A switch from horizontal compression to vertical extension in the Vrancea slab explained by the volume reduction of serpentine dehydration.

The Vrancea slab, Romania, is a subducted remnant of the Tethyan lithosphere characterized by a significant intermediate-depth seismicity (60-170 km). A recent study showed a correlation between this seismicity and major dehydration reactions, involving serpentine minerals up to 130 km depth, and high-pressure hydrated talc deeper. Here we investigate the potential link between the triggering mechanisms and the retrieved focal mechanisms of 940 earthquakes, which allows interpreting the depth distribution of the stress field.

[Intraocular foreign body].

The authors present the case of a patient who suffered a penetrating ocular trauma due to wood IOFB. An emergency surgery is initiated for the traumatic cataract, afterwards the IOFB is extracted through posterior vitrectomy. The patient seeks medical help after another 3 weeks, being diagnosed with retinal detachment, which is solved surgically.

[Conjunctival tumor...more than meet the eye].

The authors present the case of a patient diagnosed with a conjunctival tumor. Questions are being asked about the nature of the tumor--is there just a melanocitic conjunctival tumor or a scleral extension of a intraocular tumor (that also infiltrates the cornea). A minimally invasive surgical approach is decided, with excellent intra- and post-op results.

[20-23-25 gauge?! Posterior vitrectomy].

The author describes (from a purely theoretical view) the characteristics of the 20, 23, 25 Gauge systems used in the posterior pole surgery, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

[Tardive juvenile glaucoma].

The authors present the case of a young woman with the diagnosis of late juvenile glaucoma. The treatment began in the very moment of the diagnosis but the lack of compliance, as well as the associated risk factors, led to a evolution difficult to control only through medical therapy, which is why we also used laser and surgical treatment. At present, the anatomical and functional status is stable but the long-term prognosis is reserved.

[Complications of ocular local anesthesia].

Even as current trends move away from retrobulbar block and topical anesthesia gains greater widespread acceptance, ocular anesthesia is most commonly administered with a needle. Although rare, complications have been described, ranging from innocuous hemorrhage to life-threatening systemic situations.

[Acute endophthalmitis--surgical treatment or conservative therapy].

Acute endophthalmitis is an ophthalmological emergency. Immediate therapy is recommended in order to maintain a normal anatomic and functional ocular globe, according to the most recent guidelines. Surgical therapy and intravitreal drug injection represent standard treatments.

[Choroid metastasis in a patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma].

The authors present the case of a patient with multifocal bilateral choroid metastatic carcinoma in the general medium of a bronchi-pulmonary adenocarcinoma T4N2M1. The ophthalmologic diagnosis of intraocular metastases led to the discovery of the systemic affliction, yet unfortunately in a late stage. The purpose of this paper is to draw the attention of the specialist in order to diagnose in an evolutionary stage that allows at least a prolonged survival rate, if not the maintenance of functionality.

[Ocular fluorophores].

The majority of ocular media and tissues are lifelong exposed to electromagnetic radiations. O series of photochemical and photobiological events take place in these tissues and especially in the lens and the retina, thus resulting a permanent changing of their optical and functional qualities; the result of most of these events is the appearance of fluorescent molecular aggregates due to the alterations of initially non-fluorescent molecules or to accumulation processes (these are the endogenous fluorophores; their quantity and intraocular distribution is age- and light-exposure-linked and can be altered by pathology). Willingly or not, fluorescent substances can be introduced in the eye through its hematic barriers (these are the exogenous fluorophores).

[Vitreal fluorometry].

Vitreous fluorophotometry is an investigation that facilitates the quantitative study of the blood-retinal barrier (thus allowing a better understanding of its physiopathology and opening new therapeutical research fields). It can be performed for the vast majority of the ocular diseases: diabetic retinopathy, arterial hypertension, uveitis, post-cryotherapy/laser photocoagulation, retinal vascular diseases, choroidal melanoma, optic nerve diseases etc.

[The role of total vitrectomy in severe acute postoperative endophthalmitis].

We present a severe acute postoperative endophthalmitis, after a phacoemulsification procedure with a clear cornea incision, and we emphasize the importance of an early total vitrectomy.