Lux study: Contribution of a three-dimensional, high dynamic range, ultra-high-definition heads-up visualization system to a significant delivered light intensity decrease during different types of ocular surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis that using a large, three-dimensional (3D), ultra-high-definition (4K), heads-up display (HUD) system in a real-life setting may be associated with a significant reduction in light intensity (LI) delivered during various types of eye surgery. METHODS: Single center, post-learning curve observational study of 142 independent consecutive cases: 73 cataracts and 69 vitrectomies (VR). For each group, the only variable setting was the LI. The LI delivered by each source was calibrated in lumens (lm). RESULTS: In the VR group, the delivered LI dramatically decreased from the 80% reference to 27.8%±13.2% (P<0.0001) (4.3 to 1.5lm). Among these surgeries, 91.3% needed 40% or less LI (2.3lm). The corneal transparency and quality of pupil dilation showed some correlation with the results. In the cataract group, the difference was even more spectacular, from 80% to 15%±11.3% (P<0.0001) (2.5 to 0.3lm). Among these surgeries, 80.8% required less than 20% LI (0.5lm). The surgical time, LI variations and type of cataract seemed to influence the results, down to 9.6%±5.4% (P<0.0001) (0.22lm) for nuclear cataracts, which represented 63% of the cataract sample. CONCLUSION: The digital signal amplification with this HUD system allows comfortable posterior as well as anterior segment surgery despite the decrease in incident light, suggesting an unprecedented reduction in the risk of phototoxicity compared to conventional systems as well as a likely improvement in patient comfort.

[An ophthalmologic diagnostic error leading to a rare systemic diagnosis: Erdheim-Chester disease]. / Une errance diagnostique ophtalmologique aboutissant à un diagnostic systémique rare: la maladie d'Erdheim-Chester.

INTRODUCTION: Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare systemic disease. The diagnosis is difficult due to significant clinical and morphological polymorphism. Orbital involvement is rare, but constitutes a classic means of detection. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 60-year-old man, who consulted for evaluation of bilateral retro-orbital tumors. These tumors had been discovered on head CT two years previously during work-up of proptosis. Two biopsies were performed. The first one revealed polymorphous inflammatory tissue. The second one revealed intense granulomatous reaction, rich in non-specific foamy histiocytes. Thoracic-abdominal-pelvic CT scan detected peri-aortic and retroperitoneal infiltration. The association of these signs pointed to a diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease, confirmed by the re-examination of the histological samples. DISCUSSION: Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis with a specific tropism for perivascular and fatty connective tissue. The cause is not known. The diagnosis of this systemic disease is histological. CONCLUSION: In the case of bilateral intra-orbital tumors, the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease must be considered.

[Self-mutilating behaviour: a study on 30 inpatients]. / Les conduites automutilatrices: étude portant sur 30 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Deliberate self-injury is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue without suicidal intent. There are different types of deliberate self-mutilating behaviour: self cutting, phlebotomy, bites, burns, or ulcerations. Sometimes, especially among psychotic inpatients, eye, tongue, ear or genital self-mutilations have been reported. In fact, self-mutilation behaviour raises nosological and psychopathological questions. A consensus on a precise definition is still pending. Many authors consider self-mutilating behaviour as a distinct clinical syndrome, whereas others hold it to be a specific symptom of borderline personality disorder. Self-mutilating behaviour has been observed in 10 to 15% of healthy children, especially between the age of 9 and 18 months. These self mutilations are considered as pathological after the age of 3. Such behaviour is common among adolescents, with a higher proportion of females, and among psychiatric inpatients. Patients use different locations and methods for self-mutilation. Deliberate self harm syndrome is often associated with addictive behaviour, suicide attempt, and personality disorder. CLINICAL MATERIAL: We report on an observational study including 30 inpatients and we compared the data with the existing literature. As a matter of fact, until now, most of the papers deal with case reports or with very specific patterns of self-mutilation (eye, tongue or genital self-mutilations). Otherwise, papers report the relationships between self-mutilation and somatic or personality disorders (Lesh Nyhan syndrome, borderline personality disorder, dermatitis artefacta, self-mutilation in children following brachial plexus related to birth injury, mental retardation...). Our study included all self harmed patients who had been admitted to our psychiatric hospital (whatever the location and type of self-mutilation). Patients suffering from brain injury or mental retardation were excluded. RESULTS: In our sample, there was a higher percentage of women (29 women and 1 man) and the mean age was 18 (12 to 37). More than half of the patients were aged under 18. Single parent families were reported in 30% of cases. Thirty percent of patients had been physically or sexually abused during childhood. Sixty percent had a comorbid psychiatric disorder, 63% had been hospitalised previously (half of them twice or more). Seventy-three percent of patients had previously attempted suicide (notably deliberate self-poisoning and cutting) that was not considered as self-mutilating behaviour by the patients themselves. Each patient had self harmed themselves at least twice and most often different methods and locations were used (deliberate self harm of forearms 90%, thighs 26.7%, legs 16.7%, chest 10%, belly 10%, hands 6.9%, face 6.9%, arms 6.7%, and feet 3.3%). Addictive disorders, such as substance abuse (tobacco 46.7%; alcohol 23.3%; illicit drugs 16.7% mostly cannabis or cocaine) and eating disorders (33.3% and among them 50% of cases were restrictive anorexia nervosa) were often associated with a deliberate self harm syndrome. Three psychiatric diagnoses were often observed in our cohort: depressive disorder 36.7%; personality disorder 20%; psychosis 10% and depressive disorder associated with personality disorder 33.3%. In our sample, psychotic patients differed on several clinical aspects: the atypical location (abdomen, nails) and method (needles) of self-mutilating behaviour. None of them had been abused during childhood and none was suffering from addictive disorders.

Characterization of an oxaluric acid derivative as a guanine oxidation product.

The oxidation of guanine in the dinucleoside monophosphate d(GpT) by an oxo-metalloporphyrin generates a linear oxaluric acid derivative after heating at 65 degrees C for 30 min and at neutral pH.