(MedPage Today) — A newly recognized step in development of sepsis-induced lung injury looks like a promising therapeutic target, researchers suggested. Also this week: the need for light in utero.
Author: MedPage Today
Aspirin Use Linked to Macular Degeneration (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Regular aspirin use was associated with an elevated risk for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, an Australian study suggested, but actual causality remains uncertain.
Clinical Notes: Drug Chosen for Major AD Study
(MedPage Today) — The investigational anti-amyloid drug solanezumab will be tested in a landmark Alzheimer’s disease prevention trial. Also this week: “bait bottles” to catch drug thieves.
Watching for Eye Cancer Mets Can Be Risky (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Aggressive surveillance for survivors of ocular melanoma appears to carry a relatively high risk of secondary cancers from the radiation exposure, particularly for young women, a study suggested.
Microvascular Changes Might Predict Glaucoma (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Changes in blood vessels in the eye might be an early warning sign of glaucoma, researchers reported.
Eyes Might Have It for MS Drug Trial Measures (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Active multiple sclerosis is associated with rapid thinning of part of the retina, making eye measures helpful in evaluating new therapies, researchers suggested.
Clinical Notes: Circadian Drug Hits Trial Goal
(MedPage Today) — Individuals whose circadian rhythms are disrupted because of total blindness achieved relief from a new drug, results of a clinical trial indicated. Also this week: Stimuvax fails to help lung cancer patients.
Santa’s Deer May Deliver Eyeful of Myiasis
(MedPage Today) — Children hoping to catch Santa landing his present-packed sleigh may want to think twice about getting too close: Kids in Sweden wound up with fly larvae burrowing in their eyes after visiting with some reindeer.
Regular Aspirin May Damage Eyes (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Using aspirin long term may raise the risk of developing late age-related macular degeneration (AMD), researchers found.
Uptick in Eye Disease May Have Diabetes Link (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — The increase in serious eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma may be at least partly linked to the higher prevalence of diabetes, researchers suggested.
Disparities Seen in Glaucoma Testing (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — In the 9 years after the launch of the Healthy People 2010 program, some racial/ethnic disparities in glaucoma testing disappeared but others emerged, researchers reported.
Vision Insurance Tied to Better Eye Health (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — Having vision insurance appears to increase the likelihood of visiting an ophthalmologist and of having better vision, researchers found.
Compounder Tied to Tainted Eye Meds, Lost Sight
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — All but one of 12 patients given injections of contaminated bevacizumab (Avastin) prepared by a compounding pharmacy permanently lost vision in the affected eye, researchers reported here.
Drug Could Cut Steroid Use in Uveitis
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — The immunosuppressive sirolimus (Rapamune) may help control non-infectious uveitis in some patients, although it won’t improve visual acuity, researchers said here.
Drug Works for Retinal Vein Occlusion
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — The newest anti-VEGF drug in ophthalmology improved eyesight for patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), although efficacy diminished with a move to as-needed dosing, researchers said here.
Drug Improves Sight in Diabetic Retinopathy
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Ranibizumab (Lucentis) not only slowed progression of diabetic retinopathy, but improved vision for most patients, researchers said here.
No Apparent Risk of AMD After Cataract Surgery
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Having cataract surgery doesn’t appear to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), though it may be associated with early changes in indicators of the disease, researchers said here.
New Laser Improves Cataract Surgery Outcomes
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Early data suggest that femtosecond laser systems may provide improvements in outcomes for cataract surgery, researchers said here.
Novel Drug Boosts Anti-VEGF Effects in AMD
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Adding an investigational agent on top of anti-angiogenesis drugs may improve outcomes in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), researchers said here.
AAO: Gene Tests Not Shown Helpful for Eye Diseases
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Ophthalmologists should steer clear of recommending genetic tests for complex diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because the evidence for their utility just doesn’t exist, researchers said here.