James H. Allen

The role of cytolysin in pneumococcal ocular infection.

A highly purified preparation of pneumococcal cytolysin was responsible for the corneal damage that ensued upon intra-corneal injection of crude cell extract into the rabbit eye. The lysin may produce this pathologic finding by effecting activation or release of corneal degradative enzymes.

Comparative study of soluble proteins of corneas from three mammalian species.

Summary 1. Methods of concentrating soluble proteins are reported for aqueous extracts of cornea. These methods apparently do not denature the proteins. 2. These methods were applied to increase concentration of protein from aqueous extracts of bovine, swine, New Zealand White rabbit and mongrel rabbit corneas to a level which would permit ultracentrifugal analysis of these extracts. 3. Fundamental differences in number of protein fractions and particle size distribution were noted in these extracts. This suggests a species difference in soluble corneal proteins. 4. Differences were noted in sedimentation diagrams of extracts from New Zealand White rabbits and mongrel rabbits, suggesting differences in soluble corneal protein content of different strains of the same species. The authors wish to thank Lt. Col. L. J. Milch of the School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Field, Texas for valuable advice and evaluation of this work.

Lipemia Retinalis: Report of a Case

Lipemia retinalis was observed in an 11-year-old girl admitted to Childrens Hospital in diabetic coma. In addition to the usual changes in intraocular lipemia, the fundi assumed a darker color during the period of recovery. A small, retinal hemorrhage occurred in the left eye during the second day, but disappeared completely within a week. On admission blood sugar was 335 mg. percent, cholesterol 2454 mg. percent, lipoid phosphorus 76 mg. percent and lecithin 1900 mg. percent. Retinal signs of lipemia persisted practically unchanged for three days even though the blood-fat values diminished sharply within 32 hours after admission. A Sudan-III stained frozen section of deltoid muscle taken 72 hours after admission revealed free and phagocytosed fat in vessel walls and perivascular tissues. The possibility of fat storage in the retinal vessels and surrounding tissue is discussed. From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, College of Medicine, State University of Iowa.

Common External Ocular Infections

In the United States, blepharitis marginalis, acute and chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis, lacrimal conjunctivitis, and herpes simplex keratitis make up about 20 percent of eye problems. Sulfonamide ointments or drops are usually used in blepharitis marginalis and lacrimal conjunctivitis and sometimes in catarrhal conjunctivitis, but in herpes simplex keratitis, 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine is most effective and corticosteroids are contraindicated.