Objective: This study compared the rates of aqueous-humor flow and trabecular outflow in eyes that had undergone YAG laser iridotomy (LI) for primary-acute-angleclosure (PAC) attack and primary-angle-closure suspect (PACS). Methods: Patients who had PAC attack in one eye and narrow occludable angles (PACS) in the other eye that had undergone YAG LI were recruited. All underwent complete ophthalmologic examination including gonioscopy, ultrasonic pachymetry, A scan, and fluorophotometry to determine the rate of aqueous-humor flow. The Goldmann equation was used to compute the outflow facility using the values of aqueous flow and intraocular pressure (IOP). Results: Fifty eyes of 25 patients were included, 25 of which had PAC attack and 25 were PACS. The central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior-chamber depth, and anterior-chamber volume of the 2 groups were comparable. PAC-attack eyes had significantly higher IOP (18.4 mm Hg) than the PACS (14.12 mm Hg) (p = 0.001). The mean rate of aqueous flow was 2.50 ± 0.94 µL/min and 2.89 ± 1.17 µL/min in the PAC and PACS respectively (p = 0.20). The mean aqueous-outflow facility was 0.29 ± 0.18 µL/min and 0.59 ± 0.37 µL/min respectively (p = 0.0008). Conclusion A significantly lower aqueous-outflow facility was demonstrated by fluorophotometry among eyes with PAC. Despite the anatomically open angles, they continued to have higher IOPs.
Fluorophotometry ; Intraocular Pressure

AIMTo establish a fluorospectrophotometric assay for the measurement of nitrite in blood.

METHODSInterference from hemoglobin and other blood ingredients was removed through sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment. Fluorescence of 1-[H]-naphthotriazole from the reaction of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene with nitrite was determined with fluorospectrophotometry.

RESULTSThe following conditions were proper: Serum or plasma was treated with sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment for two times, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene of 0.63 mmol x (L(-1)) was used, reaction solution pH and final pH were about 1.60 and 1.70 respectively, solution containing 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and supernatant after pretreatment was water-bathed at 20 degrees C for 15 minutes. The lower limit of detection was 24.27 nmol x L(-1). Nitrite determined in peripheral blood of healthy people was (10.91 +/- 2.38) micromol x L(-1), and its 95% distribution range was (6.24-15.57) micromol x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONIt's a relatively sensitive, specific, simple method. It's of some value to the study of nitric oxide.

We compared the structural and functional corneal endothelial changes between patients with non-proliferative retinopathy and age-matched nondiabetic patients after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation. Endothelial cell density was calculated preoperatively, and postoperative 4, 8 weeks by specular microscopy. Fluorophotometry to check corneal endothelial barrier function was underwent preoperatively and at postoperative 4 days. Preoperatively, no significant difference in corneal endothelial cell density and corneal endothelial permeability coefficient was noted between diabetic patients and age-matched non-diabetic patients. But the mean increase of corneal endothelial permeability coefficient at 4 days after surgery was 118.13% in diabetic patients and 61.88% in nondiabetic patients (P<0.05). The mean endothelial cell loss at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery were 10. 29%, 12.55% in diabetic patients and 7.05%, 9.39% in non-diabetic patients.(P<0.05)
Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Permeability ; Phacoemulsification*

Vitreous fluorophotometry was used to measure blood retinal barrier permeability to fluorescein in 15 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO). Mean posterior vitreous fluorescein concentration(3mm) was 20.0 +/- 11.3(ng/ml) in affected eyes, and 2.99 +/- 1.22(ng/ml) in unaffected eyes. There was a statistically significant difference between the affected eye and unaffected eye(p<0.05). Also there was a correlation between the hemorrhage area and the posterior vitreous fluorescein concentration(r2=0.819). This study revealed that the permeability of blood retinal barrier was increased in BRVO as compared to the contralateral eye, and the higher permeability values were associated with the extent of area involved.
Blood-Retinal Barrier ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Permeability ; Retina* ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde*

We used the fluorophotometry to investigate the corneal epithelial barrier function after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Twenty-five eyes of 21 subjects (13 women, 8 men) underwent PRK to correct rnyopia. Corneal epithelial healing time was measured and corneal epithelial permeability to sodiurn fluorescein was evaluated by fluorophotoinetry at I, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery. The corneal epithelial permeability increased significantly 1 week after surgery and returned to preoperative level 2 weeks after surgery. The permeability differences according to epithelial healing days and corrected diopters were not statistically significant(p>0. 05). These results suggest that PRK delays complete reconstruction of corneal epithelial barrier function. The corneal epithelium regained its functional barrier 2 weeks after PRK in patients, so, at least, during the first 2 weeks, care should be taken to miniinize further epithelial trauma from topical inedication or surgical manipulation.
Epithelium, Corneal ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Permeability ; Photorefractive Keratectomy*

When illuminated by blue light, the human crystalline lens exhibits green autofluorescence. Autofluorescence of the human lens were analyzed quantitatively in vivo as a function of age in 75 healthy individuals{150 eyes) without cataract, ranging in age from 17 to 63 years. Lenses were scanned through the dilated pupil along the optical axis, generating a fluorescence profile consisting of anterior and posterior peaks of lens, using an automated scanning fluorophotometer(Fluorotron master) coupled with a lens system designed for high resolution of the anterior segment structures. Anterior peak autofluorescence increased linearly by 90 ng fluorescein/ml per decade and posterior peak autofluorescence by 70 ng fluorescein/ml per decade. No significant difference between right and left eyes was demonstrated for anterior or posterior peak autofluorescence. We suggest that the quantitative analysis of the autofluorescence of the human lens might be useful to investigate the changes of the aging lens proteins and the pathogenesis of cataract.
Aging* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cataract ; Crystallins* ; Fluorescence ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline* ; Pupil

Regulating the cell volume is an important factorin secretory function of epithelial cells and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) phenomenon is involved in response to the changes of cell volume and osmolarity. RVD of epithelial cells reflects cellular release of K+ and C1- through channels and K+ and C1- channels were verified in the basal membrane of the non pigmented ciliary epithelial cells. Therefore, we attempted to observe the involvement of C1- channel in aqueous humor production by performing the fluorophotometry after administration of the DIDS(4.4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2-2-disulfonic acid), the C1 channel blocker. Ten white New Zealand rabbits, 5 for tonometry and 5 for fluorophotometry, were used. One eye was injected 2x10-4M DIDS intravitreally using microsyringe and the other eye was injected normalsaline as a control in each rabbits. Tonometry was performed before the injection and every hour after dosing for 5 hours. Fluorophotometry was performed every 30 minutes for 3 hours starting 2 hours after injection. Wilcoxon`s signed rank test was used for statistical analysis. DIDS decreased intraocular pressure by 12.5%(P<0.05) and reduced aqueous humor flow rate by 28.5%(P0.05). In conclusion, it was observed.
4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid ; Aqueous Humor* ; Cell Size ; Epithelial Cells ; Fluorophotometry ; Intraocular Pressure ; Manometry ; Membranes ; Osmolar Concentration ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that diabetic patients are under high oxidative stress and plasma MDA concentration is a reliable marker for oxidative stress. However, some studies showed that plasma MDA is not a good marker for oxidative stress. Reeently, the total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAPc) has been proposed as a marker for the overall antioxidant property of plasma samples. Therefore, in this study, we tried to evaluate whether MDA and TRAPc are reliable markers of the oxidative stress-antioxidant system or not. METHODS: The plasma samples from 67 type 2 diabetic patients and 31 normal subjects were collected. The plasma MDA, protein-bound SH groups, uric acid and vitamin C were determined by fluorophotometry or spectrophotometry. Plasma vitamin E concentration was analyzed by HPLC. Calculated TRAP (TRAPc) were determined by the proposed calculation methods. RESULTS: 1. Diabetic patients had significantly lower TRAPc, compared with normal subjects. 2. SH groups, uric acid, vitamin C and vitamin E were not different between the two groups. 3. MDA and MDA/TG were significantly higher in diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, TRAPc seems to be a reliable parameter of overall plasma antioxidant system and the plasma MDA may be used as a marker of oxidative stress, but further long-term logitudinal studies are needed.
Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Spectrophotometry ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: To establish a new therapeutic strategy for proliferative vitreoretinopathhy (PVR), we examined the effect of combined treatment with HDAC inhibitor SAHA and proteasome inhibitor lactacystin in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, ARPE-19. METHODS: Viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured by flow cytometry. Proteasome activity was measured by fluorophotometry. The expression and degradation of apoptosis-related proteins were assesssed by Western blotting. Subcellular location of apoptosis-related factors was monitored by confocal miscroscopy. RESULTS: A single treatment with 5 micro M SAHA or 10 micro M lactacystin did not reduce cell viability. However, combination treatment with 5 micro M SAHA and 10 micro M lactacystin substantially reduced the viability, because the mixture induced the reduction of MMP and nuclear condensation or fragmentation. Moreover, the combination treatment triggered the activation of caspase-3 and the production of PARP cleavage products. These data indicate that the combination treatment efficiently induces apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. However, co-treatment of SAHA did not augment the proteasome inhibitory activity of lactacystin, nor did co-treatment of lactacystin augment acetylation of histones. It is notable that while p53 and CAD were observed in the mitochondria of cells treated with SAHA, they were translocated into the nucleus after the combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination treatment of SAHA and lactacystin effectively induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Further work is warranted to develop this combination therapy as a novel therapeutic strategy for PVR.
Acetylation ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Survival ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorophotometry ; Histones ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Proteasome Inhibitors ; Retinaldehyde ; Trypan Blue

PURPOSE: The authors of the present study investigated whether pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, could inhibit the development of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Seven-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats (n = 20) were used in the present study. STZ (70 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Blood glucose and body weight were monitored. Intraperitoneal injections of 5 microg and 50 microg PLP were administered every two days from the second week of induced diabetes. During the third week of PLP injections, the concentration level of plasma homocysteine was measured. In addition, functional status was examined by vitreous fluorophotometer and anatomical status by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining in the retina. RESULTS: Based on vitreous fluorophotometry examination, the PLP injection group proved to have a lower level of fluorescein concentration in the vitreous. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining revealed down-regulation of VEGF expression in the PLP group. In addition, the PLP group had a lower plasma homocysteine concentration. However, an over-dosage injection of PLP did not appear to have any noticeable impact on the treatment of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: PLP, an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, proved to have inhibitory effects on VEGF expression and vascular leakage in the diabetic rat retina.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Down-Regulation ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Homocysteine ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Plasma ; Pyridoxal ; Rats ; Retina ; Streptozocin ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vitamin B 6