Regulation of desaturase expression in HL60 cells.

The expression of delta 5 desaturase (D5D), delta 6 desaturase (D6D) and delta 9 desaturase (D9D) was determined by RT-PCR in the human promyelocytic cell line HL60. During 72 h of culture with 10% FBS, D5D and D6D were upregulated 5 to 6-fold, whereas D9D approximately doubled. The addition of fatty acids (FAs) to the culture medium suppressed upregulation of all desaturases. N-3 and n-6 FA appeared to be more effective than n-9 or saturated FA. When FAs were added after 72 h, further upregulation during the next 24 h was suppressed for nearly all desaturases and FAs tested, except for D5D when oleic acid (OA) or stearic acid (SA) was added. In cells cultured with restricted amounts of FBS, desaturase expression increased with decreasing concentrations of FBS. Cellular FA content decreased by 60% in the neutral lipid fraction, whereas that of the phospholipid fraction decreased by 10% during 72 h of culture. The largest decrease occurred in the sum of n-3 and n-6 FA of the neutral lipid fraction, which was reduced by 83%, whereas the content of these FAs in the phospholipid fraction decreased by 32%. The results indicate that when the supply of FA to HL60 cells is limited, the intracellular content of n-3 and n-6 FA decreases and this leads to upregulation of the desaturases, particularly D5D and D6D. Since HL60 cells resemble human leukocytes, the results suggest that desaturase expression in leukocytes may be exploited as a biomarker for FA status.

3M diffractive multifocal intraocular lens: eight year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To study the long-term results of implantation of the 3M diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Eye Department, ASA, Arendal, Norway. METHODS: The study comprised 97 eyes in 72 patients. Follow-up was 8 years. Distance and near visual acuities, refractive results, contrast sensitivity, IOL centration, and neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) capsulotomies to treat posterior capsule opacification were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients without ocular pathology achieved a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.5 or better (i.e., 98.7% had a BCVA of 1.0 or better). Without correction, 73.8% of eyes had a Jaeger acuity of J3 or better and with distance correction, 92.1%. Emmetropia or within +/-0.25 diopter (D) of it was achieved in 58.8% of eyes. An astigmatic shift of 0.827 D cylinder correction was induced. This shift was mainly against the rule (0.717 D). Contrast sensitivity was reduced with spatial frequencies of 6 to 18 cycles per degree. No need for spectacles was reported by 54.2% of patients and by 68.0% of those with bilateral implantation. For near tasks, 63.9% of patients never used spectacles. The IOLs were well centered or minimally decentered in 99.0% of eyes. Posterior capsule opacification was treated by Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in 55.7% of eyes, with a mean time between surgery and treatment of 34.0 months +/- 23.2 (SD). CONCLUSION: This long-term study proved the 3M diffractive IOL to be safe and effective despite some reduction in contrast sensitivity at higher spatial frequencies. More than half the patients never wore spectacles; 2 of 3 patients with IOLs in both eyes never wore spectacles. Proper patient selection is crucial.

The follow-up in patients with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule with and without glaucoma. 2. The development of glaucoma in persons with pseudoexfoliation.

102 persons with pseudoexfoliation without glaucoma, not attending follow-up controls, underwent re-examination. The time elapsed since last control was greater than or equal to 5 years in 39%. In those with monocular pseudoexfoliation, 30% became binocularly affected. Only 3 persons had developed glaucoma (2.9%). Probable explanations for this low figure are discussed. IOP measurements of the total group and the subgroup of persons remaining monocularly affected during the observation period, revealed similar or lowered values at re-examination compared with the last control. A retrospective analysis of a capsular glaucoma group (208 eyes), disclosed that 84% had glaucoma at their initial visit, 38% of the remaining patients developing glaucoma during 1.5 years.

The follow-up in patients with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule with and without glaucoma. 1. Factors influencing the patients attendance in eye-controls.

This study deals with the problem of attendances in patients with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule with and without glaucoma. While 640 patients attended the controls, 321 patients did not return for re-examination in 2 years. This represents 1/6 of the capsular glaucoma patients and 1/3 of the non-glaucoma patients. The analysis of influencing factors revealed that the glaucoma patients who failed to return had a higher mean age than the non-glaucoma group (P less than 0.001) or the group of glaucoma patients that attended the controls (P less than 0.001). Persons with pseudoexfoliation without glaucoma who did not meet for control were younger than those who met (P less than 0.001). The sex or travelling distance of the patients seemed to be of no influence. Interviewing the glaucoma patients disclosed a resigned attitude towards treatment among those who failed to come. More information and/or communication seem to be the most important factors to achieve better follow-up in persons with pseudoexfoliation without glaucoma.

Fenestrated sheen macular dystrophy. A new autosomal dominant maculopathy.

A family is described showing small, grouped, red fenestrations of the macular region surrounding an intact foveolar reflex. The disease affected a father and his 2 daughters, and seems to be an autosomal dominant maculopathy. No functional abnormalities were disclosed and fluorescein angiography was normal. This family may represent the second family described with fenestrated sheen macular dystrophy.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with acute optic neuritis.

Ten patients with acute optic neuritis (AON) were examined for T and B lymphocytes in blood and cerebrospinal fluid by means of rosette techniques. The percentage of T lymphocytes in blood was significantly decreased (54+/-3%) compared to controls (66+/-2%). Absolute numbers of T lymphocytes, and relative and absolute B lymphocyte concentrations were not significantly different from controls. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T lymphocyte percentage was significantly increased (88.8% compared to 78.0% in controls). The relative CSF immunoglobulin G concentration was elevated in four patients (40%). On agarose gel electrophoresis, bands in the gamma globulin region were found in two patients (20%).

The HLA system in primary open angle glaucoma and in patients with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule (exfoliation or fibrillopathia epitheliocapsularis).

HLA typing of eighteen antigens in 43 patients with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule, 45 patients with capsular glaucoma, and 43 patients with primary open angle glaucoma was performed. No significant deviation from a control series of 45 subjects was found.

Acute ocular hypotony as a manifestation of mumps. A case report.

A 27-year-old woman with epidemic parotitis developed acute hypotony in her right eye. This complication is not mentioned in earlier reports concerning this disease. She also suffered from keratitis and iritis. The inflammatory reaction of the anterior eye subsided on topical medication, but the hypotony persisted for two weeks. Factors possibly influencing the low intraocular tension are discussed.

Timolol maleate in treatment of open angle glaucoma.

The effect of Timolol maleate on the intraocular pressure in open angle glaucoma has been examined in 37 patients, of these simple glaucoma in 26 (48 eyes), capsular glaucoma in 9 (14 eyes) and chronic secondary glaucoma in 2 patients (2 eyes). These cases constituded a group which was relatively difficult to manage. The average pressure reduction caused by Timolol maleate alone was about 23%. In 18 patients the intraocular pressure was adequately controlled on Timolol as the only drug and in 10 on additional drug therapy. Five patients failed on drug treatment, and the remaining four failed on one eye while the fellow eye was well regulated. Tonography indicates that the effect is caused by a reduction of the aqueous humour production. Side effects of locally applied Timolol maleate have not been observed. This drug may be the drug of choice in many instances.

Unusual type of neural muscular atrophy with a possible X-chromosomal inheritance pattern.

In a large family five affected males belonging to four different kinships exhibited a muscle wasting of varying degree and with a predominantly proximal distribution. The index case had a facio-scapulo-humeral and peroneal muscular atrophy, whereas one of his cousins suffered a more generalized involvement starting in infancy and similar to Werdnig-Hoffman disease. The other affected family members had only slight changes. The index case and his affected brother had a positive Babinski sign. In enzyme histochemical preparations, specimens from the index case showed small group atrophy of type 2 fibers along with pseudomyopathic changes (whorled and coiled fibers, splitting) of type 1 fibers. Similar findings were observed in his cousin. Ultrastructural investigation gave no further information. Since all patients were males and the offspring of unaffected sisters, an X-chromosomal mode of transmission is proposed for this illness.

Pulfrich pendulum phenomenon in patients with a history of acute optic neuritis.

The Pulfrich phenomenon is a stereoillusion in which a pendulum swinging at right angles to the line of gaze appears to be describing an elliptical path when absorbing filters are placed in front of one eye. We used two sets of polaroid glasses as adjustable filters. A spot on a modified oscilloscope served at a pendulum bob. Twenty-nine former patients with a history of optic neuritis and visual acuities of greater than or equal to 6/6 in both eyes and twenty-two normal subjects underwent examinations. The patients showed pathological recordings which separated them from the control subjects. The test seems to expose minor residual dysfunction of affected optic nerves where the visual acuity is normalized. This abnormal response when viewing the moving Pulfrich pendulum is probably caused by disturbed neural conduction. The degree of acute visual loss and the time elapsed since the attack did not seem to influence the Pulfrich response. The results may explain why some patients who have recovered from optic neuritis complain of difficulties when viewing moving objects. In addition to the use of Pulfrich illusion test for diagnostic work; i.e. clinical or subclinical attacks of optic neuritis, it can serve as a valuable supplement to the more sophisticated method of visual evoked response.

Fibromuscular dysplasia of intracranial arteries in a patient with multiple enchondromas (Ollier disease).

In a 32-year-old woman, cerebral angiography showed fibromuscular dysplasia of the left anterior and middle cerebral arteries. She had had epilepsy and subarachnoid hemorrhages with subsequent hemiplegia. Since she also had multiple enchondromas (Ollier disease), this may represent a case of Maffucci syndrome.

Retinal haemorrhage as a complication of gas encephalography and gas myelography. Prospective study using oxgen gas with a discussion of pathogenetic mechanisms.

Seventy patients, submitted to oxygen encephalography and oxygen myelography, were examined by retinal funduscopy to establish the incidence of intraocular haemorrhages, a complication reported to be frequent by other investigators. We did not discover any retinal haemorrhages. Pathogenetic factors influencing intracranial or intraocular venous pressure or both are discussed, particularly the effect due to different technical procedures during the examination, and the type of anaesthesia used.

The ultrastructure of lens and iris in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

The lens and an iris biopsy from a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis has been examined in the electron microscope. Subepithelial electron-lucent areas were demonstrated. The iris was normal. The lens changes were thought to be due to deposition of the specific cholesterol breakdown product inherent to this disease.