Estimation and evaluation of pseudo-CT images using linear regression models and texture feature extraction from MRI images in the brain region to design external radiotherapy planning.

AIM: The aim of this study is to construct and evaluate Pseudo-CT images (P-CTs) for electron density calculation to facilitate external radiotherapy treatment planning. BACKGROUND: Despite numerous benefits, computed tomography (CT) scan does not provide accurate information on soft tissue contrast, which often makes it difficult to precisely differentiate target tissues from the organs at risk and determine the tumor volume. Therefore, MRI imaging can reduce the variability of results when registering with a CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, a fuzzy clustering algorithm was used to segment images into different tissues, also linear regression methods were used to design the regression model based on the feature extraction method and the brightness intensity values. The results of the proposed algorithm for dose-volume histogram (DVH), Isodose curves, and gamma analysis were investigated using the RayPlan treatment planning system, and VeriSoft software. Furthermore, various statistical indices such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Error (ME), and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) were calculated. RESULTS: The MAE of a range of 45-55 was found from the proposed methods. The relative difference error between the PTV region of the CT and the Pseudo-CT was 0.5, and the best gamma rate was 95.4% based on the polar coordinate feature and proposed polynomial regression model. CONCLUSION: The proposed method could support the generation of P-CT data for different parts of the brain region from a collection of MRI series with an acceptable average error rate by different evaluation criteria.

Efficacy and safety of propolis mouthwash in management of radiotherapy induced oral mucositis; A randomized, double blind clinical trial.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: Propolis has been used for the management of oral mucositis in a number of studies. Due to lack of sufficient evidence especially in radiotherapy induced oral mucositis, the present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of propolis mouthwash in oral mucositis and dysphagia in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The patients randomly divided into two groups receiving either the propolis or the placebo mouthwash. Patients were advised to rinse their mouth with 15 mL three times daily for four weeks. Severity of mucositis and dysphagia were evaluated by the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), respectively. RESULTS: Thirty patients completed the study. Each group consisted of 15 patients. Although, there is not any significant difference between two groups in the first week of radiotherapy, a significant difference was seen in the second, the third and the fourth week (p = 0.03, 0.02, 0.02, respectively). Dysphagia reported as a mild score in the propolis group only in the fourth week which is significant compared with the placebo group (p = 0.01). There is not any serious adverse effect related to propolis or placebo during the study. CONCLUSION: It seems that propolis mouthwash is an effective and safe medication for alleviation of oral mucositis and dysphagia in patients under head and neck radiotherapy.

Heterogeneity analysis of diffusion-weighted MRI for prediction and assessment of microstructural changes early after one cycle of induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the pretreatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) heterogeneity parameters and their alterations, after one cycle of induction chemotherapy, can be used as reliable markers of treatment response to induction chemotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients were recruited and received induction chemotherapy (IC). Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed prior to, during, and after IC. The first-order ADC histogram parameters at the intra-treatment time-point were compared to the baseline time-point in the metastatic lymph nodes (LNs). Some ADC pretreatment parameters were combined with each other, employing discriminant analysis to achieve a feasible model to separate the complete response (CR) from the partial response (PR) groups. RESULTS: For ten patients, significant rise in Mean and Txt1Mean (p = 0.048 and 0.015, respectively) was observed in the metastatic nodes following one cycle of IC. Txt5Energy significantly decreased (p = 0.002). Discriminant analysis on pretreatment parameters illustrated that Txt5Energypre was the best parameter to use to correctly classify CR and PR patients. This was followed by Txt9Percentile75pre, Txt1Meanpre, and Txt2Standard Deviationpre. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that heterogeneity metrics extracted from ADC-maps in metastatic lymph nodes, before and after IC, can be used as supplementary IC response indicators.

Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss Precedes Retinal Nerve Fiber Thinning in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Loss of retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness has been shown in different optic neuropathies. In this study, we evaluated the capability of GCIPL analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect early neuronal loss during the time course of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). METHODS: Twenty-four patients with unilateral NAION participated in this prospective, comparative study. Affected and unaffected eyes underwent spectral domain OCT measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), total macula, and GCIPL thicknesses. These measurements were recorded in the acute phase (within 7 days) and at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: At the initial presentation and 1, 3, and 6 months, the mean RNFL thickness in the NAION eyes was 236.5 µm ± 74.2, 157.1 µm ± 45.7, 61.4 µm ± 6.1, and 55.0 µm ± 19.5, respectively. Similar to RNFL, thinning of the mean total macular thickness in inner and outer rings started after 3 months and thicknesses decreased to 307.7 µm ± 15.3 and 273.1 µm ± 21.2 after 3 months and to 309.1 µm ± 15.0 and 273.4 µm ± 13.8 after 6 months, compared with unaffected contralateral eyes, respectively (all P < 0.0001). Thinning of the GCIPL was first evident in the affected NAION eyes at 1 month, and the mean inner and outer GCIPL thicknesses were 62.8 µm ± 14.6 and 53.9 µm ± 7.2 at 1 month in the NAION eyes compared with unaffected eyes (P < 0.001). After 3 and 6 months, the inner and outer GCIPL thicknesses were 51.1 µm ± 8.1 and 47.4 µm ± 5.31, and 50.6 µm ± 11.5 and 47.9 µm ± 5.6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Thinning of the GCIPL is first detectable at 1 month after NAION and persists for 3 months. GCIPL thinning occurs before RFNL thinning in NAION.

Medial rectus muscle elongation, a technique to treat very large-angle esotropia.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to describe the medial rectus muscle elongation (MRE) procedure to treat very large-angle esotropia (ET) with surgery on a lower number of muscles. METHODS: Twenty patients with very large-angle ET (more than 70 PD) underwent the MRE procedure. In the MRE procedure, the muscle was split longitudinally into three parts. The wider central part was sutured with 6/0 vicryl and disinserted. The distal end of the peripheral parts (still attached to the original insertion), 7-9 mm away from the insertion, was sutured to the proximal end of the central part. At the end of the procedure, the distance of the anastomosis site from the insertion was named as the final elongation. The dose-response effect of the final elongation was calculated in bilateral MRE cases. The mean of the dose-response effect, obtained in the binocular surgery group, was used in the monocular surgery group to calculate the resection effect of lateral rectus (LR) muscle. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent bilateral MRE and nine patients underwent unilateral MRE and LR muscle resection. The mean preoperative far and near deviation was 94.10 ± 19.33 PD. The mean postoperative deviation was 14.60 ± 18.07 PD for far and 14.50 ± 18.23 PD for near deviation. In bilateral MRE cases, the mean dose-response effect of the elongation was 5.53 ± 0.67 PD/mm for far and 5.58 ± 0.69 PD/mm for near deviation. The mean LR muscle resection effect was 6.41 ± 1.99 PD/mm for far and 6.28 ± 1.93 PD/mm for near deviation. CONCLUSION: The MRE procedure seems an acceptable method to treat very large-angle ET with surgery on a lower number of muscles.

Medicinal plants contain mucilage used in traditional Persian medicine (TPM).

CONTEXT: Conventional therapies using mucilage plants greatly used by practitioners in Iran. The usage of mucilages is rooted in traditional knowledge with a history of more than 4000 years. Scientific assessment of these historical documents could be valuable for finding new potential usage in the current medicine. OBJECTIVE: This study assembled an inventory of mucilage plants considered important therapeutic aids for alleviating the ailments in ancient Persian medicine and compared therapeutic applications of ancient times with current findings of medicinal mucilages in the same plant species. METHODS: A literature search compiled some main traditional manuscripts of Persian medicine, including the book of AlHavi, Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh-iKharazmshahi, Qarabadine-kabir, Tohfat ol Moemenin, and Makhzan-ol-advieh, and select mucilage plants used in treating the mouth and respiratory system disorders. Also, current investigations on related subjects were considered through a search of the Pub Med and Google Scholar databases. RESULTS: In Iran, the application of medicinal plants contains mucilage date back to ancient times. In mentioned medieval Persian books, 20 medicinal plants containing mucilage were identified. Mucilages have been traditionally used via oral or topical routes for a variety of disorders. According to this study, most of the cited medicinal plant species were used for their mucilaginous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. CONCLUSIONS: A scientific evaluation of these historical documents can give an insight into the ideas of the past and be valuable in finding new data on clinical use of the mucilages that should lead to future opportunities to investigate their potential medicinal use.

Posterior Pole Retinal Thickness for Detection of Structural Damage in Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy.

This objectives of this study were to compare posterior pole retinal thickness (PPRT) and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) between the affected eyes of patients with previous nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and their unaffected eyes and to assess the structure-function relationship. Eighteen eyes with NAION and 14 contralateral unaffected eyes were included in this cross-sectional study. Humphrey visual field (VF) sensitivities were obtained. RNFLT (six sectors) and PPRT (four quadrants) were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). These parameters were compared between both eyes of patients with unilateral NAION. The correlation of RNFLT and PPRT with VF mean sensitivity (MS) values (linear units) was also analysed. The main outcome measure was the correlation of MS values with PPRT and RNFLT. A significant difference existed between the affected eyes and the unaffected fellow eyes in the MS values, all sectors of RNFLT, and all quadrants of PPRT. A significant linear correlation was observed between RNFLT and PPRT and corresponding MS values in global and regional measures. The strongest correlation was between inferior temporal VF and its corresponding superior nasal retinal quadrant thickness. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves comparing superior nasal PPRT and RNFLT between the normal and affected eyes was 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. The results show that PPRT and RNFLT provide equivalent performance to detect structural damage in ischaemic optic neuropathy.

A comparison of two chemotherapy regimens in advanced, recurrent, or metastatic salivary gland carcinoma.

Background: The efficacy of chemotherapy in locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic salivary gland carcinomas (LA-R/M SGCs) is still undefined. We aimed to compare the efficacy of two chemotherapy regimens in LA-R/M SGC. Materials and Methods: This prospective study compared paclitaxel (Taxol) plus carboplatin (TC) versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, plus cisplatin (CAP) regimen in terms of overall response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: Between October 2011 and April 2019, 48 patients with LA-R/M SGCs were recruited. The ORRs of first-line TC and CAP regimens were 54.2% and 36.3%, respectively (P = 0.57). The ORRs in recurrent and de novo metastatic patients were 50.0% and 37.5% for TC and CAP, respectively (P = 0.26). The median PFS of TC and CAP arms were 10.2 and 11.9 months, respectively (P = 0.91). In the subanalysis, patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) had longer PFS in the TC arm (14.5 vs. 8.2 months, P = 0.03), irrespective of the tumor grade (low grade: 16.3 vs. 8.9 months, high grade: 11.7 vs. 4.5 months; P = 0.03). The median OS rates were 45.5 and 19.5 months for TC and CAP groups, respectively (P = 0.71). Conclusion: For patients with LA-R/M SGC, there was no significant difference between first-line TC and CAP in terms of ORR, PFS, and OS.

Sumac-rose water mouthwash versus benzydamine to prevent radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancers: a phase II randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) largely impairs the quality of life (QoL) of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Few choices with limited efficacy are available to prevent this adverse effect. This randomized trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of benzydamine (standard) and a new combination (sumac and rose water) in preventing radiation-induced OM. METHODS: This was a phase II, triple-blind, active-controlled, randomized trial. The primary endpoint was OM, and the secondary endpoints were oral pain and QoL. Besides, the possible variables defining the outcomes were analyzed using the chi-squared test (univariate analysis) and binomial regression model (multivariate analysis). RESULTS: Sumac-rose group had fewer high-grade OM (33% vs. 63%, odds ratio [OR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI 95%] 0.08-0.93, P = 0.03) and better QoL (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings. Sumac-rose rinsing could also postpone the start of oral pain (hazard ratio [HR] 0.02, CI 95% 0.001-0.32, P = 0.001) and high-grade OM (HR 0.28, P = 0.03) compared with benzydamine. CONCLUSIONS: The sumac-rose group had a lower OM rate and grade and higher QoL than the benzydamine group. In addition, the experimental group developed high-grade OM and oral pain later during the radiotherapy course. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the role of sumac and rose water in reducing grade 3-4 mucositis in patients who undergo chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.

Shuffle-ResNet: Deep learning for predicting LGG IDH1 mutation from multicenter anatomical MRI sequences.

Background and Purpose.The world health organization recommended to incorporate gene information such as isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status to improve prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of the central nervous system tumors. We proposed our Shuffle Residual Network (Shuffle-ResNet) to predict IDH1 gene mutation status of the low grade glioma (LGG) tumors from multicenter anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences including T2-w, T2-FLAIR, T1-w, and T1-Gd.Methods and Materials.We used 105 patient's dataset available in The Cancer Genome Atlas LGG project where we split them into training and testing datasets. We implemented a random image patch extractor to leverage tumor heterogeneity where about half a million image patches were extracted. RGB dataset were created from image concatenation. We used random channel-shuffle layer in the ResNet architecture to improve the generalization, and, also, a 3-fold cross validation to generalize the network's performance. The early stopping algorithm and learning rate scheduler were employed to automatically halt the training.Results.The early stopping algorithm terminated the training after 131, 106, and 96 epochs in fold 1, 2, and 3. The accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of the validation dataset were 81.29% (95% CI (79.87, 82.72)) and 0.96 (95% CI (0.92, 0.98)) when we concatenated T2-FLAIR, T1-Gd, and T2-w to produce an RGB dataset. The accuracy and AUC values of the test dataset were 85.7% and 0.943.Conclusions.Our Shuffle-ResNet could predict IDH1 gene mutation status using multicenter MRI. However, its clinical application requires more investigation.

Randomized trial on acute toxicities of weekly vs three-weekly cisplatin-based chemoradiation in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: The current first-line treatment of locally advanced head and neck carcinoma (LAHNC) is concurrent chemoradiation with three-weekly cisplatin 100 mg/m2 . However, prescribing cisplatin at this dose increases the treatment toxicity, which may compromise the treatment results. An alternative schedule is weekly 40 mg/m2 cisplatin. AIM: To compare the acute hematologic and renal toxicities of these two regimens. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 77 LAHNC patients who were allocated to a high dose (100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) or low dose (40 mg/m2 weekly) cisplatin group concurrent with radiotherapy. Hematologic and renal indices were measured weekly during chemoradiation. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 55.3 years. Overall, 71.4% of patients were treated in a definitive setting. The incidence of severe hematologic events was not significantly different. However, the average estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly greater in the three-weekly group (67.85 vs. 58.57% mL/min per 1.73 m2 ; P-value = .02). Cumulative cisplatin dose of ≥240 mg/m2 was significantly greater in the weekly group. Totally, treatment breaks occurred in 40.3% of patients due to treatment toxicity. Treatment interruption was primarily due to neutropenia in the three-weekly and renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia in the weekly group. CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute hematologic toxicities were comparable for three-weekly and weekly groups. The decrease in eGFR through treatment was more significant with weekly cisplatin. Further follow-up, however, is needed to confirm its impact on delayed renal function.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the fear of COVID-19 scale among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: The Covid-19 epidemic, which has become the most challenging issue for health organizations and governments, has led to panic among people, especially pregnant women. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) on a sample of Iranian pregnant women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 500 pregnant women referred to gynecology offices in Tehran. Construct validity was performed using exploratory (with maximum likelihood method and Promax rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald omega coefficients were used to examine internal consistency. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 28.98 (SD = 5.86) years. In exploratory factor analysis, two factors were extracted-emotional response and physiological response, which together explained 65.21% of the total variance of fear of Covid-19. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the final model had a good fit: CMIN/df = 1.515, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.981, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.956, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.979, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.993, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.993, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.045 (95% CI: 0.001-0.085). Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega coefficients for the first factor were 0.874 and 0.878, and for the second factor were 0.853 and 0.854, respectively. CONCLUSION: The FCV-19S in pregnant women has a good construct validity and can be used in various studies.

Ewing's Sarcoma of Mandible: Practical Approach to a Challenging Case.

As a rare entity, sarcomas of the head and neck are challenging cases. In this paper, we represent a unique case of Ewing sarcoma of mandible, serving as an example of multidisciplinary team importance in a developing country.

Prognostic Value of Promoter Hypermethylation of Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta (RARB) and CDKN2 (p16/MTS1) in Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The molecular mechanism of prostate cancer is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of promoter hypermethylation of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) and p16 among benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer patients. METHODS: In this case-control study, 63 patients were included in three groups; 21 with BPH as the control group, 21 with prostate cancer and good prognostic factors (based on prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score and stage) as good prognosis group, and 21 with prostate cancer and poor prognostic features as poor prognosis group. The prostate biopsy specimen of each individual was examined for hypermethylation of RARB and p16 promoters by methylation specific PCR (MSPCR). RESULTS: Seven (33.3%) patients with good prognosis and 15 (71.4%) patients with poor prognosis were positive for RARB methylation, which were significantly higher than controls (P<0.0001). p16 promoter methylation was shown in 19.0% and 47.6% patients with good and poor prognosis, respectively. The RARB and p16 promoter methylation in the poor prognosis group was significantly higher than that in the good prognosis group (P =0.02 for RARB and P<0.0001 for p16). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of RARB and p16 promoters may predict prognosis in prostate cancer.

Effect of Honey-Lemon Spray Versus Benzydamine Hydrochloride Spray on Radiation-Induced Acute Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Oral mucositis (OM) is the most prevalent side effect in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). It causes an obvious decrease in quality of life (QoL) in these patients, so different medications have been recommended for OM, however, without optimal response. This randomized trial aimed to assess the effects of a honey-lemon spray compared with benzydamine hydrochloride in prevention of radiation-induced OM in patients with HNC. Materials and Methods: Forty-six patients with HNC received external beam radiotherapy for 5 days per week. Patients were randomized to treatment with either benzydamine hydrochloride spray or honey-lemon spray for 5 weeks and continued for 1 week after the end of treatment. The oral cavity was examined weekly, with a score given to each site based on the degree of mucositis using a 4-point scale, and a mean mucositis score was calculated as the primary outcome. Occurrence of OM, pain, QoL, and adverse effects were defined as secondary outcomes. Patients, therapists, and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Results: No significant group differences occurred in the mucositis score, pain, or QoL. Mucositis occurrence rates were higher in the benzydamine hydrochloride group compared with the honey-lemon group (hazard ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 4.2). Two patients in the honey-lemon group had mild nausea and burning throat; no adverse effects occurred in the benzydamine hydrochloride group. Conclusions: There were no significant group differences in mucositis severity between patients treated with honey-lemon spray and benzydamine hydrochloride. The potential preventive effects of honey-lemon spray need to be confirmed in further trials. The trial registration number is IRCT20161024030467N1.

Low-Dose Whole-Lung Irradiation for COVID-19 Pneumonia: Final Results of a Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy (RT), commonly used in cancer management, has been considered as one of the potential treatments for COVID-19 pneumonia. Here, we present the results of the pilot trial evaluating low-dose whole-lung irradiation (LD-WLI) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: Ten patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia were treated with LD-WLI in a single fraction of 0.5 or 1.0 Gy along with the national protocol. The primary endpoint was an improvement in Spo2. The secondary endpoints were the number of days of hospital/intensive care unit stay, the number of intubations after RT, 28-day mortality, and changes in biomarkers. The response rate (RR) was defined as an increase in Spo2 upon RT with a rising or constant trend in the next 2 days, clinical recovery (CR) including patients who were discharged or acquired Spo2 ≥93% on room air, and 28-day mortality rate defined based on days of RT. RESULTS: The median age was 75 years (80% male). Five, 1, and 4 patients received single-dose 0.5 Gy, two-dose 0.5 Gy, and single-dose 1.0 Gy LD-WLI, respectively. The mean improvement in Spo2 at days 1 and 2 after RT was 2.4% (±4.8%) and 3.6% (±6.1%), respectively, with improvement in 9 patients after 1 day. Five, 1, and 4 patients were discharged, opted out of the trial, and died in the hospital, respectively. Two of 5 discharged patients died within 3 days at home. Among discharged patients, the Spo2 at discharge was 81% to 88% in 3 patients and 93% in the other 2 patients. Overall, the RR and CR were 63.6% and 55.5%, respectively. The RR, CR, and 28-day mortality of the single 0.5 Gy and 1.0 Gy WLI groups were 71.4% versus 50% (P = .57), 60% versus 50% (P = .64), and 50% versus 75% (P = .57), respectively. CONCLUSION: LD-WLI with a single fraction of 0.5 Gy or 1 Gy is feasible. A randomized trial with patients who do not receive radiation is required to assess the efficacy of LD-WLI for COVID-19.

Adjustable superior oblique tendon spacer with application of nonabsorbable suture for treatment of isolated inferior oblique paresis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and report the outcomes of a superior oblique tendon spacer procedure using nonabsorbable adjustable sutures in patients with inferior oblique (10) paresis. METHODS: This interventional case series included 6 eyes of 6 patients with 10 paresis. All met Bielschowsky/Parks Three-step Test criteria to identify an isolated 10 paresis. In all patients, the superior oblique tendon was exposed; 2 nonabsorbable polyester sutures were placed 3 mm apart, and the tendon was cut. With the use of a slipknot, the cut ends of the tendon were separated 5 to 7 mm. Tendon separation was adjusted intraoperatively according to the fundus torsion and exaggerated traction test. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 8.1 months (range, 5-12 [corrected] months). Four patients had congenital 10 paresis and 2 had iatrogenic 10 paresis following denervation/myectomy of 10. Mean primary position hypotropia improved from 15.2 prism diopters (PD) before surgery to 2.7 PD in congenital 10 paresis and from 11.5 PD to 2.5 PD in iatrogenic 10 paresis. In congenital 10 paresis, mean preoperative superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction was +2 and -2, which decreased to 0 and -1.25 respectively; fundus incyclotorsion resolved in all patients. Superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction improved in iatrogenic 10 paresis as well. In no patient did an overcorrection develop. CONCLUSIONS: The adjustable superior oblique tendon suture spacer procedure is an effective and safe option for correcting 10 paresis without developing iatrogenic superior oblique paresis.

Case report: Duane Retraction Syndrome associated with hand anomaly.

Duane Retraction Syndrome is a congenital eye movement disorder characterized by a failure of cranial nerve VI to develop normally, resulting in restriction or absence of abduction, restricted adduction and narrowing of the palpebral fissure and retraction of the globe on attempted adduction. Patients with Duane Retraction Syndrome appear to have a significant increase in the number of associated congenital malformations. In the present paper, the authors report a case of Duane Retraction Syndrome with a unique hand abnormality not reported previously.

A new modfied anchored suspension-recession (so-called "hang-back" technique for high risk strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To intruduce a new method for rectus muscle recession in order to minimize the riSk of a lost or slipped muscle and scleral perforation and compare it with the conventional method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study between May 2002 and December 2006, 69 patients underwent recession with the modified technique, and 50 patients underwent recession with the conventional method. We compared the results of strabismus surgery in these non-randomized series with esotropia or exotropia treated with conventional surgery with the modified technique surgery. Patients in the modified technique group were high risk patients that had large angle recession, thin sclera or less exposure sugical field. RESULTS: Surgical outcomes were not significantly different in the two treatment groups that based on their findings had been classified into four subgroups. No complications such as globe penetration, muscle slippage or lost muscle were observed during the follow up period of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the modified method introduced in this study can reduce the complications and risks involved in conventional and suspension-recession methods and it is safe and effective for muscle recession. It can decrease the risk of globe perforation since the sclera behind the insertion is penetrated only superficially because of anchor suturing to the muscle insertion stump, and the possibility of lost or slipped recessed muscles would be minimized.

Ocular movement disorders and extraocular muscle involvement in Iranian Graves' ophthalmopathy patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate movement disorder patterns and extraocular muscle involvement in Iranian Graves' Ophthalmopathy (GO) patients. METHODS: We examined 75 patients (37 women and 38 men) with GO. Female to male ratio was 0.97 among all patients and 0.72 among restrictive myopathic cases (male 18(58.1%), female 13 (41.9%), P=0.2). Their age ranged from 16 to 66 years; mean age was 35.42+/-11.63 and 33.55+/-10,.31 among patients affected by restrictive enlargement and who did not, respectively. RESULTS: Orbital CT assessment showed EOM enlargement in 124 out of 150 orbits (82.6%). clinical restriction was evident in 31 (41.3%) out of 75 patients. Bilateral restriction was observed in 14 out of 31 (45.1%). The most frequent type of movement limitation was supraduction limitation followed by abduction, inferaduction, and adduction limitations (59%, 40%, 31.1% and 13.3% respectively). This was compatible with Hess screen results and orbital CT reports in regard of IR, MR, SR and LR involvement. Sixteen out of 75 patients reported diplopia. Mean Hertel exophthalmometry readings were higher in eyes with restrictive myopathy. CONCLUSION: This study showed more restrictive myopathy in cases with more extraocular enlargement and positive correlation between severity of inferior rectus enlargement and Hertel reading. A higher rate of male patients in our study may be due to ethnic differences in GO in Iranian patients or due to severity of involvement in this group.