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Biomedical subjects

N F Hrisomalos

Publications and source records attributed to N F Hrisomalos.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Unifocal helioid choroiditis.

OBJECTIVE: To report a previously undescribed clinical entity involving an unusual inflammatory lesion of the choroid. PATIENTS: Six young, healthy patients experienced acute unilateral visual loss secondary to unifocal choroiditis in the macula. RESULTS: All patients exhibited a solitary, elevated, yellow-white active focus of choroiditis with overlying subretinal fluid and in some cases subretinal hemorrhaging. The lesions were approximately 1 disc diameter in size and, on follow-up, showed minimal growth, then gradual resolution of the subretinal fluid. No other signs of ocular inflammation were noted, except in 1 patient who had anterior chamber and vitreous inflammation. In the 3 patients with prolonged follow-up, elevated white plaquelike lesions persisted with little change over time. Relapses were seen, and some permanent visual loss occurred in 1 of the 3 patients. Systemic evaluations revealed no definitive etiology. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, these patients exhibit an undescribed clinical entity, separable from previously established choroidal disorders. The cause of the lesions remains uncertain. We call this entity "unifocal helioid choroiditis."

Adolescent↗

Macular serpiginous choroiditis.

The authors describe in seven eyes of four patients a form of serpiginous choroiditis beginning in the macula without initial peripapillary activity. Eyes with macular serpiginous choroiditis often had a poor visual prognosis and sometimes developed subretinal neovascularization. Fluorescein angiography of the acute lesions showed hypofluorescence; some cases were thus initially diagnosed as having choroidal ischemia. Fluorescein angiography in one eye, however, suggested that at least some of the hypofluorescence seen acutely in eyes with serpiginous choroiditis is secondary to blocked fluorescence from "opaque" retinal pigment epithelium.

Adult↗

Neodymium-YAG laser vitreolysis in sickle cell retinopathy.

Six patients with proliferative sickle cell retinopathy and vitreous bands were treated with the neodymium-YAG (Nd-YAG) laser to accomplish lysis of avascular traction bands or to clear the media in front of the macula. Transection of bands was possible in five of the six cases but in two of these the effect was only partial. Three cases were satisfactorily treated with the Nd-YAG laser application alone, two eventually required conventional vitreoretinal surgery, and one patient's condition stabilized despite failure of the treatment. Complications from the treatment occurred in three cases and included subretinal (choroidal) hemorrhage, preretinal hemorrhage, microperforation of a retinal vein, and focal areas of damage to the retinal pigment epithelium. Neodymium-YAG vitreolysis may be a useful modality in carefully selected patients with proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, but potentially sight-threatening complications may occur.

Adult↗

Doctors--who are they?

The title "Doctor" has an interesting and not commonly understood inception, and those entitled to use the accolade Doctor have had an interesting evolution. The title is now used by a plethora of individuals with a variety of skills and levels of achievement. A random survey of the population reveals that the public strongly equates the bearer of the title Doctor as an MD-bearing individual, ie, a physician (94 percent), while only 23 percent of those who utilize the title are truly physicians. This discrepancy leads to confusion in interpretation of persons introduced as Doctor in newspapers, books, and television, and in daily life. Physicians themselves contribute to the problem, as 40 percent refer to themselves as Doctor when asked to describe what they do for a living. Public education is recommended regarding the use of the title Doctor, and a distinction (the actual degree obtained) should be used whenever this term is used.

Educational Status↗