Xerophthalmia and protein malnutrition in Bantu children.

Abstract

XEROPHTHALMIA and malnutrition are worldwide problems, and their relationships to each other are of special interest. It is the purpose of this paper to show that:(1) Xerophthalmia occurs not uncommonly in the Republic of South Africa.

The epithelial response in keratitis sicca and keratitis herpetica (an experimental and clinical study)

“…Hood et al (1970 reported the development of SjSgren's Syndrome on deprivation of ascorbic acid which was ameliorated by the ascorbic acid treatment. Kuming & Politzer (1967) have described association of protein malnutrition with SjiSgren's Syndrome in Bantu children and Wegelius et al (1970) and WiUiamson et al (1970), Vitamin B12 deficiency due to the presence of antibodies to the gastric parietal cells and Addisonian pernicious anaemia.…”

Abstracts of Communications

“…In severe vitamin A deficiency associated with malnutrition, perforation of the cornea can occur leading to loss of sight. Histological evidence shows that perforation is preceded by infiltration of leucocytes into the corneal stroma (Wolbach & Howe, 1925;Kuming & Politzer, 1967) of which the major structural component is collagen. Pirie et al (1975) suggested that these infiltrating cells could be the source of collagenolytic enzymes.…”

Decreased hepatic retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity in protein-deficient rats

“…Diseases of the liver and protein-energy malnutrition have been reported to be associated with significant reductions of plasma levels of retinol and/ or serum retinol binding protein [15][16][17]. The decrease in the circulatory level of retinol resulting from these pathological conditions has been attributed to a reduction of retinol binding protein synthesis in the liver [2].…”