Health-related quality of life after a diagnosis of bladder cancer: a longitudinal survey over the first year.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients in a prospective 12-month observational cohort study of new bladder cancer diagnoses and compare with national cancer and general population surveys. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective UK study in patients with new bladder cancer diagnoses at 13 NHS Trusts. The HRQoL data were collected at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Questionnaires used included: the EuroQoL five Dimensions (EQ-5D), European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-30-item core, EORTC QLQ-24-item non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and EORTC QLQ-30-item muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Results were compared with the Cancer Quality of Life Survey and Health Survey for England. RESULTS: A total of 349 patients were recruited, 296 (85%) completed the first (baseline) and 233 (67%) the final survey. The patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) ± intravesical therapy (238 patients, 80%), radical cystectomy/radiotherapy (51, 17%) or palliation (seven, 2%). At baseline, patients needing radical treatment reported worse HRQoL including lower social function (74.2 vs 83.8, P = 0.002), increased fatigue (31.5 vs 26.1, P = 0.03) and more future worries (39.2 vs 29.4, P = 0.005) than patients who underwent TURBT. Post-treatment surveys showed no change/improvements for patients who underwent TURBT but deterioration for the radically treated cohort. At final survey, reports were similar to baseline, regardless of treatment. Radically treated patients continued to report poorer HRQoL including issues with body image (23.4 vs 12.5, P = 0.007) and male sexual function (75.8 vs 40.4, P < 0.001) compared to those who underwent TURBT. Radically treated patients reported lower EQ-5D utility scores and more problems with usual activities than the general population. DISCUSSION: Patients undergoing TURBT can be reassured regarding HRQoL following treatment. However, those requiring radical treatment report greater changes in HRQoL with the need for appropriate clinical and supportive care to minimise the impact of treatments.

Case report: a diagnostically challenging conjunctival mass caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.

We present a paediatric case of infectious mononucleosis in a 13-year old, manifesting with follicular conjunctivitis and a conjunctival mass in one eye with no evidence of leucocytosis on the blood count. The diagnosis was confirmed following surgical excision and biopsy. The case represented a diagnostic challenge due to its atypism and given the steady increase in the prevalence of EBV-related ocular diseases in the last years, this report can serve as an example to prompt earlier serological tests to identify the aetiology in similar cases. This is important because EBV can be treated with acyclovir early in the active viral phase.

Indications for orbital decompression for patients undergoing keratoprosthesis surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Optimizing the ocular surface and achieving acceptable cosmesis are important considerations in the rehabilitation of patients with keratoprosthesis (KPro). In osteo-odonto-KPro and type 1 Boston KPro surgery, it is important to ensure a healthy ocular surface to increase the chance of functional success. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors present 2 patients with KPros undergoing orbital decompression surgery. This series highlights a novel indication for orbital decompression surgery for patients, who are usually 1-eyed, undergoing KPro surgery. It illustrates the importance of globe position to either optimize the ocular surface or allow a cosmetic shell to be worn. To the authors' knowledge, such indications for orbital decompression have not been reported to date. RESULTS: Two-wall and intraconal fat orbital decompression surgery achieved globe retroplacement of 6 mm and 7 mm, allowing fitting of a cosmetic shell over the osteo-odonto-KPro and reducing lagophthalmos and corneal exposure in patients 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Indications for orbital decompression exist in patients undergoing osteo-odonto-KPro or KPro to reduce pseudoproptosis or exposure.

Resection of an orbital haemangiopericytoma after direct intraoperative injection of 40% N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and 60% Lipiodol.

Haemangiopericytoma is a highly vascular tumour, which is a rare soft tissue lesion that may arise anywhere in the body, including the orbit. During its surgical resection, it is too friable for the surgeon to handle and it can bleed severely causing many problems to the surgeon. That is why many surgical approaches have been reported till now, aiming at total excision with minimal blood loss. In this case, total resection of an orbital haemangiopericytoma in a 61-year-old Caucasian woman, using an intraoperative 23G needle injection of 40% n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and 60% lipiodol, is presented. The lesion was directly injected under fluoroscopic visualization, after which it became firm enough to be surgically removed without significant bleeding.

Medpor lower eyelid spacer: does it biointegrate?

PURPOSE: To report the histopathologic findings of explanted Medpor lower eyelid spacers (LES) in complicated cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four cases of lower eyelid retraction due to thyroid orbitopathy (n = 2), facial nerve palsy (n = 1), and post-enucleation socket syndrome (n = 1) were treated with Medpor LES. RESULTS: All implants were removed between 6 months to 2 years following their original insertion due to exposure, poor stability, or contour. Histopathology of the implants showed fibrosis and vascularization although clinically, at the time of removal, did not appear vascularized. In addition, immunohistochemistry was positive for Factor VIII related antigen and CD34, thus highlighting the presence of vessels in the pores and around the implant. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, we are the first to report histopathologic findings of explanted high-density porous polyethylene implants from the lower eyelid in humans. Although this study shows that Medpor LES does biointegrate, we advocate using it sparingly due to associated complications such as exposure, poor stability, and contour.

The osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP).

The osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), although described over 40 years ago, remains the keratoprosthesis of choice for end-stage corneal blindness not amenable to penetrating keratoplasty. It is particularly resilient to a hostile environment such as the dry keratinized eye resulting from severe Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, trachoma, and chemical injury. Its rigid optical cylinder gives excellent image resolution and quality. The desirable properties of the theoretical ideal keratoprosthesis is described. The indications, contraindications, and patient assessment (eye, tooth, buccal mucosa, psychology) for OOKP surgery are described. The surgical and anaesthetic techniques are described. Follow-up is life-long in order to detect and treat complications, which include oral, oculoplastic, glaucoma, vitreo-retinal complications and extrusion of the device. Resorption of the osteo-odonto-lamina is responsible for extrusion, and this is more pronounced in tooth allografts. Regular imaging with spiral-CT or electron beam tomography can help detect bone and dentine loss. The optical cylinder design is discussed. Preliminary work towards the development of a synthetic OOKP analogue is described. Finally, we describe how to set up an OOKP national referral center.

Optical coherence tomography imaging of the optic nerve head pre optic and post optic nerve sheath fenestration.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of unknown aetiology, and causes elevated intracranial pressures. This is often associated with papilloedema with subsequent degrees of optic atrophy if the intracranial pressures are not controlled in a timely manner. Optical coherence tomography imaging is widely recognised for its use in the monitoring of optic nerves in glaucoma, and this report is the first to describe its use to monitor the optic nerve head pre optic and post optic nerve sheath fenestration.

Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Quantitation of Left Ventricular Global and Regional Shape: Validation of an Algorithm Based on Fourier Transformation and Curvature Measurements of Endocardial Contours.

Left ventricular geometry is an important parameter of its function; however, left ventricular function has been conventionally quantified through measurements of volume, ejection fraction, and mass. Left ventricular global shape has been quantified previously using methods that are based on assumptions of idealized cavity shape. Although these indices have been applied to various disease states of the left ventricle, the underlying assumption of an ideal left ventricular geometry is inherently flawed. Regional left ventricular shape using echocardiography has not been previously evaluated, principally because of the difficulty in quantitative regional geometry. Alterations in left ventricular geometry have a direct impact on wall stress and thus the diastolic performance of the left ventricle. We developed an algorithm based on Fourier transformation of traced endocardial borders from two-dimensional echocardiograms that allowed global shape of the left ventricular to be quantified without assumptions of any ideal left ventricular shape. This method is an adaptation of an algorithm defined for cineventriculograms by Marino and colleagues (Am J Physiol 1988;254:H547-H557). We further described a method to quantify regional endocardial curvature as an index of regional shape. In this preliminary validation study, we primarily tested the reproducibility of these two parameters.

Health status and satisfaction of patients receiving ambulatory care at osteopathic training clinics.

Little is known about the health status and level of satisfaction of patients receiving care at osteopathic training clinics. Previous studies report favorable responses to medical student participation in ambulatory clinics. The health status and level of satisfaction for 2700 patients attending six family medicine training clinics at a college of osteopathic medicine were measured from 1996 through 1998. Clinic response rates ranged from 74% to 98%. Data from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) were used to compute standardized scores in the following eight health scales for English- and Spanish-speaking patients: physical functioning, role limitations because of physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations because of emotional problems, and mental health. Patients at these osteopathic training clinics reported poorer health than the general population on all eight scales (P < .001). Patients who were English speakers reported significantly better health than their Spanish-speaking counterparts on four of the eight health scales, although the Spanish-speaking patients reported greater vitality. There were significant differences in patient health across clinics. More than 92% of patients at these six osteopathic training clinics reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their healthcare. This study suggests that osteopathic medical students are well accepted in ambulatory clinic encounters and that these students may encounter differing levels of patient health depending on where they receive their training.

Changes in corneal topography with upper eyelid gold weight implants.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of upper eyelid gold weight implantation on corneal astigmatism. METHODS: This is a prospective, cohort study. Eighteen eyes of 18 patients underwent upper eyelid gold weight implantation for facial nerve palsy. Nine of these patients recovered facial nerve function and underwent elective removal of the gold weight. Corneal topography was performed before and after gold weight implantation. Corneal topography was also performed after gold weight removal in patients who recovered from facial nerve paralysis. RESULTS: With-the-rule corneal astigmatism increased significantly by 1.4 diopters (D) +/-2.0, from a mean of 0.3 to 1.7 D after gold weight implantation (p = 0.034). With-the-rule corneal astigmatism in patients who had gold weight removal decreased by 1.2 +/- 2.1 D, from 2.2 to 1.0 D after gold weight removal (p = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: Upper eyelid gold weight implantation causes an increase in corneal astigmatism, predominantly in the vertical axis, which appears to be reversible on removal of the gold weight.