PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Research identifies risk factors associated with progression of glaucoma

2011-05-10
(Press-News.org) Elevated pressure inside the eye, cornea thinning, and visual field loss are all markers that glaucoma may progress, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Glaucoma is one of the world's leading causes of permanent vision loss. It is a group of diseases that can lead to damage of the optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. Previous studies of glaucoma risk factors do not always represent the majority of patients or real-world practices in treating them. "The purpose of our study is to verify whether the main risk factors identified in populations enrolled in the major RCTs [randomized clinical trials] can also be applied to populations seen in scenarios that more closely resemble a typical clinical practice," explain the authors.

Carlos Gustavo V. De Moraes, M.D., from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and colleagues collected data from patients who were enrolled in the New York Glaucoma Progression Study and who had at least eight visits for visual field loss. The study included disc photographs; visual field analysis; and measurement of peak intraocular pressure (IOP), the highest level of pressure in the fluid within the eye. A total of 587 eyes of 587 patients were evaluated.

Researchers found that glaucoma was more likely to progress when peak IOP was 18 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or higher. Other risk factors included thinning of the cornea, presence of disc hemorrhage in the retina of the eye, and atrophy in part of the eye.

According to the authors, perhaps the most significant findings involved the effect of IOP: "We demonstrated that for each increase in millimeters of mercury in IOP, there is a significant increase in the risk of progression for treated glaucoma patients." Since this is a simple measurement to take in the clinical setting, the findings "may help clinicians decide how aggressively to treat specific patients to slow the rate of glaucoma progression," the authors write. They also pointed to disc hemorrhage as "an indirect sign" of visual field loss that may already have occurred, and erosion of the visual field as well as cornea thinning as predictors of glaucoma progression.

###

(Arch Ophthalmol. 2011;129[5]:562-568. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org.)

Editor's Note: This study was supported by the Joseph and Geraldine LaMotta Research Fund of the New York Glaucoma Research Institute, and one investigator's work was supported by the Glaucoma Research and Education Fund of Lenox Hill Hospital; both institutions are located in New York. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

To contact Carlos Gustavo V. De Moraes, M.D., call Jean Thomas at 212-979-4274 or e-mail jthomas@nyee.edu.

For more information, contact JAMA/Archives Media Relations at 312/464-JAMA (5262) or e-mail mediarelations@jama-archives.org.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Study evaluates cost-effectiveness of strategies to treat infant tear-duct obstruction

2011-05-10
When infants' tear ducts are blocked, the decision about when to intervene and the cost-effectiveness of doing so depend on how likely it is the problem will self-resolve, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. It is not uncommon for babies to be born with blockage of the tear ducts, a condition known as congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). In many cases, the condition will resolve spontaneously by the time a child is one year old. For affected infants at least six months old, physicians can ...

Colonoscopy screenings may occur more often than recommended; benefit uncertain in some older adults

2011-05-10
Among Medicare beneficiaries, a large portion of colonoscopies for screening purposes are performed more frequently than recommended intervals. But among older patients treated at Veterans Affairs facilities, warranted follow-up colonoscopies for patients with positive fecal blood tests often do not occur, or cause burden when they do. These findings are from two reports posted online today that will appear in the August 8 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Colonoscopy, a screening test used for the detection of colorectal ...

ASG Bowl Partners With Walmart to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs to Bowling Center Employees

2011-05-10
ASG Bowl, the Official Insurance Partner of Strike Ten Entertainment and the leading distributor of strategic insurance solutions for bowling proprietors nationwide, has announced an exclusive partnership with Walmart to offer discounted prescription pharmaceuticals to bowling proprietors. The program provides bowling center employees with access to more than 300 different prescription pharmaceuticals for just $4/prescription with a 30-day supply, and only $10/prescription with a 90-day supply. Prescription drugs that are currently not included in the program will still ...

Screening tool appears to increase pulmonary embolism diagnosis rate; no decrease in related deaths

2011-05-10
The introduction of multidetector row computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was associated with an apparent increase in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE), but with only minimal changes in mortality (death), suggesting the possibility of overdiagnosis, according to a report in the May 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This article is part of the Less Is More series in the journal. Pulmonary embolism usually occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs. If not treated, PE can be fatal. Therefore, ...

Health professionals appear concerned about bias in commercially funded continuing medical education

2011-05-10
Commercial funding of continuing medical education (CME) and the potential for bias appear to concern many health care practitioners and researchers, but many reported being unwilling to pay higher fees to eliminate or offset commercial funding sources, according to a report in the May 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Although over the past several years, the role of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in directing CME has been reduced, these entities still fund a substantial proportion of costs. Organizations such ...

Lotus Spas Delivers a New European Spa Range to the Block!

2011-05-10
Lotus Spas are proud to announce a new range of hot tubs to Europe. Our new range of spas is split into two collections both offering the highest build quality and standards of craftsmanship to bring a total of 8 different spas to the market. Engineered in Canada, the spas are built to withstand even the harshest of Canadian winters and they have been credited as being an "Energy Efficient Appliance" by the California Energy Commission (CEC), which is amongst the most stringent in the world, as well as complying with all European industry standards. All ...

Mayo Clinic studies how much practice makes perfect when performing colonoscopies

2011-05-10
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A colonoscopy is an invaluable procedure for detecting problems in the colon and rectum. Doctors can often diagnose gastrointestinal issues and even catch the warning signs of colorectal cancer. Perfecting the skills required for this delicate procedure takes practice. But just how much practice makes perfect? That was the question Robert E. Sedlack, M.D., and his Mayo Clinic research team set out to answer in their recently completed study of colorectal procedures. Their findings suggest much more practice is needed than gastroenterological professional ...

First human NOTES experience for sleeve gastrectomy at UCSD

2011-05-10
Sleeve gastrectomy, in which part of the stomach is removed, can be safe and effective when performed either transorally or transvaginally, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) who are pioneering the surgery in the U.S. Natural orifice translumenal surgery® (NOTES) eliminates the need for a large incision for organ removal, which could increase risks for infection, incisional hernia and other problems. In their review of 14 morbidly obese patients who had undergone NOTES as part of a gastrectomy, the researchers found no complications. ...

Spencer Ivy to Provide Electric Biking Breaks with Holiday Firms

2011-05-10
Spencer Ivy launched their electric bikes in October 2010, with the aim to make cycling more accessible to people who are usually deterred due to the terrain or distance they need to cycle - whether it be for work or leisure. Expanding into the tourism industry was therefore a natural progression. Now, in addition to offering high quality and efficient electric bikes through its network of dealers in the UK and Spain, Spencer Ivy will also provide tourists with premier electric bike holidays through its partners in Wales and across the South of England. Drover Holidays ...

Oncolytic viruses effectively target and kill pancreatic cancer stem cells

2011-05-10
Oncolytic viruses quickly infect and kill cancer stem cells, which may provide a treatment for tumors that are resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation, particularly pancreatic cancer, according to new research from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The findings are especially important since pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and is difficult to detect and treat at early stages. Investigators led by Joyce Wong, MD, surgical researcher with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, investigated whether they could use oncolytic viruses, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New drug-eluting balloon may be as safe and effective as conventional metal stents for repeat percutaneous coronary interventions

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of automated external defibrillators in private homes

University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences leadership publishes white paper on trauma-informed education

Microbial iron mining: turning polluted soils into self-cleaning reactors

Molecular snapshots reveal how the body knows it’s too hot

Analysis finds alarming rise in severe diverticulitis among younger Americans

Mitochondria and lysosomes reprogram immune cells that dampen inflammation

Cockroach infestation linked to home allergen, endotoxin levels

New biochar-powered microbial systems offer sustainable solution for toxic pollutants

Identifying the best high-biomass sorghum hybrids based on biomass yield potential and feedstock quality affected by nitrogen fertility management under various environments

How HIV’s shape-shifting protein reveals clues for smarter drug design

Study identifies viral combinations that heighten risk of severe respiratory illnesses in infants

Aboveground rather than belowground productivity drives variability in miscanthus × giganteus net primary productivity

Making yeast more efficient 'cell factories' for producing valuable plant compounds

Aging in plain sight: What new research says the eyes reveal about aging and cardiovascular risk

Child welfare system involvement may improve diagnosis of developmental delays

Heavier electric trucks could strain New York City’s roads and bridges, study warns

From womb to world: scientists reveal how maternal stress programs infant development

Bezos Earth Fund grants $2M to UC Davis and American Heart Association to advance AI-designed foods

Data Protection is transforming humanitarian action in the digital age, new book shows

AI unlocks the microscopic world to transform future manufacturing

Virtual reality helps people understand and care about distant communities

Optica Publishing Group announces subscribe to open pilot for the Journal of the Optical Society of America B (JOSA B)

UNF partners with Korey Stringer Institute and Perry Weather to open heat exercise laboratory on campus

DNA from Napoleon’s 1812 army identifies the pathogens likely responsible for the army’s demise during their retreat from Russia

Study suggests two unsuspected pathogens struck Napoleon's army during the retreat from Russia in 1812

The 25-year incidence and progression of hearing loss in the Framingham offspring study

AI-driven nanomedicine breakthrough paves way for personalized breast cancer therapy

Fight or flight—and grow a new limb

Augmenting electroencephalogram transformer for steady-state visually evoked potential-based brain–computer interfaces

[Press-News.org] Research identifies risk factors associated with progression of glaucoma