Histological characterization of liver involvement in systemic mastocytosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by the accumulation of atypical mast cells (MCs) in organs. Liver histology of SM has been marginally described and accurate histological classification is critical, given the consequences of aggressive SM diagnosis. We aimed to describe the histological features associated with liver SM using updated tools. METHODS: Using the database of the French Reference Centre for Mastocytosis, we retrospectively identified patients with a liver biopsy (LB) and a diagnosis of SM. All LB procedures were performed according to the local physician in charge and centrally reviewed by an expert pathologist. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were included: 6 had indolent SM, 9 had aggressive SM, and 13 had SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm. Twenty-five (89%) patients presented hepatomegaly, and 19 (68%) had portal hypertension. The LB frequently showed slight sinusoid dilatation (82%). Fibrosis was observed in 3/6 indolent SM and in almost all advanced SM cases (21/22), but none of them showed cirrhosis. A high MC burden (>50 MCs/high-power field) was correlated with elevated blood alkaline phosphatase levels (p = .030). The presence of portal hypertension was associated with a higher mean fibrosis grade (1.6 vs. 0.8 in its absence; p = .026). In advanced SM, the presence of nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) was associated with decreased overall survival (9.5 vs. 46.3 months, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: MC infiltration induced polymorphic hepatic lesions and the degree of fibrosis is associated with portal hypertension. NRH identifies a poor prognosis subgroup of patients with advanced SM. Assessing liver histology can aid in SM prognostic evaluation.

Heterozygosity for bisphosphoglycerate mutase deficiency expressing clinically as congenital erythrocytosis: A case series and literature review.

Erythrocytosis is associated with increased red blood cell mass and can be either congenital or acquired. Congenital secondary causes are rare and include germline variants increasing haemoglobin (Hb)-oxygen affinity (e.g., Hb or bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) variants) or affecting oxygen-sensing pathway proteins. Here, we describe five adults from three kindreds with erythrocytosis associated with heterozygosity for BPGM variants, including one novel. Functional analyses showed partial BPGM deficiency, reduced 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate levels and/or increased Hb-oxygen affinity. We also review currently known BPGM variants. This study contributes to raising awareness of BPGM variants, and in particular that heterozygosity for BPGM deficiency may already manifest clinically.

An integrative re-evaluation of Typhlatya shrimp within the karst aquifer of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico is a carbonate platform well-known for extensive karst networks of densely stratified aquifer ecosystems. This aquifer supports diverse anchialine fauna, including species of the globally distributed anchialine shrimp genus Typhlatya (Atyidae). Four species (T. campecheae, T. pearsei, T. dzilamensis and T. mitchelli) are endemic to the Peninsula, of which three are federally listed in Mexico. This first integrative evaluation (i.e., molecular, morphological, broad geographic and type locality sampling, and environmental data) of Yucatán Typhlatya reveals considerable species identity conflict in prior phylogenetic assessments, broad species ranges, syntopy within cave systems and five genetic lineages (of which two are new to science). Despite sampling from the type locality of endangered T. campecheae, specimens (and molecular data) were indistinguishable from vulnerable T. pearsei. Ancestral/divergence reconstructions support convergent evolution of a low-salinity ancestor for a post-Paleogene arc Yucatán + Cuba Typhlatya clade within the anchialine Atyidae clade. A secondary adaptation for the coastal-restricted euryhaline (2-37 psu), Typhlatya dzilamensis (unknown conservation status) was identified, while remaining species lineages were low-salinity (< 5 psu) adapted and found within the meteoric lens of inland and coastal caves. This study demonstrates the need for integrative/interdisciplinary approaches when conducting biodiversity assessments in complex and poorly studied aquifers.

Do job insecurity, anxiety and depression caused by the COVID-19 pandemic influence hotel employees' self-rated task performance? The moderating role of employee resilience.

The COVID-19 health disaster has had a dramatic impact on the global hospitality industry, affecting millions of people. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of job insecurity on hotel employees' anxiety and depression, and whether these psychological strains could influence employees' self-rated task performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examine the moderating role of hotel employees' resilience in this context. The hypotheses were examined by collecting data from 353 hotel employees currently working in the Canary Islands (Spain). The results highlight the significant effects of job insecurity on employees' anxiety and depression levels. However, hotel employees' task performance was not affected by their job insecurity or by their anxiety and depression. In addition, employees' resilience has a moderating effect as it reduces the negative influence of job insecurity on depression. Finally, the discussion section sets out various theoretical and practical implications of the findings.

Public strategies to rescue the hospitality industry following the impact of COVID-19: A case study of the European Union.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a "zero tourism" situation throughout the world with unpredictable consequences. Several authors analyzed the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second trimester of 2020, but none of them have specifically examined European Union countries and the joint actions taken to fight the pandemic. Using a case study methodology, this paper presents a literature review of the most up-to-date studies on the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Secondly, we specify the different public intervention measures implemented by the European Union in accordance with supranational governance theory and stakeholder theory. Finally, we set out the different COVID-19-related public rescue strategies for the tourism and hospitality sector at the individual level (for tourists), at the business level (for touristic companies) and at the destination level (for the European Union countries), from the perspective of stakeholders. The main contribution of our research is therefore to explore the public strategies to rescue the tourism and hospitality sector in the context of the European Union.

Linfedema escrotal masivo: Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Massive scrotal lymphedema: case report and literature review

El lindefema masivo localizado es una condición rara pero su incidencia se encuentra en aumento. El linfedema puede ser primario o secundario a infecciones, radioterapia, cirugías, cáncer, enfermedades del sistema inmune o a compresión. Algunos autores han sugerido un incremento en su incidencia debido a la epidemia de obesidad. El linfedema escrotal produce una morbilidad importante debido a mala higiene, infecciones, incontinencia urinaria, disfunción sexual, pérdida de la libido e inclusive limitación en la deambulación. Las opciones de tratamiento no quirúrgico de la linfedema incluyen el drenaje linfático manual, prendas de compresión, terapia física y ejercicio. Usualmente, el tratamiento conservador falla debido a la dificultad anatómica que presenta la región genital para la aplicación de dichas terapias. El tratamiento quirúrgico puede ser efectivo en casos graves y moderados. Existen diferentes variantes a la técnica quirúrgica, pero la resección del tejido afectado y la reconstrucción con tejido sano es primordial. El pronóstico de esta patología tiende a ser bueno; sin embargo, se reporta una alta tasa de recidiva.

Massive localized lymphedema is a rare but rising condition that could be primary in nature or secondary to infections, radiation, surgery, malignancies, autoimmune or compression. Some authors have suggested and increased incidence due to the raising epidemic of obesity. Scrotal lymphedema causes significant morbidity such as poor hygiene, infections, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, loss of libido and a limited ambulation. Although non operative treatment options for lymphedema include manual lymph drainage, compression garments, exercises, sequential gradient pump. Usually, non-operative techniques fail due to the difficult in the anatomic area. Surgical treatment can be effective in moderate to severe cases of giant scrotal lymphedema. There are many variations of the surgical technique, however, resection of the affected tissue and reconstruction with healthy skin is primordial. The prognosis tends to be good, although there is reported a significant amount of relapse, mostly dependent on the weight lost and diet of the patients

Oil-in-eutectic mixture HIPEs co-stabilized with surfactant and nanohydroxyapatite: ring-opening polymerization for nanocomposite scaffold synthesis.

Mixtures of a nonionic surfactant and non-functionalized nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) enhanced the stability of oil-in-eutectic mixture high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Upon ring opening polymerization of the eutectic mixture composed of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone, biodegradable polyHIPEs with specific cavity sizes and selective interfacial functionalization with NHA are produced.

Brain Encoding of Social Approach: Is it Associated With Spatial Ability?

Human brains encode approach in social relationships as cognitively relevant for adaptive behavior. In this study, using event-related potentials (ERPs), we found that reading approach-social actions are likely to cause activation around the right anterior/middle superior temporal sulcus (STS), a brain area particularly involved in processing action intentionality and social relationships. We consider that the human capacity for the mental rotation of figures could also be adaptive for social relationships at the service of planning interaction with other bodies in social encounters. Encoding of social approach and spatial ability would correlate if both capacities are aimed at achieving the adaptive goal of secure interactions with others. We found a strong correlation between brain activation in the right temporal brain region and spatial ability. Implications of these results for the psychological mechanisms involved in adaptive social behavior are discussed.

Performance-enhancing technologies for steers grazing tall fescue pastures with varying levels of toxicity1.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a combination of best management practices strategy for steer calves grazing tall fescue pastures with a range of toxicity. The experiment was conducted over 2 grazing seasons (fall 2015 for 91 d and spring 2016 for 84 d). Steers (n = 80 within season, body weight [BW] = 197.0 ± 15.43 kg [fall] and 116.9 ± 4.88 [spring]) were stocked at 2.45 and 4.1 calves/ha in fall and spring, respectively, to 16 pastures with varying levels of toxicity based on interim ergovaline (EV) concentration within season. Pastures were assigned to either mineral (MIN, n = 8) only management (MGMT) or a cumulative MGMT (CM, n = 8). The CM treatment included an implant containing 40-mg trenbolone acetate, 8-mg estradiol, and 29-mg tylosin tartrate (Component TE-G with Tylan, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN), 150 mg/calf daily monensin (Elanco Animal Health), and 1% BW of a 50:50 corn gluten feed:soybean hull supplement (as-is basis). Data were analyzed within season using pasture as the experimental unit. For fall and spring, the EV concentration was 1,476 ± 883.2 and 1,173 ± 620.6 ppb, respectively, and ranged from 90 to 2,180 ppb. During the fall, forage allowance did not differ (P = 0.76) between CM and MIN. In the spring, however, forage allowance only differed for the month of June (P ≤ 0.05, 2.55 vs. 3.22 ± 0.177 kg DM/kg BW, for MIN and CM, respectively). In the fall, average daily gain (ADG) responded to the simple effects of EV (P = 0.01) and MGMT (P < 0.001), and ADG for MIN steers was explained by ADG = 0.41 - 0.000064 × EV, whereas ADG for CM was explained by ADG = 1.05 - 0.000064 × EV. In the spring, there was an EV × MGMT interaction (P = 0.03) for ADG. For MIN, ADG = 0.80 - 0.000278 × EV, whereas for CM, ADG = 0.94 + 0.000001835 × EV. In spring, the ADG response to CM relative to MIN increased as EV increased. The CM strategy resulted in lower blood urea nitrogen than MIN in fall and spring (P < 0.01), but prolactin and serum Cu were not affected by MGMT in either season. In conclusion, performance was improved within the fescue belt by implementing feeding strategies using implants, ionophores, and supplementation, but a detailed economic analysis is warranted. Further research is needed to evaluate CM programs under varied stocking rates and in combination with dilution of endophyte-infected fescue pastures with nontoxic grasses or legumes.

The impact of living with morbid obesity on psychological need frustration: A study with bariatric patients.

Guided by self-determination theory, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the previous experiences of living with morbid obesity of 10 postbariatric patients enrolled in a physical activity programme. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and diarized observations. A thematic analysis revealed that participants suffered from health and mobility troubles in their daily life and experienced stigmatization and discrimination in most areas of their social functioning. Participants described how these experiences resulted in the thwarting of their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. In turn, psychological need frustration contributed to negative consequences such as body image concerns, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression; controlled regulation of their eating behaviour and extrinsic goals; rigid behaviours such as avoiding social situations; and compensatory and self-defeating behaviours such as giving up diet and physical activity regimens and binge eating (i.e., oppositional defiance). This study highlights how living with morbid obesity can impair optimal functioning and well-being via experiences of psychological need frustration.

Experiencia en el uso de tromboprofilaxis farmacológica en un hospital colombiano de tercer nivel / Experience with the use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in a tertiary care Colombian hospital

Objetivo: Describir las características de la población con patologías no quirúrgicas en quien se indicó manejo de tromboprofilaxis farmacológica en un hospital de tercer nivel y determinar la indicación según riesgo de tromboembolia venosa (VTE) y sangrado con las escalas Padua e IMPROVE Bleeding Score. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal que incluyó a pacientes > 18 años, con patología no quirúrgica del servicio de medicina interna, con estancia hospitalaria mínima de 48 horas, atendidos entre el 1 de junio de 2015 a 1 de junio de 2016. En la valoración de riesgo de VTE y sangrado se aplicaron las escalas Padua e IMPROVE Bleeding Score, respectivamente. Resultados: se incluyeron 531 pacientes, de los que el 51,78% fueron hombres, con una edad promedio de 66 años y hospitalización de 37,2 días. La indicación farmacológica más empleada fue la heparina de bajo peso molecular (76,3%). De acuerdo a la escala de Padua, solo 225 pacientes (42,37%) tenían un alto riesgo de tener VTE; según la IMPROVE Bleeding Score, 447 (84,18%) pacientes presentaban bajo riesgo de sangrado y 84 pacientes (15,81%) alto riesgo. Además, se observó que los pacientes con puntaje PADUA ≥ 4, el 21,33% tenía puntaje IMPROVE Bleeding Score ≥7, adicionalmente el 20,23% de los pacientes con alto riesgo de sangrado según esta última escala presentó un episodio de sangrado. Conclusión: se evidenció un sobreuso de tromboprofilaxis farmacológica, lo cual se ve reflejado en episodios de sangrado en paciente que no tenían indicado su uso

Objective: To describe the characteristics of the population with non-surgical conditions who were prescribed pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in a tertiary care hospital, and to determine the indication according to the risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding using the Padua Scale and the IMPROVE Bleeding Score. Materials and Methods: This is an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study that included patients >18 years old from the internal medicine ward who had no surgical conditions, who were hospitalized for 48 hours as a minimum, between June 1st, 2015 and June 1st, 2016. When assessing the risk for VTE and bleeding the Padua scale and the IMPROVE Bleeding Score were used, respectively. Results: Five-hundred and thirty-one patients were included, half of them (51.78%) were male, their mean age was 66 years, and their average hospitalization time was 37.2 days. The most frequently used pharmacological indication was low molecular weight heparin (76.3%). According to the Padua scale, only 225 patients (42.37%) were at high risk for developing VTE; according to the IMPROVE Bleeding Score, 447 (84.18%) patients were at low risk for bleeding, and 84 patients (15.81%) were at high risk. Also, it was observed that patients with a >4 score in the PADUA scale, 21.33% had >7 points in the IMPROVE Bleeding Score; additionally, 20.23% of patients at high risk for bleeding according to the latter instrument had a bleeding episode. Conclusion: There was overuse of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, which was reflected in the occurrence of bleeding episodes in patients who did not qualify for such indication

Understanding approach and avoidance in verbal descriptions of everyday actions: An ERP study.

Understanding verbal descriptions of everyday actions could involve the neural representation of action direction (avoidance and approach) toward persons and things. We recorded the electrophysiological activity of participants while they were reading approach/avoidance action sentences that were directed toward a target: a thing/a person (i.e., "Petra accepted/rejected Ramón in her group"/ "Petra accepted/rejected the receipt of the bank"). We measured brain potentials time locked to the target word. In the case of things, we found a N400-like component with right frontal distribution modulated by approach/avoidance action. This component was more negative in avoidance than in approach sentences. In the case of persons, a later negative event-related potential (545-750 ms) with left frontal distribution was sensitive to verb direction, showing more negative amplitude for approach than avoidance actions. In addition, more negativity in approach-person sentences was associated with fear avoidance trait, whereas less negativity in avoidance-person sentences was associated with a greater approach trait. Our results support that verbal descriptions of approach/avoidance actions are encoded differently depending on whether the target is a thing or a person. Implications of these results for a social, emotional and motivational understanding of action language are discussed.

Tercer molar mandibular ectópico en región subcondilar: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Ectopic mandibular third molar in the sub-condylar región: a clinical case and a literature review

La impactación de terceros molares en la región condilar es muy inusual. Este artículo describe el caso de cordal incluido en región subcondilar en una mujer que refirió dolor inespecífico hemifacial y varios episodios de tumefacción. Se describe el manejo quirúrgico de estas inclusiones y se realiza una revisión bibliográfica (AU)

Ectopic impaction of the mandibular third molar in the condylar region is an extremely rare condition. This report describes a case of an impacted tooth in the sub-condylar region in a woman with hemifacial discomfort and recurrent swelling. A description of the surgical management of this pathology is given as well as a literatura review (AU)

Clinical evolution of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The long-term clinical evolution of prediabetes and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is unknown. METHODS: We analysed, in this cohort study, the reversibility, stability and progression of PTDM and prediabetes in 672 patients using repeated oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) for ≤5 years. RESULTS: Most patients were on tacrolimus, steroids and mycophenolate. About half developed either PTDM or prediabetes. The incidence of PTDM was 32% and bimodal: early PTDM (≤3 months) and late PTDM. Early PTDM reverted in 31%; late PTDM developed in patients with post-transplant prediabetes. The use of OGTTs was necessary to detect around half of PTDM. Pretransplant obesity was a major risk factor for early PTDM, for its persistence and for late PTDM {odds ratio [OR] 1.18 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.28]}. At 3 months, higher HbA1c promoted [OR 2.37 (95% CI 1.38-4.06)], while insulin sensitivity protected against [OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.48-0.86)] late PTDM. At 3 months, 28% had prediabetes; of these, 36% remained stable, 43% normalized and 21% developed late PTDM. Pretransplant obesity [OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.04-1.39)] and higher HbA1c [OR 3.80 (95% CI 1.45-9.94)] at 3 months promoted while insulin sensitivity protected against [OR 0.57 (95% CI 0.34-0.95)] evolution from prediabetes to late PTDM. Immunosuppressive levels or acute rejection did not influence PTDM. Most (84%) of the patients with normal tests at 3 months remained stable without evolving into PTDM; 14% developed prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS: PTDM and prediabetes are very common in renal transplantation. Classic metabolic factors like obesity, prediabetes and insulin resistance promote the evolution of PTDM and prediabetes. Patients with normal glucose metabolism rarely develop PTDM. OGTT is necessary to detect PTDM and prediabetes and thus should be included in clinical practice.

High spread of Schmallenberg virus among roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Spain.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emergent virus in northwestern Europe since 2011. We conducted this study to evaluate the spread of this virus in a wild ruminant community. During 2013 and 2014, 75 serum samples of roe deer were collected from different locations of the Spanish geography and analysed for the presence of antibodies. The results revealed a widespread exposure to SBV, as well as a high seroprevalence (53.3%, CI95% 42.16­64.18). These findings demand more research with regard to the impact of SBV on roe deer health and the interactions with livestock. Results also show this species as potentially suitable for monitoring the spread of the virus through sylvatic areas.

¿Qué esperan encontrar los alumnos en los estudios de Psicología? Metas y motivos personales de los estudiantes en su primer año en la universidad / What do students expect to find when they enter Psychology studies? Goals and personal motives during the first year at university

Numerosas investigaciones se han interesado por el perfil motivacional de ingreso de los universitarios. Sin embargo, se ha prestado menos atención al estudio de las metas que los estudiantes pretenden satisfacer cuando llegan a la universidad. En este trabajo presentamos un primer estudio con 610 alumnos de Psicología, de cuatro cursos consecutivos. En él se analiza la estructura factorial de una escala que evalúa la identificación de los estudiantes con diferentes tipos de motivos. En un segundo estudio, con otros 140 estudiantes, se relacionan las metas interpersonales con otras metas vitales, la satisfacción de necesidades psicológicas, el bienestar subjetivo y la presencia de pensamientos perfeccionistas. Los datos muestran la importancia de las metas de logro, de poder, de afiliación y de superación de problemas personales. Estas últimas presentan, además, una relación negativa con el bienestar y la satisfacción de necesidades psicológicas, y una relación positiva con el perfeccionismo. Nuestros resultados aportan un mayor conocimiento de los perfiles de los estudiantes de nuevo ingreso y las consecuencias que de ellos se derivan para su orientación académica

This study investigated Psychology students' interpersonal and social goals during their first year at university. In Study 1 we analyze the reliability and ran a confirmatory factor analysis of a 45-item questionnaire about different kinds of interpersonal motives. The sample was integrated by 610 first year college students from four consecutive courses. In a second study with another 140 students, beside the scale about interpersonal goals they completed a set of scales about their aspirations, psychological basic needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness, subjective wellbeing and perfectionism cognitions. Data from both studies showed that: a) Importance is given mainly to achievement, power, affiliation and overcoming personal problems goals; b) The presence of overcoming personal problems goals hindered adjustment, indicated by positive associations with all the perfectionism dimensions, and by negative association with subjective wellbeing and frustration of psychological needs. Our results could provide new insight about the profiles of psychological students and the consequences resulting from them for their academic guidance

Carefully encoding approach/avoidance body locomotion with interpersonal conduct in narrated interactions.

Approach and avoidance tendencies towards valenced others could be associated with our interpersonal conduct towards them: helping would be associated with approach tendency, and harming (or denying help) would be associated with avoidance. We propose that the encoding of this association enjoys attentional priority, as approach/avoidance representations of past interactions would regulate one's predisposition to either help or harm in subsequent interactions. Participants listened to interactions conveying positive/negative conduct between 2 characters. The conduct verb was then presented visually with a cue prompting participants to quickly step forward or backward. Subsequently, they performed a recognition task of noncentral story details. In matching conditions (positive conduct-step forward, negative conduct-step backward) the concurrent step should interfere with the encoding of motor representation of the conduct verb, and the verb encoding should divert attentional resources from the consolidation of memory traces of less relevant information. Results showed the predicted impairment in the recognition task in matching conditions, which supports an attentional bias towards encoding motor approach/avoidance representation of interpersonal conduct in the process of comprehending narrated interactions.

Tumors metastasizing to the oral cavity: a study of 16 cases.

PURPOSE: An analysis was performed of the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of a group of patients diagnosed with oral metastases of distant primary tumors or unknown primary malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study series consisted of 16 patients with oral metastatic lesions seen in the Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Valencia University General Hospital (Valencia, Spain) that had been diagnosed in the previous 15 years. A retrospective analysis was made of patient age and gender, clinical characteristics of metastatic lesions, location of the primary tumor, and time elapsed from diagnosis to the death of a patient. RESULTS: There were 13 male and 3 female patients (mean age, 58.8 years). Ten patients had been diagnosed previously and were being treated for a primary tumor; 2 patients were diagnosed with a primary malignancy in the department; and 4 patients presented with an unidentified primary tumor (metastatic disease diagnosed from biopsy study). The predominant clinical presentation was mixed soft tissue and bone metastases followed by solely soft tissue lesions and solely bone lesions. Some patients showed no apparent oral lesions. Primary malignancies originated mainly from the lung followed by the prostate, gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland, breast, and liver. Mean survival from diagnosis of oral metastases was 8.25 months. CONCLUSION: Oral metastatic lesions are infrequent, can affect male and female patients equally, can manifest at any age, and may constitute the first manifestation of a still unidentified primary malignancy. According to the literature, bone metastases are more common than soft tissue metastases. Nevertheless, in the present series, there was a clear male predominance, and the oral metastases showed a predominance of mixed presentations followed by solely soft tissue lesions and solely bone metastases.

Intraoral Schwannomas: Presentation of a series of 12 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas are benign and not very frequent tumors of the peripheral nerves, derived from the nerve supporting Schwann cells. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected on the clinical manifestations (sex, age), location, size and symptonts of the lesions as well as the evolution time and the initial (presumption) diagnosis. RESULTS: Twelve patients were documented, with a mean age of 29,5 ± 12,1 years (range 16-50) and a balanced gender distribution. The mean duration of the lesions was 42,17± 45,3 months. The lesion located in the floor of the mouth was the largest tumor, measuring about 4 cm in maximum diameter, while the average size of the 12 schwannomas was 2.04± 1.1 cm. CONCLUSION: We present 12 oral schwannomas diagnosed and treated over a period of 10 years. Key words:Schwannomas, oral benign tumor, neurilemmoma.

Refractive lens exchange for a multifocal intraocular lens with a surface-embedded near section in mild to moderate anisometropic amblyopic patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual and refractive outcomes in amblyopic patients who had bilateral implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) with a surface-embedded near section. SETTING: Cathedral Eye Clinic, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: Anisometropic amblyopic patients having bilateral implantation of Lentis Mplus multifocal IOLs were examined for distance and near visual acuities, contrast sensitivity, defocus curves, extent of crowding, reading speed, stereoacuity, and Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire scores preoperatively and at 3-month intervals during 12 months. A +3.00 diopter (D) reading addition IOL was used in all eyes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight eyes (14 patients) (mean age 59.4 years) were included. In the nonamblyopic eye, the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.16 logMAR ± 0.17 (SD), the mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.02 ± 0.07 logMAR, and the mean near acuity was M 0.5 (Jaeger [J] 2 = logRAD 0.1) or better. In the amblyopic eye, the means were 0.30 ± 0.14 logMAR, 0.21 ± 0.11 logMAR, and M 0.8 (J4 = logRAD 0.3) or better, respectively. Bilateral reading speeds (mean 137.73 ± 28.7 words per minute [wpm]) surpassed unilateral nonamblyopic eye speeds (mean 130.6 ± 29.4 wpm). The mean QoV scores improved from 7.78 ± 10.23 preoperatively to 1.92 ± 5.21 at 12 months. No glare or halos were reported; 1 patient had mild starburst symptoms at 1 year. Patients rated distance and near vision as excellent. CONCLUSION: Anisometropic amblyopic patients may benefit from bilateral implantation of the multifocal IOL; no unwanted side effects were detected.