Fathers' hospital visits to their preterm infants as a predictor of father-infant relationship and infant development.

This short-term longitudinal study assessed the degree to which the frequency of fathers' visits with their preterm infants in the hospital was associated with the quality of ongoing and long-term fathering and infant development. Data on fathering and infant development were collected during the hospital stay, at discharge, at 8 months of age, and at 18 months of age, using both questionnaires and observational schedules. The frequency of visits was significantly correlated with more extensive and positive patterns of fathering at discharge and later periods. It was also associated with more positive perceptions of the infant, as well as with weight gain during hospitalization and psychosocial aspects of later infant development during the first 18 months. The discussion emphasized possible ways in which early paternal contact in the hospital might influence fathers, mothers, and infants. The frequency of paternal visits was high-lighted as a variable useful in predicting high-risk parenting.

Prevention of clot formation in cat retinal vein by systemic and subconjunctival urokinase.

The thrombolytic effect of urokinase was tested on cat retinal vein thrombus induced by argon laser photocoagulation. At various time intervals after thrombosis, intravenous infusion or subconjunctival injections were given. Subconjunctival normal saline injections were used for controls. In vitro subconjunctival urokinase prevented thrombus organization if given within six hours of thrombosis. Subconjunctival injections of urokinase vs normal saline were also studied in vivo in a masked fashion. At intervals of three to 24 hours following thrombosis, 11 cats were treated with subconjunctival urokinase in one eye and normal saline in the 11 fellow eyes. Within ten days after thrombosis, the vein was patent in eight (72%) of the 11 eyes treated with urokinase and in one (9%) of the 11 control eyes.

The effect of topical administration of indomethacin on symptoms in corneal scars and edema.

We conducted a masked randomized study of 50 patients to evaluate the effect of administration of topical indomethacin 1% suspension on symptoms in corneal scars, edema, infiltrates, and erosions. Patients with symptoms (photophobia, pain, itching, burning sensation, foreign-body sensation, and tearing) were treated with topically administered indomethacin 1% or placebo and monitored for eight weeks. The severity of the complaints was rated and the scores were evaluated (Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Of the 25 patients treated with indomethacin, 21 (84%) had improvement in symptoms and the severity of each of the symptoms was significantly decreased. Of the 25 patients treated with placebo, one (4%) had improvement in symptoms without statistical change of the severity of the symptoms. However, when the placebo-treated patients received indomethacin drops, the symptoms were significantly decreased (P less than .002). This study suggests that topical administration of indomethacin 1% may reduce ocular symptoms in patients with corneal scars, edema, or erosions.

Removal of corneal foreign bodies following laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of uncomplicated removal of corneal foreign bodies in patients who previously underwent laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: Nine eyes of eight patients presented with corneal foreign bodies after LASIK. RESULTS: In three patients, diagnosis of corneal foreign bodies was delayed due to reduced pain and symptoms. Removal of foreign bodies was performed with no flap-related complications. Corneal wound healing was normal. Final visual acuity was not decreased. CONCLUSION: Corneal foreign bodies can be removed safely and effectively from corneas after LASIK.

Perfusion of occluded retinal veins in the cat's eye.

The organisation and adherence of a clot induced experimentally in the retinal vein of a cat was studied in vitro. For this purpose a retinal vein was treated in vivo with argon laser photocoagulation in 31 eyes, and each eye was removed at periods of time varying between 3 hours and 7 days after treatment. The freshly enucleated eye was then placed in a perfusion chamber with the cornea under a contact lens, and the retinal vessels were perfused under direct microscopic visualisation. It appears that the hydrostatic pressure and flow needed to perfuse the obstructed vein has to be increased with elapsing time, and that 7 days after laser treatment the retinal vessel becomes permanently occluded.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the conjunctiva.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the conjunctiva is an extremely rare tumour, and only three previous cases have been reported. We describe two patients with MFH of the conjunctiva: a 58-year-old white male with epibulbar tumour who had exenteration and is alive after five years' follow-up, and a 3 1/2-year-old African girl with xeroderma pigmentosum and an MFH of her right eye conjunctiva, the first reported case of this association. The characteristics and the methods of diagnosis of MFH are discussed.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the skin and the conjunctiva in xeroderma pigmentosum.

Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) experience cutaneous and ocular abnormalities, including neoplasia of epithelial and melanocytic cellular origin. Black patients with XP display more severe ocular abnormalities and neoplasia. We report the clinicopathologic findings in two black young children with XP who presented with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (one of the conjunctiva and the other one of the skin of the face). These appearances of malignant fibrous histiocytoma at an unusually early age and in rare locations are, to our knowledge, the first to be reported in XP and go along with the special characteristics of XP: frequent occurrence of tumors on exposed parts of the body at a very early age.

Conjunctival oculosporidiosis in east Africa caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis is an infectious disease rarely recorded outside the Indian subcontinent. The disease is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, an endosporulating microorganism of uncertain taxonomic classification. We report a series of cases manifesting this infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data of 14 cases of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis on record at our Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory were reviewed. RESULTS: All cases were from East Africa; 10 were from Malawi and 4 from Kenya. Ten specimens were from males and three from females. Their age ranged from 7 to 20 years. All patients were treated by surgical excision, and no recurrence was recorded. None of the cases was diagnosed clinically as rhinosporidiosis. Histologically, all stages of the organism's life cycle could be found in the excised tissue, from small trophocytes to large sporangia-containing sporoblasts. There were changes in histochemical stainings with growth and maturation. In general, the inflammation was of chronic nongranulomatous type. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis is a rare infectious disease that typically appears in young males in rural regions, and that can be treated by surgical excision. It typically causes chronic nongranulomatous inflammation. Various stages of the R seeberi life cycle can be seen in the affected tissue.

The effect of topical indomethacin on subjective symptoms in chronic corneal edema.

The authors conducted a masked randomized study of 15 patients to evaluate the effect of administration of topical indomethacin 1% suspension on complaints in chronic corneal edema. Patients who complained of photophobia, pain, itching, burning sensation, foreign body sensation and tearing, were treated with topical indomethacin 1% or placebo and followed for eight weeks. The severity of the complaints was rated and the scores were evaluated (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test). Of the eight patients treated with indomethacin, seven (87%), had symptomatic improvement and the severity of the total score of their complaints was significantly decreased. Of the seven patients treated with placebo, no symptomatic improvement was observed and severity of the complaints remained unchanged. However, when the placebo-treated patients subsequently received indomethacin drops, the complaints were significantly decreased. This study suggests that topical administration of indomethacin 1% may reduce ocular complaints in patients with chronic corneal edema.

Laser therapy in the management of choroidal breast tumor metastases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential of laser photocoagulation as a method of treating small metastatic lesions of breast carcinoma in the choroid. METHODS: The 10 eyes of 7 patients were treated by Krypton red or argon green laser applications for small choroidal breast carcinoma metastasis with serous detachment of the retina. Before treatment 5 eyes had visual acuity of finger counting and 5 eyes had visual acuity of 6/15 or better. The treatment was repeated once in all eyes, except 1 eye in which it was repeated 3 times. RESULTS: In all eyes, one to two weeks after the treatment the tumor shrunk, the subretinal serous detachment absorbed, the retina flattened, and the visual acuity improved to 6/6-6/21. No reduction in vision was seen after the second treatment until the end of the follow-up period. In 1 eye, new tumors located elsewhere were again twice successfully treated. Patients reported a significant improvement of their quality of vision, as judged subjectively. CONCLUSIONS: Laser treatment is a feasible, easy, rapid, and effective therapy for small choroidal breast carcinoma.

Central corneal thickness and its relationship to the patient's origin.

OBJECTIVES: To report central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements on patients requesting refractive surgery and to search for possible associations between CCT and patient's origin, age, sex, and preoperative data. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center, and Enaim Refractive Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel. METHODS: Subjects were patients undergoing preoperative examination at our refractive centre during 2003. Patient's age, sex, preoperative CCT, refractive status, keratometry, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were obtained together with country of origin of the patients and their parents. Main outcome measures were CCT measurements and relationship between CCT and patient's origin and preoperative data. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were included in the study. Patients of North African origin had statistically significantly thinner corneas than patients of other origins (518.9+/-31.5 vs. 545.4+/-30.4 microm in the right eye and 518.4+/-32.1 vs. 546.3+/-29.7 microm in the left eye; P<0.00001). Patients of North African origin were significantly older than patients of other origins (P=0.028). No differences were found when comparing for sex, intraocular pressure, refractive status, and keratometry. When multivariate analysis was performed patient's origin was the only independently associated factor associated with CCT. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first work in reporting lower CCT in people of North African origin examined in a refractive surgery centre. Studies from similar populations are needed to confirm our results.

Effects of systemic administration of Chlorambucil and topical application of Cyclosporin A on corneal graft survival in rabbits.

The effects of topically administered Cyclosporin A (Sandoz, Switzerland) and of systemically administered Chlorambucil (Burroughs Wellcome, UK) (2 mg/kg per day) were studied for 6 weeks in 32 rabbits that underwent penetrating corneal graft in one eye, followed 2 weeks later by a skin graft from the donor animal. Nine rabbits were topically treated with 1% Cyclosporin A solution five times daily for 6 weeks. Of these, three eyes showed no rejection; four eyes Grade 1-2 rejection; one eye Grade 3 rejection; and one eye Grade 4 rejection. Of the seven eyes systemically treated with Chlorambucil, three eyes showed no rejection; three eyes Grade 1-2 rejection; and one eye Grade 3 rejection. No animal showed total rejection (Grade 4). The results indicate that both compounds have a beneficial effect on corneal grafts challenged by a second-set rejection.

Use of infant and child corneas for grafting.

Six corneal transplants, for which donor material was taken from infants or children, were grafted in adults with different types of corneal pathology. Acceptable mean keratometric readings of 45.8 diopters were obtained 6 months after surgery, very similar to those of grafted corneas taken from adults. After 3 years of follow-up, we found complications similar to those of corneas taken from adult donors. No technical problems were encountered while using infants' or children's donor material. We suggest that this type of donor be considered for corneal transplantation in countries where sufficient adult corneas are not available.

Prevalence of glucose intolerance in young male Ethiopian immigrants.

The prevalence of intolerance to glucose was compared between young immigrant Ethiopian Jews shortly after their arrival to Israel, a similar group of Ethiopians 2-3 years after their arrival to Israel, and young Israeli students. A relatively high prevalence of glucose intolerance was found in both Ethiopian groups, but we could not demonstrate any deterioration in glucose tolerance after 2-3 years of Israeli life-style in the Ethiopian groups. In spite of high blood glucose levels in response to 75 g glucose load, when compared to Israeli students the Ethiopians' fasting insulin levels and insulin response to 75 g of glucose was relatively low, suggesting a higher glucose threshold for insulin secretion. However, in the Ethiopians, impaired glucose tolerance was associated with hyperinsulinemia, suggesting that similar to some other populations glucose intolerance is associated with insulin resistance.

Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, fails to inhibit hypoxia-induced retinal neovascularization in the neonatal rat.

OBJECTIVE: Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, has been shown to prevent angiogenesis in diverse in vitro models. We evaluated its effect on retinal neovascularization in vivo, using a neonatal rat retinopathy model. METHODS: We used, on alternating days, hypoxia (10% O2) and hyperoxia (50% O2) during the first 14 days of neonatal rats, to induce retinal neovascularization. Half of the rats were injected subcutaneously with octreotide 0.7 microg/g BW twice daily. At day 18 the eyes were evaluated for the presence of epiretinal and vitreal hemorrhage, neovascularization and epiretinal proliferation. Octreotide pharmacokinetics and its effect on serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were examined in 28 rats. RESULTS: Serum octreotide levels were 667 microg/l two hours after injection, 26.4 microg/l after nine hours and 3.2 microg/l after 14 hours. GH levels were decreased by 40% (p = 0.002) two hours after injection but thereafter returned to baseline. IGF-I levels were unchanged two hours after injection and were elevated by 26% 14 hours after injection (p = 0.02). Epiretinal membranes were highly associated with epiretinal hemorrhages (p < 0.001), while retinal neovascularization was notably associated with vitreal hemorrhages (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Twice-daily injections of octreotide failed to produce sustained decrease in serum GH, but produced rebound elevation of serum IGF-I. Accordingly, no statistically significant effect of injections on retinal pathology was noted. This finding, however, does not contradict our assumption that GH suppression may decrease the severity of retinopathy.