Evidence for cytokine dysregulation in multiple sclerosis: peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines during relapse and remission.

We investigated circulating anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and their ex vivo PBMC production in the absence or presence of the neuroantigens myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and T cell mitogen (PHA) in MS patients in relapse and remission, patients with other neurological disorders (OND) and normal healthy controls. MS patients in relapse exhibited significantly increased PBMC production of TNF-alpha spontaneously compared with MS remission and healthy controls and with MBP compared with MS remission. Patients in relapse had significantly increased spontaneous, PHA- and MBP-induced PBMC IL-1beta production compared with remission MS, and was increased compared (PHA only) with OND and healthy controls.

Homocysteine: a risk factor for retinal venous occlusive disease.

Purpose: Recent studies have shown a relationship between elevated levels of homocysteine and vascular disease including cerebrovascular accidents and myocardial infarctions. We evaluated patients with a recent retinal vein occlusion to determine if there was an associated elevation of homocysteine.

Design: Age and gender matched case-controlled study.

Soluble TNF receptors in vitreoretinal proliferative disease.

Purpose: To measure vitreous levels of soluble TNF-receptors (sTNF-Rs) types I and II in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), uncomplicated or complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). To examine whether there is any relationship between vitreous levels of sTNF-Rs and clinical features of these conditions and between vitreous sTNF-Rs and TNFalpha levels and serum levels of sTNF-RS:

Methods: Vitreous levels of sTNF-Rs and TNFalpha were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 eyes with PVR, 30 eyes with uncomplicated RRD, and 29 eyes with PDR. Vitreous from eyes of 10 deceased donors and 9 eyes with macular holes served as control specimens.

Eye injuries in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Objective: To develop prevention and treatment modalities for eye injuries, ophthalmologists require epidemiological data on the various types of eye injuries. This study sought to define eye injury patterns in the U.S.

Eye injuries in a terrorist bombing: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, June 25, 1996.

Objective: We report the experience of our institution in the evaluation and care of multiple simultaneous ocular trauma patients after a terrorist bomb attack on a United States military base in Saudi Arabia.

Design: Retrospective, noncomparative small case series.

Participants: Three patients who received severe ocular injuries after a terrorist bombing.

Outcome of sulcus fixation of dislocated posterior chamber intraocular lenses using temporary externalization of the haptics.

Objective: This study evaluated the visual outcome and complications of repositioning and sulcus fixation of a dislocated posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) using a technique in which the haptics of the IOL are temporarily externalized for suture placement.

Design: Retrospective, noncomparative case series.

Participants: Seventy-eight patients with a dislocated PC IOL.

Vascular adhesion molecules in vitreous from eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate whether proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PDR) is associated with a selective increase in vitreous levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules that mediate leukocyte extravasation and interaction with endothelium during processes of inflammation and neovascularization.

Methods: Vitreous from 55 patients undergoing vitrectomy for treatment of PDR complicated by vitreous hemorrhage and/or traction retinal detachment was assayed for the presence of the soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Vitreous from 12 cadaveric eyes matching age and sex of the patients were used as control samples.

Evidence for control of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity by TNF receptors in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

TNF-alpha has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). At present there are no studies linking serum levels of soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R) to the development of diabetic microvascular complications such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), or to the production of TNF-alpha in these patients. We investigated serum levels of sTNF receptors (sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII) in IDDM patients with or without PDR, and related these to the in vitro production of TNF-alpha upon activation of whole blood and isolated mononuclear cells (MNC).

Ocular injuries from paintball pellets.

Objective: To evaluate the ocular effects of blunt trauma due to injury from a paintball pellet.

Design: Noncomparative case series.

Participants: Thirteen patients who suffered ocular injury from paintballs are described.

Expression of hematopoietic cell markers by retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose: We investigated the expression of various isoforms of the hematopoietic cell marker CD45 on retinal pigment epithelial cells in relation to their expression of CD68 and the cytokine-reactive intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). We also determined the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF alpha and IFN gamma on the expression of these molecules by RPE cells in culture.

Methods: Monolayers of RPE cells between 3rd and 7th passages were cultured in the presence or absence of cytokines, followed by immunohistochemical staining for CD45 (170-220 kD), CD45RA (205 and 220 kD), CD45RO (180 kD), CD68 and ICAM-1, using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique.

Dissection along the optic nerve axis by a BB.

A 13-year-old Hispanic boy suffered a perforating injury to his right eye from a BB. The clinical examination and computed tomographic scan revealed questionable light perception and a dense foreign body, consistent with a BB, situated behind the globe. A vitrectomy was performed that was unsuccessful.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: To measure vitreous levels of the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated or uncomplicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) to investigate whether levels of this molecule related to history of previous retinal surgery or to the duration and severity of PVR.

Methods: The authors measured vitreous sICAM-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 28 eyes with PVR and 35 eyes with uncomplicated RRD. Vitreous from 10 eyes with macular holes and from 12 cadaveric eye donors were used as control specimens.

Development of an enzyme-mediated assay for phenylalanine in blood spots.

We describe the optimization of a rapid procedure for the elution of phenylalanine from blood spots and the estimation of the amino acid eluted using an enzyme-mediated assay linked to a colorimetric detection system. The method is rapid, fully quantitative, interference-free, accurate and precise unlike many of the methods currently employed for phenylalanine determination. The performance of the proposed method may necessitate the review of reference ranges and cut-off assignment strategies.