Retrospective Analysis of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Hepatic Iron Depletion.

Objective: The study retrospectively analyzed the effects of hepatic iron depletion on the therapy of chronic hepatitis C patients.

Materials: A total of 195 patients from Hamad General Hospital were studied retrospectively. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and g-glutamyl transferase (GGT) tests were implemented; descriptive analysis and mean testing were performed to analyze the data.

Low-dose hydroxycarbamide therapy may offer similar benefit as maximum tolerated dose for children and young adults with sickle cell disease in low-middle-income settings.

The multiple clinical benefits of hydroxycarbamide in sickle cell disease are supported by a large body of evidence. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is the regimen recommended by guidelines from a panel of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) experts, but other dosage regimens have been used in babies (BABY-HUG) 9 to 18 months old (20 mg/kg per day) and developing countries such as India (10 mg/kg per day); however, there has been no direct comparison of the efficacy, effectiveness, or cost-effectiveness of these different regimens. The purpose of this review was to investigate the current situation with various hydroxycarbamide regimens with particular relevance to low-middle-income countries.

Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Gene Associated With Nicotine Initiation and Addiction: Analysis of Novel Regulatory Features at 5' and 3'-Regions.

Tobacco smoking is widespread behavior in Qatar and worldwide and is considered one of the major preventable causes of ill health and death. Nicotine is part of tobacco smoke that causes numerous health risks and is incredibly addictive; it binds to the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in the brain. Recent studies showed α7nAChR involvement in the initiation and addiction of smoking.

Decreased severity of age-related macular degeneration in amblyopic eyes.

Aim: To evaluate whether people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and a history of amblyopia have equal severity of AMD in both eyes.

Methods: Billing records were used to locate all people with a history of amblyopia and AMD evaluated between 1 January 2003 and 1 June 2015 at a single ophthalmology institute. Two ophthalmic graders blinded to amblyopia status determined the severity of AMD in each eye using fundus photos and a validated grading scale.

First study in Qatar to reveal high Legionella counts in cooling towers.

Legionella spp. is transmitted from water to humans by aerosol-generating devices, including cooling towers (CTs). There have not been published reports about Legionella in these systems in Qatar.

Uveal Melanoma Regression after Brachytherapy: Relationship with Chromosome 3 Monosomy Status.

Aim: The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the regression rate of ciliary body melanoma and choroidal melanoma after brachytherapy and chromosome 3 monosomy status.

Methods: We conducted a prospective and consecutive case series of patients who underwent biopsy and brachytherapy for ciliary/choroidal melanoma. Tumor biopsy performed at the time of radiation plaque placement was analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine the percentage of tumor cells with chromosome 3 monosomy.

RETINAL DETACHMENT SURGERY IN A PEDIATRIC POPULATION: Visual and Anatomic Outcomes.

Purpose: Pediatric retinal detachments (RDs) are unique in etiology, anatomy, and prognosis compared with the adult population. The mechanisms of pediatric RD include tractional (TRD), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, traumatic, and other types, such as exudative or hemorrhagic. This study examined visual and anatomical outcomes of pediatric RD undergoing surgical repair at a single university referral center.

Ocular/adnexal lymphoma: dissimilar to systemic lymphoma.

Ocular adnexal lymphoma and intraocular lymphoma, whether occurring simultaneously or sequentially, are often similar to associated systemic lymphoma. We describe 4 cases of ocular adnexal lymphoma or intraocular lymphoma with a dissimilar systemic lymphoma. Two of the cases represent Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small-cell lymphoma into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Acute Hemorrhagic Retinopathy following Intravitreal Melphalan Injection for Retinoblastoma: A Report of Two Cases and Technical Modifications to Enhance the Prevention of Retinal Toxicity.

Aims: To report the occurrence of acute hemorrhagic retinopathy following intravitreal melphalan injection for retinoblastoma.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of 2 patients with retinoblastoma treated with intravitreal melphalan for vitreous seeding who developed acute hemorrhagic retinopathy.

Results: Patient 1 is a 6-month-old female with bilateral retinoblastoma (Group D right eye and Group B left eye) treated with 4 cycles of systemic chemotherapy and 2 intravitreal melphalan injections in each eye.

Risk of metastasis and orbital recurrence in advanced retinoblastoma eyes treated with systemic chemoreduction versus primary enucleation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of metastatic disease and orbital recurrence in advanced retinoblastoma treated with systemic chemoreduction versus primary enucleation.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with Group D/E retinoblastoma was conducted with data collection from 1995 to 2015. Overall, 345 eyes (294 patients) were included (165 Group D and 180 Group E).

Local Failure After Episcleral Brachytherapy for Posterior Uveal Melanoma: Patterns, Risk Factors, and Management.

Purpose: To evaluate the patterns, the risk factors, and the management of recurrence following brachytherapy in patients with posterior uveal melanoma, given that an understanding of the recurrence patterns can improve early recognition and management of local treatment failure in such patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Setting: Multispecialty tertiary care center.

Health Informatics Tools to Improve Utilization of Laboratory Tests.

Herein, we discuss improper test utilization practices and their implications on delivery of health care, as well as providing a brief explanation of the means to reduce such practices by improvement of personnel factors, particularly involving physicians. The article also elaborates on ways to mitigate improperly utilized test practices using appropriate health informatics technologies to their maximum possible capacities.

Treatment Outcomes of Focal Laser Consolidation during Chemoreduction for Group B Retinoblastoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular treatment outcomes of focal laser consolidation during systemic chemoreduction for Group B tumors in the posterior fundus.

Design: Single-institution retrospective chart review from 1995 to 2016.

Participants: Patients with Group B retinoblastoma with at least 1 tumor in the posterior fundus.

TWENTY-FIVE-GAUGE CANNULA-ASSISTED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY OF CHOROIDAL MELANOMA: Cytopathological Analysis.

Purpose: To report cytopathological observations on the cells retrieved from the 25-G cannula used during prognostic transvitreal fine-needle aspiration biopsy of choroidal melanoma.

Methods: Transvitreal fine-needle aspiration biopsy of choroidal melanoma was performed through a 25-G valved cannula. Twenty samples from 20 consecutive patients were obtained.

Cat Scratch Disease: Expanded Spectrum.

Background: To expand the spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations in cat scratch disease.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 7-year-old male was referred for evaluation of his left optic disc after failing vision screening test at school.

A review of the role of public health informatics in healthcare.

Recognized as information intensive, healthcare requires timely, accurate information from many different sources generated by health information systems (HIS). With the availability of information technology in today's world and its integration in healthcare systems; the term "Public Health Informatics (PHI)" was coined and used. The main focus of PHI is the use of information science and technology for promoting population health rather than of individuals.

Handling Big Data in Modern Healthcare.

The constant growth of medical knowledge and the increases in specialization in clinical practice have created a significant need to share and access patient information with speed and efficiency. However, current technology is centered on processing data, rather than gathering information. To realize the potential of modern technology in improving patient health, merely collecting and storing data are insufficient: one must convert these data into information and knowledge.

Episcleral brachytherapy of uveal melanoma: role of intraoperative echographic confirmation.

Purpose: To compare the rates of tumour recurrence following episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma before and after implementation of intraoperative echographic confirmation of plaque placement.

Materials And Methods: All patients with primary single ciliary body or choroidal melanoma treated with iodine-125 or ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy between 1 January 2004 and 30 December 2013 were included. Exclusion criteria were patients with previous radiation treatment and patients who received adjuvant transpupillary thermotherapy.

Amelanotic Irido-Ciliary Ring Melanoma: A Clinicopathological Correlation.

Purpose: To report a case of an amelanotic irido-ciliary ring melanoma.

Design: Interventional case report.

Results: A 44-year-old male was followed for asymptomatic amelanotic iris nevus of the right eye that was noted to have a localized ciliary body mass with ring extension along the trabecular meshwork.

Isolated Conjunctival Inflammation Suggestive of IgG4-Related Disease.

Purpose: In this interventional case report, we present the correlation between an isolated conjunctival inflammatory lesion and IgG4-related disease.

Results: A 29-year-old female presented with a solitary conjunctival mass of the right eye. The rest of the ocular examination including orbital assessment was negative.

Management of Conjunctival Melanoma: Critical Assessment of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.

Conjunctival melanoma (CoM) is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma. There is a lack of consensus on a unified management plan for this disease. Recently, a few centers have adopted the regional sentinel lymph node biopsy into the staging process of CoM.

Vision Loss Following Episcleral Brachytherapy for Uveal Melanoma: Development of a Vision Prognostication Tool.

Importance: Vision loss following episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma is difficult to predict for individual patients.

Objective: To generate a risk calculator for vision loss following episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective review of data was conducted at a multispecialty tertiary care center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Delayed sclerotomy wound dehiscence after lensectomy and vitrectomy in Marfan syndrome.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is associated with abnormal fibrillin development that can cause morbidity and mortality. A case of acute onset hypotony due to sclerotomy wound dehiscence 13 years after 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and lensectomy is reported in a patient with MFS. Slit lamp examination revealed a leaking sclerotomy wound and intraoperatively the source was noted to be the prior sclerotomy site.

The Blue Button Project: Engaging Patients in Healthcare by a Click of a Button.

The Blue Button project has become a way for many Americans to download their health records by just a click in any way that suits them, such as in print, on a thumb drive, or on their mobile devices and smartphones. Several organizations have developed and applied Blue Buttons on their websites to allow beneficiaries to securely access and view personal medical information and claims. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the significance of the Blue Button project in the field of health information management.