Sub-inner limiting membrane hemorrhage in a patient with Terson syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral Terson Syndrome with sub inner limiting membrane hemorrhage associated with a rare finding: perimacular fold. METHODS: The patient, a 34 years old female with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and bilateral Terson syndrome was admitted to the Ophthalmology department, complaining of blurred vision. Core vitrectomy, hyaloid detachment, peeling of the ILM and aspiration of the sub inner limiting membrane hemorrhage was performed. Once the inner limiting membrane of the left eye was peeled off, we noticed a particular aspect: the perimacular fold. RESULT: Although our patient suffered from a massive vitreous haemorrhage the postoperative outcome was favorable with a final best corrected visual acuity of 20/30. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with billateral Terson syndrome we recommend early surgery, especially if the neurological status allows it, a good visual acuity being helpful for the neurophysical rehabilitation of the patient.

HIV-positive men who have sex with men are at high risk of development of significant liver fibrosis after an episode of acute hepatitis C.

Acute hepatitis C virus infection remains a major health concern in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). New direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) combination therapy has not yet been approved for the treatment for acute hepatitis C virus(HCV), thereby potentially causing deferral of HCV treatment. Therefore, we aimed to study the course of liver disease after an episode of acute HCV. This study is a retrospective single-centre cohort of HIV-positive MSM with acute HCV infection. Liver fibrosis was estimated by Fibroscan® and Fibrotest® . Liver-related and non-liver-related outcomes were documented. Overall 213 episodes of acute HCV infection in 178 men were documented. Median follow-up for all included patients was 38.7 months. Spontaneous HCV clearance was found in 10.8% of patients, which was significantly associated with older age, lower HCV RNA levels, and higher ALT levels upon initial acute HCV diagnosis. Treatment with interferon-based therapy was initiated in 86.3% of cases, resulting in a sustained virological response(SVR) rate of 70.7%. After 3 years' follow-up, significant liver fibrosis of METAVIR F2 stage or higher was found in 39.4% of patients after first acute HCV diagnosis. Higher age, physician-declared alcoholism, and nonresponse to acute HCV therapy were independently associated with higher fibrosis stages. Ten patients died during the observation period (IR 1.4/100 patient-years) and four during interferon treatment. Significant liver fibrosis is a common finding in HIV-positive MSM following acute HCV infection despite high treatment uptake and cure rates, suggesting the need for close liver disease monitoring particularly if HCV treatment is deferred.

Phase II study of bendamustine combined with rituximab in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: efficacy, tolerability, and safety findings.

In most cases of relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), patients respond to salvage therapy, though typically responses are partial and/or transient followed by disease progression, even with newer agents (e.g., ibrutinib). In this multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II study, patients with relapsed/refractory non-blastoid MCL received bendamustine 90 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 2) and rituximab 375 mg/m(2) (day 1) for 6 planned 28-day cycles. Functional imaging with 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) was conducted at baseline and after cycle 6. Forty-five patients were enrolled (median age, 70 years; 82 % stage IV disease; median number of prior chemotherapies, 2 [range, 1-4]), showing an overall response rate (ORR; primary efficacy measure) of 82 % (complete response [CR], 40 %; partial response, 42 %). In the 32 patients with complete 18F-FDG PET/CT data, 75 % achieved a complete metabolic response. Median duration of response was 1.6 years, 1-year progression-free survival was 67 %, and 3-year overall survival was 55 %. Main non-hematologic adverse events were nausea (69 %), fatigue (56 %), decreased appetite (42 %), constipation (38 %), diarrhea (36 %), vomiting (36 %), and decreased weight (31 %). Grade 3/4 neutropenia and lymphopenia occurred in 44 and 89 % of patients, respectively. ORR and CR rate compared favorably with single-agent ibrutinib (ORR, 67 %; CR, 23 %); bendamustine-rituximab is an effective therapy with manageable toxicity in relapsed/refractory MCL.

Efficacy and safety of lixisenatide once daily vs. placebo in people with Type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled on metformin (GetGoal-F1).

AIMS: To assess the efficacy and safety of one- and two-step dose-increase regimens of lixisenatide once daily in participants with Type 2 diabetes mellitus insufficiently controlled with metformin. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-centre study enrolling participants with Type 2 diabetes (n = 484) treated with metformin. Participants were randomized to receive either lixisenatide in a one-step dose increase or a two-step dose increase vs. placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a ≥ 52-week variable double blind period. Primary outcome was HbA1c reduction at week 24. RESULTS: Lixisenatide one-/two-step once daily significantly improved HbA1c at week 24 compared with placebo (P < 0.0001) and allowed more participants to achieve HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (< 7.0%) (P ≤ 0.0005). Improvements were observed in fasting plasma glucose (-0.5/-0.6 vs. +0.1 mmol/l; P < 0.001) and body weight (-2.6/-2.7 vs. -1.6 kg; P < 0.005). At week 24, adverse events were reported by 67.7/70.8/65.6% of participants treated with lixisenatide one-/two-step/placebo, respectively--nausea and vomiting being reported most frequently. Symptomatic hypoglycaemia occurred in 1.9/2.5% of participants on one-/two-step lixisenatide and 0.6% with placebo, with no severe episodes. Lixisenatide continued to be efficacious and well tolerated during the variable double-blind extension period of at least 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Lixisenatide one- or two-step dose-increase regimens significantly improved glycaemic control and decreased body weight over 24 weeks and during a long-term extension period without increasing hypoglycaemia. The study confirmed that tolerability in the one-step group was at least similar to the two-step dose increase, with nausea/vomiting and hypoglycaemia frequency being lower in the one-step regimen.

Multifocal choroidal metastases from thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

We present the case of a 62-year-old female patient, with follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, which presented to our department for a severe decrease in vision at right eye level. Despite a complex therapy, that included a near-total thyroidectomy, thyroid I-131 ablation, suppressive therapy with LT4, and external beam radiotherapy with cobalt- 60, the patient developed multiple lung, mediastinal, liver, and bone metastases, followed after 1 year, by multifocal choroidal metastases. The complex ocular investigations performed for the diagnosis and follow-up of the choroidal metastases are presented. A review of the literature was also performed. The rarity of choroidal metastases in patients with thyroid carcinoma imposes, for their detection, periodic ocular examinations.

[Serous macular detachment associated with circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: a case report]. / Decolare seroasa maculara asociata hemangiomului coroidian circumscris--apropo de un caz clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Choroidal hemangiomas are benign vascular hamartomas that typically present from second to fourth decade of life, when they can cause visual disturbance due to exudative retinal detachment. They represent uncommon benign choroidal vascular tumors, usually occuring sporadically in the absence of systemic disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report the case of a young female patient, presenting a juxtapapillary circumscribed choroidal haemangioma complicated with serous macular detachment. The patient underwent photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT). Systematic follow-up using ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography, Fluorescein angiography and Indocyanine green angiography was performed. RESULTS: The patient presented regression with flattening of tumour, resolution of the subretinal fluid, and significant improvement of vision. DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS: Mostly asymptomatic, the choroidal hemangiomas can be associated with serous retinal detachment, leading to reduced vision and metamorphopsia; in those cases, the long term visual prognosis is poor, even in adequately treated patients. PDT is effective in eliminating the subretinal fluid and improving vision in patients with circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

[Upside-down stomach and hiatal hernia]. / Upside-down stomach si hernia hiatala.

Hiatal hernias represent a special variant of diaphragmatic hernia in which there is a transdiaphragmatic migration of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus. There are 4 types admitted--sliding (type I), paraesophageal (type II), mixt-combining elements for both previous types (type III) and complex (type IV) and represents at most 5-15% from all hiatal hernias. Upside-down stomach is a special form of organoaxial volvulus of the entire stomach in a sac of mixt hiatal hernia (type III) or complex (type IV). There are asymptomatic forms, but the majority of the patients present signs of gastroesophageal reflux and up to one third may show complications such as bleeding, acute volvulus with obstruction or perforation. Surgical intervention is the only treatment option for the gastric volvulus and offers a durable resolution. The ideal surgical technique, the gold standard, consists in reduction of the stomach in the gastric lodge, resection of the sac and calibration of the hiatus adding a gastropexy or antireflux procedure.

[Leber stellate neuroretinitis: two cases]. / Neuroretinita stelara leber: apropo de doua cazuri.

INTRODUCTION: Described by Leber (1916), this clinical syndrome is characterized by unilateral decrease of visual acuity, papilledema and macular star. The condition concerns the young adult, has a favorable prognosis, and unspecified pathogeny. OBSERVATIONS AND METHODS: We report the case of two young adults (25 and 27 years), examined because of decreased visual acuity in the left eye, installed 2-3 weeks after a flu-like syndrome. Ophthalmoscopy reveals papilledema and macular star (lipid exudates). Fluorescein Angiography showed abnormal permeability at the optic disc, and the absence of vascular changes in the macular area. Campimetry, cranio-orbital imaging, and serological tests were carried out. RESULTS: Campimetry revealed a centrocecal unilateral scotoma. Serological tests for Bartonella hensellae, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and toxacara were negative. The cranio-orbital imaging was normal. Considering the syndrome to be idiopathic, no treatments have been performed; the visual acuity and papilledema resolved after 4 and respectively 6 weeks, and the macular exudates after 8 and respectively 12 months. DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS: The optic disc edema, with or without macular star, unsuitable called Leber's stellate neuroretinitis, forms a group of diseases with heterogenous clinical aspect, and unspecified pathogenesis. Overall, it is necessary to remember that it is a diagnosis of exclusion, targeting infectious pathology in children, and a vascular or demyelinating process in adult patients. The favorable prognosis is making the cortisone therapy unnecessary in idiopathic forms, but requires a specific therapy in infectious forms.

Evaluation of FibroTest-ActiTest in children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

FibroTest-ActiTest (FT-AT) has been validated in adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy (LB), but there are few data of its use in children. The objective of the present study was to evaluate FT-AT in children with HCV infection and to compare FT-AT analysis with liver histology. A total of 43 serum samples from 38 children with chronic HCV infection were analyzed retrospectively. Histological evaluation was performed according to the METAVIR scoring system. In 16 of the children, 21 serum samples were tested with FT-AT and compared to 21 LB (serum/LB pairs) in nontransplanted and liver-transplanted children. FT-AT was also measured in 22 infected children without LB and in 50 healthy controls. FT-AT values in controls were comparable to those of healthy adults, validating the adult FT-AT parameters in children. In most infected children (74%), the FT-AT score was

ActiTest accuracy for the assessment of histological activity grades in patients with chronic hepatitis C, an overview using Obuchowski measure.

BACKGROUND: ActiTest (AT) is a biomarker of liver necro-inflammatory histological activity validated in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). AIM: The aim was to assess the accuracy of AT in comparison with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) the standard of care. METHODS: Methods used an integrated database of individual data and the new recommended Obuchowski measures. An updated "classical" meta-analysis of AT validation studies was also performed. The main end points were the area under the ROC curves (AUROCs) for the diagnosis of each histological activity grade defined using METAVIR scoring system. To avoid repeated tests and the spectrum effect of activity grades prevalence, the comparison of AT and ALT accuracies used the Obuchowski method. RESULTS: For the individual analysis, a total of 1250 patients were included and for the meta-analysis six studies (2017 patients) were included. The overall accuracy of AT for the diagnosis of any activity grade (Obuchowski measure=0.850) was significantly higher than the accuracy of ALT (Obuchowski measure=0.837; P=0.009). The updated standard meta-analysis confirmed the accuracy of AT (p<0.0001) both in independent AUROC=0.79 (95% CI, 0.73-0.85) and in non independent studies AUROC=0.74 (95% CI, 0.67-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of AT for grading the necro-inflammatory activity of patients with HCV was significantly higher than ALT serum activity alone, the standard biomarker.

[Post traumatic entero-mesenteric venous infarct]. / Infarct entero-mezenteric venos cvasitotal acut posttraumatic.

The paper presents a case of entero-mesenteric venous infarct, occurred in a man of 34 years, discovered intraoperator, when to intervene surgically in emergency surgery for acute abdomen of peritonitic type. The etiology of this venous infarct was posttraumatic, the patient underwent an abdominal aggression with seven days prior to onset of symptoms. In literature, the posttraumatic etiology is found in a small number compared to the large number of abdominal contusion, intimal lesional factor beeing associated with blood thickness. Paraclinical investigations were not significant in terms of preoperator diagnosis, surgical intervention (backward and forward thrombectomy of superior mesenteric vein with Fogarty probe and venosuture) having a favorable evolution. This intervention is practiced as an exception on the basis of the idea that venous thrombosis spreads to mezenteric vein and its collaterals followed by extensive arterial thrombosis and total compromise of intestinal viability.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the cecum--a rare cause of ileo-cecal-colic invagination]. / Tumora stromala gastrointestinala (GIST) cu localizare cecala--cauza rara de invaginatie ileo-ceco-colica.

The gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the rares mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (1-3% of all gastrointestinal neoplasias). The frequency of their location on the rectocolic site is quoted with the values lower than 10% of all GIST. The authors present a patient case 55 years aged, who presented a gastrointestinal stromal tumor cecal located. This tumor determined the invagination of the cec into the ascendent colon and then into transverse colon drawing the last ileal ansa and leading to an ileo-cecal-colic invagination, without development of a occlusive syndrome. We performed a computed tomography and an irigography. These investigations showed the complications of the case, but it could not find out a cause of the invagination. We discuss in our article the problem regarding find out the type of the tumor and its origin too. We also discuss about the therapy, etiopathogeny, evolution and prognosis of the GIST.

[Idiopatic parafoveolar telangiectasia associated with pseudoviteliform lesion, basal laminar drusen and optic nerve head drusen]. / Telangiectazia parafovieolara idiopatica asociata cu leziune pseudoviteliforma, drusen laminar bazal si drusen papilar.

BACKGROUND: We present a case with bilateral optic disc drusen, associated in one eye with idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis (Group 1B), basal laminar drusen, and foveal pseudovitelliform lesion. PATIENT: A 45-years old female patient, which complained about a deterioration of vision at the right eye, was ophthalmologically examined. RESULTS: The examination revealed a bilateral optic disc drusen, and on the right eye a macular haemorrhage. An examination after 2 months revealed a good vision, the resorption of the macular haemorrhage, idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis, basal laminal drusen, and a foveal pseudovitelliform lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The association is of importance because of the rarity of the haemorrhagic complication in the idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis (Group IB), the possibility of a pathogenic correlation, and the difficulty of differential diagnosis with the optic disc drusen complicated with retinal haemorrhages. This association was not found in the literature we consulted.

[Multiple optic disc--myth or reality]. / Papila optica supranumerara: mit sau realitate.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical aspects of multiple optic papilla. CLINICAL OBSERVATION: We present 2 cases with multiple optic papilla. First case, with an aspect of duplicated double papilla, where at the supranumerary papilla we noticed a cilioretinal artery. The second case, with pseudo-double papilla, in context of a medium myopia, with visualization of the choroidal circulation. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of multiple optic papilla is difficult. Its support requires the presence of multiple conditions: double papillary margins, central vascularization with separate emergence, synchronous vascular pulsation, imagistic and morphopathologic arguments. So far no clinical case with those required conditions was ever published.

Impact of interferon-alpha treatment on liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: an overview of published trials.

BACKGROUND: The impact of interferon treatment in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on fibrosis progression in comparison with its natural history has yet to be assessed in any large-scale randomized studies. The present report is a review of the evidence-based data published so far. METHODS: Studies were included if they had at least two repeated estimates of liver fibrosis per patient treated with interferon-alpha (whether pegylated or not). Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Altogether, 13 studies were included in the review, involving a total of 707 HBV patients treated with interferon-alpha-2a or -2b for 12-83 months. Only one study included pegylated interferon as monotherapy. A total of 787 untreated patients were also followed. Only one study used a non-invasive biomarker. There was a significant reduction in the fibrosis progression rate, with a risk reduction of 0.49 (95% CI: -0.64--0.34; chi(2)=119; degrees of freedom [DF]=6; P<0.0001), and significant heterogeneity (Cochran Q=81; P<0.0001). This significant impact was similar for both randomized (reduction of risk: -0.45; 95% CI: -0.64--0.26; P<0.0001) and not-randomized (controlled) studies (reduction of risk: -0.53; 95% CI: -0.79--0.28; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: According to these findings, the benefit of interferon treatment on fibrosis progression is clinically significant in patients with advanced fibrosis by the reduction of fibrosis progression to cirrhosis. Pegylated interferon now needs to be compared, in terms of benefit-risk factors, with the new generation of HBV treatments (such as entecavir and tenofovir), using non-invasive biomarkers.

[Diabetus mellitus and pregnancy]. / Diabetul si sarcina.

OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study regarding 16 pregnant patients, with type 1 diabetes mellitus and variable retinal changes before the pregnancy: without retinal changes (5 cases), minimal diabetic retinopathy (7 cases), severe diabetic retinopathy (3 cases), proliferative diabetic retinopathy with panphotocoagulation before the pregnancy (1 case). The patients had a complete general and ocular investigation. RESULTS: The patients without retinal changes were not influenced by pregnancy; the patients with minimal changes presented an aggravation of the diabetic retinopathy with an amelioration post-partum in 3 from the 7 cases; the patients with severe diabetic retinopathy suffered an aggravation in 1 from the 3 cases; the patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy with panphotocoagulation before the pregnancy did not present any important changes during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnancy represents a risk factor in the evolution of retinal changes in diabetic patients. The monitoring of the retinal changes and of the patients during the pregnancy is strongly recommended.

Rod models of DNA: sequence-dependent anisotropic elastic modelling of local bending phenomena.

Local bending phenomena can be predicted by elastic models that incorporate sequence-dependent anisotropic-bendability (SDAB). SDAB models consider DNA to be an initially straight, segmented, elastic rod, in which the flexibility of each segment is greater towards the major groove than it is in other directions. While local bending can be predicted by static-geometry models as well, SDAB models, in addition, qualitatively explain such phenomena as the affinity of protein binding and kinking. A set of prediction tools is available at http:/(/)www.icgeb.trieste.it/dna.

Sialocyst of the Parotid Gland in a Child.

Non-neoplastic cysts localized in salivary glands are quite rare and represent approximately 2-5% of all salivary gland lesions. Salivary duct cyst, also known as sialocyst is a true cyst with the epithelium lining the inner side of its walls. It is generally observed in minor salivary glands and it rarely involves the parotid. Patients are mostly affected between the ages of 30 and 40 and the lesion is rarely seen in children. The current case is a rare report, as the patient was a child. The diagnosis has been difficult to ascertain due to the presence of pain, symptom characteristic for inflammatory lesions.

[Diffuse choroidal hemangioma associated with serous retinal detachment]. / Hemangiomul coroidian difuz partial osificat, asociat cu decolare retiniana seroasa exsudativa.

A 53-years old patient, with the diagnosis of diffuse choroidal hemangioma, partially ossified, associated with serous exudative retinal detachment, secondary to the choroidal neovessels, is presented. Aspects of differential diagnosis with the choroidal osteoma associated with serous exudative retinal detachment are discussed.

Screening for liver disease using non-invasive biomarkers (FibroTest, SteatoTest and NashTest) in patients with hyperlipidaemia.

BACKGROUND: Mortality related to complications of cirrhosis is increasing in patients with insulin-resistance factors. Hyperlipidaemic patients have multiple risk factors of insulin resistance. It is impossible to perform liver biopsy in such a large number of hyperlipidaemic patients to identify patients with advanced liver fibrosis or with steatohepatitis (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). AIMS: To use the non-invasive biomarkers, FibroTest (FT), SteatoTest and NashTest, and to assess the prevalence of advanced liver disease in a large population of hyperlipidaemic patients. METHODS: A consecutive cohort of hyperlipidaemic patients was followed prospectively in a lipid centre and the sera were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 2834 subjects were included: 1909 hyperlipidaemic patients and 925 blood donors (BD). Advanced fibrosis was identified by FT in 53/1909 (2.8%) hyperlipidaemic patients vs. 0/925 BD (0%) (P < 0.0001); advanced steatosis in 569/1893 hyperlipidaemic patients (30.1%) vs. 8/164 (4.9%) BD (P < 0.0001) and NASH in 132/1893 (7%) vs. 0/164 (0%), respectively (P < 0.0001). There was a highly significant and linear association between the number of metabolic syndrome factors and liver disease prevalence - the highest being for type 2 diabetics: advanced steatosis 66%, NASH 24% and advanced fibrosis 6%. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of fibrosis, steatosis and NASH in hyperlipidaemic patients appears to be high (3%, 30% and 7%, respectively). Biomarkers could be useful for screening of advanced fibrosis and NASH in patients with several metabolic syndrome factors, to prevent liver mortality.