Biocompatibility of Ferrara intracorneal ring segment with and without chondroitin sulfate coating. Clinical and histopathological evaluation in rabbits.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the biocompatibility of two types of Ferrara intracorneal ring segment: with and without chondroitin sulfate coating by clinical and histopathological evaluation.

Methods: A randomized experimental study was carried out on thirty right-eye corneas from 30 Norfolk albino rabbits allocated into two experimental groups: Group G1 - implanted with Ferrara intracorneal ring segment without coating (FICRS) and Group G2 - implanted with Ferrara intracorneal ring segment with chondroitin sulfate coating (FICRS-CS). Left eyes formed the control group.

[Social inclusion for visually impaired: experience and results from Assis].

Purposes: To establish the visually impaired resource class users profile in the city of Assis - SP, to estimate the visually impaired employment percentage and to compare employment rate with age, gender, deficiency type and causing disease between two periods:1984 - 1996 and 1997 - 2009.

Methods: Retrospective review of both medical and school records from visually impaired individuals attending visually impaired resource class in Assis - SP between 1984 and 2009. This time period was divided into two intervals: 1984 - 1996 (G1) and 1997 - 2009 (G2).