Implementation of risk stratification for the care of glaucoma patients during the resumption of in-person care during the COVID-19

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a serious health crisis in which non-essential medical services were suspended, with the management of serious diseases not related to the pandemic, including glaucoma, becoming secondary in importance. With the flexibilization of social isolation measures, resuming outpatient care was necessary, respecting the health equity provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System.Objective: to describe a risk classification of glaucoma progression based on clinical ophthalmology criteria during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: observational study of an administrative nature. A review was carried out of the medical records of patients who had scheduled appointments between March and September of 2020 in the glaucoma sector of the FMABC University Center's Department of Ophthalmology. A total of 489 medical records (881 eyes) were reviewed, and patients were divided into 4 groups according to the risk of glaucoma progression. Eyes were evaluated for visual acuity (VA), optic disc cup, pachymetry, intraocular pressure (IOP), mean number of eyes drop medications used, and global visual field indexes.Results: groups were homogeneous in terms of age (mean 67.04 ± 11.72 years) and sex (55.5% women and 44.5% men). Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most prevalent etiology, present in 45.2% of patients, followed by primary angle-closure glaucoma in 15.7%. The groups were compared with each other, and a statistical difference (p<0.005) was found in 04 of the 08 aspects analyzed: VA, optic disc cup, IOP and mean number of eyes drop medications used.Conclusion: the risk classification for progression proposed in this study was easily applied and aided managers in prioritizing the most serious care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Preretinal hemorrhage preventing subretinal involvement in multilayer macular hemorrhages: coincidence or plausible relationship?

BACKGROUND: To report four cases with interesting anatomical presentations of multilayer macular hemorrhages with preretinal hemorrhage possibly preventing subretinal involvement of the macular area. CASES PRESENTATION: Observational study of four patients presenting with macular hemorrhages. RESULTS: Four patients with multilayer macular hemorrhage due to different causes, presented with a halo-shaped submacular hemorrhage coincident with the preretinal hemorrhage borders. After resolution, in all cases, the macular area underneath the preretinal hemorrhage was found to be spared. CONCLUSION: We hypothesized that an extensive preretinal hemorrhage can exert a mechanical force pushing the subretinal hemorrhage towards the periphery, consequently protecting the macular area.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for macular edema: a pilot study in a public health center

INTRODUCTION: Macula edema consists in one of the most common causes of visual impairment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of continuous release of 0.7 mg dexamethasone (using implantable device) for treatment of macular edema. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 16 patients treated with 0.7 mg dexamethasone intraocular implant. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure and central macular thickness were recorded at baseline, 1-month and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: 15 eyes of 13 patients were included. Most eyes (n=9) improve visual acuity from baseline at 1-month follow-up; this improvement persisted through 3-monyh follow-up in six eyes. The central macular thickness decreased in the majority of the subjects at 1-month (n=12) and at 3-month (n=10) follow-up. Three eyes presented with elevated intraocular pressure. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone implant can both reduce the risk of vision loss and improve anatomical features of macular edema due to several pathologies studied. This implant may be used safely and should be considered a therapeutic option to Brazilian Public Health System.

Review on Wearables to Monitor Foot Temperature in Diabetic Patients.

One of the diseases that could affect diabetic patients is the diabetic foot problem. Unnoticed minor injuries and subsequent infection can lead to ischemic ulceration, and may end in a foot amputation. Preliminary studies have shown that there is a positive relationship between increased skin temperature and the pre⁻ulceration phase. Hence, we have carried out a review on wearables, medical devices, and sensors used specifically for collecting vital data. In particular, we are interested in the measure of the foot⁻temperature. Since there is a large amount of this type of medical wearables, we will focus on those used to measure temperature and developed in Spain.

Drinking-water herbicide exposure in Indiana and prevalence of small-for-gestational-age and preterm delivery.

BACKGROUND: Atrazine and other corn herbicides are routinely detected in drinking water. Two studies on potential association of atrazine with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and preterm birth prevalence found inconsistent results. Moreover, these studies did not control for individual-level potential confounders. OBJECTIVES: Our retrospective cohort study evaluated whether atrazine in drinking water is associated with increased prevalence of SGA and preterm birth. METHODS: We developed atrazine concentration time series for 19 water systems in Indiana from 1993 to 2007 and selected all births (n = 24,154) based on geocoded mother's residences. Log-binomial models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for SGA and preterm delivery in relation to atrazine concentrations during various periods of the pregnancy. Models controlled for maternal demographic characteristics, prenatal care and reproductive history, and behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, drug use). RESULTS: Atrazine in drinking water during the third trimester and the entire pregnancy was associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of SGA. Atrazine in drinking water > 0.1 microg/L during the third trimester resulted in a 17-19% increase in the prevalence of SGA compared with the control group (< 0.1 microg/L). Mean atrazine concentrations over the entire pregnancy > 0.644 microg/L were associated with higher SGA prevalence than in the control group (adjusted PR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.24). No significant association was found for preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS: We found that atrazine, and perhaps other co-occurring herbicides in drinking water, is associated with an increased prevalence of SGA, but not preterm delivery.

Risk of limb birth defects and mother's home proximity to cornfields.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have linked proximity to crops and birth defects, they lacked individual-level exposure data and none was based on using planted area instead of linear proximity to crops as the exposure metric. We studied birth defects in relation to the area of corn or soybeans within 500 m of the mother's residence. METHODS: We selected all singleton births from rural areas conceived during the 2000-2004 spring-summer months (n=48,216). We determined whether the area with corn or soybeans around the home was associated with birth defects using multiple unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: We found that limb birth defects (ICD-9-CM 754.5, 755) increased in relation to cornfields (Adjusted OR=1.22; 95 % CI=1.01, 1.47 per additional 10 ha planted with corn within 500 m). None of the birth defect types studied was associated with soybeans. CONCLUSIONS: In the Midwest, a significant and expanding proportion of the population is now living in close proximity to cornfields. Our results suggest that additional studies should be conducted to identify which factor(s) associated with cornfields are behind the observed increase in limb birth defects.