A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of intravitreal triamcinolone for refractory diabetic macular edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) on refractory diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: In a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 88 eyes of 61 patients with clinically significant macular edema that would have responded unfavourably to laser photocoagulation were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group (45 eyes) received 4 mg IVT and the control group (43 eyes) received a placebo subconjunctival injection.

The effect of a constant electrical field on osseointegration after immediate implantation in dog mandibles: a preliminary study.

Purpose: The long time span between insertion of implants and functional rehabilitation often inconveniences patients. Accelerating bone growth around dental implants can shorten this time span. This in vivo study evaluated the effect of a constant electrical field on bone growth around dental implants.

Single-session photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy consisting of single-session photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) as initial pulse therapy followed by repeat intravitreal bevacizumab injections for maintenance treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: In a prospective interventional case series, patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD underwent pulse therapy with single-session PDT according to the standard protocol followed by 1.25 mg IVB and 2 mg IVT 48 hours later.

Homeostasis status between prooxidants and antioxidants as a potent marker in Iranian preeclamptic patients.

Objective: To measure the plasma oxidant, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants, ascorbate, to magnify the prooxidants and antioxidants status as a marker of pre-eclampsia.

Methods: Included in the study were 50 preeclamptic and 100 normotensive pregnant women of singleton gestations in their third trimester, presented in Allavi Hospitals in Ardabil province of Iran from August 2004 to April 2005. Among these patients plasma malonaldehyde (MDA) and vitamin C concentration were analyzed.

The prevalence, intensity and viability of hydatid cysts in slaughtered animals in the Ardabil province of Northwest Iran.

In a cross-sectional study, a total of 5381 slaughtered animals, namely 928 cattle, 243 buffaloes, 3765 sheep and 445 goats were inspected macroscopically for hydatid cysts in northwest Iran, with prevalence values of 38.3%, 11.9%, 74.

Surgical management of retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes with macular hole.

Background And Objectives: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of surgery for retinal detachment due to macular hole in highly myopic eyes with pronounced posterior staphyloma.

Patients And Methods: Data for all patients with high myopia who underwent surgery for retinal detachment resulting from macular hole from 1993 to 2002 in one hospital were evaluated. Patient characteristics, best-corrected visual acuity preoperatively and at last examination, surgical technique, anatomical success, and follow-up period were extracted and analyzed statistically.

Diet, physical activity, and adiposity in children in poor and rich neighbourhoods: a cross-sectional comparison.

Background: Obesity in Canadian children increased three-fold in twenty years. Children living in low-income neighborhoods exercise less and are more overweight than those living in more affluent neighborhoods after accounting for family socio-economic status. Strategies to prevent obesity in children have focused on personal habits, ignoring neighborhood characteristics.

Management of pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi- Harada (VKH)-associated panuveitis.

Purpose: To assess the clinical course, determine the efficacy and safety of oral methotrexate in the control of intraocular inflammation, and evaluate the outcomes of lensectomy-vitrectomy and goniosynechiolysis on pediatric VKH-associated panuveitis.

Design: Retrospective non-comparative interventional case series.

Participants: Ten patients (20 eyes) with pediatric VKH-associated panuveitis (onset of disease at age 14 years or younger).

Food composition database development for between country comparisons.

Nutritional assessment by diet analysis is a two-stepped process consisting of evaluation of food consumption, and conversion of food into nutrient intake by using a food composition database, which lists the mean nutritional values for a given food portion. Most reports in the literature focus on minimizing errors in estimation of food consumption but the selection of a specific food composition table used in nutrient estimation is also a source of errors. We are conducting a large prospective study internationally and need to compare diet, assessed by food frequency questionnaires, in a comparable manner between different countries.

Nutrient estimation from an FFQ developed for a Black Zimbabwean population.

Background: There is little information in the literature on methods of food composition database development to calculate nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. The aim of this study is to describe the development of an FFQ and a food composition table to calculate nutrient intake in a Black Zimbabwean population.

Methods: Trained interviewers collected 24-hour dietary recalls (24 hr DR) from high and low income families in urban and rural Zimbabwe.

Posterior sub-tenon triamcinolone for refractory diabetic macular edema: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of posterior sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection on clinical, angiographic, and optical coherence tomographic (OCT) parameters in refractory diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: In a double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trial, 64 eyes were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group (32 eyes) received 40 mg posterior sub-tenon injection of TA and the placebo group (32 eyes) received subconjunctival injection of a placebo.

Prospective randomized trial of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole versus pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine in the treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the classic treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis (pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and prednisolone) with a regimen consisting of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) plus prednisolone.

Design: Prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial.

Participants: Fifty-nine patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: 29 were treated with pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine, and 30 patients received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Childhood obesity, prevalence and prevention.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health.

Surgical management of non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic intraocular foreign bodies.

Background And Objective: To identify clinical features and evaluate outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery in eyes with retained non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs).

Patients And Methods: Retrospective chart review. Thirty-two eyes (28 patients) with non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic IOFBs underwent removal of IOFBs with intraocular forceps, either via the pars plana in 30 eyes (93.

Therapeutic effects of laser photocoagulation and/or vitrectomy in Eales' disease.

Purpose: To determine visual outcomes and regression of retinal neovascularization following laser photocoagulation and/or vitrectomy in eyes with Eales' disease.

Methods: In a retrospective noncomparative study, the authors reviewed the existing data of 67 eyes of 54 patients with a diagnosis of Eales' disease who had undergone laser photocoagulation and/or vitrectomy based on their clinical presentations. Main outcome measures were visual acuity changes and regression of retinal neovascularization of the eyes following treatment.

Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods.

Background: The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used tools in epidemiologic studies to assess long-term nutritional exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a culture specific FFQ for Arab populations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.

Methods: We interviewed samples of Arab populations over 18 years old in UAE and Kuwait assessing their dietary intakes using 24-hour dietary recall.

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in schools for visually handicapped children in Iran.

Aims: This survey was conducted on children in schools for the blind in Tehran (from 2002 to 2003) to determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness and to identify preventable and treatable conditions.

Methods: The study was performed on 362 students at different grades in three schools for the blind. Patient sex, age, family history of blindness or low vision, visual acuity, causes of blindness, and treatable and preventable conditions were studied.

Patterns of uveitis in a tertiary eye care center in Iran.

Purpose: To identify the distribution and characteristics of new uveitis referrals to a tertiary eye care center in Tehran.

Methods: A three-year prospective study was carried out to obtain information on 544 new patients referred with uveitis. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed in all cases; a routine set of tests and an additional battery of directed workup were conducted when indicated.

Surgical management of retinal detachment secondary to acute retinal necrosis: clinical features, surgical techniques, and long-term results.

Purpose: To describe the clinical features of complicated retinal detachment secondary to acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and to present the long-term results of vitreous surgery in these cases.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 16 immunocompetent patients (18 eyes). The average follow-up period was 60 months.

Outcomes of surgical (pars plicata and limbal lensectomy, vitrectomy) and non-surgical management of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV): an analysis of 54 eyes.

Purpose: To identify clinical characteristics associated with outcomes of treatment for persistent fetal vasculature (PFV based on a modified classification.

Methods: In this noncomparative case series, 54 eyes of 47 consecutive patients with PFV managed from 1981 until 1998 at a tertiary eye hospital were reviewed. Pars plicata lensectomy and vitrectomy was performed in 34 eyes and translimbal lensectomy and vitrectomy in five.

Factors influencing anatomic and visual results in primary scleral buckling.

Purpose: To identify the factors influencing anatomical and visual results in cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment undergoing primary scleral buckling.

Methods: A retrospective study of 233 eyes of 226 patients was done. The data were evaluated by univariate analysis and stepwise logistic regression analysis.

Primary capsulectomy, anterior vitrectomy, lensectomy, and posterior chamber lens implantation in children: limbal versus pars plana.

Purpose: To compare the results of a limbal versus a pars plana approach for primary posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy in the management of childhood cataract.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.

Methods: A randomized, controlled, double-masked clinical trial of 45 eyes was conducted.