Disturbed redox balance in heart failure (HF) might contribute to impairment of cardiac function, by oxidative damage, or by regulation of cell signaling. The role of polymorphism in glutathione transferases (GSTs), involved both in antioxidant defense and in regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways in HF, has been proposed. We aimed to determine whether GST genotypes exhibit differential risk effects between coronary artery disease (CAD) and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) in HF patients. GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 genotypes were determined in 194 HF patients (109 CAD, 85 IDC) and 274 age- and gender-matched controls. No significant association was found for GSTA1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes with HF occurrence due to either CAD or IDC. However, carriers of at least one variant GSTP1∗Val (rs1695) allele were at 1.7-fold increased HF risk than GSTP1∗Ile/Ile carriers (p=0.031), which was higher when combined with the variant GSTA1∗B allele (OR=2.2, p=0.034). In HF patients stratified based on the underlying cause of disease, an even stronger association was observed in HF patients due to CAD, who were carriers of a combined GSTP1(rs1695)/GSTA1 “risk-associated” genotype (OR=2.8, p=0.033) or a combined GSTP1∗Ile/Val+Val/Val (rs1695)/GSTP1∗AlaVal+∗ValVal (rs1138272) genotype (OR=2.1, p=0.056). Moreover, these patients exhibited significantly decreased left ventricular end-systolic diameter compared to GSTA1∗AA/GSTP1∗IleIle carriers (p=0.021). Higher values of ICAM-1 were found in carriers of the GSTP1∗IleVal+∗ValVal (rs1695) (p=0.041) genotype, whereas higher TNFα was determined in carriers of the GSTP1∗AlaVal+∗ValVal genotype (rs1138272) (p=0.041). In conclusion, GSTP1 polymorphic variants may determine individual susceptibility to oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in HF.

Plaque morphea is a superficial type of morphea (localized scleroderma) which is characterized by various fibrotic areas of the dermis without systemic features. We present a 63-year-old man with morphea en plaque. The skin on his forearms and feet was taut, thickened and hidebound with scattered telangiectatic changes. Autoantibody profile was obtained and only ANA were positive (1:80). The patient had a decreased vision in the only functional, left eye. Our case is specific because the patient negated any kind of health problem, meaning the morphea and visual deterioration were of outstanding importance for him. Choroidal sclerosis and fundus appearance was extremely impressive and, to our knowledge, this is the first report of such unique case of ocular involvement in the literature.

Congenital abnormalities of the optic disc are not so rare. The etiology for the most of them is unknown. Visual acuity of affected eye may be minimally or severely affected, depending on the extent of lesion. All of these conditions can be unilateral or bilateral. Chíldren who have unilateral optic disc abnormalities generally present during the preschool years with sensory esotropia. Visual acuity may be unaffected like in optic disc pit, optic disc drusen, fibre medullares, ect. However, during the evolution they may cause a decrease in visual acuity like serous retinal detachment in optic disc pit, atrophy or subretinal neovascularisation in optic disc drusen. Some of them like fibre medullares needs only a good diagnose and they do not have any evolution. Fluorescein angiography and ultrasonography may be crucial diagnostic procedures to discover some of them, like optic disc drusen. Optic disc abnormalities may be associated with other congenital disorders of the eye and often central nervous system malformations. Secondary they may be associated retinal detachment, retinochisis, macular edema, choroid neovascularisation and lipid exudation. Some of these conditions may be found on routine ophthalmologic exam such as optic disc drusen and fibre medullares and often are diagnostically problem.The aim of our study was to present some of our cases with different optic disc abnormalities such as fibre medullares, optic disc coloboma, hypoplasio disci, optic disc drusen and optic disc pit.

The aim of the study was to investegate the correlation between the levels of CRP and YKL-40 in blood samples with morphometric parameters of retinal blood vessels in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Blood laboratory examination of 90 patients included the measurement of glycemia, HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides and CRP. Levels of YKL-40 were detected and measured in serum by ELISA (Micro VueYKL-40 EIA Kit, Quidel Corporation, San Diego, USA). Morphmetric analysis was performed with ImageJ software (http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/) for digital retinal photography. We measured the number, diameter of retinal blood vessels in five different parts concentric to the optic disc. Differences between the morphometric parameters and the blood test analysis results were evaluated using the Student’s t – test. One Way ANOVA was used to establish the significance of differences. CRP and YKL-40 levels were moderately higher in the group of patients with severe diabetic retinopathy. Levels of YKL-40 correlated positively with diameter and negatively with number of retinal blood vessels. The average number of the blood vessels per retinal zone was significantly higher in the group of patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy than in the group with severe form in the optic disc and all five retinal zones. The average outer diameter of the evaluated retinal zones and optic disc vessels was significantly higher in the group with severe compared to the group with mild diabetic retinopathy. Morphological analysis of the retinal vessels on digital fundus photography and correlation with YKL-40 may be valuable for the follow-up of diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome denotes a common cluster of naturally connected risk factors including obesity, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, proinflammatory state and prothrombotic state. Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is an acute ischaemic disorder of the optic nerve head and may lead to severe visual loss. METHODS: We considered three patients with moderate degree of diabetic retinopathy and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. They were submitted to endocrinological examination and the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was established. RESULTS: Cardiological examination revealed that blood pressure control was not optimal. The signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction were confirmed by echocardiography. They are possible markers of preclinical cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: We observed that a variety of well-known risk factors in metabolic syndrome may be involved in serious eye and cardiological complications. The early diagnosis and treatment of these patients can not only improve visual function but also prevent cardiovascular complications. OBJETIVO: A síndrome metabólica indica um grupo comum dos seguintes achados clinicos: obesidade, hipertensão arterial, variações nos níveis de glicemia, dislipidemia, estado proinflamatório e o estado protrombótico. Neuropatia óptica isquêmica anterior é um distúrbio agudo isquêmico da cabeça do nervo óptico que pode levar à perda de visão. MÉTODOS: Consideramos três pacientes com retinopatia diabética não proliferativa moderada e neuropatia óptica isquêmica anterior. Os pacientes foram examinados por endocrinologistas e o diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica foi confirmado. RESULTADOS: O exame cardiológico revelou que o controle da pressão sangüínea não era adequado e tal anormalidade foi corrigida. A ecocardiografia confirmou os indícios de hipertrofia ventricular esquerda e disfunção diastólica. Estes são os marcadores possiveis da doença cardiovascular pré-clinica. CONCLUSÃO: Concluímos que os fatores de risco bem conhecidos, combinados na síndrome metabólica levaram às complicações oculares e às complicações cardiológicas. O diagnóstico anticipado e o tratamento destes pacientes pode não apenas melhorar a função visual mas também impedir as complicações cardiovasculares