Increased prevalence of class I integrons in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, and Enterobacter species isolates over a 7-year period in a German university hospital.

The prevalence of integrons in five enterobacterial species was analyzed in 900 blood culture isolates from 1993, 1996, and 1999. Remarkably, the prevalence increased from 4.7% in 1993 to 9.7% in 1996 and finally to 17.4% in 1999 (P < 0.01). Within 7 years the combined percentage of P1 strong promoters and P1 weak plus P2 active promoters with high transcription efficacies has increased from 23.1 to 33.3 and finally 60% (P < 0.05).

Nocturnal blood pressure and intraocular pressure measurement in glaucoma patients and healthy controls.

Daytime and nocturnal intraocular pressure (IOP) values and systemic blood pressure (BP) values were compared in 60 non-glaucomatous controls, 54 glaucoma patients with normal visual field, and 46 glaucoma patients with visual field loss. The daytime IOP was measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer and the nocturnal IOP with a Bio-Rad-Tono-Pen 2. The BP was measured with either a mercury manometer or with a Meditech ABPM-02 Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor, which took BP readings at 60 minute intervals. A tendency towards increasing IOP and decreasing BP was detected in the non-glaucomatous controls, within normal limits, and pathological changes of IOP and BP were observed with a significantly high occurrence (5% > P > 2%; Pearson's chi 2-test) in the glaucoma group with visual field loss.

Ultrastructural changes in the external recti muscles in diabetes mellitus.

Six external recti muscles chosen from a material of 20 muscles were studied with the transmission electron microscope. The specimens were obtained during enucleation procedure. All of the patients suffered from diabetes mellitus. Specimens of non-diabetic patients of the same age group were used as controls. The age-related changes were less distinct than those found in the diabetic material. In diabetes muscular atrophy dominated and serious signs of vasculopathy were present.

A clinical evaluation of XPERT NCT (Reichert) for glaucoma screening by optometrists.

XPERT NCT advanced logic pneumotonometer (Reichert) was studied for its reliability and use in glaucoma screening. The evaluated 2400 NCT measurements on 300 eyes were compared to the results of Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) from the same eyes. Repeated NCT tonometry had no significant effect on IOP. Local anesthesia reduced mean NCT-GAT difference and standard deviation significantly (p < 0.05), i.e. feeling due to the diminished air pulse force provided by the instrument had still considerable influence on IOP. NCT-GAT regression was significant (p < 0.01). Mean IOP readings provided by NCT were four mmHg higher than GAT values. Although accuracy was not satisfactory for exact measuring, it was satisfactory for screening. The results suggested that four mmHg less than the mean IOP value seen on the display is acceptable for screening when the difference between the minimal and maximal individual readings on the display is less than 2SD i.e. six mmHg. In the case of a greater difference, the maximal value is to be replaced, as NCT tends to read higher values than GAT.

The effect of timolol, betaxolol and levobunolol on the surface of rabbit cornea.

Pigmented rabbits were treated with timolol maleate, betaxolol hydrochloride or levobunolol hydrochloride eye drops twice a day for six months. Animals of the same age group and breed were used as controls. There were no differences observed in corneal epithelium with light and transmission electron microscopy. With scanning electron microscopy, in the timolol and betaxolol treated animals the picture of the corneal surface was similar to that of normal rabbit corneas after exposure to air. In scanning electron micrographs of the levobunolol treated animals, the corneal surface resembled the corneas of normal rabbits treated with artificial tears.

[Treatment of senile maculopathy with etaretin]. / Behandlung der senilen Makulopathie mit Etaretin.

The results of parenteral treatment with Etaretin in 40 patients (79 eyes) suffering from senile maculopathy are reported. In 84% of the cases there was a degeneration of the dry type and in 16% a disciform exudative maculopathy. The cases of dry maculopathy responded well within a floow-up period of 8 to 18 months.

[Glaucoma and the dry eye syndrome]. / Glaukom und "trockenes Auge".

During the past decade 2,436 patients with primary glaucoma were treated in the Budapest Eye Clinic. Symptoms and/or signs of dry eye syndrome were seen in 108 of them, i.e., 4.43%. In 42 cases these symptoms developed during conservative glaucoma treatment. Strikingly, there were more men among these patients than in the control group of sicca patients without glaucoma and there were less patients with generalized diseases related to keratoconjunctivitis sicca in the group of glaucoma patients with dry eyes. The Schirmer test was positive in a smaller percentage and corneal staining with bengal rose was more frequent in the group of sicca patients with glaucoma than in the group of sicca patients without glaucoma. Most of the glaucoma patients with dry eyes received pilocarpine dropps. The most noteworthy electron-microscopic feature of the bulbar conjunctiva was the reduction in frequency, height and width of the microplicae on the surface of the epithelial cells. The intercellular spaces were enlarged among the superficial cells and vacuoles appeared in their cytoplasm.

Investigations into the aqueous humour dynamics in primary pigmentary degeneration of the retina.

40 patients with primary pigmentary degeneration of the retina were investigated for the possible coexistence with glaucoma. 12.5% established primary glaucoma cases and 7.5% suspicious glaucoma cases were found. In primary pigmentary degeneration of the retina with no glaucoma the intraocular pressure and the parameters of Leydhecker's test showed the same distribution as that of the controls selected at random. The intraocular pressure and the tonographic parameters except for CL3-7 were slightly lower on the average in the group with retinitis pigmentosa than in the controls.