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Biomedical subjects

J W Berkow

Publications and source records attributed to J W Berkow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dislocation of the crystalline lens in a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

A moderately retarded institutionalized patient diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome and bilateral retinitis pigmentosa underwent enucleation OD because of intractable pain secondary to glaucoma in 1965. Twenty-three years later, the patient had a dislocated lens OS. Although the lens dislocation might have been caused by trauma, it also might be associated with either Sturge-Weber syndrome or retinitis pigmentosa. The role of protective eye wear in one-eyed institutionalized retarded patients is discussed. To our knowledge, this combination of Sturge-Weber syndrome, bilateral retinitis pigmentosa, and a dislocated lens has not been reported previously.

Cataract↗

Subretinal neovascularization in senile macular degeneration.

When fluorescein angiograms from 563 patients with senile macular degeneration examined at a large community hospital during a 9.5-year period were retrospectively reviewed, 200 patients were found to have a dry atrophic type of senile macular degeneration, consisting of drusen and retinal pigment epithelial changes. Of the 363 patients with exudative senile macular degeneration, 244 had subretinal neovascular membranes. Seventy-eight membranes were less than 1 disk diameter in size. Most of the large (157 of 224) and small (44 of 78) membranes showed a predilection for the fovea. Only 13 large and six small neovascular membranes were 200 microns or more from the center of the foveal avascular zone.

Fluorescein Angiography↗

Dominant slowly progressive macular dystrophy.

Twenty-three members of one white family were studied for a new form of dominant slowly progressive macular dystrophy in which visual acuity remained good until the seventh decade. Ten patients had positive signs of this entity. Eight patients had possible early forms. Five had no signs. Several patients had visual acuity fluctuations, documented by their ophthalmologists who saw associated pigment epithelial alterations in some cases. Obvious macular changes included perifoveal pigment epithelial atrophy, posterior pole flecks, and fundus lesions resembling an atrophic form of senile macular degeneration. We suggest a possible hereditary predisposition to senile macular degeneration in our patients.

Aged↗

A follow-up of blind diabetic patients.

This report concerns the subsequent fate of 95 blind diabetics who were using a Seeing Eye guide dog in 1964. In 1973, 9 years later, 40 were known to be dead, 31 were known to be alive, and no data were available on 24. The average interval from onset of severe blindness to death in 37 of the 40 who had died is 9.4 years. The mean age at death was 43.2 years for the group. This compares favorably to our original study which showed an average survival from onset to blindness to death of 5.8 years, and an average age at death of 35.9 years. Because follow-up data are incomplete for the 1964-1973 interval, the true figures may be poorer than the ones reported now. In any case, it is apparent that the life expectancy of the blind diabetic is still poor after the onset of blindness from severe retinopathy.

Adult↗

Corneal calcification.

Superficial calcification was produced in the normal rabbit cornea by mild irradiation with a carbon dioxide laser. The calcification was entirely extracellular and closely resemnbled that observed in human band keratopathy, which was characterized as hydroxyapatite by x-ray diffraction. The electron-mnicroscopic appearance of calcific spheriules and conglomerates in early cornteal calcification is presented. The calcific spherules arise at the basal plasma membrane surface of the epithelial cells in close relation to their basement membrane.

Animals↗