Purpose To investigate whether interleukine-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) are related with macular oedema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVOs). Design Retrospective case-control study. Participants Nineteen patients who had macular oedema due to BRVO and nine patients with non-ischaemic ocular diseases (control group). Methods Macular oedema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Both venous blood and vitreous samples were obtained at the time of vitreoretinal surgery. IL-8 and MCP-1 levels in vitreous fluid and plasma were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Variables were compared with the Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon's signed-ranked test, and the v 2 -test, when appropriate. To examine correlations, Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficients were calculated. Statistical significance was set at Po0.05. Results The vitreous fluid levels of IL-8 (median: 63.5 pg/ml) and MCP-1 (median: 1522.4 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the patients with BRVO than in the control group (median: 5.1 and 746.5 pg/ml respectively; Po0.001 and o0.001 respectively). Vitreous IL-8 and MCP-1 were significantly correlated in patients with BRVO (P ¼ 0.009). Conclusions Both IL-8 and MCP-1 were elevated in the vitreous fluid of patients with BRVO and macular oedema. Both chemokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of macular oedema in patients with BRVO.

Conventional chest physiotherapy and intermittent positive airway pressure breathing are widely indicated for people with pleural effusion and chest drains; however, no studies have evaluated the real benefit of this type of treatment. Our hypothesis is that optimised lung expansion achieved through the application of intermittent positive airway pressure will accelerate the reabsorption of pleural effusion, decrease the duration of chest drainage and respiratory system impairment, reduce the length of hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications.

Introduction: Techniques for lung expansion seem to benefit patients with drained and undrained pleural effusion, but there is a lack of evidence to indicate which technique is best in each situation. Currently, the therapeutic choices of respiratory physiotherapists serving this population are not known. Objective: To know which lung expansion techniques are chosen by chest physiotherapists who assist patients with drained and non-drained pleural effusion. Method: Through the announcement of the Federal Council, 232 physiotherapists who work in hospitals in Brazil were questioned about which techniques they apply to patients with drained and non-drained effusion. Results: Initially, 512 were questioned but 232 (45.3%) answered. The physiotherapists associate more than one technique of lung expansion in both types of patients, besides walking. Deep breathing is the most used technique in patients with drained (92%) and non-drained (77%) pleural effusion. Positive pressure exercises in the airways are chosen by 60% of the physiotherapists to treat patients with drained pleural effusion and by 34% to treat patients with non-drained pleural effusion. Yet the incentive spirometry are used with 66% of patients with drained pleural effusion and 42% with non-drained ones. Conclusion: Deep breathing is the most applied lung expansion technique in the treatment of patients with drained and non-drained pleural effusion by chest physiotherapists. In addition, there is association between greatest degree and time of professional performance and the chosen techniques.