Scleral Buckling: A Review of Clinical Aspects and Current Concepts

Scleral buckling represents a valuable treatment option for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. The surgery is based on two main principles: the closure of retinal breaks and the creation of a long-lasting chorioretinal adhesion. Buckles are placed onto the sclera with the purpose of sealing retinal breaks. Cryopexy is usually performed to ensure a long-lasting chorioretinal adhesion. Clinical outcomes of scleral buckling have been shown to be more favorable in phakic eyes with uncomplicated or medium complexity retinal detachment, yielding better anatomical and functional results compared with vitrectomy. Several complications have been described following scleral buckling surgery, some of which are sight-threatening. Expertise in indirect ophthalmoscopy is required to perform this type of surgery. A great experience is necessary to prevent complications and to deal with them. The use of scleral buckling surgery has declined over the years due to increasing interest in vitrectomy. Lack of confidence in indirect ophthalmoscopy and difficulties in teaching this surgery have contributed to limiting its diffusion among young ophthalmologists. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive guide on technical and clinical aspects of scleral buckling, focusing also on complications and their management.

Psychodynamic Therapist’s Subjective Experiences With Remote Psychotherapy During the COVID-19-Pandemic—A Qualitative Study With Therapists Practicing Guided Affective Imagery, Hypnosis and Autogenous Relaxation

The COVID-19-pandemic brought massive changes in the provision of psychotherapy. To contain the pandemic, many therapists switched from face-to-face sessions in personal contact to remote settings. This study focused on psychodynamic therapists practicing Guided Affective Imagery, Hypnosis and Autogenous Relaxation and their subjective experiences with psychotherapy via telephone and videoconferencing during the first COVID-19 related lockdown period in March 2020 in Austria. An online survey completed by 161 therapists produced both quantitative and qualitative data with the latter being subject to a qualitative content analysis. Our research suggests that telephone and videoconferencing are considered valuable treatment formats to deliver psychodynamic psychotherapy. However, therapists’ experiences with remote psychotherapy are multifaceted and ambiguous. In particular, the findings raise questions concerning the maintenance of the therapeutic alliance, the development of the analytic process, the sensitivity to unconscious communication, and the indication for certain types of patients that still need further investigation. Our research indicates that the long-standing reticence toward remote treatments offers among psychodynamic therapists is becoming more differentiated and partially dissolves as therapists gain experiences in their use. Attitudes are becoming more open. At the same time, the way is being prepared to take a closer look at the specific processes and dynamics of remote psychotherapy and to examine them critically in future studies.

Interventional Bronchus Occlusion Using Amplatzer Devices – A Promising Treatment Option for Children with Persistent Air Leak

Background: Persistent air leak (PAL) is a severe complication of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). Surgical interventions are usually successful when medical treatment fails, but can be associated with significant complications and loss of potentially recoverable lung parenchyma. Methods: Retrospective analysis of efficacy and safety of interventional bronchus occlusions (IBO) using Amplatzer devices (ADs) in children with PAL secondary to SSP. Results: Six patients (four males, 4–15 years of age) underwent IBO using ADs as treatment for PAL. Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) was the most common cause (n=4) of PAL. Three patients were previously healthy and three suffered from chronic lung disease. All patients required at least two chest tubes prior to the intervention for a duration of 15–43 days and all required oxygen or higher level of ventilatory support. In three cases, previous surgical interventions had been performed without success. All children improved after endobronchial intervention and we observed no associated complications. All chest tubes were removed within 5–25 days post IBO. In patients with PAL related to NP (n=4), occluders were removed bronchoscopically without re-occurrence of pneumothorax after a mean of 70 days (IQR: 46.5–94). Conclusion: IBO using ADs is a safe and valuable treatment option in children with PAL independent of disease severity and underlying cause. A major advantage of this procedure is its less invasiveness compared to surgery and the parenchyma- preserving approach.

Venetoclax in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Are Supporting Evidences Enough?

Despite the progress in the development of new therapeutic strategies, relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) still represents a high unmet medical need. Treatment options in this setting include enrollment into clinical trials, allogeneic stem cell transplantation and/or targeted therapy. Nevertheless, it is associated with poor outcomes. Thus, the development of new treatments, which could ameliorate the prognosis of these patients with a good safety profile are highly demanded. Recently, venetoclax (VEN) has been approved for naïve AML patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy. In this regard, regimens including VEN could represent a valuable treatment option even in those with R/R disease and several studies have been conducted to demonstrate its role in this clinical setting. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the use of VEN regimens in the treatment of R/R AML.

Implications of photodynamic cancer therapy: an overview of PDT mechanisms basically and practically

Background Tumor eradication is one of the most important challengeable categories in oncological studies. In this account, besides the molecular genetics methods including cell therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and general cancer therapy procedures like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, photodynamic adjuvant therapy is of great importance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a relatively noninvasive therapeutic method utilizes the irradiation of an appropriate wavelength which is absorbed by a photosensitizing agent in the presence of oxygen. Main body of the abstract In this procedure, a series of events lead to the direct death of malignant cells such as damage to the microvasculature and also the induction of a local inflammatory function. PDT has participated with other treatment modalities especially in the early stage of malignant tumors and has resulted in decreasing morbidity besides improving survival rate and quality of life. High spatial resolution of PDT has attracted considerable attention in the field of image-guided photodynamic therapy combined with chemotherapy of multidrug resistance cancers. Although PDT outcomes vary across the different tumor types, minimal natural tissue toxicity, minor systemic effects, significant reduction in long-term disease, lack of innate or acquired resistance mechanisms, and excellent cosmetic effects, as well as limb function, make it a valuable treatment option for combination therapies. Short conclusion In this review article, we tried to discuss the potential of PDT in the treatment of some dermatologic and solid tumors, particularly all its important mechanisms.

Efficacy and safety of Cineole (Soledum®) in the treatment of patients with acute bronchitis: results of an open-label randomized clinical phase III study

Background Cineole has documented anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and mucolytic properties and has shown to be a valuable treatment option in different airway diseases. Our study examined whether a therapy with Cineole as add on to an antiviral therapy can relieve symptoms of acute bronchitis, and accelerate recovery in everyday practice. Methods In an open-label, randomized, parallel-group phase III clinical trial, 132 patients diagnosed with “acute bronchitis” or “acute tracheobronchitis” were included and treated with 3 × 200 mg of Cineole on top of antiviral treatment, or antiviral treatment alone (Ingavirin® 90 mg), per day for 4–9 days. The primary outcome measure was the change in cough frequency assessed in a Cough Frequency Assessment Scale, secondary outcomes were the total Bronchitis Severity Scale (BSS), as well as individual symptoms of the BSS score. Adverse events were collected for safety analysis. The study sites were located in Russia. Results After 4 days of therapy, there was a significant difference between the groups in favour of the patients treated with Cineole which persisted until the end of the study. At that time, cough during the day, assessed by the Cough Frequency Assessment Scale, was absent in 14 patients in the Cineole group (21.5%), compared to 4 (6.2%) patients in the control arm (p = 0.0203), which was replicated using the BSS individual cough score. In addition, significant improvements in the individual symptoms of the BSS in patients taking Cineole were documented. The study drug showed good tolerability without differences to antiviral treatment and results were in line with previous experiences with this drug. Conclusions Assessment after 4 days of treatment with additional Cineole showed a significant reduction of cough frequency and other symptoms of acute bronchitis compared to antiviral treatment alone. In addition, patients recovered faster from the disease. Additional treatment with Cineole is a valuable treatment option in acute bronchitis. Trial registration Ministry of Health, Russia, No. 592. Registered 19 October 2015.

1223. In Vitro Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Comparator Agents Against Enterobacterales from ICU and Non-ICU Wards Collected in Latin America and Globally as part of the ATLAS Surveillance Program 2017-2019

Background Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is a β-lactam/non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor combination with activity against Enterobacterales producing class A, C and some class D β-lactamases. Resistance caused by these β-lactamases is especially high in ICUs. This study evaluated the in vitro activity of CAZ-AVI and comparators against Enterobacterales isolates from patients in ICU and non-ICU wards. Methods Non-duplicate clinical isolates were collected in 2017-2019 from patients in Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East/Africa. Susceptibility testing was performed using CLSI broth microdilution and interpreted using CLSI 2021 and FDA (tigecycline) breakpoints. PCR and sequencing were used to determine the β-lactamase genes present in all isolates with meropenem (MEM) MIC >1 µg/ml, and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Proteus mirabilis with aztreonam or ceftazidime MIC >1 µg/ml. Results The activity of CAZ-AVI and comparators is shown in the table. Susceptibility rates among global Enterobacterales were generally lower for isolates from patients in ICU than non-ICU wards, but this difference was small for CAZ-AVI, which inhibited >96% of isolates from both ward types. Among MEM-nonsusceptible (NS) isolates, CAZ-AVI was active against 62.3% and 65.6% of ICU and non-ICU isolates, respectively, and 36.3% and 33.2%, respectively, carried metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). CAZ-AVI inhibited >97% of MEM-NS MBL-negative isolates collected globally. Antimicrobial activity against all Enterobacterales from both ICU and non-ICU wards in Latin America (LA) was generally similar to the global average. Among MEM-NS isolates, antimicrobial activity of CAZ-AVI was >10 percentage points higher in LA than the global average among isolates from both ward types, at least partly because of a lower proportion of MBL-positive isolates in this subset (24.4% and 22.0% in ICU and non-ICUs, respectively). CAZ-AVI inhibited >98% of MEM-NS MBL-negative isolates from LA. Results Table Conclusion CAZ-AVI provides a valuable treatment option for infections caused by Enterobacterales that do not carry MBLs, including those from patients in ICU wards, where antimicrobial resistance is typically higher. Disclosures Sibylle Lob, PhD, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor) Meredith Hackel, PhD MPH, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor) Gregory Stone, PhD, AztraZeneca (Shareholder, Former Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Employee) Daniel F. Sahm, PhD, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor)

Tolerance of cancer cells against amino acids deprivation in tumour microenvironments

New approaches for treating cancers are required and advances in 'omics' technologies including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics could provide valuable treatment options. Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Osawa, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo, believes that integrative techniques are essential in combating cancer. Osawa's lab is utilising a pioneering approach called nutriomics that involves applying multiple omics technologies to cancer biology. These omics approaches can be used to generate detailed genetic and molecular profiles of whole tumours, allowing researchers to discover important information about the tumour cells. In addition, they provide an opportunity to explore the healthy cells surrounding the tumour, thereby establishing a picture of the interactions between the tumour and the microenvironment in which it exists, which is important information that could be exploited for treatments methods. Using the omics approach, the researchers have been able to identify and describe the functions of the metabolites contributing to the malignant progression of cancer cells. They found that hypoxia, nutrient starvation and acidic pH all induce tumour aggressiveness by epigenetic regulation. Osawa and the team now want to identify further cancer metabolites that lead to malignancy and, ultimately, develop therapeutics for metastasis and recurrent advanced cancer from the viewpoint of an integrative multiomics approach.

Unpredictable Outcomes of a Regenerative Endodontic Treatment

Regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) is a valuable treatment for necrotic immature teeth with many advantages such as increasing root length and thickness of root wall. The success of RETs is based on healthy stem cells, suitable scaffolds, and growth factors and takes place when bacterial contamination is well controlled. The aim of this article is to address controversy in a case with multiple success criteria. This paper reports a 9-year-old boy with a complicated crown fracture of the maxillary left central incisor about three years prior to referral with a diagnosis of intrusive luxation with spontaneous reeruption. The tooth had an underdeveloped root and a well-defined periapical radiolucent lesion around the root apex. RET was considered according to the stage of root development. Upon the three-week recall session, the clinical examination indicated that the patient was asymptomatic in the affected site. However, the patient returned two weeks later with a sinus tract pertaining to the apex of tooth #9. Therefore, debridement of the root canal space was repeated and the RET redone. On the second trial, the patient was symptom-free, but no more evidence of root maturation was observed on 18-month follow-up. The tooth was asymptomatic (without swelling, drainage, and pain) during this time, and esthetics was provided for the patient.

Ivabradine-sensitive incessant atrial tachycardia during pregnancy: a case report

Background Automaticity is the dominant mechanism in maternal focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) during pregnancy and if incessant, can cause tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Medication failure for FATs is common, however, for the subgroup due to increased automaticity ivabradine sensitivity has been described and may represent a valuable treatment option. Little data are available regarding the safety profile of ivabradine during pregnancy. Case Summary We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with background of peripartum cardiomyopathy and incessant atrial tachycardia with deteriorating ventricular function during her second pregnancy unresponsive to betablockade and demonstrating the immediate successful rate-controlling effect of ivabradine. Discussion Early recognition of persistent maternal FAT is essential due to its frequent association with tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy. Our case report highlights the challenges of providing an equally safe and effective treatment of these notoriously difficult to treat arrhythmias during pregnancy. Ivabradine in combination with a betablocker can be effective for abnormal automaticity but its safety profile during pregnancy remains uncertain.