Expression of antiapoptotic and proapoptotic molecules in diabetic retinas.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of the antiapoptotic and proapoptotic markers in diabetic retinas.

Methods: In total, 12 donor eyes from six subjects with diabetes mellitus, and 10 eyes from five nondiabetic subjects without known ocular disease serving as control subjects were examined. Immunohistochemical techniques were used with antibodies directed against cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), Akt (protein kinase B), Mcl-1, Bad, cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), tumour necrosis factor receptor-1-associated death domain protein (TRADD), and Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD).

Expression of apoptosis markers in the retinas of human subjects with diabetes.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of the apoptotic mediators in the retinas from human subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Ten donor eyes from five subjects with diabetes mellitus, and eight eyes from four nondiabetic subjects without known ocular disease serving as control subjects were examined. Immunohistochemical techniques were used with antibodies directed against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), caspase-3, Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), Bax, Bcl-2, survivin, p53, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), and p38.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor are colocalized in the retinas of human subjects with diabetes.

Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO) mediates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability. This study was undertaken to study the cellular distribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and VEGF in the retinas from human subjects with diabetes mellitus. In addition, glial reactivity and peroxynitrite generation were detected by immunolocalization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nitrotyrosine, respectively.

Color vision in 42 Congolese patients with tuberculosis receiving ethambutol treatment.

Purpose: To study color vision in Congolese patients with tuberculosis receiving ethambutol therapy.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive study of color vision test in patients with systemic tuberculosis receiving ethambutol was performed between April 1995 and January 1998 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kinshasa. Color vision tests were assessed with pseudoisochromatic plates (the Ishihara Pseudo-isochromatic Plates), the AO-HRR (American Optical Handy Rand Rittler), the Bölle and Kastel anomaloscope, Farnsworth-Munsell test (the D-15 and the FM-100).

Diplopia from skew deviation in Ramsey-Hunt syndrome. A case report.

Object: Presentation of a 34-year-old pregnant woman with skew deviation due to peripheral vestibular dysfunction caused by herpes zoster oticus.

Methods: A multidisciplinary approach (neuroophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, neuroradiology) revealed the diagnosis of Ramsey-Hunt syndrome.

Case Report: The patient presented with painful herpes zoster vesicles of the left ear, associated with a rotatory vertigo and hearing loss.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma: 2 case reports.

Two cases of craniopharyngioma with delayed diagnosis are presented. Patient 1 had mild visual loss that initially had been attributed to pigment epithelial detachment in the macular area. Patient 2 had blurred vision in the left eye, although visual acuity was 10/10 at both eyes.

Expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase in the retinas of human subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Inducible nitric oxide synthase has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic damage, in the angiogenic process and in diabetic vascular damage. This study was undertaken to determine whether inducible nitric oxide synthase is present in the retinas from human subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This was an experimental immunohistochemical prospective study.

Unusual retinal vasculitis in a patient with protein S deficiency and systemic toxoplasmosis: a case report.

A 28-year old female patient presented with unilateral dropped visual acuity and a central scotoma. Fundus examination and a fluorescein angiogram were suggestive for central retinal vein prethrombosis. Further tests revealed an isolated protein S deficiency for which oral anticoagulation therapy was initiated.

OCT study of fellow eyes of macular holes.

The aim of this study was to examine the vitreomacular interface in symptom-free fellow eyes of macular holes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to add information to the pathogenesis of macular holes and to refine prognostic factors for bilateral involvement. Sixty-six patients with a full thickness macular hole in one eye and a symptom-free fellow eye were included in the study between 01/98-05/99. The finding on OCT that a perifoveal vitreous detachment can result in a foveal cyst and subsequently a macular hole confirms the theory of Gass of vitreous traction.

Ocular findings in children with homozygous sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine the frequency of ocular manifestations in Congolese children with homozygous sickle cell disease.

Methods: Sixty-six children with homozygous sickle cell disease were examined for ocular abnormalities between March 1 and August 31, 1998. The ages of children ranged from two to 18 years.

Treatment of glaucoma in children with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Background: Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare congenital neuro-oculocutaneous disorder. Ocular involvement can include glaucoma and vascular malformations of the conjunctiva, episclera, choroid, and retina.

Methods: The records of 19 Sturge-Weber syndrome patients (mean age 8.

How to protect your eyes from solar retinopathy.

On August 11, in Belgium a solar eclipse will occur which will be total in the Southern area of the country. Although the observation of a solar eclipse is an intriguing phenomenon, inappropriate shielding from the sunlight can cause irreversible ocular lesions. Besides good absolute absorption of visible light, a blocking of ultraviolet and infrared light is equally important.

The use of optical coherence tomography in macular diseases.

With optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new technique has emerged that allows imaging of a transverse section of the retina with a resolution that has not been reached by other imaging techniques. The OCT technique can be used in the diagnosis and assessment of various diseases of both the anterior segment and the ocular fundus. This paper demonstrates that OCT can deliver useful information in the diagnosis and follow-up of several macular diseases that cannot be obtained with other fundus imaging techniques.

Gelatinase B in proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.

Purpose: To investigate whether gelatinases A and B are involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.

Methods: In a prospective study of 101 consecutive patients, vitreous and paired serum samples were obtained from 38 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy, 25 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with no proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and 38 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Gelatinase activities were determined by quantitative zymography.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.

Purpose: To investigate whether the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinal disorders and to study their possible interaction with IL-6.

Methods: In a prospective study of 125 consecutive patients (125 eyes), vitreous and paired serum samples were obtained and were assayed for MCP-1 and IL-8. Levels of IL-6 were determined by proliferation of the IL-6-dependent hybridoma cell line 7TD1.

Spontaneous evolution of stage I and II macular holes.

To ascertain the natural outcome of stage I impending and stage II macular holes, 28 eyes (26 patients) were reviewed and followed up for an average of 23 months. Of the 21 stage I lesions, 10 (47.6%) progressed and the others regressed.

Leber congenital amaurosis--differential diagnosis, ophthalmological and neuroradiological report of 18 patients.

Between 1985 and 1995 eighteen babies, presenting to our department with absent visual contact and roving eye movements, showed a non-recordable flash electroretinogram (fERG). This was confirmed when repeated after a one-year interval. In four patients with developmental delay an underlying systemic disorder was diagnosed after a thorough pediatric neurological evaluation: Senior Loken syndrome, neuroaxonal dystrophy, ceroid lipofuscinosis and a yet unclear metabolic disorder were the revised diagnoses.

Bromovinyldeoxyurdine treatment of outer retinal necrosis due to varicella-zoster virus: a case-report.

In December 1995, a 70-years old male was referred to us because of rapid visual loss in the right eye, one month after a central retinal artery occlusion in the left eye. This renal transplant patient, with limited renal function, was on immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis of bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) due to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of VZV DNA in the aqueous fluid.

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and refraction.

A small cup-disk ratio has been reported as a risk factor in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Hyperopia is possibly related with a small cup-disk ratio. The purpose of the present study is to compare the refraction of 37 eyes with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy with a sex and age matched control group of 74 eyes.

Ocular toxocariasis in a 36-year-old patient: a case report.

A 36-year-old female presented wit unilateral papillitis, followed by the development of a posterior pole granuloma. A positive ELISA-test for toxocara canis with a titer of 1/200 established the diagnosis. The patient was consecutively treated by pars plana vitrectomy and oral corticosteroids.

Management of psoteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses or lens fragments.

The authors conducted a retrospective study during a 4-year period (jan. 91-dec. 94) of the charts of 26 patients (27 eyes) treated by pars plana vitrectomy for posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses or lens fragments.

Therapeutic possibilities and limits of vitreoretinal surgery after expulsive choroidal hemorrhage.

The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate that in certain cases of expulsive choroidal hemorrhage (ECH) anatomical success and useful vision can be obtained with repeated vitreoretinal surgery. The authors report on their experience in 8 patients who were treated following ECH over the past 3 1/2 years. Three types of ECH could be identified.

Four cases of Wolfram syndrome: ophthalmologic findings and complications.

The association of diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness (DIDMOAD) is known as Wolfram syndrome. The ophthalmic signs are progressive decrease in visual acuity, constriction of the peripheral visual field with or without central scotoma, colour vision disturbances and bilateral optic disc atrophy. Diabetic retinopathy is a rare complication.

Septo-optic dysplasia.

The authors present three patients with the diagnosis of septo-optic dysplasia or 'de Morsier' syndrome. They stress the important role of the ophthalmologist in the diagnosis. With the advent of MRI, subtle central nervous system abnormalities have been recognized.