Profile of Pterygium Cases Seen at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in The Philippines

Pterygium is a wing-shaped, fibrovascular degeneration of the bulbar conjunctiva that grows toward and over the cornea. It may cause irregular astigmatism, visual impairment, irritation, and cosmetic problems. Dryness, inflammation, and exposure to wind and dust or other irritants may be risk factors for its development but its pathogenesis is most strongly correlated with ultraviolet exposure making it more common in tropical countries near the equator (Agahan, 2010., Al-Bdour, 2004., Cajucom Uy, 2010., Chen, 2015., Droutsas, 2010., Essuman, 2014., Fernandes, 2005). It has also been reported several times that increasing age, male gender, outdoor occupation, and systemic factors like hypertension are risk factors suggesting a multifactorial etiology for this condition (Gris, 2000., Küçükerdönmez, 2007., Kurna, 2013). In a systematic review and meta-analysis done by Liu et al which included 20 countries, the geographic pooled prevalence rate of pterygium was around 10% in the general population (Essuman, 2014).

A case of heavy chain deposition disease complicated by acquired angioedema

Heavy Chain Deposition Disease (HCDD) is rare, and presents with renal failure, proteinuria, hematuria, hypertension, and often hypocomplementemia. HCDD may mimic the pathology of immune complex, crescentic glomerulonephritis, with isolated heavy chain deposits along mesangial, glomerular, and tubular Basement Membranes (BMs), without associated light chains. The predominant heavy chain subtype is gamma. Rare cases of alpha and mu subtypes have also been reported. Immunofluorescence for heavy chains alone is diagnostic. Renal pathology includes mesangial matrix expansion, hypercellularity, and nodular sclerosis resembling diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Fewer than 40 cases have been reported. We report a case of HCDD with the novel complication of acquired angioedema.

Molecular characterization of plasmid mediated genes among S. aureus strains isolated from clinical and non-clinical sources, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

The study isolated and characterized clinical and non-clinical S. aureus strains in Ile-Ife, Nigeria using phenotypic and molecular methods. Eight hundred and fifty samples of different cultures were taken from clinical and nonclinical sources. The clinical sources were the routine specimens of wound swabs, urine, stool, blood and sputum from the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology laboratory of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife.

The non-clinical samples were obtained from the nasal cavity of apparently healthy food handlers at restaurants in Obafemi Awolowo University campus and food vendors in Ile-Ife central market. Samples were cultured on mannitol salt agar and incubated at 37°C for 24-48 hours. S. aureus were isolated and identified based on mannitol fermentation, Gram's reaction, positive results for catalase, coagulase and DNAse tests. Susceptibility of the isolates to nine different antibiotics was tested using the disk diffusion technique. Molecular detection of plasmid, mec A, nuc genes was carried out on representative isolates using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Welcome to the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Traumatology

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Traumatology is an international peer reviewed journal that prioritizes publication of research findings in the field of traumatology, with special reference to clinical issues regarding treatment of poly trauma, severe head injuries, chest trauma, abdominal trauma, extremity trauma, blunt trauma, pediatric trauma, dental trauma, orthopedic trauma and thoracic trauma.

The journal focusses on the furtherance of biomedical research pertaining to trauma management in critical cases of skull fracture as well as head and neck trauma. The journal features original research, review articles, clinical cases, perspective, commentary and others that showcase research developments in intensive care practices adept in trauma care and management.

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Reducing failure rate in rapid sequence intubation in emergency department

Establishment of a patent and secured airway is a fundamental and central component of any resuscitation of an unstable patient. Without oxygenation and adequate ventilation, all effort or life-saving manoeuvre will fail. 

Endotracheal intubation is a live saving intervention in emergency with little room for error and must be performed in a limited time frame. Longer or repeated intubation attempts are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Airway management using technique of rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is an established technique of securing and protecting airway in emergency department (ED) for patients who are at risk of aspiration of food/blood into the lungs.

The mystery of a deadly recurrent constrictive pericarditis: TB or not TB?

Constrictive pericarditis is characterized by scarring and loss of elasticity of the Pericardium, and subsequently, this leads to signs and symptoms of right heart failure. Common etiologies include previous cardiac surgery, repeated pericarditis, and Radiation therapy. However, less common causes include tuberculosis, neoplasms, and autoimmune disorders. Here we present a rare case of constrictive pericarditis of possible tuberculous etiology and review the diagnosis and management of the condition.

A 68-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension, immune thrombocytopenia, and early cervical cancer (who had been cured surgically with a hysterectomy) presented with worsening shortness of breath on exertion and leg swelling of four weeks duration. She also had an occasional cough productive of whitish sputum. She has a history of contact with active tuberculosis (her father), and she was diagnosed with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection at an early age but did not complete a course of treatment for latent TB. 

Effects of Topical Timolol and Latanoprost by Tear Film Evaluation and Impression Cytology

The primary objective of this study is to describe the effects of application of topical timolol or latanoprost on the conjunctiva with the use of tear break-up test, Schirmer test and impression cytology; the secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of dry eye symptoms on the quality of life among glaucoma patients.

All patients were asked to answer the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Dry eye work-up consisted of tear break-up test, staining tests with fluorescein and Lissamine green, Schirmer test with anesthesia, and conjunctival impression cytology. Conjunctival samples were then examined, evaluated and their changes documented by a single ocular pathologist.