Association of long-term glycaemic control on tear break-up times and dry eye symptoms in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

IMPORTANCE: Diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with dry eye syndrome (DES), but the effects of long-term glycaemic control on tear film metrics and dry eye symptoms are not known in the Chinese population. BACKGROUND: To evaluate tear film stability and dry eye symptoms and their associations with systemic risk factors in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study set at the Lo Fong Siu Po Eye Centre (Grantham Hospital), Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 80 Chinese participants, aged 18 or above, with T2DM recruited from the specialist outpatient setting were included. METHODS: The Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus Inc., Wetzlar, Germany) was used to measure the non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT). Ocular symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The association between OSDI, NITBUT and metabolic parameters relating to diabetes were evaluated using multiple linear regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The associations between long-term glycaemic control and NITBUT and OSDI scores. RESULTS: Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed glycated haemoglobin to be the only significant independent variable for NITBUT (R2 = 0.099, P = 0.014) and OSDI (R2 = 0.062, P = 0.044) after controlling for potential confounders. The age-adjusted prevalence of DES was 20% (95% confidence interval: 11-30%) in the Chinese T2DM population. The odds of DES for increasing percentage of glycated haemoglobin was 1.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.17, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our findings highlight the importance of good glycaemic control as a modifiable risk factor for both dry eye symptoms and tear film instability in patients with T2DM.

Headless compression screw in the neuronavigation-guided and microscope-assisted treatment of spondylolysis.

Since 1968, many surgical techniques used in repairing the pars defect of the vertebra have been reported. Technological advances are giving rise to new ways of obtaining the best outcome using less invasive methods, which are more accurate, simple and effective. To treat cases of spondylolysis such as pseudarthrosis, we used neuro-navigation and microscopy through a 2.5-cm skin incision to approach the pars defect, freshen the fracture and place a type of screw that, until now, has never been used for this purpose. This is a novel technique, which guarantees prolonged compression and sufficient stability to facilitate the prompt healing of the vertebra. We present 2 cases of L5 spondylolysis treated with our technique, a modification of Buck's technique. A detailed description of the screw selection, surgical technical details, follow-up and outcome are discussed.

Headless compression screw in the neuronavigation-guided and microscope-assisted treatment of spondylolysis / Tornillo de compresión sin cabeza en el tratamiento de la espondilolisis guiada por neuronavegación y asistida por microscopio

Since 1968, many surgical techniques used in repairing the pars defect of the vertebra have been reported. Technological advances are giving rise to new ways of obtaining the best outcome using less invasive methods, which are more accurate, simple and effective. To treat cases of spondylolysis such as pseudarthrosis, we used neuro-navigation and microscopy through a 2.5-cm skin incision to approach the pars defect, freshen the fracture and place a type of screw that, until now, has never been used for this purpose. This is a novel technique, which guarantees prolonged compression and sufficient stability to facilitate the prompt healing of the vertebra. We present 2 cases of L5 spondylolysis treated with our technique, a modification of Buck's technique. A detailed description of the screw selection, surgical technical details, follow-up and outcome are discussed

Desde 1968 se han descrito muchas técnicas quirúrgicas utilizadas para reparar el defecto en la pars de la vértebra. Los avances tecnológicos están dando lugar a nuevas formas de obtener el mejor resultado utilizando métodos menos invasivos que son más precisos, simples y eficaces. Para tratar los casos de espondilolisis como una unión en seudoartrosis, se utilizó la neuronavegación y la microscopía a través de una incisión cutánea de 2,5cm para abordar el defecto de la pars, refrescar la fractura y colocar un tipo de tornillo que no se ha utilizado previamente con ese fin. Esta es una técnica novedosa, que garantiza una compresión prolongada y suficiente estabilidad para lograr la curación oportuna de la vértebra. Presentamos 2 casos de espondilolisis de L5 tratados con nuestra técnica, una modificación de la técnica de Buck. Se realiza una descripción detallada de la selección del tornillo, detalles técnicos quirúrgicos, seguimiento y resultado