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Abstract Background Mozambique is one of the countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in Sub-Saharan Africa, and information on the predominant genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis circulating in the country are important to better understand the epidemic. This study determined the predominant strain lineages that cause TB in Mozambique. Results A total of 445 M. tuberculosis isolates from seven different provinces of Mozambique were characterized by spoligotyping and resulting profiles were compared with the international spoligotyping database SITVIT2. The four most predominant lineages observed were: the Latin-American Mediterranean (LAM, n = 165 or 37%); the East African-Indian (EAI, n = 132 or 29.7%); an evolutionary recent but yet ill-defined T clade, (n = 52 or 11.6%); and the globally-emerging Beijing clone, (n = 31 or 7%). A high spoligotype diversity was found for the EAI, LAM and T lineages. Conclusions The TB epidemic in Mozambique is caused by a wide diversity of spoligotypes with predominance of LAM, EAI, T and Beijing lineages.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness in reducing pain by giving oral sucrose and non-pharmacological comfort measures prior to topical administration of mydriatic eye drops on premature infants undergoing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening eye exams in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Study Design: A prospective quality improvement study was conducted in the NICU where infants were given oral sucrose prior to administration of mydriatic eye drops while a second person performed facilitated tucking and containment. Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores were recorded during eye drop administration and compared to a group that did not receive any comfort measures., Result: Sixty-eight infants were enrolled. Mean PIPP scores increased an average of 1.5 (SD = 1.5) during administration of mydriatic drops without comfort measures compared to 0.6 (SD = 0.8) when comfort measures were used. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Oral sucrose and simple comfort measures can be effective in reducing pain associated with mydriatic eye drops.

Background: Restrictive strabismus and diplopia are an uncommon complication of conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, with insertion of the Lester-Jones tube. A literature review revealed only 4 published reports of this complication with a total of 4 patients affected., Methods: We report on a series of 8 patients who presented with restrictive strabismus and diplopia following Jones tube insertion., Results: Time to presentation was variable and was found to occur from several months to as long as 6 years after insertion. Treatment included topical steroid therapy initially. Surgery was done to release adhesions and scarring if topical treatment failed. Mitomycin C was used in 2 patients. Only 4 of the 8 patients had successful resolution of their diplopia with either therapy., Interpretation: Diplopia following Jones tube insertion is an infrequent complication of surgery. Medical or surgical therapy can be help resolve symptoms but is often unsuccessful.

Background: Congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is a rare cause of apparent inferior rectus palsy especially in the absence of associated cranial facial anomalies., Methods: We report three cases of isolated congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle and its successful surgical management., Results: Failure of the normal embryologic development of the mesodermal complex around the eye can lead to agenesis of the extraocular muscles. In apparent palsies of the inferior rectus muscle and no definite cause, a high index of suspicion and orbital imaging can confirm the diagnosis of congenitally absent inferior rectus preoperatively. Surgical correction may involve inferior transposition of the horizontal rectus muscles., Conclusions: Although rare, congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is a possible cause of apparent inferior rectus muscle palsy particularly in the absence of another identifiable cause. Strabismus surgery in conjunction with intramuscular botulinum toxin injection can offer significant improvement in function and cosmesis of these patients.

Purpose: To report the clinical, histopathologic, ultrastructural, and elemental features of 17 opacified Hydroview (Bausch and Lomb Surgical, Rochester, New York, USA) hydrogel intraocular lenses (IOL) necessitating explantation and discuss from a clinicopathologic perspective why these lenses became opacified. Interventional case series with clinicopathologic correlation., Methods: Seventeen hydrogel lenses were explanted from 17 different patients owing to decreased visual acuity or quality of vision an average of 29 months after uneventful phacoemulsification and IOL implantation and associated with a granular-appearing opacification superficially within the optic. Lenses were examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersion x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. A control IOL was included in our study., Results: All explanted lenses showed positive staining for calcium by light microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy disclosed electron-dense crystalline deposits in the superficial substance of the IOL optic. Energy dispersion x-ray spectra analyses showed the presence of calcium and phosphorus mainly in the electron-dense periphery of the deposits in all of the specimens and the presence of silicon mainly in the electron-lucent center of the deposits in the majority of the specimens. No positive staining or deposits were observed on the IOL control or in the haptics., Conclusions: Our study is the first to demonstrate that the calcium deposits are associated with silicon, which was presumably derived from the silicone gasket in the Surefold (Bausch and Lomb Surgical, Rochester, New York, USA) packaging system, manufactured specifically for this IOL. Silicon may act as a nidus for calcium deposition within the lens, which is consistent with our findings. There may be other factors involved, and this important clinical problem requires further study.

Objective: Prior studies of hydroxyapatite orbital implant complications have primarily focused on complications of the implant itself with only occasional mention of the complications associated with the peg system. This in part may be because of a low rate of pegging and, thus, a small sample size to evaluate. Therefore, a full range of complications that can occur with pegging has not been presented. The objective of this study was to determine the complications associated with pegging and to discuss ways to manage them., Design: Retrospective, noncomparative case series., Participants/intervention: The authors analyzed all of the complications associated with pegging 165 of a possible 275 hydroxyapatite implants implanted by 2 surgeons over 7 years., Main Outcome Measures: The following data were recorded: type of surgery performed, size of implant used, type of hydroxyapatite used, peg system used, time of pegging, follow-up duration, problems encountered, and treatment., Results: Sixty-two (37.5%) of the 165 patients who had pegged implants were found to have problems with their pegs. Twenty-one (33.8%) of the 62 patients with peg problems had more than 1 peg-related problem. Complications associated with pegging included discharge (37%; 23 of 62), pyogenic granulomas (30.6%; 19 of 62), peg falling out (29%; 18 of 62), poor transfer of movement (11.2%; 7 of 62), clicking (11.2%; 7 of 62), conjunctiva overgrowing peg (4.8%; 3 of 62), poor-fitting sleeve (4.8%; 3 of 62), part of sleeve shaft visible (4.8%; 3 of 62), peg drilled on an angle (4.8%; 3 of 62), hydroxyapatite visible around peg hole (3.2%; 2 of 62), peg drilled off-center (3.2%; 2 of 62), popping peg (3.2%; 2 of 62), and excess movement of peg (3.2%; 2 of 62). The most serious complication occurring in two individuals (3.2%) was implant infection requiring implant removal., Conclusion: There are several potential complications that can occur after pegging the hydroxyapatite implant. These problems are generally of a minor nature but often require additional patient visits that would not ordinarily have been required if the peg was not in place. The most serious peg problem is implant infection, which may necessitate implant removal. These potential peg problems should be reviewed with the patient before the procedure is performed.

Purpose: To report a case of chronic unilateral ptosis in a 63-year-old, otherwise healthy woman with visual restriction., Methods: We performed a biopsy on an enlarged tarsal plate that we believed had caused ptosis. A levator aponeurotic advancement was performed subsequently., Results: Histologic and ultrastructural examination of the biopsy specimen disclosed amyloidosis of the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis., Conclusion: Localized amyloidosis involving the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus is a rare cause of chronic eyelid thickening and ptosis.

Chemical substances migrate outwards from within the body to the skin surface by diffusion from cutaneous capillaries across the epidermis. Heretofore, study of transepidermal chemical emissions have been restricted to substances which are in the vapor phase at skin surface temperature. We have investigated outward transcutaneous chemical migration of nongaseous chemicals by devising an occlusive transcutaneous chemical collection system, consisting of a tape-encased plug of gelled saline in which activated carbon is dispersed. Investigations of nine chemicals in 'fuzzy' rats, rhesus monkeys, and man provide data which are consistent with a general theory of outward transcutaneous chemical migration. This noninvasive continuous transcutaneous sampling technique provides a new method for investigating skin permeability in vivo and may provide a basis for convenient diagnosis and monitoring of chemical exposure.