The additive intraocular pressure-lowering effect of latanoprost in combined therapy with other ocular hypotensive agents

Latanoprost, a prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue prodrug, has been shown to be an effective ocular hypotensive agent when used alone on ocular hypertensive or open angle glaucoma patients. In various studies, the ocular hypotensive effects of latanoprost have also been evaluated when used in addition to, or in combination with, other ocular hypotensive agents. Latanoprost produces an additional reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) when used in combination with timolol, pilocarpine, acetazolamide and dipivefrin. These represent four different classes of glaucoma drugs-beta-adrenergic antagonists, cholinergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and adrenergic agonists-all of which reduce the IOP by different mechanisms (reduction of aqueous humor production, increased outflow facility, or by a mixed effect on aqueous humor dynamics). All the available evidence shows that latanoprost produces a clinically significant additive ocular hypotensive effect when used in combination with any currently available ocular hypotensive agent.

[Apoplexy--the acute phase]

This review concerns the acute phase of stroke. It describes incidence, prevalence, etiology, diagnosis and treatment together with the possibilities for prevention. The incidence of stroke in the Danish population is about 2/1000 person years and has been largely unchanged during the last 20 years. About 85% of strokes are caused by cerebral infarcts, ten percent by intracerebral haemorrhages and about five percent by subarachnoid bleeding. The incidence increases with age. Up till age 65 years the ratio between men and women is two to one, while the ratio in the oldest age group approaches one to one. The most important risk factors for stroke are smoking, arterial hypertension, previous cerebrovascular disease, heart disease and diabetes mellitus. Till now, no treatment has been documented as effective in reducing the cerebral damage caused by acute stroke. Ongoing controlled clinical trials in the acute state of ischaemic stroke are testing the effect of thrombolytic therapy, treatment with calciumantagonists, aspirin and heparin. The general medical treatment including nursing and physiotherapy in the acute phase is described. Within recent years benefit of various strategies of stroke prevention has been documented.

[Neuroborreliosis--not only Bannwarth's syndrome]

Two patients with neuroborreliosis are reported. They had Bannwarth's syndrome combined with encephalitis and myelitis respectively. Both patients recovered following high-dose penicillin treatment. Neuroborreliosis may be complicated with CNS involvement although this may be infrequent. It is important to diagnose neuroborreliosis because of the striking effect of penicillin treatment.

Computerized tomography findings among workers with chronic intoxication of the brain

Among the subjects classified as possibly or definitely demented 60% had suspected or definitely cerebral atrophy on CTs. Among the subjects classified as definitely demented 42% had definite cerebral atrophy. None of the referents had definite atrophy on CT. Regional cerebral blood flow was significantly decreased among subjects with cerebral atrophy. Some group overlap was evident as 12 subjects classified as definitely demented had normal CTs. This overlap showed that the absence of cerebral atrophy did not exclude the presence of dementia. On the other side, cerebral atrophy should not be found by a mere coincidence among persons under the age of sixty but indicates the presence of dementia.

Cluster headache-like headaches: a symptomatic feature? A report of three patients with intracranial pathologic findings

This report concerns three patients with cluster headache-like headaches associated with intracranial pathologic findings. The question whether the occurrence of cluster headache-like headaches may be a symptomatic feature is still not solved. In two of the three presented cases the cluster headache-like headaches disappeared when the intracranial abnormalities were treated.

[Study on the incidence of Sarcocystis spp. in Dutch cattle using various methods]

Comparative studies were done to test the practicability of various methods of detection in bovine sarcosporidiosis. Macroscopic examination of meat, trichinoscopy and artificial digestion were carried out using meat from the heart and oesophagus. A total of ninety-one random animals were involved. It was concluded that artificial digestion of trypsin is the method of choice (practical, sensitive). As much as 100 per cent of the animals were found to be infected with Sarcocystis spp.

Sarcosporidiosis--an overlooked zoonosis. Man as intermediate and final host

Trichinoscopical investigation in 1971 revealed a prevalence rate of Sarcocystis infection of 2.8 percent in 49,000 sows and boars, and 0.67 percent in 60,000 bacon pigs. The investigation revealed ten percent infected stocks, showing that sarcosporidiosis is ubiquitous. Trichinoscopical examination of 112 specimens of human muscle tissue revealed four cases of sarcocystis infection corresponding to 3.6 percent-i.e., the rate of infection was comparable to that found in sows and boars. Man, when acting in the role of the final host, often exhibits severe symptoms of indigestion. Sarcocystis infection in the intermediate host may cause abortion. Could this happen in human cases as well? The fact that man acts as an intermediate as well as a final host indicates that sarcosporidiosis is a zoonosis.

Isospora suis species in a Danish SPF-herd

In two studies carried out in 1974-75 on 10 eight and 25 two week old piglets obtained from a SPF-herd the endoparasitic status was determined. Samples of faeces were examined by microscopy which revealed the presence of Isospora suis, a finding that was quite unexpected in a SPF-herd. During days 17-23 pp. the 25 piglets were not found to excrete oocysts, the earliest findings of oocysts being made 24-35 days p.p. The 10 piglets being kept isolated in individual pens excreted oocysts up until 88 days p.p. The epidemiology of Isospora suis is discussed.

Airway adequacy, head posture, and craniofacial morphology

Previous studies of different samples have demonstrated associations between craniocervical angulation and craniofacial morphology, between airway obstruction by adenoids and craniofacial morphology, and between airway obstruction and craniocervical angulation. A hypothesis to account for the different sets of associations was suggested by Solow and Kreiborg in 1977. In the present study, the three sets of associations were examined in a single group of nonpathologic subjects with no history of airway obstruction. Cephalometric radiographs taken in the natural head position and rhinomanometric recordings were obtained from twenty-four children 7 to 9 years of age. Correlations were calculated between twenty-seven morphologic, eight postural, and two airway variables. A large craniocervical angle was, on the average, seen in connection with small mandibular dimensions, mandibular retrognathism, and a large mandibular inclination. Obstructed nasopharyngeal airways (defined as a small pm-ad 2 radiographic distance and a large nasal respiratory resistance, NRR, determined rhinomanometrically) were, on the average, seen in connection with a large craniocervical angle and with small mandibular dimensions, mandibular retrognathism, a large mandibular inclination, and retroclination of the upper incisors. The observed correlations were in agreement with the predicted pattern of associations between craniofacial morphology, craniocervical angulation, and airway resistance, thus suggesting the simultaneous presence of such associations in the sample of nonpathologic subjects with no history of airway obstruction.

Rhinomanometric recording in children

The present paper describes the development of a method for rhinomanometric assessment of nasal respiratory resistance in children, based on a commercially available equipment, the Mercury Nasal Resistance Meter, NR 1. The instrument was modified to improve performance, and a special technique was developed for individual lining of the nose mask. The posterior rhinomanometric tehnique was further modified by fitting the oral tubing with a collar, and by the use of a bio-feedback procedure based on oscilloscope display of the flow-pressure diagram. It could then be used in all subjects, a considerable improvement over previous methods. The error of the method was analysed in a sample of 17 children aged 8-12 examined at two occasions. There was no systematic error. For the posterior method the method error within a session was about 0.2 cm H2O/l/sec at a flow rate of 0.2 l/sec.

Assessment of the nasopharyngeal airway. A rhinomanometric and radiographic study in children with adenoids

An assessment of the nasopharyngeal airway in 24 children referred to hospital for adenoidectomy was based on symptoms, radiography and rhinomanometry. The only symptom that was significantly correlated to a small size of the nasopharyngeal airway was Snoring. By radiography, measurement of the airway as well as of the depth of soft tissue of the posterior wall was found well correlated to nasal respiratory resistance which was measured by a new technique. By this, rhinomanometry could be performed in all children down to the age of 5 years. Both radiography and rhinomanometry give valuable parameters for the indication of adenoidectomy.

Die Wirkung von Stickstoff- und Glucosemangel auf das Teilungsverhalten einer Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Kulturen des Hefestammes Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. ellips. Yeast Foam (Winge) wurden verschiedenen Ernährungsbedingungen ausgesetzt und das Teilungsverhalten beobachtet.

In synthetischem Minimal-Medium vermehren sich die Zellen auf etwa 15% der in Bierwürze gemessenen Menge. Werden dem Minimal-Medium die Stickstoffquellen oder die Glucose entzogen, beträgt die Ausbeute nur noch 10% von der in normalem Minimal-Medium.

Im normalen Minimal-Medium und im N-Mangel-Medium beginnen die Zellen sofort zu knospen und haben die Vermehrung nach 24 Stdn. im wesentlichen abgeschlossen. Bei Glucose-Mangel beginnt die Knospung erst nach ca. 12 Stdn. und ist nach 48 Stdn. abgeschlossen.

Werden Zellen einer 24 Stdn. alten Bierwürzekultur, die sich in exponentiellem Wachstum befinden, für 2 Stdn. dem Minimal- bzw. Mangelmedium ausgesetzt bei gleichzeitiger Kältebehandlung, so beginnen sie sich nach Rücksetzung in Bierwürze sofort und synchron zu teilen, bei Glucose-Mangel etwas schlechter als in den beiden anderen Kulturen.

4 Tage alte, ruhende Bierwürzkulturen, die 2 Stdn. bei Kälte im Stickstoff- oder Glucose-Mangel-medium gehalten wurden, begannen nach Rücksetzung in Bierwürze nur sehr verzögert zu knospen.

Nach 3 Tagen Minimal- oder Mangelkultur bei normaler Temperatur war der Teilungswiederbeginn in Bierwürze auch verzögert und weniger synchron.