[Characterization of ENU-mutant mice. Animal models for human diseases using morphological and molecular methods]. / Charakterisierung von ENU-Mausmutanten. Tiermodelle für menschliche Erkrankungen mittels morphologischer und molekularer Methoden.

Following sequencing of the human genome there are new challenges to decipher the knowledge concerning gene function and the role of gene interactions and pathways leading to disease. Mouse models have proven to be an ideal tool for this purpose. Point mutations induced by chemical mutagenesis by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) offer possibilities for the analysis of the phenotypic outcome of a single base pair exchange on the entire organism. The Munich ENU mouse mutagenesis project is part of the worldwide efforts to obtain mutations for each gene. The generation of new alleles or allelic series offers relevant insights into the relevance of single gene sections. Various mouse models for human diseases have been generated by a systematic large-scale genome-wide phenotyping screen in the last decade. This work illustrates how the implementation of the ENU mouse mutagenesis project with gene identification and parallel high-throughput screening is taking advantage of local cooperation with experienced phenotyping groups at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, leading to major advances in the functional analysis of the mammalian genome.

Histopathological features of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a chronic fibroinflammatory disease of the pancreas characterised by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, interstitial fibrosis, periductal inflammation and periphlebitis. Although first described more than four decades ago, it has not gained widespread attention until the 1990s when new insights into its aetiology, clinical presentation and management were discovered. Although nowadays widely accepted as a form of chronic pancreatitis, recent evidence suggests that AIP might not be confined to the pancreas but rather be an inflammatory pancreaticobiliary disease (autoimmune pancreatocholangitis, AIPC) with possible systemic involvement and association with other autoimmune disorders. This article reviews current concepts of AIP with special focus on the histopathological features of the disease.

[Perioperative conjunctival flora]. / Untersuchungen der perioperativen Konjunktivalflora.

BACKGROUND: The conjunctival flora is of great interest for each case of intraocular operation preventing postoperative infections. Despite of negative cultures before the operation we investigated in a prospective randomized study perioperatively the bacterial situation of the conjunctiva in 105 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We took conjunctival swabs for microbiological examination from patient's eye operated on cataract or glaucoma, on the day of admission to the eye clinic and in the morning of the operating day. In addition, specimens were taken by nurses with Transwab MW-172 P before the local anaesthesia, disinfection of the conjunctiva and lids and application of eye drops, after these procedures by a research worker, at the end of the operation by the surgeon and two to three days after the operation by nurses with Transwab MW-172 P again. In 53 patients we collected lacrimal fluid to measure the lysozyme concentration. RESULTS: Out of 686 conjunctival swabs we have found 126 (18.4%) positive cultures. Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence (109 = 86.5%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (7 = 5.5%). Only in 28 eyes all conjunctival swabs, taken at different times, were negative. There was an increase of positive cultures from routine swabs on the day of admission from 13 (12.4%), to 33 (31.7%) in the swabs taken on the day of the operation in the morning. On the other side the positive cultures decreased then continuously before and after the preparation of the operation, at the end of the operation and during two to three days postoperatively. There was'nt any statistical correlation between the concentration of the lacrimal lysozyme and the rate of positive cultures. CONCLUSION: The preoperative bacteriological diagnostic of the conjunctiva is important mainly for the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis despite the transience and fluctuation of the conjunctival flora but also in case of endophthalmitis for rapid specific antibiotical therapy.

[Wyburn-Mason syndrome]. / Zum Wyburn-Mason-Syndrom.

BACKGROUND: There are various malformations of retinal vessels. Some of them are associated with cerebral vascular anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This report is given on a girl 6 years of age with a retinal racemose angioma. RESULTS: The clinical examination showed a unilateral racemose angioma combined with retinachorioidal anastomosis and a hemifacial vascular malformation. We found teleangiectasia in this area. The ophthalmoscopy demonstrated a blurred border of optic disc on the right eye with forward protrusion of the disc about + 2.0 dioptres. Large racemose lesions may be localized to the optic nerve and may involve segmental areas of the macula. The ultrasound showed a papillary stasis with highly reflective structures. The ultrasonic patterns are interpreted as a cholesterosis or fibrovascular tissue. This findings may belong to the rare Wyburn-Mason syndrome. Acute neurological symptoms by similar lesions the midbrain and hemorrhages during extraction of teeth are reported in literature.

[Effect of tonometry and nasolacrimal duct irrigation on bacterial flora of the conjunctiva]. / Einfluss der Tonometrie und TNW-Spülung auf die Keimflora der Konjunktiva.

This study was undertaken to assess the influence of preoperative ophthalmological examinations on the microbial flora of the conjunctiva. For this purpose, 112 patients awaiting ocular surgery were included in the study. Conjunctival swabs for microbiological investigation were taken by nurses on the day of admission. In addition, specimens were taken before an ophthalmological examination, after applanation and impression tonometry, after irrigation of the lacrimal duct and 2 h after the end of all examinations. A last swab was taken preoperatively. Comparison of the microbiological results of the first two specimens only showed an agreement in 53% of the cases. The increase after tonometry and irrigation of the lacrimal duct in the number of swabs that were positive was not permanent. Swabs that were primarily germ-free and those that were mostly contaminated also showed strong bacterial fluctuation. Based on the present results, there is no strong evidence that the microorganisms found at the preoperative examinations correlate with a higher risk of postoperative infection. Disinfection of the conjunctival sac and the application of antibiotic drops are necessary on the day before the operation and immediately before it.

[Putschkowaskaja corneal protection]. / Hornhautprotektion nach Putschkowskaja.

BACKGROUND: Excessive cornea defects after chemical, thermal and microbiological damages respectively trophic disturbances often demand measures for conservation of the bulbus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the time between 1969 and 1993 22 patients were provided with a "Keratoplasty according to Putschkowskaja": circular cut at the recipient eye 0.15 mm deep, trepan diameter 8.5 to 13 mm, without lamellar preparation, covering with a donor cornea of normal thickness by silk single sutures. RESULTS: In 19 eyes the primary aim, the conservation of the bulbus, could be achieved. The complete transplant was mostly rejected after several months, only in two patients it healed by vascularisation. In one patient an abscess arose between recipient--cornea and transplant, which made explantation necessary. The histological examination of the transplant showed a purulent inflammation, swelling of the parenchym, partly absence of keratocytes and endothel cells, and a defect in the Bowman membrane. CONCLUSION: The "Keratoplasty according to Putschkowskaja" can be useful as "living contact lens" besides other surgical measures for treatment (primary conservation of the bulbus) of excessive cornea defects. It seems that the existence of Bowman and Descemet membrane in the transplant prevents the decomposition of the donor cornea for a rather long time. By then the cornea defect has often healed leaving scars.

[Prenatal eyelid development in the hl-mouse--a hairless mutant of the colored wild mouse]. / Die pränatale Augenlidentwicklung der hl-Maus--einer hairloss-Mutante der wildfarbenen Maus.

BACKGROUND: A decisive condition for the clarification of malformations and degenerations is knowledge of the pre- and postnatal development. Therefore investigations were undertaken to determine the plan and lay-out of the eye-lids in an hairloss mutant of mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biomicroscopical and histological investigations were carried out in 51 hl-mice from the 10th day of gestation unto the birth. This particular mouse is a spontaneous hairloss mutant, in which corneal degenerations also occur. RESULTS: On the 11th day of gestation the ectodermal dips may be distinguished, as well as the shoe-lace-like furrows around the eye-ball, which indicate the development of the eyelids. The upper and lower lid are formed by proliferation. The fusion of the eyelids is completed around the 16th day of gestation. DISCUSSION: The eyelid development starts in mice between the 11th and 14th day of gestation. The fusion is completed on day 15-17. The morphogenesis of the eyelid development will be discussed.

[Diagnosis and therapy of chronic canaliculitis]. / Zur Diagnostik und Therapie der chronischen Canaliculitis.

The chronic lacrimal canaliculitis is often overlooked and unsatisfactory treated. The purpose of this long-term study (1978-1991) is to call attention to special bacteriological signs and to give recommendations for proper treatment. 54 patients (39 females and 15 males) in age from 29 to 85 years (average age of 60 years) with a chronic lacrimal canaliculitis were evaluated. "Sulfur granules" were obtained from 32 patients and 54 specimens were collected from 44 patients and processed immediately for aerobic and anaerobic cultivation as well as microscopic investigation. Altogether 100 bacteria could be isolated: 56 anaerobes, 38 aerobes as well as 6 microaerophilic and capnophilic strains, respectively. Members of the genus Actinomyces were the most often isolated anaerobes. They could be detected in specimens of 15 patients by culture and in materials of 4 patients only by microscopic study. 42 from 50 patients were permanently cured by immediate treatment according to our operative procedure despite the splitted canaliculus. The most common cause of chronic lacrimal canaliculitis is a mixed infection. Despite the characteristic clinical symptoms the laboratory evaluation should be done to provide the diagnosis. The surgical procedure leads to a permanent functional healing in a high degree.

[The antiphlogistic effect of the ginkgolide BN 52 021 in the chemically burned rabbit eye]. / Zur antiphlogistischen Wirksamkeit des Ginkgolids BN 52 021 bei der Verätzung des Kaninchenauges.

BN 52 021, a specific antagonist of PAF receptors, was tested in the early-phase treatment of chemically burned eyes in 30 rabbits. The local application of BN 52 021 eyedrops-1% (water-soluble preparation, 5 times daily, in comparison with the other eye as a control) led to a visible anti-inflammatory effect (microscopically and macroscopically) of the chemically burned anterior eye segment. There was only a moderate increase of the concentration of PGF2 alpha after the chemical burn. The use of specific PAF antagonists seems to have a real chance for treatment of inflammatory reactions of the anterior eye segment. A combination with other mediator antagonists should be tested in further experiments.

Leukotriene antagonist S 872419 A for early-phase treatment of chemical burn in the rabbit eye.

S 872419 A, a specific receptor antagonist of peptide leukotrienes, was tested in the early-phase treatment of chemically burned eye (0.25 mol/l sodium hydroxide) of the rabbit. The drug was topically applied 5 times a day in a 1% solution, controls were the untreated opposite eye. Gross and microscopic investigations indicated that S 872419 A inhibits the inflammatory response of the chemically burned anterior eye segment. The parameters of healing considered (epithelial regeneration, corneal clouding and swelling, infiltration with polymorphonuclear leukocytes) suggest inhibition of lipoxygenase-mediated reactions in the tissue. PGF2 alpha levels were the same in aqueous humour of treated and untreated eyes. Further experiments with S 872419 A and other nonsteroidal drugs should improve the anti-inflammatory therapy of the chemically burned eye.

[Peter's anomaly in animal experiments]. / Zespól Petersa w doswiadczeniach na zwierzetach.

Histopathological examinations were performed in 193 embryos of mice; Peters's anomaly was found in 2 cases. The authors discuss various theories of formation of this developmental defect and oppose them their own formulation.

[Measurement of the power of artificial intraocular lenses]. / Pomiar mocy sztucznych soczewek wewnatrzgalkowych.

Fifty five anterior chamber artificial lenses of the Hellgrebe model 2(35) and Fiodorov's (20) were verified from the angle of the power quoted by the producer. The measurement of the length of the frontal power were performed by means of a measurer 70 (Carl Zeiss, Jena, GDR) and by a specially designed plastic cuvette suitable for sterilization. The mean deviation amounted -1.42 dptr. for the Hellgrebe's 2 lens and 0.23 dptr. for Fiodorov's lens. The Hellgrebe type 2 lenses do not answer the international quality norms of tolerance +/- 0.25 dptr.

[Normogenesis of the cornea and its modification by cyclophosphamide in the animal experiment]. / Zur Normogenese der Hornhaut und ihrer Beeinflussung durch Cyclophosphamid im Tierexperiment.

Animal experiments serving as models have hitherto been indispensable in order to explain pathogenetic processes in the development of malformations. The results presented here are contribution to studies on the normogenesis of the cornea in defined animal material (albino mice of Agnes Bluhm Jena-Halle stock). A single application of cyclophosphamide during embryogenesis caused inhibition malformations. Of these, different degrees of corneal hypoplasia and Peters' malformation are discussed in detail.

[Conservative treatment of glaucoma]. / Zachowawcze leczenie jaskry.

The author presents conservative treatment of glaucoma. Pharmacologic action of antiglaucoma drugs from group of mioties, and adrenergic blockers and other hypothension agents is discussed. Furthermore side effects of these drugs and their synergic action is presented. Personal experience connected with it is also discussed.

[Animal experiment and clinical studies of the use of anti-inflammatory agents in chemical burns of the eye]. / Tierexperimentelle und klinische Untersuchungen zum Einsatz von Antiphlogistika bei Verätzungen des Auges.

In animal experiments and a clinical study of chemically burned eyes the anti-inflammatory effect of topically applied steroids and indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase) was investigated. Both the animal model and the clinical tests indicate the desirability of immediate local application of dexamethasone eyedrops 0.1% under careful biomicroscopic control of the burned eye and with local antibiotics. The use of topical steroids is a part of the authors' treatment for moderately severe and severe chemical eye burns (second degree, beginning third degree). However, this anti-inflammatory therapy cannot be recommended with indomethacin alone, because of the leukotriene-induced, increased infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and corneal ulceration.