Secondary glaucoma as initial manifestation of uveal melanoma

Secondary glaucoma can be induced by a variety of local ocular problems. Intraocular tumors may initially present as secondary glaucoma. 8 consecutive patients with secondary glaucoma were found to have uveal melanoma. Thorough examination included detailed history, fundus examination with scleral depression, B scan ultrasonography, and CT/MRI scanning techniques. Results: A single case presented with spontaneous hyphema, two patients presented with secondary glaucoma, extraocular melanoma and metastases, a single case was found to have angle block by an iridociliary ring melanoma and 4 cases presented with neovascular glaucoma. Enucleation was necessary in all 8 cases. General ophthalmologists should be aware of these rare initial manifestations of intraocular tumors as secondary glaucoma. Enucleation would be recommended in most cases of intraocular malignancy manifesting as secondary glaucoma. One should be extremely cautious in doing a penetrating surgery in such cases

Evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and B cell lymphocyte/ leukemia 2 [Bcl-2] protein levels in vitreous humor and serum of patients with proliferate diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy [DR] is one of the most common microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the proliferative stage of DR, neovascularization on the retina and the posterior surface of the vitreous occur. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] is considered to be the most potent factor for retinal neovascularization. Several hypotheses were thought to be involved in the endothelial cell survival activity of VEGF; among them is its ability to induce antiapoptotic proteins like B-cell Lymphocyte/ Leukemia 2 [Bcl-2]. Aim of the study was evaluating the levels of VEGF and Bcl-2 protein in the vitreous humor and sera of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR]. The patients group included twenty five type 2 diabetic patients with proliferative retinopathy and subjected to vitrectomy, and fifteen non-diabetic individuals subjected to vitrectomy for various non proliferative ocular diseases were taken as a control group. All the participants were subjected to a thorough physical examination and full ophthalmologic evaluation. Laboratory investigations included measurement of serum levels and activities of glucose, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases [ALT and AST], as well as the percentage of whole blood glycated hemoglobin [HbA[1c]. The VEGF and Bcl-2 were measured in the vitreous humor and sera of all studied subjects using enzyme immunoassays. The VEGF and Bcl-2 levels were found to be significantly increased in the vitreous humor of patients with proliferative DR when compared to their corresponding control group [p=0.001 andp-0.003 respectively]. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was noted between both groups regarding serum values of both VEGF and Bcl-2 [p> 0.05]. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between serum Bcl-2 and serum VEGF in the patients group [r= 0.463, p= 0.020]. The significantly higher values of VEGF and Bcl-2 in the vitreous humor of patients with PDR, with the lack of such findings in their sera, suggest that both factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease, and support the hypothesis that their increased levels in the vitreous is attributed to intraocular synthesis, in response to retinal hypoxia and ischemia, rather than to serum filtration. Furthermore, the significant correlation between both VEGF and Bcl-2 in serum of PDR patients could be related to the VEGF ability to induce pathological angiogenesis in PDR through the up regulation of the anti apoptotic protein Bcl-2 that promotes new vessels survival rendering their vitreous levels high which would probably be reflected on their serum levels as neovascularization is the main pathology in the PDR

Combination of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in the treatment of experimental uveitis

Multiple factors and mediators interact to modulate the inflammatory process. In the present study, roles of nitric oxide [NO] and prostagl and in E[2] [PGE[2]] together with their simultaneous inhibition are investigated in a model of induced anterior uveitis in rabbits. Six groups of animals served as controls. Anterior uveitis was induced in 4 groups by intravitreal injection of 10 micro l complete Freund's adjuvant. One group was left untreated and the other three groups were treated three times daily for 14 days with N[G]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] 0.1% eye drops or with diclofenac 0.1% eye drops or with both drugs. Severity of uveitis was evaluated by clinical scoring at days 2, 7 and 14. On day 14, biochemical analysis of aqueous humor samples was performed for total proteins, albumin, nitrite and PGE[2]- Histopathological examination for iris and ciliary body was also done. Induction of uveitis caused elevation of clinical scores, elevation of the biochemically analyzed parameters and severe inflammatory signs by pathological examination. On day 14, both individual drugs and combination treatment produced significant decrease in intensity of uveitis compared to untreated animal model by all methods of evaluation. Combination treatment produced more reduction in clinical scores, more reduction in levels of total proteins, albumin and PGE[2] and also better histopathological picture compared to individual drug treatment. It can be concluded that both NO and PGE[2] are involved in the pathogenesis of Freund's adjuvant induced uveitis. Inhibition of production of both of them can improve the management of uveitis

Histological and histochemical study of human foreskin in comparison to abdominal skin

The aim of this work was to study the structure of human foreskin and to compaire it with that of abdominal skin. The materials of this work obtained from 14 boys through circumcision and biopsies of abdominal skin. The specimens were fixed in formal saline and paraffin sections were cutted and stained with HX. and E., Silver and Van Geison's stains. For histochemical examination, the specimens were frozen by liquid nitrogen and cutted by a cryostat and subjected to succinic dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase reactions. Histological examination revealed that the thickness of epidermis was more in the foreskin. Also, the dermal papillae were prominent and deep in that skin. C.T. fibers were thicker and more. The vascularity were more in the reticular layer of foreskin. Histochemical findings showed strong reaction to succinic deydrogenase and acid phosphatase in the foreskin

Seed germination characteristics and seedling establishment of some silane species

The response of seven species of Silene to temperature, salt stress and pH was evaluated. The germination of seeds exhibited considerable variability in germination percentage and germination rate index in response to constant and alternating temperatures [20 to 30°C], salt concentrations [0 to 10.000 ppm] and pH [6 to 8]. The optimum germination temperature was the alternating 20/30°C. The maximum temperature for germination was between 30 and 35°C and the minimum was between 15 and 20°C. The seedlings of S. rubella and S. behen were more tolerant to salt concentration [up to 250 ppm] than the other five species. The optimum pH for seed germination were at pH 8 with decrease in germination at values below pH 6. The radicle length was maximum at an alternating 20/30°C for S. conoidea and the hypocotyl length was maximum at 30°C for S. apetala var. grandiflora. With increased salt concentration [from 0 to 10,000 ppm] the radicle and hypocotyl were reduced in length. Shorter radicles at pH 8 were found with S. nocturna and S. villosa but shorter hypocotyl at pH 4 was S. apetala var. grandiflora

Effect of Nifedipine on Bronchial Asthma before and after exercise

Ten asthmatic patients were studied in this work. A preliminary work up included history taking and clinical and radiologic examination of the chest. Serum calcium, ECG, spirometric and arterial blood studies were performed in 2 settings on 2 separate days before and after administration of 10 mg nifedipine both at rest and after exercise. Nifedipine prevented exercise induced asthma in the 3 patients who had this experience and all patients tolerated the exercise test with much less dyspnoea after its administration. Significant improvement occurred in FEV[3] [P < 0.001], MEFR [P < 0.01], MMFR [P < 0.02] and Pa0[2] [P < 0.01] both at rest and after exercise following nifedipine premedication. A significant increase in FEV[1] [P < 0.01] and MVV [P < 0.01] occurred only after exercise under the effect of the drug. Serum calcium and Q-Tc interval were within normal limits before nifedipine and showed no significant changes after its intake