Bug eyes: The acanthamoeba bug is a significant cause of eye infection in contact-lens wearers, with those who use the soft type of lens most at risk.
It leads to keratitis, or corneal inflammation, which can be very painful and difficult to treat and may cause blindness. Poor lens hygiene is the main risk factor.
Austrian researchers tested three types of disinfectant cleaning solution for soft contact lenses, a multipurpose storage solution, a one-step hydrogen- peroxide system and a two-step hydrogen-peroxide system. The solutions were tested against several strains of acanthamoeba at different dilutions. After eight hours, all types of solution had killed all strains of the bug.
But cysts proved more of a problem. The two-step solution performed best, killing almost all cysts. The multipurpose solution was less effective but killed the cysts of at least some strains. Cysts of all strains were still viable after eight hours in the one-step solution, however.
The authors suggest contact-lens wearers choose their solutions carefully and take additional precautions to prevent contamination, such as microwaving, boiling or frequently renewing their storage cases.
Nursing open week
The Mater Misericordiae Hospital, in Dublin, is holding an open week for nurses from February 4th to 8th. A Celebration of Nursing - Past, Present and the Future is an opportunity to see the work Mater nurses are involved in and the educational opportunities for nurses, such as specialist training and higher diplomas in nursing studies. The week will include a series of lectures, poster presentations and exhibitions and is aimed at anybody who has an interest in nursing. All are welcome and admission is free. Further details from Una Marren (01-8034330) or Breda Doyle (01-8032343).
Help with Alzheimer's
As Iris, the film about the late English novelist Iris Murdoch, particularly the years when she suffered from Alzheimer's disease, opens across the Republic, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland is urging carers and families affected by the condition to contact its free helpline, on 1800- 341341. As many as 20,000 people in Ireland have the progressive degenerative condition, which destroys brain cells. Initial symptoms include memory loss for recent events. Difficulty with language, increasing confusion, physical deterioration and incontinence occur in later stages. Early diagnosis is deemed crucial to relieve some of the symptoms.
DES (Stilboestrol) was a drug given to prevent miscarriages between 1949 and 1977. It has since been proven that exposure to the drug is related to infertility, miscarriage and health problems in the children of the women who took it. The DES Action Group is holding an open forum on DES following its annual general meeting on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin. The DES Action Group helpline is at 01-6762873.
AIDS in Africa
A new treatment programme to help reduce the millions of deaths from the AIDS virus in Africa is being developed in Mozambique. The initial stage of the programme will treat pregnant women with drugs aimed at preventing newborns from developing the virus. There is a public lecture on the scheme, run by the Community of St Egidio, at 6.30 p.m. today, in Theatre Q, UCD Arts Block. See also www.santegidio.org
Addictive talk
The spring public lecture series of the addiction-research centre at Trinity College, Dublin, begins next Monday. Clinical psychologist Robin Davidson will speak about the treatment of addiction, at the Joly Lecture Theatre, which is in the Hamilton Building, on Westland Row. There will be more lectures in March and April.