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Biomedical subjects

A Bron

Publications and source records attributed to A Bron.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Is corneal thickness measurement reliable and useful?].

PURPOSE: We evaluated the accuracy and the reproducibility of central corneal thickness measurements using an ultrasound pachymeter, and its usefulness in clinical practice. METHODS: We calculated the intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-session variability in control subjects (n = 38). We observed the diurnal variation (n = 8) and the role of surgery (n = 12) on central corneal thickness. We measured and compared central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in 6 groups (control subjects n = 134, primary open-angle glaucoma n = 111, ocular hypertension n = 66, normal tension glaucoma n = 12, diabetes mellitus n = 62, corneal graft n = 27). We studied the influence of dorzolamide on central corneal thickness (n = 16). RESULTS: The intra-observer variability was 9 +/- 4 microns, whereas the inter-observer and inter-session variabilities were 4 microns and 5% m respectively. The central corneal thickness in patients with ocular hypertension (587 +/- 41 microns) was significantly greater than control subjects (548 +/- 32 microns) and all the other groups (p < 0.001). No influence of dorzolamide was observed on central corneal thickness. CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness assessed with an ultrasound pachymeter may be a useful and accurate method in selected patients whose intraocular pressure measurement does not correlate with other clinical findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

CA 19-9 ELISA test: a new method for studying mucus changes in tears.

AIMS: This study investigated mucus changes in the tears in various eye conditions using impression cytology. The quantity of mucins was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the tumour marker CA 19-9. This assay quantifies the sialylated Lewis(a) structure mainly associated with ocular mucins. METHODS: Impression cytology was performed using a cellulose nitrate membrane, on 53 healthy patients, 50 glaucoma patients treated with beta blockers, 24 patients suffering from dry eye syndrome, and 45 contact lens wearers. The tear film glycoproteins were eluted and CA 19-9 was measured. RESULTS: CA 19-9 content expressed as kilo units (kU) per microgram of tears was significantly decreased in dry eye syndrome (25.8 kU (SD 17.3)/microgram) (p < 0.05), glaucoma patients over 60 years (28.9 (19.5) kU/microgram) (p < 0.05), and contact lens wearers (28.4 kU (18)/microgram) (p < 0.05), when compared with healthy individuals (39.4 kU (22.2)/microgram). CONCLUSION: Impression cytology can be regarded as a valuable method for obtaining samples of glycoconjugates of mucin. The decrease of sialylated chains observed with this method confirms the hypothesis that some quantitative changes in the tear film may be encountered in ocular surface disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bilateral loss of vision and macular ischemia related to Behçet disease.

PURPOSE: To report a 61-year-old man with sudden onset of visual loss in both eyes related to bilateral macular ischemia. METHODS: The patient underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including slit-lamp and fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and visual field testing as well as biologic screening. RESULTS: Bilateral macular ischemia associated with peripheral retinal vasculitis was confirmed by angiography. We diagnosed Behçet disease by association of ocular, oral, and cutaneous involvement according to the criteria of the international study group for Behçet disease. The patient was treated with corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: In Behçet disease, sudden onset of bilateral vision loss may be associated with bilateral retinal vascular disease and macular ischemia. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with systemic corticosteroids may be beneficial.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Effects of high dose intravenous immunoglobulin in two severe corticosteroid insensitive asthmatic patients.

Preliminary observations of the clinical efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in two patients with severe corticosteroid insensitive asthma are reported. In both patients treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin resulted in clinical improvement and enabled a significant reduction in the dose of prednisolone. In one of the patients fibreoptic bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsies was performed and peripheral blood was analysed by flow cytometry before and after treatment. Immunohistological analysis of the biopsy samples after treatment showed a decrease in the number of all cell types, especially CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and activated CD25+ T lymphocytes, which was associated with a reduction in peripheral blood T cell activation. Intravenous immunoglobulin may be a valid option for the treatment of corticosteroid insensitive asthma. To elucidate the role and mode of action of intravenous immunoglobulin further studies in larger groups of patients are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Free and complexed interleukin-8 in blood and bronchial mucosa in asthma.

We have tested the hypothesis that the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) is increased in bronchial tissue and circulating leukocytes of atopic asthmatics, indicating a role for this chemokine in asthma. The concentration of IL-8 in its free form and complexed with IgG or IgA was measured by ELISA in bronchial tissue, serum, and lysates of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and granulocytes from subjects with mild or severe asthma and nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects. Serum ECP was measured by fluorescent enzyme immunoassay. Free IL-8 was detected in the sera (n = 44) and bronchial tissue (n = 9) of all subjects with severe atopic asthma, but it was undetectable in normal subjects and subjects with mild atopic asthma, suggesting that free IL-8 is a marker of severe asthma. A positive correlation between free IL-8 and serum ECP levels found in severe disease suggests that IL-8 is associated with eosinophil activation. Complexes of IL-8 with IgA and IgG were detected in all serum and tissue samples. However, the levels of the IL-8-IgA complex were increased in the bronchial mucosa in asthma, and in blood were related to disease activity. Together, these results point to upregulation of IL-8 production in asthma and the induction of IL-8 binding immunoglobulins of the IgA class in the inflamed mucosa. We suggest a proinflammatory role for these complexes in lung tissue.

Asthma↗