Acute-Onset Bilateral Myopia and Ciliochoroidal Effusion Induced by Hydrochlorothiazide

The authors experienced two cases of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)-induced acute-onset bilateral myopia and shallowing of the anterior chambers. Two middle-aged women taking HCTZ, a sulfa derivative, visited our clinic complaining of acute bilateral visual deterioration. Both had good visual acuity without corrective lenses before taking HCTZ. A complete ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral myopic shift, intraocular pressure elevation, shallowing of the anterior chambers, choroidal effusions, radiating retinal folds, and conjunctival chemosis. Approximately one week after HCTZ discontinuance, all ocular changes disappeared completely. Physicians should be aware of the adverse ocular effects of HCTZ and should manage patients accordingly.

Effects of formaldehyde on the frog's mucociliary epithelium as a surrogate to evaluate air pollution effects on the respiratory epithelium

The increasing use of alcohol as an alternative fuel to gasoline or diesel can increase emission of formaldehyde, an organic gas that is irritant to the mucous membranes. The respiratory system is the major target of air pollutants and its major defense mechanism depends on the continuous activity of the cilia and the resulting constant transportation of mucous secretion. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of formaldehyde on the ciliated epithelium through a relative large dose range around the threshold limit value adopted by the Brazilian legislation, namely 1.6 ppm (1.25 to 5 ppm). For this purpose, the isolated frog palate preparation was used as the target of toxic injury. Four groups of frog palates were exposed to diluted Ringer solution (control, N = 8) and formaldehyde diluted in Ringer solution at three different concentrations (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm, N = 10 for each group). Mucociliary clearance and ciliary beat frequency decreased significantly in contact with formaldehyde at the concentrations of 2.5 and 5.0 ppm after 60 min of exposure (P<0.05). We conclude that relatively low concentrations of formaldehyde, which is even below the Brazilian threshold limit value, are sufficient to cause short-term mucociliary impairment

Regeneraçäo de Células após Ototoxicidade com Aminoglicosídeo na Cóclea de Aves / Hair Cell Regeneration in the Avian Cochlea after Ototoxicity with Aminoglycoside

Introduçäo: As células ciliadas podem ser lesada por inúmeros agentes, incluindo os antibióticos aminoglicosídeos. Na cóclea das aves, a perda das células ciliadas pode ser reposta por regeneraçäo. Objetivos: Os objetivos da pesquisa foram estudar o processo de regeneraçäo em aves e a progressäo temporal das lesöes provocadas pela gentamicina. Material e método: No estudo, foi administrada gentamicina em dose única subcutânea de 125 e 250 mg/kg respectivamente, em um e outro grupos de pintos de três dias. As cócleas foram processadas, para anáIise em microscopia eletrônica de varredura, no 1§, 3§, 5§ e 20§ dias após a injeçäo. A sequência celular de degeneraçäo e regeneraçäo foi estudada. No 20§ dia, a maior parte da área cóclear lesada havia sido reposta por células ciliadas e de suporte regeneradas. Estereocílios e microvilos foram observados na superfície apical das células ciliadas regeneradas

Células ciliadas isoladas em cultura: um novo modelo para estudo da ototoxicidade / Ciliated cells isolated in culture: a new model for the study of otoxicity

A otoxicidade da Amicacina e a proteçäo por gangliosídeos das células ciliadas externas (CCE) cocleares de cobaias foram estudadas com 3 grupos de 8 animais. O grupo I, controle, o grupo II recebeu Amicacina e o grupo III Amicacina e gangliosídeo. utilizando-se o método de isolamento mecânico das CCE em cultura, 179 +-33 células em cada cobaia normal foram encontradas conservando suas características vitais até 2 horas e meia. O padräo de degeneraçäo vital foi observado e descrito. As lesöes provocadas pela Amicacina foram intensas. A análise estatística foi significativa na comparaçäo entre o grupo I e os grupos II e III, mas o resultado entre os grupos II e III näo demonstraram efeitos significativos na proteçäo das células pelos gangliosídeos contra os efeitos da Amicacina. Concluiu-se que esta técnica utilizada pela primeira vez para estudo da otoxicidade, constitui um modelo válido importante, simples e rápido, que permite estudo minucioso das lesöes em células isoladas "in vitro" provocadas por drogas ototóxicas

Structural and ultrastructural alterations of epithelial cells of vas deferens caused by contrast medium

In a attempt to verify experimentally any possible alterations of epithelial cells of vas deferens caused by radiopaque substance, the right and left vasa deferential of 3 rats were injected respectively with saline solution (0.9 per cent NaCl) and Conray-400 (66.8 per cent sodium iodomethamate). 72 hours later, the animals were killed by cranial trauma and histolofical sections and electronmiucrographs of their vasa deferentia were observed. The histological sections of epithelial cells of left vasa deferentia showed a decrease in height and slight changes in stereocilia as compared with those of right contralateral vasa deferentia. Electronmicrographs displayed a reduction in number and size of stereocilia and alterations of many mitochondria in epithelial cells of left vasa deferentia