,,Aorta angust'' - a possible cause of sudden death?

Over one year, 7 autopsy cases with narrow diameters of the descending aorta were seen in the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bonn. The autopsy results were supplemented by chemical-toxicological, alcohol and histological examinations. In all cases middle-aged men (24-38 years) died suddenly and predominantly in a domestic environment.

Quantifying FITC-labeled latex beads opsonized with photoreceptor outer segment fragments: an easy and inexpensive method of investigating phagocytosis in retinal pigment epithelium cells.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the most active phagocyte in the human body, and this function is indispensable for vision. In this study, we introduce an easy and inexpensive way to quantify RPE phagocytosis by opsonizing FITC-labeled latex beads of a defined size with a crude mixture of photoreceptor outer segment fragments, using cells of porcine origin. After performance of the desired experiment, phagocytosis can easily be quantified by counting the ingested particles.

Intracellular bevacizumab reduces phagocytotic uptake in RPE cells.

Background: We have previously shown that bevacizumab, but not ranibizumab, is taken up by porcine RPE cells. In this study, the effects of bevacizumab and ranibizumab on proliferation, wound healing and phagocytosis of the RPE were investigated.

Methods: Primary porcine RPE cell culture were prepared from fresh eyes, cultivated and treated with clinically relevant concentrations of bevacizumab or ranibizumab respectively.