Clinical Outcomes and Cost Associated With an Intravascular Microaxial Left Ventricular Assist Device vs Intra-aortic Balloon Pump in Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock.

Importance: Intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been associated with increased risk of mortality and bleeding among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, evidence on the association of device therapy with a broader array of clinical outcomes, including data on long-term outcomes and cost, is limited.

Objective: To examine the association between intravascular LVAD or IABP use and clinical outcomes and cost in patients with AMI complicated by CS.

Burden of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis among children with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This claims-based retrospective cohort study examined the prevalence and incremental impact of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis among children with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States. Although diagnoses of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were not common among diabetic children, it was associated with significantly higher incremental healthcare cost and risk of hospitalization.

Methods for Intraocular Lens Power Calculation in Cataract Surgery after Radial Keratotomy.

Purpose: To compare methods of calculating the required intraocular lens (IOL) power for patients undergoing cataract surgery after radial keratotomy (RK), including the 2016 update of the True K formula.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Participants: A total of 52 eyes of 34 patients who had sequential RK and cataract surgery performed in the same institution by 1 of 2 surgeons.

Association between early-childhood antibiotic exposure and subsequent asthma in the US Medicaid population.

Background: Although socioeconomically disadvantaged children have an increased risk of asthma, the association between early-childhood antibiotics and the incidence of asthma among such children has had limited study.

Objective: To examine the association between antibiotic fills in the first 2 years of life and risk of developing asthma among children enrolled in Medicaid plans.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of children with continuous medical and pharmacy coverage from birth to 2.

Major Bleeding Risk During Anticoagulation with Warfarin, Dabigatran, Apixaban, or Rivaroxaban in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has increased steadily following marketing approval; however, their relative safety in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients in real-world clinical practice remains unclear.

Objective: To compare the risk of major bleeding during anticoagulation therapy between warfarin and NOACs.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed administrative claims data on new NVAF users of warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, or rivaroxaban in routine clinical care from November 2010 to February 2015 in a commercially insured population in the United States.

Nature and incidence of severe limbal stem cell deficiency in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: This study aimed to determine the nature and incidence of severe limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in Australia and New Zealand.

Design: A 1-year pilot surveillance study with a 1-year follow-up period was conducted in association with the Australian and New Zealand Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit.

Participants: The study included patients reported by practising ophthalmologists on the Surveillance Unit's database.

Percutaneous atrial septal occluder devices and cardiac erosion: a review of the literature.

Objective: To systematically review all cases in the literature of erosion associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) occluder devices.

Background: Delayed erosion of the aortic or atrial wall is an infrequent but potentially lethal complication of percutaneous septal defect closure using an ASD device. The epidemiology is poorly understood.

Efficacy of the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion: the first case series in Asia.

Purpose: To report the efficacy of the Quickert procedure in the first case series of involutional entropion in an elderly Asian population, and to introduce the technique to Asian ophthalmologists including general ophthalmologisits and ophthalmic trainees.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 13 consecutive patients underwent the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion by occasional eyelid surgeons at Tokushima University Hospital or Mino Tanaka Hospital from September 2003 to April 2010. Demographic data, including gender, age, history of previous eyelid surgery, systemic disease, recurrence of entropion, postoperative complications, and symptoms were analyzed.

Role of the TCF4 gene intronic variant in normal variation of corneal endothelium.

Purpose: To identify early features of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) in carriers of the rs613872(G) transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4) aged 20 to 21 years.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of people aged 20 to 21 years previously enrolled in the Western Australia Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort. Specular microscopy was performed using a noncontact specular microscopy (EM-3000; Tomey, Nagoya, Japan).

Partial spontaneous cross union post-division of hughes flap.

We report three cases of partial spontaneous canthal cross union, a rare complication in cases where Hughes flaps are used to reconstruct lower eyelid defects that also involve the canthi. All cases of spontaneous cross union were identified within 2 months of uneventful division of Hughes' flap. Two cases were successfully divided with good aesthetic results although one patient was not keen on surgery, as it was aesthetically acceptable to him.

Depressive symptoms and self-reported fast-food intake in midlife women.

Objective: To examine the association between depressive symptoms and fast-food intake in midlife women.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional study of 626 women aged 45-54 years conducted from 2000 to 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. The presence of depressive symptoms was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale and defined as a score of 16 or greater.

Unusual complication after laser in situ keratomileusis: eyelash under the flap.

We report a 70-year-old man who had uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) to correct the refractive error in the right eye. The patient returned 5 weeks later complaining of irritation and pain in that eye. Examination revealed an eyelash under the edematous LASIK flap with surrounding infiltrates.

Orbital implants: potential new directions.

This article reviews orbital implants used to replace an eye after enucleation or evisceration. Advantages of implant placement are described, with discussion of implant and wrap material, and design features that affect clinical outcomes. Implants may be porous or nonporous, pegged for linkage with a cosmetic shell or unpegged, and may be wrapped with a covering material or tissue or unwrapped.

AlphaCor: Clinical outcomes.

Purpose: To study the outcomes of AlphaCor implantation.

Methods: : The AlphaCor artificial cornea is indicated for corneal blindness not treatable by donor grafting. Prospective preoperative and follow-up data were collected.

A risk score as part of an evidence-based approach to the selection of corneal replacement surgery.

Purpose: There is currently no standardized methodology that permits preoperative prediction of the surgical technique or drug regimen for corneal grafting most likely to succeed for an individual patient. A score factor related to the chance of successful penetrating keratoplasty (PK) may assist in standardization of graft outcome reporting and evidence-based management.

Methods: The Risk Score (RS) is based on factors shown to reduce the probability of 1-year survival of conventional PK in increments, using published Australian Corneal Graft Registry data.

Two cases of AlphaCor surgery performed using a small incision technique.

The authors have evaluated the AlphaCor artificial cornea (previously Chirila KPro) in human patients since 1998, utilizing an intrastromal technique requiring extensive corneal lamellar dissection and recommending conjunctival flaps in all cases. Recent availability of low-profile instruments has facilitated a simpler technique, which was first evaluated in two subjects followed for over 1 year prior to recommending the technique for wider adoption. The new technique is presented and illustrated herein, and its benefits and limitations compared with the traditional AlphaCor implantation are discussed.

Cataract surgery with the AlphaCor artificial cornea.

Purpose: To review the outcomes of AlphaCor artificial cornea (Argus Biomedical Pty Ltd.) implantation concurrent with or subsequent to cataract surgery.

Setting: Nonrandomized multicenter clinical trial.

Deposits in artificial corneas: risk factors and prevention.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for calcium deposition and pigmented staining within AlphaCor artificial corneas.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from 72 AlphaCor implantations was conducted. Histological analysis of explants was performed.

AlphaCor cases: comparative outcomes.

Purpose: To describe clinical outcomes after a novel type of corneal surgery, implantation of an artificial cornea, AlphaCor , and to evaluate outcomes in comparison with alternative keratoprostheses and high-risk grafts.

Methods: Case reports and data from a noncontrolled clinical trial and a literature review.

Results: The probability of AlphaCor retention to 1 year is 80%.

Melting after keratoprosthesis implantation: the effects of medroxyprogesterone.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of topical medroxyprogesterone (MPG) following KPro implantation in human subjects in whom donor tissue grafts had been contraindicated by high risk of failure.

Methods: Outcomes of implantation of the Chirila KPro, now known as AlphaCor, were reviewed with respect to postoperative MPG therapy. Ten of 45 (22%) patients had received MPG for a period of 12 months, while 35/45 (78%) had not.

Outcomes of implantation of an artificial cornea, AlphaCor: effects of prior ocular herpes simplex infection.

Purpose: To review outcomes of AlphaCor artificial cornea implantation in patients with and without a history of ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) and to determine whether herpetic eye disease is an indication for AlphaCor surgery.

Methods: Outcomes of the initial 40 implantations were reviewed and stratified by the presence of a history of ocular disease caused by HSV. Outcomes measures (complications, visual acuity gained) were compared.