Ocular staphylococcal infections.
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Eye Diseases↗
Biomedical subjects
G Smolin
Publications and source records attributed to G Smolin.
Use of recombinant interferon to prevent recurrent herpesvirus shedding.
Iontophoresis with 6-hydroxydopamine was performed in rabbits previously infected with herpes simplex virus, McKrae strain. Viral shedding into the tear film was significantly decreased by the use of recombinant alpha interferon subtype D given as one drop qid. Interferon was noted in the tear film of rabbits 16-18 hours after the last placement of interferon drops into the inferior cul-de-sac.
Animals↗
Effect of soft contact lenses on experimental Pseudomonas and Candida keratitis.
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Animals↗
A corneal cytokine triggers the in vivo synthesis of serum amyloid A by hepatocytes.
Recently a cytokine released by primary corneal epithelial cell cultures as well as by a rabbit corneal cell line (SIRC), corneal epithelial cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor (CETAF) has been described. The biological and biochemical properties of CETAF are similar to those of epidermal cell-derived factor (ETAF) and macrophage-derived interleukin 1 (IL 1). Like IL 1 or ETAF, SIRC supernatant, as well as partially purified CETAF (both molecular weight pools) significantly enhanced serum amyloid A production by hepatocytes, when injected intraperitoneally into C3H/HeJ mice. Therefore, corneal epithelial cells, by a nonspecific helper factor, CETAF, may exert immunoregulatory functions during chronic corneal inflammation.
Amyloid↗
The effect of K-582, a new antifungal agent, on experimental Candida keratitis.
K-582, a new basic peptide antibiotic, was tested in rabbits with experimental Candida keratitis. It was shown that the K-582-treated group showed statistically highly significant therapeutic effects on days 2 and 3, as compared with the control group (day 2: P less than 0.001; day 3: P less than 0.001). The culture study showed that the average number of colonies was 1,573.1 in the controls and 463.3 in the treated group, and the difference was highly significant statistically (P less than 0.001). No ocular or systemic toxic effects were observed with this drug. K-582 is a promising new drug for the treatment of Candida keratitis.
Animals↗
Biosynthetic human interferon treatment of herpetic keratitis.
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Administration, Topical↗
Biologic properties of the thymocyte-activating factor (CETAF) produced by a rabbit corneal cell line (SIRC).
Rabbit corneal epithelial cell cultures produce a cytokine (CETAF) that greatly enhances the proliferation of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes. The rabbit corneal cell line SIRC was used to generate CETAF activity in the culture supernatant. CETAF was then partially purified by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration, where peaks of activity eluted in a molecular weight range of 95,000-55,000 (CETAF I) and 30,000-15,000 (CETAF II). Similar to the epidermal cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor (ETAF), CETAF (I and II) stimulated the growth of a human dermal fibroblast line (CRL 1445) in a dose-dependent manner, but failed to enhance the proliferation of an Interleukin 2 (IL 2)-dependent T-cell line (CT 6). Although CETAF did not exhibit any IL 2 activity, it clearly enhanced the IL 2 production by C3H/HeJ mouse splenocytes stimulated with suboptimal doses of lectins. Crude SIRC supernatants as well as the partially purified CETAF preparations showed a marked inhibition of polymorphonuclear neutrophil migration at high concentrations, but were significantly chemotactic when diluted samples were tested. CETAF release by SIRC cells was increased by stimulation with mitomycin C, phorbolmyristate acetate, hydroxyurea, silica, lipopolysaccaride B, and when the cells were cultured under serum-free conditions. These observations suggest that corneal epithelial cells may not only interact with the immune system in a way similar to keratinocytes, but may also stimulate corneal stromal cell through the production of CETAF.
Animals↗
Natural and cloned human leukocyte interferon in herpesvirus infections of rabbit eyes.
Human buffy-coat interferon and a leukocyte subtype (LeIF-A) obtained by gene cloning in Escherichia coli were equally effective in ameliorating the course of herpetic keratitis in rabbits when applied topically at a daily dose of 0.5 X 10(6) units per eye for six days commencing one day before infection. When given intramuscularly at the same dose, there was no alteration in the course of the disease. Topical treatments with LeIF-A were equally effective in suppressing epithelial damage seven days after infection, regardless of whether treatment commenced one day before infection or two days after infection. However, treatment from the day before infection also caused a significant decrease in epithelial defect two days after infection.
Administration, Topical↗
Corneal epithelial cell--derived thymocyte-activating factor (CETAF).
Supernatants of a primary rabbit corneal epithelial cell culture and an established corneal cell line (SIRC) were assayed for their ability to enhance mitogen-induced C3H/HeJ mouse thymocyte proliferation. Significant levels of thymocyte-enhancing activity were detected in supernatants from both primary cultures and SIRC. Maximal levels of activity were found after 48 to 72 hr of culture in serum-free medium with 1 X 10(5) cells/ml. When monolayers of SIRC were disrupted. supernatants of these cultures consistently contained levels of activity higher than those of undisrupted control cultures. When supernatants from SIRC cultures (both serum-free and containing greater than 10% fetal calf serum) were subjected to gel filtration on AcA 54 and Sephacryl S-200, corneal epithelial cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor was eluted as two major peaks, between mol. wt 95,000 and 55,000 and mol. wt. 30,000 and 15,000. These results indicate that corneal epithelial cells, similar to keratinocytes, produce an Interleukin 1-like activity lacking species specificity, which enhances the proliferative capacity of thymocytes. Therefore corneal epithelial cells may interact with the immune system through the production of this cytokine.
Animals↗
Herpetic keratitis in zinc-deficient rabbits.
In a study of 57 rabbits, we found that zinc played a vital role in the growth of the rabbit and in its immunocompetence. Both humoral and cellular immunity were depressed in the zinc-deficient rabbit. Not only did zinc-deficient animals fail to gain weight, differing in that respect from rabbits on a regular diet, but they also had a high death rate, in contrast with no deaths among normal rabbits. Herpes simplex virus keratitis, both epithelial and stromal, was more severe in the zinc-deficient rabbit but was not improved by local zinc replacement (zinc sulphate ointment, 0.05%); Zinc sulphate ointment (1%), which is four times stronger than commercially available zinc ophthalmic preparations, was severely toxic for the rabbit cornea.
Administration, Topical↗
Bee sting of the cornea: case report.
Three cases of corneal bee sting were treated. Each eye reacted differently from the others: case 1 with severe pain, conjunctival chemosis and hyperemia, central corneal edema, and reduced visual acuity; case 2 with severe pain, conjunctival hyperemia, and a white corneal infiltrate; and case 3 with only a minimal foreign-body sensation. The reaction to the venom can be toxic or immunologic. The behavior of the toxins-melittin, apamin, and formic acid-and of the principal allergen (probably phospholipase A) are described.
Adult↗
Idoxuridine-liposome therapy for herpes simplex keratitis.
In the treatment of acute and chronic herpetic keratitis, an idoxuridine-liposome preparation was more effective than a comparable therapeutic regimen of idoxuridine alone. Both antiviral agents were more effective than a control combination of liposome and saline.
Animals↗
A clinical comparison of tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate in the treatment of ocular infections.
We evaluated the safety and efficacy of tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate ophthalmic solutions in the treatment of patients with bacterial infections of the conjunctivas. In this double-masked study involving 66 patients, the two aminoglycosides were found to be equally safe and effective, although the in vitro data suggested that tobramycin may be more efficacious against Pseudomonas infections. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were the most frequent isolates from the infected eyes (59.8% and 20.6%, respectively).
Adult↗
Immunotherapy for rabbit lid papillomas.
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Animals↗
Vitamin A acid and corneal epithelial wound healing.
The entire corneal epithelium of each of 42 rabbits was removed bilaterally. Tretinoin or 0.5% or 0.1% ethylretinamide drops were applied topically five times a day to the eyes of one-half of the experimental animals, and peanut oil was applied to the eyes of the other half (the controls). The healing of the denuded corneas of the animals receiving tretinoin or 0.5% ethylretinamide was significantly more advanced than the healing of the corneas of the control animals. The 0.1% ethylretinamide solution did not enhance the healing process.
Animals↗
Combined gentamicin-tobramycin-corticosteroid treatment. II. Effect on gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas keratitis.
In an experimental model of Pseudomonas keratitis produced by a gentamicin sulfate-resistant, tobramycin sulfate-sensitive strain of P aeruginosa, the results of two treatment regimens-(1) with gentamicin and tobramycin alone and (2) with gentamicin, tobramycin, and a steroid-were evaluated. All of the animals exhibited ultimately the same amount of corneal inflammation and corneal scarring. In the group receiving the antibiotic-steroid combination, the corneal lesions healed more slowly.
Animals↗
Ocular microbial flora in immunodeficient patients.
The eyes of 20 patients with primary immunodeficiency syndromes were examined, and microbial cultures of their lids and conjunctivae were made. Nine patients had a history of recurrent external ocular infections, and six of these had active blepharitis or blepharoconjunctivitis at the time of examination. A single pathogenic bacterium was isolated from the lids and conjunctivae of six patients with a history of infection; a mixture of two possible pathogens was cultured from eyes of three other patients. Three of the nine patients with infections had impaired B-cell and intact T-cell immunity, whereas three patients had impaired B cell and T-cell immunity. Two patients had chronic granulomatous disease in which a defect in phagocytosis was the predominant immunologic abnormality, and one patient (with mucocutaneous candidiasis) had intact B- and T-cell function at the time of testing. Although the immunodeficient patients had a higher incidence of lid or conjunctival infection than 20 age-matched controls, the microbial flora of the lids and conjunctivae did not differ between the two groups.
Adolescent↗
The effect of combined gentamicin-corticosteroid treatment on gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas keratitis.
In an experimental model of Pseudomonas keratitis caused by a gentamicin-resistant strain of Ps aeruginosa, the results of treatment with gentamicin alone and a gentamicin-steroid combination were evaluated. Treatment with steroids did not reduce the amount of corneal inflammation when compared to eyes treated with gentamicin alone. Eyes treated with the gentamicin-steroid combination were, however, infected with a statistically significant greater number of organisms at the end of a 3-day treatment period. Corticosteroids probably should not be used in the treatment of Pseudomonas keratitis during the early period when the antibiotic sensitivities of the organism are not known.
Animals↗