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Biomedical subjects

J A Kylstra

Publications and source records attributed to J A Kylstra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical course and systemic correlates of retinopathy of prematurity in quintuplets.

PURPOSE/METHODS: We studied clinical correlates of retinopathy of prematurity in four surviving quintuplets with similar low birth weights and gestational age of 27 weeks. Prospective serial ophthalmoscopic examinations and retrospective chart analysis were used. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Retinopathy of prematurity varied among the neonates from stage 2 with total regression to threshold progressing to retinal detachment. Severity of eye disease correlated with duration of mechanical ventilation and of parenteral nutrition, as well as frequency of hypoglycemia and of hypercapnia. Poor outcome correlated inversely with weight gain.

Adult

Indirect ophthalmoscope perimetry in patients with retinal detachment or retinoschisis.

PURPOSE/METHODS: We evaluated visual field testing, using indirect ophthalmoscopy, in patients with retinal detachment or retinoschisis. While performing ophthalmoscopy, we projected a shadow onto the schisis or detachment by holding a scleral depressor on the observer's side of the condensing lens. A response was recorded as positive if the patient saw the shadow. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: In all 20 detachment eyes, compared to zero of 12 schisis eyes, the response was positive. Indirect ophthalmoscope perimetry can help distinguish retinoschisis from retinal detachment.

Humans

Isolated ocular cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient.

A 62-year-old woman without evidence of immunocompromise was evaluated for uveitis and a subretinal lesion in the right eye. Laboratory evaluation, including cerebrospinal fluid analysis, revealed no apparent cause. The diagnosis of subretinal cryptococcosis was established by transscleral needle biopsy of the subretinal mass. Treatment with intravenous amphotericin B and oral 5-flucytosine brought recovery of visual acuity to 20/30-1 and resolution of the inflammation. This patient demonstrates that ocular cryptococcal infection must be suspected, even in the absence of predisposing factors or systemic findings, and that subretinal fine-needle aspiration is an important diagnostic tool in this setting.

Amphotericin B

Management of suspected ocular laceration or rupture.

The records of 95 consecutive patients with suspected ocular laceration or rupture managed by a single surgeon were reviewed. A total of 86 patients were found to have a laceration or rupture, of whom 79 were followed up, for an average of 6.4 months. In 32 eyes (40%) the final visual acuity was 20/40 or better, and in another 32 the final acuity was less than 5/200. Eyes with lacerations had a better visual outcome than those with rupture due to blunt trauma. Of the 26 eyes operated on for suspected blunt rupture 6 (23%) were found not to have a rupture. Ruptured eyes were more likely than nonruptured eyes to have abnormal anterior chamber depth, vision less than hand motion and hyphema.

Adolescent

Intraocular pressure increase associated with epsilon-aminocaproic acid therapy for traumatic hyphema.

We treated five patients receiving epsilon-aminocaproic acid who demonstrated sudden and accelerated clot dissolution with accompanying increases in intraocular pressure 24 to 96 hours after discontinuing treatment. All of these patients required additional ocular hypotensive medications and one patient required anterior chamber washout for persistently increased intraocular pressure. These findings suggest that certain patients with hyphema may be at risk for significant intraocular pressure increases following cessation of epsilon-aminocaproic acid therapy.

Adolescent

The relationship between retinal vessel tortuosity, diameter, and transmural pressure.

Increases in retinal vein tortuosity are thought to be caused by increases in vascular transmural pressure. We have attempted to determine the relationship between retinal vessel tortuosity, diameter, and transmural pressure by examining the effects of changes in transmural pressure on latex tubes with fixed ends. As the transmural pressure is raised, tube diameter increases, but tortuosity does not begin increasing until a critical pressure is reached. Above the critical pressure, tortuosity increases more rapidly than diameter. Our results support the above hypothesis and also suggest that at high transmural pressures, retinal vessel tortuosity is a more sensitive indicator than is the diameter of changes in retinal venous transmural pressure, but diameter is more sensitive than tortuosity at lower pressures.

Humans

Retinopathy of prematurity: a new look at an old disease.

The neovascular changes of the retinopathy of prematurity can occur in premature infants in three settings: (1) when high levels of supplemental oxygen are administered, neovascularization usually commences shortly after cessation of oxygen therapy; (2) when supplemental oxygen is given for long periods of time, neovascularization can develop while the infant is still receiving oxygen; and (3) neovascularization can occur without exposure to any supplemental oxygen. We propose a model which can explain the occurrence of the retinopathy of prematurity in all these settings. Our model demonstrates that whenever the retinopathy of prematurity occurs, arterial oxygen levels are inappropriately high in relation to the stage of retinal vessel development, even in premature neonates not given supplemental oxygen. The inhibitory effect of these elevated oxygen tensions upon carbon dioxide removal is indicated as a possible cause of neovascularization by leading to tissue acidosis and vasodilatation.

Carbon Dioxide

Steady-state gas exchange in normothermic, anesthetized, liquid-ventilated dogs.

Anesthetized, paralyzed, purebred beagle dogs were ventilated for 45 min (n = 5) and 60 min (n = 5) with oxygenated (PIO2 = 685 mmHg) FC-80 fluorocarbon liquid at 38 degrees C. The PaCO2 remained constant at approximately 43 mmHg during 60 min of liquid ventilation (mean tidal volume = 290 ml, mean respiratory frequency = 2.8 breaths/min). The end-tidal PCO2 was consistently higher than PaCO2 during liquid ventilation. Histological examination by light as well as scanning electron microscopy of the lungs of dogs killed 10, 30, or 180 days after liquid ventilation revealed no pathological changes except for a slight increase in the number of macrophages, especially around the alveolar ducts. It is concluded that a steady state of gas exchange at near normal arterial carbon dioxide partial pressures can be maintained in anesthetized, normothermic dogs ventilated with FC-80 at respiratory frequencies of approximately 3 breaths/min.

Anesthesia

Investigations of black bronchoalveolar human lavage fluid.

The removal by bronchoalveolar lavage (two occasions) of 10(11) black macrophages containing crystals of aluminum silicate, large amounts of amorphous carbon, and oxidized lipids was followed by considerable improvement in gas exchange in a patient. Sixty-eight percent of these pulmonary macrophages were viable and normal, as judged by chemotatctic and phagocytic activity. Except for cigarettes, no source for the previously mentioned ingested foreign substances was found. These observations suggest that removal by lavage of nonviable macrophages laden with foreign bodies from distal portions of the lungs of pulmonary patients may be therapeutically useful.

Carbon

A fluorocarbon emulsion with a high solubility for CO2.

A stable emulsion can be prepared by subjecting a mixture of 30% (by volume) FC-80 fluorocarbon; a 0.3-M THAM solution titrated to pH 7.4 with HCl; and 0.04 g F68 Pluronic surfactant per milliliter FC-80 to ultrasonic energy. The emulsion has a density of 1.24 g/ml; and absolute viscosity of 2.4 centipoise; and an approximate fluorocarbon-droplet diameter of 3mu. The approximate CO2 content of the emulsion at partial pressures ranging from 30 to 60 mm Hg is 132 ml (STPD)/liter + (5.5 X PCO2). The O2 content in ml (STPD)/liter equals 0.213 X PO2 (mm Hg).

Carbon Dioxide

Volume-controlled lung lavage in a woman with cystic fibrosis.

A 22-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis was treated by volume-controlled lavage of each of her lungs on two occasions. Following the first lavages, the patient's vital capacity increased by 1.03 liters and her 1-sec forced expiratory volume increased by 0.70 liters/second. Similar improvements, although less pronounced, were noted after both lungs has been lavaged a second time. It is concluded that volume-controlled lung lavage can be of benefit as an adjunct in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Adult