Culture-Proven Candida Albicans Endogenous Endophthalmitis in a Patient with Onychomycosis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report a case of Candida albicans endogenous endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent patient with onychomycosis.

Methods: Retrospective case report.

Results: A 40-year-old man with onychomycosis presented with C. albicans subretinal abscess in the left eye. Systemic and intravitreal injections did not prevent further progression of the infection. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy. One month after surgery, the intraocular inflammation gradually subsided. However, his visual acuity stayed at counting fingers as a result of macular scarring.

Conclusion: The aim of this case presentation is to emphasize that endogenous fungal endophthalmitis can be seen in an immunocompetent patient. The use of systemic steroids in the past was the main reason for the progression of the disease in this case. In these situations, when the clinical findings suggest a fungal etiology, it should keep in mind that endogenous candida endophthalmitis can be a result of fungal infections from distant sites such as the toenails and systemic steroids should not be started before definite diagnosis.     

Subretinal delivery of erythropoietin alleviates the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced photoreceptor degeneration and visual functional impairments: an in vivo and ex vivo study

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group hereditary retinal disease that is characterized by photoreceptor degeneration. The present study sought to explore the therapeutic effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced photoreceptor degeneration. The MNU-administered mouse or normal control received a subretinal injection of EPO (at the dose of 10U). Twenty-four hours after EPO injection, the retinal EPO levels of experimental animals were quantified. Subsequently, the experimental animals were subjected to optokinetic tests, ERG examination, SD-OCT examination, histology assessment, and immunohistochemistry evaluation. The retinal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and expression levels of several apoptotic factors were also quantified. The subretinal injection of EPO up-regulated the retinal EPO level in the retinas of MNU-administered mice. The optokinetic tests and ERG examination suggested the visual functional impairments in MNU-administered mice were ameliorated after EPO treatment. The SD-OCT and histological examination suggested the morphological devastations in MNU-administered mice were alleviated after EPO treatment. The cone photoreceptors in MNU-administered mice were protected from the MNU-induced detrimental effects. Moreover, the EPO treatment rectified the apoptotic abnormalities in MNU-administered mice, and enhanced the expression level of Foxo3, a critical mediator of autophagy. The EPO treatment also mitigated the MDA concentration and enhanced the retinal SOD activity, thereby counteracting the retinal oxidative stress in MNU administered mice. In ophthalmological practice, the subretinal delivery of EPO is a feasible therapeutic strategy to alleviate photoreceptor degeneration. These findings would enrich our pharmacological knowledge about EPO and shed light on the development of an effective therapy against RP.     

孤立性脉络膜血管瘤合并视网膜脱离的治疗

目的：探讨孤立性脉络膜血管瘤合并视网膜脱离的治疗方法。方法：７例脉络膜血管瘤合并视网膜脱离者,采用单纯氩激光治疗。９例脉络膜膜务管瘤合并视网膜明显脱离,视网膜下积液较多者,采用巩膜冷凝,排出视网膜下液联合氩激光治疗。结果：治疗后１３例的瘤体萎缩或缩小,渗出性视网膜脱离减少,视力幸或保持不变,单纯激光治疗组,有效率为７１．４３％。联合治疗组有效率为８８．８９％。结论：脉络膜血管瘤合并视网膜浅脱离者,     

外伤性颅内血肿清除术后伴急性脑水肿护理

外伤性颅内血肿在开颅手术过程中,病人出现急性脑水肿和脑膨出在临床上常见,其病情变化快,并发症多,死亡87．2％,密切观察病情和精心对病人的治疗和康复密切相关。2005年以来,本院共对21例行颅内血肿清除术,其中12例发生急性脑水肿,现将病人护理总结如下。     

视网膜下液促使视网膜色素上皮细胞膜上蛋白激酶C变化的机制分析

目的：研究视网膜下液（SRF）能否引起体外培养的视网膜色素上皮（RPE）细胞浆内蛋白激酶C（PKC）的激活和转位，探讨SRF与RPE细胞中PKC信号系统变化的关系。方法：实验对象为体外培养的RPE细胞；不同的刺激因素分别在不同的时间刺激RPE细胞，通过细胞裂解和离心获取细胞浆和细胞膜蛋白粗提液，用同位素^32P标记和液体闪烁计数法检测细胞浆和细胞膜PKC活性水平。结果：SRF和佛波酯（PMA）都可以激活RPE细胞浆中的PKC（c-PKC），并使其由胞浆向胞膜转位，但胞膜上PKC（m-PKC）活性峰值水平和出现的时间不同。结论：SRF可引起RPE细胞膜上PKC的活性发生变化，变化的幅度与增殖性玻璃体视网膜病变（PVR）的分级呈正相关。