ME. How much information do medical practitioners and endocrinologists have about diabetic retinopathy? Clinics. 2007;62(3):273-8. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to use a questionnaire to evaluate knowledge concerning diabetic retinopathy among the physicians present at the 12th Latin American Congress on Diabetes held in São Paulo, Brazil, September 2004. METHODS: A questionnaire about their experience and management of patients with diabetes mellitus and the ophthalmologic examination was administered to 168 endocrinologists attending the meeting. RESULTS: Among the 168 physicians, only 36.9% correctly referred patients with diabetes type 1 to an ophthalmologist, whereas 86.9% referred patients with the type 2 disorder as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Regarding the correct indication for screening for diabetic retinopathy, more physicians who had received their degree less than 5 years previously implemented this practice (54.8%), as opposed to those who had received their MD 20 years or more ago (22.6%). Regarding their experience in funduscopy during their specialty training, 52.4% claimed to have experience, but only 21.4% of those interviewed performed this examination on their patients. According to 84.5% of the interviewees, the fundus examination influenced their clinical treatment program. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that medical knowledge among medical practitioners and endocrinologists on preventive measures and periodicity of diabetic retinopathy examinations appears to be far from ideal for diabetes type 1, but satisfactory for diabetes type 2. Therefore, refresher courses emphasizing the correct management of diabetic patients are necessary, because the social and economic impact of retinopathy is significant.

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It has been suggested that nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is modulated by nitric oxide (NO). Since there is evidence that gonadal hormones can affect extrapyramidal motor behavior in mammals, we investigated the effects of isosorbide dinitrate (ISD), linsidomine (SIN-1) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), three pharmacologically different NO donors, on neuroleptic-induced catalepsy in 60-to 80-day-old male and female albino mice. Catalepsy was induced with haloperidol (1 mg/kg, ip) and measured at 30-min intervals by means of a bar test. Drugs (or appropriate vehicle) were injected ip 30 min before haloperidol, with each animal being used only once. ISD (5, 20 and 50 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of catalepsy in male mice (maximal effect 120 min after haloperidol: 64% inhibition). In the females only at the highest dose of ISD was an attenuation of catalepsy observed, which was mild and short lasting. SIN-1 (10 and 50 mg/kg) did not significantly affect catalepsy in female mice, while a significant attenuation was observed in males at the dose of 50 mg/kg (maximal inhibition: 60%). SNAP (20 mg/kg) significantly attenuated catalepsy in males 120 min after haloperidol (44% inhibition), but had no significant effect on females. These results basically agree with literature data showing that NO facilitates central dopaminergic transmission, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. They also reveal the existence of gender-related differences in this nitrergic modulation in mice, with females being less affected than males. Correspondence

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ObjectivesTo evaluate, through (OCT), alterations in retinal thickness, secondary to use of ethambutol in the treatment of patients with tuberculosis. In addition to studying the use of simpler semiological tools, such as Amsler and Ishihara, in the screening of these cases.MethodsThirty patients with ethambutol were recruited from the reference service of tuberculosis treatment at the Federal University of Espírito Santo from May 2015 to July 2016. After clinical history, the following parameters were analyzed; best corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopy, tonometry, photomotor reflex testing, Ishihara test, Amsler’s grid test, color digital retinography and optical coherence tomography with CIRRUS HD-OCT (Humphrey-Zeiss) every 2 months during treatment with ethambutol. They were divided into two groups according to the treatment: (1) standard group, two months of ethambutol; (2) extended group, nine to twelve months of ethambutol.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in OCT thickness between the pre and post treatment times in ten eyes of the extended group, mean reduction of 7,8 microns and in seven eyes of the standard group, with an average of 5.57 microns. During the study, a significant reduction of retinal thickness was observed in both groups at two months of treatment, and the delta percentage was higher in those patients who presented reduction of visual acuity and / or change in the Ishihara test.ConclusionThere was a significant reduction in the thickness of the nerve fiber layer by OCT in the patients studied, being more pronounced in those submitted to the extended treatment regimen. This reduction was observed two months after the start of therapy, and was more significant in the cases that presented changes in the Ishihara test.

Caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is the most common form of posterior infectious uveitis. Combined antiparasitic therapy is the standard treatment for OT, but several other schemes have been proposed. The purpose of the present study was to review the literature on the treatment of OT and provide ophthalmologists with up-to-date information to help reduce OT-related visual morbidity. In conclusion, no ideal treatment scheme was identified; currently prescribed therapeutic schemes yield statistically similar functional outcomes.

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Descritores:Toxina botulínica tipo A/administração & dosagem; Toxina botulínica tipo A/uso terapêutico; Espasmo hemifacial; Blefaroespasmo/terapia; Aceitação pelo paciente de cuidados de saúde; Satisfação do paciente; Recidiva INTRODUÇÃOAs distonias faciais mais freqüentes são o blefaroespasmo e o espasmo hemifacial. O blefaroespasmo é uma afecção adquirida das pálpebras, caracterizada por contrações tônicas espasmódicas do músculo orbicular, próce-rus e corrugador dos supercílios. Durante muito tempo foi considerado como uma manifestação de natureza psiquiátrica. Atualmente acredita-se que seja uma doença orgânica neurológica, provavelmente relacionada a alterações nos gânglios da base (1)(2) .Ocorre principalmente em mulheres acima de 50 anos e geralmente é bilateral. Com o tempo, há progressão do quadro clínico, com aumento da Toxina botulínica no tratamento de distonias faciais: avaliação da eficácia e da satisfação dos pacientes ao longo do tratamento Objetivos: Estudar a eficácia do tratamento com toxina botulínica nos pacientes com distonia facial e a satisfação com o tratamento ao longo do tempo. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 42 pacientes portadores de distonia facial acompanhados no setor de Plástica Ocular da Clínica Oftalmológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Resultados: Após as primeiras aplicações, 45,2% dos pacientes deram notas entre 9-10 para melhora do espasmo, 35,7% deram notas entre 7-8, 16,7% deram notas entre 5-6 e apenas um paciente deu nota 4. Em relação ao intervalo de reaparecimento do espasmo, 4,8% dos pacientes referiram entre 5-6 meses, 64,2% entre 3-4 meses e 31% entre 1-2 meses. Ao longo do tratamento, 76,1% dos pacientes referiram manter a mesma nota sobre a melhora do espasmo, 19,1% referiram melhora do resultado nas aplicações e apenas 4,8% referiram piora da eficácia nas aplicações atuais. Quanto ao tempo de retorno do espasmo após aplicação, 64,2% relataram não haver mudança ao longo do seguimento no serviço, 16,7% relataram aumento e 19,1% relataram diminuição do intervalo de remissão dos sintomas. Após aplicação, 19% dos pacientes apresentaram efeitos colaterais e 73,8% dos pacientes referiram desconforto apenas leve ou moderado em relação à aplicação. Conclusões: O uso da toxina botulínica foi eficaz e não houve alteração da eficácia ao longo do tempo. São poucos os efeitos colaterais e boa tolerância à administração. É boa alternativa para melhorar a qualidade de vida desses pacientes evitando a cegueira funcional causada por essas doenças.