Surgical management of malignant glaucoma: a retrospective analysis of fifty eight eyes.

PurposeTo assess outcomes of surgical management of malignant glaucoma in terms of re-formation of anterior chamberMethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for malignant glaucoma between January 1995 and December 2013 at a tertiary care ophthalmic institute, with a minimum follow up of 2 months.ResultsFifty eight eyes of 58 patients were included. Fifty two (89.7%) patients had primary angle closure glaucoma. The majority had undergone glaucoma filtration surgery earlier (n=53, 91.4%). Lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy was performed in 15 (25.9%) eyes (Group 1). Vitrectomy and anterior chamber re-formation was performed in 27 (46.6%) eyes (Group 2). Vitrectomy-phacoemulsification-vitrectomy was performed in 16 (27.6%) eyes (Group 3). Communication between the two segments of eye through anterior hyaloid, lens capsule complex and/or iris was achieved in all groups. The median follow-up (Inter-quartile range) was 30 (71.5) months. Anterior chamber re-formation was achieved in 56 (96.5%) eyes at final visit. The improvement in mean±SD LogMAR visual acuity (1.1±1 to 0.7±0.8) and reduction in number ±SD of anti-glaucoma medications (2.1±1.1 to 1±1.6) between onset and final visit were significant (P=0.02 and <0.01, respectively). The intraocular pressure (mm Hg) at onset and at final visit was 30.7±17.4 and 14±6.2, 32.8±12.6 and 15.3±7.4, and 27.2±14 and 10.9±3 in groups 1-3, respectively (all P<0.01).ConclusionOur anatomical success rate was high. The key element in achieving this outcome was the establishment of a patent communication between the vitreous cavity and the anterior chamber.

A six-month open safety assessment of a naproxen suspension formulation in the therapy of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The safety of naproxen suspension was assessed in an open study in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty-eight patients aged 1 to 13 (mean, 4.5 years) were studied. Based on the patient's condition, naproxen was prescribed at dosages ranging from 9 to 20 mg/kg/day. Follow-up assessments were made during regular clinic visits, as often as deemed necessary by the physician. Forty-four patients completed a minimum of six months' treatment. One patient was lost to follow up and 13 were withdrawn early: three because of unsatisfactory therapeutic response, one because of disease remission, five because of taste complaints, and four because of other side effects. The side effects were mostly gastrointestinal and were mild to moderate in severity. Investigators' subjective evaluations indicated that 84% of the patients who completed six months' treatment had good or excellent therapeutic responses at termination. The study results demonstrated that naproxen suspension is a well-tolerated anti-inflammatory agent for young children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

A pharmacokinetic comparison of controlled-release and standard naproxen tablets.

The single-dose (750 mg) pharmacokinetics of controlled-release and standard naproxen tablets were compared in a randomized crossover study in 12 healthy male volunteers. Plasma samples collected over the 60 hours after drug administration were assayed for naproxen concentrations using high pressure liquid chromatography. The controlled-release formulation produced a significantly (p less than 0.001) lower and later mean peak naproxen concentration than the conventional-release tablets. However, no differences were observed in either area under the plasma concentration-time curve or elimination half-life. The two formulations were judged, therefore, to be bioequivalent based on the total amount of drug absorbed.

Self-medication of antibacterials without prescription (also called 'over-the-counter' use). A report of a Working Party of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The availability of antimicrobial agents for self-medication may increase and could include antibacterial agents for oral or topical use. Wholesale deregulation of antibacterials would be undesirable and likely to encourage misuse of classes of agents currently important in the management of serious infections. Changed regulation from Prescription-Only Medicine (POM) to Pharmacy (P) medicine of selected agents with indications for short-term use in specific minor infections and illness is likely to have advantages to the user. However, safeguards to their use would need to be included in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). Agents and indications for self-medication are discussed. Any alteration in licensed status from POM to P will require careful risk-benefit assessment, including the likely impact on bacterial resistance. Safety issues also include concerns relating to age of the user, pregnancy, underlying disease and the potential for drug interactions. The importance of appropriate information with the PIL is emphasized, as is the role of the pharmacist, while ways of improving adverse event notification and monitoring are discussed. The paucity of good denominator-controlled data on the prevalence of in-vitro resistance is highlighted, and recommendations for improving the situation are made. There are currently no levels of resistance accepted by regulatory bodies on which to base a licensing decision, be it for granting a product licence, renewal of a licence or a change in licensed status from POM to P. Due consideration should be given to: the validation of user-defined indications in comparison with those medically defined; the enhancement of pharmacy advice in the purchase of such agents; improved safety monitoring; the establishment of systematic surveillance of susceptibility data.