We examined lens autofluorescence and the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in 56 diabetic patients (34 insulin-dependent and 22 non-insulin-dependent), using the Fluorotron Master (R), a commercially available fluorophotometer. Significant relationships were found between age and lens autofluorescence (p < 0.01), between duration of diabetes and lens autofluorescence in insulin-dependent diabetics (p < 0.01), and between duration of diabetes and blood-retinal barrier permeability in all diabetics (p < 0.05). The relationships between lens autofluorescence and duration of diabetes in non-insulin dependent patients (p > 0.05), and between lens autofluorescence or the penetration ratio and HBA Ic during the five preceding years (p > 0.05) were not significant. Fluorophotometry provides an objective and reproducible method for in vivo investigation of the ocular complications of diabetes and of the factors influencing them.

No abstract

Diazepam-induced modifications in bupivacaine distribution have been noted in previously reported data investigating the influence of diazepam on bupivacaine plasma levels in children undergoing surgery under caudal block with a mixture of lignocaine and bupivacaine. Possible diazepam-induced changes in protein binding were therefore examined in this study. Our data did not demonstrate significant modifications in bupivacaine protein binding when diazepam is used concomitantly.

No abstract

No abstract