Evidence against a zinc binding peptide in pilocarpine-stimulated canine prostatic secretions.

Pilocarpine-stimulated canine prostatic secretions were subjected to gel filtration chromatography over Sephadex G-100 and Bio Gel P-4. Free zinc and the zinc in pilocarpine-stimulated canine prostatic secretions were observed to elute in the same fractions from the Sephadex G-100 column. In addition, Sephadex G-100 chromatography could not resolve free zinc from the small peptide bacitracin.

Outer retina ischemic infarction--a newly recognized complication of cataract extraction and closed vitrectomy. Part 2. An animal model.

Intraocular pressure was artificially elevated above systolic blood pressure in 40 owl monkey eyes. Diffuse retinal whitening of the posterior pole and subsequent retinal pigment epithelial disruption were produced in nine of ten eyes with high pressure for 90 minutes or longer, but also in a few eyes with high pressure for a shorter duration. Fluorescein angiography and histologic examination demonstrated damage of the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium with sparing of the inner retinal layers.

Outer retinal ischemic infarction--a newly recognized complication of cataract extraction and closed vitrectomy. Part 1. A case report.

This report describes a peculiar syndrome occurring as a complication of cataract extraction. The syndrome is characterized initially by (1) acute loss of central and paracentral vision discovered usually on the first postoperative day; (2) diffuse and patchy whitening of the outer retinal layers in the posterior fundus; (3) normal angiographic retinal and choroidal appearance and circulation time; (4) a peculiar polygonal pattern of fluorescein staining of the pigment epithelium and outer retina in the area of retinal whitening, and followed later by (5) clearing of the retinal whitening and mottled changes in the pigment epithelium; (6) partial recovery of the central visual field; and (7) preservation of normal optic disc and retinal vessel caliber. Prolonged elevation of the intraocular pressure sufficient to obstruct choroidal blood flow occurring during the use of intraocular volume-reducing devices before surgery, during phakoemulsification or closed vitrectomy is postulated as the major cause of this complication.

Serum beta-2-microglobulin and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in sarcoidosis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in sarcoidosis is regarded both as a diagnostic feature and as an index of disease activity. Increased activity of this enzyme is thought to parallel macrophage and epithelioid cell activity. Beta-2-microglobulin, a low-molecular-weight protein associated with the histocompatibility antigens, is thought to reflect activation of immunocompetent cells, particularly lymphocytes.

Ocular involvement in lupus erythematosus profundus (panniculitis).

Lupus erythematosus profundus (panniculitis) is a rare clinical variant of lupus erythematosus. It has not been implicated previously as a cause of lid edema or proptosis. In this report, three patients who had eyelid edema as the initial manifestation of lupus erythematosus profundus are presented.

Behavioral management concepts with application for home parenteral nutrition patients.

The concept of symptom-avoidance behavior is discussed, with particular reference to home intravenous hyperalimentation (HIVH) patients. Symptom-avoidance behavior is explained as a combination of a health behavior model and an expectancy motivational theory leading to a basic outcome, which is satisfactorily avoiding the onset of symptoms. A systematic behavioral assessment method is presented, based on anecdotal cases; it is experimental in nature and can serve as a guide for practitioners who wish to initiate HIVH.

Time-dependent effect of prostaglandin E2 inhalation on airway responses to bronchoconstrictor agents in normal subjects.

Studies were performed to investigate whether hyperresponsiveness of the airways could be induced in normal subjects by inhalation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). During the initial bronchodilator phase of PGE2 action the bronchoconstrictor effect of inhaled histamine was significantly antagonised. When bronchoconstrictor challenges were started shortly after the end of the bronchodilator response to PGE2, however, significant enhancement of the effects of both inhaled histamine and methacholine occurred.

Proacrosin conversion inhibitor. Purification and initial characterization of a boar sperm protein which prevents the conversion of proacrosin into acrosin.

A proacrosin conversion inhibitor present in boar spermatozoa has been purified and initially characterized. Purification methods included sequential acid extractions of washed spermatozoa at pH 4.0, pH 3.

Iridectomy in the surgical management of eight-ball hyphema.

The complete absorption of blood in patients with eight-ball hyphema and medically uncontrollable intraocular pressure occurred after iridectomy. No intra-operative complications were noted. Six of the seven patients maintained normal IOPs without medical therapy for at least six months postoperatively.

Neovascular glaucoma following central retinal vein obstruction.

The results of a prospective clinical and fluorescein angiographic study of 155 patients with central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) were analyzed to identify risk factors contributing to the subsequent development of iris neovascularization (NVI) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Of 144 untreated eyes, 20% developed NVG. The eyes were classified as having either an ischemic or a hyperpermeable type of CRVO according to the extent of retinal capillary nonperfusion demonstrated by the initial fluorescein angiogram.

Induction of bronchial hypersensitivity: evidence for a role for prostaglandins.

Bronchial hyper-responsiveness is a particular feature of asthma, but also occurs in normal subjects after a viral upper respiratory tract infection or ozone inhalation. Such stimuli would be expected to result in the release of chemical mediators of inflammation. In this study, the effects of one of these, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), on the response of normal subjects to inhaled histamine has been investigated.

Stimulation of proteolytic activity of boar sperm acrosin by divalent metal ions.

The in-vitro proteolytic activity of boar sperm acrosin was stimulated by a series of monovalent and divalent metal ions. Equivalent concentrations of monovalent cations resulted in nearly identical increases in proteolytic activity, probably related to the increased ionic strength of the incubation medium. However, at concentrations of monovalent cations that resulted in a 2- to 3-fold stimulation of proteolysis of Azocoll, divalent metal ions caused a 24-(magnesium) to 46-(calcium) fold increase in proteolytic activity.

Boar acrosin. Association of an endogenous membrane proteinase with phospholipid membranes.

Acrosin, an enzyme required for fertilization, is an endogenous proteinase associated with membranes of the sperm acrosome. Liposomes were utilized as a model system to evaluate the mode of association between highly purified boar acrosin and phospholipid bilayer membranes. Acrosin was observed to bind to liposomes containing acidic phospholipids such as phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylserine.

Gastroschisis.

Twenty-five newborn infants were treated for gastroschisis between 1971 and 1979 at the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Hospital. Primary closure of the defect was accomplished in 17 patients and eight required staged procedures with Silon. The overall mortality rate was 32 per cent.

Use of preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with Wilm's tumors.

Four patients underwent preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Wilm's tumor, and three were without pathological diagnosis. Three of the four are currently free of disease. Patients with massive abdominal tumors and with the clinical and radiological characteristics of Wilm's tumor should receive preoperative chemotherapy and radiation.

Selective binding of zinc ions to heparin rather than to other glycosaminoglycans.

The relative binding affinity of Zn2+ to several glycosaminoglycans was determined by gel-filtration chromatography. Binding was observed only between Zn2+ and heparin. No binding was observed between Zn2+ and chondroitin 4-sulphate, chondroitin 6-sulphate, dermatan sulphate of hyaluronic acid.

The persistence and disappearance by washoff and dryfall of methoxychlor from soybean foliage--a preliminary study.

The persistence and disappearance (washoff or dryfall) of methoxychlor [2,2-bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane] from mature soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] foliage was investigated in a small field plot study under natural rainfall conditions in 1977 and 1978. Residue analyses were conducted using whole plant samples.

Antibacterial substances in prostatic fluid.

We have identified the "prostatic antibacterial factor," responsible for the antibacterial activity of normal prostatic fluid as free zinc. It appears as if the bactericidal activity of the EPS is related to the amount of zinc present in the fluid and may play a role in the natural resistance of the male urinary tract to infection. In addition, the determination of the zinc content of the expressed prostatic secretion may be a useful test in diagnosing patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis or those who are likely to be susceptible to prostatitis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis and visual field defects.

We studied 34 patients with peripapillary lesions secondary to toxoplasmosis. All patients had visual field defects corresponding to interruption of the nerve fiber layer of the retina. The extent of visual field loss increased with proximity to the disk.