Transient Macular Edema after Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis

Purpose: To investigate the macular changes induced by laser in situ keratomileusisc(LASIK) procedure.Methods: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was used to examine 27 eyes of 15LASIK patients before surgery, and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month after surgery.Results: The mean thick iness of neuroepithelial layer of macula was (195 ±24)microns, (178± 16) microns 1 day and 1 month after surgery, respectively, while thebaseline was (174 ± 12) microns. The increase in macular neuroepithelial thickness wascorrelated with the degree of myopia, but not with the duration of suction or thepostoperative BCVA.Conclusion: Mild macular edema is common in the first month following LASIK,especially in high myopia. However, no association with loss of BCVA has beenestablished. Eye Science 2003; 19: 20 - 24.     

Macular electroretinogram as a function of age of subjects

Macular and paramacular electroretinograms in response to two adjacent checks (6 deg/side), alternating at constant mean luminance, were recorded in 34 normal subjects ranging in age from 16 to 74 years. The macular electroretinogram declines progressively in amplitude with age (R = –0.42; P = 0.013). The amplitude ratio between macular and paramacular responses tends to be independent of age (R = -0.21; P = 0.22).Age-related changes in the macular electroretinogram shown in our study are consistent with previous anatomical and functional studies, which indicate a deterioration of photoreceptors beyond 20 years of age. These results suggest a possible use of this technique for future studies on macular degeneration.     

Treatment of pigment epithelial detachments due to age-related macular degeneration with intra-ocular C3F8 injection*

Purpose: To flatten pigment epithelial detachments (PED) cue to age-related macular degeneration in an attempt to visualize the underlying choroidal neovascularization by fluorescein angiography (FA) and reveal a treatment target. Methods: Nine patients with PED received intravitreal gas injections via the pars plana and postured face down. Fluorescein angiograms were obtained before and after gas injection. In two patients, retinal scotopic sensitivity was also measured. Results: Eight patients demonstrated change in the shape and size of the PED following gas injection. Four patients showed a better delineation of underlying structures on FA. Three patients had focal laser treatment to the newly visible choroidal neovascular complex, but this was successful in only one patient with flattening of the PED. Conclusion: Pigment epithelial detachments can be modified by intravitreal gas injection in some patients, but this treatment did not have a major impact on overall outcome or management.     

Deficient activation of microglia during optic nerve degeneration

Transection of an optic nerve (ON) is followed by slow removal of myelin. We studied microglia for the expression of molecules that characterize activated myelin phagocytosing macrophages: MAC-1, FcγII/III receptor (FcR), MAC-2, and F4/80. In-vitro, microglia expressed all molecules and phagocytosed myelin. In-vivo, intact ON displayed high levels of MAC-1, little FcR and F4/80, and no MAC-2. The expression of these molecules was upregulated differentially in in-vivo degenerating ON: MAC-1 uniformly, FcR and F4/80 variably, and MAC-2 sporadically. The distribution of MAC-2 expression correlated best with a pattern of sporadic structural degeneration. Thus in-vivo, ON injury is followed by deficient microglia activation, which we suggest contributes significantly to the slow clearance of myelin.     

老年黄斑变性的视网膜色素上皮及其视功能的改变

目的：应用黄斑区密集点矩阵视野并结合眼底荧光血管造影电脑眼底图像分析老年黄斑变性视网膜色素上皮损害与ＤＭＭＭ的视野光敏感度的改变，找出改变的规律有评价其应用价值。方法：用Ｈｕｍｐｈｒｅｙ－６４０视野计自行设计ＤＭＭＭ检测ＡＭＤ干性组５１人６４只眼湿性且２３人２７只眼，用Ｚｅｉｓｓ公司生产的ＫＯＮＴＲＯＮＥＬＥＫＴＲＯＮＩＫ Ｉｎａｇｅ Ａｎａｌｙｓｉｓ Ｄｉｖｉｓｉｏｎ－计算机图像分析仪总丢失量显     

Proteinuria and other renal functions in Wilson’s disease

Renal lesions have repeatedly been described in Wilson’s disease (WD). We investigated the excretion of total protein, albumin, low (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) proteins, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and calcium, as well as creatinine clearance, in 24-h urine samples of 41 patients with WD aged 6 – 37 (mean 17) years who had been treated for a period of 0 – 15 (mean 4.5) years with D-penicillamine (900 mg/day). The amount of all protein excreted was significantly increased compared with controls, 39% of patients presenting with total proteinuria more than two standard deviations from the mean of controls. The changes in protein excretion depended on the duration of treatment. LMW proteinuria was elevated almost exclusively in the first 2 years after the start of treatment, indicating early tubular damage. This is supported by an initially high excretion of β₂-microglobulin, NAG, and calcium. Increased excretion of HMW proteins, including albumin, persisted over longer periods, which suggests glomerular injury in some patients, possibly related to the use of D-penicillamine. Creatinine clearance remained roughly within normal limits. We propose that renal function should regularly be checked in patients with WD. Received October 26, 1995; received in revised form August 27, 1996; accepted September 20, 1996     

The correlation of ureaplasma urealyticum infection with infertility

Summary. A prevalence study of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection of the male genital tract was carried out in Shanghai between March 1992 and June 1995. Significantly higher frequency of UU infection was found among infertile males (549/1416) as compared to fertile controls (34/375). Examination of 8 specimens each from infertile men and fertile subjects by electron microscopy, immunogold and immunofluorescence techniques, demonstrated adhesion of Ureaplasma urealyticum to the membrane of spermatozoa and exfoliated germ cells. In addition, gold particles on Ureaplasma urealyticum were found to be adhered to the sperm surface in 4 of the 8 samples. Strong specific anti-UU fluorescence was detected in 6 of 8 samples, mainly on the midpieces and post-acrosomal regions of the spermatozoa.
To further study the effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum on fertility, 47 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were infected artificially with Ureaplasma urealyticum serotype 8 (T960). Morphological changes in the seminiferous tubules were observed 3–5 weeks after inoculation in the sacrificed animals. Dramatic impairment of spermatogenesis of both testes was found in 11 rats. Mating experiment confirmed infertility in 12 of 40 rats. Offsprings of the infected rats were significantly smaller than those of controls in terms of prenatal weights and birthweights.     

激光光凝联合玻璃体腔注气治疗玻璃体切割术后再发黄斑孔

目的 探讨激光光凝联合玻璃体腔注气治疗玻璃体切割术后再发与未愈黄斑孔的疗效。方法 应用COHERENT Omni多波长激光光凝黄斑裂孔底部的视网膜色素上皮层。随后眼内注入20％C3F80．5～0．8ml并置换出玻璃体腔液体。治疗后每天坚持俯卧位。结果 19只眼中16只眼黄斑孔愈合，成功率为84．2％，视力提高15只眼，占78．9％，未出现严重的并发症。结论 应用激光光凝联合眼内注气治疗玻璃体切割术后再发与未愈黄斑孔具有方法简单、费用低、疗效确定、大部分患者无须住院等优点。     

Autosomal dominant juvenile vitreoretinal degeneration and retinal detachment

To study the inheritance and clinical picture of a new form of vitreoretinal dystrophy I examined 18 family members of a family with six generations. Seven patients, three male and four female, in three consecutive generations were observed to be affected indicating autosomal dominant inheritance. The disease was characterized by juvenile degeneration of the vitreous with detachment of the vitreous body and some floating vitreous opacities, cystoid degeneration of the peripheral retina with whitish glistening stippled areas of superficial retinal degeneration, spotty hyperpigmentation, patches of retinal atrophy with pigmentations, occasional atrophic retinal holes, and in four family members at the age of 4 to 12 years, unilateral or bilateral retinal detachment with breaks in the peripheral retina. Most patients had hyperopia with or without astigmatism. In eyes without detached retina, the disease did not show any marked progression, the lens was clear, the posterior fundus and the retinal and choroidal vessels were normal, and the visual acuity, visual fields, dark adaptation, colour vision, electroretinograms, and visually evoked response findings were normal.