Treatment of strabismus in adults with botulinum toxin A

Eighty-five adults with horizontal concomitant strabismus were treated with an injection of a low dose of botulinum toxin A (BTXA) into the lateral or medial rectus muscle. The ocular deviation was reduced by an average of 60% independently of its size and whether or not surgery had previously been performed. The change was temporary, however, except in those cases with binocular functions, when fusion was re-established. Repeated low dose injections can maintain the improvement, but at higher doses, although larger reductions are produced, temporary local side effects--ptosis and vertical strabismus--are common. The technique is simple, well tolerated, and has no systemic side effects.

Strabismus in childhood

Strabismus is a common childhood disorder which is underdiagnosed and undertreated. A detectable squint at any age is abnormal and should be investigated to exclude significant ophthalmological or systemic disease. Early detection and treatment will enable normal and near-normal binocular functions to be achieved in many children.

Ultrasonic examination of the flexor tendons of the fingers

Static ultrasound was used to examine the cross-sectional anatomy of the fingers principally to determine the feasibility of demonstrating the normal anatomy of the flexor tendons and also to investigate the possibility of showing pathological anatomy. The study showed that normal and pathologic anatomy of the flexor tendons could be easily demonstrated using the available ultrasound equipment. The exact clinical usefulness and the role of this new procedure awaits further clinical studies with surgical and pathological correlation.

Superior oblique myokymia. A possible etiologic factor

Two cases of superior oblique myokymia developed following superior oblique palsy. In some cases the condition may be due to abnormal discharges from the affected trochlear nucleus.

Acoustooptic spectrum analysis of radar signals using an integrating photodetector array

This paper examines the instantaneous Fourier power spectrum for different types of radar signals such as cw, pulse-modulated cw, and linear FM signals using an acoustooptic spectrum analyzer. The effects on the time-integrated output intensity distribution, due to the truncation of the propagating acoustic signal by the finite aperture width of the Bragg cell and the amplitude weighting on the signal, are also analyzed. Some experimental results on pulse-modulated cw and linear FM signals are presented and then compared to theory.

Reactivity of Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenase toward artificial and natural electron donors or acceptors

A purified preparation of hydrogenase from D. gigas was inactive toward ferredoxin, flavodoxin or rubredoxin in the absence of cytochrome c3 (M.W. 13,000), in an atmosphere of hydrogen, although direct reduction of benzyl viologen or FMN was possible. The hydrogen evolution reaction from dithionite was possible with methyl viologen. The same reaction also occured with cytochrome c3 (M.W. 13,000) or cytochrome c3 (M.W. 26,000). Addition of either ferredoxin or flavodoxin did not accelerate the reaction.

Isolation of assimilatroy- and dissimilatory-type sulfite reductases from Desulfovibrio vulgaris

Bisulfite reductase (desulfoviridin) and an assimilatory sulfite reductase have been purified from extracts of Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The bisulfite reductase has absorption maxima at 628, 580, 408, 390, and 279 nm, and a molecular weight of 226,000 by sedimentation equilibrium, and was judged to be free of other proteins by disk electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. On gels, purified bisulfite reductase exhibited two green bands which coincided with activity and protein. The enzyme appears to be a tetramer but was shown to have two different types of subunits having molecular weights of 42,000 and 50,000. The chromophore did not form an alkaline ferrohemochromogen, was not reduced with dithionite or borohydride, and did not form a spectrally visible complex with CO. The assimilatory sulfite reductase has absorption maxima at 590, 545, 405 and 275 nm and a molecular weight of 26,800, and appears to consist of a single polypeptide chain as it is not dissociated into subunits by sodium dodecyl sulfate. By disk electrophoresis, purified sulfite reductase exhibited a single greenish-brown band which coincided with activity and protein. The sole product of the reduction was sulfide, and the chromophore was reduced by borohydride in the presence of sulfite. Carbon monoxide reacted with the reduced chromophore but it did not form a typical pyridine ferrohemochromogen. Thiosulfate, trithionate, and tetrathionate were not reduced by either enzyme preparation. In the presence of 8 M urea, the spectrum of bisulfite reductase resembles that of the sulfite reductase, thus suggesting a chemical relationship between the two chromophores.

Isolation of a new pigment, desulforubidin, from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway strain) and its role in sulfite reduction

A new pigment, desulforubidin, that has sulfite reducing activity, has been purified from extracts of the Norway strain of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, which lacks desulfoviridin.

Isolation of a new pigment, desulforubidin, from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway strain) and its role in sulfite reduction

A new pigment, desulforubidin, that has sulfite reducing activity, has been purified from extracts of the Norway strain of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, which lacks desulfoviridin.