Objective To evaluate the 12-month clinical outcome of patients with persistent nonischaemic diffuse diabetic macular oedema (DME) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone combined with macular laser grid (IVTA-MLG) from September 2005 to February 2008. Methods Retrospective interventional comparative study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, ETDRS LogMAR scale) and foveal thickness (FT) at optical coherence tomography (OCT) were obtained at baseline and during 12 months after first treatment. Re-treatment was based on clinical or OCT-based evidence of persistent macular oedema or deterioration in visual acuity. Results Forty-three eyes (32 patients) with DME were treated with IVB. Ninety-six eyes (52 patients) with DME were treated with combined laser grid treatment and intravitreal triamcinolone. At baseline, mean BCVA and FT were 0.92 ± 0.34 LogMAR and 372 ± 22 lm in the IVTA-MLG group, and 1.07 ± 0.49 LogMAR and 423 ± 33 lm in the IVB group, respectively. At 1-and 3-month visits, BCVA and FT had significantly improved in both groups. After 6 and 12 months, the IVB group experienced a statistically significant improvement in visual acuity (0.83±0.21 LogMAR, Po0.001 at 6 months; BCVA 0.86 ± 0.24 LogMAR, Po0.001 at 12 months) and FT (248 ± 18 lm, Po0.001 at 6 months; 262 ± 28 lm, P ¼ 0.001 at 12 months) when compared with baseline, whereas the IVTA-MLG group did not show statistically significant improvement in vision and FT. An increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) was present in 10 of 96 (10.4%) eyes treated with IVTA-MLG, and in two cases it was resistant to topical treatment. No significant side effects were reported in the IVB group. Conclusions At 6 and 12 months after first treatment for chronic DME IVB provided significant improvement of BCVA and FT, whereas improvement after IVTA-MLG was not significant. Increased IOP occurred in 10.4% of patients who received IVTA, with two patients requiring trabeculectomy.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To evaluate best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and foveal thickness (FT) changes in occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from agerelated macular degeneration (AMD) after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB, 1.25 mg ⁄ 0.05 ml), pegaptanib (IVP, 0.3 mg ⁄ 0.09 ml) and triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA, 4 mg ⁄ 0.1 ml) injected on an as needed basis. Methods: Retrospective, interventional, comparative study. BCVA (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study LogMAR) and FT by optical coherence tomography (OCT) were evaluated during 12 months from first treatment. Patients were retreated if signs of neovascular activity were still present on angiography or OCT. Results: Forty-eight eyes received IVB, 43 eyes received IVP, 52 eyes received IVTA. BCVA and FT at baseline were 1.22 ± 0.49 LogMAR and 410.2 ± 41.83 lm in the IVB group, 1.25 ± 0.43 LogMAR and 452.3 ± 44.83 lm in the IVP group and 1.31 ± 0.4 LogMAR and 456.6 ± 48.27 lm in the IVTA group. BCVA and FT improved in the three groups during follow-up. A significantly greater improvement of BCVA was present at month-3, month-6 and at month-12 in the IVB and IVP groups (p = 0.01). Improvement of FT was greater in the IVTA group at month-3 (p = 0.02), while it was greater in the anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) groups at month-6 and month-12 (p = 0.01). A postoperative increase of intraocular pressure was detected in 9 ⁄ 52 (17.3%) eyes treated with IVTA, and in two cases it was resistant to topical therapy. Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs administered on an as needed basis for AMD-related occult CNVs provided functional and anatomic improvement during 12 months of follow-up.

The aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of isolated protein supplementation in young amateur athletes. Sixteen subjects aged between 20 and 30 were recruited for this study. Before to start sports performance was assessed at T0, in all subjects, using physical performance test and evaluated body composition. Therefore, the subjects were randomly assigned in two groups (group A and B) of 8 subjects each. The group A start to intake 30 g of protein powder diluted in water after each training session (3 times a week) for six weeks (T0) whilst the group B was the placebo. After 6 weeks (T1), the measurement were repeated for all subjects and the group A became placebo and the group B started with the supplementation. At the end of 6 weeks (T2) we carried out all the tests were performed again. Results showed a significant improvement in almost all tests between T0 and T2 within the same group (p < .05), but not significant difference was found between the start and the end of protein's intake period in both groups. In conclusion, supplementation did not have affect the performance and body composition significantly. Instead, training seems to influence the performance more the supplementation.

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