Structural reversal of disc cupping measured in Bruch's membrane opening-based OCT morphometry after PRESERFLO microshunt implantation for open-angle glaucoma.

Background/ Aims: To analyze the longitudinal change in Bruch's membrane opening minimal rim width (BMO-MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after implantation of a PRESERFLO® microshunt for surgical glaucoma management in adult glaucoma patients.

Methods: Retrospective data analysis of 59 eyes of 59 participants undergoing implantation of a PRESERFLO microshunt between 2019 and 2022 at a tertiary center for glaucoma management. Surgical management included primary temporary occlusion of the glaucoma shunt to prevent early hypotony.

Matched case-control comparison of surgical success after XEN45 Gel Stent and PRESERFLO MicroShunt implantation in a Caucasian population.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of implantation of a XEN45 Gel Stent with the outcome of implantation of a Preserflo MicroShunt in a matched-pair analysis in eyes being naïve to filtering surgery.

Methods: In this comparative, retrospective study, 50 eyes that had undergone XEN45 Gel Stent implantation were compared with 50 eyes after Preserflo implantation. Follow-up was at least 6 months, and surgical success was measured by criteria A (IOP < 21 mmHg, IOP reduction >20%, no repeat surgery); criteria B (IOP < 18 mmHg, IOP reduction >20%, no repeat surgery); and criteria C (IOP ≤15 mmHg, IOP reduction ≥40%, no repeat surgery).

Susceptibility of optic nerve head in children with posture-related elevation of intraocular pressure.

Background/aims: This work aimed to investigate changes in optic nerve head (ONH) morphometry based on Bruch membrane opening in children with extensive nocturnal intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations.

Methods: The course of Bruch membrane opening-based optic nerve head (ONH) morphometry was analysed in thirty-two patients younger than 18 years with evaluable SD-OCT examinations of the ONH and nocturnal posture-dependent IOP elevation above 25 mmHg. Longitudinal changes in neuroretinal rim tissue, as measured by Bruch Membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, were assessed.

Posture-related fluctuations of intraocular pressure in healthy children with suspicion of glaucoma.

Purpose: Currently, there are no specific data on the circadian course of intraocular pressure (IOP) in children, especially for IOP measurements in the supine position. The study aimed to characterize the diurnal and nocturnal IOP fluctuations in supine and sitting positions in patients less than 18 years of age.

Methods: Seventy-nine eyes of 79 patients under 18 years of age with suspicious optic nerve heads or ocular hypertension could be included in this study.

[Revision of the PRESERFLO® MicroShunt with ologen and mitomycin C].

Bleb failure after implantation of filtering stents (e.g. Preserflo Stent) is a frequent challenge in glaucoma surgery that has occurred in recent years.

A double generally weighted moving average control chart for monitoring the process variability.

In the present article, a double generally weighted moving average (DGWMA) control chart based on a three-parameter logarithmic transformation is proposed for monitoring the process variability, namely the -DGWMA chart. Monte-Carlo simulations are utilized in order to evaluate the run-length performance of the -DGWMA chart. In addition, a detailed comparative study is conducted to compare the performance of the -DGWMA chart with several well-known memory-type control charts in the literature.

Monitoring process mean and dispersion with one double generally weighted moving average control chart.

Control charts are widely known quality tools used to detect and control industrial process deviations in Statistical Process Control. In the current paper, we propose a new single memory-type control chart, called the maximum double generally weighted moving average chart (referred as Max-DGWMA), that simultaneously detects shifts in the process mean and/or process dispersion. The run length performance of the proposed Max-DGWMA chart is compared with that of the Max-EWMA, Max-DEWMA, Max-GWMA and SS-DGWMA charts, using time-varying control limits, through Monte-Carlo simulations.

Scleral and conjunctival features in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment undergoing scleral buckling: an anterior segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Purpose: To investigate the scleral and conjunctival features in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) undergoing scleral buckling (SB), using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Twenty RRD eyes were consecutively enrolled. AS-OCT was performed at RRD diagnosis (RRD-D) and day 1, week 1, month 1 and month 6 after SB to evaluate the sclera, in the affected and unaffected quadrants (AQ, UQ).

New platelet functional method for identification of pathogenic antibodies in HIT patients.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a thrombotic complication of heparin therapy. The most used functional method for HIT diagnosis is serotonin release assay (SRA). A different functional method based on ATP release with luciferin/luciferase long-life and stable luminescent signal is used here, which is shown to be comparable for accuracy with SRA in both negative (patients 4Ts ≤3, and negative for both anti-PF4/heparin immunoassay and SRA) and positive (4Ts >3, and positive for both PF4/heparin antibodies and SRA) patients.

In Vivo Distribution of Corneal Epithelial Dendritic Cells in Patients With Glaucoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dendritic cell (DC) distribution, morphology, and DC density in the entire cornea of medically controlled glaucoma patients (MCGP), using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: Fifty MCGP were enrolled, 15 patients with dry eye, and 15 healthy subjects served as controls. Patients were asked to complete the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and then underwent tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal staining, and Schirmer test (ST) I and then IVCM.

Mechanical circulatory support in advanced heart failure: single-center experience.

Background: Currently, ventricular assist device (VAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) mechanical support provides an effective treatment of unstable patients with advanced heart failure. We report our single-center experience with mechanical circulatory support therapy.

Methods: From March 2002 to December 2012, 107 adult patients (mean age, 56.

A novel large in-frame deletion within the CACNA1F gene associates with a cone-rod dystrophy 3-like phenotype.

Cone-rod dystrophies (CORDs) represent a heterogeneous group of monogenic diseases leading to early impairment of vision. The majority of CORD entities show autosomal modes of inheritance and X-linked traits are comparably rare. So far, three X-chromosomal entities were reported (CORDX1, -X2 and -X3).

Variability of pharmacokinetic parameters in patients receiving different dosages of daptomycin: is therapeutic drug monitoring necessary?

Pharmacokinetic studies of daptomycin in septic patients indicate that pharmacokinetic parameters may be altered. The purpose of this clinical investigation is to determine the pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in a population of hospitalized patients with clinically significant gram-positive infections and receiving daptomycin. Daptomycin was measured using an isocratic HPLC technique.

Daptomycin serum levels in critical patients undergoing continuous renal replacement.

Background: Daptomycin pharmacokinetics has not been extensively studied in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods: The aim of the study was to collect pharmacokinetics and clinical data of patients undergoing CRRT and receiving daptomycin therapy. Daptomycin was measured using an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography technique.

High rate of colistin resistance among patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection accounts for an excess of mortality.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP) is becoming a common cause of healthcare-associated infection in Italy, with high morbidity and mortality. Prevalent CR-KP clones and resistance mechanisms vary between regions and over time. Therapeutic approaches and their impact on mortality have to be investigated.

Weaning from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without anticoagulation: is it possible?

A 19-year-old man affected with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome that was unresponsive to medical treatment was successfully weaned without anticoagulation therapy from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) because of life-threatening bleeding. The patient received venovenous ECMO with double peripheral cannulation. Heparin infusion was discontinued on day 10 for severe bleeding from thoracic and mediastinal drainages until the ECMO was removed.

Peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system as salvage treatment of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock: preliminary outcome evaluation.

The novel Permanent Life Support (PLS; Maquet, Jostra Medizintechnik AG, Hirrlingen, Germany) as peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support system has been investigated as treatment for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). Between January 2007 and July 2011, 73 consecutive adult patients were supported on peripheral PLS ECMO system at our institution (55 men; age 60.3 ± 11.

Levitronix CentriMag third-generation magnetically levitated continuous flow pump as bridge to solution.

The Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) ventricular assist device (VAD) is a magnetically levitated rotary pump designed for temporary extracorporeal support. Between February 2004 and May 2010, 42 consecutive adult patients were supported with Levitronix at our institution (32 men; age 62.3 ± 10.

Respiratory resistance during anaesthesia with isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: To investigate whether the effects of desflurane on inspiratory resistance are similar to those of isoflurane and sevoflurane during 30 min administration at 1 and 1.5 MAC in patients with healthy lungs.

Methods: Seventy-one patients undergoing elective surgery were randomly assigned to receive isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane.

Levosimendan versus intra-aortic balloon pump in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

Objective: Patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction receive inotropic and mechanical circulatory support with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) during the perioperative phase of cardiac surgery. The authors performed the first comparison of levosimendan versus an IABP in patients with poor left ventricular function undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: A case-matched study.

Treatment with daptomycin for Corynebacterium Jeikeium left-sided prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication with potential fatal consequences, classified as early or late PVE, depending on whether typical symptoms occur within or later than 12 months from surgery. The incidence of early PVE is under 1%, but it carries high morbidity and mortality rates. There are few reported cases in literature of PVE due to Corynebacterium Jeikeium even though it is present in normal skin flora particularly in hospitalized patients.

An alternative inexpensive treatment for deep sternal wound infections after sternotomy.

We present three cases of deep sternal wound infections after sternotomy, with partial dehiscence and instability of sternum, successfully treated with combined therapy based on hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), parenteral and intranasal antibiotics, daily debridements and medications. After a short hospitalization (10 days) to detect involved bacteria, depth of the wounds and choice of right antibiotic therapy, all patients continued the treatment as outpatients, undergoing daily medications and antibiotic therapy before every HBO session. After 3 months the sternal wounds were completely epithelialized.

[The clinical-morphological estimation of the results of laser osteoperforation in treatment of chronic osteomyelitis].

The method of laser osteoperforation was approved in 135 patients with chronic osteomyelitis. The diode laser with wave length 970 mm and peak power up to 30 Wt was used. Energy was delivered by the percutaneous contact method with a quartz light guide of 0.