Therapeutic effects of tacrolimus ointment for refractory ocular surface inflammatory diseases.

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of topical tacrolimus ointment on refractory ocular surface inflammatory diseases. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: Ten consecutive patients with severe ocular surface inflammatory diseases who were suspected to be steroid responders (elevation of intraocular pressure [IOP]) or were refractory to standard steroid therapy were studied. One patient had peripheral ulcerative keratitis with impending corneal perforation, 1 had a Mooren's ulcer, 2 had scleroperikeratitis, 5 had atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and 1 had vernal keratoconjunctivitis. METHODS: The clinical findings and therapeutic responses after treatment with 0.02% topical tacrolimus ointment were determined by conventional ophthalmological examinations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of the ocular surface diseases (e.g., decrease of hyperemia, ulceration, size of papillae) and IOP. The necessity to use steroids was also assessed. RESULTS: In all cases, marked to moderate improvement was obtained, including suppression of the melting reaction of the inflamed cornea, remission of scleroperikeratitis, and reduction of a giant papilla and corneal epithelial defect in severe atopic keratoconjunctivitis. The elevated IOP was reduced in steroid responders after successful cessation of steroid therapy. No adverse side effect was noted for 2 to 26 months of continuous treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Topical tacrolimus ointment is effective in treating refractory ocular surface inflammatory diseases and should be considered as an alternative to higher doses, steroid supplementation, or surgical intervention.

Effect of denture cleaner using ozone against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli T1 phage.

We examined the bactericidal and virucidal effectiveness of a denture cleaner that uses ozone (ozone concentration, 10 ppm) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and T1 phage, respectively. In the bactericidal activity test, with the ozone supply turned on, the number of bacteria was 3.1 x 10(3) CFU/mL at the beginning of the experiment, fell to 1.0 x 10(0) CFU/mL 10 min later, and was 1.0 x 10(0) CFU/mL or less afterwards. In contrast, when the ozone supply was cut off (air bubble only), the number of bacteria was 3.4 x 10(3) CFU/mL at the beginning of the experiment, and had fallen to 3.0 x 10(3) CFU/mL 60 min later (no statistically significant difference). In the virucidal activity test, the number of phages was 1.2 x 10(6) PFU/mL before ozone treatment, fell to about 1/10 of that number 10 min later, and was 6.1 x 10(0) PFU/mL 40 min later. These results indicate that the use of ozone in this denture cleaner is effective against MRSA and viruses.

Morphological regulation and crystal growth of hydrothermal-electrochemically deposited apatite.

Apatite was deposited on commercially pure titanium plates using a hydrothermal-electrochemical method in an electrolyte containing calcium and phosphate ions. Needle-like apatites were synthesized in 43 kinds of condition with different electrolyte temperatures (90-200 degrees C), current densities (5.0-25.0 mA/cm2), and current loading times (10-120 min). The length of one side of the hexagonal apatite and longitudinal length of them were determined through field-emission-type scanning electron microscopic photographs. The size of needle-like apatites remarkably increased with the electrolyte temperature and current loading time, and slightly changed with current density. Multivariate analysis revealed that both size and shape of apatite needle on titanium substrate can be regulated accurately by systematic control of the electrolyte temperature, current density, and current loading time. These results revealed that hydrothermal-electrochemical deposition of apatite consists of two processes: nucleation and crystal growth, which strongly depend on the electrolyte temperature and current density.