The Role of Trace Elements in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

Purpose: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) is an age-related condition, characterized by deposition of whitish flake-shaped materials in the anterior segment of the eye. Although it occurs all over the world, a considerable racial variation exists. According to the high frequency of PXF in Iran and the importance of prevention and early treatment, we evaluated the plasma level of iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium in patients with PXF. Methods: In this study, 83 individuals were enrolled; 40 patients with cataract and PXF as the case group and 43 age- and sex-matched individuals with cataract but without PXF as the control group. The serum levels of the mentioned microelements were compared in two groups. Results: In the case group, 25 (62.5%) male and 15 (37.5%) female subjects participated. In the control group, the corresponding figures were 22 (51.2%) and 21 (48.8%), respectively. The mean age of the case group was 66.07 ± 9.46 and that for the control group was 66.88 ± 8.04 years. Regarding the case group, the serum levels of iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium were 60.58 ± 21.04, 84.7 ± 14.37, 120.23 ± 14.43, and 2.11 ± 0.23, respectively. These serum levels in the control group were 89.07 ± 26.06, 97.51 ± 17.42, 123.33 ± 19.01, and 2.14 ± 0.16. The serum levels of iron and zinc were significantly lower in the case group than the control group (P < 0.0001); however, such a difference was not observed in terms of copper and magnesium serum levels. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the serum iron and zinc levels were lower in PXF patients. Nutritional deficiency may be a cause of zonular weakness in these patients. Heme is a cofactor for the enzyme which contributes to the biosynthesis of fibrillin, the major protein in zonular fibers. Therefore, iron can play a substantial role in the biosynthesis of the fibrils and also in the zonular stability

Levodopa Plus Occlusion Therapy versus Occlusion Therapy Alone for Children with Anisometropic Amblyopia

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of short-term administration of levodopa plus occlusion therapy versus occlusion therapy alone in preschool children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. Methods: This comparative interventional study included 40 eligible preschool children aged 6 to 7 years with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. The primary outcome measure was the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity recorded at baseline, 3 weeks after the treatment initiation and 12 weeks after the treatment termination. The results were compared between the two groups. Results: No statistically significant intergroup difference was observed in baseline logMAR visual acuities (P = 0.92). The mean logMAR visual acuities of the amblyopic eyes were significantly better in both groups three weeks after the treatment initiation than the baseline (P < 0.01 in both groups). At 12 weeks after treatment termination, the logMAR visual acuities of the amblyopic eyes were significantly better than the baseline values (P < 0.001 in the placebo group and P = 0.09 in the levodopa group). Intergroup comparisons revealed no statistically significant difference in visual acuities 3 weeks after the treatment initiation (P = 0.11) and 12 weeks after the treatment termination (P = 0.10). Twelve weeks after the treatment termination, visual acuities regressed 0.037 logMAR in the placebo group and 0.042 logMAR in the levodopa group. These regression rates were not significantly different (P = 0.89). Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence that adding short-term administration of levodopa to occlusion therapy in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia offers no additional benefit in visual outcomes and provides no advantage in terms of the regression rate

Optic Neuropathy following Botulinum Toxin Injection into the Medial Rectus Muscle for Diplopia

Purpose: To report a case of optic neuropathy (ON) following botulinum toxin A (BTA) injection into the medial rectus muscle. Case Report: We describe a 37-year-old man with unilateral ON after a BTA injection into the left medial rectus for treatment of traumatic sixth nerve palsy. Oral prednisolone was prescribed for 14 days. After two weeks, his visual acuity returned to 20/20. Conclusion: Botulinum toxin-induced neuropathy is a rare and vision-threatening complication of BTA. In patients with recent injection of BTA who present with visual complaints, botulinum toxin-induced neuropathy should be considered

Prevalencija protutijela za protozoon Neospora caninum u goveda u provinciji Kerman u Jugoistočnom Iranu.

Neospora caninum is an intracellular parasite which causes abortion in cattle worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in cattle in the province of Kerman in South East Iran. Blood samples were collected from 285 cattle in the province of Kerman for determining the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum. A total of 285 serum samples were tested for anti-neospora antibodies. Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against N. caninum antigen using a commercial N. caninum ISCOM ELISA kit. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 36 of the 285 (12.6%) sera based on ELISA test results. This study is the first report of Neospora infection in this area. With regard to seropositivity, no significant difference was observed regarding origin, sex and age (P>0.05).Protozoon Neospora caninum je intracelularni parazit koji uzrokuje pobačaje u goveda diljem svijeta. Cilj istraživanja bio je odrediti seroprevalenciju neosporoze u goveda u području Kerman u Jugoistočnom Iranu. Ukupno je sakupljeno i pretraženo 285 uzoraka seruma. Uzorci su bili pretraženi komercijalnim testom N. caninum Iscom ELISA. Protutijela su pronađena u 36 od 285 uzoraka seruma (12,6%). U ovom je istraživanju prvi put dokazana prisutnost invazije vrstom Neospora caninum u pretraživanom području Irana. Seroprevalencija se nije značajno razlikovala s obzirom na podrijetlo pretraženih životinja, njihovu dob i spol (P<0,05)

Prevalencija protutijela za protozoon Neospora caninum u goveda u provinciji Kerman u Jugoistočnom Iranu.

Neospora caninum is an intracellular parasite which causes abortion in cattle worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in cattle in the province of Kerman in South East Iran. Blood samples were collected from 285 cattle in the province of Kerman for determining the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum. A total of 285 serum samples were tested for anti-neospora antibodies. Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against N. caninum antigen using a commercial N. caninum ISCOM ELISA kit. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 36 of the 285 (12.6%) sera based on ELISA test results. This study is the first report of Neospora infection in this area. With regard to seropositivity, no significant difference was observed regarding origin, sex and age (P>0.05).Protozoon Neospora caninum je intracelularni parazit koji uzrokuje pobačaje u goveda diljem svijeta. Cilj istraživanja bio je odrediti seroprevalenciju neosporoze u goveda u području Kerman u Jugoistočnom Iranu. Ukupno je sakupljeno i pretraženo 285 uzoraka seruma. Uzorci su bili pretraženi komercijalnim testom N. caninum Iscom ELISA. Protutijela su pronađena u 36 od 285 uzoraka seruma (12,6%). U ovom je istraživanju prvi put dokazana prisutnost invazije vrstom Neospora caninum u pretraživanom području Irana. Seroprevalencija se nije značajno razlikovala s obzirom na podrijetlo pretraženih životinja, njihovu dob i spol (P<0,05)