Spectacle side panels and moist inserts for the treatment of dry-eye patients

To increase the moisture level around the eyes, small, wet, acute, triangular sponges, from which water steadily evaporates, were attached to special side panels of modified eyeglasses. The moisture level in the region between the cornea and the spectacle lens was measured in 10 patients with moderately severe dry eyes and in 10 normal controls, by a miniature moisture sensor under ambient conditions of 22.3 degrees C and 29.8% humidity. The humidity was 32.0 +/- 4.2% with spectacles, frame only (no lenses); 32.3 +/- 6.0% with spectacles; 37.9 +/- 5.1% with spectacles equipped with side panels, and 42.7 +/- 5.7% with side panel moist inserts attached for dry eye patients. Humidity was the highest with moist inserts added to the spectacles of the control group, with or without moderate wind. All dry eye patients noticed symptomatic relief with the inserts, and the rose bengal score and fluorescein staining improved after 2 weeks of their use. Our findings indicate that the combination of side panels and periodically moistened sponge inserts offer a simple and noninvasive approach to increasing the humidity surrounding the eyes, thus decreasing the tear evaporation from the ocular surface and providing amelioration of frequently debilitating symptoms of dry eye.

Origin of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pulse wave

System analysis was performed on 16 adult mongrel dogs to determine the origin of the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pulse wave. The descending thoracic aorta was occluded to evaluate the effects of the spinal arterial pulsations, and the thoracic aorta and inferior vena cava were simultaneously occluded to evaluate the effects of the spinal venous pulsations. It was concluded that, in the first harmonic wave, the components of the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pulse wave are as follows: spinal arterial pulsations, 39.4%; spinal vascular (arteries and veins) pulsations, 77%; venous pulsations in the spinal canal, 37.6%; and the intracranial pressure pulse wave transmitted through the spinal canal from the intracranial space to the lumbar level, 23%.

Application of a metal capillary column in gas chromatographic determination of catechol-o-methyltransferase activity

The utility of a deactivated metal capillary column, Rascot, in the measurement of an enzymatic reaction, in this case measurement of rat catechol-O-methyltransferase activity, was examined. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxybenzylalcohol and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were used as substrates and the m- and p-O-methylated products were separated by using Rascot after derivatization. The peaks on the chromatograms were symmetrical. The data obtained were compared with those reported in previously published papers. Good agreement with previous results proved that Rascot is able to withstand practical use in biological materials.

Quantitative estimation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 provirus in CD4+ T lymphocytes using the polymerase chain reaction

The proviral burden of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 29 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) was estimated using a polymerase chain reaction method which we recently refined. The mean numbers of HIV-1 provirus in eight patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex treated with zidovudine (AZT), in 10 asymptomatic patients treated with AZT, and in 11 asymptomatic untreated patients were 892, 436, and 406 copies in 1 x 10(5) CD4- T lymphocytes, respectively. These results demonstrate that patients may have more HIV-1 provirus copies in an advanced than early stage of disease, and that the fraction of the infected lymphocytes is much higher than previously thought, especially in asymptomatic patients. There was no difference in the viral burden in CD4+ T lymphocytes regardless of whether AZT had been administered or not. These findings validate the method used here to quantitate HIV-1 provirus DNA and confirm that AZT is not effective in reducing the amount of provirus DNA in lymphocytes.

Quantitative analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 DNA in asymptomatic carriers using the polymerase chain reaction

A method for detecting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) provirus DNA in lymphocytes with improved sensitivity and reproducibility was developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified HIV-1 DNA was hybridized with a 32P-labeled probe and quantitated with a beta-scanner after electrophoresis. A linear relationship was obtained between the common logarithms of the counts detected and the number of HIV-1 DNA copies applied to the PCR. Detectability was from 3 copies/10(5) lymphocytes, and linearity was maintained from 10 to 10(3) copies. HIV-1 DNA was detected in all 9 asymptomatic carriers tested (18 to 2,857 copies/10(5) CD4+ T lymphocytes). The viral burden was inversely related to the CD4+ lymphocyte count, suggesting that quantitation of provirus levels may serve as a predictor of progress in early HIV infection.

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide activation of 7OZ/3 cells by anti-lipopolysaccharide antibodies

We have investigated the ability of mAb against LPS to inhibit LPS-induced activation of 7OZ/3 pre-B cells. The fine specificity and relative affinity of these mAb for lipid A and LPS were also determined. We found that antibodies inhibited only the activity of glycolipids which they bound with relatively high affinity. However, two high affinity antibodies binding to non-lipid A epitopes did not block cellular activation. Some, but not all, relatively high affinity antibodies binding to the lipid A region of the LPS molecule inhibited biologic activity. The inhibitory antibodies bound to at least two distinct epitopes within the lipid A region. These data suggest that LPS interacts with 7OZ/3 cells in a highly specific fashion.

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide activation of 7OZ/3 cells by anti-lipopolysaccharide antibodies

We have investigated the ability of mAb against LPS to inhibit LPS-induced activation of 7OZ/3 pre-B cells. The fine specificity and relative affinity of these mAb for lipid A and LPS were also determined. We found that antibodies inhibited only the activity of glycolipids which they bound with relatively high affinity. However, two high affinity antibodies binding to non-lipid A epitopes did not block cellular activation. Some, but not all, relatively high affinity antibodies binding to the lipid A region of the LPS molecule inhibited biologic activity. The inhibitory antibodies bound to at least two distinct epitopes within the lipid A region. These data suggest that LPS interacts with 7OZ/3 cells in a highly specific fashion.

Apico-aortic conduit bypass operation in a patient with calcified ascending aorta due to Werner's syndrome

A 53-year-old Japanese man with Werner's syndrome underwent successful apico-aortic conduit bypass operation. Preoperative examination showed severe calcification in the aortic root and ascending aorta. A composite graft was implanted from the left ventricular apex to the descending thoracic aorta with femoro-femoral bypass. To our knowledge, this case is the first surgical correction of a cardiac lesion in a patient with Werner's syndrome.

Spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves from a patent with Tay-Sachs disease. Morphological and ganglioside studies

We examined the spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves from a patient with Tay-Sachs disease, comparing the other nervous tissues morphologically and lipid-biochemically. The spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves showed numerous membranous cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (MCBs), which are characteristic of GM2-ganglioside storage in the neuronal cell bodies of the patient brains. In spinal ganglia, all neurons and satellite cells around the neurons contained membrane-bound lipid materials. In peripheral nerves, Schwann cells and myelinated axons except for enlarged axons were devoid of MCBs. Major ganglioside stored in both spinal ganglia and peripheral nerve was also GM2-ganglioside. The contents of ganglioside in the spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves were 50 and 10 times more than those from normal tissues, respectively. The spinal cord contained a slightly higher amount of gangliosides than the normal control. The cerebral white matter totally demyelinated in this patient accumulated a much higher amount of gangliosides than the cerebral gray matter. The retinal tissue showed GM2-ganglioside as the major one also.

Bleeding secondary to vitamin K deficiency in patients receiving parenteral cephem antibiotics

Thirteen patients who were treated with cephem antibiotics developed blood coagulation disorders due to vitamin K deficiency. At the time of detection of prolongation of the prothrombin time, cefazolin was being administered in four cases, cefmetazole and latamoxef (moxalactam) in three cases each, and cefoperazone, cefpiramide and ceftazidime in one case each. Bleeding occurred in ten patients, but administration of vitamin K rapidly eliminated the prothrombin time prolongation and the haemorrhagic tendency. To date, we have not detected prothrombin time prolongation or a haemorrhagic tendency with cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, cefotiam, cefoxitin or cefsulodin. Thus, different cephem antibiotics show different effects on the prothrombin time.

Biliary tract infection with anaerobes and the presence of free bile acids in bile

Gallbladder bile from 24 patients (five with anaerobic biliary tract infection, 10 with aerobic biliary tract infection, and nine without biliary tract infection) was examined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for the presence of free bile acids. All five patients with an anaerobic biliary tract infection had small amounts of free bile acids in gallbladder bile. Seven of 10 patients with aerobic biliary tract infection and nine patients with sterile bile had no detectable free bile acids. Minute amounts of free bile acids were detectable on TLC in bile of three patients with aerobic infections. Calcium bilirubinate stones were more common in patients with free bile acids in bile.

Bacteriology of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis of the aged

Bacteriological examination was performed on bile from 23 patients with acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis. Of 23 bile cultures, 15 yielded aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and 8 yielded aerobic bacteria only. No specimen grew anaerobic bacteria only. A total of 20 cultures yielded a polymicrobial flora, and 3 cultures grew one single aerobic bacterium. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., enterococci, Bacteroids fragilis, and Clostridium perfringens were the predominant bacterial flora in bile of these patients. Bacteremia was documented in 10 of the 12 patients cultured. All bacteremias involved aerobic bacteria and were polymicrobial in three patients. The frequent presence of anaerobes in bile of patients with acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis suggests that antimicrobial therapy should provide adequate coverage for anaerobic bacteria and enteric organisms.