Biomedical subjects

E Rietveld

Publications and source records attributed to E Rietveld.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Clinical evaluation of the pressure phosphene tonometer in patients with glaucoma.

AIM: To evaluate the reliability of the pressure phosphene tonometer in comparison with the Goldmann applanation tonometer. METHODS: 45 consecutive patients with glaucoma (78 eyes) participated in the study. Eyes with previous eye surgery, a documented peripheral visual field defect, a refractive error of more than 5 dioptres, and patients who were unable to understand the procedure were excluded from the study. Intraocular pressure was measured with a pressure phosphene tonometer by one examiner and with a Goldmann applanation tonometer by two other examiners no more than 15 minutes apart. A second series of measurements was performed several weeks later on 34 patients (59 eyes). There was no communication between examiners or between examiner and patient regarding test results. RESULTS: No statistically significant correlation was found between the applanation tonometry values and those obtained with a pressure phosphene tonometer. CONCLUSION: The pressure phosphene tonometer is not suitable for reliably measuring intraocular pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Safety and immunogenicity of a novel recombinant subunit respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (BBG2Na) in healthy young adults.

A novel recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subunit vaccine, designated BBG2Na, was administered to 108 healthy adults randomly assigned to receive 10, 100, or 300 microg of BBG2Na in aluminum phosphate or saline placebo. Each subject received 1, 2, or 3 intramuscular injections of the assigned dose at monthly intervals. Local and systemic reactions were mild, and no evidence of harmful properties of BBG2Na was reported. The highest ELISA and virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody responses were evident in the 100- and 300-microg groups; second or third injections provided no significant boosts against RSV-derived antigens. BBG2Na induced > or 2-fold and > or =4-fold increases in G2Na-specific ELISA units in up to 100% and 57% of subjects, respectively; corresponding RSV-A-specific responses were 89% and 67%. Furthermore, up to 71% of subjects had > or =2-fold VN titer increases. Antibody responses to 2 murine lung protective epitopes were also highly boosted after vaccination. Therefore, BBG2Na is safe, well tolerated, and highly immunogenic in RSV-seropositive adults.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Visual impairment due to optic neuropathy in 2 patients on amiodarone therapy, i.e. ethambutol and isoniazide].

Two patients, a 69-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, developed a bilateral decrease in visual acuity, the male patient within two months of starting to use amiodarone (Cordarone) and the female patient within ten months of starting to use ethambutol (Myambutol) and isoniazid. Optic neuropathy occurred in both patients and this was probably caused by the medications. After the medication had been withdrawn, the male patient's vision remained poor (1/300); 6 months later the female patient's vision had improved to 0.8 and 1.0. Before prescribing oculotoxic medications, physicians should know about the patient's visual acuity and any ocular diseases the patient may have. The patient must also be advised to contact their doctor immediately if visual complaints occur. Before and during treatment with ethambutol, ophthalmological examinations should be carried out regularly. In the event of complaints, iatrogenic optic neuropathy must be distinguished from an ischaemic optic neuropathy. The latter is usually associated with an acute unilateral decrease in visual acuity. Withdrawal of the medication is indicated for neuropathy. However, although the vision may improve it will not be completely restored.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Chronic ocular zoster.

In a prospective open trial 40 patients suffering from acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus were treated with systemic acyclovir. An additional 10 patients were treated by topical acyclovir alone and dexamethasone eye-drops were administered to 5 of them to suppress ocular inflammation. In the topical treatment group the period of new skin lesion formation and progression of ocular inflammatory signs were significantly prolonged. Therapy with systemic acyclovir however resulted in a quick and complete resolution of ocular inflammation in all patients. Chronic ocular inflammation developed in 4 out of 10 patients treated with topical acyclovir. We consider chronic ocular zoster as a distinct clinical entity, possibly expressing a failing local immune response against VZV.

Acyclovir↗

PubMed1990

Humoral autoimmune response against S-antigen and IRBP in ocular onchocerciasis.

Autoimmune mechanisms are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of the chorioretinal changes in ocular onchocerciasis. In this study, the involvement of autoimmunity against retinal antigens in developing chorioretinitis was investigated. Serum levels of autoantibodies, directed against human S-antigen and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), were determined in patients with onchocerciasis (n = 46) and endemic controls (n = 38) from Sierra Leone with the use of an enzyme immunoassay. In both groups high levels of anti-human S-antigen and IRBP antibodies were detected. No relationship could be demonstrated between the antiretinal antibody level and the occurrence of chorioretinitis in onchocerciasis. The levels of both anti-human S-antigen and IRBP antibodies were significantly higher in patients with onchocerciasis compared with endemic controls (P less than 0.001). Cross-reactivity of antiretinal antibodies with parasitic antigens could not be demonstrated as a possible explanation for the higher levels in patients with onchocerciasis. No correlation was found between the levels of antibodies of different classes against the crude Onchocerca volvulus, the egg antigen, or the microfilariae and the antiretinal antibody levels. Furthermore, in a panel of 13 different monoclonal antibodies directed against O. volvulus, only one showed a slight anti-human IRBP reactivity and none reacted with S-antigen. The immune response against the two retinal antigens investigated was not specific for onchocerciasis because high antibody levels were also found in patients with Bancroftian filariasis from Papua, New Guinea, and Surinam.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Concurrent parasitic infections among patients with onchocerciasis and controls in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Research was performed into the prevalence of concurrent parasite infection among 23 patients with onchocerciasis and 13 onchocerciasis-negative controls in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Stools, urine sediments and bloodsmears were examined for ova, parasites and microfilariae. Results showed the presence of Hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni, Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides. A positive relationship was found between O. volvulus and Hookworm infection. The effects of polyparasitism on immunodiagnosis and the need for further research is discussed.

Adolescent↗