The residual insecticidal power of two types of ITNs (PermaNet 2.0 H (PN2) and K-O Tab 1-2-3 H (KO 123)), compared to K-O Tab H (KO) treated nets, was assessed. The nets were tested unwashed, and after being washed, by hand 5, 15 and 21 times, respectively. After each wash, the nets were dried vertically on a line, in the shade. Two types of bioassays (mean median knock down times (MMKDT) and mortality 24 hours after a 3-minute exposure (%mortality)) were used, along with reared female Anopheles stephensi. The number of washes had a great impact on MMKDT and %mortality of all types of nets. This impact was greater for conventionally treated nets, indicating that PN2 and KO 123 nets are significantly more wash resistant than KO nets after 21 washes. There was no significant difference between PN2 and KO 123 with respect to %mortality 24 hours after a 3-minute exposure at 0, 15 and 21 washes. Similarly, the same results were obtained for MMKDT, and the differences between PN2 and KO 123 were not statistically significant. This study demonstrates that the efficacy of KO 123 nets is as beneficial as the efficacy of PN2 nets up to 21 washes.

The current study aimed to determine the efficacy of probing with adjunctive mitomycin C (MMC) as a treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in adults and to study the association of probing success with demographic and obstruction characteristics. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 140 patients (each with a unilateral NLDO) scheduled for nasolacrimal probing who were randomly assigned to receive MMC (0.2 mg/ml, 70 patients; group A) or placebo (normal saline, 70 patients; group B). Irrigation was carried out with 0.5 cc of MMC (0.2 mg/mL) in the duct with a nasal pack for 10 minutes in group A. Patients' postprobing epiphora was evaluated at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. Probing was judged to be a success if there was no or mild watering for at least 9 months after the procedure. There were no significant differences between the two study groups in demographic characteristics or duration of the operation (p=0.062). The overall success rate of probing with MMC was 47/70 (67.1%), which was significantly higher than the success rate of the procedure with placebo (p=0.0027). When the sex of the patients was controlled for by logistic regression, a significant association between the failure rate of probing and increasing age was found in cases and controls (p=0.004 vs. p=0.006, respectively). No significant side effects of probing with MMC were noted after 9 months of follow-up. Administering MMC in a dosage of 0.2 mg/mL during nasolacrimal probing significantly increased the success rate of probing. The failure rate of probing increased with age. A low dose of MMC is cheap, safe, and easily accessible; thus, it is recommended during nasolacrimal probing, especially in patients who refuse dacryocystorhinostomy surgery.

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