Structural insights into the role of the proline rich region in tau function.

Tau plays an important role in modulating axonal microtubules in neurons, while intracellular tau aggregates are found in many neurodegenerative disorders. Tubulin binding sites are found in tau's proline-rich region (PRR), microtubule binding repeats (MTBRs), and pseudo-repeat (R'). Tau phosphorylation sites, which cluster with high frequency within the PRR, regulate tubulin interactions and correlates with disease.

Structural Insights into the Role of the Proline Rich Region in Tau Function.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that plays an important role in modulating axonal microtubules in neurons. Intracellular tau aggregates are found in a broad class of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, termed tauopathies. Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein, and its structural disorder appears to be critical to its microtubule-related functions.

Functional Disruption of Gli1-DNA Recognition via a Cobalt(III) Complex.

The aberrant activation of the Gli family of zinc finger transcription factors (ZFTFs) is associated with several types of human cancer, including medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma. We have reported the use of cobalt(III) Schiff-base complexes (Co(III)-sb) as potent inhibitors of ZFTFs in vivo. These complexes inhibit transcription by displacing the zinc finger domain's structural Zn(II) ion, destabilizing the alpha helix necessary for DNA recognition.

Cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes stabilize non-fibrillar amyloid-β aggregates with reduced toxicity.

The aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is believed to be foundational to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro aggregation kinetics have been shown to correlate with rates of disease progression in both AD patients and animal models, thus proving to be a useful metric for testing Aβ-targeted therapeutics. Here we present evidence of cobalt(III) Schiff base complex ([Co(acetylacetonate)(NH)]Cl; Co(III)-sb) modulation of Aβ aggregation kinetics by a variety of complementary techniques.

A Ln(III)-3-hydroxypyridine pH responsive probe optimized by DFT.

Differences in tissue pH can be diagnostic of cancer and other conditions that shift cell metabolism. Paramagnetic probes are promising tools for pH mapping in vivo using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as they provide uniquely shifted MR signals that change with pH. Here, we demonstrate a 3-hydroxy-6-methylpyridyl coordinating group as a new pH-responsive reporter group for Ln(III) MRS probes.

Inhibition of Amyloid-β Aggregation by Cobalt(III) Schiff Base Complexes: A Computational and Experimental Approach.

Coordination complexes have emerged as prominent modulators of amyloid aggregation via their interaction with the N-terminal histidine residues of amyloid-β (Aβ). Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel cobalt(III) Schiff base complex with methylamine axial ligands, and we present both computational and experimental data demonstrating the reduction of β-sheet formation by this complex. The computations include molecular dynamics simulations of both monomeric and pentameric Aβ, which demonstrate decreased formation of β-sheet structures, destabilization of preformed β-sheets, and suppression of aggregation.

Pegaptanib: choroidal neovascularization in patients with age-related macular degeneration and previous arterial thromboembolic events.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and the rate of side effects of the pegylated aptamer pegaptanib in the treatment of patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and a history of previous arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs).

Methods: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients with subfoveal CNV due to AMD and cerebrovascular accidents (n = 12) and myocardial infarction (n = 11) in the previous 6 months received intravitreal pegaptanib 0.3 mg according to a pro re nata regimen and were followed for 12 months.

Demyelinizing Neurological Disease after Treatment with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists.

Purpose: Demyelinizing neurological disease is a rare complication after treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α antagonists. We report on a case of multiple sclerosis after TNFα antagonist treatment and discuss its differential diagnosis.

Methods: This is an observational case study.

Aflibercept as primary treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularisation: a retrospective study.

AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term efficacy of intravitreal injections of aflibercept as primary treatment for subfoveal/juxtafoveal myopic choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).METHODS Thirty-eight treatment-naive eyes of thirty-eight patients with subfoveal/juxtafoveal myopic CNV received initial intravitreal aflibercept injections and were followed for at least 18 months. Aflibercept was applied again for persistent or recurrent CNV, as required.

A Case of Goldenhar Syndrome Associated with a New Retinal Presentation: Exudative Vitelliform Maculopathy.

Goldenhar syndrome is a rare clinical disturbance with a wide range of clinical manifestations. We report on a 6-year-old male with peculiar retinal presentation of Goldenhar syndrome. The patient was referred to Ophthalmology for central scotoma in the left eye, where visual acuity was 20/100.

Spontaneous closure of a fully developed macular hole in a severely myopic eye.

Purpose. Myopic macular holes can be difficult to close with surgery and are frequently associated with retinal detachment. We report on a case of a macular hole in a severely myopic eye that underwent spontaneous closure.

Solar retinopathy: a multimodal analysis.

Purpose. Solar retinopathy is a rare clinical disturbance, for which spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings are not always consistent. We report on two cases of solar retinopathy and discuss its differential diagnosis.

Epiretinal membrane surgery for combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium: role of multimodal analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), MP-1 microperimetry, and fundus autofluorescence imaging for planning surgical procedures in combined hamartomas of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (CHR-RPE) and following epiretinal membrane removal.

Methods: In an interventional retrospective case series, six consecutive subjects with CHR-RPE underwent vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane peeling, with 4 years of follow-up. Each underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including best corrected visual acuity, fundus examination, fundus fluorescein angiography, SD-OCT, MP-1, and fundus autofluorescence at one, 6, 12, and 48 months.

Pigmented free-floating posterior vitreous cyst.

Vitreous cysts are very rare ocular malformations. In this observational case study, we report on an unusual case of a pigmented free-floating vitreous cyst and discuss its differential diagnosis. A 14-year-old male was referred to ophthalmology for a pigmented lesion in his left eye.

Atypical unilateral maculopathy associated with acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy-like yellowish deposits.

Purpose: To report a case of atypical unilateral maculopathy associated with acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy-like yellowish deposits.

Methods: Observational case report of one patient.

Results: A 52-year-old man presented with reduced vision in the left eye.

Cavernous hemangioma associated with retinal macrovessels.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report two unusual cases of retinal cavernous hemangiomas in conjunction with retinal macrovessels.

Methods: Observational case study. Two patients with unilateral retinal cavernous hemangiomas and no signs or symptoms of systemic disease were evaluated with full ophthalmic examination and underwent fundus photography and fluorescein angiography.

Peculiar manifestation of macular telangiectasia type 2.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report two unusual cases of macular telangiectasia type 2 with pronounced asymmetric clinical presentations.

Patients And Methods: Two patients. Observational case study.

Unilateral electronegative ERG in a presumed central retinal artery occlusion.

A unilateral electronegative electroretinogram (ERG) was seen in a 94-year-old man with presumed central retinal artery occlusion. Goldmann perimetry revealed central scotoma in the right eye and no abnormalities in the left eye. Full-field ERG in the right eye described a reduction of the b-wave with a relative preservation of the a-wave which is characteristic of electronegative ERG.

N,N'-diethyl-4-nitrobenzene-1,3-diamine, 2,6-bis(ethylamino)-3-nitrobenzonitrile and bis(4-ethylamino-3-nitrophenyl) sulfone.

N,N'-diethyl-4-nitrobenzene-1,3-diamine, C(10)H(15)N(3)O(2), (I), crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, both of which are nearly planar. The molecules differ in the conformation of the ethylamine group trans to the nitro group. Both molecules contain intramolecular N-H.

Bilateral isolated choroidal melanocytosis.

Background: Isolated choroidal melanocytosis refers to patchy melanocytic choroidal hyperpigmentation without the associated scleral or cutaneous pigmentation seen in ocular melanocytosis or oculodermal melanocytosis. Neither bilateral nor diffuse cases, to our knowledge, have been previously described in the literature.

Methods: Case report.

Bilateral choroidal neovascularization in birdshot retinochoroidopathy treated with intravitreal injections of triamcinolone and bevacizumab.

Purpose: To describe a patient with birdshot retinochoroidopathy (BRC) with bilateral choroidal neovascularization (CNV) who was treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and antiinflammatory medications.

Method: Interventional case report.

Patient: A 35-year-old woman with bilateral CNV associated with BRC.

Autofluorescence characteristics of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Purpose: To report the autofluorescence features of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE).

Methods: Four patients with CHRPE were evaluated using autofluorescence in a camera-based system.

Results: All CHRPE lesions studied had well demarcated borders and were hypoautofluorescent.

Bevacizumab treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization from causes other than age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To report the results of intravitreous bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from causes other than age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of eyes that received intravitreous bevacizumab, 1.25 mg, for subfoveal non-AMD CNV at a referral-based retinal practice.

Central retinal vein occlusion case-control study.

Purpose: To investigate risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Methods: Consecutive patients with CRVO examined from July 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006 were compared with an historical gender- and age-matched control group of patients with ocular problems other than vascular occlusive disease from the same referral practice.

Photodynamic treatment versus photodynamic treatment associated with systemic steroids for idiopathic choroidal neovascularisation.

Aim: To compare photodynamic therapy (PDT) with PDT associated with systemic steroids (SS) for the control of juxta/subfoveal idiopathic choroidal neovascularisation (ICNV).

Methods: Patients with juxta/subfoveal ICNV were randomised and then treated. Visual gain and loss were defined as improvement in or worsening for two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), respectively.