Central Corneal Thickness in Childhood Cataract.

Purpose: We explored elevated central corneal thickness (CCT) in children with cataracts as possibly reflecting preexisting corneal malformation related to specific cataract morphology.

Methods: All children consecutively seen during the study periods who had cataracts and corneal pachymetry as part of their routine care were enrolled at academic centers in large cities of Canada and the United States. Study data collected included age, sex, CCT, and cataract morphology.

Burden and Depression in Caregivers of Blind Patients in New York State.

Purpose: To describe the degree of burden of care and the proportion at risk of depression among individuals caring for legally blind patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 486 individuals providing care to their family members who were legally blind. Best-corrected visual acuity of the better-seeing eye in patients determined group placement: Group 1, 20/200-10/200; group 2, 10/200 to light perception (LP); group 3, no light perception (NLP); group VF, visual field loss to <20 central degrees.

Optic nerve morphology in normal children.

Purpose: To expand the normative database of pediatric eyes analyzed with the Optovue optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: In a community-based, cross-sectional analysis, 77 healthy 5-year-old children were recruited from pediatric practices. No subject had any known ocular disorder.

CD1 Mouse Retina Is Shielded From Iron Overload Caused by a High Iron Diet.

Purpose: High RPE iron levels have been associated with age-related macular degeneration. Mutation of the ferroxidase ceruloplasmin leads to RPE iron accumulation and degeneration in patients with aceruloplasminemia; mice lacking ceruloplasmin and its homolog hephaestin have a similar RPE degeneration. To determine whether a high iron diet (HID) could cause RPE iron accumulation, possibly contributing to RPE oxidative stress in AMD, we tested the effect of dietary iron on mouse RPE iron.

Fish oil improves gene targets of Down syndrome in C57BL and BALB/c mice.

We have considered a novel gene targeting approach for treating pathologies and conditions whose genetic bases are defined using diet and nutrition. One such condition is Down syndrome, which is linked to overexpression of RCAN1 on human chromosome 21 for some phenotypes. We hypothesize that a decrease in RCAN1 expression with dietary supplements in individuals with Down syndrome represents a potential treatment.

Toll-like receptors and vascular markers in ocular rosacea.

Purpose: To delineate signals by which the vascular abnormalities inherent to ocular rosacea arise and to correlate these signals with elements of the innate immune system.

Methods: Experimental study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for a variety of vascular markers and for toll-like receptor-4 on eyelid biopsies taken from patients with ocular rosacea and normal controls.

Overexpression of RCAN1 isoform 4 in mouse neurons leads to a moderate behavioral impairment.

Objectives: Recent evidence supports the involvement of RCAN1 in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. To better assess this, we generated and analyzed transgenic mice overexpressing human RCAN1 isoform 4 in neurons.

Methods: Cognitive behavioral (Morris water maze, open field, zero maze, elevated plus maze assays); cognitive-associated proteins (CREB, ERK and Tau Western immunoblotting); motor coordination (Rotarod assay); structural abnormalities (immunohistological analyses), and proinflammatory cytokines (cytometric bead assay) were measured in young (2 month) and old (18 month) transgenics and compared with wild type controls.

Degraded mitochondrial DNA is a newly identified subtype of the damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP) family and possible trigger of neurodegeneration.

We previously showed a preferential degradation and down-regulation of mitochondrial DNA and RNA in hamster fibroblasts in response to hydrogen peroxide. Subsequent studies by others demonstrated that mitochondrial DNA can stimulate immune cells as a DAMP (damage associated molecular patterns) family member. However, the actual physical structure of this mitochondrial DNA DAMP and its importance in non-immune cell types are poorly understood.

The calcineurin inhibitor RCAN1 is involved in cultured macrophage and in vivo immune response.

Studies on the role of regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) in immunity are limited, but have demonstrated an involvement in T-lymphocyte function. Here, we expand these studies to macrophages and in vivo infection. The treatment of RAW and primary mouse macrophages with lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli strongly induced RCAN1 isoform 4 (RCAN1-4), but not isoform 1.

Select phytochemicals suppress human T-lymphocytes and mouse splenocytes suggesting their use in autoimmunity and transplantation.

We have considered a novel "rational" gene targeting approach for treating pathologies whose genetic bases are defined using select phytochemicals. We reason that one such potential application of this approach would be conditions requiring immunosuppression such as autoimmune disease and transplantation, where the genetic target is clearly defined; i.e.