Alkalies/therapeutic use* ; Burns, Chemical/drug therapy* ; Corneal Injuries/drug therapy* ; Eye Burns/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Taurine

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with sulfuric acid injury in the emergency department. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from January 2007 to December 2015 on all sulfuric acid injuries presenting to the emergency department in Gu-mi Soonchunhyung University Hospital. Patients injured by sulfuric acid were recorded over a nine year study period and collected data included demographics, injury mechanism, injured body part, hospital care and final diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 26 cases were identified. Most patients were male (88.5%) and the face was the most commonly injured body part. The most common mechanism of injury was splashing injury. A total of 16 (61.5%) patients were identified as having lesions worse than second degree burns. CONCLUSION: Sulfuric acid can cause severe and fatal skin burn. When working with sulfuric acid, acid proof protect clothing, goggles and glove should be worn. Furthermore, safety education and workplace environment improvement are necessary to reduce sulfuric acid injury.
Burns ; Burns, Chemical ; Clothing ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Eye Protective Devices ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Injuries ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sulfur*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in treatment of corneal alkali burn injury in mice.

METHODSCorneal alkali burn injury was induced by sodium hydroxide method in C57BL/6J mice. The mice with cornea burns were treated intraperitoneally with EGCG solution or phosphate buffer solution (PBS) respectively. The healing of corneal epithelium, the formation of corneal neovascularization (CNV) and the inflammation reaction were assessed by slit -lamp microscopy and histological examination. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein in cornea was evaluated by real -time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay was used to quantitatively evaluate the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) infiltration in the corneas.

RESULTSThe healing rate of corneal epithelium in EGCG group was significantly higher than that of PBS group at d1, d3 and d7 after treatment (d1: 41.0%±13.0% vs 23.8%±7.6%; d3: 76.6%±7.5% vs 61.2%±6.8%; d7: 87.8%±8.5% vs 74.0%±9.1%; all P <0.05). The CNV scores and the number of CNV in the corneal sections of EGCG group were significantly lower than those of PBS group at d3, d7 and d14 after treatment (CNV score: d3: 1.1±0.5 vs 6.6±1.0; d7: 1.3±0. 3 vs 8.1±1.0; d14: 0.9±0.2 vs 9.2±1.1; CNV number: d3: 1.68±0.61 vs 2.92±0.95; d7: 4.80±1.36 vs 7.92±1.28; d14: 3.64±0.71 vs 5.88±0.76; all P<0.05) . The expression of VEGF protein at d3 (0.19±0.05 vs 0.45±0.08) and d7 (0.42±0.07 vs 0.84±0.09), the expression of VEGF mRNA at d1, d3 and d7 in EGCG group were significantly lower than those in PBS group (all P <0.05). Compared to PBS group, the inflammatory index at d3 (3.2±0.4 vs 3.7±0.5) and d7 (2.3±0.5 vs 4.0±0.0), the number of PMNs in the corneal sections and the MPO values at d3, d7 and d14 in EGCG group were significantly decreased (PMNs: d3: 34.5±15.7 vs 90.0±28.8; d7: 17.1±11.4 vs 54.9±25.9; d14: 12. 8±4.6 vs 39.0±17.9; all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the murine corneal alkali burn model, intraperitoneal injection of EGCG solution can promote the healing of corneal epithelium, inhibit the formation of CNV and reduce the inflammatory cell infiltration in the corneas.

Alkalies ; Animals ; Burns, Chemical ; drug therapy ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Cornea ; drug effects ; pathology ; Corneal Neovascularization ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eye Burns ; drug therapy ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

PURPOSE: This study investigated interleukin (IL)-17-secreting cell involvement in sterile inflammation, and evaluated the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on IL-17-secreting cell immunologic profiling. METHODS: Twenty mice were sacrificed at time points of 6 hours, 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks (each group, n = 5) after the cornea was chemically injured with 0.5N NaOH; IL-17 changes in the cornea were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, IL-17 secreting cells were assessed in the cervical lymph nodes by a flow cytometer. Rat MSCs were applied intraperitoneally in a burn model (n = 10), IL-17-secreting T helper 17 (Th17) cell and non-Th17 cell changes were checked using a flow cytometer in both cornea and cervical lymph nodes at 1week, and compared with those in the positive control (n = 10). RESULTS: IL-17 was highest in the cornea at 1 week, while, in the cervical lymph nodes, IL-17-secreting cells showed early increase at 6 hours, and maintained the increase through 1 day to 1 week, and levels returned to the basal level at 3 weeks. Specifically, the non-Th17 cells secreted IL-17 earlier than the Th17 cells. When the MSCs were applied, IL-17 secretion was reduced in CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-), CD3(+)CD4(+)CD8(-), and CD3(+) CD4(-)CD8(+) cells of the cervical lymph nodes by 53.7%, 43.8%, and 50.8%, respectively. However, in the cornea, IL-17 secretion of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells was completely blocked. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that both IL-17-secreting non-Th17 and Th17 cells were involved in the chemical burn model, and MSCs appeared to mainly modulate non-Th17 cells and also partially suppress the Th17 cells.
Animals ; Burns, Chemical/*immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eye Burns/*immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Interleukin-17/*secretion ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/immunology/pathology/*secretion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to emergency rooms with ocular chemical injuries, the substances responsible for such injuries, in order to improve their prevention and treatment. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 73 patients admitted to the hospital with ocular chemical injuries from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. The subjects were divided into groups based on the PSS (poisoning severity score) grade of their injuries, where grades 0 and 1 were classified as the low group (low PSS) and grades 2 and 3 were classified as the high group (high PSS). There were 28 subjects in the low PSS group (38.3%) and 45 subjects in the high PSS group (61.6%). The results were retrospectively reviewed by examining the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: Upon their arrival to the hospital, the most common symptoms were red eye (50.7%), pain (39.7%), and eye irritation (39.7%). Red eyes were more frequently observed from 27 persons (60%) in the high PSS group (p=0.04). The most common causative substances were chemicals and adhesives/glues for both groups (21 cases each). Among the 15 patients exposed to acids or alkalis, 13 patients belonged to the high PSS group. Only two patients visited the hospital after having washed their eyes. CONCLUSION: Worse damage was observed from work-related exposure (including alkali or acid exposure), causing red eye and ocular chemical injuries. Onsite first aid was lacking.
Alkalies ; Burns, Chemical ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Eye Injuries* ; First Aid ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisoning ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation

PURPOSE: To review the mechanisms and clinical patterns of spontaneous resolution of vitreoretinal interface disorders by analyzing cases and available literature on macular hole (MH), vitreoretinal traction (VMT), and epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS: Medical records and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of patients with spontaneous resolution of MH, VMT, and ERM were reviewed. RESULTS: Two eyes with VMT, 3 eyes with idiopathic MH, 3 eyes of traumatic MH (including 1 eye with electrical burn), and 2 eyes with ERM showed spontaneous resolution. All eyes except traumatic MH reached a visual acuity better than 0.5 after resolution. All idiopathic MHs achieved anatomic closure in 6 months, and traumatic MHs in 1 month except for the electrical burn case. Seven out of 10 eyes experienced complete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) during resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Some cases of vitreoretinal interface disorders can resolve spontaneously with complete PVD or other mechanisms. Indicators predicting spontaneous resolution should be considered in patients with vitreoretinal interface disorder.
Burns ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Eye ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retinal Perforations ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Traction ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Detachment

BACKGROUND: Ozone is a colorless, pungent, and highly reactive gas. It can cause headaches, burning eyes, irritation to the respiratory passages, and dyspnea. This article describes cases of respiratory difficulty associated with acute ozone exposure from an electronics company that manufactures touchscreen. CASE REPORT: Seven young female workers visited the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, complaining of cough, dyspnea, and chest discomfort that started within two days at work processing a touchscreen with ozone (0.103 ppm ozone detected in the their workplace). Other; symptoms observed included rhinorrhea, headaches, and dizziness. There was a temporary improvement in symptoms upon taking a day off, but their symptoms deteriorated upon continuing work again-suggesting the ozone exposure in their work environment was responsible for their symptoms. The results of pulmonary function and blood laboratory tests were normal; however, laryngoscopy and nasal endoscopy identified three cases of inflammation on laryngeal, intranasal, or vocal cord regions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the levels of ozone detected in the workplace and clinical symptoms presented, we conclude that the respiratory symptoms in these cases were caused by excessive ozone exposures.
Burns ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Endoscopy ; Environmental Medicine ; Eye ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laryngoscopy ; Ozone ; Thorax ; Vocal Cords

Adolescent ; Adult ; Amnion ; transplantation ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Eye Burns ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Injuries ; therapy ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To report the clinical outcomes of total corneolimbal transplantation in two cases. CASE SUMMARY: One patient, who previously underwent three rounds of penetrating keratoplasty and limbal transplantation for uncontrollable peripheral and central corneal melting, received total corneolimbal transplantation. The other patient who underwent penetrating keratoplasty with limbal transplanation for a chemical burn and who did not experience corneal perforation also received total corneolimbal transplantation. During the average 19 months of follow-up, cyclophotocoagulation was performed to control high intraocular pressure in both patients. Both eyes were tectonically maintained without further corneal destruction despite poor visual acuity and rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Total corneolimbal transplantation may be an effective tectonic procedure for corneal melting. This procedure can be considered as another option for patients with corneal melting after failed limbal and corneal transplantation.
Burns, Chemical ; Corneal Perforation ; Corneal Transplantation ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freezing ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Transplants ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report the use of amniotic membrane (AM) as a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) carrier in cornea perforation with severe limbal stem cell deficiency due to a chemical burn on both eyes. CASE SUMMARY: The patient in the present study is a 43-year-old man with a history of bilateral alkaline chemical injury six years previously. The patient suffered from total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in the injured eyes and underwent numerous operations including autologous conjunctival flap, AM graft, penetrating keratoplasty, keratolimbal autograft and ex vivo expanded limbal allogrft. However, the patient's ocular condition deteriorated due to persistent LSCD, which led to corneal perforation resulting in the need for an urgent therapeutic operation. In the patient's past ocular history, Ahmed valve implantation was performed for uncontrolled IOP. Revision of the Ahmed tube due to exposure and conjunctival erosion was performed again via placement of an AM over the exposed tube one year previous to presentation to our hospital. The authors performed a transplanted AM graft at the cornea perforation using sub-conjunctival AM believed to contain MSCs. Six months postoperatively, the ocular surface was well mainatained and the graft remained healthy. Transplanted AM showed morphological and immunohistochemical findings similar to those of MSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present study confirm that AM transplanted into the conjunctiva is a useful carrier of bone marrow-derived MSCs in severe ocular surface diseases.
Adult ; Amnion ; Burns, Chemical ; Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Corneal Perforation ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Stem Cells ; Transplants