Tehran University Medical Journal

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In view of the rapid expansion of contact lens amongst the users, new dimensions have been added to the domain of ophthalmology: Giant papillay conjunctivitis, a disease caused by different kinds of contact lens, appears weeks or months after they are used, although some patients are struck years later. The predominant symptoms are increased awareness of lenses, ocular itching, blurred vision and excessive lens movement. The predominant signs are the formation of papillae, the presence of excessive mucus, and contact lens coatings. The syndrome occurs mostly with the soft lens and is more intense. Other independent studies show that the rate of prevalence of the disease with soft lenses and hard lenses is 10% and 5% respectively. The study comprised 550 soft lenses and 150 hard lenses. The diagnosis of the disease was based on the symptoms and signs of the disease. Eleven percent of the patients using soft lens and 4% of the patients using hard lens had the disease at some stage. Almost all of the patients were using dirty and low grade lenses. The therapy protocol of the disease consisted of changing the polymer type of the lens and administering cromolyn 4% drop. In cases that the therapy was unsuccessful, a temporary suspension of the lens and administration of cromolyn 4% was recommended before using the new lens.

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In 100 healthy, adult and female mice weighing about 20 to 25 g each, paris of full thickness and nearly symmetrical cutaneous wounds, 100±15 mm² each were created in dorsolumbar region. Mice were divided into 3 groups randomly, group 1 (Right wound exposure), group 2 (Left wound exposure) and group 3 (Control). Wounds were exposed to laser He-Ne (632.8 were length and 16 mw constant power) for 10 days, 250 seconds each day. The control group mice were in equal situation except for the exposure wound were measured in size once every 2 days. Also biopsies were made from a clear number of cases once every 3 days from microscopic evaluation of wound healing stages. The difference in wound healing between the test groups and controls was significant as confirmed by statistical methods (E.g. one way ANOVA and SCHEFFE) with (?=0.05) and proved by microscopic findings. This experiment were made in "Blind" form. There was no significant difference in wound healing between 2 sides in test groups, this strengthens the idea that laser therapy causes the release of systemic wound healing factors

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Botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium butolinum in one of the most fatal toxins known. Botulism is the name given to condition produced by this toxin. In recent years the diluted form of this toxin has been produced in injection form and used for treatment of hemifacial spasm and blepharospasm. This toxin blocks neuromuscular junction and inhibits acetylcholine release. In this article we reported 36 patients suffering from hemifacial & blepharospasm treated by injections of botulinum A toxin. 85 to 90 percent of patients responded well. The common complications of this drug were ptosis, hemifacial paresis, burning of the mouth and discoloration of the injection site. Generally speaking the patients preferred this toxin to taking oral medications which were less effective.

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Twenty cases of isolated optic neuritis (15 female, 5 male) were studied and followed for several months to years after the initial attack. The mean age of patients was 23 years (range: 15-29 years). The most frequent clinical manifestations were decreased visual acuity and blurred vision. A complete neurological examination was performed. In 15 cases (75%) the initial brain MRI was abnormal. In fourteen cases, other signs of multiple sclerosis presented in one month to eight years following the initial attack of optic neuritis eleven of the latter cases had an abnormal initial MRI. Acute optic neuritis can be considered a presenting feature of multiple sclerosis, particulary in the presence of an abnormal brain MRI.

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