SEB-induced T cell apoptosis in atopic patients--correlation to clinical status and skin colonization by Staphylococcus aureus.

Introduction: We asked whether in atopic dermatitis (AD) increased T cell apoptosis in staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-activated cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is characteristic of the exacerbation of the disease or connected with skin colonization by Staphylococcus aureus.

Material/methods: The clinical status of the patients was evaluated using the SCORAD index. The number of bacteria colonizing patients' skin lesions was determined by the cfu method.

[Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy--diagnostic difficulties].

Purpose: This paper describes complications due to the posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy in one patient.

Material And Methods: Medical history of misdiagnosis and subsequent wrong procedures, to which patient with binocular posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy was exposed, where presented. The eye misdiagnosed with profound keratitis was initially treated with high doses of steroids, what could possibly lead to extensive fungal corneal ulceration and complicated cataract.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of corneal scanning topography performed with Orbscan for the localization of corneal transplantation due to keratoconus].

Purpose: Evaluation of the usefulness of corneal scanning topography performed with Orbscan for the localization of corneal graft due to keratoconus.

Material And Methods: We examined 33 eyes in 33 individuals (23 men 10 women) during one year 2000/2001. Corneal topography was performed with Orbscan apparatus before the transplantation of the cornea due to the keratoconus.

[Penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus in years 1990 and 1999].

The purpose of this study was to compare grafts performed because of keratoconus in our clinic in years 1990-1999. These years were chosen for analysis because in this time some methods of grafting were changed, particularly: material for transplantation, graft's size, method of trephination and graft suturing, also management after operation. The study included 51 patients (17 females, 34 males) with keratoconus, aged 16 to 46 (mean age 31.

[Corneal wound healing after penetrating keratoplasty with EGF application. Experimental studies].

Purpose: To check post penetrating keratoplasty (PK) corneal wound healing characteristics after epidermal growth factor (EGF) application and to compare it with controls.

Material And Methods: The PK was performed in the group of 72 young, healthy New Zealand rabbits (36 females and 36 males). Slit-lamp examination, tonometry and corneal topography by Tomey's corneal modeling system (TMS-1) were carried out before and after surgery.

[A triple procedure for corneal degeneration with cataract in primary idiopathic hypoparathyroidism].

A case of 21 year old woman with corneal degeneration similar to Salzmann's degeneration and binocular cataract is presented. A successful corneal transplantation combined with extracapsular cataract extraction followed by posterior chamber lens implantation was performed. Patient is undergoing a treatment in endocrinology ward.

[Retransplantation of the cornea with use of material selected for HLA factor compatibility].

Eleven re-transplantations of the cornea were performed between October 1988 and October 1991. Utilized was the material selected according to a partial compatibility of the HLA factor in 11 men with opacified transplants performed previously without antigen selection in high risk leukoma (in 10 cases after severe eye burns). In 3 patients the transplant was the fifth one, in 1 patient the fourth, in two--the third and in 5 the second one.

[Keratoplasty with simultaneous cataract extraction and implantation of an intraocular lens].

In the period of 1985-1992 we performed in our centres 34 operations of a double procedure and 12 operations of a triple procedure. During the observation--from 2 months to 7 years--we obtained favourable results encouraging to connect the corneal grafting with cataract extraction in high myopia and with extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of an artificial lens in emmetropic eyes. Presented is the appropriate technique of operation and the results obtained.

[The technique of stitching a corneal patch in corneal grafting].

One of the main problems of corneal transplantation is the postoperative astigmatism. In the last period the intraoperative application of the kerato-scope, new type of needles and threads in stitching the corneal patch created a chance for solving this problem. The authors present the methods used for stitching of the corneal patch, their advantages and the defects with consideration of differences resulting from the thickness and kind of the thread, from the length and form of the needle.

[Many years of personal observation on the effect of timolol for arresting development of keratoconus].

On examining about 300 patients with keratoconus in the period of 20 years the authors detected in a number of cases variations of the intraocular pressure. By means of a pneumo-tonometer Digilab 30R periodic variations of the IOP were measured in 76 patients and daily variations in 42. The statistical analysis showed that the application of Timolol and reduction of the IOP variations has a decisive influence on the improvement of objective changes and the visual acuity without correction.

[Keratoconus and coexisting diseases in monozygotic twins].

The study presents conditions mostly described as co-existing with the keratoconus in 7 patients (from among 300 examined) born from an uni-ovular twin pregnancy. Only one pair of twins showed keratoconus of both eyes and developing identically in both eyes.

[Diagnosis and treatment of acute keratoconus].

The discussion on this topic was considered as advisable because of frequent diagnostic faults and an incorrect treatment of keratoconus. The authors presents the diagnosis, foundations of the general and topical treatment of keratoconus.

[Transplantation of the cornea from the donor selected on the basis of HLA compatibility in high risk leukoma].

Fifteen corneal grafts were performed in 15 men with high risk leukoma (5+) in the period October 1988--November 1990. The age of the patients oscillated between 11 and 76 years. In 5 patients the grafting was done in only eye.

[Personal experiences with transplantation of antigenically compatible cornea. Preliminary report].

Ten corneae from donors selected in respect of partial compatibility of the HLA antigens were transplanted in the period October 1988--October 1989. The grafting was performed in 10 patients with leukomas included in the group of maximal risk (5+). In 9 patients the leukomas were due to ocular burns (chemical in 8 patients and thermal in 1 patient).