Janusz Smigielski

Pulsatile ocular blood flow in subjects with sleep apnoea syndrome.

Introduction The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) and sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS). Material and methods Patients were recruited from those who underwent polysomnography in the “Sleep Unit” of the physiology department (Medical University, Lodz, Poland). A total of 52 Caucasian patients, 34 with SAS and 18 age- and gender-matched controls, were included in the study. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination included the pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) measurements, disc analysis with Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Oculus Centerfield computerized perimetry as well as the best visual acuity, a slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopic evaluation of anterior and posterior segments and applanation tonometry. Results The observed prevalence of glaucoma in SAS patients was 5.9% (2 of 34). The mean values of POBF were 1069.21 ±235.94 µl/min in the SAS group and 1061.78 ±174.63 µl/min in the control group. The study revealed that the differences of mean POBF between the SAS patients and the control group were not statistically significant: Mann-Whitney U-test p > 0.05. No correlations were found between sleep apnoea syndrome and mean intraocular pressure (IOP), mean retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and visual field mean defect (MD). Conclusions No correlation was found between pulsatile ocular blood flow and sleep apnoea syndrome. Although some previous studies found an association between IOP, MD, RNFL thickness and sleep apnoea syndrome, our study did not confirm that. However, a high prevalence of glaucoma was found among SAS patients in Poland.

The Prevalence of Age-Related Eye Diseases and Cataract Surgery among Older Adults in the City of Lodz, Poland

Purpose. To determine the prevalence of age-related eye diseases and cataract surgery among older adults in the city of Lodz, in central Poland. Material and Methods. The study design was cross-sectional and observational study. A total of 1107 women and men of predominantly Caucasian origin were successfully enumerated and recruited for the study. All selected subjects were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. Results. Overall 8.04% (95% CI 6.44–9.64) subjects had cataract surgery in either eye. After excluding subjects with bilateral cataract surgery, the prevalence of cataract was 12.10% (95% CI 10.18–14.03). AMD was found in 4.33% (95% CI 3.14–5.54 ) of all subjects. Of them 3.25% (95% CI 2.21–4.30 ) had early AMD and 1.08% (95% CI 0.47–1.69) had late AMD. Various types of glaucoma were diagnosed in 5.51% (95% CI 4.17–6.85) of subjects and 2.62% (95% CI 1.68–3.56) had OHT. The prevalence rates of DR and myopic macular degeneration were 1.72% (95% CI 0.95–2.48) and 0.45% (95% CI 0.06–0.85), respectively. All multiple logistic regression models were only significantly associated with older age. The highest rate of visual impairment was observed among subjects with retinal diseases. Conclusions. The study revealed high prevalence of age-related eye diseases in this older population.

Correctable and non-correctable visual impairment among young males: a 12-year prevalence study of the Military Service in Poland

Purpose:  To evaluate the prevalence of correctable and non‐correctable visual impairment in a representative sample of young males commissioned for Military Service in Poland.

Ocular findings among young men: a 12-year prevalence study of military service in Poland

Purpose:  To determine the prevalence of ocular diseases among young men and to assess the main ocular causes reflecting discharge from military service in Poland.

The sound of a mobile phone ringing affects the complex reaction time of its owner

Introduction Mobile phone conversation decreases the ability to concentrate and impairs the attention necessary to perform complex activities, such as driving a car. Does the ringing sound of a mobile phone affect the drivers ability to perform complex sensory-motor activities? We compared a subjects reaction time while performing a test either with a mobile phone ringing or without. Material and methods The examination was performed on a PC-based reaction time self-constructed system Reactor. The study group consisted of 42 healthy students. The protocol included instruction, control without phone and a proper session with subjects mobile phone ringing. The terms of the study were standardised. Results There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in reaction time in control (597 ms), mobile (633 ms) and instruction session (673 ms). The differences in female subpopulation were also significant (p < 0.01). Women revealed the longest reaction time in instruction session (707 ms), were significantly quicker in mobile (657 ms, p < 0.01) and in control session (612 ms, p < 0.001). In men, the significant difference was recorded only between instruction (622 ms) and control session (573 ms, p < 0.01). The other differences were not significant (p > 0.08). Men proofed to complete significantly quicker than women in instruction (p < 0.01) and in mobile session (p < 0.05). Differences amongst the genders in control session was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results obtained proofed the ringing of a phone exerts a significant influence on complex reaction time and quality of performed task.

Adverse effects of isotretinoin: A large, retrospective review

Acne is a very common and disfiguring disease that affects mostly adolescents and, to some extent, adults. The objective of our study was to estimate the adverse effects after isotretinoin by treatment of 3,525 patients due to acne vulgaris in a 5‐year observation. Retrospective, comparative study was carried out in Poland and Romania from January 2012 to August 2016. Inclusion criteria into this study were moderate, severe, and nodulocystic inflammatory acne vulgaris. Exclusion criteria were mild acne, pregnant, and lactating women. Statistical analysis was carried out using T test and Chi square. All patients were treated with oral isotretinoin. Patient age ranged from 13‐35 years. Dry lips was the most commonly reported adverse effect, affecting 100% of users, followed by xerosis (94.97%) and facial erythema (66.21%). Of all adverse effects, psychiatric symptoms accounted for 25.16%; eye lesions accounted for 8.96%. In lab investigations an increase in the level of total cholesterol and serum triglycerides was observed. This study documents the adverse effect profile of isotretinoin in a large number of patients collected over a period of 4 years. Side effects were mild and well tolerated and did not necessitate stopping the treatment. However, it is important to educate patients about this potential consequence.

Optimal time of duration of a long-term video-EEG monitoring in paroxysmal events - A retrospective analysis of 282 sessions in 202 patients.

PURPOSE To find the optimal duration of the long-term video-EEG (LTM) and assess diagnostics utility of LTM in patients with epilepsy and other paroxysmal events in terms of future diagnosis and management. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 282 LTMs performed in the last 5 years in our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), in 202 consecutive patients. The analysis included demographic data, monitoring time, number and type of paroxysmal events, the time until their onset, influence of LTM result on the diagnosis and future management. RESULTS There were 117 women and 85 men, mean age 34.2 years. Mean duration of LTM was 5 days (3-9), with 447 paroxysmal events recorded in 131 (65%) patients. Epileptic seizures were recorded in 82% cases (in 11% associated with PNES). The remaining 18% had either PNES (psychogenic non-epileptic seizures) - 11%, or parasomnias - 7%. Only 15% of epileptic seizures took place within the first 24h of the LTM (53% and 32% on the 2nd and 3rd day, respectively), whereas as many as 62% of PNES did (while only 28% and 10% on the 2nd and 3rd day, respectively). The LTM results changed the diagnosis in 36% of the patients, most frequently in PNES (from 2% to 14%). Altogether, it changed the management in 64% of the patients - particularly with PNES and those who underwent epilepsy surgery. CONCLUSIONS LTM should last at least 72h in patients with refractory epilepsy. Most of cases with PNES could be diagnosed after 48h.

The prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among older adults in the city of Lodz, Poland.

AbstractTo investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in a sample of Polish older adults.The study was designed in a cross-sectional and observational manner. Data concerning the vision status were assessed in 2214 eyes from 1107 subjects of European Caucasian origin; most of whom live in the city of Lodz, in central Poland. Visual impairment was defined as distance visual acuity <20/40 in the worse-seeing eye. Low vision was defined as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) <20/40 but >20/200 in better-seeing eye, and blindness was defined as BCVA ⩽20/200 in both eyes (United States criteria).Visual impairment was found in 27.5% subjects in the worse-seeing eye. Multiple regression analysis showed that increasing age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99) and female gender (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11–1.93) were independent risk factors. No association was found between visual impairment and socioeconomic status of subjects. Noncorrectable visual impairment was found in 7.0% of subjects, including 5.2% of subjects with unilateral and 1.8% of subjects with bilateral visual impairment. Low vision and blindness accounted for 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively, and were only associated with older age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.10). Retinal diseases represented the major cause of noncorrectable visual impairment and accounted for more than half of causes of blindness.Provision of appropriate refractive correction improves visual acuity in 75% subjects presenting with visual impairment. Retinal diseases are a major cause of noncorrectable visual impairment and blindness in this older population.

Factors affecting the opinions of family physicians regarding generic drugs – a questionnaire based study

A range of factors are believed to exert a negative influence on opinions of physicians about generic drugs.The aim of this study was to survey the opinions of primary care doctors on generics, and determine the factors which may affect them. A questionnaire comprising thirty eight questions was distributed among primary care doctors working in seventy out-patient clinics of the Lodzkie province, Poland, during the period of January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. A total of 170 of 183 participants completed the survey (average age 48.5; 70.0% women): a 92.9% response rate. While 38.8% of physicians claimed that generics were worse than brand name drugs, 54.1% considered them to be better. However, 36.5% of the doctors did not choose generics for their own use. Two key opinions were identified among the responses concerning the effectiveness of generic drugs: use of generic drugs by the physician (p<0.001), and their opinion that pharmacists do inform patients about generic drugs (p<0.05). Although existing evidence confirms that generic and brand name drugs are equally effective, many physicians doubt this, which prevents them from being used as cost effective drug therapy. In order to increase healthcare savings through the use of generics, these factors should be addressed: for example, convincing a physician to adopt generics for personal use may be an efficient way to support more cost effective treatment of his patients.

Value of oxyneurography, based on near infrared spectroscopy, in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in comparison to provocative clinical diagnostic tests and nerve conduction studies

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the oxyneurography (ONG) in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS ONG examination of the median nerve was performed in 260 patients. The results were compared with nerve conduction studies and clinical provocative tests. RESULTS ONG index greater than or equal to 62% was found in 95.18% of the patients with no or minimal Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) changes (1-2 according to the Padua classification) but only in 1.69% of the patients with advanced NCS changes (Padua 3-6). The sensitivity and specificity of the ONG study i.e. 95.18% and 98.31%, respectively, were compared with standard clinical tests: Tinel sign (61.45% and 14.69%), Phalen test (34.94% and 45.20%), reverse Phalen test (81.93% and 34.46%) and carpal compression test (91.57% and 72.32%). CONCLUSIONS ONG index lower than 62% was indicative of CTS. ONG has higher sensitivity and specificity then other clinical tests and it is an accurate and reliable method for the diagnosis of CTS. SIGNIFICANCE Oxyneurography is a non-invasive, fast and safe study which may play role in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.