data and measurements from stratus to cirrus OCT in glaucoma patients and healthy subjects.

Aim: our study tried to find a mathematical conversion method of the measurements obtained in Time Domain (TD) OCT to Spectral Domain (SD) OCT. Material and method: A prospective randomized, double blind study that included 244 eyes, from 121 patients (normal subjects, glaucoma suspects, glaucoma), in whom we analyzed the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the optic disc in the same session by using TD OCT (Stratus) and SD OCT (Cirrus), was performed. The means for RNFL thickness (overall value and per quadrants), neural area and cup/ disc (C/ D) ratio, were measured. Results: We found statistically significant differences between parameters measured in TD OCT and SD OCT (p<0.001). Powerful correlations were calculated between parameters measured with the two OCT machines. Data dispersion showed a linear relation between measurements. One can use the following mathematical equations for conversion: Mean RNFL (Cirrus) = 15.77 + 0.748 x Mean RNFL (Stratus) Mean neural area (Cirrus) = 0.508 + 0.388 x Mean neural area (Stratus) Mean C/ D ratio (Cirrus) = 0.157 + 0.792 x Mean C/ D (Stratus) Conclusions: data based on our calculated mathematical conversion equations can be converted into SD OCT. Therefore, we offered a useful tool for the long term monitoring of our patients although the initial measurements in TD OCT made comparisons for patients later measured with SD OCT impossible. Abbreviations: RNFL = retinal nerve fiber layer, TD OCT = time domain optical coherence tomography, SD OCT = spectral domain optical coherence tomography, VF = visual field, CI = confidence interval, ISNT segments = inferior, superior, nasal, temporal segment.