Unilateral Purtscher-like retinopathy after weight-lifting.

PURPOSE: To report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy after weightlifting. METHODS: A 17-year-old man presented with a sudden visual loss in his left eye after weightlifting two weeks ago. Fundus examination of the left eye showed cotton-wool spots and scattered retinal hemorrhages in the posterior pole. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope were performed. RESULTS: Angiography showed hypofluorescent areas adjacent to the optic disc and in the posterior pole and partial filling insufficiency in the inferior and inferotemporal branch retinal veins. Complete venous filling was noted in late phases of angiography. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis of weightlifting suggests the Purtscher-like changes as a result of Valsalva maneuver in our case. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Purtscher-like retinopathy associated with weightlifting.

Management of free floating iris cysts in the anterior chamber: a case report.

PURPOSE: To present a case with free iris cysts in the anterior chamber and its management with YAG laser. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old boy presenting with the complaint of seeing a small ball-like moving mass in his left eye. RESULTS: Slit-lamp examination revealed a pair of free-floating iris cysts located inferiorly in the anterior chamber. After YAG laser application both the cysts collapsed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a case with multiple free iris cysts in the anterior chamber. Considering the possibility of endothelial damage in the long-term, it is worth noting the favorable response to YAG laser treatment.

Effects of gonadal hormones on thymus gland after bilateral ovariectomy and orchidectomy in rats.

This study examined the histological changes that occurred in the thymus gland after gonadectomy and the administration of various sex steroids following gonadectomy. Male and female Wistar albino rats that were 6 weeks of age were used. The rats were subjected to bilaterally gonadectomy and then gonadal steroid hormones (testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, 2.5 mg/kg) were given. Effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the thymus gland were microscopically examined. Thymic weight increased in all the groups after gonadectomy. Testosterone, estrogen, and estrogen + progesterone treatment decreased thymic weight after gonadectomy. Progesterone treatment also decreased weight, but there was no statistical significance. In the light microscopy, testosterone and estrogen treatment induced a loss of lymphoid elements from the thymic cortex, increased the number of phagocytic macrophages and mast cells, and enlarged blood vessels and connective tissue were observed in the thymic medulla. In the electron microscopic study it was observed that rough endoplasmic reticulum enlarged in the thymic lymphocytes. The same results were also found after estrogen + progesterone treatment. No histologically identifiable changes were observed in the thymus gland after progesterone treatment. This study demonstrated that the thymus gland undergoes involution after testosterone and estrogen treatment, but not progesterone, following gonadectomy.

Tilt and decentration after primary and secondary transsclerally sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate tilt and decentration after primary and secondary implantation of transsclerally sutured posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs). SETTING: Dokuz Eylül University Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir, Turkey. METHODS: Fifty-six consecutive eyes of 53 patients who had implantation of transsclerally sutured PC IOLs were prospectively included in the study. Intraocular lens tilt and decentration after primary (14 eyes) and secondary (42 eyes) implantation were compared quantitatively using Purkinje images. RESULTS: The mean IOL tilt was 6.09 degrees +/- 3.80 (SD) in all eyes, 5.71 +/- 3.41 degrees in the primary implantation group, and 6.22 +/- 3.94 degrees in the secondary implantation group. The mean IOL decentration was 0.67 +/- 0.43 mm (range 0 to 2.5 mm), 0.59 +/- 0.38 mm, and 0.69 +/- 0.45 mm, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the primary and secondary implantation groups in decentration or tilt. Decentration greater than 1.0 mm was present in 7 eyes (16.7%) after secondary implantation and in 1 eye (7.1%) after primary implantation. Tilting of more than 10 degrees was present in 7 eyes (16.7%) and 2 eyes (14.2%), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in decentration greater than 1.0 mm (chi square = 0.194, P =.834) or in tilting greater than 10 degrees (chi square = 0.834, P =.659). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically significant IOL tilt or decentration was rare after transscleral implantation. There were no differences in tilt or decentration between primary and secondary implantation.

Histological and biochemical effects of cigarette smoke on lungs.

In this study, rats were made to inhale cigarette smoke in a specifically prepared container for different periods. The lung tissue samples of the subjects were examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Malonaldehyde, one of the free oxygen radicals was determined in lungs and plasma. The catalase activity level of erythrocyte and arginase levels were determined. Three groups were formed. The rats in the Ist and IInd groups were made to inhale cigarette smoke for 30 and 60 minutes a day for a total period of 3 months. Control group, the rats in the IIIrd group (controls) were made to inhale clean air during the same periods. An increase in the number of macrophages was observed in the pulmonary tissue of the exposed groups. Especially in the group that inhaled the smoke for long periods, the number of macrophages and the inclusion bodies contained in them increased. These differences could easily be observed in TEM studies. In the light microscopy and SEM observations, it arouse attention that the alveolar macrophages occurred as sets and their activation increased. Depending on the length of the exposure to cigarette smoke, an increase in the number of macrophages was observed. Statistically significant increases were determined in the malonaldehyde levels of pulmonary tissue and plasma when compared to the control group. Besides significant increases were found in the catalase activity levels of erythrocytes in the experimental groups.

Ultrastructural interrelationship between the pineal gland and the testis in the male rat.

The ultrastructural interrelationship between the pineal gland and testis was evaluated in the rat. Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. Groups I and II were sham-orchidectomized and orchidectomized rats, respectively. Rats in group III were orchidectomized and daily injected with testosterone propionate (TP) for 1 month. Groups IV and V were sham-pinealectomized and pinealectomized, respectively. Group VI was pinealectomized and daily injected with melatonin for 2 months. All animals were anesthetized with ketamine for fixation by vascular perfusion. Pineal glands of groups I, II, and III and the testes of groups IV, V, and VI were removed and weighed. All specimens were examined by electron microscopy. Orchidectomy caused an increase of lipid droplets, cytoplasmic dense bodies, and lysosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria were extensive in the cytoplasm. TP administration to orchidectomized rats resulted in formation of less extensive lipid droplets and mitochondria. In pinealectomized rats, golgi complex, mitochondria, and enlarged smooth endoplasmic reticulum were extensive in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. Formation of cytoplasmic secretory granules and osmiophilic bodies was observed. Testicular weight increased compared to group IV. Melatonin decreased testicular weight in comparison to group V and prevented ultrastructural changes. Pinealectomy and orchidectomy caused hyperactivity in Leydig cells and pinealocytes, respectively, which suggests a mutual relationship between the pineal gland and testis in the rat.

Underlying pathologies in secondary strabismus.

PURPOSE: In this prospective cross-sectional observational study, the distribution of organic pathologies in patients initially presenting with strabismus was evaluated. METHODS: Thirty-one of 243 patients examined between May 1997 and May 1998 had strabismus due to organic causes and 28 patients had posterior segment abnormalities. RESULTS: Toxoplasma chorioretinitis, morning glory anomaly, toxocara retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and Coats' disease were the most common diagnoses. Eighteen patients (58%) had esotropia and 13 (42%) had exotropia. The mean age of onset of deviation was significantly lower in the esotropic patients. There was no correlation between the degree of visual impairment and direction of deviation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strongly underlines the importance of fundus examination in each strabismic patient.