Elevated percentage of HLA-DR⁺ and ICAM-1⁺ conjunctival epithelial cells in active Graves' orbitopathy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate if conjunctival epithelial cells' expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 could be helpful as early topical markers of inflammation in Graves' orbitopathy (GO). METHODS: The ocular examination evaluated a clinical activity score (CAS) by assessment of clinical features, (e.g., eyelid or conjunctival inflammation, lid width, lid closure, proptosis, ocular motility). Conjunctival epithelial cell specimens for flow-cytometric evaluations of ICAM-I and HLADR expression were collected by impression cytology from ten eyes with active GO (CAS ≥ 4 and duration ≤ 12 months), from 15 eyes with Graves' disease (GD) without active GO (CAS 0-2) and from 15 normal specimens without any ocular disorders. RESULTS: The percentage of HLA-DR + conjunctival epithelial cells was significantly elevated in patients with active GO comparing to GD without active GO and healthy controls, 10.7 % (8.5-17.7) and 7.78 % (3.92-10.1) (p < 0.05) vs. control 4.89 % (3.5-5.5) (p < 0.005), respectively. The expression of ICAM - 1+ conjunctival epithelial cells was greater only in patients with GO vs. controls, 5.5 % (4.8-7.03) and 1.46 % (0.69-2.51) (p < 0.005), respectively. CONCLUSION: The percentage of HLA-DR⁺ and ICAM-1⁺ conjunctival epithelial cells in patients with the active GO may serve as a topical inflammation marker in Graves' orbitopathy.

Impression cytology of the conjunctival epithelial cells in patients with cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent lethal autosomal recessive hereditary disorder. The disease affects all secretory epithelia, including the eye, and belongs to the group of ocular surface epithelial diseases, termed keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate goblet cell population and conjunctival epithelial morphology in patients with CF. METHODS: A total of 20 CF patients and 20 controls underwent conjunctival impression cytology. RESULTS: Impression cytology showed conjunctival squamous metaplasia and goblet cell loss in patients with CF. CONCLUSION: Reduced goblet cell numbers and squamous metaplasia may be indicative of a higher degree of epithelial damage of conjunctival epithelial cells in CF patients, and the presence of neutrophils is a strong sign for an inflammatory background of this disease.In view of the simple, noninvasive nature of impression cytology, this technique may prove to be an important tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of dry eye changes in CF patients.

Flow cytometric analysis of HLA-DR antigen in conjunctival epithelial cells of patients with cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal-recessive genetic disorder. The disease affects all secretory epithelia including the eye and belongs to the group of ocular surface epithelial diseases, termed keratoconjunctivitis sicca that develop in dry eye. In the pathogenesis of dry eye, inflammation plays a crucial role. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of HLA-DR on conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with CF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with CF and 25 normal subjects underwent ocular examination. Tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, lissamine green staining, and conjunctival impression cytology were carried out. Cells were processed for flow cytometry, by using monoclonal antibodies to HLA-DR. RESULTS: The Schirmer test and TBUT scores were significantly lower in CF patients compared with controls. A significant increase of HLA-DR expression on epithelial cells was found in patients with CF compared with normal eyes. The Schirmer and TBUT test were positively correlated with HLA-DR expression for the percentage of cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that conjunctival epithelial cells play an important proinflammatory role in ocular changes in CF patients. Our findings confirm the presence of an inflammatory background and the immune nature of this disease. HLA-DR measurement might be a useful method for monitoring of inflammatory processes in the conjunctiva and could be helpful in the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of ocular findings in CF patients.

[Selected markers of T cell activation in children with idiopathic uveitis]. / Wybrane markery aktywacji limfocytów T krwi obwodowej u dzieci z idiopatycznym zapaleniem blony naczyniowej.

The aim of our investigation was to assess T cell activation markers (CD69, HLA-DR, CD25, CD49a) in idiopathic uveitis. T cells from children aged 9-17 with idiopathic uveitis were studied. Monoclonal antibodies against chosen markers of T cell activation were used. Expression of the CD69, HLA-DR, CD25, CD49a were determined by flow-cytometry. HLA-DR and CD49a--marker of the late activation--were significantly increased.

[Sub-retinal fluid interleukin-10 (Il-10) and interleukin-13 (Il-13) concentration in patients with retinal detachment]. / Stezenie interleukiny 10 (IL-10) i interleukiny 13 (IL-13) w plynie podsiatkówkowym u chorych z odwarstwieniem siatkówki.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence of IL-10 and IL-13 in subretinal fluid of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The studies comprised 14 patients on with retinal detachment operated. The presence of cytokines was evaluated using immunoenzymatic assay. RESULTS: IL-10 and IL-13 were found in all subretinal fluid samples. Our results suggest that the presence of IL-10 and IL-13 has the influence on suppression of inflammatory agent release and activity during retinal detachment.

[Morning glory syndrome: a case report]. / Zespól kwiatu powoju--opis przypadku.

The case of morning glory syndrome in two years old patient is presented.

[The results of surgery on squint with pathological muscle attachment]. / Wyniki operacji zeza z patologicznymi przyczepami miesni.

UNLABELLED: The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of the operation on squint with pathological attachment of lateral rectus revealed during surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 22 children (12 girls and 10 boys) out of 320 children operated on for squint in the years 1993-1996, who had pathological attachment of lateral rectus. Alternating convergent squint was found in 12 children, unilateral in 10. Muscle exposure showed dislocation of lateral rectus attachment--upwards by c. 1.5 mm in 11 children, downwards and obliquely by c. 2 mm in 10 children, in 1 child the upper part of the attachment was shifted forward by 1 mm. During the surgery, in addition to the reduction of squint angle, physiological attachment of the rectus was reconstructed. RESULTS: The operation restored parallel position of the eyes in 22 children, very good vision was obtained in 12 (54%) with alternating convergent squint, significant improvement in 5 (22%) with unilateral convergent squint, and only slight improvement in the remaining 5 (22.7%) with high initial amblyopia and squint angle from +15 degrees to +30 degrees.

[Concentration of selected cytokines in subretinal fluid in patients with retinal detachment (IL-8, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma)]. / Stezenie wybranych cytokin w plynie podsiatkówkowym u chorych z odwarstwieniem siatkówki (IL-8, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of IL-8, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma in subretinal fluid of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 15 patients operated on retinal detachment. The presence of cytokines was evaluated using immunoenzymatic assay. RESULTS: IL-8, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were found in all subretinal fluid samples. The concentration of cytokines in patients with retinal detachment lasting to 2 months was higher than in cases of retinal detachment over 2 months.

[Biological activity of subretinal fluid in selected in vitro tests]. / Biologiczna aktywnosc plynu podsiatkówkowego w wybranych testach in vitro.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of SRF to activate autologous leucocytes derived from the peripheral blood. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 49 patients with idiopathic retinal detachment. Leucocyte migration inhibition, proliferation of T-lymphocytes after PHA stimulation, nonspecific suppressor activity induced by Con A, T-lymphocytes IL-2 production and basophils histamine release were assessed. RESULTS: Lymphocytes obtained from patients with retinal detachment lasting 3-4 weeks exhibited in vitro in the presence of SRF: increased ability to produce IL-2, increased proliferation after PHA stimulation and increased nonspecific T-suppressor activity induced by Con A. SRF enhanced also leucocyte migration inhibition and release of histamine from basophils.

[Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome--case report]. / Zespól Rubinsteina-Taybiego--opis przypadku.

The authors described symptoms of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and presented a treatment of this disease. It concerned a 1-year-old baby with obstruction of left lacrimal ducts, psychomotor retardation and facial abnormalities.

[Evaluation of posterior capsule opacification after extracapsular cataract extraction with and without implantation of intraocular lens]. / Ocena zmetnienia tylnej torby soczewki po operacji zewnatrztorebkowego usuniecia zacmy z wszczepem sztucznej soczewki wewnatrzgalkowej i bez wszczepu.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was evaluation of the rate of posterior capsule opacification after extracapsular cataract extraction with and without implantation of intraocular lens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The clinical material comprised 77 patients operated on in the years 1990-1994. Only the cases in which visual acuity exceeded 5/10 were included into the study. 107 eyes were examined, among them 75 after implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lens. RESULTS: Opacification of the posterior capsule occurred in 37 eyes, but only in 25 of 75 eyes in the patients with implantation of the artificial lens. We found that following extracapsular cataract extraction without implantation of intraocular lens, opacification of the posterior capsule occurs more frequently, especially during 1-2 years after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Cortical-nuclear cataract and not much advanced age are factors predisposing for greater rate of opacification of the posterior capsule after extracapsular cataract extraction.