Inferior Spear-like Lens Opacity as a Sign of Keratoconus

Purpose: To report 21 cases of typical inferior feather-shape lens opacity associated with keratoconus. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the association of keratoconus with inferior feather-shape lens opacity in refractive surgery candidates. Visual acuity, demographic, refractive, and topographic characteristics of 26 eyes of 21 patients with inferior feather-shape lens opacity were evaluated in detail. Pedigree analysis was also performed to assess possible inheritance. Results: Overall, 2122 out of 33,368 cases (6.4%) without lens opacity had keratoconus, while 20 out of 21 patients (95.2%) with peculiar lens opacity had definite keratoconus (P < 0.001). Lens opacity was bilateral in 5 cases (24%), and keratoconus was bilateral in all 20 patients with lens opacity. Nine eyes out of thirty-six with a complete data record (25%) had severe keratoconus and underwent deep lamellar keratoplasty, while 11 (31%) had forme fruste keratoconus. Pedigrees were drawn for eight patients, most families of whom suggested an X-linked recessive inheritance. Conclusion: The present study was the first to investigate patients with a peculiar inferior feather-shape lens opacity accompanied by bilateral keratoconus, which was observed in 95% of the patients. This finding should raise awareness as to the possibility of diagnosing keratoconus in the eyes of the patients with these characteristics

Molecular dynamic and in vitro evaluation of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles as an insulin delivery system at two different pH values

Understanding the atomic interaction mechanism between chitosan and insulin at different pH levels is essential in the design of chitosan-based drug-delivery systems. In the present study, insulin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared via ionic gelation of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and chitosan with 76 ± 5.5 encapsulation efficiency. Our results showed that the nanoparticles were spherical with a size of 254 nm. Furthermore, the in vitro release profile of insulin was evaluated for two different pH levels. The release of insulin from nanoparticles after 48 h at pH 4.0 was 92, compared to 56 at pH 7.4. The kinetics of the release were best fitted by the Weibull equation, which described a burst release in the first five hours followed by a sustained insulin release for up to 48 h. Moreover, we designed a long single chain chitosan (128 kDa)/TPP nanoparticles in real size for the first time and studied the system behavior in acidic and neutral environments using molecular dynamic simulation for 40 nanoseconds (ns). Our results showed that chitosan chains opened more with higher root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values at pH 4.0 than at pH 7.4. Also, RMSD plots for insulin and TPP molecules showed that insulin molecules diffused away from chitosan chains, and that TPP were randomly dispersed further away from the chitosan chain in an acidic medium than in a neutral one. The in silico studies were in agreement with our in vitro data. Thus self-assembled chitosan/TPP nanoparticles show promise as a means to release protein drugs in acidic environments. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Comparison of Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3 with fortified Cephazolin-Gentamicin in treating bacterial corneal ulcer

Background: Bacterial corneal ulcer is a common ophthalmic problem. Still controversies are exist for the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcer, thus, the present study was carried out in Namazi hospital in Shiraz to determine the efficacy and side effects of ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% and compare this with fortified cephazolin-gentamicin. Materials and Methods: It was a clinical trial. Having the physical examination and patient’s history completed, two samples were obtained for culture and smear. Patients were randomly distributed in two groups. One received the standard protocol (Cephazolin 5% and gentamicin 9% ophthalmic solutions) and the other was given ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3%. Efficacy was evaluated according to the days of treatment and side effects were surveyed by eye burning and white deposit. Results: Of 45 cases, 6 were excluded due to the altered regimen. Of 39 studied cases, 20 received ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% and the remaining 19 were given standard regimen. Success rate was 90% and 89.5% for the ciprofloxacin and standard regimen, respectively (NS). Eye burning was reported 5% and 36.8%, respectively meanwhile, white deposits were reported in 36.8% of patients who have received standard regimen (P<0.02). Of cultured bacteria, one had shown intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin, however, resistance was noted to cephalexin and gentamicin. Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin can be a suitable alternative for fortified cephazolin-gentamicin sine it has better outcome and less side effects. Further studies are highly recommended

The Fatigue Behavior of Restorations Used Under the Rest of Removable Partial Denture

Statement of Problem: The question about resistance of resin composites under rest in removable partial denture (RPD) is still unanswered. It is important to find the strongest material that withstands the applied stresses when used under RPD components. Objectives: To evaluate and compare the fatigue behavior of amalgam and composite restorations used under the rest of the removable partial denture. Materials and Methods: Forty-five permanent human upper premolars were prepared with standard class II DO cavities and divided into 3 groups of specimens (n=15 for each group). Group I was filled with amalgam (Dispersalloy), group II and III were filled with resin composite (Flitek Z250 and Tetric ceram, respectively). The teeth were stored in distilled water for 14 days before testing. After thermocycling, the “staircase” approach was used to determine the flexural fatigue limits (FFL). The mean differences were evaluated using One-Way ANOVA and post hoc test. Results: A strong significant differences of flexural fatigue strength have been found between amalgam and composite groups (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between two groups of resin composite (P=0.1). Conclusions: To achieve more flexural fatigue strength in the rest seats, the use of resin composite in comparison with amalgam is recommended

Preparation of Silicious Mesoporous Spherical and Rod- Like MCM-41 Using Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide as the Structure Directing Agent

MCM-41 is one of the groups of mesoporous materials that have wide applications as adsorbents, ion exchangers and catalyst supports. In this work spherical and rod-like MCM-41s were synthesized in homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction media, respectively. For synthesis of these materials the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABr) was used as template and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the silica source. The polymerization process of the silica source was performed in basic and acidic media using ammonia or HCl as catalysts. BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), FTIR, X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the structures of these synthesized materials. Finally a mechanism was proposed for the formation of these structures

Strontium and antimony serum levels in healthy individuals living in high- and low-risk areas of esophageal cancer

Background: It has been shown there is an upward trend for strontium (Sr) and antimony (Sb) levels from low-risk (LR) to high-risk (HR) areas of etiology of esophageal cancer in water, soil, and grains grown in Golestan province. In the present study, the serum levels of Sr and Sb were determined in healthy individuals living in these areas. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on fasting blood serum of adult healthy individuals collected by cluster sampling. Subjects were divided into two groups, those living in either HR or LR areas. Strontium and antimony serum levels were measured using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: A total of 200 volunteers were enrolled from which 96 persons (48) and 104 persons (52) were from either HR or LR areas, respectively. The sex distribution was 40.9 male and 59.1 female, and the average age of enrolled people was 50.9 years. The average strontium levels were 30.44 ± 4.05 and 30.29 ± 3.74 μg/L in LR and HR, respectively. It also has been shown the average antimony levels were 15.21 ± 3.40, 14.81 ± 3.17, 15.13 ± 3.62, and 15.07 ± 3.62 μg/L in LR, HR, urban, and rural populations, respectively. Conclusion: The serum levels of strontium and antimony were not significantly different in healthy adults living in high- and low-risk areas of esophageal cancer. However, the average antimony serum levels in Golestan Province were above the reference interval in different countries. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effects of intranasal administration of violet oil in dry eye disease

Background: Dry eye disease is a disorder of the tear film. In this study, the effect of Viola odorata L. oily extract was examined for the treatment of patients suffering from dry eye disease. Methods: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed. During the trial, Schirmer's test, tear breakup time, Oxford staining and the Ocular Surface Disease Index were assessed. Overall, 105 patients with dry eye symptoms between the ages of 18 and 60 years were allocated to the violet-almond oil, almond oil and placebo (1 w/v hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution) groups. The treatment and placebo were administered intranasally, two drops three times a day for one month. The patients were followed up for four weeks. A total of 91 patients (32, 29 and 30 in the violet-almond oil, almond oil and placebo groups, respectively) completed the study. Results: At baseline, there was no difference between the three groups in terms of demographic data and the measurement parameters. After the intervention, the results revealed that the Schirmer's score without local anaesthesia and the tear breakup time results significantly improved in the violet-almond oil group. One-way ANOVA indicated a significant improvement in the Schirmer's score, tear breakup time and Ocular Surface Disease Index of the treatment group, as compared with the other groups (p 0.05). Conclusions: This trial showed that the intranasally administered V. odorata L. oily extract enhances tear production and improves tear film stability. © 2019 Optometry Australi

Inferior Spear-like Lens Opacity as A Sign of Keratoconus

Purpose: To report 21 cases of typical inferior feather-shape lens opacity associated with keratoconus. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the association of keratoconus with inferior feather-shape lens opacity in refractive surgery candidates. Visual acuity, demographic, refractive, and topographic characteristics of 26 eyes of 21 patients with inferior feather-shape lens opacity were evaluated in detail. Pedigree analysis was also performed to assess possible inheritance. Results: Overall, 2122 out of 33,368 cases (6.4%) without lens opacity had keratoconus, while 20 out of 21 patients (95.2%) with peculiar lens opacity had definite keratoconus (P &lt; 0.001). Lens opacity was bilateral in 5 cases (24%), and keratoconus was bilateral in all 20 patients with lens opacity. Nine eyes out of thirty-six with a complete data record (25%) had severe keratoconus and underwent deep lamellar keratoplasty, while 11 (31%) had forme fruste keratoconus. Pedigrees were drawn for eight patients, most families of whom suggested an X-linked recessive inheritance. Conclusion: The present study was the first to investigate patients with a peculiar inferior feather-shape lens opacity accompanied by bilateral keratoconus, which was observed in 95% of the patients. This finding should raise awareness as to the possibility of diagnosing keratoconus in the eyes of the patients with these characteristics