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Biomedical subjects

V M Smith

Publications and source records attributed to V M Smith.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Evaluation of the ZEBRA 2000 (Z-10) Breger Vision bifocal contact lens.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the ZEBRA 2000 (Z-10) bifocal contact lens on presbyopic and aphakic patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients, 37 presbyopes and one aphake, were fit in the Z-10 and evaluated for 6 months. RESULTS: Twenty patients (53%) completed 6 months of contact lens wear. Ten (26%) discontinued due to lens related problems, three (8%) discontinued due to other health problems, and five (13%) were lost to follow-up. Average refits per eye were 1.75. Average distance visual acuity was 20/25; average near visual acuity was J1.6; average wear time, 11 hours. Patient satisfaction was rated good in comfort and vision and fair in nighttime glare by patients' subjective evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The ZEBRA 2000 (Z-10) can be a useful addition in fitting the general presbyopic patient population.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Achieving additional myopic correction in undercorrected radial keratotomy eyes using the Lexington RK splint design.

PURPOSE: To reshape or flatten the corneas of post-radial keratotomy (RK) patients with residual myopia to improve uncorrected vision. METHODS: Twenty-one eyes (12 patients) with undercorrected RK results were fit with the Lexington RK splint, a multicurve plateau concept RGP contact lens. RESULTS: After wearing the lens an average of 6.1 months, undercorrected visual acuity improved an average 3.4 lines; change in spherical equivalent averaged 0.77 D; and flat K change averaged 0.75 D. Seventeen of 21 eyes (81%) demonstrated improved uncorrected vision. Nine eyes (43%) subsequently had a decrease in vision after discontinuing lens wear. Patients fit within 7 months of their last RK procedure were more likely to achieve optimal results. Sixty-two percent of this group did not require glasses or contact lenses (range: 4 to 21 months). CONCLUSIONS: A well-designed and fit plateau RGP contact lens can manipulate the healing post-RK cornea.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Corneal topography, arcuate keratotomy, and compression sutures for astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Twenty (20) patients with post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) (21 eyes) and excessive corneal astigmatism were studied using corneal topography to determine placement of arcuate incisions and compression sutures for astigmatism reduction. METHODS: Keratoplasty wounds and compression sutures were placed asymmetrically based on corneal topography only. Incisions were at the donor-host junction at a depth of 500 microns. RESULTS: A 56% reduction in corneal astigmatism was accomplished with an average cylinder reduction of 5.3 D. Keratometry readings were reduced in 18 of 20 (90%) of eyes and refractive cylinder was reduced in 15 of 20 (75%) of eyes. Corrected visual acuity improved in 15 of 20 (75%) declined in 15%, and did not change in 10%. CONCLUSION: Visual acuity can be improved by manipulating the astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty using corneal topography maps to determine placement of arcuate incisions and compression sutures.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

GATA-3 dominant negative mutant. Functional redundancy of the T cell receptor alpha and beta enhancers.

The GATA family of transcription factors regulates a wide variety of genes, including those involved in differentiation of erythrocytes and T lymphocytes. We report here the creation of a dominant negative mutant of GATA-3, KRR, which effectively blocks wild-type GATA-1, GATA-2, and GATA-3 transactivation when co-expressed in transient assays. KRR was generated by site-directed mutagenesis while investigating a putative activation domain of GATA-3, located between its two zinc fingers. The GATA-3 KRR mutation does not affect expression, nuclear translocation, or the ability to bind to a consensus GATA sequence. KRR can suppress the activity of the minimal T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta enhancers by 12- and 3.4-fold, respectively. However, KRR did not have a significant effect on the activity of larger TCR-alpha and -beta enhancer fragments. Thus, functional redundancy in the TCR-alpha and -beta enhancers can compensate for the loss of GATA-3 activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A new contact lens design for post-keratoplasty patients.

We conducted a study of 25 post-penetrating keratoplasty (PK) patients (28 eyes) fit with Quintasphere PK rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Using the Quintasphere PK trial set, 96% of patients were successfully wearing the lens at 6 months; at 1 year 93% were successfully wearing the lens. Eighty-two percent of eyes fit achieved at least 20/40 visual acuity, and 93% achieved at least 20/50. The average number of lenses fit per eye was 1.29. The design basis of the Quintasphere PK lens was predicated on a plateau-shaped corneal graft.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Environmental factors and high risk of esophageal cancer among men in coastal South Carolina.

A case-control study involving interviews of 207 men with esophageal cancer and 422 control subjects or their next of kin was conducted to identify reasons for the unusually high rates of esophageal cancer among men in coastal South Carolina. Tobacco and alcohol, including moonshine, were identified as the major determinants of esophageal cancer risk. Increased risk was also associated with low intake of fresh fruits but not with drinking of local herbal teas. The findings suggest that efforts aimed at reducing tobacco and alcohol use will help to lower the elevated rates of esophageal cancer in coastal South Carolina.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1978

Association of aspirin ingestion with symptomatic esophageal hiatus hernia.

The observed association of aspirin ingestion and symptomatic esophageal hiatus hernia is ascribed by me to injury of the esophageal mucosa during delayed passage of ingested aspirin from mouth to stomach. Physiologic alterations attributable to esophageal hiatus hernia act to prolong contact between swallowed material and the esophageal mucosa. This prolongation of contact between swallowed aspirin and the esophageal mucosa predisposes patients with esophageal hiatus hernia, and who are aspirin-users, to develop symptomatic esophagitis. Clinical data obtained from human subjects are presented which show that swallowed material may become trapped for extended periods in the esophagi of patients with esophageal hiatus hernia. Also, the capability of aspirin to injure alkaline mucosa by direct contact, in the absence of acid, is demonstrated.

Aspirin↗