Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis in a patient with hemoglobin SC disease.

Case Report: Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis in the setting of pneumococcal bacteremia was diagnosed in a woman with hemoglobin SC disease who presented with decreased vision, increased redness, burning pain, and photophobia. All gram stains and cultures remained negative, and the exact source of her bacteremia was not clear. Nonetheless, early diagnosis and prompt treatment were vital to avoiding a visually devastating outcome.

Botulinum toxin B-induced mouse model of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Purpose: To develop a mouse model of human chronic dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca [KCS]).

Methods: Under direct visualization with an operating microscope, CBA/J mice received a transconjunctival injection of saline or 1.25, 5, or 20 milliunits (mU) of botulinum toxin B (BTX-B) into the lacrimal gland.

A new donor cornea harvesting technique for posterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Aims: To describe a technique for posterior lamellar keratoplasty donor preparation.

Methods: In an experimental study eight human donor research corneas were mounted onto an artificial anterior chamber and deep stromal pockets dissected. Four corneas were mounted in the standard endothelial side down orientation and dissected using standard instruments (group 1).

Characterization of a human rhomboid homolog, p100hRho/RHBDF1, which interacts with TGF-alpha family ligands.

The activity of the TGF-alpha-like ligand Spitz in Drosophila depends on Rhomboid, a seven-transmembrane spanning protein that resides in the Golgi and acts as a serine protease to cleave Spitz, thereby releasing the soluble ligand. Several rhomboids in Drosophila have been implicated in the processing of TGF-alpha-like ligands, and consequent EGF receptor activation. The larger number of TGF-alpha-like ligands in vertebrates raises the possibility that they too might be subject to regulation by rhomboid-like proteins.