Ocular toxicity by latex of Calotropis procera (Sodom apple).

We report the spectrum of ocular toxicity following accidental inoculation of latex of Calotropis procera (Sodom apple) in 29 eyes between January 2003 and December 2006. All patients presented with sudden painless dimness of vision with photophobia. Twenty-five (86%) patients had initial visual acuity of less than 20/60. All eyes had conjunctival congestion and mild to severe corneal edema with Descemet's folds. Three (10%) eyes had an epithelial defect, nine (31%) had iridocyclitis, and seven (24%) had associated secondary glaucoma. After treatment with topical corticosteroids, antiglaucoma agents, cycloplegics, hypertonic saline and tears supplements, 27 (93%) eyes recovered completely within 3-14 days. After three months, 17 (74%) out of 23 eyes showed a significant low endothelial cell count compared to the normal fellow eye ( P 0.001). The latex of Calotropis procera causes significant ocular morbidity which may be preventable by simple health education. The long-term effect on corneal endothelium has to be studied further.

Resolution of an active peri-implantitis in a chronic steroid user by bone augmentation with PepGen P-15 and a barrier membrane.

Dental implant treatment can be complicated with infection. A list of possible causes includes overheating during the osteotomy, bacterial contamination from an adjacent tooth, residual bacteria from the infected tooth that previously occupied the site, bone microfractures from overloading or loading too soon, and residual space left around the implant after it is seated. Most treatments entail surgical debridement of the lesion and chemical detoxification of the apical or exposed portion of the implant surface with citric acid, tetracycline, or chlorhexidine gluconate as well as guided tissue regenerative or guided bone regenerative procedures. This article describes the case of an active labiolateral peri-implantitis from a previous infectious site at tooth 12 in a patient who was a chronic steroid user. The patient was treated with surgical debridement and no implant surface detoxification and regenerative procedures with xenograft of PepGen P-15 and an absorbable collagen membrane. The patient was advised to discontinue steroid therapy. This resulted in resolution of the associated signs and symptoms of infection and new bone formation in the radiograph. The negative effect of corticosteroids on calcium metabolism and bone regeneration is discussed. The potential implications of steroid use for implant dentistry are critically appraised, and guidelines are proposed for pre- and postoperative management that may assist in the successful implant-supported rehabilitation of this patient category.

[Comparative study of different proteolytic drugs in the treatment of traumatic iridocyclitis]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie éffektivnosti sovremennykh proteoliticheskikh preparatov pri lechenii travmaticheskikh iridotsiklitov.

A total of 42 patients with traumatic iridocyclites were examined; the pathology developed within different time limits after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECE) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The efficiency of proteolytic drugs gemaza and collalysin was comparatively studied. The efficiency was evaluated by using the densitometry examination of fibrin density, which enabled an objective conclusion on the dynamics of lysis of fibrinous exudates in the eye anterior chamber. The severity of the postoperative inflammatory reaction of the eye was assessed quantitatively by a reaction degree of the pupil to light. The coefficients of pupil reaction to light were found to be different in patients after ECE with implantation of IOL, made from polymethylmethacrylate, and in patients after phacoemulsification with silicone IOL implantation.