ABSTRACT
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a disorder of the juxtalimbal cornea characterised by a crescent-shape destructive inflammation of corneal stroma. PUK can be associated with various ocular and systemic infectious and non infectious diseases. Different systemic autoimmune vasculitis that can prove potentially fatal may present as PUK. Potentially serious ocular complications of PUK exist. A careful clinical evaluation helps in timely diagnosis and prevention of complications.
Les kératites à ulcères périphériques (PUK) sont des maladies inflammatoires destructives du stroma cornéen juxta-limbique. Celles-ci peuvent être associées à de nombreuses pathologies systémiques ou oculaires, infectieuses ou non. Plusieurs vascularites auto-immunes connues, pouvant être éventuellement fatales, peuvent présenter un mode d'entrée clinique sous la forme d'une PUK. Il existe de nombreuses complications oculaires graves. Une évaluation clinique minutieuse aide à poser un diagnostic précoce et à prévenir certaines complications. Peripheral ulcerative keratitis.
Subject(s)
Corneal Ulcer , Cornea , Corneal Ulcer/diagnosis , Corneal Ulcer/etiology , HumansABSTRACT
Corneal transplantation or keratoplasty has rapidly developed over the last 10 years. Penetrating keratoplasty, a well-known operation consisting of full thickness replacement of the cornea, has remained the dominant procedure for a long time. It allows appropriate therapy of most causes of corneal blindness. However, this technique is currently evolving toward slamellar keratoplasties which selectively treat the specific affected layers: deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty replaces the diseased corneal stromal layers; endothelial keratoplasty replace the affected endothelium. This article will present these techniques, and briefly discuss their advantages.
Subject(s)
Corneal Transplantation/methods , Corneal Transplantation/trends , Humans , Laser Therapy , Preoperative Care/methodsABSTRACT
Keratoconjonctivitis sicca, scleritis and keratitis remain the major ocular manifestation, associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Corneal ulcers are a rare complication but can lead to perforation. Unstable epithelial barrier and immune disorders play a key role in the pathophysiology of such corneal melting. Moreover the association with systemic vasculitis reveals the need for an appropriate immunosuppressive treatment. New surgical approaches and early immunotherapy allow to maintain ocular integrity even if the visual prognosis is poor.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications , Corneal Ulcer/etiology , Keratitis/etiology , Corneal Ulcer/physiopathology , Corneal Ulcer/surgery , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Keratitis/physiopathology , Prognosis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate and quantify the refractive power evolution following cataract procedure. Three different intraocular lenses were compared: Corneal ACR6D (acrylic), Kelios 600 (silicone), Storz HM60 (hydrogel). Visual acuity and post-operative refraction were compared at one week and after two months. The spherical equivalent change after those follow-ups shows the refractive evolution. Refraction is stable with time for the Storz and Kelios lenses. However, post-operative hyperopia was found for monobloc Corneal implant.
Subject(s)
Cataract Extraction/rehabilitation , Lenses, Intraocular , Refraction, Ocular , Acrylic Resins , Biocompatible Materials , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate , Retrospective Studies , Silicones , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
Bovine lung endothelin-B receptor has been isolated in good yield with a new procedure involving the use of endothelin-1 coupled to iminobiotin with a long spacer and avidin-agarose affinity chromatography. Contrary to previous reports, evidence has been obtained that the native form of this receptor corresponds to the full-length transcript expected on the basis of cDNA clones. The binding of endothelin to a variety of shortened fragments of the full receptor suggests that the long N-terminal sequence of this receptor has very little influence on the binding of endothelin and that the main determinants of the endothelin binding site might be constituted by residues in the sixth, and possibly the seventh, transmembrane helices.
Subject(s)
Lung/metabolism , Receptors, Endothelin/isolation & purification , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Binding Sites , Cattle , Chromatography, Affinity , DNA, Complementary , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Endothelins/metabolism , Molecular Sequence Data , Receptor, Endothelin B , Receptors, Endothelin/chemistry , Receptors, Endothelin/metabolismABSTRACT
We isolated endothelin receptor A (ETA) from bovine lungs in a single-step purification procedure using antibodies raised against synthetic peptides that correspond to extra- and intracellular domains of the rat bradykinin receptor. Two receptor species of 55 and 35 kDa were isolated and subjected to N-terminal microsequencing. The difference between the observed and expected molecular weight species suggests that bovine ETA receptor is glycosylated.
Subject(s)
Lung/chemistry , Receptors, Endothelin/isolation & purification , Animals , Cattle , Molecular Weight , Rabbits , RatsABSTRACT
Embora aparentemente incipiente, compostos contendo Bário podem induzir quadro de intoxicaçäo pouco estudados. Envenenamentos têm ocorrido em animais, pela ingestäo de inseticidas inôrganicos `a base de bário (Bartic & Pistak, 1981). No homem eles ocorrem por penetraçäo intrapulmonar de Sulfato de Bário, por ingestäo de Cloreto de Bário, ou por inalaçäo habitual de resíduos anemófilos contendo Bário, advindos da soldadura de metais (Caldas et al., 1984). Na presente investigaçäo tenta-se simular em três grupos de experimentos, os agentes causais e efeitos capazes de induzir alteraçöes na fisiologia de cobaios: 1) Efeitos in vivo, de doses (4 -12 mg/Kg) de Cloreto de Bário (BaCl2) e de extrato de resíduos metálicos ricos em bário solúvel (BaF); 2) Efeitos in vitro, de BaCl2, e BaF em músculo liso de cobaio; e 3) o uso de propranolol e Nifedipina nos experimentos citados. In vivo, observam-se: efeitos brancoconstritores, nas aplicaçöes por aerosol ou por via venosa; arritmias cardíacas, com inversäo de onda T; e complexos QRS bizarros e extrassístoles, com elevaçäo da pressäo arterial. In vitro, ielo isolado e segmentos de parenquima pulmonar e traquéia, mostraram respostas contráteis de longo curso, com menores potência e eficácia do que as da histamina e acetilcolina. In vivo e in vitro os efeitos foram antagonizados pela nifedipina (10-6-10-9M). In vivo, propranolol (4 mg/Kg) bloqueou parte dos efeitos pressores do bário, e ecentuou as arritmias cardíacas. Conclui-se que uma exposiçäo continuada, a compostos de bário solúvel, constitui perigo potencial para os sistemas respiratório e cardiovascular. E, ainda, que o uso Nifedipina previniria os efeitos nocivos, enquanto que Propranolol seria contra-indicado
