MR imaging of papilledema and visual pathways: effects of increased intracranial pressure and pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Papilledema, defined as swelling of the optic disc, frequently occurs in the setting of increased ICP and in a variety of medical conditions, including pseudotumor cerebri, sinus thrombosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, frontal lobe neoplasms, and Chiari malformation. Noninvasive imaging of the ON is possible by using MR imaging, with a variety of findings occurring in the setting of papilledema, including flattening of the posterior sclera, protrusion of the optic disc, widening of the ONS, and tortuosity of the ON. Early recognition of papilledema and elevated ICP is of paramount importance for ensuring restoration of vision. Newer advanced MR imaging techniques such as fMRI and DTI may prove useful in the future to assess the potential effects of papilledema on retinal and visual pathway integrity.

A comparative study of combined small-incision cataract surgery with sutureless trabeculectomy versus trabeculectomy using W-shaped incision.

INTRODUCTION: Manual small-incision cataract surgery with trabeculectomy is now an acceptable option in the surgical management of combined cataract and glaucoma uncontrolled with maximum tolerated medical therapy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results and complications of combined manual small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation with trabeculectomy by sutureless versus W-shaped incision technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 eyes of 28 patients with senile cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in Group A (n = 15) underwent SICS with sutureless trabeculectomy and those in Group B (n =15) underwent SICS with trabeculectomy using W-shaped incision with one suture. Post-operative evaluation was done at the first post-operative day and thereafter on follow-ups at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. RESULTS: The mean preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in Group A was 27.33 ± 3.35 mmHg and 16.13 ± 4.30 mmHg respectively and in Group B it was 29.46 ± 6.06 mmHg and 14.66 ± 2.69 mmHg respectively. The mean reduction in IOP after 8 weeks of follow-up in Group A was 12.52 ± 3.59 mmHg and that in Group B was 16.47 ± 3.79 mmHg (p less than 0.001). Besides this, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was better in Group B postoperatively with less surgically-induced against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. CONCLUSION: Combined SICS with trabeculectomy using W-shaped incision offers better prospective in terms of glaucoma control and visual performance than sutureless combined surgery.

Pilomatrixoma of eyelid in a middle aged.

BACKGROUND: Pilomatrixoma , also known as Malherbes's calcifying epithelioma, known to occur in children, is not common especially in middle aged and those below 10 years of age . Pilomatrixoma presents as a firm skin nodule on eye lid or eye brow, so should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions involving eyelids. CASE: A 45-year-old male presented with a swelling in the left upper lid for the last 4 months. There was firm to hard non tender nodule measuring 1.5 cm. x 1.5cm in size on the lateral aspect of the left upper eye lid , involving the lid margin with variegated appearance of overlying skin with a few ulcerated areas on the surface. A presumptive diagnosis of meibomian gland carcinoma was made and an excision biopsy with primary lid repair was carried out. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pilomatrixoma. CONCLUSION: The present case is reported to sensitize the ophthalmologists to think beyond chalazion and meibomian gland carcinoma for a firm, nodular, non ulcerated, painless lid swelling.

Trabecular bone contributes to strength of the proximal femur under mediolateral impact in the avian.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis in long bones involves loss of cortical thickness and of the trabecular microarchitecture. Deterioration and weakening of trabecular bone tissue during osteoporosis imposes greater physiological loads on the cortical shell. However, it is unclear whether trabecular bone significantly contributes to the strength of whole bones under non-physiological impact loads. METHOD OF APPROACH: We hypothesize that trabecular tissue in epiphyses of long bones contributes to resisting and distributing impact loads. To test this hypothesis, we caused artificial trabecular bone loss in proximal femora of adult hens but did not alter the bone cortex. Subsequently, we compared the energy required to fracture the proximal part of femora with missing trabecular tissue with the energy required to fracture control femora, by means of a Charpy test. RESULTS: Extensive loss of trabecular bone in hens (over 0.50 grams or approximately 71% weight fraction) significantly reduced the energy required to fracture the whole proximal femur in mediolateral impacts (from approximately 0.37 joule in controls to approximately 0.20 joule after extraction of core trabecular tissue). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that trabecular bone in the proximal femur is important for distributing impact loads applied to the cortex, and support the concept that in treating osteoporosis to prevent hip fractures, it is just as important to prevent trabecular bone loss as it is important to prevent loss of cortical thickness.