Retinal ischemia and risk of neovascularization following central retinal vein obstruction

The predominant risk factor for the development of neovascular complications involving the retina (NVR), the optic disc (NVD), and iris (NVI) following central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) is the extent, location, and duration of retinal ischemia (ischemic drive). The extent of retinal capillary nonperfusion (ischemic index) was quantitated by microcomputer analysis of 200 standard fundus-iris fluorescein angiograms. The results were correlated with the development of neovascularization in eyes not receiving prophylactic argon laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). Of the 85 eyes with intact capillary perfusion (hyperpermeable group), none developed NVR/NVD and only one eye (1%) developed neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Twenty-nine eyes exhibited moderate degrees of retinal ischemia (indeterminate group), and three eyes (10%) developed NVR/NVD, with two eyes (7%) developing NVG. Of the 86 eyes with extensive retinal capillary nonperfusion (ischemic group), 28 eyes (33%) developed NVR/NVD and NVG occurred in 39 eyes (45%). The inherent difficulties in following high risk patients clinically and angiographically at frequent intervals over extended periods of time, the tendency for rapid progression of early NVI to NVG, and the relatively poor results following treatment in advanced cases make the early recognition of eyes at high risk to develop NVG essential and the initiation of prophylactic PRP as the treatment of choice in this disorder.     

Axoplasmic transport with velocities induced by pargyline

The axoplasmic transport of proteins in spinal motor neurons is altered by pargyline, a drug that causes increased release of monoamines. Two new peaks of transported protein were detected in the sciatic nerves of rats treated with pargyline (75 mg/kg/day ip for three days). These peaks moved with velocities of 595 mm/day (peak I) and 1,230 mm/day (peak II). The bulk of labeled protein was still transported at the control rate of 362 mm/day. Electrophoresis of transported polypeptides labeled with [35S] methionine showed that peak I material was qualitatively similar to material transported at the normal rate in controls, but peak Ii material contained fewer labeled polypeptides. Both peak I and peak II differed from controls in the relative intensity of labeling of various polypeptides. Fast axoplasmic transport in sensory neurons was unaffected by pargyline. Intraspinal injection of pargyline (50 microgram/day for three days) caused changes in axoplasmic transport similar to those induced by intraperitoneal pargyline. These results show that transport of certain proteins along a peripheral nerve can be accelerated by a mechanism initiated in the region of the nerve cell bodies.     

Gonococcal infection in pregnancy

256 pregnant women were studied for the presence of Neisseria gonorrhea in the endocervical canal of the uterus. Those who had positive cultures also had cultures taken from the rectum and the pharynx before administering treatment. 7 days after treatment, control cultures were taken to confirm the effectiveness of the therapy. The cultures were taken at the Diagnostic Center of the Catholic University of Chile. The treatment consisted of two intramuscular doses of a mixture of clemizol penicillin (400,000 IU) and penicillin sodium (3,600,000 IU). The prevalence of endocervical infection for gonorrhea amounted to 4 cases (1.56%). They presented bacteria in the rectum and one of them presented bacteria in the pharynx. All cultures were negative 7 days after treatment. There were significantly fewer first-trimester pregnancy cases (58) compared to second-trimester (90) and third-trimester (108) cases. There were 116 primiparas and 140 multiparas. As to the couples, 65.6% of the female population and 61.3% of the male population was concentrated in the 21-30 age group. 87.9% of the population was married; 11.3% was single; and 0.8% was widowed. 48.9% of the pregnant women were exclusively housewives; 23.9% were employed in technical or university professions; 7.4% were engaged in commerce; 3.9% were employees; 4.7% were students; and 1.9% were laborers. Their average age was 26.4 years, while the average age of the healthy population was 26.7 years.     

Effect of Fabiana imbricata constituents on Rhopalosiphum padi and Heliothis zea

The main secondary metabolites of Fabiana imbricata showed toxicity towards the greenbug Rhopalosiphum padi when administered in an artificial diet. A dose-dependent toxicity was observed for fabiaimbricatan-15-oic acid and oleanolic acid at doses up to 3.0 mM (p <0.01). Both compounds apparently act as antifeedants at higher doses. Rutin also showed a dose-related toxicity. Scopoletin and p-hydroxyacetophenone were toxic at 6.0 mM. None of the compounds tested were toxic towards the fifth instar Heliothis zea larvae.     

S-antigen: preparation and characterization of site-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Previous attempts to prepare monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against S-antigen, a photoreceptor cell protein involved in the visual process and a potent autoantigen for the induction of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), have yielded MAbs which define only carboxyl terminal epitopes. In this study we devised alternate strategies to prepare five MAbs directed to other regions of the molecule. MAbC10C10 and MAbH11-A2 were prepared against synthetic peptides known to be uveitopathogenic and they were selected for more detailed studies. MAbC10C10 was generated against synthetic peptide BSA281-302 which contains a predictive consensus sequence for defined T cell epitopes (GIALD) as well as a consensus sequence for GTP-binding proteins. One human adenosine deaminase synthetic peptide containing an extensive amino acid sequence homology to BSA281-302 was a potent inhibitor of MAbC10C10 binding in a competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay. MAbH11-A2 was generated against peptide BSA303-332 which also contains a uveitopathogenic site. The binding site of MAbH11-A2 was determined to be within amino acid positions 305 to 314 (NLASSTIIKE) in S-antigen. This binding site corresponded closely to the binding site of an affinity-purified rat polyclonal antibody raised to human S-antigen. MAb5C6.47 was isolated from a mouse hyperimmunized with bovine S-antigen and was specific for a highly conserved sequence near the amino terminus, amino acid residues 42 to 48 (DGVVLVD). Both MAbC10C10 and MAb5C.47 were useful in screening gt11 cDNA libraries expressing S-antigen polypeptides as fusion proteins. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of producing site-specific MAbs potentially useful in the study of T cell-mediated immune mechanisms in EAU as well as in the phototransduction of vision.     

Diabetic retinopathy under age 20. A review of 71 cases

A review of the fluorescein angiograms on 4547 diabetic patients with clinically suspected retinopathy was performed. Although only 26 (1%) of the 2013 males and 45 (2%) of the 2534 females were less than 20 years old (71 patients total), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was diagnosed in 14 females (31%) and 4 males (15%). The youngest patient, a 13-year-old boy with diabetes for eight years, presented with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy in both eyes as documented angiographically. He showed no evidence of other systemic complications of diabetes. A review of the literature revealed one other case of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in a patient this young; a 13-year-old girl who was nephrotic and hypertensive upon presentation. This study emphasizes the importance of having prepubescent and teenage diabetics examined for the presence of retinopathy.     

Untersuchungen über die Hemmung der Spermiogenese durch Depot-Gestagene*

Es wird über die Beeinflussung der Spermatozoenzahl im menschlichen Sperma unter Depot-Gestagenen berichtet. Irgendwelche Nebenwirkungen wurden nur in einem Falle beobachtet, sonst kam es weder zum Nachlassen der Potentia coeundi noch der Libido. Es kann gezeigt werden, daß bei einer Kombination von Testosteron-depot und Depotgestagenen (Chlormadinonacetat, Medroxyprogesteronacetat) innerhalb kürzester Zeit ein Abfall der Spermatozoenwerte bis zur Azoospermie erreicht werden kann. Die Untersuchungen stellen einen Anfang weiterer Studien dar.