Characterization of the inflammatory response in the uteri of cows infected naturally by Neospora caninum

Bovine neosporosis manifests during gestation, when the fetus may be vulnerable to pathogens. Experimental studies of Neospora caninum-infected cattle have been performed, but little is known about the in-utero inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to characterize the inflammatory response in the uteri of pregnant and non-pregnant cows infected naturally with N. caninum. Four groups of seven animals were studied. Two groups consisted of N. caninum-seropositive pregnant and non-pregnant cows and the other two groups contained N. caninum-seronegative pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Uterine and placental samples were subjected to immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for N. caninum, CD4, CD8, CD14 and CD21. The non-pregnant seropositive and seronegative groups did not show a difference (P >0.05) in the types of cells present. There were more lymphocytes in the uteri of the seropositive pregnant animals (P <0.05) than in the seronegative pregnant animals, but this was not considered to be consistent with an inflammatory process. N. caninum cysts were detected in eight seropositive cows; five were non-pregnant and three were pregnant. CD4(+) T cells were distributed in the endometrium and myometrium of the non-pregnant cows and were sparse in the placentomes of pregnant cows. CD8(+) T cells were distributed in a similar manner, but were present in smaller number. There were no cells expressing CD14 or CD21. The results of the study suggest that there is no consistent uterine inflammatory response against N. caninum in naturally infected animals.

Evaluation of an integrated orbital tissue expander in congenital anophthalmos: report of preliminary clinical experience

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of an orbital tissue expander designed to stimulate orbital bone growth in an anophthalmic socket.

DESIGN

Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.

METHODS

SETTINGS

Institutional.

STUDY POPULATION

Nine consecutive patients with unilateral congenital anophthalmos.

INTERVENTION

The orbital tissue expander is made of an inflatable silicone globe sliding on a titanium T-plate secured to the lateral orbital rim with screws. The globe is inflated by a transconjunctival injection of normal saline through a 30-gauge needle to a final volume of approximately 5 cm(3). Computed tomography scans were used to determine the orbital volume. The data studied were: demographics, prior orbital expansion procedures, secondary interventions, orbital symmetry, and implant-related complications.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the orbital volume change, and the secondary outcome measures were changes in forehead, brow, and zygomatic eminence contour and adverse events.

RESULTS

The average patient age at implantation was 41.89 ± 39.42 months (range, 9 to 108 months). The initial average volume of inflation was 3.00 ± 0.87 cm(3) (range, 2.0 to 4.0 cm(3)), and the average final volume of 4.33 ± 0.50 cm(3) (range, 4.0 to 5.0 cm(3)) was achieved. The duration of expansion was 18.89 ± 8.80 months (range, 4 to 26 months). All patients demonstrated an average increase in the orbital tissue expander implanted orbital volume of 5.112 ± 2.173 cm(3) (range, 2.81 to 10.38 cm(3)). The average difference between the volume of the implanted and the initial contralateral orbit was 5.68 ± 2.34 cm(3), which decreased to 2.53 ± 1.80 cm(3) at the final measurement (P < .001, paired t test). All implants remained inflated except for 2 iatrogenic punctures at the second inflation and 1 that was the result of implant failure. All were replaced.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated orbital tissue expander is safe and effective in stimulating anophthalmic socket bone growth.

Efficacy of various drugs in the prevention of posterior capsule opacification: experimental study of rabbit eyes

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy of various drugs in the prevention of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in a closed capsular bag technique.

SETTING

Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.

METHODS

Lens material was removed using phacoaspiration or phacoemulsification through a microcapsulorhexis according to the hardness of the crystalline lens correlated with the weight and age of the rabbits. A mixture of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (sodium hyaluronate 1.4% [SHA]) and a drug was injected into the empty capsular bag, allowed to remain inside for 3 minutes, and removed. The capsular bag was rinsed with balanced salt solution (BSS) and refilled with SHA. In a group of rabbits, the capsulorhexis was sealed with a minicapsulorhexis valve (MCV). Rabbits were treated with 1 of the following: SHA (control), BSS, mitomycin-C (MMC, 0.2 mg/mL), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (10 mM and 15 mM), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 33 mg/mL), acetic acid (3%, 0.3%, and 0.003%), and distilled water.

RESULTS

Upon completion of the study, the control and treated eyes had PCO and new lens material (not residual). Anterior capsule proliferation was observed in eyes treated with 5-FU. The order of PCO appearance (earliest to latest) was as follows: 15 mM EDTA, SHA, MMC, acetic acid 0.3%, acetic acid 3%, BSS, distilled water (small animals; no MCV), acetic acid 0.003%, 5-FU, 10 mM EDTA, and distilled water (large animals; MCV). The earliest appearance was day 1 postoperatively and the latest, day 47.

CONCLUSIONS

Distilled water and 10 mM EDTA treatments were the most efficient in retarding the appearance of PCO.

A specific T-cell receptor genotype preference in the immune response to a synthetic Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine

In recent studies with 63 and 122 volunteers vaccinated with the SPf 66 synthetic malaria vaccine, specific antibody patterns were classified as high or low responders. Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a specific and selective preference was shown for the V beta arrangement of the T-cell receptor in the high responder group involving the V beta-8 gene. The low responder group showed the rearrangement of a different set of genes, and a particular association with V beta-10.