Associations between Arsenic in Drinking Water and Pterygium in Southwestern Taiwan

[[abstract]]BACKGROUND: Pterygium is a fibrovascular growth of the bulbar conjunctiva and underlying subconjunctival tissue that may cause blindness. The mechanism of pterygium formation is not yet fully understood, but pterygium has some tumorlike features. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between arsenic exposure through drinking water and the occurrence of pterygium in southwestern Taiwan. METHODS: We recruited participants > 40 years of age from three villages in the arseniasis-endemic area in southwestern Taiwan (exposure villages) and four neighboring nonendemic villages (comparison villages). Each participant received an eye examination and a questionnaire interview. Photographs taken of both eyes were later graded by an ophthalmologist to determine pterygium status. RESULTS: We included 223 participants from the exposure villages and 160 from the comparison villages. The prevalence of pterygium was higher in the exposure villages across an age groups in both sexes and increased with cumulative arsenic exposure. We found a significant association between cumulative arsenic exposure and the prevalence of pterygium. After adjusting for age, sex, working under sunlight, and working in sandy environments, we found that cumulative arsenic exposure of 0.1-15.0 mg/L-year and >= 15.1 mg/L-year were associated with increased risks of developing pterygium. The adjusted odds ratios were 2.04 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-3.99] and 2.88 (95% CI, 1.42-5.83), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water was related to the occurrence of pterygium, and the association was still observed after adjusting for exposures to sunlight and sandy environments

Granuloma pyogenicum originating from the caruncle

PubMedID: 6517438This paper describes, to our knowledge, the first reported granuloma pyogenicum originating from the caruncle, and reviews the clinical and pathological findings associated with the disease

Human papillomavirus in pterygium.

PubMedID: 8082148Between August 1991 and 1992 consecutive pterygium cases and eight normal conjunctival tissues were examined for the presence of polyclonal Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) antigen by the avidin-biotin-complex technique and 16 of the pterygium cases and 25 pc of the control conjunctivas revealed HPV positivity. In six of the HPV positive pterygium tissues, there were also an epithelial proliferation. In conclusion, HPV infection was not endemic, but sporadic in Cukurova region, and it may be contributed to development of pterygium. In addition, because it is seen together with six cases of epithelial hyperplasia, it seems to play an important role in the development of neoplasia and such patients need to be followed up for possible malignant transformation

Interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-8 levels and cellular composition of the vitreous humor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy

PubMedID: 16422002Purpose: To investigate the interleukin (IL)-6 levels, IL-8 levels, and cellular composition of the vitreous humor in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and traumatic PVR. Methods: Vitreous samples from 14 patients with PDR, 10 patients with PVR, and 10 patients with traumatic PVR were analyzed. Fifteen cadaver eyes were used as controls. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Elevated IL-6 levels were detected in the vitreous of 12 (85.7%) of the PDR patients, eight (80%) of the PVR patients, and all (100%) of the traumatic PVR patients. None of the control IL-6 results were elevated. Vitreous IL-8 levels were elevated in 12 (85.7%) of the PDR patients, six (60%) of the PVR patients, all (100%) of the traumatic PVR patients, and one (6.7%) of the control eyes. Cytological examination of the vitreous specimens revealed a predominance of macrophages (50%) in the PDR samples and a predominance of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells (60%) in the PVR samples. In contrast, neutrophils predominated (88%) in the traumatic PVR samples. Conclusion: The findings suggest that IL-6 and IL-8 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PDR, PVR, and traumatic PVR. High proportions of RPE cells and macrophages are associated with elevated IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the vitreous of PDR and PVR patients; however, the fact that these cells are not predominant in traumatic PVR suggests that different immune response mechanisms may be active in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc

PUVA treatment and choroidal malignant melanoma

PubMedID: 8154265Abstract. Choroidal malign melanoma showing rapid progression in a boy 17 years old is presented. The patient was under therapy with methoxy psoralen + Ultraviolet A (PUVA)* for psoriasis vulgaris. He had undergone complete ophthalmologic examinations with three-month intervals from the beginning of this therapy. The tumor was detected in the seventh month, rapidly enlarging within the next twenty days, and eventually leading to enucleation. PUVA is known to be a risk factor for cutaneous malign melanoma. However, there is no reported incidence of choroidal malign melanoma in PUVA treated patients. To our knowledge, this is the only case showing the possible role of PUVA therapy as a predisposing factor in the development of uveal malign melanoma. 1993 Institution Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavic

Research of HBsAg in paraffin sections of liver

[No abstract available

A case with sarcoidosis: Lacrimal gland involvement as the initial manifestation

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that can affect many organs such as the lungs, skin, eyes, and thoracic lymph nodes. A case of systemic sarcoidosis in a 42-year-old woman who initially presented with bilateral palpebral swelling due to lacrimal gland enlargement has been reported. Biopsy of the enlarged lacrimal gland revealed noncaseating granuloma. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis has been done upon the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. Ocular symptoms may be the initial and prominent manifestation of sarcoidosis

Plasmacytoma characterized by multiple myeloma (A case report)

[No abstract available

Echinococcus alveolaris infestation in Cukurova (Turkish)

The first case of Echinococcus alveolaris detected in the region of Cukurova, Turkey, is reported. The patient has been living for 6 yr in a poorly built cabin near a slaughterhouse

Reference values for erythrocyte and liver antioxidant systems in healthy male mice (Mus musculus)

WOS: 000168884800012The aim of the present study was to define the reference Values for erythrocyte and liver tissue glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and also reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in order to obtain basal data for subsequent toxicological investigations. In addition, the best storage conditions were determined for liver G6PDH enzyme. Male, apparently healthy Mus musculus (38) speciemens that had normal livers (histopathological data) were included in the study. G6PDH and GPX activities and GSH levels were measured by the Beutler method, and SOD aktivity was measured by the Fridovich method in the erythrocyte and liver tissues. GR activity in the erythrocyte was measured by the Beutler method, and GR activity in the liver was measured by the Staal method. The mean value (SD) of the levels of the enzymes and reduced glutathione in erythrocyte and liver tissues were as follows: G6PDH: 22.28 (3.53) U/g Hb, 2.38 (1.09) U/g liver; GPX: 134.88 (16.83) U/g Hb, 22.34 (4.70) U/g liver: GR:7.23 (1.58) U/g Hb, 2.47 (1.31) U/g liver; SOD: 4062.94 (929.41) U/g Hb, 553.71 (214.25) U/g liver; and GSH: 9.70 (1.64) mu mol/g Hb, 0.94 (0.22) mu mol/g liver. The best storage conditions for the liver the G6PDH enzyme were seven days at +4 degreesC, thirty days at -70 degreesC and thirty days at -20 degreesC