Successful management of chronic Blepharo-rosacea associated demodex by lid scrub with terpinen-4-ol

The Use of Digital PCR for the Diagnosis of Demodex Blepharitis

PURPOSE

This was a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of digital polymerase chain reaction detection of Demodex in eyelid margin swabs for the diagnosis of Demodex blepharitis. This study aims to explore the possibility of digital polymerase chain reaction detection to improve the diagnostic accuracy of Demodex blepharitis detection.

METHODS

Volunteers were prospectively recruited and classified by experienced doctors into suspected Demodex blepharitis or healthy controls using slit-lamp evaluation of the eyelid margin and an inquiry about symptoms. Three eyelashes from each eyelid were epilated from participants in each group for microscopic observation and mite counting. Then, swabs from the eyelid margins of each eye were collected after the eyelashes were epilated and stored at -80 °C for future DNA extraction and digital polymerase chain reaction detection. The positive or negative results of both methods were compared for diagnostic accuracy, and the Kappa value was also calculated to evaluate their consistency.

RESULTS

The accuracy of the digital polymerase chain reaction detection was 71.6% and that of the mite counting method was 75%. Their combined accuracy was improved to 77.3%. The Kappa value of the two methods was 0.505, indicating moderate consistency.

CONCLUSION

Digital polymerase chain reaction detection of Demodex from ocular surface swabs was painless and noninvasive and is a potentially accurate quantitative method available for diagnosing Demodex blepharitis. This method is also complementary to the conventional mite counting method, particularly when a sufficient number of eyelashes cannot be effectively epilated.

Eyelid cleaning: Methods, tools, and clinical applications

Nowadays, people give more importance and pay closer attention to the condition of their eyelids and lid margins. This increased recognition of eyelid hygiene is due to the growing awareness that improper eyelid cleaning might lead to various ocular surface diseases such as blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. These ocular surface diseases can greatly affect people's quality of life. This article reviews the latest procedures for proper eyelid cleaning, including indications, methods, tools, detergents, and clinical applications, to maintain a healthy ocular surface and assist in the treatment of dry eye and blepharitis.

Ocular rosacea: an under-recognized entity

While rosacea is a common dermatologic condition, ocular rosacea is sometimes evident either with cutaneous rosacea or occasionally by itself. Manifesting with such varied symptoms as dry eye, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and corneal erosion, ocular rosacea can be confused with a multitude of other diseases. While ocular rosacea is commonly mild and rarely severe, physicians should still expand their examination to include ocular manifestations of rosacea. In addition, we propose diagnostic criteria for ocular rosacea, stressing the importance of early recognition and treatment.

Antiparasitic Activity of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) and Its Components against Medically Important Ectoparasites: A Systematic Review

Ectoparasites are pathogens that can infect the skin and cause immense pain, discomfort, and disease. They are typically managed with insecticides. However, the fast-emerging antimicrobial resistance and the slow rate of development of new bio-actives combined with environmental and health concerns over the continued use of neurotoxic insecticides warrant newer and alternative methods of control. Tea tree oil (TTO), as an alternative agent, has shown remarkable promise against ectoparasites in recent studies. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to assess preclinical and clinical studies exploring the antiparasitic activity of TTO and its components against clinically significant ectoparasites, such as Demodex mites, scabies mites, house dust mites, lice, fleas, chiggers, and bed bugs. We systematically searched databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Embase (Scopus), CENTRAL, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS in any language from inception to 4 April 2022. Studies exploring the therapeutic activity of TTO and its components against the ectoparasites were eligible. We used the ToxRTool (Toxicological data reliability assessment) tool, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools, and the Jadad scale to assess the methodological qualities of preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies, non-randomised controlled trials (including cohort, case series, and case studies), and randomised controlled trials, respectively. Of 497 identified records, 71 studies were included in this systematic review, and most (66%) had high methodological quality. The findings of this review revealed the promising efficacy of TTO and its components against ectoparasites of medical importance. Most importantly, the compelling in vitro activity of TTO against ectoparasites noted in this review seems to have translated well into the clinical environment. The promising outcomes observed in clinical studies provide enough evidence to justify the use of TTO in the pharmacotherapy of ectoparasitic infections.

Hypochlorous Acid Can Be the Novel Option for the Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Dry Eye through Ultrasonic Atomization

Background

Dry eye is a multifactor disease which needs comprehensive treatments to keep the homeostasis of ocular surface.

Objective

To explore the effect of hypochlorous acid on the meibomian gland dysfunction dry eye through ultrasonic atomization.

Methods

We set this study of 0.01% HOCL and 0.1% hyaluronate by ultrasonic atomization. All the data was recorded at the 1^st, 15^th, 30^th, and 55^th days. The patients' complains, the meibum analysis, conjunctive congestion, corneal staining, Schirmer's I test, and NIBUT were recorded by K5M, the MMP-9, and IL-2 of tear by inflammation kit; the Demodex was recorded by microscopy.

Results

53 patients have joined this study. There is no statistic difference between them on OSDI (day 15: p = 0.061, 30: p = 0.055, 55: p = 0.052); results show the 10.57 ± 0.13 and 12.54 ± 0.17 reduction on OSDI; the differences of both treatments are significant (^∗∗p < 0.01). Increased Schirmer's and TBUT are 3.27 ± 0.10 and 6.29 ± 0.10 (^∗∗p < 0.01) or 7.32 ± 1.72 s and 9.22 ± 1.41 s (^∗p < 0.05); the decreased conjunctive and corneal staining are 0.23 ± 0.07 and 0.45 ± 0.06 (^∗∗p < 0.01) or 0.42 ± 0.03 and 0.37 ± 0.02 (^∗p < 0.05) at both groups. The differences of MMP-9 and IL-2 negative rate are significant (Z = 0.896, ^∗∗p = 0.002 < 0.01; Z = 0.659, ^∗∗p = 0.001 < 0.01); the number of Demodex mites at first is 10 or 11, while the last is 2 or 6 (Z = −4.642, ^∗∗p < 0.01; Z = 2.742, p > 0.05). The Demodex count between them is significant (Z = −2.310, ^∗p = 0.032 < 0.05). The survival times (ST) of each stage at the HOCL are 110.75 (108.50 ± 24.50), 95.50 (90.25 ± 14.50), and 75.25 (73.48 ± 8.50) min which are shorter than those of control which are 155.50 (160.10 ± 21.50), 130.25 (128.25 ± 16.50), and 105.75 (102.50 ± 14.50) min (^∗∗p < 0.01). The Demodex eradication rate of HOCL is statistic significant (^∗p15^th vs. 1^stday = 0.028 < 0.05; ^∗∗p30^th vs. 1^stday = 0.002 < 0.01; ^∗∗p55^th vs. 1^stday = 0.0018 < 0.01).

Conclusions

0.01% HOCL improves the Demodex eradication by shortening the survival time; the HOCL acts on the ocular surface by reducing the inflammation. The ultrasonic atomization helps for the drug usage.