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Biomedical subjects

R Belfort

Publications and source records attributed to R Belfort.

69 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

T and B lymphocytes in the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis.

Sixteen patients with different types of uveitis (ocular toxoplasmosis, chronic cyclitis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, Behçet's syndrome, ocular herpes, and a probable nematode) had the aqueous humor withdrawn and had the number of T, B, and null lymphocytes assessed. T and B lymphocytes were identified by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes and with human erythrocytes sensitized with IgM antibody and complement or zymosan-C3 complexes, respectively. A much higher number of T lymphocytes than B lymphocytes was observed in all cases. The results were not influenced by treatment with steroids or immunosuppressive drugs for local, periocular, or systemic effects.

Aqueous Humor↗

Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis and ocular toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis and Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis are well-defined diseases that have completely different clinical courses. We studied 13 patients (seven men and six women, ranging in age from 18 to 73 years) who had Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis and the focal necrotizing chorioretinal lesions characteristic of ocular toxoplasmosis. The reason for this association is still unknown, as is the pathogenesis of Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis. None of the patients had ciliary injection or posterior synechiae, but 11 of the 13 (84.6%) had keratic precipitates, anterior chamber reaction, and cataracts. Six patients (38.4%) had iris transillumination, two (15.3%) had glaucoma, and four (30.7%) had lesions in the fellow eyes.

Adolescent↗

Identification of T and B lymphocytes in the human conjunctiva and lacrimal gland in ocular diseases.

The presence and localisation of T and B lymphocytes in biopsy specimens of human conjunctiva and lacrimal gland from 34 patients were studied in frozen sections. Eighteen patients had follicular conjunctivitis, 13 patients had Sjögren's syndrome, and 3 were normal. All cases of follicular conjunctivitis showed a similar picture. B cells were in higher number than T cells, but both types of lymphocytes were present in the infiltrates. In the developed follicles T cells occupied the periphery and B cells the central part of the infiltrates. In patients with Sjögren's syndrome the conjunctival biopsies showed a higher number of B lymphocytes. The number of T cells was higher in the lesions from Sjögren's syndrome than in cases of follicular conjunctivitis. The infiltrate in lacrimal gland biopsies showed T cells which were scattered while B cells were more numerous and formed clusters close to vessels. Normal conjunctiva and lacrimal gland showed no adherence of either sheep erythrocytes or human erythrocytes sensitised with antibody and complement.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Effect of systemic corticosteroids on antibody-forming cells in the eye and draining lymph nodes.

After the intracorneal injection of rabbit eyes with bovine gamma globulin, a systemically administered corticosteroid resulted in the following changes: (1) a reduction in the number of antibody-forming cells in the homolateral uveal tract and cornea; (2) a reduction in the ocular inflammatory response; and (3) a reduction in the number of antibody-forming cells in the draining lymph nodes, if high doses of corticosteroid were given.

Animals↗

Indomethacin and the corneal immune response.

To study the effect of treating rabbits with a locally administered noncorticosteroid anti-inflammatory drug, we gave 26 rabbits unilateral subconjunctival injections of 15 mg of indomethacin suspension daily for 16 days, starting one day before the intracorneal injection of the same eye with bovine gamma globulin. We graded the eyes clinically and killed groups of rabbits on postimmunization days 6, 9, 12, and 15. We determined the number of antibody-forming cells in the homolateral cervical lymph nodes, corneas, and uveal tracts and tested the sera, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor for antibodies. Indomethacin-treated eyes showed significantly less inflammatory response, and an insignificantly greater number of antibody-forming cells, than the controls.

Animals↗

Proteus species isolated from human eyes.

Of 34 species of Proteus isolated from human eyes, 29 (85%) were P. mirabilis and five (15%) were P. morganii. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity studies showed that gentamicin best controlled both P. mirabilis and P. morganii of all the antibiotics tested. In vivo tests on experimental Proteus infections of rabbit coreas, treated with gentamicin and tobramycin, yielded comparable clinical results, but gentamicin was more effective in eliminating the organism from the experimental lesions.

Animals↗

Cilia incarnata.

In connexion with three case reports of cilia incarnata (examples of both cilium incarnatum externum and cilium incarnatum internum), the aetiology and the signs and symptoms of this infrequently recognized anomaly are described.

Adult↗

Paracoccidioidomycosis with palpebral and conjunctival involvement.

A case of pulmonary and lymphatic paracoccidioidomycosis followed by conjunctivo-palpebral involvement is studied in Sao Paulo (Brazil). The Brazilian literature is reviewed. The most frequent clinic forms of ocular lesions in natural infection are described. The small number of human cases observed is discussed. The severity and frequency of ocular lesions in experimental animals, intracardiacally inoculated with P. brasilensis cultures suggest haematogenic ocular dissemination of the fungus, which may occur in the septicemic stage of the human paracoccidioidomycosis.

Adult↗

Nebcin in the treatment of experimental Pseudomonas keratitis.

When the ocular toxicity and the in vivo and in vitro effects of gentamicin, Nebcin, and saline solution were compared in experimentally induced Pseudomonas keratitis in rabbits, both antibiotics showed the same toxicity for the rabbits' conjunctival tissues. But Nebcin showed better in vitro and in vivo results than gentamicin, and the clinical effect was confirmed by culture study: significant numbers of organisms were recovered from the corneas of the gentamicin-treated rabbits but none from the corneas of the Nebcin-treated rabbits.

Animals↗

Effect of immunization with attenuated Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) on experimental herpetic keratitis.

Mycobacterium bovis (BCG, Pasteur strain) was injected intraperitoneally into guinea pigs and rabbits on the 19th and 5th days prior to the intracorneal inoculation of Herpesvirus hominis. During a three-day and nine-day observation period, respectively, the BCG had no significant effect on the clinical course of the herpetic keratitis and no effect on the titer of virus present in the infected corneas.

Animals↗

Ultrasonic fragmentation of cataract in uveitis.

Thirty-nine eyes with uveitis from various causes, and complicated by cataract and vitreous opacification, underwent pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy by ultrasonic fragmentation. Anatomical results were excellent, with clearing of all lens and vitreous opacities in all eyes. Visual results showed that there was no exacerbation and no recurrence of uveitis. Visual results depended mainly on the presence of previous damage of the uveitis to the retina and optic nerve. Visual results did not depend on the presence of uveitis activity at the time of the surgery. Complications that occurred were cystoid macular edema, which was present in 17.94% of the eyes and diagnosed in some eyes at the surgery, retinal detachment in one eye (2.56%), sterile hypopyon in one eye (2.56%), and ultrasonic lesion of the retina in one eye (2.56%). Visions of 20/20 to 20/40 were obtained in 23% of the eyes, 20.5% had vision between 20/50 and 20/80, and 56.4% had vision of 20/100 or less. The good results justify the surgical intervention in cases of cataracts associated with uveitis. Pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy appears to be the procedure of choice in removal of cataracts secondary to uveitis.

Adolescent↗

Cystoid macular edema in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and cytomegalovirus retinitis.

PURPOSE: To describe cystoid macular edema in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy, who had or had not already had cytomegalovirus retinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Five acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, successfully treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy, were studied. Two had inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis and cystoid macular edema in both eyes. Two had inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis in both eyes and cystoid macular edema in one eye. One patient had inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis in one eye and cystoid macular edema in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Cystoid macular edema may occur in AIDS patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy even in cases without previous retinitis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗