[A brief review of recent achievements concerning biochemistry and physiology of prostaglandins in the eye]. / A prosztaglandinokkal kapcsolatos újabb eredmények rövid áttekintése a szem biokémiájának és élettanának vonatkozásában.

Two prostaglandin molecules have important physiological and pathophysiological role in the tissues of the eye. Prostaglandin F2 alpha takes part in mediating intraocular pressure, prostaglandin E2 is the mediator of inflammation. In case of increased intraocular pressure, latanoprost a derivative of prostaglandin F2 alpha can be applied. Numerous data are available on the favourable intraocular pressure lowering effect of latanoprost. It can be applied as a single hypotensive or it can be combined with eye-drops currently used in glaucoma. It exerts its therapeutic effect by increasing uveoscleral outflow. Inflammation in the eye can be diminished by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs similarly to inflammations in other tissues of the organism. Literature on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is enormous. Molecules of different structures inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins. Primarily they are useful anti-inflammatory agents, reduce intraocular pressure in secundary glaucoma, inhibit intraocular miosis and prevent development of cystoid macula oedema. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not exert their effects on prostaglandins themselves, but inhibit their synthesis. Hence the use of both, latanoprost and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs simultaneously, improves safety of therapy in case of patients prone to uveitis.

Efficacy and retention time of a new tear substitute.

The tear substitute Lacrozym has been compared with Tears Naturale in a double-blind study. Baseline tear film break-up time, efficiency by determining the maximum of the break-up time values after tear substitute administration, and retention time has been established. A similar increase of break-up time values were found after 10, 15, 20 and 30 min administration of Lacrozym and Tears Naturale, respectively. Retention times of both tear substitutes were found to be about two hours, more exactly 110 and 120 min for Lacrozym and Tears Naturale, respectively.

The role of Propionibacterium propionicus in chronic canaliculitis.

Delicate branching filaments, and cocci or rods, were seen by microscopic examination in the pus of the canaliculus lacrimalis in patients with chronic canaliculitis. Propionibacterium propionicus and different bacteria were cultivated and identified in the pus. After i.p. inoculation of mice with the Propionibacterium strains, the morphological changes characteristic of this microorganism were observed in the peritoneum, in the spleen and in the lung, giving an adequate explanation of the direct microscopic findings in the pus.