Effects of Muller's muscle-conjunctival resection for ptosis on ocular surface scores and dry eye symptoms.

This article evaluates the effects of Muller's muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR) on ocular surface scores and dry eye symptoms. Forty-six patients were enrolled in the study. Eighteen underwent bilateral upper eyelid skin excision with MMCR and 28 underwent bilateral upper eyelid skin-only excision (control group). The Salisbury Eye Evaluation Questionnaire and an ocular surface evaluation protocol consisting of Schirmer's test, tear break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein and rose bengal corneal staining were performed during the pre-operative consultation and on postoperative days 7, 30, and 90. Improvement in symptoms questionnaire scores from baseline was observed on postoperative day 90 in the blepharoplasty plus MMCR group. There was no change in questionnaire scores in patients who underwent blepharoplasty alone. No between-group difference in Schirmer's test, TBUT, or fluorescein and rose bengal staining was found at any time point. In the blepharoplasty-only (control group), the fluorescein staining score was reduced on postoperative day 30 as compared to baseline, but not on day 90. In this sample, addition of MMCR to upper eyelid blepharoplasty did not worsen ocular surface scores or dry eye symptoms.

Effect of Angiostrongylus costaricensis extract on eosinophilic pulmonary response in BALB/c mice.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated an association between parasitic infections and the allergic diseases. A protective effect in asthma was shown in animals infected with helminths. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Angiostrongylus costaricensis extract on inflammatory lung response to ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. Four BALB/c mice received A. costaricensis extract by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection on the first day. Mice were immunised against OVA by i.p. injection on day (D) 5 and D12 and received a daily intranasal OVA challenge (40 microl) between the D19 and D21. On D23, we performed a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on the mice. Four BALB/c mice (control group) were immunised against OVA using the same protocol, but did not receive parasite extract. Total cell counts (TCC) and differential cell counts were performed in BAL fluid samples. Eosinophil cell counts in BAL fluid were lower in the group that received A. costaricensis extract when compared with the control group (0.04 x 10(6) cells/ml and 0.01 x 10(6) cells/ml, respectively; p=0.04). TCC were not different between the groups studied. A. costaricensis extract in mice decreases eosinophilic response to OVA in BAL fluid.