Scleral loop fixation for posteriorly dislocated intraocular lenses. Operative technique and long-term results.

Surgical management of a posteriorly dislocated intraocular lens requires vitrectomy techniques to remove adherent vitreous and prevent traction on the retina. The lens implant may be repositioned in the posterior chamber by ciliary sulcus fixation or by transscleral or iris suture fixation. Previous suture fixation techniques require multiple needle penetrations through the sclera, cornea, or both. We described a simplified technique for repositioning a posteriorly dislocated intraocular lens in which sclerotomy incisions are utilized for fixation. Six patients are described, with long-term follow-up demonstrating stable anatomic status and favorable visual outcome.

Indications and results of relaxing retinotomy.

The authors report their results of a consecutive series of 40 eyes undergoing relaxing retinotomy during vitrectomy to achieve retinal reattachment for the following indications: proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), 21 eyes (52%); trauma, 10 eyes (25%); diabetic retinopathy, 6 eyes (15%); and expulsive choroidal hemorrhage, 3 eyes (8%). Thirty eyes (75%) had undergone previous vitreoretinal procedures. Extended tamponade was achieved in all cases with either silicone oil (27 eyes, 68%) or long-acting gas (13 eyes, 32%). Retinotomy size ranged from 45 degrees to 360 degrees. Intraoperative retinal attachment was possible in all eyes with 33 (83%) achieving total or subtotal retinal attachment including the macula for 5 months or more. Twenty-seven eyes (68%) achieved 3/200 visual acuity or better and 10 (37%) achieved 20/400 or better. Thirteen eyes (32%) failed to achieve 3/200 visual acuity secondary to recurrent detachment (18%), corneal decompensation (8%), macular dysfunction (5%), and glaucoma (3%).

Characterization of a virus isolated from a case of human infectious hepatitis.

A new viral agent, isolated from the serum of an infectious hepatitis patient and designated as Agent II-B, was extensively studied in in vitro and in vivo systems. Agent II-B multiplied well in primary and serial animal cell cultures and in embryonated hen's eggs. Quantal and quantitative infectivity assays were performed in monolayers of African green monkey kidney cells. Effective concentrations of 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine and guanidine hydrochloride did not inhibit the multiplication of Agent II-B, although 2-hydroxybenzyl-benzimidazole was an effective inhibitor. Essential lipids were not detected. The diameter of the agent is 16-25 nm and its buoyant density in CsCl equilibrium density gradients was 1.35 gm/ml. Neutralization test results did not reveal antigenic relatedness between Agent II-B and known human picornaviruses. Apparently, this new viral agent is a picornavirus which possesses the capacity to multiply in unexpectedly diverse cell types.

Enhanced toxicity of nervous system drugs for germ-free mice.

Germ-free mice were found to be more sensitive than conventional mice to poisoning by hemicholinium-3, hexamethonium chloride, strychnine sulfate, sodium pentobarbital, sodium barbital, and histamine diphosphate. On the other hand, conventional mice were more sensitive to atropine. No difference between germ-free and conventional mice was found in sensitivity to d-tubocurarine, metrazol, and picrotoxin. These findings raise a question as to the influence of exposure to microorganisms in the development of sensitivity to drugs acting on the nervous system.