Survey of ophthalmology
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Survey of ophthalmology · May 1996
ReviewNormal and pathological mechanisms in retinal vascular development.
Angiogenesis is a complex biologic process that occurs normally in development and in turnover and remodeling of mature vascular networks. Pathological angiogenesis and neovascularization occur in association with retinal and ocular ischemic diseases, in retinopathy of prematurity and other developmental disorders, and in tumor growth and metastasis. We describe current understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of retinal vascular development, highlighting aspects that relate to eye diseases, that provide sites of therapeutic intervention in ophthalmology and that are potential avenues for research.
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A doctor's personal credibility is the paramount factor in achieving success when testifying, especially as a defendant. Factors that aid credibility include a natural manner, sincerity, confidence, clarity and composure. Being argumentative, defensive, smug, flamboyant, or nervous undermines credibility. The authors offer advice to enhance the ophthalmologist's success in testifying.
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Survey of ophthalmology · Feb 1989
Review Case ReportsElectrophysiological and psychophysical testing of vision in glaucoma.
Electrophysiological testing in patients with early glaucoma and in glaucoma suspects reveals defects of central or foveal vision. Most studies suggest that glaucomatous eyes are best separated from normal eyes by use of stimuli with a spatial frequency below the peak of the human contrast sensitivity curve and a relatively high temporal frequency. The stimulus-dependent abnormalities in glaucoma are generally consistent with contrast sensitivity data The stimulus-dependent visual changes are related to the physiology of parallel processing in the primate retinogeniculate pathway.
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Malignant hyperthermia is a potentially fatal complication of general anesthesia that may occur with greater frequency in some patients with ptosis or strabismus. The history of our knowledge of this recently described condition is outlined. ⋯ A protocol for the treatment of the acute malignant hyperthermia crisis and guidelines for the management of susceptible patients are suggested. The medicolegal implications of the occurrence of such a crisis are discussed.
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Vitamin deficiency states are important in the genesis of many ocular disorders. Deficiencies may be due to poor dietary intake, or to alterations in metabolism produced by some commonly prescribed medications or by certain diseases. Furthermore, some vitamins may exert important pharmacologic effects on the normal eye. The ocular effects of deficiencies and excesses of specific vitamins, and the therapeutic uses of each vitamin, are reviewed.