Ocular hypotensive effects of monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors in rabbit

The effects of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors with epinephrine on intraocular pressure in the pigmented rabbit were studied. MAO-A inhibitors were used topically with or without various concentrations of epinephrine. For the measurement of intraocular pressure, applanation pneumatonography was used and tissue MAO activities were determined by radiometric assay. After topical administration with clorgyline, MAO-A activities in the bulbar conjunctiva and the iris-ciliary body were remarkably inhibited, whereas MAO-B inhibition was minimal. Maximal reduction of intraocular pressure with 0.05% epinephrine was 3.2 mmHg. Single administration of clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide or CGP 11305-A caused decreases in the intraocular pressure of 2.0, 2.5, 1.8 and 2.4 mmHg, respectively. In the coadministration experiments with epinephrine, the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine were potentiated with clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide and CGP 11305-A (6.6, 4.8, 5.6 and 5.8 mmHg). On the contrary, they were not influenced by the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl. These results indicated that MAO-A inhibitors potentiated the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine, and that the coadministration of a reversible MAO-A inhibitor with epinephrine might be useful for patients with glaucoma.     

Nutrient intake in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with incipient nephropathy

The onset of diabetic nephropathy is characterized by subclinical elevation of urinary albumin excretion, so-called 'microalbuminuria' (M). Dietary assessments were carried out in 15 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with persistent M and an equal number with persistently normal albumin excretion. The groups were matched for sex, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, insulin dose and glycosylated haemoglobin; there were no significant differences in systemic blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, blood glucose and serum albumin concentrations between the groups; retinopathy was significantly more frequent in patients with M. Diabetics with persistent M were found to consume a significantly larger amount of fat (expressed as grams and percentage of total energy) and a significantly smaller percentage of total energy as carbohydrate than patients with normal albumin excretion; total dietary energy was larger in those with persistent M, but the difference was not significant. No significant differences were found in protein and fibre intakes between the groups. Our findings suggest that an excess in the dietary consumption of fat relative to carbohydrate might play an important role in the pathogenesis of early nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We emphasize the importance of careful attention to nutrient intake in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.     

Tear mucus crystallization in children with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is characterized by an abnormally high electrolyte concentration in exocrine secretions. The authors performed the tear mucus ferning test in 26 eyes of children with cystic fibrosis and compared the results to those in an equal number of age-matched normals. The results suggest that the increased electrolyte concentration could be responsible for the increased hyperviscosity of mucus. The tear mucus ferning test appears to be a suitable diagnostic test for the assessment of cystic fibrosis.     

Treatment versus no treatment in chronic open angle glaucoma

In a controlled randomized study 15 patients (20 eyes) with chronic open angle glaucoma and visual field defects were followed by greater than 1 year, 12 of them were followed for 3 years. Half of the group were untreated controls, the other half treated with pressure reducing medical therapy. At least 5 consecutive computerized visual fields were recorded (COMPETER) on each eye, and the linear regression coefficient was calculated. With the reservation for uncontrolled compliance no significant difference in the line of favourable effect of pressure reduction could be spotted, in spite of an average pressure reduction in the treated group of 4 mmHg. More important than this result, which is open to criticism for the smallness of the material, uncontrolled compliance etc, is the lesson that a randomized experiment with treated and non-treated glaucoma cases carried out in accordance with the Helsingfors convention is hardly feasible.     

Vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membranes causing macular pucker.

We used vitreous surgery to remove idiopathic epiretinal membranes from the macular area in 70 consecutive cases. The abnormal tissue was successfully removed in each case. Vision improved postoperatively in 61 eyes (87%), remained unchanged in six eyes (9%), and worsened in three eyes (4%). However, at the time of final examination vision was improved in only 47 eyes (67%), primarily because of the occurrence or progression of nuclear sclerosis, which occurred in 38 of 60 phakic eyes (63%). Four preoperative factors were associated with final visual acuity of 20/60 or better: (1) initial vision of 20/100 or better, (2) shorter preoperative duration of blurred vision, (3) thin epiretinal membrane, and (4) absence of traction retinal detachment.     

Elimination of antibiotic-resistant plasmids by quinolone antibiotics

Of 7 plasmids we tested, the plasmid pORF2 was eliminated in vitro with the most efficiency by treatment with subinhibitory concentrations of novobiocin, coumermycin and 10 quinolones. It showed a cure rate of 43% by enoxacin; 12% by novobiocin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and CI-934; 7% by coumermycin and ofloxacin; 9% by amifloxacin; and 4% by AM-833. On the other hand, pSC194, pBR322 and pMH612 were poorly cured in vitro by quinolones, except pSC194 which was cured 33% by enoxacin. R1, pP1603, and pUB110 were unaffected by the treatment. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with a 2XLD50 of Escherichia coli carrying the ORF2 plasmid and were treated per os with 1 X or 1/2 X ED50 of either enoxacin or CI-934. The frequency of loss of ampicillin resistance determined 3 h after treatment shows curing effects of 92% for CI-934, 89% for enoxacin and 20% for untreated control.