Ricerc@Sapienza

Objective: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists and dentists have been severely affected, both for the transmission routes and for the diagnostical and therapeutic procedures typical of these disciplines.
Materials and methods: In this article, we discuss the transmission routes, the potential risk of contagion for patients and healthcare providers during procedures, and comment on the changes that will affect head and neck clinical practice in the future of outpatient and surgical activities.

Background and objectives: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO), one of the most relevant causes of vision loss, still represents an open issue in ophthalmology and vascular medicine. Its epidemiology and management approach have not been clearly characterized yet, with several grey zones requiring investigation. Significance of RVO on cardiovascular prognosis is also unclear.

We identified three different vascular patterns based on their appearance: (i) the simple tortuosity; (ii) the more complex corkscrew; and iii) the moya moya-like configurations. In the “corkscrew” pattern, we identified a spiral attitude of vessels, while the moya moya-like configuration was characterized by tortuous vessels that end in a “puff of smoke” arrangement that resembles the collateral circulation seen in moya moya syndrome..

● AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the excimer laser correction of the residual refractive errors after cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in uncommon cases. ● METHODS: Totally 24 patients with high residual refractive error after cataract surgery with IOL implantation were examined. Twenty-two patients had a history of phacoemulsification and IOL implantation, and two had extra-capsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation. Detailed examination of preoperative medical records was done to explain the origin of the post-cataract refractive errors.

Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers are common eye disorders frequently diagnosed in both humans and animals, and are currently treated by topical administration of eye drops containing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The current molecules often lack efficacy because infections in hypoxic tissue contain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; thus, new products for the treatment of ocular pain and inflammation are needed.

Purpose: Only a few reports in the literature have investigated the presence of ocular abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ocular abnormalities in a large population of NF1 patients, focusing on the choroidal changes.

Purpose: To determine host and pathogen factors predictive of outcomes in a large clinical cohort with keratoconjunctivitis. Design: Retrospective analyses of the clinical and molecular data from a randomized, controlled, masked trial for auricloscene for keratoconjunctivitis (NVC-422 phase IIB, NovaBay; clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT01877694). Participants: Five hundred participants from United States, India, Brazil, and Sri Lanka with clinical diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis and positive rapid test results for adenovirus.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) for treating moderate-to-severe neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare degenerative corneal disease resulting from impaired corneal innervation. Design: Phase 2 multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial. Participants: Patients with stage 2 (moderate) or stage 3 (severe) NK in 1 eye. Methods: The REPARO phase 2 study assessed safety and efficacy in 156 patients randomized 1:1:1 to rhNGF 10 μg/ml, 20 μg/ml, or vehicle.

The allocation of attentional resources to a particular location or object in space involves two distinct processes: an orienting process and a focusing process. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that performance of different visual tasks can be improved when a cue, such as a dot, anticipates the position of the target (orienting), or when its dimensions (as in the case of a small square) inform about the size of the attentional window (focusing).

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of a computer-generated Pelli–Robson test displayed on liquid crystal display (LCD) systems compared to a standard Pelli–Robson chart. Methods: Two different randomized crossover experiments were carried out for two different LCD systems for 32 subjects: 6 females and 10 males (40.5 ± 13.0 years) and 9 females and 7 males (27.8 ± 12.2 years), respectively, in the first and second experiment. Two repeated measurements were taken with the printed Pelli–Robson test and with the LCDs at 1 and 3 m.