Basic Exploratory Study of Bisphenol A (BPA) Dietary Administration to Istrian Pramenka Rams and Male Toxicity Investigation

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical and environmental pollutant, has been reported by many researchers to induce male reproductive toxicity in different experimental models. In this study, we investigated whether long-term exposure for two months to 25 µg/kg body weight (low dose) of BPA affects spermatogenesis or sperm quality in young Istrian Pramenka rams exposed via diet. We evaluated body and testicular weights, histopathology of testes and epididymides, and sperm analyses, and compared these parameters between the group of treated rams and the control group of rams. Although there were some differences between the two groups, these differences were not large or statistically significant. The only statistically significant difference was the lower epithelial height of seminiferous tubules in treated rams, compared to control rams. In addition to assessing toxicity, BPA concentrations in the blood plasma of treated rams were determined after the first administration, and the toxicokinetic parameters of total BPA were calculated. In this study, no major signs of altered reproduction in rams were detected.

Use of ex-press® implant in glaucoma surgery - retrospective study

PURPOSE

The objective of the study is to evaluate of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with the use of EX-PRESS drainage implant. Evaluated was the decrease of intraocular pressure (IOP), visus stabilization, perimeter Humphrey - related finding (T 30-2), Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) and possibility of reducing the local drug therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective data analysis was performed in 40 eyes with POAG in 28 subjects (14 female- and 14 male patients) average-aged 69.5 years. In all 40 eyes, surgery was performed by one surgeon within the years 2011-2017. Indications for EX-PRESS implantation in our study were the POAG with decompensated IOP, decompensated chronic secondary glaucoma or failure previously anti-glaucoma surgical operations. Within the preoperative period, in all cases the progression was observed on the perimeter T 30-2 or on the HRT. Before and after surgery, all 40 eyes were evaluated for the following factors: the IOP, visus, pachymetry, therapy by anti-glaucomatic drugs and regular inspections of the perimeter and HRT. The average post-surgery following-up time in our total of patients was 3 years and 8 months. The identified data of our total of patients were statistically processed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.

RESULTS

The average pre-surgery IOP was 21.4 mm Hg, 6 months post-surgery 11.2 mm Hg, and 13.2 mm Hg at the last inspection. Pre-surgery anti-glaucoma therapy: monotherapy in 2 eyes, dual therapy in 25 eyes, triple therapy in 13 eyes. Post-operatively without the need of therapy were 19 eyes, the need for monotherapy in 7 eyes, dual therapy in 13-eyes and triple therapy in 1 eye. During the last inspection of the perimeter or HRT within the postoperative period, we identified stationary finding in 39 eyes and only a mild progression in 1 eye. Peroperatively, we have not identified any serious complications. Within the postoperative period, we observed choroid ablation in 10 eyes as recovered within 6-7 days. As a more serious complication, we noted endophthalmitis in 1 eye on the background of generalized lichen planus complicating skin disease. In 5 eyes within the late postoperative period we found occlusion of lateral orifices in the EX-PRESS implant by the fibrotic tissue, the 4 eyes developed cataracts, and the eyeball hypotonia persists in 1 eye at the level of 5 torr without affecting the visus of the operated eye.

CONCLUSION

It outflows from the above results that the use of EX-PRESS implant in the surgery of glaucoma is an effective and safe method with a minimal number of complications.