Potential application of foveal structural measurements in treatment decision for retinopathy of prematurity: an OCT-based study.

PURPOSE: To investigate foveal changes in infants with ROP not requiring treatment(nROP) and ROP infants needing treatment (tROP) using a handheld SD-OCT device. METHOD: We performed horizontal SD-OCT scans through the fovea in 156 eyes of 81 infants diagnosed with ROP. Foveal immaturity indices including the presence of inner retinal layers (IRL), absence of foveal outer nuclear layers widening (ONL) and attenuation of hyperreflective outer segment layers (OS), presence and type of cystoid macular edema (CME), epiretinal membrane (ERM), foveal pit depth (FPD), foveal pit width (FPW) and central foveal thickness (CFT) were calculated. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to predict the need for treatment based on OCT measurements. RESULTS: The shape of the foveolar pit was not significantly different among tROP and nROP groups (P-value = 0.287, Chi-square test). IRL extrusion was incomplete in both tROP and nROP groups (P-value = 0.0.41, Chi-square test). Nevertheless, the presence of thicker IRL was more frequent in the nROP group in comparison with the tROP group (100% vs.64.8%, P-value = 0.001). CME was observed in 29% of eyes in the tROP group and 40% of eyes in the nROP group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P-value = 0.32, Chi-square test). ERM was detected in 15 (75%) and 84 (65.6%) eyes in the nROP and tROP groups, respectively (P-value = 0.39, Chi-square test). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the need for treatment was significantly associated with gestational age (GA), CFT and FPD (P-values 0.001 and 0.002 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated GA, foveal pit depth and the central foveal thickness could accurately predict the need for treatment with sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of 97%, 65% and 91.7% respectively.

Comparison of the Laryngoscopic View using Macintosh and Miller Blades in Children Less than Four Years Old.

This study aimed to compare Miller and Macintosh laryngoscopes in zero to 4-year-old children. A total of 72 children with a score of I and II, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, who were candidates for elective surgery with general anesthesia and tracheal intubation were enrolled in the study. The children were divided into two equal groups (36 persons) according to used laryngoscope: Miller laryngoscope (group 1) and Macintosh laryngoscope (group 2). Observations and all laryngoscopies were performed by a single experienced anesthesiologist. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, non-invasive arterial blood pressure, and hemoglobin saturation were measured and recorded. The number of endotracheal intubation attempts and complications were also recorded for both groups. In terms of gender, the first group consisted of 88.9% boys and 11.1% girls, and the second group consisted of 66.6% boys and 33.3% girls (p-value=0.05). The mean age was 16.7 months in the first group and 17.7 months in the second group (p-value=0.5). The mean weight of the children was 16988.5 g and 16300 g in the Miller and Macintosh groups, respectively (p-value=0.9). Regarding the Cormack-Lehane classification system, 5 patients were classified as grade 1 (13.9%), 14 patients as grade 2 (38.9%), 15 patients as grade 3 (41.7%), and 2 patients as grade 4 (5.6%) in the Macintosh group. In contrast, in the Miller group, 5 patients were classified as grade 1 (13.9%), 27 patients as grade 2 (75%), and 4 patients as grade 3 (11.1%) (p-value=0.004). These results can provide more data about the tracheal intubation method with the Macintosh and Miller laryngoscopes, the ease of intubation, and the best laryngoscopic view with each blade.

Effects of repeated exposure to different concentrations of sevoflurane on the neonatal mouse hippocampus / Efeitos da exposição repetida a diferentes concentrações de sevoflurano sobre o hipocampo de ratos neonatos

Abstract Background and objectives: Developing brain is more vulnerable to environmental risk than is the developed brain. We evaluated the effects of repeated exposure to different concentrations of sevoflurane on the neonatal mouse hippocampus using stereological methods. Methods: Eighteen neonatal male mice were randomly divided into three groups. Group A, inhaled sevoflurane at a concentration of 1.5%; Group B, inhaled sevoflurane at a concentration of 3%; and Group C (control group), inhaled only 100% oxygen. Treatments were applied for 30 min a day for 7 consecutive days. The hippocampal volume, dendrite length, number of neurons, and number of glial cells were evaluated in each group using stereological estimations. Results: We identified a ∼2% reduction in the volume of the hippocampus in Group A compared to Group C. Mean hippocampal volume was ∼11% smaller in Group B than it was in Group C. However, these differences in hippocampal volume between the groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05 for all). As for the number of neurons, we found significantly fewer neurons in Group A (∼29% less) and Group B (∼43% less) than we did in Group C (p < 0.05 for both). The dendrite length was ∼8% shorter in Group A and ∼11% shorter in Group B than it was in Group C. Conclusions: Repeated exposure to sevoflurane, regardless of the concentration, reduced the volume of the neonatal mouse hippocampus, as well as the number of neurons and dendrite length.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: O cérebro em desenvolvimento é mais vulnerável ao risco ambiental do que o cérebro já desenvolvido. Avaliamos os efeitos da exposição repetida a diferentes concentrações de sevoflurano sobre o hipocampo de ratos neonatos com o uso de métodos estereológicos. Métodos: Dezoito ratos neonatos foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos. O Grupo A foi submetido à inalação de sevoflurano a uma concentração de 1,5%; o Grupo B foi submetido à inalação de sevoflurano a uma concentração de 3%; o Grupo C (controle) foi submetido à inalação de apenas oxigênio a 100%. Os tratamentos foram aplicados durante 30 minutos por dia, durante sete dias consecutivos. Volume do hipocampo, comprimento do dendrito, número de neurônios e número de células gliais foram avaliados em cada grupo com o uso de estimativas estereológicas. Resultados: Identificamos uma redução de ∼2% no volume do hipocampo no Grupo A em comparação com o Grupo C. O volume médio do hipocampo foi ∼11% menor no Grupo B do que no Grupo C. Entretanto, essas diferenças no volume do hipocampo entre os grupos não foram estatisticamente significativas (p > 0,05 para todos). Quanto ao número de neurônios, encontramos um número significativamente menor de neurônios no Grupo A (∼29% menos) e no Grupo B (∼43% menos) do que no Grupo C (p < 0,05 para ambos). O comprimento do dendrito foi ∼8% menor no Grupo A e ∼1% menor no Grupo B que no Grupo C. Conclusões: A exposição repetida ao sevoflurano, independentemente da concentração, reduziu o volume do hipocampo neonatal de camundongos, bem como o número de neurônios e o comprimento dos dendritos.

A comparison of the upper lip bite test with hyomental/thyrosternal distances and mandible length in predicting difficulty in intubation: A prospective study.

The incidence of difficulty in tracheal intubation has been reported to range from 0.5 to 18% in patients undergoing surgery. We aimed to elucidate the role of upper lip bite test (ULBT) with other prevailing tests, hyomental/thyrosternal distances (HMD/TSD), and the mandible length (ML) and their possible correlation in predicting difficulty in intubation. After institutional approval and informed consent were obtained, 300 consecutive patients aged 20-60 years of ASA physical status I and II, scheduled for elective surgical procedures requiring tracheal intubation and meeting the inclusion criteria, were enrolled in this study. Each patient was evaluated regarding ULBT, HMD, TSD and ML. Laryngoscopy was assessed by an attending anaesthesiologist blinded to the measurements. The laryngoscopic result was graded according to Cormack and Lehane's Grading system. The negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of ULBT were found to be 94 and 100%, respectively. These corresponding figures for TSD were 88.5 and 0%, respectively. Specificities for ULBT, HMD, ML and TSD were 100, 98.9, 98.9 and 98.1%, respectively. ULBT class and laryngoscopic grading showed the greatest agreement (kappa = 0.61, P < 0.001). An agreement between laryngoscopic grading and HMD and ML also existed (0.003 and <0.001, respectively), but was comparatively weaker. The high specificity, NPV, PPV and accuracy of ULBT as revealed in this study could be a good rationale for its application in the prediction of difficulty or easiness in intubation. ML > 9 cm and HMD > 3.5 cm were good predictors of negative difficult intubation.