Epidemiological, clinical and prognostic profile of acute bacterial meningitis among children in Alexandria, Egypt.

Purpose: To address the epidemiological characteristics and clinical indices that may predict the prognostic profile of meningitis among children.

Methods: Children admitted to Alexandria fever hospital with clinical diagnosis of meningitis/meningoencephalitis during the period 2002-2003 were recruited for the study. They were subjected to clinical examination as well as CSF bacteriological and serological investigations.

Expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor in experimental choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the rat laser-injury model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: Retinas were immunostained for PEDF at different times (1, 2, and 3 weeks) after laser injury. Levels of PEDF protein in the vitreous at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after laser injury were also assayed by Western blot.

Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in ischemic and non-ischemic human and experimental retinal disease.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is induced by hypoxia and it has been implicated in the development of iris and retinal neovascularization (NV) in ischemic retinopathies in which it has been suggested that Muller cells are responsible for increased VEGF production. VEGF, however, is also known to be a potent mediator of vascular permeability in other tissues and may perform this function in retina. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF was performed on a variety of human and experimental ischemic and non-ischemic ocular disorders in which blood retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown is known to occur to determine if there is an upregulation of VEGF in these conditions.