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Liver is considered the target of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which has marked tropism for hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated changes in bone marrow (BM) and blood and their correlation with viremia level in 30 pale patients with chronic HCV who were selected before antiviral therapy. Patients with BM positive for HCV RNA (53.33 %) showed moderate to high viremia, while patients with BM negative for RNA (46.67 %) had low viremia. There was no significant difference in the liver histopathology between patients with HCV-RNA-negative and positive BM. Patients with BM positive for HCV RNA showed significant changes in BM cells, including the degree of immune complex deposition and alterations in peripheral blood counts compared to patients with BM negative for RNA and healthy controls, suggesting that BM changes could be a sequel or a reservoir for HCV viremia.

Background: This study was done to evaluate the results of surgery performed for removal of glass intraocular foreign bodies., Methods: A prospective study of consecutive cases which have been operated upon for removal of glass intraocular foreign body during the period from May, 1995 to May, 2001 was done., Results: Nine eyes of 9 patients were operated upon during the study period. All were males with an average age of 21.8 years. Unbelted car occupants were the affected persons in 8 out of 9. In all cases, the foreign body was removed with repair of the injury related complications. Forty four percent had 20/50 or better vision. Eighty nine percent had 20/200 or more. Severe retinal injury was associated with poor visual outcome., Conclusions: Glass foreign bodies need special instruments for extraction. Good visual outcome can be obtained if the retina is not severely affected. Motor vehicle accidents affecting unbelted occupant are the main cause of glass intraocular foreign bodies.

Purpose: To evaluate the role and the results of primary vitrectomy in treating cases with coexisting rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and choroidal detachment., Methods: Eleven consecutive eyes with coexisting rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and choroidal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy less than grade C were included. Release of traction on the breaks was achieved by vitrectomy and augmented by episcleral buckle if needed. Perfluorocarbon liquids were used to drain the subretinal fluid through the vitrectomy sclerotomies. The breaks were treated by endolaser under perfluorocarbon liquids. Postoperative tamponade was done by C3F8 gas or silicone oil. Cases were followed up for at least 3 months., Results: Retinal reattachment could be achieved and maintained in all cases by one or more surgeries. No recurrence of choroidal detachment has occurred. In each case, choroidal detachment was drained through the sclerotomies and retinal detachment was repaired., Conclusion: Primary vitrectomy represents an effective line in the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with coexisting choroidal detachment in phakic or nonphakic eyes., Summary: Primary vitrectomy is recommended for the management of choroidal detachment associated with retinal detachment.

Silicone oil is used in the treatment of complex retinal detachments, but late complications have been reported by many authors. Silicone oil removal (SOR) is therefore performed in order to reduce these complications. SOR was investigated in 63 consecutive cases. All these eyes had had a totally attached retina for at least 3 months before SOR was performed, there were no signs of traction or reproliferation, and the minimum vision was 4/200. The duration of silicone oil tamponade was less than 6 months in 13 eyes, 6-12 months in 18 and more than 1 year in 32 eyes. In post-traumatic and diabetic cases it was possible to remove silicone oil after 8 to 10 months and in PVR cases after 14 months. Redetachment of the retina was the most frequent complication of SOR, appearing in 18/63 eyes; 16 of them were refilled. In 9 eyes, the visual acuity present before silicone oil removal was reestablished. The redetachment rate was similar in PVR, diabetes and trauma cases and had no correlation with the duration of silicone oil tamponade. Increased intraocular pressure was observed in 13 eyes before SOR but it returned to normal levels afterwards in 8 cases without further surgery. The results of our study show that even if the indication is established very carefully, SOR results in a relatively high rate of complications, such as redetachment of the retina. Therefore every case undergoing this procedure must be evaluated in detail.