Changes in stereoacuity following implantable Collamer lens implantation in patients with myopia

The study evaluated the impact of implantable Collamer lens (ICL) implantation on stereoacuity in myopes in a retrospective case series. Ninety-five eyes of 48 patients were recruited. Distance and near stereoacuity were measured using distance Randot stereotest and TNO test, respectively, before surgery and at 4 weeks postoperatively. Mean age of the patients was 23.67 ± 3.7 years. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 1.28 ± 0.37 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (median: 1.3; range: 0.3–1.8), and median best-corrected distance visual acuity (BDVA) was 0.18 logMAR (range: 0–0.6). There was a significant improvement in both UDVA and BDVA postsurgery (P < 0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank test). The overall improvement in stereopsis was observed in 15/48 (31.25%) and 13/48 (27.10%) subjects for near and distance, respectively, with no significant difference between the two (P = 0.82; Fisher''s exact test). Among stereoblind individuals, the odd''s ratio for near stereoacuity to improve in comparison to distance stereoacuity was 8.85 (95% confidence interval: 1.68–46.70; P = 0.01). ICL implantation for refractive correction aided stereoacuity improvement in myopes more so for near.     

Technique of anterior urethroplasty using the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa

OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique of anterior urethroplasty using the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. METHODS: We performed this technique on 99 male patients with anterior urethral stricture with follow-up at 6, 12 and 18 months. We assessed preoperative and postoperative patient satisfaction rate based on symptoms along with preoperative and postoperative urethrograms, urethrosonographies and uroflowmetry and labelled outcomes as good, fair and poor. RESULTS: Good and fair results were considered successful. The overall success rate was 95.9%. In our series of patients, the overall success rate of urethroplasty remained the same at 6 months, but decreased to 94.9% at 12 months and 88.1% at 18 months. CONCLUSION: These observations show that anterior urethroplasty by using the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa produced satisfactory results and is comparable with the other techniques of urethroplasty. The merits of using the tunica albuginea for urethroplasty are local availability of tissues, so that there is no need to use anatomically and structurally dissimilar distant tissue such as the buccal mucosa, preputial, penile, or scrotal skin or Teflon grafts. It can be used in our area where most of the patients come with dyskeratotic changes in their buccal mucosa.     

First branchial arch abnormality: diagnostic dilemma and excision with facial nerve preservation

Objective: To report a case of first branchial arch abnormality and the problems associated with misdiagnosis. A succinct literature review is included. Setting: Teaching hospital in Scotland. Methods: A 10-year-old girl presented with localised erythema and swelling in the left parotid region. This was treated with antibiotics and incision and drainage. She re-presented four years later with a history of recurrent discharge. A first branchial arch abnormality was suspected and a magnetic resonance imaging scan arranged. Results: Imaging showed a fluid-filled sinus tract originating adjacent to the anterior wall of the cartilaginous left external auditory canal. The sinus tract was seen to extend anteriorly and inferiorly through the superficial lobe of the left parotid, and to open onto the left cheek lateral to the left masseter. The tract was explored and excised under general anaesthesia, via two separate incisions, with preservation of the facial nerve. Conclusion: The diagnosis of a first branchial arch abnormality is generally based on a high index of clinical suspicion, when a neck swelling is noted in a child. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful modality for investigation, and helps to delineate the position of the tract and its relationship to the facial nerve.     

Strain-dependent effects of SGS742 in the mouse

SGS742 has been reported to increase spatial memory in rodents. However, effects of SGS742 have not been systematically assessed in different strains so far and indeed strains show different cognitive abilities per se. The aim of the study was therefore to examine the effect of SGS742 in three different inbred (C57BL/6J, DBA/2, BALB/c) strains and three outbred strains (CD1, CF1, OF1). Mice were administered intra-peritonial (3-aminopropyl)n-butylphosphinic acid (SGS742; GABA (B)-receptor antagonist) and tested in the Morris water maze (MWM). Open field, elevated plus maze, neurological observational battery and rota rod were carried out to support interpretation of data. SGS742 enhanced performance in the MWM in an inbred strain, C57BL/6J and in the outbred strain OF1 in terms of learning and memory formation at the consolidation level. A series of side effects as e.g. reduced motor coordination and proprioception were noticed that, however, may not have been influencing results observed in the cognition task. In conclusion, SGS742 enhanced cognitive performance in two mouse strains and we learned that testing compounds for effects on spatial memory should be carried out in several strains or even different species in order to claim cognitive enhancement.     

Non‐toxic melanoma therapy by a novel tubulin‐binding agent

(S)‐3‐((R)‐9‐bromo‐4‐methoxy‐6‐methyl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐[1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐g]isoquino‐lin‐5‐yl)‐6,7‐dimethoxyisobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐one (EM011) is a tubulin‐binding agent with significant anticancer activity. Here we show that EM011 modulates microtubule dynamics at concentrations that do not alter the total polymer mass of tubulin. In particular, EM011 decreases the transition frequencies between growth and shortening phases and increases the duration microtubules spend in an idle ‘pause’ state. Using B16LS9 murine melanoma cells, we show that EM011 briefly arrests cell‐cycle progression at the G2/M phase by formation of multiple aster spindles. An aberrant mitotic exit without cytokinesis then occurs, leading to the accumulation of abnormal multinucleated cells prior to apoptosis. Our pharmacokinetic studies conformed to a linear dose‐response relationship upto 150 mg/kg. However, non‐linearity was observed at 300 mg/kg. In a syngeneic murine model of subcutaneous melanoma, better antitumor responses were seen at 150 mg/kg compared to 300 mg/kg of EM011. Unlike currently available chemotherapeutics, EM011 is non‐toxic to normal tissues and most importantly, does not cause any immunosuppression and neurotoxicity. Our data thus warrant a clinical evaluation of EM011 for melanoma therapy.     

Corneal astigmatism correction with opposite clear corneal incisions or single clear corneal incision: comparative analysis

PURPOSE: To compare the astigmatic correcting effect of paired opposite clear corneal incisions (OCCIs) on the steep axis with that of single clear corneal incisions (CCIs) in cataract patients having phacoemulsification. SETTING: Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. METHODS: This randomized prospective clinical study comprised 40 eyes of 40 patients with topographic astigmatism of more than 1.50 diopters (D). Paired 3.2 mm OCCIs were made in the steep axis in Group 1 and single CCIs in Group 2. Preoperative evaluation included uncorrected visual acuity, refraction, applanation tonometry, dilated fundoscopy, biomicroscopic examination, keratometry, and topography. The steep axis was marked before sub-Tenon's anesthesia was given and routine phacoemulsification was performed through a 3.2 mm CCI on the steep axis. An additional opposite 3-step self-sealing CCI was made in Group 1. Patients were examined 1, 4, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Visual acuity, refraction, keratometry, and topography were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean preoperative and postoperative topographic corneal astigmatism was 2.51 D +/- 0.92 (SD) and 0.91 +/- 0.54 D, respectively, in Group 1 and 2.16 +/- 0.80 D and 1.57 +/- 0.70 D, respectively, in Group 2. Mean astigmatic correction was 1.66 +/- 0.5 D and 0.85 +/- 0.75 D in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Mean surgically induced astigmatism, measured by a vector-corrected method, was 1.66 +/- 0.50 D and 0.85 +/- 0.75 D in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (P = .00). The coupling ratio was -0.96 in Group 1 and -0.87 in Group 2. The spherical equivalent was +0.23 +/- 0.41 D in Group 1 and +0.11 +/- 0.17 D in Group 2 at 12 weeks. Uncorrected visual acuity was better in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P = .032). There was no difference in best corrected visual acuity between the groups. There were no incision-related complications. CONCLUSION: Paired OCCIs were predictable and effective in providing an enhanced effect for correcting preexisting corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery.     

Comparison of saftey and immunogenicity of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine (PCECV) and purified vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) using the Thai Red Cross intradermal regimen at a dose of 0.1 ML

Intradermal (ID) vaccination with modern cell culture rabies vaccines is a means to significantly reduce the cost of post-exposure prophylaxis as compared to intramuscular vaccination. In this study we evaluated the efficacy, immunogenicity and tolerability of PCECV and PVRV administered ID in doses of 0.1 mL per site according to the 2-site Thai Red Cross (TRC) regimen. Patients with WHO category III exposure to suspect or laboratory proven rabid animals were administered either PCECV (n = 58) or PVRV (n = 52) ID at a dose of 0.1 mL per site at two sites on days 0, 3 and 7 and at one site on days 30 and 90. Serum samples were withdrawn on days 0, 14, 30, 90 and 180 and rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers were determined by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Patients who were exposed to laboratory confirmed rabid animals were followed up for one year after exposure. All 110 patients developed RVNA titers above 0.5 IU/mL by day 14. Adequate titers >0.5 IU/mL were maintained up to day 180. Both vaccines induced equivalent RVNA titers at all time points and were well tolerated. Five subjects who were bitten by laboratory confirmed rabid dogs were alive and healthy one year after exposure. As demonstrated, PCECV and PVRV are both immunogenic, efficacious and well tolerated when administered in the TRC post-exposure prophylaxis regimen in ID doses of 0.1 mL as recommended by WHO guidelines. The use of PCECV in this regimen may prove more economical in developing countries like India.