T cell immunoregulation in active ocular toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is an important cause of infectious ocular disease. The physiopathology of retinochoroidal lesions associated with this infection is not completely understood. The present study was undertaken to investigate cytokine production by T cells from individuals with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) comparing with controls.

Serum levels of neurotrophic factors in active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Unlabelled: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) is the most common identifiable cause of posterior uveitis in Brazil. Response to treatment and clinical presentation may vary significantly. We assessed serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin (NT)-3, and NT-4/5 in patients with active TR, before and after TR treatment.

New drug delivery system for corneal administration of mitomycin-C.

Purpose: To develop a new corneal release system to deliver optimum amounts of mitomycin-C (MMC) during the perioperative period of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Setting: Ophthalmos S/A, São Paulo, Brazil.

Design: Experimental study.

Multimodal Imaging Assisting the Early Diagnosis of Cat-Scratch Neuroretinitis.

To describe how a multifocal fundus imaging system assisted the early diagnosis of cat scratch neuroretinitis in a case of a 27-year-old male with unilateral visual loss, neuroretinitis, and a peripapillary angiomatous lesion. Multimodal fundus imaging analysis was an essential contributor to the clinical diagnosis of cat scratch neuroretinitis during the early stage of the disease.

Risk of reactivation of toxoplasmic retinitis following intraocular procedures without the use of prophylactic therapy.

Background/aims: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is the commonest known cause of posterior uveitis worldwide and reactivation is unpredictable. Based on results from one study, the authors proposed that antitoxoplasmic therapy should be initiated as prophylaxis for intraocular surgery in patients with toxoplasmic scars. The aim of this study is to analyse the risk of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis reactivation following intraocular procedures.

Morphometric changes in C57BL/6 mice retina infected by Toxoplasma gondii ME 49 strain.

This study evaluated the morphometric implications in C57BL/6 mouse retina infected by Toxoplasma gondii, ME 49 strain. Twenty C57BL/6 female mice were divided into group 1 (n=8, intraperitoneally infected with 30 cysts of T. gondii ME 49 strain) and group 2 (n=12 non-infected controls).

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism (-174 G/C) is associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Purpose: Experimental data have demonstrated a relevant role for IL-6 in the modulation of acute ocular toxoplasmosis. Therefore, we aim to investigate the possible association between the IL-6 gene polymorphism at position -174 and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) in humans.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with diagnosed TR were recruited from the Uveitis Section, Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Increased serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (sTNFR2) in patients with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of the cytokine TNF-α and its soluble receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) in patients with toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis (TR) and controls. 37 patients with TR and 30 subjects with positive serology for toxoplasmosis but without history and signs of uveitis were included in this study. Serum concentrations of TNF-α, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were determined by ELISA.

Spectral optical coherence tomography findings in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis and active satellite lesions (MINAS Report 1).

Purpose: To characterize the active retinochoroiditis lesion observed in patients with the classic clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) utilizing spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT).

Methods: Twenty-four patients with OT and satellite lesions underwent standardized ophthalmologic examination and multimodal fundus imaging. The SOCT findings observed at presentation were described.

Review for disease of the year: differential diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis.

The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis is mainly clinical, based in the presence of focal necrotizing retinochoroiditis often associated with a preexistent chorioretinal scar, and variable involvement of the vitreous, retinal blood vessels, optic nerve, and anterior segment of the eye. Recognition of this clinical spectrum of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is crucial, but other infectious, noninfectious, and neoplastic entities should also be considered in the differential diagnosis. Investigations such as serological tests, polymerase chain reaction of ocular fluids, and assessment of intraocular antibody synthesis are helpful in uncertain cases.

[Immunology of the toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis].

Toxoplasma gondii infection is an important cause of ocular disease in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent subjects. The pathogenesis of retinochoroidal lesion associated with this infection is not fully understood. In this review, the role of the immune system in the control of Toxoplasma infection, especially in the eye, is discussed.

Cat-scratch disease: ocular manifestations and visual outcome.

To describe the intra-ocular manifestations of cat-scratch disease (CSD) found at two uveitis reference centers in Brazil. Retrospective case series study. Review of clinical records of patients diagnosed with CSD in the Uveitis Department of São Geraldo Hospital and the Ophthalmology Department of the Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas-FIOCRUZ, from 2001 to 2008.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii secretory IgA in tears of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis: immunodiagnostic validation by ELISA.

Toxoplasma gondii causes posterior uveitis and the specific diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. The presence of anti-T. gondii secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies in patients' tears has been reported and an association was found between ocular toxoplasmosis and the anti-T.

Congenital toxoplasmosis in southeastern Brazil: results of early ophthalmologic examination of a large cohort of neonates.

Objective: To report results of early ophthalmologic examinations in a large cohort of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) after neonatal screening.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a cohort.

Participants: A total of 178 newborns with confirmed CT from 146,307 screened babies (95% of live births) from Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil.

[Posterior scleritis: clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients].

Purpose: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients with posterior scleritis evaluated in the Uveitis service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Methods: 23 patients were identified with the diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed.

[Scleritis: clinical characteristics, systemic associations, treatment and outcome in 100 patients].

Purpose: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 100 patients with scleritis evaluated at the Uveitis Service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Patients And Methods: 100 patients were identified with the diagnosis of scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed.

Epidemic of unilateral panuveitis in children from Brazilian Amazonia: clinical and etiological aspects in seven patients.

Objectives: To describe clinical presentation and results of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in seven children from an epidemic of panuveitis in the Brazilian Amazonia, as well as environmental analysis and etiological aspects involved.

Methods: Patients underwent full pediatric and ophthalmic examinations, B-scan, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and serological tests. Ocular samples were thoroughly analyzed, including two enucleation specimens.

Interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Purpose: It has been proposed that cytokine gene polymorphisms can predispose individuals to disease by enhancing inflammatory processes. Considering the relevance of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR), we investigated whether IL1A -889 C/T and IL1B +3954C/T promoter polymorphisms are associated with TR in humans.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that involved 100 Brazilian TR patients and 100 age- and gender-matched control subjects.

[Imunogenetics in the uveítes].

Cytokines are molecules involved in intercellular communication in immune and inflammatory responses, playing an important role in uveitis. Genetic polymorphisms responsible for the production of certain cytokines have been associated with the occurrence and the severity of uveitis. Therefore, the present study has the purpose of describing these possible associations, pointing out the individual genetic background in the prognosis of uveitis.

Interleukin-10 gene polymorphism (-1082G/A) is associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Purpose: Experimental data have demonstrated a relevant role for IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in the modulation of acute ocular toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the possible association between an IL10 gene polymorphism at position -1082 and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) in humans.

Methods: One hundred patients with diagnosed TR were recruited from the Uveitis Section, Federal University of Minas Gerais.