muramidase and Lacrimal-Apparatus-Diseases

Topics: Actins; Adult; Antigens, CD20; Biomarkers; Conjunctival Diseases; Dry Eye Syndromes; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Lactoferrin; Muramidase; Prospective Studies; S100 Proteins; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Ophthalmologic examinations were performed on the 176 eyes of 88 bedridden patients with severe dementia. There were some pathologic changes in the external and anterior segments of 93 eyes. We observed infectious external and anterior segment eye diseases in 80 of these 93 eyes (86.0%). Fundus diseases were found in 34 eyes, but treatment was not necessary. Infectious eye diseases appeared to be the most prevalent ocular problem in these patients. Cultures of conjunctival swabs commonly demonstrated Staphylococcus aureus. No differences were noted in tear secretion rate or lysozyme concentrations in tears between eyes with and without infection. The blinking frequency was significantly reduced in infected eyes compared to normal eyes. Failure of the lacrimal drainage system was observed more often in infected eyes than in normal eyes. This study demonstrated that bedridden patients with severe dementia develop infectious eye diseases easily, to which stasis of tear flow seems to predispose. In caring for bedridden patients with severe dementia, ophthalmologists must be concerned with controlling infectious eye diseases.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dementia; Eye Infections; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Tears

The distribution of cytokeratins (CK), actin, lactoferrin (Lf), lysozyme (Ly), vimentin and S-100 protein was immunohistochemically investigated in paraffin-embedded specimens of five inflammatory and five neoplastic lesions of lacrimal glands (LGs). Atrophic acini in dacryoadenitis reacted with antibodies (ABs) KL1 and Pkk1 (CK 7, 8, 17, 18) in a manner similar to ducts. Apart from myoepithelial cells and some luminal-duct cells, the remaining epithelia in dacryoadenitis were negative with AB 34 beta E12 (CK 5). The number of AB HHF35 (actin)-positive myoepithelial cells was not altered in dacryoadenitis. Epithelia in dacryoadenitis reacted weakly but consistently with Lf while revealing weak and inconsistent staining for Ly. Vimentin was negative in epithelial cells in dacryoadenitis except in one case. S-100 protein was detected only in epithelia of inflammatory major LGs. Epimyoepithelial islands in lymphoepithelial proliferation reacted variably for CKs, Lf, Ly and vimentin and remained negative for actin and S-100. In pleomorphic adenomas, neoplastic cells showing duct-like differentiation (luminal) reacted consistently with CK 7, 8, 17, 18 and S-100 protein and inconsistently with CK 5, Lf and Ly but remained negative for actin and vimentin. Other neoplastic cells (ovoid/peripheral cells) stained consistently for CK 5, vimentin and S-100 protein and focally for CK 7, 8, 17, 18, actin, Lf and Ly. Spindle-form neoplastic cells found in the stroma exhibited vimentin and S-100 protein and, less frequently, actin. Determination of these antigens in pleomorphic LG adenomas may help to evaluate their prognosis.

Topics: Actins; Biomarkers; Dacryocystitis; Eye Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Infant; Keratins; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; S100 Proteins; Vimentin

A simple, rapid, reproducible method of quantifying tear lysozyme levels with a dual-channel spectrophotometer was used to compare normal subjects and those with dry-eye syndrome. The method was sensitive (80%) and specific (85%) and had a predictive value of a positive result of 83%. One patient with clinical manifestations of dry-eye syndrome and paradoxically elevated levels of tear lysozyme was found to have underlying sarcoidosis.

Topics: Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Muramidase; Sarcoidosis; Sjogren's Syndrome; Syndrome; Tears

Electrophoresis of tears, a rapid and easy technique, shows several peaks of migration. Three main peaks correspond to the proteins synthesized by the lacrimal gland: rapid migrant proteins, lactoferrin migrating to the anode, and lysozyme migrating to the cathode. Secretory tissue injuries of the lacrimal gland show a more or less important decrease of one or several peaks. Any inflammatory reaction induces an increase in the serum albumin and immunoglobulin fractions. This exploration can be helpful in the diagnosis of the sicca syndrome or of drug poisoning thereby avoiding lacrimal biopsy.

Topics: Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Lactoferrin; Muramidase; Proteins; Serum Albumin; Syndrome; Tears

Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Muramidase; Practolol; Sjogren's Syndrome; Tears