Treatment outcomes of PCR-positive acute retinal necrosis.

Background: Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a progressive necrotizing retinitis caused by viral infection. Optimal management strategies have not been established for this detrimental disease. Previous literature published suggests that Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV1) are the most common promoters of acute retinal necrosis (ARN).

Strengths-based inquiry of resiliency factors among refugees in Metro Vancouver: A comparison of newly-arrived and settled refugees.

Unlabelled: STRENGTHS-BASED INQUIRY OF RESILIENCY FACTORS AMONG REFUGEES IN METRO VANCOUVER: A comparison of newly-arrived and settled refugees.

Objective: To identify the resiliency factors among refugees in the Metro Vancouver area, and compare these factors between newly-arrived and settled refugees.

Design: Semi-structured individual interviews.

Retinal Fluorescence Imaging With Curcumin in an Alzheimer Mouse Model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain detectable by highly invasive brain imaging or in post-mortem tissues. A non-invasive and inexpensive screening method is needed for early diagnosis of asymptomatic AD patients. The shared developmental origin and similarities with the brain make the retina a suitable surrogate tissue to assess Aβ load in AD.

Blau syndrome following a bacterial infection.

An 11-month-old girl presented with dermatitis, boggy arthritis, and keratitis shortly after her hospitalization for bacterial pneumonia. A skin biopsy and genetic testing led to a diagnosis of Blau syndrome. Her symptoms persisted despite a stepwise increase in immune-modulating therapies.

CONVERSION OF FOCAL CHOROIDAL EXCAVATION WITH THE ONSET OF CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY: REPORT OF 2 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

Purpose: To describe two cases of focal choroidal excavation (FCE) conversion in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

Methods: Case report and literature review of cases of FCE conversion.

Results: A 35-year-old asymptomatic pregnant patient was found to have conforming FCE on spectral domain optical coherence tomography of the right eye during hydroxychloroquine screening.

SPONTANEOUS IMPROVEMENT OF SYPHILIS CHORIORETINITIS: CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

Purpose: To describe a case of spontaneous improvement of syphilis chorioretinitis and review the literature.

Methods: Case report and literature review of cases with untreated syphilis chorioretinitis.

Results: A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department with counting fingers vision, normal fundus, and disruption of the outer retinal layers on optical coherence tomography of the right eye.

Daily Intake of Grape Powder Prevents the Progression of Kidney Disease in Obese Type 2 Diabetic ZSF1 Rats.

Individuals living with metabolic syndrome (MetS) such as diabetes and obesity are at high risk for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study investigated the beneficial effect of whole grape powder (WGP) diet on MetS-associated CKD. Obese diabetic ZSF1 rats, a kidney disease model with MetS, were fed WGP (5%, /) diet for six months.

YAP/TAZ Are Mechanoregulators of TGF--Smad Signaling and Renal Fibrogenesis.

Like many organs, the kidney stiffens after injury, a process that is increasingly recognized as an important driver of fibrogenesis. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are related mechanosensory proteins that bind to Smad transcription factors, the canonical mediators of profibrotic TGF- responses. Here, we investigated the role of YAP/TAZ in the matrix stiffness dependence of fibroblast responses to TGF- In contrast to growth on a stiff surface, fibroblast growth on a soft matrix led to YAP/TAZ sequestration in the cytosol and impaired TGF--induced Smad2/3 nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity.

Recombinant N-Terminal Slit2 Inhibits TGF-β-Induced Fibroblast Activation and Renal Fibrosis.

Fibrosis and inflammation are closely intertwined injury pathways present in nearly all forms of CKD for which few safe and effective therapies exist. Slit glycoproteins signaling through Roundabout (Robo) receptors have been described to have anti-inflammatory effects through regulation of leukocyte cytoskeletal organization. Notably, cytoskeletal reorganization is also required for fibroblast responses to TGF-β Here, we examined whether Slit2 also controls TGF-β-induced renal fibrosis.