Effect of cefuroxime and moxifloxacin on Staphylococcus epidermidis adherence to intraocular lenses

Objective: To investigate and compare the effect of cefuroxime and moxifloxacin on adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to intraocular lenses (IOLs).Design: Experimental studyMethods: The 3-pieced hydrophobic acrylic lenses were contaminated with S. epidermidis (American Type Culture Collection 35983) solutions containing 10⁸ colony-forming units. IOLs were inoculated into test tubes containing tryptic soy broth after being held in antibiotic solutions for 15 minutes. Sonication and vortex procedures were performed in order to remove all the remaining bacteria. From each tube 10 μL and 100 μL was taken and inoculated into sheep blood agar. The colonies were counted overnight. The statistical analyses were made using oneway ANOVA, Tukey Honestly Significant Differences test (HSD) and independent t tests, and a p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Overall, the mean numbers of colony-forming units on the lenses that were held in control, cefuroxime, moxifloxacin 0.5 mg/0.1 mL and moxifloxacin 0.1 mg/0.1 mL solutions were 1398 (SE 10.01 × 10³), 29.9 (SE 1.16 × 10³), 0.23 (SD 0.04 × 10³), and 0.41 (SD 0.05 × 10³), respectively. The evaluation using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests revealed significant statistical differences among the groups (p = 0.000).The evaluation using independent t tests revealed significant statistical differences between the 2 moxifloxacin groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our results suggest that moxifloxacin and cefuroxime significantly inhibit bacterial adherence to IOLs. The effect of moxifloxacin on inhibition of bacterial adherence was significantly greater than that of cefuroxime. For this reason moxifloxacin might be considered as a better prophylactic agent.     

Aspergillus Iris Granuloma: A Case Report with Review of Literature

We report the case of a 25-year-old male patient who presented with complaints of redness, photophobia, and decreased vision in the right eye of a week's duration. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination revealed a cream-colored, irregular elevated inferior iris mass, extending on to the anterior lens surface. Differential diagnoses of a fungal granuloma, a medulloepithelioma, and an amelanotic melanoma were considered. An excisional biopsy of the mass was performed through a superior clear corneal incision. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the aqueous humor showed a positive pan fungal genome. Histopathology of the biopsied mass showed a giant cell granuloma with surrounding numerous branching, septate hyphae. Culture growth revealed Aspergillus fumigatus We report this case because of the rarity of Aspergillus iris granuloma as a primary presentation of endogenous Aspergillosis and review the relevant literature. Absence of a significant systemic history compounded the diagnostic dilemma in our patient. Definitive differentiation of this rare entity from a foreign body, amelanotic melanoma, and other inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, may be possible only on microbiological and histo-pathological evaluation.     

Triple cones in the retinae of three anchovy species: Engraulis encrasicolus, Cetengraulis mysticetus and Anchovia macrolepidota (Engraulididae, Teleostei)

Histology and fine structure of three anchovy outer retinae is investigated by light- and electron microscopy and computer aided topographic mapping. They all possess novel linear triple cones with two large lateral components and one small central component. Engraulis encrasicolus has a polycone-dominated retina with two triple-cone sectors, the retinae of Cetengraulis mysticetus and Anchovia macrolepidota are triple-cone dominated. Interspecific differences in the configuration of the complex outer retina structures appear well adapted to the requirements of visual orientation in the respective photic habitats. In addition a survey on the occurrence of triple cones in teleosts is given.     

A morphometric study of the retinal ganglion cell layer and optic nerve from metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis

The number and distribution of cells in the retinal ganglion layer have been examined in Nissl-stained wholemounts during postmetamorphic life in Xenopus laevis. Total cell number at metamorphic climax, in the 3 and 4 month juveniles and in 5 year adults were 30,000–41,000. 45,000–51,000 and 71,000–82,000 respectively. Optic axon counts of 29,000, 39,000 and 58,000 at these stages suggested that most cells counted were ganglion cells and that their number doubled during this period. Cell distribution changed after metamorphosis producing nasal and temporal regions of higher density in juveniles and adults. These results are discussed in relation to retinal growth and plasticity of retinotectal connections.