Part-time use of 1% atropine eye drops for prevention of myopia progression in children.

BACKGROUND: To determine the effectiveness of atropine 1% administered once, twice and thrice per week. METHODS: Retrospective review of 166 cases in a tertiary eye hospital. RESULTS: In total, 166 patients started atropine 1% at different frequencies (once, twice and thrice per week) between January 2003 and August 2013 were identified. All patients had at least 15 months of follow-up. There was no significant difference in mean spherical equivalent (SE) (p = 0.341), age (p = 0.699), gender (p = 0.815) and ethnicity (p = 0.922) among the three groups at baseline. Patients were reviewed at 3, 9 and 15 months. Over a 15-month period, the mean change in SE was 0.26 ± 0.70 D, 0.51 ± 0.70 D and 0.46 ± 0.76 D in the patients started on once, twice and thrice per week, respectively (p = 0.342). Further analysis was performed by dividing patients into three groups of different changes in SE at the 15-month mark-≤ 0.5 D, between 0.5 D and 1.0 D and > 1.0 D. Groups with less myopic progression at the 15-month mark (< 0.5 and 0.5 to 1.0 D groups) were more myopic, - 5.32 D ± 1.88 and - 5.21 D ± 1.76, respectively, compared to - 4.13 D ± 2.05 in the > 1.0 D group. Multivariate linear regression analysis confirmed this relationship (p = 0.005), after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and frequency of dose. CONCLUSIONS: Part-time use of atropine 1% provides an alternative regimen of treating patients with myopia and can have a lower side effect profile compared to daily doses of atropine.

Ocular manifestations and the clinical course of carotid cavernous sinus fistulas in Asian patients.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical course with regard to both the angiographic and visual outcomes of carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs). BACKGROUND: Carotid cavernous sinus fistulas (CCFs) are conditions which often present with ocular signs and symptoms. The clinical presentation of CCFs is varied according to the anatomy, haemodynamics and size of the CCF. CCFs causing significant symptoms or vision loss should be treated with embolization. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the medical records of all CCF cases seen in the Singapore National Eye Centre from September 2002 to December 2011. RESULTS: 45 patients who had confirmed CCF on conventional cerebral angiography were included. Anterior draining CCFs presented with orbital congestion while posterior draining CCFs presented with pain, diplopia and cranial nerve palsies. Mild residual symptoms were still present in 85% of treated direct CCFs despite complete angiographic closure however 52% of treated dural CCFs had complete resolution of symptoms despite only half of those achieving angiographic closure. Treated and untreated dural CCFs had similar outcomes (87% versus 76% recovered or improved (p > 0.05)). Poor outcomes can result from residual diplopia or vision loss from complications of the CCF itself (e.g. compressive optic neuropathy, glaucoma, retinopathy) or complications from CCF embolization treatment (e.g. central retinal artery occlusion). CONCLUSION: Presenting symptoms and signs are related to the angiographic drainage of CCFs. Angiographic outcomes after embolization treatment may not always correlate with clinical outcomes.

The economic burden of inherited retinal disease in Singapore: a prevalence-based cost-of-illness study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the economic impact of inherited retinal disease (IRD) among Singaporeans. METHODS: IRD prevalence was calculated using population-based data. Focused surveys were conducted for sequentially enrolled IRD patients from a tertiary hospital. The IRD cohort was compared to the age- and gender-matched general population. Economic costs were expanded to the national IRD population to estimate productivity and healthcare costs. RESULTS: National IRD caseload was 5202 cases (95% CI, 1734-11273). IRD patients (n = 95) had similar employment rates to the general population (67.4% vs. 70.7%; p = 0.479). Annual income was lower among IRD patients than the general population (SGD 19,500 vs. 27,161; p < 0.0001). Employed IRD patients had lower median income than the general population (SGD 39,000 vs. 52,650; p < 0.0001). Per capita cost of IRD was SGD 9382, with a national burden of SGD 48.8 million per year. Male gender (beta of SGD 6543, p = 0.003) and earlier onset (beta of SGD 150/year, p = 0.009) predicted productivity loss. Treatment of the most economically impacted 10% of IRD patients with an effective IRD therapy required initial treatment cost of less than SGD 250,000 (USD 188,000) for cost savings to be achieved within 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Employment rates among Singaporean IRD patients were the same as the general population, but patient income was significantly lower. Economic losses were driven in part by male patients with early age of onset. Direct healthcare costs contributed relatively little to the financial burden.

General practitioner's knowledge regarding the diagnosis and drug therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the general practitioners (GP) knowledge regarding the diagnosis and initial drug therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in randomly selected GPs of Karachi. Doctors working in community as GPs who were registered medical practitioners having a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery degree were included in the study. Doctors working at tertiary care facilities or having a post graduate degree or post graduate training in a specialty other than family medicine were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 186 GPs participated in our study. GPs who studied research journals were 2.33 times more likely to investigate serum cardiac troponins levels for the diagnosis of AMI compared to those who did not study research journals (P = 0.02). Twenty six percent of the GPs said that they would refer a patient with suspected AMI without treatment, while 76% said that they would consider some treatment prior to referral. Fifty eight percent of the GPs identified ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) of < 12 hours duration as an indication of thrombolysis while 28% identified posterior wall AMI as a thrombolytic indication. CONCLUSION: GPs, although adequately aware of the presenting features of AMI, were lacking in knowledge regarding the means for confirmation of diagnosis, initial drug therapy and were less likely to carry management steps in their practice.

Evaluation of immune response to Hepatitis B vaccine in health care workers at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan: an observational prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Seroconversion rates reported after Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination globally ranges from 85-90%. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring HBV and non responders' rates after HBV vaccination were not reported previously in Pakistani HCWs. Therefore we evaluated immune response to HBV vaccine in HCWs at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: Descriptive observational study conducted at Aga Khan University from April 2003 to July 2004. Newly HBV vaccinated HCWs were evaluated for immune response by measuring serum Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) levels, 6 weeks post vaccination. RESULTS: Initially 666 employees were included in the study. 14 participants were excluded due to incomplete records. 271 (41%) participants were females and 381(59%) were males. Majority of the participants were young (<25-39 years old), regardless of gender. Out of 652 HCWs, 90 (14%) remained seronegative after six weeks of post vaccination. The percentage of non responders increased gradually from 9% in participants of <25, 13% in 25-34, 26% in 35-49, and 63% in >50 years of age. Male non responders were more frequent (18%) than female (8%). CONCLUSION: Seroconversion rate after HBV vaccination in Pakistani HCWs was similar to that reported in western and neighboring population. HCWs with reduced immune response to HBV vaccine in a high disease prevalent population are at great risk. Therefore, it is crucial to check post vaccination HBsAb in all HCWs. This strategy will ensure safety at work by reducing nosocomial transmission and will have a cost effective impact at an individual as well as at national level, which is very much desired in a resource limited country.

Use of systemic T-lymphocyte signal transduction inhibitors in the treatment of atopic keratoconjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: Topical immunomodulators such as tacrolimus have revolutionized the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Because T lymphocytes are integral to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, systemic treatment with T-lymphocyte signal transduction inhibitors should ameliorate both the dermatologic and ocular manifestations. We describe the successful treatment of 6 patients with severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) resistant to conventional therapies. METHODS: Retrospective observational case series. The charts of patients with AKC assessed by 1 of the authors were reviewed to identify those treated with systemic T-cell signal transduction inhibitors. Visual acuities, previous treatments, and the response to systemic signal transduction inhibitors were observed and reported in 6 patients. RESULTS: The patients had a mean duration of AKC of 21 years. Topical corticosteroids and antihistamines had failed to control signs and symptoms of the disease in all patients, and in some patients, systemic corticosteroids and topical cyclosporine were ineffective. Three patients were treated with systemic cyclosporine, and 3 were treated with systemic tacrolimus. One patient was subsequently treated with daclizumab in addition to tacrolimus. All 6 patients experienced complete remission of their AKC and an increase in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Selective systemic immunosuppression of T lymphocytes with cyclosporine or tacrolimus has proved effective in the treatment of both atopic dermatitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. We advocate the consideration of systemic therapy in cases that are resistant to conventional treatment to resolve inflammation and preserve vision. Further studies in this area are advocated.