Brain Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; Eye Diseases ; drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Photochemotherapy ; Precancerous Conditions ; drug therapy ; Skin Diseases ; drug therapy ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Tooth Diseases ; drug therapy ; Urologic Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Eye Diseases ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth is a medicinal plant used to manage inflammatory illnesses such as conjunctivitis, and gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disorders in tropical and subtropical regions. However, little is known about its pharmacological mechanism of action against eye diseases. This review aims to critically discuss the phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of P. pellucida as well as its roles in the treatment of cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Recent developments in the uses of P. pellucida for healthcare and nutraceutical products by the pharmaceutical industry are also covered in this review. For this review, a literature search was performed with PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciFinder Scholar and Scopus databases, using relevant keywords. Among the various phytochemicals identified from P. pellucida, β-caryophyllene, carotol, dillapiole, ellagic acid, pellucidin A, phytol and vitexin exhibit strong pharmacological activities within the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signalling pathways in inflammatory eye diseases. The antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and anti-angiogenic activities displayed by P. pellucida extracts in many in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies suggest its potential role in the management of inflammatory eye diseases. P. pellucida extract was non-toxic against normal cell lines but displayed mild toxicity in animal models. The growing public interest in P. pellucida has inspired the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries to process the plant into health products. Although the potential pharmacological mechanisms against eye diseases have been summarized, further studies of the interactions among constituent phytochemicals from P. pellucida within various signalling pathways shall support the use of the plant as an alternative therapeutic source.
Animals ; Ethnopharmacology ; Eye Diseases/drug therapy* ; Peperomia ; Phytochemicals/therapeutic use* ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Plants, Medicinal

We report 2 cases of Thelazia rhodesii infection in the African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, in Zambia. African buffalo calves were captured from the livestock and wildlife interface area of the Kafue basin in the dry season of August 2005 for the purpose to translocate to game ranches. At capture, calves (n=48) were examined for the presence of eye infections by gently manipulating the orbital membranes to check for eye-worms in the conjunctival sacs and corneal surfaces. Two (4.3%) were infected and the mean infection burden per infected eye was 5.3 worms (n=3). The mean length of the worms was 16.4 mm (95% CI; 14.7-18.2 mm) and the diameter 0.41 mm (95% CI; 0.38-0.45 mm). The surface cuticle was made of transverse striations which gave the worms a characteristic serrated appearance. Although the calves showed signs of kerato-conjunctivitis, the major pathological change observed was corneal opacity. The calves were kept in quarantine and were examined thrice at 30 days interval. At each interval, they were treated with 200 microg/kg ivermectin, and then translocated to game ranches. Given that the disease has been reported in cattle and Kafue lechwe (Kobus lechwe kafuensis) in the area, there is a need for a comprehensive study which aims at determining the disease dynamics and transmission patterns of thelaziasis between wildlife and livestock in the Kafue basin.
Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Buffaloes/*parasitology ; Eye Diseases/drug therapy/parasitology/*veterinary ; Spirurida Infections/drug therapy/parasitology/*veterinary ; Thelazioidea/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Zambia

OBJECTIVETo prepare Dange Mingmu in-situ forming eye gel.

METHODThe viscosity of Dange Mingmu in-situ forming eye gel was tested by adopting poloxamer 407 and 188 as thermosensitive materials, and optimizing by uniform design. Drug release in vitro was studied using a novel membraneless model. Eye irritation experiments were performed with rabbits. The duration of residence time in rabbit eyes was observed using fluorescence tracer method.

RESULTThe gelation temperature of in-situ thermosensitive gel was lowered as the P407 concentration increased. In a certain range, the gelation temperature slowly increased with the increase of P188's concentration, and the effect of P407 was greater than that of P188. The optimized concentration of P407/P188 was 19%/1%. Based the adjusted concentration, Dange Mingmu in-situ forming eye gel. was converted into freely flowing liquid below 26.9 degrees C and became gel at 34.5 degrees C after being diluted with STF. In line with zero-order kinetics, drug release in vitro depends on gel erosion. The residence time on the surface of eyes was proved to be relatively long was and nonirritant.

CONCLUSIONUniform design is available for optimizing the formulation of thermosensitive gel for eye. The gel satisfies the requirement for ophthalmic application, and is expected to be applied in clinical practice in the future.

Animals ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Eye Diseases ; drug therapy ; Gels ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Temperature ; Viscosity

PURPOSE: To report two cases of abducens nerve palsy that occurred after the administration of chemotherapeutic agents. CASE SUMMARY: (Case 1) A 49-year-old woman with breast cancer presented with acute onset of diplopia 6 weeks after the beginning of combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel. She had a left esotropia of 30 prism diopters (PD) with a mild decrease in abduction of the left eye. She was diagnosed with left abducens nerve palsy. (Case 2) A 29-year-old man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented with diplopia 7 weeks after beginning combination chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone. He had a 20PD esotropia in the primary position with a slight decrease in abduction of both eyes. He was diagnosed with bilateral abducens nerve palsy. The chemotherapy regimen of both patients was changed, and they were followed up without treatment. In case 1, diplopia improved 2 months after change of chemotherapy regimen with complete recovery within 4 months. In case 2, diplopia improved 2 months after a change of chemotherapy regimen with complete recovery within 3 months.
Abducens Nerve ; Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diplopia ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Esotropia ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel ; Prednisolone ; Vincristine

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical outcomes, response to treatment, and the related factors of recurrence and complication, following treatment of primary conjunctival malignant lymphoma. METHODS: The medical records of 39 patients diagnosed with primary conjunctival malignant lymphoma between January 2005 and June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 51.1 years old. The most common presenting symptom was hyperemia (33.3%). The most common anatomical location of the mass was the fornix (38.5%) and 25.6% patients had bilateral involvement. Histopathologically, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (92.3%) was the most common subtype. Every patient underwent radiotherapy (92.3%) or chemotherapy (7.7%) after surgical excision and had 100% complete remission. Local or systemic recurrence was observed in 15.4% of patients after treatment (mean 8.0 +/- 3.3 months), but was completely remitted after additional radiation or chemotherapy. International prognostic index and location of tumor were significantly related factors for predicting tumor recurrence (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, respectively). Dry eye disease (DED) was the most common ocular complication (44.4%) after radiotherapy. Total radiation dosage and location of tumor were significantly associated factors for developing DED after radiotherapy (both p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Most conjunctival malignant lymphomas were low grade malignant MALT lymphomas that responded well to treatment but recurrence of tumor and development of DED after radiotherapy were common, therefore predicting and preparing these lymphomas is important.
Drug Therapy ; Eye Diseases ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Medical Records ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical manifestations between patients with ocular myasthenia gravis and those with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS: The medical records of 71 patients diagnosed with MG between January 1995 and December 2007 were reviewed. Demographics, sensitivities of diagnostic methods, the presence of systemic autoimmune diseases, ophthalmic complications caused by MG, and treatments were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (20%) were diagnosed with ocular MG and 57 patients (80%) with generalized MG. Sensitivities of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody and repetitive nerve stimulation tests were significantly higher in the generalized MG group (84%, 89%) compared to those in the ocular MG group (50%, 54%) (p = 0.011, p = 0.008). The sensitivity of the neostigmine test was the highest in both groups (98% of generalized MG, 79% of ocular MG), and the difference between the two groups was borderline significant (p = 0.058). The most common symptoms were ptosis and diplopia, and both groups presented with pain, blurred vision, and tearing. Systemic autoimmune disease was more prominent in the generalized MG group (21%) than in the ocular MG group (14%), and steroid therapy was used more frequently in the generalized MG group (82%) than in the ocular MG group (57%). Ophthalmic complications associated with long-term steroid treatment were more profound in the generalized MG (30%) compared to those of the ocular MG (21%). CONCLUSIONS: The generalized MG group was associated with higher sensitivities to diagnostic tests, more systemic steroid use, higher ophthalmic complications caused by systemic autoimmune disease, and long-term steroid treatment compared to those of the ocular MG group.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications ; Child ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Eye Diseases/chemically induced/immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis/complications/*diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Steroids/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We report the case of a patient with scar sarcoidosis that developed along a previous eyelid scar. There was no evidence of ocular or systemic sarcoidosis. METHODS: A 29-year-old man presented with a mass on his right eyelid that had been present for two month. On ocular examination an erythematous, firm, and non-tender mass was diffusely palpable along the upper and lower eyelid scar. We performed an incisional biopsy of the lower lid mass. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination of the mass revealed numerous, noncaseating granulomas with multi-nucleated giant cells. The giant cells contained asteroid bodies and calcium oxalate crystals characteristic of sarcoidosis, although the patient had no other evidence of systemic sarcoidosis. The mass in the upper lid disappeared after intralesional triamcinolone injections. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents a rare occurrence of sarcoidosis that arose in an old eyelid scar. Scar sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unusual mass in a scar.
Triamcinolone/administration & dosage ; Sarcoidosis/drug therapy/etiology/*pathology ; Male ; Injections, Intralesional ; Humans ; Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Eyelids/injuries ; Eyelid Diseases/drug therapy/etiology/*pathology ; Eye Injuries/complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cicatrix/complications/*pathology ; Biopsy ; Adult

We present a case of ocular toxocariasis treated successfully with oral albendazole in combination with steroids. A 26-year-old male visited the authors' clinic with the chief complaint of flying flies in his right eye. The fundus photograph showed a whitish epiretinal scar, and the fluorescein angiography revealed a hypofluorescein lesion of the scar and late leakage at the margin. An elevated retinal surface and posterior acoustic shadowing of the scar were observed in the optical coherence tomography, and Toxocara IgG was positive. The patient was diagnosed with toxocariasis, and the condition was treated with albendazole (400 mg twice a day) for a month and oral triamcinolone (16 mg for 2 weeks, once a day, and then 8 mg for 1 week, once a day) from day 13 of the albendazole treatment. The lesions decreased after the treatment. Based on this study, oral albendazole combined with steroids can be a simple and effective regimen for treating ocular toxocariasis.
Adult ; Albendazole/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Anthelmintics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Eye Diseases/*drug therapy/*parasitology ; Humans ; Male ; Toxocariasis/*drug therapy ; Triamcinolone/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use