Extracapsular surgery has a high frequency of capsular rupture or disinsertion in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Irido-phakodonesis is one of the factors that suggests this complication. Irido-phakodonesis acts as an 'all or nothing' mechanism, as it does not appear until there is a certain degree of zonular lesion. We carried out a study on 330 eyes with pseudoexfoliation, relating irido-phakodonesis to 31 clinical signs. The results showed that irido-phakodonesis is related to cataracts, degree of mydriasis, presence of glaucoma, atrophy of the pupilar pigmentary ruff, and uniform pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork. These results suggest that the signs which indicate the existence of zonular lesion during extracapsular surgery, include poor dilation, the presence of glaucoma and pigmentary alterations, whilst the pseudoexfoliation material deposited in the anterior segment does not appear to have a bearing on this complication.

Purpose To develop an injection technique that reduces drug loss occurring due to reflux and consequent subconjunctival bleb formation after standard intravitreal pegaptanib injection. Methods Prospective interventional case series report. The 27-gauge needle is inserted obliquely via pars plana to create a valved wound. The rate of subconjunctival bleb formation is evaluated performing ultrasound biomicroscopy, 1 2 h after intravitreal drug delivery comparing standard (straight) with this new described injection technique (oblique) using Fisher's exact test. Results Eyes on which oblique injection technique was performed developed significantly less subconjunctival bleb than those treated with the standard technique. The rate of injection-related complications (retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage, traumatic cataract, and endophthalmitis) in our small series was similar between both groups. Conclusions The use of this technique can result in reduced drug loss after intravitreal pegaptanib injection. Larger studies are needed to determine if the rate of complications associated with intravitreal injections, especially endophthalmitis, is lowered with this technique.

Keratitis produced by Aspergillus tamarii has been previously described associated to an ocular injury. We report a case in a contact lens wearer with a history of previous bilateral myopic LASIK ablation, bilateral intracorneal rings and vitrectomy and scleral buckling in his left eye. The fungus could be quickly identified combining phenotype, microscopy and mass spectrometry. Treatment with intravenous amphotericin, oral voriconazole, and topical amphotericin and natamycin and voriconazole was needed for corneal preservation.

In order to obtain a native isolate with high β-fructofuranosidase activity (FFase), a preliminary selection of 44 isolates, predominantly formed by Aspergillus niger (72%), was performed among 167 isolates of Aspergillus native to the Peruvian coast (Casa grande, Cartavio, Paramonga and Tacama). In addition, genetic diversity was studied using molecular markers, Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR). The FFase activity of these 44 isolates was compared and the isolate which showed the highest fructosyltransferase (FTase) activity was identified molecularly at the species level by DNA sequencing.

A strain of Aspergillus niger PR-142 native to northern coast of Peru was subjected to successive processes of mutagenesis by ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation at 253.7 nm to increase the production of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). An initial selection was made by considering the mutants with increased invertase activity followed by the measurement of β-fructosyltransferase (FTase) activity both in mycelium and extracellular environment. Five selected mutants, which showed increased values of mycelium invertase activity (ranging from 101 to 128% as compared to the parent strain) at 40°C and sodium dodecylsulfate 0.15 (w/v), were grown in a fermentative medium in 50 mL conical tubes on a rotary shaker, and their FTase activity was determined. The 6-M69 mutant showed the most active mycelium activity of 1.5 fold as compared to the parent strain. When the same reaction was performed between 1 to 4 h, at the 3 rd h, the mycelium FTase activity significantly increased up to 7 and 3 times in the mutant and parental strain, respectively. Finally, 4 mutants and the parental PR-142 were genetically characterized using inter simple sequence repeat polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) molecular markers. This analysis showed a significant 33% polymorphic bands between the parent and mutant markers, and 20 bands were unique to the mutants.