AIM: To evaluate the prophylactic usage of intracameral cefuroxime in the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis (PE). METHODS: Phacoemulsification surgery of 6 099 patients with age-related cataract was studied retrospectively. In control group, 3 075 patients (3 075 eyes) had undergone surgery without use of intraocular antibiotics (IOA) between October 2001 and May 2004; and in study group 3 024 patients (3 024 eyes) had undergone the surgery with intracameral cefuroxime 1mg in 0.1mL between June 2004 and April 2007. Peroperative prophylaxis and operative procedures were the same in both groups. RESULTS: PE developed in 13 (0.42%) and 4 (0.13%) patients in the control and the study groups respectively [P=0.031;odds ratio= 3.20(1.04-9.84)]. PE developed 30 (3-75) days, and 25 (2-35) days after the surgeries in the two groups (P=0.35) respectively. Monomicrobial infections were observed. In the study group Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to cefuroxime; however, Streptococcus pneumonia was sensitive to cefuroxime. No sign of toxicity or allergy from intracameral cefuroxime was noted.CONCLUSION: Intracameral prophylactic cefuroxime appears safe. It may provide considerable protection against bacterial PE; however, possibility of insufficient antibiotic coverage and antibiotic resistance of causative microorganism should be considered.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Functional capacity varies significantly among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and it remains unclear why functional capacity is severely compromised in some patients with HFrEF while it is preserved in others. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) in the functional status of patients with HFrEF. METHODS: A total of 46 heart failure (HF) patients without overt pulmonary hypertension or right HF and 52 controls were enrolled in the study. PAS was assessed on parasternal short-axis view using pulsed-wave Doppler recording of pulmonary flow one centimeter distal to the pulmonic valve annulus at a speed of 100 mm/sec. PAS was calculated according to the following formula: the ratio of maximum flow velocity shift of pulmonary flow to pulmonary acceleration time. RESULTS: PAS was significantly increased in the HFrEF group compared to the control group (10.53±2.40 vs. 7.41±1.32, p < 0.001). In sub-group analysis of patients with HFrEF, PAS was significantly associated with the functional class of the patients. HFrEF patients with poor New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional capacity had higher PAS compared those with good functional capacity. In multivariate regression analysis, NYHA class was independently correlated with PAS. CONCLUSION: PAS is associated with functional status and should be taken into consideration as an underlying pathophysiological mechanism of dyspnea in patients with HFrEF.
Acceleration ; Dyspnea ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Stroke Volume ; Vascular Stiffness