Differences in pain thresholds elicited by intraoral electrical stimuli between individuals with and without diabetes mellitus.

There is little evidence of sensation in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the dental research field. We investigated whether pain thresholds (PTs) differ between individuals with and without DM (non-DM; NDM). To this end, we assessed whether PTs obtained from the oral cavity, hands, and feet differed from each other and across groups, and whether PTs differed for the three current frequencies used for testing (2000 Hz, 250 Hz, and 5 Hz). Pain threshold measurements were obtained from the oral mucosa and the tips of the fingers and toes of 56 volunteers, including 21 individuals with DM (12 men and 9 women, average age: 72.1 ± 4.7 years) and 35 NDM individuals (17 males and 18 females, average age: 51.2 ± 23.9 years) using the Neurometer CPT/C® device to deliver electrical stimulation. A single operator obtained PT measurements from around the left greater palatine foramen and from the tip of the left first finger and of the left great toe. Individuals with DM had significantly lower PT values than those without DM. The PT values for the oral cavity, hands, and feet differed significantly from each other (foot > hand, foot > oral cavity, hand > oral cavity). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the PT values for 5 Hz and 2000 Hz, as well as for 250 Hz and 2000 Hz. This study concluded that PT values derived from DM participants are lower than those from NDM participants, although PT measurements varied across regions and with current frequency.

Typical ocular coloboma affects three generations in one family.

We found bilateral colobomas of the iris, choroid, retina, and optic nerve head in a son, mother, and grandmother in one pedigree. This represents a rare incidence of typical ocular coloboma in three generations.

Corneal endothelial changes after posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in patients with or without diabetes mellitus.

We examined 96 patients (111 eyes) who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with the implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. Of 96 patients 24 (29 eyes) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus had no or simple retinopathy; 72 patients (82 eyes) served as non-diabetic controls. The central corneas of all subjects were photographed by a specular microscope preoperatively and three, six, and 12 months postoperatively. No significant differences in the endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation, or cell loss were noted between diabetic patients and age matched non-diabetic subjects during the observation period.

Unilateral vaso-occlusive retinopathy in quiescent condition of systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 24-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus had decreased visual acuity, retinal cotton-wool spots, venous dilations, and multiple arteriolar occlusions around the optic disc in her left eye. The right eye showed good visual acuity and a few small retinal hemorrhages. Although abnormal serologic findings and systemic manifestations quieted with corticosteroid therapy, the retinopathy in the left eye progressed. After treatment with focal argon laser photocoagulation, progression of the retinopathy stopped.

Combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium of the juxtapapillary retina and optic disc.

An 11-year-old Japanese girl had a greenish-gray, slightly elevated lesion at the optic disc and juxtapapillary retina of the right eye that was diagnosed as a combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. A gliotic epiretinal membrane partially covered the lesion. Tortuous retinal vessels, which leaked fluorescein dye, were noted ophthalmoscopically. The lesion remained stable during a follow-up period of 1 year. After reviewing the Japanese literature, we concluded that the combined hamartoma may not be as rare in Japan as previously thought.

Concomitant granular dystrophy of the cornea and cone dystrophy.

We examined a 52-year-old man with bilateral symmetric lesions of the cornea and fundus. The corneal lesions were compatible with granular dystrophy, and the fundus lesions were consistent with cone dystrophy. The simultaneous occurrence of these dystrophies may be uncommon.

Macular flecks in a 5-year-old boy with Alport's syndrome.

We examined a Japanese family with Alport's syndrome; four members of family showed hematuria or renal failure and two had a hearing disturbance. The proband was a 5-year-old boy who had hematuria but normal renal function and yellow-white flecks in the perimacular region of both eyes.

Retinal microaneurysms in a patient with drug-induced aplastic anemia.

We examined ophthalmologically a patient with drug-induced aplastic anemia. The patient had good visual acuity and full visual fields, but small round hemorrhages and small red dots were seen ophthalmoscopically in both fundi. Fluorescein angiography revealed punctate hyperfluorescence from the early to late phases, indicating microaneurysms. We believe that retinal microaneurysms are not rare in association with anemia.