[Molecular mechanisms of neuroretinoprotection in primary open-angle glaucoma]. / Molekuliarnye mekhanizmy neiroretinoprotektsii pri pervichnoi otkrytougol'noi glaukome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma based on specific biochemical markers of neurotrophy and neurodegeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the course of the study, lacrimal fluid (LF) of 23 patients (46 eyes) with stage I-II primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) aged 66.3±10.8 was examined. The control group consisted of healthy individuals (12 control LF samples). Local antihypertensive therapy was complimented with 10 intramuscular injections of retinalamin (GEROPHARM LLC, St. Petersburg) - a complex of peptides isolated from cattle retinas, administered 5 mg once a day. Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) method was used to test LF for concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) before and after the treatment. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, the content of BDNF was 0.83±0.06 ng/mL, NSE - 0.51±0.06 ng/mL. In patients with POAG, the indices were higher: BDNF was 1.39±0.85 ng/mL (p>0.05), NSE - 4.31±2.02 ng/mL (p<0.05). The patients with stage II-III POAG had a significant increase of BDNF concentration (1.37±0.41 ng/mL and 1.52±0.40 ng/mL respectively in stages II and III) indicating compensatory capabilities at these stages of the disease. The NSE marker was also high in these stages (4.16±2.44 ng/mL and 5.78±2.80 ng/mL, p<0.05), which indicates the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. After Retinalamin® therapy, patients with stage II POAG had control group levels of marker proteins, while in stage III patients NSE content remained high. CONCLUSION: There is a compensatory increase of BDNF level and a pathological increase of NSE content in LF of POAG patients. The change in the content of neurotrophins in the LF was determined to depend on the stage of POAG. Thus, in stages II and III POAG there is a marked increase of NSE and a compensatory increase of BDNF. After the complex therapy including retinalamin in patients with stage II POAG, a decrease in initially high concentrations of BDNF and NSE in LF down to the control group values was noted. In stage III patients, signs of neurodegeneration persist in the form of high NSE values. Taking into account the positive dynamics of the neuronal marker content in LF in the complex therapy of POAG with Retinalamin®, timely neuroretinoprotection is recommended.

[Value of complex ultrasonography in children with concomitant strabismus].

28 children with concomitant strabismus were examined using complex ultrasonography. Thickness of horizontal recti muscles was estimated in convergent and divergent strabismus. The blood flow in central retinal artery was estimated in patients with concomitant strabismus.

[Effectiveness of infrared exposure to periorbital areas in partial optic nerve atrophy of varying degrees].

The paper gives the comparative results of infrared exposure, drug and multimodality treatment in partial optic nerve atrophy of varying degrees, as evidenced by Doppler, electrophysiological, and morphometric studies.

[The first experience in using radionuclude by single-photon emission computed tomography in the diagnosis of orbital neoplasms].

The scintigraphic study using 99mTc-labeled red blood cells was performed in 3 steps in 18 patients with an orbital space-occupying lesion. Patients with orbital cavernous hemangiona were found to have decreased accumulation of the agent in a vascular phase, as well as intensive hyperfixation at planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography. Intensive accumulation of the agent in the involved region was observed in patients with malignancies at dynamic, delayed scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography. Only the follow-up revealed the agent's hyperfixation in a patient with squamous-cell carcinoma of the lower lid skin with its spread to the orbit. None of the stages of a scintigraphic showed any accumulation of labeled red blood cells in a patient with orbital fibroma and in a patient with cranioorbital meningioma. Thus, the characteristic differentially diagnostic signs of benign and malignant orbital neoplasms were revealed.

[Comprehensive ultrasound diagnosis of orbital tumors and preudotumors].

A comprehensive ultrasound examination was made in 37 patients with orbital tumors and pseudotumors. The basic differential diagnostic sonographic and Doppler signs were defined in capillary hemangioma, vasculitis at the stage of infiltration and malignancies of the orbit.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of hyaluronic acid]. / Protivovospalitel'naia aktivnost' gialuronovoi kisloty.

The results of in vivo experiments showed that hyaluronic acid possesses antiexudative activity comparable with that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Hyaluronic acid exhibits antagonism with respect to histamine-induced inflammation.

[Ultrasonic tomography of neurogenic tumors of the orbit]. / Ul'trazvukovaia tomografiia neirogennykh opukholei orbity.

The results of a comprehensive ultrasonic examination of 12 patients with tumors of the eye orbit are described. A low echogenicity as well as heterogeneity of the echo-structure and of the contours' sharpness are the main sonographic features of the mentioned tumors. An examination of a vascularization degree in patients with gliomas of the optic nerve showed no blood circulation inside tumors; while a collateral blood circulation was detected in patients with meningiomas of the optic nerve. A compression of the ocular artery by the tumor and reduced hemodynamic indices were found to be typical. Finally, a triplex examination of the orbit makes it possible to diagnose tumors of the optic nerve.