In vitro release from antibiotic-loaded silicone hydrogel contact lenses for the treatment of ocular bacterial infections

Background: Effective treatment of corneal infections require frequent eye drop instillations, unfortunately, non-compliance is a challenge.Objectives: In this study, the effectiveness of antibiotic-loaded contact lens as a prolonged release device in the treatment of corneal bacterial infection is investigated.Materials and Method: Ofloxacin (OFL) and Chloramphenicol sodium succinate (CPL) were loaded onto silicone hydrogel contact lenses (CLs) via soaking method. Drug release, effect on clarity of the lenses at different concentrations and ability to inhibit growth of corneal ulcer causative bacteria were investigated.Results: Drug release from the lenses was directly proportional to the amount of drug loaded and the lenses at the different loading concentrations showed transmittance of 95 to 97%. The Air Optix® lenses showed higher release of drug compared to Acuvue Oasys® lenses (p < 0.05). The difference in drug release was significant at p < 0.05. The microbiological study showed zones of inhibition in Mueller Hinton agar seeded with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusion: This study shows that contact lenses can be used to control drug delivery to the eye and is a probable alternative ocular delivery technique in the treatment or prevention of corneal infections.Keywords: Antibiotics; prolonged release; contact lens; corneal infection

Intra‑cardiac masses in adults: A review of echocardiogram records at two echocardiographic laboratories in Enugu, South‑East Nigeria

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an excellent initial diagnostic technique used to evaluate and diagnose cardiac masses, even though transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides superior image resolution and better visualization of cardiac masses, especially in patients with suboptimal transthoracic echocardiographic studies. TTE is the clinical procedure of choice for identification of left ventricular thrombi. TTE has greater than 90% sensitivity and greater than 85% specificity for detection of left ventricular thrombi and is probably superior to the sensitivity and specificity of TEE, especially for apical thrombi.Aims: The study aimed to identify the common types of cardiac masses and their commonest locations in the heart.Materials and Methods: We did a retrospective review of our echocardiogram reports from May 2003 to July 2012 to identify the frequency of intra‑cardiac masses in adults, as well as the gender distribution and commonest location of these masses.Results: There were 2,814 echo examinations in adults over this period, comprising 1,661 males (59.1%) and 1,153 females (40.9%). Intra‑cardiac masses were found in 20 of these patients representing 0.7% of the study population. Thrombi were the commonest masses noted in our study, and there were more masses in the atria than in the ventricles. The left heart chambers also had more masses than the right heart chambers. There was no sex difference in the frequency of cardiac masses.Conclusion: Intra‑cardiac masses are rare, and transthoracic echocardiography is still valuable in the diagnosis and initial characterization of cardiac masses.Keywords: Adults, echocardiography, intra‑cardiac masses, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice • Oct-Dec 2013 • Vol 16 • Issue