[Hemorrhagic glaucoma]. / Glaucomul hemoragic.

The hemorrhagic glaucoma defines a clinical syndrome which recognizes as a frequent symptoms the hemorrhagic element, and from the morphopathological point of view the presence of some neoformation vessels at the level of the iris and camerular angle. 22 clinical observations of hemorrhagic glaucoma which appeared during one year are analyzed. It is shown that the new vessels appear as a reaction of the tissues hypoxemia and especially to alon of the oxygen pressure that determines the increase of the vessels. Also in the hemorrhagic glaucoma appears a deficiency of the venous reaction which determines a deficiency of the venous flow. The new vessels appear because of the hypoxemia and acid lactic accumulation only as the presence of a vital iridian tissue, because the new vessels do not appear in necrotic tissues.

[The etiopathology of phacoantigenic uveitis and phacolytic glaucoma]. / Etiopatologia uveitei facoantigenice si a glaucomului facolitic.

The phacoantigenic uveitis is a self-immune affection at the lens proteins, which may be determined by a 3rd-type hypersensitivity, and some sterner forms by a 4th-type hypersensitivity. In phacolytic glaucomas, the macrophagic reaction at degraded lens proteins obstructs the trabecular gaps, determining the raise of ocular tension with the appearance of secondary glaucomas.

[The microbial flora in septic corneal ulcers]. / Flora microbiana în ulcerele septice ale corneei.

The researching of the microbial flora for 101 septic ulcer of the cornea shows the highest frequency of gram-positive embryos, the golden Streptococcus has been met for 83 cases of which. The Streptococcus was for 7 cases, Pneumococcus for 2 cases, gram-positive Bacillus of superinfections for 14 cases. Among the gram-negative embryos might be mentioned Moraxella for 7 observations, Proteus for 4 obs., Klebsiella for 2 obs., Pseudomonas for 2 obs., Enterobacter for one case. For all the ulcers of the cornea it is obliged to be done the researching of the permeability of the lacrimal ways, the main source for infection of the cornea.

[The precorneal tear film]. / Filmul lacrimal precornean.

It is described the physiology and physiopathology of the precorneal tear film; the maintaining of the transparency and integrity of the cornea's superficial stratum depends on it. The changes of quality and quality of the tear film determine the appearance of some corneal and conjunctival diseases.

[The eye manifestations in chronic postencephalitic congenital toxoplasmosis]. / Manifestari oculare în toxoplasmoza congenitala cronica postencefalitica.

It is presented the examination of a child of 6 months old with microcephaly, delay in the psychomotor development, cerebral calcifications hepatosplenomegaly, sequellae of the chronic congenital Toxoplasma. The child has a bilateral cicatrised macular chorioretinopathy with sistagnus and divergent strabismus at the left eye. The clinical aspects of the chronic congenital postencephalitic toxoplasma is so clear for the oculist.

[Ocular manifestations in Stevens-Johnson syndrome]. / Manifestari oculare in sindromul Stevens-Johnson.

A patient woman, 45 years old, showed bilateral corneal ulcers, symblepharon, milkish-white scars, cicatricial entropion, trichiasis, lacrimal hyposecretion within a Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Histological examination of the conjunctiva shows a necrosis process of epithelium with phlyctenular cavities and abundant subepithelial inflammatory infiltrate. The affection etiopathogenesis is discussed.

Action of some pesticides on T4 to T3 conversion in cultured kidney and liver cells in the presence or absence of cysteine.

The influence of aminotriazole (ATA), atrazine (ATZ), prometryne (P) and ATC on T4 to T3 conversion in kidney and liver cell cultures in the presence or absence of cysteine was studied. The experiment was carried out on cell cultures (rat renal cells and human embryo cells) and organotypic cultures (rat liver cells), treated with the above mentioned pesticides in 2 doses each, in the presence of 1 microgram and 10 micrograms T4 in the culture medium. This experiment was reproduced in the same conditions supplementing the culture medium with 30 mg cysteine per 100 ml culture medium. T3 and T4 in the culture medium were measured by RIA. The proteins in the monolayer cultures were also assayed. Cysteine proved to stimulate T4 to T3 conversion at the level of human and rat kidney cells with little variation depending on the pesticide and the dose applied. Between the activities of the human and the rat cells in the presence of the same pesticide, there were clear differences. The latter are also expressed in the values of proteic synthesis taking place in the renal human embryo cells and rat renal cell cultures under the same influences.

Altered specificity of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier for pituitary hormones in patients with tumoral hypothalamo-hypophyseal diseases as proved by releasing hormones stimulation.

Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and gonadotropins (LH and FSH) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were radioimmunologically measured in basal condition in 75 cases and during the stimulation with releasing hormones in 24 of cases, i.e. with TRH plus LRH i.v. Samples were obtained from 75 patients of the following groups: A. control group of 9 patients without endocrine diseases; B. 8 patients with nontumoral diseases, of whom 4 with organic cranial diabetes insipidus and 4 with empty sella syndromes; C. 36 patients with invasive tumors i.e. 6 hypothalamic metastatic carcinomas and 300 invasive pituitary adenomas; D. 22 patients with enclosed tumors, i.e. 1 suprasellar dermoid cyst and 21 enclosed pituitary adenomas. Minimum 3 pituitary hormones were measured in each analyzed sample, and only those hormones, not secreted by the tumoral cells, were analyzed for their differential penetration into the CSF. An increase of the permeability of the blood-CSF barrier (BCB) was frequently observed in the group of invasive tumors and occasionally in the other tumoral or non-tumoral groups. The serum/CSF ratios of gonadotropins become significantly lower than the ratios of GH and PRL in the invasive groups (p less than 0.02), and here the CSF level was correlated to the increases of the serum levels during LRH plus TRH i.v. test only for gonadotropins. These data suggest that the specificity of BCB is not lost, but altered by the tumors of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal region, with an increase of the permeability for gonadotropins more than for GH or PRL.

Reactivity of cold thyroid nodule under hormonal influences: study on cell cultures.

The authors have studied the reactivity of cold thyroid nodule cells (CN) by comparison with the reactivity of normal thyroid cells (Ty), hot nodules cells (N), Graves' disease cells (G) and cells from the area proximal to cold nodules (TyC), under the influence of increased amounts of T3, TSH, STH, insulin, estradiol and KI present in the culture medium. The experiment lasted for 9-10 days. The study was carried out on monolayer cultures of cells obtained by tripsinization and on organocultures. Proteic synthesis, cytochemical and cytoenzymatic activities in the culture under the influence of the above substances were examined comparatively. After interruption of the treatment, the monolayer cultures were stained with Giemsa and examined by light microscopy. Proteic synthesis and release of Tg, T3 and T4 into the culture medium, were also examined. The organocultures were used in evaluating 125I uptake from the medium under the influence of the treatment. The results showed variation in relation to the tissue and hormone dose applied. It was especially found that TSH and estradiol cause enlargement of CN cell nuclei and an increased number of mitoses and polyploidia which might be premises for possible malignization.

Differential effects of some predominantly antiadrenergic and antidopaminergic neuroleptics on the preovulatory surge of FSH, LH and prolactin in rat.

In experiments performed on rats, single subcutaneous doses of predominantly antiadrenergic neuroleptics (thioridazine, propericiazine) significantly depressed the preovulatory serum LH surge. On the contrary, predominantly antidopaminergic drugs (pimozide and in lesser extent thiethylperazine) elevated the circulating LH levels, and reduced pituitary LH content. FSH titers were not altered significantly (excepting by thioridazine). All the neuroleptics increased serum prolactin. The present results, in conjunction with our previous data obtained on the estrous cycle, suggest a stimulatory role of norepinephrine/epinephrine in LH-RH secretion and an inhibitory action of dopamine on the same process. In our experiments only the predominantly antidopaminergic drugs had a pseudopregnancy-inducing effect, which not only elevated PRL levels, but also allowed (rather increased) preovulatory LH surge, and the subsequent development of new corpora lutea. The lack of pseudopregnancy after predominantly antiadrenergic neuroleptics may be attributed mainly to their antiovulatory action preventing the development of fresh corpora lutea.

LH and FSH levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human fetus.

The concentration of LH and FSH was measured in the fetal blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 4 human fetuses between 21 and 24 weeks old. A comparison was made with 6 post menopausal females. In one fetus the serum and CSF levels of both hormones were determined after administration of 200 micrograms LRH and 400 micrograms TRH. The mean serum fetal levels of LH and FSH of 76.6 mIU/ml (range, 29.5-152.0) and 30.5 mIU/ml (range 3.1-60.3), respectively, were not significantly different from those of postmenopausal females, whereas the fetal CSF levels of these hormones were significantly higher (p less than 0.02) than those of post menopausal females. The serum to CSF ratios for the fetal LH and FSH were 4.6 +/- 1.1 and 2.4 +/- 0.61 respectively, significantly different (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.001 respectively) from those of post menopausal females (29.1 +/- 6.6 for LH and 50.9 +/- 10.9 for FSH). In one fetus LRH did not provoke any change in circulating FSH and LH level 20 min. after administration, while a slight increase of these hormone in the CSF was observed. These data suggest that the permeability of blood-CSF barrier to gonadotropins in the fetus seems to be higher than in the adult who has no blood-CSF barrier (B--CSF--B) alterations.

LH and FSH in human cerebrospinal fluid.

LH and FSH of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were radioimmunologically measured. Samples were obtained simultaneously from 116 subjects of the following groups: A. 22 patients with non-endocrine diseases, B. 18 patients with cranial diabetes insipidus (DI) of whom 4 with metastatic carcinomas, C. 5 patients with primary empty sella syndrome, D. one with hydatiform mole, and E. 70 patients with pituitary adenomas, i.e. growth hormone--or prolactin-secreting or "non-secreting" adenomas, of whom 38 patients with invasive and 32 with enclosed adenomas. LH and FSH are normal constituents of CSF and their CSF levels poorly correlates with the serum ones (LH r = 0.477 p less than 0.01). Enclosed adenomas with SSE showed low levels of LH in CSF. High CSF-gonadotropins concentrations (above 4.0 mIU/ml) with a low serum/CSF ratio (below 3) was frequently, but not constantly found in patients with invasive adenomas and are not indicative per se of this diagnosis. Some patients with brain metastasis from breast carcinoma and DI, or with non-tumoral diseases and DI showed similar high patterns of CSF gonadotropins though the serum levels were within normal range. This suggests that local vascular mechanisms, including the retrograde circulation of gonadotropins from the pituitary to the hypothalamus, influence the blood-brain barrier much more than the release of gonadotropins into the systemic blood circulation.

Comparative study of the effects of lisuride and pimozide on the preovulatory surge of FSH, LH and prolactin in rat.

In experiments conducted on adult female Wistar rats, lisuride hydrogen maleate, injected before the critical period of proestrus (between 11 h-13 h) in a single s.c. dose of 0.125 mg/kg body, significantly elevated the preovulatory gonadotropin surge and slightly, non-significantly lowered that of prolactin (assessed between 15-16 h). Pimozide, a selective antidopaminergic neuroleptic, injected according to the same schedule in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body, strongly augmented the LH surge and also prolactin secretion. Thus, stimulation of gonadotropin secretion by lisuride cannot be ascribed to its dopaminergic agonistic action, but may be attributed to its antiserotoninic activity or to the action on the presynaptic dopamine receptors of the tuberoinfundibular neurons, reducing their inhibitory influence on the gonadotropin surge. The results plead for the inhibitory role of DA in the LH and prolactin secretion; 5-HT may have a similar action in the preovulatory gonadotropin surge and a stimulatory one in the surge of prolactin.

Bromocriptine treatment of pituitary adenomas. Evaluation of withdrawal effect.

Forty patients wtih pituitary adenomas, i.e. 22 prolactinomas, 13 acromegalies, 5 non-secreting adenomas, were submitted to bromocriptine therapy 19.3 +/- 1.7 mg/day (mean +/- SEM) (range 7.5-40.0 mg/day) for 5 to 41 months (10.1 +/- 1.31). Remission of the tumoral mass was documented by air tomograms (PETG) or computerized tomograms (CT) in all but one prolactinomas and in 2 mixed HGH and PRL-secreting adenomas. Six empty sella syndromes (ESS) were produced, 4 of them during primary chemotherapy. Serum PRL decreased to normal in all but 3 prolactinomas, and serum HGH levels in 5 out of 13 acromegalies. Bromocriptine withdrawal was followed by a rapid increase of serum PRL into the pathological range, without a rapid reexpansion of the tumoral remnants: GT or surgical exploration of 4 cases, remitted until ESS showed a minimal evolution along 8 months after bromocriptine withdrawal. It is suggested that the antitumoral effect of bromocriptine is specific to lactotrophic cells and at least partially irreversible.

Mixed TSH- and HGH-secreting pituitary adenoma.

A man aged 36 was found to have an invasive pituitary adenoma with evolutive acromegaly and hyperthyroidism and a high serum level of HGH and TSH, suggesting a tumoral production of HGH and TSH. The serum concentration of HGH was above 180 ng/ml; there was also an inappropriately high serum level of TSH, which failed to decrease following the triiodothyronine suppression test and did not increase after TRH (0.4 mg i.v.). In the tumoral tissue removed during pituitary surgery, the concentration of TSH was 1,267.2 microU/g and that of HGH was 1,158.6 micrograms/g, showing that the pituitary adenoma secreted both TSH and HGH.

The effect of pineal treatment and pinealectomy on prolactin in rats.

Administration of melatonin-free pineal extract in doses of 2 ml/day/animal along 3 or 7 days caused a statistically significant decrease in the rat serum prolactin level by 28 and 25% respectively, as against the controls. Pinealectomy caused a statistically significant increase in the serum prolactin level by 34% as against the intact controls and by 30% as against the sham-operated ones. The authors discuss their completely oposite results and the role of the pineal gland on prolactin.

Gonadotropins in rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro strain).

In the Brattleboro strain of rats, the genetic defect in vasopressin synthesis seems to be accompanied by a defect in the synthesis of other structurally related nonapeptides, such as the pineal arginine vasotocin which has antigonadotropic properties in animals. It was therefore tempting to investigate gonadotropin secretion in rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI rats).

A radioimmunoassay system for human thyroglobulin.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) system for thyroglobulin (Tgl) was developed. The crude Tgl was prepared from thyroid glands surgically removed for colloid goiter by ammonium sulphate fractionation. Two purified Tgls were obtained by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 (Tgl-200) and by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Tgl-PAGE). Both Tgl-200 and Tgl-PAGE were used for immunization of the animals for radioiodination and as reference preparations. The double antibody RIA system using Tgl-200 may detect 1.5 microgram/l, the technique being suitable for Tgl quantification in human biological fluids. The results of the measurement in 54 children without apparent thyroid enlargement showed a rather wide range of variability of the Tgl values in basal conditions, for example 4.67-37.05 micrograms/l in a group of 29 boys aged 6 to 16 years and 4.06-31.90 micrograms/l in a group of 25 girls aged 5 to 16 years.

Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier for prolactin in empty sella syndrome.

In six patients with "empty sella" syndrome (ESS), three primary (pESS) and three secndary (sESS), the ratio of serum to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of prolactin (PRL) was 6.6 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SEM) (range 5.5--9.6), with a significant correlation between serum and CSF levels of PRL (r = 0.93 p less than 0.01). A control group of ten normal subjects showed similar values. The hyperprolactinemia found in two cases of pESS did not change the serum/ CSF ratio of PRL. The acute release of PRL into the serum following TRH i.v. did not increase the PRL level in CSF either in control subjects or ESS, with one exception. In a case of sESS consecutive to the treatment with bromocriptine (for 6 months) of an invasive prolactinoma, TRH i. v. released PRL into the CSF but not into the blood, and the serum/ CSF ratio of PRL was very low, until a new cure with bromocriptine (for 3 months) mormalised it. It is suggested that the blood-CSF barrier for PRL is similar in ESS and in normal subjects, with the exception of sESS following incomplete remission of some invasive prolactinomas, in which the high permeability of BCB may be explained both by hemodynamic changes in the pituitary portal vascular system and by a new source of PRL which release it directly into the CSF, bypassing the blood route.