Serum concentrations of bevacizumab (avastin) and vascular endothelial growth factor in infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To determine the serum concentrations of bevacizumab and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who received intravitreal bevacizumab; and to determine whether the changes in the serum concentration of bevacizumab were significantly correlated with the serum concentration of VEGF after intravitreal bevacizumab.

Design: Case series.

Methods: Eleven infants (4 girls and 7 boys) with ROP were studied.

Delayed-type asthmatic response induced by repeated intratracheal exposure to toluene-2,4-diisocyanate in guinea pigs.

Background: A toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma model, in which delayed-type hypersensitivity-like asthmatic airway obstruction is elicited restrictively in the lung, has never been developed.

Methods: Guinea pigs were percutaneously sensitized with TDI. For the challenges, once every 2 weeks for a total of 5 times, TDI mists were delivered directly to the lung through an oral cannula, with its tip being positioned in the opening of the trachea.

Apafant, a potent platelet-activating factor antagonist, blocks eosinophil activation and is effective in the chronic phase of experimental allergic conjunctivitis in guinea pigs.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) plays important roles in allergic reactions. In particular, there are many concerns about PAF, eosinophils, and the chronicity of allergic diseases. The purpose of the present studies is to elucidate the role of PAF in eosinophil activation at conjunctiva and to confirm the efficacy of Apafant (a potent PAF antagonist) ophthalmic solution in chronic experimental allergic conjunctivitis.