[In vivo examination of aqueous humor for cells and protein in clinically silent anterior uveitis before surgical interventions].

The laser flare cell meter is a new device for measuring flare and cells in the anterior chamber. In 100 eyes we used this device to measure flare and cell counts. We found that eyes with former uveitis and no clinical signs of acute or earlier uveitis have more flare and more cells in the aqueous humor.

[Local anesthetics in the aqueous humor in local anesthesia of the eye].

Local anesthetics injected retrobulbarly are detectable in the aqueous humor. From 40 patients who received a total dose of 140 mg lidocaine, 15 mg bupivacaine, and 30 mg etidocaine, samples of aqueous humor were taken between 30 and 90 minutes after administration (average 57 minutes). The mean lidocaine concentration was 1.

[Special intra-ocular lenses].

Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is the method established worldwide for visual rehabilitation following cataract surgery. IOL's with particular characteristics and/or for special purposes are available for clinical or experimental use. Bifocal and multifocal IOLs have two or more foci for simultaneous far and near vision.

Treatment of FeLV-induced immunodeficiency syndrome (FeLV-FAIDS) with controlled release capsular implantation of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine.

2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC) inhibits replication of the immunodeficiency inducing strain of feline leukemia virus (FeLV-FAIDS) in vitro at concentrations ranging from 1-10 micrograms/ml. Additive antiviral effect is achieved when ddC is combined with either human recombinant alpha interferon (IFN alpha) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plus IFN alpha. Initial in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in cats, utilizing bolus intravenous administration of ddC (20 mg/kg), resulted in peak plasma concentrations of 15 micrograms/ml 1 min after administration and a half-life of approximately 1 h.

[Preoperative use of suction cup oculopression in comparison with Vörösmarthy oculopression].

In contrast to Vörösmarthy oculopression (VOP), suction-cup oculopression (SOP) is "pure" oculopression without compression of orbital tissue. Prior to 44 cataract operations with posterior chamber lens implantation, the authors performed SOP (negative pressure - 110 mm Hg) or VOP (level of oculopression 30 mm Hg) of the same duration (average 26 min). Before oculopression, a retrobulbar injection (RBI) was performed for local anesthesia.

[Automatic evaluation of visual functions using a computer].

Many different tests for visual acuity, glare and contrast sensitivity, even by computer, are known. We developed a new computer system that is directed by the patient who works with a joystick. A special overlay computer program receives the answers given by the joystick, calculates the information on the screen and provides a new combination of background illumination, optotype position, color, contrast and enlargement.

[Measuring lens opacity with the Opacity Lensmeter 701].

The Opacity Lensmeter 701 is a new instrument to quantify the opacity of the lens. The stray light scattered on the lens is measured and the amount depends on the density of the cataract. In 85 patients who underwent cataract surgery, both visual acuity and lens opacity were measured before surgery.

[Natural fluorescence of nuclear cataract lenses and melanomas of the eye].

For various reasons, it is desirable to have an objective cataract classification system that does not depend on either the opinion of the physician or the patient. Since both highly molecular protein aggregates and chromophores are formed in cataractous lenses, which fluoresce under suitable stimulation, we have developed a fluorescence apparatus that illuminates the lens with five monochromatic wavelengths between 350 and 500 nm in situ. The fluorescence spectrum is recorded up to 100 ms with an optical multi-channel analyzer.

Feline leukemia virus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome in cats as a model for evaluation of antiretroviral therapy.

Severe progressive immunodeficiency syndrome can be induced experimentally with a molecularly cloned isolate of feline leukemia virus (FeLV-FAIDS). The resultant disease syndrome is characterized by persistent viremia, lymphopenia, progressive weight loss, persistent diarrhea, enteropathy, and opportunistic infections. The onset of clinical immunodeficiency disease is prefigured by the replication of the FeLV-FAIDS variant virus in bone marrow and other tissues.

[Behavior of the intraorbital pressure in different volumes].

Injection of 5 ml anesthetic solution into the retrobulbar space causes the eye to protrude and the intraorbital pressure to increase up to 14 Torr. Subsequent pressure on the eye leads to enophthalmos and causes the elevated retrobulbar pressure to drop. This pressure never exceeds the perfusion pressure within the retinal vessels.

Characterization of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine of patients with trophoblastic diseases by Western blotting using specific antibodies.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from urine of patients with trophoblastic diseases was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by Western blotting using specific antibodies. Western blotting using anti-hCG beta carboxy-terminal peptide (CTP) revealed that the molecular weights of the beta subunits of the three molar hCG samples were identical to that of standard hCG beta, but those of choriocarcinoma hCG samples were individually different. In the five choriocarcinoma hCG samples, the beta subunits of three samples were apparently larger than standard hCG beta, while those of two samples were smaller than standard hCG beta but larger than desialylated standard hCG beta.

Discordant induction of tumor-associated antigen, TA-4 and chorionic gonadotropin beta in cultured cervical carcinoma cells.

The CaSki cell line derived from an epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix produces and releases two types of tumor-associated antigen. One is a eutopic antigen, TA-4 and the other is an ectopic antigen, hCG beta-like material. The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate a possible difference in the induction mechanism of production of TA-4 and hCG beta-like material in the CaSki cells in relation to cellular differentiation and gene modulation.

[Significance of fluorescence spectra for the evaluation of lens opacities].

The fluorescence spectra of nucleus and cortex material from human lenses obtained as a result of extracapsular cataract extraction were observed. With advancing cataract formation the fluorescence spectra changed in a very characteristic way. The changes in ascorbic acid were compared with those caused by cataract development.

Identification of fibroblasts as a major site of albumin catabolism in peripheral tissues.

Rat serum albumin has been labeled with dilactitol-125I-tyramine, (125I-DLT) a radioactive tracer which remains entrapped within lysosomes following cellular uptake and degradation of the carrier protein. Similar kinetics of clearance from the rat circulation were observed for albumin labeled conventionally with 125I or 125I-DLT-albumin, both proteins having circulating half-lives of approximately 2.2 days.

Production of tumor-associated antigen, TA-4, by the CaSki cervical carcinoma cell line.

Previous Japanese studies described the purification of TA-4 from homogenates of tumor tissues excised from squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix, and the development of a radioimmunoassay to detect TA-4 in sera of patients with this disease. The aim of the present investigation was to determine if TA-4 was produced by the CaSki cell line, established in culture ten years ago from epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The radioimmunoassay detected the TA-4 antigen in the CaSki cells, but not in cell lines derived from either choriocarcinoma or breast carcinoma.

[Corneal astigmatism following cataract operations].

Following a description of the surgical technique of wound opening and closure for planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and posterior chamber lens implantation, the results, with regard to postoperative corneal astigmatism, are analyzed and discussed. In a prospective study a total of 720 cases was divided into 2 groups; the Terry surgical keratometer was used in Group I, while in Group II no postoperative measurements were performed. The results achieved in the two groups by 3 experienced surgeons were compared.

[Comparative scanning electron microscopy studies of the posterior chamber lenses of the Sinskey-Kratz type and similar models].

Intraocular lenses made by ten different manufacturers were selected at random from the stock available for implantation and studied with the scanning electron microscope. There were striking differences in the surfaces and the ends of the haptic loops.

125I-glycoconjugate labels for identifying sites of protein catabolism in vivo: effect of structure and chemistry of coupling to protein on label entrapment in cells after protein degradation.

Residualizing radioactive labels are designed to remain entrapped within cells following degradation of a carrier protein, and have been used for identification of the tissue and cellular sites of plasma protein catabolism. In this study we describe a convenient synthesis and purification of a series of 125I-labeled glycoconjugates, and an evaluation of their efficiency of retention in liver following degradation of a model carrier protein, asialofetuin. Glycoconjugates were prepared in 65-90% yield by reductive amination of reducing sugars with aromatic amines using NaBH3CN.

Control of postoperative astigmatism.

The surgical technique of wound opening and closure for planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and posterior chamber lens implantation is described and the final postoperative corneal astigmatism is analysed and discussed. A prospective study of 720 cases divided into 2 groups was undertaken; Group I using the Terry surgical keratometer and Group II not using the Terry Keratometer. Out of 3 surgeons, only one had statistically significant lower K-readings in the early and late postoperative periods in Group I compared to Group II.