OBJECTIVES: To describe a rare case of bilateral stromal keratitis and demonstrate the effectiveness of penetrating keratoplasty in the management of toxocara keratitis. METHOD: This is a case report. RESULTS: A 53-year-old male farmer had a 10-month history of bilateral corneal opacity, photophobia, redness, foreign body sensation, and eye pain. The diagnosis was central microbial keratitis with the following etiologies considered: Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex, fungal, syphilis, tuberculosis (TB), myobacteria other than TB, and acanthamoeba. Despite treatment with topical steroids and antibiotics, both eyes worsened. Penetrating keratoplasty markedly improved the patient's visual acuity. Histopathology of the left corneal button revealed toxocara keratitis. CONCLUSION: Good history taking, complete systemic and ocular examinations, and a histopathology of the corneal tissues are vital to the diagnosis of toxocara keratitis. Penetrating keratoplasty was shown to be effective in its management. Emphasis is given on prevention to decrease the incidence of the disease.
Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; KERATITIS ; CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION ; CASE REPORTS

The purpose of this study was to describe the luminal development of the murine eustachian tube and middle ear. Thirty specimens, aging from gestational day 11 to postnatal day 21, were investigated through the light microscopic observations. The present study also used digitizer, computer, and serially sectioned temporal bone specimens for three-dimensional reconstruction to measure the volume of the eustachian tube and middle ear cavity at different gestational and postnatal ages. The first pharyngeal pouch elongated during gestational day 12 to form the tubotympanic recess. Between gestational day 13 and 14 this tubotympanic recess extended to the middle ear area. A rapid increment in the volume of the tubotympanic recess was noted between gestational day 15 and 16. At this age, a definite division of the tubotympanic recess into the eustachian tube and middle ear cavity was observed. During the postnatal period, the maximum change of the middle ear volume was noted on postnatal day 11 when the mesenchymal tissue in the middle ear cavity disappeared completely.
Animal ; Ear, Middle/anatomy & histology/*embryology/growth & development ; Eustachian Tube/anatomy & histology/*embryology/growth & development ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: To prepare a data base for semi-quantitative measurement of blood flow velocity on MR phase imaging technique by analyzing the characteristics of flow image according to the ranges of flow velocity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained MR phase images of flow with velocity ranging from 0 to 70cm/sec. A straight flow tube with 2.09cm internal diameter and a flow tube with 75% stenosis were used as flow phantoms for this study. MR imagings were performed on a 0.35 T MR imaging system. RESULTS: At a velocity of 0-3cm/sec, the MR phase signal proceeded from an equivocal phase change to a homogeneous intraluminal signal intensity. Ata flow velocity of 3.1cm/sec, first phase wrap occurred, and there were two phase wraps up to 15cm/sec of flow velocity. In this velocity range, the MR phase image revealed an isocentric circular target appearance. At a velocity range of 15-30cm/sec, three tofour phase wraps occurred, and the MR phase image showed a multiple target appearance. At a velocity above 30cm/sec, the MR phase image showed an irregular unstructured appearance and above 50cm/sec, there were no flow signals and only noise-like signals were observed. The flow phantom of the stenosis model demonstrated the same phase image pattern as the high velocity flow in the stenotic and post-stenotic areas. In the pre-stenotic area, acharacteristic reversed laminar flow profile was observed. CONCLUSION: Flow velocity can be detected semiquantitatively as velocity ranges on MR phase imaging. The results of the experiment using a stenotic model suggest that MR phase imaging can be used as a modality for investigation of flow velocity and profiles.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In order to describe the developmental anatomy of the murine eustachian tube and its related structures, seventy six mice of ages ranging from gestational day 11 to postnatal day 21 were investigated through the light and electron microscopic observations. Development of the ciliated cells was seen concurrently in both the eustachian tube and middle ear on the 16 th gestation day, one day earlier than the epithelial secretory cells appeared in both the eustachian tube and middle ear. The number of ciliated cells and secretory cells increased rapidly after birth. Tubal glands were well identified with evidence of secretory activity around the time of birth. Thus, the findings of this study indicate that the mucociliary defense system starts to develop during the fetal stage and is well established immediately after birth.
Animal ; Animals, Newborn ; Cilia/physiology/ultrastructure ; Epithelium/ultrastructure ; Eustachian Tube/*cytology/embryology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mucous Membrane/physiology/ultrastructure ; Pregnancy

Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; Atropine ; administration & dosage ; Cornea ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diclofenac ; administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mydriatics ; administration & dosage ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Retrospective Studies

INTRODUCTIONEthnic variations in the prevalence of absence of the palmaris longus (PL) are well known. Many techniques for clinically determining the presence of the PL have been described. Studies have also attempted to correlate its absence with other anatomical anomalies. However, most studies have been done in Caucasian populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe presence of the PL was clinically determined in 329 normal Chinese men and women using the standard technique. In subjects with an absent PL, 4 other tests were performed to confirm absence and an Allen's test was done to assess the palmar arches. All subjects were examined for the presence of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) to the little finger.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of absence of the PL was 4.6%. All techniques were equally effective in determining the absence of the PL. There was no significant difference in its absence with regard to the body side or sex. Absolute deficiency of FDS to the little finger was seen in 6.4%. No correlation could be detected between the absence of the PL and FDS of the little finger.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of absence of the PL and absence of FDS to the little finger in a Chinese population is much lower compared to previous reports in the literature. There is no association between absence of the PL and absence of the FDS to the little finger. Although all techniques of examining for the absence of the PL are equally effective, the method suggested by Mishra seems the best as it was easily understood by subjects and can be used even when thumb abduction is not possible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Fingers ; abnormalities ; Hand Deformities, Congenital ; complications ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; abnormalities ; Prevalence ; Range of Motion, Articular ; genetics ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Tendons ; abnormalities

This study is proposed as an alternative method of sterilization in developing countries Purpose: To determine the efficacy of using a commercially available convection broiler in sterilization of ophthalmic surgical instruments Methods: Surgical ophthalmic instruments were contaminated artificially with Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus. The instruments were subjected to heat sterilization using the convection broiler at different temperature settings. After which, the instruments were cultured with appropriate media to determine contamination Results: 15 minutes heat sterilization at 260 degrees centigrade was enough to sterilize the contaminated ophthalmic surgical instruments Conclusion: Heat sterilization using a convection broiler provide a cheaper yet effective method of sterilization. (Author)
Human ; STERILIZATION, INFECTION CONTROL

No abstract available.

We retrospectively analyzed all patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding to Seremban Hospital over a one-year period. A quarter of the oesophagogastro-duodenoscopies (OGD) performed were performed as emergency for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers were the two most common findings. Our results suggest that there is a male preponderance of 2:1, the Chinese were more likely to be affected and the elderly (> 60 years) were at highest risk.
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/ethnology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Malaysia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors