Influence of gender on clinical presentation, management practices and outcomes of ocular syphilis.

Ocular syphilis is a re-emerging inflammatory eye disease with a clear gender imbalance, disproportionately affecting men. We investigated the impact of gender on the presentation, management practices and clinical outcomes of this condition. Data generated from a study of patients consecutively diagnosed with ocular syphilis who attended a subspecialist uveitis service at one of four hospitals in Brazil over a 30-month period were disaggregated for analysis by gender.

Assessment of quality of life, psychosocial, and epidemiological aspects in patients diagnosed with tuberculous uveitis.

Purpose: To assess the quality of life in patients diagnosed as having tuberculous uveitis and its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial aspects.

Method: By conducting standardized interviews, clinical and demographic data were collected using a measure developed in this study. This measure was applied in addition to other measures, namely SF-12, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and NEI-VFQ-39, which were used to assess health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms, and visual functioning.

Description of a new species of Aegla (Decapoda, Anomura) from the Paran 3 hydrographic basin, Brazil.

Freshwater crustaceans of the genus Aegla are endemic to southern South America, and present greater richness in the river basins of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. However, recent studies have shown the enormous potential for discovering new species of Aegla in the state of Paran. In the last six year the number of species recorded has almost doubled, increasing from 9 to 16.

Vision-related quality of life in patients treated for ocular syphilis.

Multiple studies have showed negative impact of non-infectious uveitis on quality of life (QoL). Less is understood regarding life experiences in patients with infectious uveitis. We investigated vision-related QoL in individuals who had recovered from ocular syphilis.

Trends in Inpatient Antibiotic Use Among Adults Hospitalized During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, 2018-2021.

Background: High rates of antibiotic use (AU) among inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite low rates of bacterial coinfection and secondary infection have been reported. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AU in healthcare facilities (HCFs) in South America.

Methods: We conducted an ecologic evaluation of AU in inpatient adult acute care wards in 2 HCFs each in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Impact of gender on clinical features and outcomes of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Aim: To investigate the effect of gender on the clinical features and outcomes of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Methods: 262 patients (139 women and 123 men) presenting to a tertiary referral uveitis service in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, with serological and clinical evidence of ocular toxoplasmosis were prospectively enrolled in an observational study. Predefined data items including demographics, descriptors of uveitis and ocular toxoplasmosis, best-corrected visual acuity and ocular complications were disaggregated by gender and compared statistically.

Comparison of Retinal Structure Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography between Persons with and without HIV Infection.

HIV retinal microangiopathy is an important predictor for increased risk of mortality. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can investigate microvascular changes resulting from retinal diseases. Study included 25 persons with HIV and 25 healthy persons.

Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Ocular Syphilis Involving the Posterior Segment of the Eye.

Purpose: To analyse posterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in ocular syphilis.

Methods: Medical records of 54 patients presenting consecutively with syphilitic uveitis were reviewed. Vitreous, retina and choroid (one eye/patient) were assessed by spectral-domain OCT on presentation (54 eyes) and after treatment (31 eyes).

Humanistic and Economic Burden of Blindness Associated with Retinal Disorders in a Brazilian Sample: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Vision impairment and blindness have been significantly associated with high medical care expenditures, decrease in health utility, and loss or reduction of productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the humanistic and economic burden of blindness in a Brazilian sample from a societal perspective.

Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, and multicenter study enrolling individuals with blindness (defined as the best corrected visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better-seeing eye) caused by retinal disorders.

Evaluation of the retinal vasculature of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate vascular density in super-ficial and deep capillary plexuses of the retina, measured using optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion. Affected eyes were compared with the contralateral eye of the same patient and both were compared with normal eyes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including 16 previously untreated patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of active ocular toxoplasmosis.

Purpose: To evaluate ophthalmic ultrasonographic findings associated with active ocular toxoplasmosis.

Methods: Forty-seven eyes with active ocular toxoplasmosis in 47 patients were subjected to ocular ultrasonography using the transpalpebral technique (10-MHz transducer) and fundus photography. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed.

Current ophthalmology practice patterns for syphilitic uveitis.

Background: Syphilitic uveitis is re-emerging alongside the systemic infection. In July 2017, an international group of uveitis-specialised ophthalmologists formed the International Ocular Syphilis Study Group to define current practice patterns.

Methods: 103 Study Group members based in 35 countries completed a 25-item questionnaire focused on case load, clinical presentations, use and interpretation of investigations, treatment and clinical indicators of poor prognosis.

Author Correction: Clinical Manifestations and Ophthalmic Outcomes of Ocular Syphilis at a Time of Re-Emergence of the Systemic Infection.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Clinical Manifestations and Ophthalmic Outcomes of Ocular Syphilis at a Time of Re-Emergence of the Systemic Infection.

Recent reports from different world regions suggest ocular syphilis is re-emerging, in parallel with an increasing incidence of the systemic infection globally. We conducted a large observational study of 127 persons consecutively treated for ocular syphilis at public medical centers in Brazil over a 2.5-year period ending July 2015.

PRESUMED TUBERCULOUS MULTIFOCAL RETINITIS IN PATIENTS UNDER TREATMENT WITH BIOLOGIC AGENTS.

Purpose: To report unique retinal fundus lesions and treatment outcomes of intraocular tuberculosis in patients under anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment.

Methods: Retrospective review of two patients with laboratorial evidence of tuberculosis who had bilateral ocular signs and symptoms not attributable to other diseases. Multimodal imaging was analyzed at the time of presentation and after the treatment initiation.

Visual impairment evaluation in 119 children with congenital Zika syndrome.

Purpose: To assess visual impairment in a large sample of infants with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and to compare with a control group using the same assessment protocol.

Methods: The study group was composed of infants with confirmed diagnosis of CZS. Controls were healthy infants matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Seroprevalence and Manifestations of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Purpose: Recent studies have linked infectious agents such as Toxoplasma gondii to schizophrenia. We investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii and conducted ophthalmologic examinations in schizophrenia patients and controls to identify lesions suggestive of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Interventions of the clinical pharmacist in an Intermediate Care Unit for elderly patients.

Objective: To discuss the role of the clinical pharmacist in hospital care of critical elderly patients.

Methods: Critical patients aged 60 years and over admitted by the clinical staff to an Intermediate Care Unit were followed-up for 4 months regarding their drug therapies. Medical prescriptions were reviewed daily on the basis of patients' clinical conditions, with the view to identify opportunities for optimization of drug therapies, contributing to safer prescribing, reduced discomfort and correct and rational use of drugs.

Quality of Life and Psychological Aspects in Patients with Visual Impairment Secondary to Uveitis: A Clinical Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Brazil.

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life in individuals with bilateral visual impairment secondary to uveitis and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial aspects.

Methods: Data were collected through a structured interviews, using four forms; the SF-12v2, HADS, NEI-VFQ-25 and a specific form developed to collect clinical and sociodemographic data.

Results: 80 patients were included with a mean age of 42.

Serum levels of vitamin A, visual function and ocular surface after bariatric surgery.

Background: - Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity, but the surgery increases the risk of developing nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency. In human metabolism, vitamin A plays a role in vision.

Objective: - To evaluate serum vitamin A, visual function and ocular surface of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.