A simple eye model for practicing indirect ophthalmoscopy and retinal laser photocoagulation.

Purpose: To describe a simple and inexpensive model eye that allows lifelike simulation of indirect ophthalmoscopy and retinal photocoagulation.

Methods: A 60 D examination lens, a bulb syringe, foam poster-board, a manila folder, a hobby knife, a fine pair of scissors, a glue gun, and a 2.5 cm square Optos color fundus photograph printed at 1200 dpi resolution on glossy photographic paper were used to create a model eye.

SPONTANEOUS CLOSURE OF A MACULAR HOLE AFTER FOUR FAILED VITRECTOMIES IN THE SETTING OF NF-1.

Purpose: To present the case of a patient who developed spontaneous closure of an idiopathic macular hole after four failed attempts at surgical closure.

Methods: This is a retrospective case review of the medical record of a single patient. No statistical analysis was performed.

FROSTED BRANCH ANGIITIS IN METHIMAZOLE-INDUCED ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY-POSITIVE VASCULITIS.

Purpose: To describe an unusual case of frosted branch angiitis that developed in a patient with acute onset systemic vasculitis possibly triggered by the antithyroid medication methimazole.

Methods: We conducted a thorough review of the medical records of a 16-year-old female patient who presented with frosted branch angiitis. During the initial hospital admission, the patient underwent an extensive systemic workup to determine the etiology of her disease and ophthalmologic testing including fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography.

90Yttrium-ibritumomab tiuxetan consolidation of first remission in advanced-stage follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma: updated results after a median follow-up of 7.3 years from the International, Randomized, Phase III First-LineIndolent trial.

Purpose: Updated results are presented after a median follow-up of 7.3 years from the phase III First-Line Indolent Trial of yttrium-90 ((90)Y) -ibritumomab tiuxetan in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) in first remission.

Patients And Methods: Patients with CD20(+) stage III or IV FL with complete response (CR), unconfirmed CR (CRu), or partial response (PR) after first-line induction treatment were randomly assigned to (90)Y-ibritumomab consolidation therapy (rituximab 250 mg/m(2) days -7 and 0, then (90)Y-ibritumomab 14.

Randomized trial of autologous cellular immunotherapy with sipuleucel-T in androgen-dependent prostate cancer.

Purpose: Sipuleucel-T, an autologous cellular immunotherapy, was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to determine its biologic activity in androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC).

Experimental Design: Patients with prostate cancer detectable by serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following radical prostatectomy received 3 to 4 months of androgen suppression therapy, and were then randomized (2:1) to receive sipuleucel-T (n = 117) or control (n = 59). The primary endpoint was time to biochemical failure (BF) defined as serum PSA ≥ 3.

Long-term outcome of radiofrequency ablation for unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer: evaluation of prognostic factors and effectiveness in first- and second-line management.

Purpose: Long-term follow-up data of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with unresectable metastatic liver tumors from colorectal cancer have rarely been reported. This study was undertaken to evaluate long-term outcome of RFA in relation to its timing opposite chemotherapy, and to identify prognostic factors associated with survival.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing RFA from 1997 to 2003 were monitored.

Immunotherapy (APC8015, Provenge) targeting prostatic acid phosphatase can induce durable remission of metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer: a Phase 2 trial.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in American men, yet treatment of its metastatic androgen-independent form remains inadequate. This mandates development of new therapies such as immunotherapy. In this Phase 2 trial, we determined the efficacy of antigen presenting cells (APCs) loaded with PA2024, a recombinant fusion protein containing prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and GM-CSF.

Postoperative complications following vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy with sew-on and noncontact wide-angle viewing lenses.

Background And Objective: To compare the occurrence of vitreous hemorrhages and retinal detachments following vitrectomy surgery with sew-on lenses to a noncontact wide-angle lens system.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective review of 180 patients who underwent primary vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The occurrence of persistent and recurrent vitreous hemorrhages as well as postoperative retinal detachments in the two groups was determined.

Poor postnatal weight gain: a risk factor for severe retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between rate of postnatal weight gain and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: All infants (n = 111) screened for ROP at a single tertiary intensive care nursery over a 2-year period with an estimated gestational age of 30 weeks or less and follow-up to at least 42 weeks' postconception were included. The authors performed a retrospective review of records and statistical analysis of risk factors for ROP using multivariate analysis.

Prognostic significance of vascular dilation and tortuosity insufficient for plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: Plus disease, one of the most important prognostic indicators in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is designated as present or absent. A grading system based on comparison with standard, high-quality color photographs may be useful to more accurately describe the spectrum of vascular dilation and tortuosity preceding plus disease, but it is of practical value only if it has prognostic significance. We hypothesized that grading of "pre-plus" vascular changes can identify eyes at risk for progression to vision-threatening ROP.

Entoptic perimetry screening for central diabetic scotomas and macular edema.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare entoptic perimetry, using conventional television, to Amsler grid and patient-reported visual loss for the detection of functional diabetic maculopathy and macular edema.

Design: Observational case series.

Participants: A single eye from each of 104 consecutive patients with diabetes in an academic retina clinic.

Oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis after ganciclovir intraocular implant.

Purpose: To describe a patient who developed oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis after insertion of a ganciclovir intraocular implant.

Method: Case report.

Results: A 42-year-old man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a history of cytomegalovirus retinitis was admitted with right-sided eye pain and decreased visual acuity 10 days after receiving a second ganciclovir intraocular implant in the right eye.

The importance of fluorescein angiography in planning laser treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that pretreatment fluorescein angiography (FA) is not necessary for effective laser treatment of patients with clinically significant diabetic macular edema (CSME).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled treatment simulation.

Participants: Six fellowship trained retina specialists.

Significance of isolated neovascular tufts ("popcorn") in retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: The significance of isolated neovascular tufts ("popcorn") occurring in association with stage 2 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has not been studied.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical courses and outcomes of all patients with zone II, stage 2 ROP with popcorn examined over the past 3 years at one institution. Eyes with zone I disease, plus disease, or stage 3 at the initial appearance of popcorn were excluded.

Corneal epithelial defects following vitrectomy surgery using hand-held, sew-on, and noncontact viewing lenses.

Purpose: To compare the incidence of corneal epithelial defects following vitrectomy surgery with Charles hand-held infusion lenses, Landers sew-on lenses, and the Oculus BIOM noncontact lens system.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 234 patients who underwent initial vitrectomy surgery by one surgeon. We determined the presence and duration of postoperative epithelial defects and identified predisposing factors.

Zafirlukast improves asthma symptoms and quality of life in patients with moderate reversible airflow obstruction.

Background: Previous trials demonstrated the effectiveness of the leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma.

Objectives: We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of zafirlukast and its effect on patients' quality of life (QOL) during a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in adults and adolescents with moderate reversible airflow obstruction.

Methods: Patients (age range, 12 to 68 years) with total daytime asthma symptoms scores of 10 or greater over 7 consecutive days (maximum, 21/wk), FEV1 45% or greater but less than or equal to 80% of predicted value (>/=6 hours after beta2 -agonist), and reversible airway disease were randomized to 20 mg zafirlukast twice daily (nZ = 231) or placebo twice daily (nP = 223).

Medical-claims databases in the design of a health-outcomes comparison of quetiapine ('Seroquel') and usual-care antipsychotic medication.

Treating schizophrenia is expensive. Preventing rehospitalization of patients with schizophrenia provides an attractive opportunity for cost savings, especially for patients with 'revolving-door' or multiple-episode schizophrenia. Reducing the occurrence of extrapyramidal symptoms and other adverse events associated with standard antipsychotic agents may increase compliance and reduce the rate of rehospitalization of patients with schizophrenia.

Delayed vitreous hemorrhage after placement of a ganciclovir implant for cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Purpose: To report a massive vitreous hemorrhage in a 26-year-old woman that occurred approximately 6 weeks after she received a ganciclovir implant.

Method: Case report.

Results: The cytomegalovirus retinitis was inactivated after uncomplicated insertion of a ganciclovir implant.

Observer sensitivity to retinal vessel diameter and tortuosity in retinopathy of prematurity: a model system.

Background: Abnormally increased diameter and tortuosity of retinal blood vessels in the posterior pole, or "plus disease," is recognized as a powerful predictor of poor outcome in eyes with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Although the diagnosis of plus disease depends upon the examiner's ability to examine retinal blood vessels, the ability of the human observer to identify changes in retinal blood vessel diameter and tortuosity accurately has not been studied.

Methods: Using computer-aided analysis of fundus photographs from eyes with a wide range of ROP severity, we generated tracings of posterior pole blood vessels which varied by quintiles of mean vessel diameter and tortuosity.

Clinical course and systemic correlates of retinopathy of prematurity in quintuplets.

Purpose/methods: We studied clinical correlates of retinopathy of prematurity in four surviving quintuplets with similar low birth weights and gestational age of 27 weeks. Prospective serial ophthalmoscopic examinations and retrospective chart analysis were used.

Results/conclusions: Retinopathy of prematurity varied among the neonates from stage 2 with total regression to threshold progressing to retinal detachment.

Indirect ophthalmoscope perimetry in patients with retinal detachment or retinoschisis.

Purpose/methods: We evaluated visual field testing, using indirect ophthalmoscopy, in patients with retinal detachment or retinoschisis. While performing ophthalmoscopy, we projected a shadow onto the schisis or detachment by holding a scleral depressor on the observer's side of the condensing lens. A response was recorded as positive if the patient saw the shadow.

The ocular effects of intralenticular iron foreign bodies in rabbits.

Optimal treatment of intralenticular metallic foreign-body injuries remains controversial, especially in patients with clear lenses and good vision. Using 20 rabbit eyes, we examined the cataractogenic potential of intralenticular iron and its effects on the retina. Iron wire implanted into the lenses of 12 rabbit eyes caused cataracts in every eye within 4 weeks.