Objectives: The objective of this research was to evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without the use of an ocular tamponade in patients with tractional retinal detachment (TRD) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) presenting to Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Methods: This was an interventional study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Bahawal Victoria (B.V.) Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from July 2011 to July 2012. A total of 75 patients (84 eyes) with TRD secondary to PDR were treated by PPV without using an ocular tamponade. All patients included in the study had a TRD secondary to PDR but did not have or develop retinal breaks before or during the study period. The surgical procedure included a PPV combined with the removal of the tractional retinal membranes and the application of endolaser photocoagulation to the retina. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. Results: The study included 75 patients (84 eyes). Among these, 40 patients were females and 35 males. Successful retinal reattachment was observed in 78 of the operated eyes (92.8%). In these patients, the retina remained attached until the end of the 12 month follow-up period. Improvement in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was seen in 63 eyes (75%). The visual acuity remained unchanged in nine eyes (10.7%). Mean improvement in BCVA was 2.00 ± 1.24 at baseline to 1.24 ± 1.22 (P = 0.010) at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusion: In the absence of retinal breaks, a TRD secondary to PDR can be successfully treated and improved by PPV without the use of an ocular tamponade.

COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.
Animals ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Nigella ; Pandemics ; Pathology, Molecular ; SARS-CoV-2