Infrared and fundus autofluorescence imaging in eyes with optic disc pit maculopathy.

BACKGROUND: To characterize the infrared (IR) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images of eyes with optic disc pit maculopathy. METHODS: A retrospective non-comparative study of three patients with optic disc pit maculopathy who were followed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal angiography (Heidelberg retina angiograph 2) before and after vitreous surgery without laser photocoagulation. RESULTS: The areas of serous retinal detachment and inner retinal schisis were dark in the IR and FAF images preoperatively; and they changed to brighter areas following reattachment of the retina. There was an increase in the granular hyperfluorescence in the FAF images accompanied by an increase in the number of subretinal precipitates. OCT showed a thickening of the photoreceptor outer segments. The outer retinal layer defect initially appeared bright in the IR images and hypofluorescent or hyperfluorescent in the FAF images. The outer retinal layer defect became larger with a reduction of the outer retinal schisis and increased retinal detachment, but then became smaller with the resolution of the retinal detachment. All cases had a resolution or reduction of the retinal detachment and retinal schisis after the vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: The IR and FAF images in eyes with optic disc pit maculopathy reflect the changes in the inner and outer retinal layers corresponding with the stage of recovery of the disease.

[Clinical features of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery evaluated by the presence of background factors].

PURPOSE: The clinical features and visual prognosis after vitrectomy for endophthalmitis which had developed after cataract surgery were compared in two groups with or without background factors, including malignant tumor, diabetes, oral steroid administration, collagen disease, dacryocystitis, and lid closure disturbance. METHOD: Fifty-two patients (53 eyes) who underwent a vitrectomy for the treatment of endophthalmitis which had developed within 6 weeks after cataract surgery. They were divided into two groups according to the presence (21 eyes, group A) or absence (32 eyes, group B) of background factors, and were retrospectively compared based on their medical records. RESULTS: The culture-positive rate was 62% in group A and 69% in group B. The incidence of a final visual acuity of more than 20/20 was significantly lower in group A (14%) than in group B (47%, p < 0.05). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus and Enterococcus were frequently identified in group A. Leakage from the cataract wound was found in about 80% of the patients with corneal incisions, and a wound that had not been covered by the conjunctiva was significantly more frequent as a factor in group A (group A, 13 eyes; group B, 10 eyes; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postoperative endophthalmitis may have a less favorable visual prognosis in patients with background factors, so precise wound construction during cataract surgery is important in these patients.

[A Japanese version of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI, Okayama version) and the clinical evaluation of cernitin pollen extract for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis].

PURPOSE: The chronic prostatitis syndromes are common disorders in urologic practice and present various clinical symptoms. The development of a chronic prostatitis symptom index appropriate for judgment of therapeutic effects is awaited since the pathophysiology and appropriate treatment are not well defined so far. We developed a Japanese version of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI, Okayama version), and examined its usefulness. In addition, we evaluated clinical effects of Cernilton for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis using this symptom index. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 87 patients including 34 patients with NIH chronic prostatitis category III, 35 patients with BPH and 18 patients for control group who visited the Department of Urology at Okayama University Medical School filled in the questionnaire of our Japanese version of the NIH-CPSI to compare the NIH-CPSI scores among three groups. Twenty-four patients with NIH chronic prostatitis category III (IIIa 16, IIIb 8) were treated with Cernilton and the NIH-CPSI scores were examined before and after its administration. RESULTS: The pain/discomfort domain score was 9.79 (mean) in the chronic prostatitis group, 1.66 in the BPH group and 0.39 in the control group; that of the urinary symptom domain was 3.82, 3.29 and 0.72, respectively; and that of the quality of life (QOL) was 8.21, 4.17 and 1.39, respectively. The pain/discomfort domain score was significantly higher in the chronic prostatitis group than in the other groups; the QOL domain score was higher in the order of the chronic prostatitis group, the BPH group and the control group. In the chronic prostatitis group, there was a significant, positive correlation between the pain/discomfort domain score and that of the QOL, and between the urinary symptom domain score and that of the QOL. These results suggested the usefulness of our Japanese version of the NIH-CPSI as a parameter of the severity of chronic prostatitis. Examination of changes in the NIH-CPSI scores revealed that scores of the items in all domains were significantly lower 4 to 6 weeks after the start of administration of Cernilton than those obtained before the drug administration in patients with chronic prostatitis. CONCLUSIONS: A Japanese version of NIH-CPSI (Okayama version) accurately reflects clinical symptoms and the QOL in patients with chronic prostatitis. It seemed to be a useful and appropriate system for scoring symptoms of chronic prostatitis, indicating further studies on translation, adaptation and validation of the NIH-CPSI in Japan.