bromochloroacetic-acid and Cataract

To examine whether a reported history of cataract, a possible marker of aging, is associated with future mortality.. Participants were 18,669 of the 22,071 U.S. male physicians enrolled in the Physicians' Health Study I who had complete information at study entry, including self-report of presence or absence of baseline cataract. Participants were without a previous history of myocardial infarction, stroke, transient cerebral ischemia, or cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer). Reported deaths were confirmed by an End Points Committee of physicians.. A total of 581 participants reported a personal history of cataract at baseline. During an average of 12.4 years of follow-up, there were 1,514 deaths including 496 due to cardiovascular (CV) and 1,018 due to non-CV causes. After adjustment for differences in age, men who reported cataract at baseline had a non-significant 9% increased risk of death from any cause compared to men who did not report cataract (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.91-1.30). The RRs were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.75-1.41) for CV death and 1.12 (95% CI, 0.90-1.40) for non-CV death. Adjustment for other risk factors had little effect on these estimates. Similar results were obtained in analyses conducted separately among those with and without self-reported diabetes at baseline.. These results from a population of generally healthy physicians indicate that a report of a history of cataract is not associated with any material increase in mortality after adjustment for differences in age between men with and without cataract. Additional investigation of this cohort is in progress to determine whether incident age-related cataracts as well as their subtypes, confirmed by medical record review, are associated with increased mortality.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aspirin; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cataract; Cause of Death; Humans; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Physicians; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Self Disclosure; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival Rate; United States

The aim of the present work was to perform a comparative immunohistochemical study of the ocular lens in normal conditions and after formation of various type of age-related cataract in humans. The control group consisted of lenses from young men dying from accidents and serving as corneal donors (n = 10, not more than one hour after death). Lenses from patients (aged 60-70 years) undergoing surgery for cortical (n = 20) and nuclear (n = 20) cataracts were studied. The investigations demonstrated plasticity in the phenotype of lens cells in age-related cataract. Changes in the phenotype of lens cells were found to depend on the type of age-related cataract. Development of the cortical variant of age-related cataract was associated with positive reactions with monoclonal antibodies to neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein, and vimentin only within the lens cortex. Formation of age-related nuclear cataract was associated with positive reactions with antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and pancytokeratin, which were detected only in the lens nucleus. This provides evidence of the need to develop a differential approach to the treatment of different types of age-related cataract.

Topics: Actins; Adult; Aged; Aging; Cataract; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Lens Cortex, Crystalline; Lens Nucleus, Crystalline; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; S100 Proteins; Vimentin

To gain insight into the pathogenesis of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) by investigating the ocular manifestations of this disease.. Using standard histologic techniques, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy, we described the ocular pathologic findings of a 34-year-old woman who died from complications of NF2.. We identified 3 types of NF2-associated lesions: juvenile posterior subcapsular cataracts, epiretinal membranes, and an intrascleral schwannoma.. Our analysis indicated that dysplastic lens cells accumulate just anterior to the posterior lens capsule in juvenile posterior subcapsular cataracts and that dysplastic Müller cells may be a major component of NF2-associated epiretinal membranes. Clinical Relevance Our findings suggest that a subset of glial cells with epithelial features (Schwann cells, ependymal cells, and Müller cells) may be particularly sensitive to loss of the NF2 gene. Understanding the molecular basis for this sensitivity may lead to novel strategies for treating NF2.

Topics: Adult; Cataract; Epiretinal Membrane; Eye Neoplasms; Fatal Outcome; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Mucin-1; Neurilemmoma; Neurofibromatosis 2; S100 Proteins; Scleral Diseases

We report the identification and isolation of limbal fibroblast-like cells from adult corneo-limbal tissue possessing self-renewing capacity and multilineage differentiation potential. The cells form cell aggregates or clusters, which express molecular markers, specific for ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm lineages in vitro. Further, these cells mature into a myriad of cell types including neurons, corneal cells, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and pancreatic islet cells. Despite originating from a non-embryonic source, they express ESC and other stem cell markers important for maintaining an undifferentiated state. This multipotential capability, relatively easy isolation and high rate of ex vivo proliferation capacity make these cells a promising therapeutic tool.

Topics: Agar; Antigens, CD; Blotting, Northern; Cataract; Cell Aggregation; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Drug Combinations; Fibroblasts; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression; Glycosphingolipids; Humans; Karyotyping; Keratins; Laminin; Limbus Corneae; Multipotent Stem Cells; Octamer Transcription Factor-3; Proteoglycans; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens

To evaluate the characteristics of cataract changes in lens epithelial cells (LECs), in different types of human cataract.. Anterior capsules for the study were obtained from patients with different types of cataracts during extracapsular cataract extraction, or phacoemulsification using continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. LECs attached to the anterior capsules were analyzed for morphological changes by light and electron microscopy, and for cellular characteristics by immunohistochemistry. The reactivity to cytokeratins 5,6,8,17 and 19 (arker for epithelial cells) and to vimentin (arker for mesenchymal cells) was determined.. The consecutive degenerative changes were observed in most of the cells: multilayered cells, nuclei of abnormal diameters and shapes, vacuolation of nuclei and cytoplasm. LECs were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and vimentin, or only for vimentin in all types of cataract. Some of LECs showed morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of mesenchymal cells.. Lens epithelial cells show similar degenerative changes in different types of cataract and may have the ability to transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cataract; Epithelial Cells; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Lens Nucleus, Crystalline; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Polarization; Middle Aged; Vimentin

To study the possible mechanisms of cataractogenesis by evaluating the characteristics of cataractous lens epithelial cells (LECs) in different types of human cataract.. Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.. Lens epithelial cells attached to the anterior capsules in eyes with nuclear or anterior subcapsular were analyzed for morphological characteristics by electron microscopy and for cellular characteristics by immunohistochemistry.. Human LECs beneath the anterior capsule were degenerated in nuclear cataracts and were transdifferentiated in anterior polar cataracts. In senile nuclear cataractous lenses, LECs beneath the anterior capsule showed degenerative changes in morphology. In nuclear cataracts, LECs were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and vimentin, while those in anterior polar cataracts were positive for vimentin only. The LECs of anterior subcapsular cataracts were transdifferentiated into spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells without cellular junctions and embedded within a fibrillar meshwork mass. The extracellular matrixes in the anterior capsule of anterior subcapsular cataracts were immunohistochemically positive for fibronectin, laminin, collagen type I, and collagen type IV.. Lens epithelial cells in different types of cataracts have distinct cellular characteristics and may possess a bipotential nature with the ability to transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells. This may be an underlying mechanism for the development of cataract and capsule opacification.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cataract; Cell Differentiation; Collagen; Epithelial Cells; Extracellular Matrix; Fibronectins; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Keratins; Laminin; Lens Capsule, Crystalline; Lens, Crystalline; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Middle Aged; Vimentin

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a group of inherited ectodermal dysplasias, the characteristic phenotype being hypertrophic nail dystrophy. Two main clinical subtypes, PC-1 and PC-2, are inherited as autosomal dominant disorders, but other less well characterized clinical forms also exist. The PC-1 phenotype may be distinguished by the absence of the epidermal cysts found in PC-2, and it has been shown to be caused by mutations in either keratin K16 or its expression partner, the K6a isoform of K6. Mutations in K16 have also been shown to cause a milder related phenotype, focal non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma. Recently, we have developed a long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy which allows specific amplification of the entire functional K16 gene (KRT16A), without amplification of the two K16 pseudogenes (psiKRT16B and psiKRT16C), enabling mutation analysis based on genomic DNA. Here, using this methodology, we describe novel mutations R127P and Q122P in the helix 1A domain of K16 in two families presenting with PC-1. Both mutations were excluded from 50 normal unrelated individuals by restriction enzyme analysis of K16 PCR fragments. In one family, ultrastructural analysis was performed, revealing distinctive tonofilament abnormalities. Specifically, keratin filament bundles were greatly condensed, but did not form the dense amorphous aggregates seen in a number of other keratin disorders. In the second kindred, autosomal dominant cataract was present in some but not all members affected by PC. As the cataract phenotype did not fully cosegregate with the K16 mutation, and given that K16 is not expressed in the lens, these two phenotypes may be coincidental.

Topics: Cataract; Ectodermal Dysplasia; Female; Humans; Infant; Keratins; Male; Mutation, Missense; Nails, Malformed; Pedigree; Proline; Skin

Postoperative lens capsule opacification is a complication of extracapsular cataract extraction. To avoid this problem, we aspirated the epithelial cells lining the internal surface of the capsular bag. Anterior capsule specimens collected three and six years after the first surgical intervention (extracapsular cataract extraction with intercapsular implantation of a poly[methyl methacrylate] intraocular lens) and in vitro studies of epithelial cell cultures revealed the presence of intracellular and extracellular cytokeratin. After several years, the cytokeratin layers were arranged in a pattern analogous to that of liquid crystalline phases and many nonhuman extraocular tissues.

Topics: Cataract; Cataract Extraction; Epithelium; Humans; Keratins; Lens Capsule, Crystalline; Lens, Crystalline; Lenses, Intraocular; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Postoperative Complications

A 26-year-old male patient with dermatological and systemic features suggestive of dyskeratosis congenita is reported with an unusual associated ocular feature of bilateral cataract.

Topics: Adult; Cataract; Humans; Keratins; Male; Pedigree; Skin Diseases; Syndrome