Ascorbic acid and amino acid values in the aqueous humor of a patient with Lowe's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Aminoaciduria is found in Lowe's syndrome. No studies of concentrations of ascorbic acid and amino acids in the aqueous humor of the syndrome have been performed. We examined these concentrations in a patient with Lowe's syndrome. METHODS: Ascorbic acid and amino acid levels in the aqueous humor and plasma of a male infant were measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. The patient, who had congenital cataract, miotic pupils, opaque corneas, glaucoma, aminoaciduria, normal levels of ascorbic acid and amino acid in the plasma, and renal tubular acidosis, underwent trabeculotomy, lensectomy, and anterior vitrectomy in both eyes. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure in both eyes decreased to within the normal range, but both corneas remained opaque. The amino acid levels in the aqueous humor were similar to those in the plasma, but intracameral ascorbic acid levels were decreased. After topical instillation of ascorbic acid, the corneas became transparent. The proband's mother had good visual acuity but paracentral lens opacities in both eyes. His maternal grandmother had scattered cortical opacities in both lenses. CONCLUSION: In this infant with Lowe's syndrome, we found intracameral levels of amino acids similar to those in the plasma. Levels of ascorbic acid in the aqueous humor were decreased.

[The effects of transcorneal administration of prostaglandin E2 on rabbit eyes].

The pharmacologic effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the anterior ocular segment were investigated. PGE2 was administered with a glass cylinder attached to the cornea in concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 500 micrograms/ml. The intraocular inflammatory reaction was assessed according to the changes in the anterior chamber flare, ocular tension, and components of the aqueous humor. We also performed experiments designed to inhibit the reactions induced by PGE2 using anti-inflammatory agents. The PGE2 elicited a single peak reaction in the anterior chamber flare, which recovered after several hours, and a transient elevation in the ocular tension in the early stage after PGE2 administration. Quantitative analysis of these two reactions revealed that both were dependent on the dose of PGE2 administered. The concentrations of ascorbic acid and glutathione, particularly that of the reduced form of the latter, were transiently reduced in the aqueous humor. The anterior chamber flares were suppressed by agents that inhibit arachdonic acid metabolism. These findings suggest that the metabolism of arachdonic acid becomes newly activated as a result of stimulation by PGE2 of extrinsic origin.

[The effects of various doses of lipopolysaccharide on endotoxin-induced uveitis in rats].

We induced intraocular inflammation by foot pad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats to investigate the inflammatory effects of the various doses of the LPS and the anti-inflammatory effects of prostaglandin (PG) synthetase inhibitor. The aqueous protein concentration curve showed two peaks, an early one at 3 hours and another at 24 hours after the injection, at doses higher than 12.5 micrograms per rat. The PG synthetase inhibitor reduced the aqueous protein concentration by 30 to 60% at both of the two peaks. These results suggest the involvement of PG in the mechanism of the endotoxin-induced uveitis.

[The relation between Behçet's disease and interleukin-1 beta production].

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is an inflammatory cytokine. We measured its production in 21 Behçet's disease patients, 4 healthy controls, and 4 sarcoidosis patients, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide from peripheral blood monocytes. IL-1 beta production of the posterior segment type was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than in healthy controls, sarcoidosis patients, and anterior segment type. In all posterior segment type cases, IL-1 beta production in the active period was greater than in the remission period. IL-1 beta production is considered to be related to posterior segment type attacks of Behçet's disease.

Histological findings of capsular delamination of the lens.

Histological findings in a 75-year-old man with idiopathic capsular delamination were reported. The anterior capsules were obtained during extracapsular cataract extraction, and examined by light and electron microscope. The epithelial side of the anterior capsules protruded towards the anterior chamber at the edge of the delaminated areas. This finding has not been described previously, and the defect in this fragile region was thought to be the cause of capsular delamination.

[A case of metastatic carcinoma to the retina].

The authors report a case of metastatic carcinoma to the retina. The patient was a 61-year-old man who had an operation for a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Ophthalmoscopic examination disclosed a single, white, elevated mass lesion surrounded by serous retinal detachment located in the upper part of the macula of the right eye. A few retinal hemorrhages existed around the lesion. Fluorescein angiography revealed partially obscured retinal vessels due to compression by the tumor and arteriovenous anastomosis. Postmortem pathologic examination confirmed metastases to the brain, lung and retina. Microscopic examination showed a retinal lesion and tumor cells in the right eye. Tumor cells, similar to the carcinoma of the rectum, were present only in the neurosensory retina and did not invade the pigmented epithelium or choroid.