Eye Complaints Research Articles

Office characteristics and dry eye complaints in European workers–The OFFICAIR study

ObjectivesOcular discomfort is a prevalent health complaint in offices. It is hypothesized that, in addition to individual and occupational factors, the buildings' indoor environment may affect eye complaints. However, insight in potential building-related causal factors, needed to allow development of effective prevention strategies in building design, operation and maintenance is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relations between modern office building characteristics and dry eye complaints. MethodsComprehensive characteristics of 167 office buildings in eight European countries, were linked to questionnaire data from 7441 office workers. Multilevel modeling was applied to explore relations between building characteristics and self-reported dry eye complaints, in a cross-sectional study. ResultsAmong office workers investigated, 34% declared dry eye complaints during the past four weeks. Majority of workers (91.2%) experiencing these symptoms, reported improvement on days away from the office. After full adjustment, the regression model revealed a significant increased risk for: proximity (<100 m) to potential sources of outdoor air pollution (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06–1.88), absence of operable windows (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.34–2.16), portable humidifiers in the offices (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18–2.11), exposed concrete and/or plaster (OR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.62) and dispersion and/or emulsion paint as wall covering in offices (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.01–1.41). A negative association was found for cleaning surfaces at least once per week (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61–0.91). ConclusionsBuilding characteristics were associated with dry eye complaints of office workers. Focused studies are recommended to investigate underlying causes to prevent these symptoms.

Modeling indoor TV/screen viewing and adult physical and mental health: Health Survey for England, 2012.

The aim of the present study was to model indoor TV/screen viewing and a series of adult health conditions and cognitive performance in a country-wide, population-based setting in recent years. Data was retrieved from Health Survey for England, 2012. Information on demographics, lifestyle factors, self-reported health conditions, and TV and/or screen watching hours in adults was collected by household interviews. Chi-square test and survey-weighted logistic and multi-nominal modeling were performed. Of 8114 English adults aged 18–98, 4138 people (51.1 %) watched TV and/or screen daily for 2 h or more on average. Two thousand five-hundred people (30.9 %) watched for 3 h or more. TV and/or screening watching for 2+ hours was associated with endocrine or metabolic disorders, diabetes, mental disorders (including poor scores in General Health Questionnaire and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale), nervous system disorders, eye complaints, circulatory system disorders, respiratory system disorders, musculoskeletal system disorders, and self-rated health. TV and/or screen watching for 3+ hours was associated with digestive disorders and clotting disorder. TV and/or screen watching for 5+ hours was associated with cancer. TV and/or screen watching for 6+, 8+, or 11+ hours was associated with bladder disease, genito-urinary system disorders or bowel disease, respectively. There were no risk associations (within 20 h) found with ear complaints, infectious disease, and blood system disorders. Future educational and public health programs minimizing TV and/or screen viewing in order to protect from physical inactivity and X-radiation might be needed while research on the combined effect of physical inactivity and X-radiation should be explored.

Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome: Ocular Signs and Symptoms.

To evaluate ocular signs and symptoms in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and determine the frequency of ophthalmic involvement. A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients diagnosed with LEMS at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, from January, 1976, to December, 2010, was performed with special attention to ophthalmic symptoms and signs. One hundred seventy-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Ophthalmic symptoms included ptosis in 41 (23%), diplopia in 36 (20.5%), decreased vision in 24 (14%), and dry eye complaints in 12 (7%). Ophthalmic signs included ptosis in 45 (26%), abnormal ocular motility in 15 (8.5%), strabismus in 14 (8%), pupillary dysfunction in 12 (7%), and findings consistent with dry eyes in 4 (2%). A significant number of patients reported ophthalmic symptoms, and many had objective findings on clinical examination consistent with these symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the largest case series of ophthalmic findings in patients with LEMS and indicates that these patients warrant a complete ophthalmic examination.

Corneal Mechanical Thresholds Negatively Associate With Dry Eye and Ocular Pain Symptoms.

PurposeTo examine associations between corneal mechanical thresholds and metrics of dry eye.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of individuals seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic. The evaluation consisted of questionnaires regarding dry eye symptoms and ocular pain, corneal mechanical detection and pain thresholds, and a comprehensive ocular surface examination. The main outcome measures were correlations between corneal thresholds and signs and symptoms of dry eye and ocular pain.ResultsA total of 129 subjects participated in the study (mean age 64 ± 10 years). Mechanical detection and pain thresholds on the cornea correlated with age (Spearman's ρ = 0.26, 0.23, respectively; both P < 0.05), implying decreased corneal sensitivity with age. Dry eye symptom severity scores and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (modified for the eye) scores negatively correlated with corneal detection and pain thresholds (range, r = −0.13 to −0.27, P < 0.05 for values between −0.18 and −0.27), suggesting increased corneal sensitivity in those with more severe ocular complaints. Ocular signs, on the other hand, correlated poorly and nonsignificantly with mechanical detection and pain thresholds on the cornea. A multivariable linear regression model found that both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) score (β = 0.21, SE = 0.03) and corneal pain threshold (β = −0.03, SE = 0.01) were significantly associated with self-reported evoked eye pain (pain to wind, light, temperature) and explained approximately 32% of measurement variability (R = 0.57).ConclusionsMechanical detection and pain thresholds measured on the cornea are correlated with dry eye symptoms and ocular pain. This suggests hypersensitivity within the corneal somatosensory pathways in patients with greater dry eye and ocular pain complaints.

English

The present study documents the traditional knowledge and micropropagation strategies of medicinal plants belonging to family Asclepiadaceae with particular emphasis on a well-studied medicinal plant Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. The family Asclepiadaceae comprises about 320 genera and 2700 species. Due to the elevated market demand of the medicinal plants belonging to family Asclepiadaceae, most of the species are endangered, threatened, rare or critically endangered. The species of the family are also exploited locally due to their high medicinal value and other etanobotanical properties. There are other constrains as well which impede their abundance in nature including low seed germination and poor vegetative propagation. In this direction various in vitro micropropagation protocols have been established from time to time on a range of species of the family Asclepiadaceae. Present review thus emphasizes on medicinal importance and in vitro micropropagation studies on various plants of family Asclepiadaceae with special reference to Gymnema sylvestre. Gymnema sylvestre (Hindi: Gurmar) is a medicinal plant of immense pharmaceutical value, but it is disappearing fast from its natural habitat. The species is threatened with extinction due to its indiscriminate collection as raw material for pharmaceutical industry, where it is used for manufacturing of drugs for diabetes, asthma, eye complaints, etc. So, present study was designed to provide an overview that can serve as a data base and prospective guide on medicinal importance and micropropagation studies on family Asclepiadaceae in general and Gymnema sylvestre in particular.

Production of Gymnemic Acid from Cell Suspension Cultures of Gymnema sylvestre.

Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. is a popular herbal medicine. It has been used in ayurvedic system of medicine for thousands of years. It is popularly called as "Gur-mar" for its distinctive property of temporarily destroying the taste of sweetness and is used in the treatment of diabetes. The leaves of gymnema possess antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-sweetener, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and have traditional uses in the treatment of asthma, eye complaints, and snake bite. The leaves contain triterpene saponins such as gymnemic acid which is an active ingredient of Gymnema. Since the cultivation of G. sylvestre is a very slow process and the content of gymnemic acid depends on the environmental factors, cell suspension culture is sought as an alternative means for the production of Gymnema biomass and to enhance the gymnemic acid content. In this chapter, the methods employed for the induction of callus and subsequent establishment of cell suspension cultures for the production of biomass and analysis of gymnemic acid using high performance liquid chromatography are described.

Bilateral Central Scotoma Due to CSCR in an Asthmatic Policeman

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a retinal condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the subretinal space, resulting in neurosensory detachment or pigment epithelial detachment. The risk factors associated with this condition include male gender, middle age, smoking, stress and use of corticosteroids. We report a case of CSCR in a 37-year-old policeman with hypertension and bronchial asthma. He presented with sudden onset of bilateral blurring of central vision for 1 day, worse over the left eye. There were no other significant eye complaints. He is an active smoker and has been on long-term corticosteroids for asthma. On examination, the visual acuity was 6/9 bilaterally. The anterior segment of both eyes was normal. Examination of the right fundus revealed a dome-shaped swelling inferior to the fovea, while the left fundus showed circular detachment of the neurosensory retina at the macula. He was diagnosed to have bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy. He was also counseled to stop smoking. The corticosteroids were continued due to the risk of precipitating an asthma attack if they were withheld. Upon his next review two months later, his condition remained stable. CSCR is usually a self-limited condition, with good visual outcome. A thorough medical, social and drug history should be obtained, and patients advised to modify their lifestyle to eliminate or reduce risk factors such as smoking, stress and corticosteroid use.

A Polymerase Chain Reaction–Based Algorithm to Detect and Prevent Transmission of Adenoviral Conjunctivitis in Hospital Employees

To devise and implement a practice algorithm that would enable rapid detection and appropriate furlough of hospital employees with adenoviral conjunctivitis in order to prevent healthcare-associated epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Evaluation of an ongoing quality assurance/improvement initiative. Employees of Johns Hopkins Hospital with signs and symptoms of adenoviral conjunctivitis underwent evaluation by nurse practitioners in Occupational Health and rapid diagnostic testing by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing was used to determine serotype when adenovirus was detected. Signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and disposition of employees with eye complaints as well as PCR and serotype results were recorded. Over a 36-month period approximately 18% of initial employee visits were due to unique, eye-related complaints. Viral conjunctivitis was suspected in 542 of 858 employees with eye complaints (62%); adenovirus was detected by PCR in 44 of 542 suspected viral conjunctivitis cases (8%) or 44 of 858 employees with any eye concern (5%). Fourteen of the 44 employees had adenoviral serotypes and clinical presentation consistent with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (type 37 [n = 6], 8 [n = 4], 4 [n = 3], 19 [n = 1]). Other serotypes found in individuals with less severe conjunctivitis were 3 (n = 5), 4 (n = 5), 56 (n = 4), 1 (n = 2), 42 (n = 1), and 7 (n = 1). No healthcare-associated adenoviral conjunctivitis outbreaks occurred after algorithm implementation, and fewer employees required furlough than had clinical diagnosis alone been used. The algorithm is an effective infection prevention tool that minimizes productivity loss compared to clinical diagnosis and allows for determination of prevalence and serotype characterization of adenoviral conjunctivitis in hospital employees.

Making the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in patients with dry eye.

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic and progressive systemic autoimmune disease that often presents initially with symptoms of dry eye and dry mouth. Symptoms are often nonspecific and develop gradually, making diagnosis difficult. Patients with dry eye complaints warrant a step-wise evaluation for possible SS. Initial evaluation requires establishment of a dry eye diagnosis using a combination of patient questionnaires and objective ocular tests, including inflammatory biomarker testing. Additional work-up using the Schirmer test and tear film break-up time can differentiate between aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) and evaporative dry eye. The presence of ADDE should trigger further work-up to differentiate between SS-ADDE and non-SS-ADDE. There are numerous non-ocular manifestations of SS, and monitoring for SS-related comorbid findings can aid in diagnosis, ideally in collaboration with a rheumatologist. The clinical work-up of SS can involve a variety of tests, including tear function tests, serological tests for autoantibody biomarkers, minor salivary gland and lacrimal gland biopsies. Examination of classic SS biomarkers (SS-A/Ro, SS-B/La, antinuclear antibody, and rheumatoid factor) is a convenient and non-invasive way of evaluating patients for the presence of SS, even years prior to confirmed diagnosis, although not all SS patients will test positive, particularly those with early disease. Recently, newer biomarkers have been identified, including autoantibodies to salivary gland protein-1, parotid secretory protein, and carbonic anhydrase VI, and may allow for earlier diagnosis of SS. A diagnostic test kit is commercially available (Sjö®), incorporating these new biomarkers along with the classic autoantibodies. This advanced test has been shown to identify SS patients who previously tested negative against traditional biomarkers only. All patients with clinically significant ADDE should be considered for serological assessment for SS, given the availability of new serological diagnostic tests and the potentially serious consequences of missing the diagnosis.

Quickly Obtained Magnetic Resonance Localizer Image in the Diagnosis of Anencephaly

A 32-year-old and 32-week pregnant woman, gravida 6 parity 4, was admitted to obstetric clinic with complaints of eyes swelling for one week. Her physical examination and vital signs were normal except mildly bilateral eyelid swelling. Then the patient referred to the radiology department for first obstetric ultrasound (US) examination. Transabdominal obstetric US examination carried out to the patient. The US of fetus demonstrated absence of cranial bones and brain tissue and ranging amniotic fluid above the orbits (Figure 1). To confirm the sonographic diagnose patient underwent to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A few minutes later only the localizer images was sufficient to definite the diagnose. The fast coronal localizer or scout magnetic resonance images demonstrated an absent skull consistent with anencephaly (Figure 2). The patient referred to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic again to terminate the gestation. Anencephaly is an embryological malformation of the central nervous system characterized by the lack of the brain and cranial vault. According to embryological view, anencephaly rise from a breakdown in the neural tube shutting. It is a quite rare anomaly one in about 20.000 birth (1). Etiology is not very apparent. Potential causes comprise some toxins and low intake of folic acid by the woman during pregnancy period. Even though sonography remains the primary imaging technique for assessing the fetal anomaly. Some significant limitations exist in the sonographic prenatal diagnosis especially some brain disorders. These limitations are, largely due to obscuration of portions of fetal intracranial anatomy caused by reverberative artifacts of the bony calvarium, engagement of the fetal head deep in the maternal pelvis and to the low sensitivity of fetal sonography to some brain malformations. Sonographic evaluation of the fetal head and spine can also be obstructed by oligohydramnios and maternal body habitus (2). Eur J Gen Med 2015; 12(4):367-368

Glaucomatocyclitic crisis, a rare cause of unilateral ocular hypertension

PurposeTo report a case of glaucomatocyclitic crisis which is a rare cause of ocular hypertension.MethodsA 40 ‐year‐ old immunocompetent male patient admited, with the complaints of blurry vision, photophobia,red eye, and severe pain in the left eye for the last 2 days.Examination revealed mild anterior chamber reaction, corneal oedema, appearance of keratic precipitates and a very high intraocular pressure (52 mmHg) with an unresponsive, semi‐dilated pupil in the same eye. Gonioscopy revealed open angles in both eyes.ResultsHe was treated with topical steroids and topical pressure‐lowering agents with oral acetazolamide. The patient was also evaluated for systemic causes of red eye. Investigations carried out included routine blood tests and ESR, the results of which were all within normal limits. In the following 24 month period, the patient had two further episodes of unilateral IOP spikes associated with cyclitis.ConclusionsThis is an interesting and a rare uveitic condition. Although the list of differential diagnoses is long, the condition is relatively quickly identifiable by the presence of remarkable signs and symptoms. Medical and surgical treatments are indicated to reduce inflammation and to prevent long‐term glaucomatous optic nerve damage related to the high intraocular pressure.

Treatment of ocular rosacea: comparative study of topical cyclosporine and oral doxycycline.

To compare the effectiveness of topical cyclosporine A emulsion with that of oral doxycycline for rosacea associated ocular changes and dry eye complaints. One hundred and ten patients with rosacea were screened. Thirty-eight patients having rosacea associated eyelid and ocular surface changes and dry eye complaints were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: nineteen patients were given topical cyclosporine twice daily and nineteen patients were given oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for the first month and once daily for the following two months. Symptom and sign scores, ocular surface disease index questionnarie and tear function tests were evaluated at baseline and monthly for 3mo. Three months after results were compared with that of baseline. Mean values of symptom, eyelid sign and corneal/conjunctival sign scores of each treatment group at baseline and 3mo after treatments were compared and both drugs were found to be effective on rosacea associated ocular changes (P<0.001). Cyclosporine was more effective in symptomatic relief and in the treatment of eyelid signs (P=0.01). There was statistically significant increase in the mean Schirmer score with anesthesia and tear break up time scores in the cyclosporine treatment group compared to the doxycycline treatment group (P<0.05). Cyclosporine as a topical drug can be used in the treatment of rosacea associated ocular complications because it is more effective than doxycycline. In addition ocular rosacea as a chronic disease requires long term treatment and doxycycline has various side effects limiting its long term usage.

Acute conjunctivitis

Eye problems account for 1.5% of GP consultations in the UK, with a rate of 50 consultations per 1000 population per year. This equates to a yearly cost of 22 billion to the UK’s economy. It has been shown that 50% of sight loss could be avoided through improved eye care services and early detection of problems. To highlight this point, eye health has been chosen by the RCGP as a clinical priority between 2013 and 2016, with a particular focus on the elderly population and sight loss. Data obtained from GPs has revealed that 10–15% of the eye conditions that present to primary care involve the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis is a particularly beneficial area about which to be knowledgeable, as it is one of the most common non-traumatic eye complaints and in many cases it is straightforward and self-limiting. This article aims to address what constitutes conjunctivitis, the different types, the clinical findings, and management including when to involve specialist services. It will also look at the differential diagnoses of the presenting symptom of the acute red eye.

Benign Lymphoepithelial Lesion of Parotid Gland and Secondary Amyloidosis as Concurrent Manifestations in Sjögren's Syndrome.

Benign Lymphoepithelial Lesion of Parotid Gland and Secondary Amyloidosis as Concurrent Manifestations in Sjögren's Syndrome.

ANALYSIS OF PHOTOKERATITIS-RELATED RISK FACTORS IN WELDERS OF PT. PAL INDONESIA (PERSERO) SURABAYA

During welding activities, there are eye-related electromagnetic light and ultraviolet is one of them. After 2 to 10 hours of ultraviolet exposure, a welder will complain of pain, sandy feeling, and other eye-related complaints. A disease caused by ultraviolet derived from welding activities is called photokeratitis. The purpose of the present study was to analyze photokeratitis-related risk factors in welders. This study was a quantitative analytic survey using a cross-sectional design involving 50 respondents. Results of fluorescein test of 50 welders showed that 29 welders were photokeratitis-positive. Logistic regression test of respondents with UV exposure intensity of 0.3 mW/cm2showed that those respondents had 5.55 times higher risk of developing photokeratitis than respondents exposed to an UV intensity of less than 0.3 mW/cm2. Respondents aged 41 years and above had 7.09 times higher risk of developing photokeratitis than respondents aged below 41 years. Respondents rarely taking vitamin A had 15.87 times higher risk of developing photokeratitis than those frequently taking vitamin A. Respondents always experiencing eye complaints had 12.82 times higher risk of experiencing photokeratitis than those never had eye-related complaints. Respondents occasionally using personal protective equipment had 29.41 times higher risk of developing photokeratitis than those always using personal protective equipment. Respondents with the length of exposure of more than 8 hours had 4.87 times higher risk of developing photokeratitis than those with the length of exposure of less than 8 hours. The variable representing the most dominant risk factor for photokeratitis respondents was the use of personal protective equipment with 29.41 times higher risk than other independent variables.

Knowledge and practice of primary eye care among primary healthcare workers in northern Nigeria.

To assess knowledge and practice of primary eye care among primary healthcare workers known as community health extension workers in Funtua district of Nigeria. Cross-sectional mixed method study among health workers employed in government-owned primary healthcare facilities. Quantitative data were obtained using self-administered questionnaires and checklists, while qualitative data by modified Delphi technique, role plays and observation. A score of 1 was given for each correct answer, while a total score of ≥60% was considered 'good'. Eighty three of 88 health workers participated (94%) in the questionnaire survey; while 16 of them were selected for the qualitative survey. Good scores regarding the knowledge of common eye diseases were obtained by 68.7%, but only 26.4% of them could identify their most important features. Participants could undertake 3 of 5 steps in visual acuity testing. Skills in recognising common eye diseases and their management were weak; while practice was often not according to the guidelines. Community health extension workers displayed good knowledge of common eye diseases. Areas of weakness are recognition and interpretation of eye signs, and practice rarely follows the guidelines. Preventive medicine was neglected; community health extension workers require practical retraining and supervision to achieve integration of primary eye care into primary healthcare services.

Maxillary Osteosarcoma with Fibrous Dysplasia of Frontal Bone – A Rare Case Blog

Introduction: Osteosarcoma is the primary malignancy of bone which accounts for 15-20% of all the primary bone tumours. Osteosarcomas of Head and neck is a relatively rare tumour and accounts for 10% of all osteosarcomas [1]. The mean age of occurrence of this tumour is fourth decade. Diagnosis is mainly based on the CT scan, which also clearly describes the extent of the disease. Osteosarcomas of jaw differ from osteosarcomas of other long bones in its biological behaviour. Early diagnosis and adequate surgical resection are keys for high survival rate. This paper documents a rare presentation in which there is osteosarcoma of the maxilla with fibrous dysplasia of frontal bone, dual presentation in the same patient. Case Blog: A twenty two years male patient came to the Department of ENT and Head Neck surgery with complaints of left sided cheek swelling, left sided nasal obstruction, watering of let side eye for the past four months. There was also occasional historyof nasal bleeding from left side for the same period and loosening of left upper jaw teeth. On clinical examination there was hard swelling (7cm × 5 cm), fixed to skin and deeper tissues. Another hard swelling (3 cm × 2 cm) was present over the right side eye brow, not fixed to the overlying skin. No paraesthesia or loss of sensation was present over left side cheek or over the right side forehead region. Proptosis of left side was present. There was no fluctuation, visible pulsation or hyperpigmentation seen. It was not compressible or reducible. There were no signs of ulceration or sinus formation. CT scan of Para nasal sinuses findings was left maxillary antrum showing “sun burst” opacification (Figures 1 and 2). Left nasal cavity was occluded and left orbit was encroached upon by mass. Those findings were suggestive of osteosarcoma. Frontal bone was having the classical “ground glass appearance” suggestive of fibrous dysplasia of the bone. As maxillary region swelling was more suggestive of sarcoma, it was taken as prime importance and treatment was planned accordingly. Endoscopy assisted biopsy of the mass was planned first. Biopsy from the left nasal cavity showed spindle shaped and polygonal cells with large hyper chromatic nuclei. Tumour cells showed marked nuclear pleomorphism and osteoid production, multi nucleated cells with bizarre hyper chromatic nuclei and mitotic figures were found. Histopathological findings were suggestive of osteosarcoma. Left sided total maxillectomy was done preserving left eye (Figures 3 and 4) .Specimen was sent for histopathological examination and histopathological report confirmed it to be osteosarcoma. The patient was sent to oncology department for further management and was followed up regularly. Right side frontal bossing was looking more a kind of fibrous dysplasia with the classical ground glass appearance in CT scan; hence observation and conservative management was planned. The patient went for chemotherapy and regular follow-up was done every 3months. Discussion: Osteosarcomas being the rare primary bone tumour of the Head and Neck easily can be left undiagnosed or underdiagnosed. The most common presentation of osteosarcomas is painless hard swelling, associated with epistaxis, nasal obstruction, loosening teeth, eye problems [2]. In our case also patient had all these problems. As it was a painless swelling patient was not so much worried, and this lead to delay in diagnosis. The differential diagnoses that we should keep in our mind when we are diagnosing osteosarcoma are chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, metastasis, fibrous dysplasia, rhabdomyosarcoma [2]. The diagnosis was done in this patient, because of the classical sunburst appearance in the CT scan [3]. This bony swelling started as a painless progressive swelling and the duration was only 4 months. Because of its rapid progression, this was thought to be more a kind of malignant tumour, rather than inflammatory swelling. Also, radiology and histology studies were more in favour of osteosarcoma. After histopathological confirmation, Patient was started on chemotherapy. Patient was regularly followed up in our department in 3rd month and 6th month. There was no recurrence of tumour noted Conclusion: Osteosarcomas of head and neck are very rare. When one physician is encountering a bony hard painless swelling rapidly progressing in nature, with complaints of eyes, loosening of teeth, one should always keep in mind the chances of primary bone tumour of the Jaw. Though incidence of these tumours is found to be rare, there are possibilities of these sarcomas, and if early diagnosis is not done in these patients, prognosis is found to be very bad.

The evaluation of the dust-related occupational respiratory disorders of dental laboratory technicians working in Denizli Province.

INTRODUCTION:Dental laboratory technicians (DLTs) get exposed to fibrinogen dusts that are very risky dusts in terms of health. In this study, respiration complaints, pneumoconiosis frequencies and working conditions of the dental technicians in Denizli were investigated.METHODS:All of the registered DLTs working in Denizli were included in the study. A 30-item questionnaire was used to gather data about the participants and their working environments. Then, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were carried out and standard chest X-rays were taken in order to detect how much the respiratory systems of the workers were affected. Standard chest X-rays were evaluated according to International Labour Organizations classification. Depending on the screening results, technicians who were found to have had pathologies and suspected cases were examined. “High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT)” was taken from those who were found to have pathology in their chest X-rays and they were evaluated according to the classification of Hering et al.RESULTS:There are a total of 166 DLTs working in Denizli Province participated in the study. One hundred and forty-three (86.1%) of the participants were male, and 23 of them were female. The mean age of the participants is 33.5 ± 8.1. Average working time of the workers is 16 years. Total exposure time was calculated 36,177 h. Approximately, 56% of workers were smokers. When the working conditions were considered, it was found that 98.8% of laboratories had a ventilation system. Technicians’ use of personal protective equipment is low. Participants’ often or continuous use of masks, gloves, goggles, and vacuum device was found 69%, 36%, 47%, and 63% respectively while working. About 21.2% of the technicians have respiratory symptoms while 15.2% of them have eye complaints. At the analysis of PFT results, 27.7% restrictive type pulmonary disorder was determined. At the analysis of chest X-rays; 1/0 profusion sub-category was 25.5%, and the large opacity rate was 16.9%. Ten pneumoconiosis cases (6%) were diagnosed after the analysis of the HRCT results. The ratio of pneumoconiosis was found much higher among male technicians, particularly those who have been working for a long time in the profession and those working at the town hospitals and Department of metal leveling.DISCUSSION:Technicians’ use of personal protective tools is not enough and ratio of smoking is rather high. Pneumoconiosis cases clearly show this exposure. It is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions considering the determined risk factors.

Epidemiological profile of patients with red eye complain treated at Fundação Hilton Rocha, MG, Brazil

Objective: Determining the epidemiological factors and analyzing the main etiological causes of the patients treated with red-eye complaint at the urgency and emergency sector of the ophthalmological hospital in the state of Minas Gerais. Methods: A prevalence observational analytical study was performed with a non-probabilistic sample formed by patients who visited the emergency room of the Fundacao Hilton Rocha Hospital from january to april 2014 (n=1140). The following variables investigated were: gender, age, race, profession, education, income, means of transportation, time elapsed between the first symptom and the first visit, day of the week, low visual acuity symptom, diagnosis and treatment. Results: Out of the sample of 390 patients with red eye complaint, 57.4 % (n= 224) were female and the age ranged from 3 to 97, with an average of 43.7 years of age. The majority of patients, 87.6% (n= 341) sought the service up to 14 days after the onset of symptoms, only 75 individuals (19.4 %) had low visual acuity. The lower economic classes (classes D and E) are prevalent among patients. The main cause of red eye complain was conjunctivitis and infectious blepharoconjunctivitis 32.6% (n= 127). Conclusion: Infectious conjunctivitis was the morbidity with the highest incidence. The Fundacao Hilton Rocha plays an important role in providing urgent ophthalmological care in the public health network in Minas Gerais. It is important to identify the most frequent causes of medical service for ocular diseases and expand the epidemiological and social studies in order to improve people’s access to ophthalmic emergencies and give us subsidies for guidance campaigns, focused mainly on the lower social classes.

Quantitation of 47 human tear proteins using high resolution multiple reaction monitoring (HR-MRM) based-mass spectrometry

Tear proteins are intimately related to the pathophysiology of the ocular surface. Many recent studies have demonstrated that the tear is an accessible fluid for studying eye diseases and biomarker discovery. This study describes a high resolution multiple reaction monitoring (HR-MRM) approach for developing assays for quantification of biologically important tear proteins. Human tear samples were collected from 1000 subjects with no eye complaints (411 male, 589 female, average age: 55.5±14.5years) after obtaining informed consent. Tear samples were collected using Schirmer's strips and pooled into a single global control sample. Quantification of proteins was carried out by selecting "signature" peptides derived by trypsin digestion. A 1-h nanoLC-MS/MS run was used to quantify the tear proteins in HR-MRM mode. Good reproducibility of signal intensity (using peak areas) was demonstrated for all 47 HR-MRM assays with an average coefficient of variation (CV%) of 4.82% (range: 1.52-10.30%). All assays showed consistent retention time with a CV of less than 0.80% (average: 0.57%). HR-MRM absolute quantitation of eight tear proteins was demonstrated using stable isotope-labeled peptides. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the technique to quantify 47 human tear proteins in HR-MRM mode using approximately 1μl of human tear sample. These multiplexed HR-MRM-based assays show great promise of further development for biomarker validation in human tear samples. Both discovery-based and targeted quantitative proteomics can be achieved in a single quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer platform (TripleTOF 5600 system).