View clinical trials related to Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases.
Filter by:Background Because dacryoliths occur at low frequency, few studies have focused on their composition. The investigators aimed to present findings from morphological, chemical, and mineralogic analysis of 86 dacryoliths. Methods The team studied 86 dacryoliths obtained during 832 dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) performed for postsaccal obstruction. The samples were analyzed with atomic infrared spectrometry (80 samples), amino acid analysis (17 samples), scanning electron microscopy, and an electron microprobe with an energy dispersive detector (7 samples).
For patients with chronic epiphora, Dacryocystorhinostomy is currently the gold standard treatment, with a success rate of 80-90% according to literature. Another available treatment, which is far less used, in nasolacrimal intubation, using a silicone tube. In our study, we would like to find the efficacy of nasolacrimal duct intubation, which was performed in our medical center on a few hundred patients with mild epiphora. Study hypothesis: nasolacrimal intubation in adults, with a clinically mild epiphora, is close in it's efficacy to the Dacryocystorhinostomy procedure.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the male hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in treating Sjogren's syndrome. This autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks the salivary glands and tear glands, affects primarily women. Patients' eyes and mouth become drier over time, and can lead to problems such as serious tooth decay and eye irritations. Sex hormones seem to influence the immune response and may help decrease disease severity. DHEA has benefited some patients with two other autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Women 18 to 75 years of age with Sjogren's syndrome may be eligible for this 7-month study. At the initial visit, candidates will have a physical examination, routine blood and urine tests and eye and dental examinations, including a test to measure saliva production for screening purposes and to establish baseline values for participants. Those enrolled in the study will be randomly assigned to take either DHEA or placebo (look-alike tablet with no active ingredient) once a day for 6 months and will be monitored with follow-up visits at months 1, 3, 6 and 7. Physical examination, blood tests and urinalysis will be repeated at months 1, 3, 6 and 7; saliva will be collected at months 3, 6 and 7; and eyes will be examined at 3 and 6 months. Because hormone changes may have both physical and emotional effects, patients will be asked questions about their mood, symptoms and side effects of treatment. It is not known if Sjogren's syndrome is associated with osteoporosis (bone thinning), but since this condition occurs in other autoimmune disorders, patient's bone density will be measured at the first visit, and blood drawn at 3 and 6 months will be tested for various substances associated with changes in bone density. A 24-hour urine collection at the first visit and later urine tests will also be tested for substances associated with bone thinning.