Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0086543 (cataract)
 29,165 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We analyzed the protein composition of human aqueous humor. Samples were obtained by paracentesis from 25 human eyes (age range 64-92 years) at elective cataract surgery, and from 20 age-matched post-mortem eyes within 1.5 to 18 hr after death. Individual samples were assayed for total protein, and the polypeptides were separated by qualitative SDS-PAGE into high-, medium- and low-molecular-weight ranges and then silver-stained. The clinical samples showed a remarkable consistency in the total protein values (mean +/- SEM: 12.4 +/- 2.0 mg per 100 ml) and no detectable variations in the profiles of the silver-stained proteins. Twelve major protein fractions, with apparent molecular weights of 140, 80 (doublet), 67, 60 (doublet), 35, 27, 25, 17, 14.6 and 9 kDa, were present. A preliminary analysis showed that the 17 kDa band contained a molecule resembling basic fibroblast growth factor. Two additional samples of aqueous humor from patients whose blood/aqueous barrier was compromised during paracentesis showed a quantitative and qualitative increase in the polypeptides that were present. Compared with the samples of aqueous humor obtained at surgery, the post-mortem samples exhibited a greater variability in total protein content (56.1 +/- 11.6 mg per 100 ml) and an increased number of high- and low-molecular-weight protein fractions. In view of wide differences in the clinical parameters, including ocular and systemic medications, systemic illness, surgical premedications, anesthesia and total serum protein values, the similarity in the protein profiles of the carefully drawn surgical samples is most remarkable. Our results indicate that, in patients who underwent elective cataract surgery, the levels of major proteins in human aqueous humor are not affected by wide individual variations in the clinical parameters. We attribute this finding to the care taken in the collection of aqueous humor samples.
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PMID:Protein composition of human aqueous humor: SDS-PAGE analysis of surgical and post-mortem samples. 292 Jul 79

We report a case of paraneoplastic retinopathy in a patient who was found to have small cell carcinoma of the lung and was shown to have serum antibody against retinal soluble 70 kDa protein. A 71-year-old woman visited her ophthalmologist for gradual visual loss in both eyes. Although she underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery in her left eye, she was referred to our hospital because of progressive visual deterioration in November 1994. On admission, her corrected visual acuity was 0.3 OD and hand motion OS. Funduscopic examination showed narrowing retinal arteries, pigment epithelial mottling in the posterior retina bilaterally, and optic disc pallor in the left eye. An electroretinogram demonstrated marked reduction in the a and b waves. Bilateral central scotomas were detected by kinetic perimetry. We pursued further examination for systemic disease, and identified increased serum level of neuron specific enolase and radiographically abnormal shadow in the chest. Transcutaneous needle biopsy of the mediastinum confirmed small cell carcinoma. In western blot analysis the patient's serum reacted strongly with soluble retinal proteins of 70 kDa molecular weight, although the 26 kDa CAR antigen was not labeled. This patient was diagnosed as having paraneoplastic retinopathy due to small cell carcinoma and unusual serum protein which responded to an antigen with a molecular weight of 70 kilodaltons.
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PMID:[A case of paraneoplastic retinopathy with serum antibody against retinal soluble 70 kDa protein]. 902 14

Cataract is responsible for rendering several million people blind throughout the world and is also by far the most common cause of low visual acuity. Although cataract surgery is common, routine and effective, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurs in 30-50% of patients following modern cataract surgery. This condition arises from stimulated cell growth within the capsular bag after surgery. The resulting decline in visual acuity requires expensive laser treatment, and PCO therefore prevents modern cataract surgery from being carried out routinely in underdeveloped countries. The present study, using a human lens capsular bag culture system, has confirmed that cells from a wide age range of donors proliferate in the absence of added serum protein and explains why PCO is such a common problem even in aged patients. This study also provides one possible solution for PCO by using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implanted intraocular lenses as a drug delivery system. PMMA lenses coated with thapsigargin, a hydrophobic inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (Ca2+)-ATPase, greatly reduced cell growth in the capsular bag at relatively low coating concentrations (200 nM) but, more significantly, induced total cell death of the residual anterior epithelial cells at higher concentrations (>2 microM).
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PMID:Thapsigargin-coated intraocular lenses inhibit human lens cell growth. 928 18