Effectiveness and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema patients considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies (REACT): a prospective, non-randomized, and multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the intravitreal fluocinolone-acetonide implant (FAc-i) in patients with chronic diabetic macular edema who did not sufficiently respond to other available therapies. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, non-randomized, and phase-IV observational study conducted on patients with recurrent-DME who were insufficient responders to currently available therapies (REACT-Study). The primary end-point was the mean change in best-corrected-visual-acuity from baseline to month-24 values. RESULTS: Thirty-one eyes from 31 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 68.0 ± 7.7 years, and 10 (32.3%) were women. Study patients had received 5.3 ± 7.3 previous DME treatments before starting the study. In the overall study sample, BCVA improved from 56.1 ± 12.3 letters at baseline to 62.4 ± 17.0 letters at month-24 (p = 0.0510). The eyes with a baseline BCVA < 70 ETDRS letters had a significant improvement in BCVA from 53.2 ± 10.2 letters at baseline to 61.5 ± 17.9 letters at month-24 (p = 0.0165). In the overall study population, central-subfoveal-thickness (CST) was significantly reduced from 474.0 ± 135.1 µm at baseline to 333.4 ± 135.6 at month-24 (p < 0.0001). Similarly, macular-volume (MV) was significantly reduced from 10.7 ± 2.7 mm3 at baseline to 9.6 ± 2.9 mm3 (p = 0.0027) at month-24. Among the 31 study eyes, 19 (61.3%) required an additional treatment for DME. Throughout the study, 9 (29.0%) eyes required ocular hypotensive medication for controlling their intraocular-pressure and 5 (16.1%) eyes underwent cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In DME eyes who did not sufficiently respond to previous therapies, the FAc-i was associated with an improvement in visual and anatomic outcomes. There were no unexpected adverse-events. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EudraCT identifier: 2016-001680-37.

Development and Validation of a Laryngeal Microsurgery Simulation Training System for Otolaryngology Residents.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to create a synthetic laryngeal microsurgery simulation model and training program; to assess its face, content, and construct validity; and to review the available phonomicrosurgery simulation models in the literature. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomly assigned control study. SETTING: Simulation training course for the otolaryngology residency program at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. METHODS: Resident (postgraduate year 1 [PGY1]/PGY2) and expert groups were recruited. A laryngeal microsurgery synthetic model was developed. Nine tasks were designed and assessed through a set of programmed exercises with increasing difficulty, to fulfill 5 surgical competencies. Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device sensors applied to the participants' hands measured time and movements. The activities were video-recorded and blindly assessed by 2 laryngologists using a specific and global rating scale (SRS and GRS). A 5-point Likert survey assessing validity was completed by experts. RESULTS: Eighteen participants were recruited (14 residents and 4 experts). Experts performed significantly better than residents in the SRS (p = .003), and GRS (p = .004). Internal consistency was demonstrated for the SRS (α = .972, p < .001). Experts had a shorter execution time (p = .007), and path length with the right hand (p = .04). The left hand did not show significant differences. The survey assessing validity resulted in a median 36 out of 40 points score for face validity; and 43 out of 45 points score, for global content validity. The literature review revealed 20 available phonomicrosurgery simulation models, only 6 with construct validity. CONCLUSION: The face, content, and construct validity of the laryngeal microsurgery simulation training program were established. It could be replicated and incorporated into residents' curricula.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Secondary to Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Lindsay-Hemenway syndrome was first described as an acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy followed by positional vertigo. A vascular etiology was proposed. An association between cardiovascular risk factors and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy has been described with contradictory evidence. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy and analyze differences in prior history of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, affected semicircular canals, and response to repositioning maneuvers between patients with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, descriptive study of all cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo between January/2017 and June/2020, with or without a history of acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy within the previous year. Cases secondary to trauma or otoneurological causes and acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy without confirmatory tests and cases with auditory symptoms were excluded. RESULTS: In total, 242 cases were obtained; 158 idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and 84 secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy. No statistically significant differences were found in relation to age: 61.2 ± 14.6 versus 62.4 ± 16.2 years (P=.55), sex: female 78.5% versus 73.8% (P=.41), presence of cardiovascular risk factors: 52.5% versus 54.8% (P=.67), prior history of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: 22.2% versus 27.7% (P=.43), affected semicircular canals (P=.16) or number of repositioning maneuvers (P=.57). CONCLUSION: Associations between age, cardiovascular risk factors, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy have been described with conflicting evidence. This is the first study to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors specifically for Lindsay-Hemenway syndrome, and we did not observe any differences between idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo cases and those secondary to acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy.

Diagnóstico de otitis media con efusión en adultos / Diagnosis of otitis media with effusion in adults

La otitis media con efusión (OME) se define como la presencia de líquido en la cavidad del oído medio, sin signos ni síntomas de infección. Es una patología frecuente en niños, alcanzando una prevalencia del 14,8% en población de 4 a 16 años y su patogenia en este grupo se encuentra ampliamente estudiada. Sin embargo, en adultos su prevalencia es baja y, consecuentemente, su patogenia y mecanismos están menos dilucidados. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir la fisiopatología de la OME en adultos, describir sus etiologías y proponer un algoritmo de estudio diagnóstico adecuado.

Otitis media with effusion (OME), is defined as the presence of fluid in the middle ear, with no signs of acute infection. It is a frequent pathology in children, with a prevalence of 14.8% in the population between 4-16 years old, and its pathology has been widely studied in this group. However, its prevalence in adults is low; therefore, the pathology and mechanisms are less elucidated. The aim of this review is to describe the physio-pathology of the OME in adults, its etiology, and propose an algorithm for the proper diagnosis of this disease.

Genetic and environmental factors related to the development of myopic maculopathy in Spanish patients.

High myopia and the subsequent degenerative changes of the retina, choroid, and sclera, known as myopic maculopathy (MM), are a serious visual problem in many Asian countries, and are beginning to be so in the south of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean. It is therefore necessary to carry out genetic and environmental studies to determine the possible causes of this disease. This study aims to verify if the genetic factors that have been most related to Asian populations are also associated in two Spanish cohorts. Eight SNPs from six genes (PAX6, SCO2, CCDC102B, BLID, chromosome 15q14, and COL8A1) along with demographic, ophthalmic and environmental factors were analysed in two cohorts from a total of 365 highly myopic subjects and 177 control subjects. The genetic analysis showed that COL8A1 SNP rs13095226 was associated with the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and also seems to play an important role in the increase of axial length. The SNP rs634990 of chromosome 15q14 also showed a significant association with MM, although this was lost after the Bonferroni correction. Additional demographic and environmental factors, namely age, sex, smoking status, and pregnancy history, were also found to be associated with MM and CNV in this population.

Current opinion on hydroxychloroquine-related retinal toxicity screening: where do we stand now?

Here, we review current hydroxychloroquine screening guidelines and controversies regarding specific screening tests and acceptance of the guidelines. Screening tests are described, and their predictive results are analysed, with special emphasis on early changes. Further research is needed to come to a conclusion about the efficacy of the new proposed dose.

Evaluation of 10 AMD Associated Polymorphisms as a Cause of Choroidal Neovascularization in Highly Myopic Eyes.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) commonly occurs in age related macular degeneration and pathological myopia patients. In this study we conducted a case-control prospective study including 431 participants. The aim of this study was to determine the potential association between 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 4 different genetic regions (CFI, COL8A1, LIPC, and APOE), and choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration and the development of choroidal neovascularization in highly myopic eyes of a Caucasian population. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and hypertension was performed for each allele, genotype and haplotype frequency analysis. We found that in the univariate analysis that both single-nucleotide polymorphisms in COL8A1 gene (rs13095226 and rs669676) together with age, sex and hypertension were significantly associated with myopic CNV development in Spanish patients (p<0.05). After correcting for multiple testing none of the polymorphisms studied remained significantly associated with myopic CNV (p>0.05); however, analysis of the axial length between genotypes of rs13095226 revealed an important influence of COL8A1 in the development of CNV in high myopia. Furthermore we conducted a meta-analysis of COL8A1, CFI and LIPC genes SNPs (rs669676, rs10033900 and rs10468017) and found that only rs669676 of these SNPs were associated with high myopia neovascularization.

Discrimination and mental health problems among homeless minority young people.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations among perceived discrimination, racial/ethnic identification, and emotional distress in newly homeless adolescents. METHODS: We assessed a sample of newly homeless adolescents (n=254) in Los Angeles, California, with measures of perceived discrimination and racial/ethnic identification. We assessed emotional distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory and used multivariate linear regression modeling to gauge the impact of discrimination and racial identity on emotional distress. RESULTS: Controlling for race and immigration status, gender, and age, young people with a greater sense of ethnic identification experienced less emotional distress. Young people with a history of racial/ethnic discrimination experienced more emotional distress. CONCLUSION: Intervention programs that contextualize discrimination and enhance racial/ethnic identification and pride among homeless young people are needed.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: evidence-based research for the third millennium.

The stress that results from traumatic events precipitates a spectrum of psycho-emotional and physiopathological outcomes. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that results from the experience or witnessing of traumatic or life-threatening events. PTSD has profound psychobiological correlates, which can impair the person's daily life and be life threatening. In light of current events (e.g. extended combat, terrorism, exposure to certain environmental toxins), a sharp rise in patients with PTSD diagnosis is expected in the next decade. PTSD is a serious public health concern, which compels the search for novel paradigms and theoretical models to deepen the understanding of the condition and to develop new and improved modes of treatment intervention. We review the current knowledge of PTSD and introduce the role of allostasis as a new perspective in fundamental PTSD research. We discuss the domain of evidence-based research in medicine, particularly in the context of complementary medical intervention for patients with PTSD. We present arguments in support of the notion that the future of clinical and translational research in PTSD lies in the systematic evaluation of the research evidence in treatment intervention in order to insure the most effective and efficacious treatment for the benefit of the patient.