Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0022568 (keratitis)
 5,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

From 1969-1974 1000 unselected enucleated globes have been examined histopathologically. 277 derive from the University Eye Hospital in Hamburg, 723 from various Eye Hospitals in northern and southern Germany. They originate from 589 men and 408 women, three times the sex was unknown. 86 globes had to be removed from children less than 15 years old. 6 groups of etiologies have been distinguished: trauma (308), histologically confirmed neoplastic disease (281), ocular manifestations of systemic diseases (diabetes mellitus, occlusions of central retinal vessels presumably following generalized vascular disease etc.: 128), "operative ocular disease" (164), primary inflammatory disease (71), miscellaneous (malformations, high myopia, pseudo-glioma and pseudo-melanoma: 48). The etiology "operative ocular disease" consists of 67 primary glaucomas (57 adults, 10 buphthalmus), 41 idiopathic cataracts (7 of these congenital) and 3 primary corneal dystrophies, as well as 53 cases of primary retinal detachment. Among the 281 neoplastic diseases, there are 238 primary intraocular malignant melanomas of the uvea, 18 retinoblastomas, 4 primary reticulumcellsarcomas of the retina, 2 choroidal nevi, 10 intraocular metastases and 9 orbital tumors. 16 enucleations among the 1000 enucleations have been performed for pseudo-gliomas (5 x Coats disease, 5 x persistent primary hyperplastic vitreous, 2 x retrolental fibroplasia, others 4 x). The manifestations of systemic disease are consisting of 68 central retinal vein-occlusions, 30 complications of diabetes mellitus and 10 central retinal artery occlusions as well as 20 other generalized diseases. A primary inflammatory disease led to enucleation 50 times due to an intraocular process, 5 times due to scleritis and 18 times as a consequence of keratitis (including 13 times herpes simplex). As the final clinical cause for enucleation the following categories have been elaborated: secondary glaucomas (416), clinical diagnosis of "tumor" (275), atrophy and phthisis bulbi (118), inflammation (112), acute trauma to 4 weeks after the accident (72), others (7). In conclusion the central role of rubeosis iridis leading to secondary angle closure glaucoma is emphasized. This process presents a challenge to ophthalmologic research. Finally the significance of early surgery for primary angle closure glaucomas and for complete restoration of the anterior chamber after trauma and any intraocular procedure is stressed.
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PMID:[Etiology and final clinical cause for 1000 enucleations. (A clinico-pathologic study) (author's transl)]. 95 59

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine with a range of antioxidative properties. Melatonin is endogenously produced in the eye and in other organs. Current evidence suggests that melatonin may act as a protective agent in ocular conditions such as photo-keratitis, cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity and ischemia/reperfusion injury. These diseases are sight-threatening and they currently remain, for the most part, untreatable. The pathogenesis of these conditions is not entirely clear but oxidative stress has been proposed as one of the causative factors. Elevated levels of various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been identified in diseased ocular structures. These reactants damage the structure and deplete the eye of natural defense systems, such as the antioxidant, reduced glutathione, and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Oxidative damage in the eye leads to apoptotic degeneration of retinal neurons and fluid accumulation. Retinal degeneration decreases visual sensitivity and even a small change in the fluid content of the cornea and crystalline lens is sufficient to disrupt ocular transparency. In the eye, melatonin is produced in the retina and in the ciliary body. Continuous regeneration of melatonin in the eye offers a frontier antioxidative defense for both the anterior and posterior eye. However, melatonin production is minimal in newborns and its production gradually wanes in aging individuals as indicated by the large drop in circulating blood concentrations of the indoleamine. These individuals are possibly at risk of contracting degenerative eye diseases that are free radical-based. Supplementation with melatonin, a potent antioxidant, in especially the aged population should be considered as a prophylaxis to preserve visual functions. It may benefit many individuals worldwide, especially in countries where access to medical facilities is limited.
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PMID:Protective effects of melatonin in experimental free radical-related ocular diseases. 1644 46

Melatonin synthesis occurs in the retina of most animals as well as in humans. Circadian oscillators that control retinal melatonin synthesis have been identified in the eyes of different animal species. The presence of melatonin receptors is demonstrable by immunocytochemical studies of ocular tissues. These receptors may have different functional roles in different parts of the eye. In view that melatonin is a potent antioxidant molecule, it can be effective in scavenging free radicals that are generated in ocular tissues. By this mechanism melatonin could protect the ocular tissues against disorders like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, photo-keratitis and cataracts. Although an increased intraocular pressure is an important risk factor in glaucoma, other concomitant phenomena like increased glutamate levels, altered nitric oxide metabolism and increased free radical generation seem to play a significant role in its pathogenesis. Data are discussed indicating that melatonin, being an efficient antioxidant with antinitridergic properties, has a promising role in the treatment and management of glaucoma.
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PMID:Melatonin in the eye: implications for glaucoma. 1717 3