A phase III, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of topical aminocaproic acid (Caprogel) in the management of traumatic hyphema.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of topical aminocaproic acid (Caprogel) in the management of traumatic hyphema.

Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Participants: A total of 51 patients participated in this trial (power = 36%, 2-tailed test).

Bilateral diffuse lamellar keratitis following bilateral simultaneous versus sequential laser in situ keratomileusis.

Aim: To determine the difference in the incidence of bilateral diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) in patients undergoing simultaneous versus sequential laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) as an indication of intrinsic risk for inflammation.

Methods: A retrospective non-comparative case series of 1632 eyes that had undergone bilateral, simultaneous or sequential LASIK between April 1998 and February 2001 at a university based refractive centre by three surgeons. All cases that developed clinically evident DLK were identified and reviewed.

A dual optic accommodating foldable intraocular lens.

Aim: To design an accommodating intraocular lens with extended accommodative range that can be adapted to current standard phacoemulsification and endocapsular implantation technique.

Method: Ray tracing analysis and lens design; cadaver eye implantation.

Results: Ray tracing analysis indicated that axial movement of an exaggerated converging anterior optic linked by spring loaded haptics to a compensatory static diverging posterior optic produced greater change in conjugation power of the eye compared to axial movement of a single optic lens.

Activation of the Rap GTPases in B lymphocytes modulates B cell antigen receptor-induced activation of Akt but has no effect on MAPK activation.

Signaling by the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) activates the Rap1 and Rap2 GTPases, putative antagonists of Ras-mediated signaling. Because Ras can activate the Raf-1/ERK pathway and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, we asked whether Rap activation limits the ability of the BCR to signal via these pathways. To do this, we blocked the activation of endogenous Rap1 and Rap2 by expressing the Rap-specific GTPase-activating protein RapGAPII.

Efficacy of transport media use versus direct inoculation of blood agar plates in the microbiologic evaluation of experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae keratitis.

Purpose: To compare the microbiologic yield of cultures obtained by direct inoculation of blood agar plates (BAP) from corneal ulcer swabbings versus indirect inoculation via transport media in a rabbit model of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial keratitis.

Methods: The corneas of 12 rabbits were inoculated with S. pneumoniae.

Effect of myopic LASIK on human corneal sensitivity.

Objective: To evaluate the changes in corneal sensitivity after LASIK for the correction of different degrees of myopia.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative self-controlled trial.

Participants: One hundred two myopic eyes of 58 patients were included in this study.

Peripheral keratitis associated with erythema elevatum diutinum.

Purpose: To describe a case of peripheral keratitis associated with erythema elevatum diutinum (EED), an unusual immune-complex-mediated cutaneous vasculitis.

Design: Observational case report.

Methods: A 25-year-old man who was diagnosed 15 months previously with erythema elevatum diutinum presented with an inflammatory peripheral keratitis of the left eye.

Spontaneous corneal hydrops and perforation in keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration.

Purpose: To report two cases of pellucid marginal degeneration and one case of keratoconus associated with spontaneous corneal hydrops leading either to perforation or imminent perforation, requiring urgent keratoplasty.

Method: Retrospective interventional case series of three patients with noninflammatory peripheral corneal degenerations. A retrospective review was done of the clinical courses, surgical interventions, and pathologic specimens, development of spontaneous hydrops, perforation, need for surgical intervention, and final visual outcome.

The Rap GTPases regulate B cell migration toward the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12): potential role for Rap2 in promoting B cell migration.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a potent chemoattractant for B cells and B cell progenitors. Although the binding of SDF-1 to its receptor, CXCR4, activates multiple signaling pathways, the mechanism by which SDF-1 regulates cell migration is not completely understood. In this report we show that activation of the Rap GTPases is important for B cells to migrate toward SDF-1.

Activation and function of the Rap1 GTPase in B lymphocytes.

Rap1 is a monomeric GTPase that is closely related to Ras. In this review, we summarize our recent work showing that the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), as well as chemokine receptors, activate Rap1 via a pathway that involves phospholipase C-dependent production of diacylglycerol (DAG). The possible identities of the DAG-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that regulate the activation of Rap1 by the BCR and chemokine receptors will be discussed.

Speech timing in children after the Lidcombe Program of early stuttering intervention.

It is known that operant treatments can control stuttering in children. However, at present it is unknown why such treatments are effective. Changes in the usual way of speaking are frequently observed after behavioural treatments for adults who stutter, and it is possible that operant treatments for children also invoke such changes.

Apodization effects in the retrieval of volume mixing ratio profiles.

In remote sensing applications, spectra measured by Fourier-transform spectrometers are routinely apodized. A rigorous analysis approach would explicitly account for correlations induced in the covariance matrix by apodization, but these correlations are often ignored to simplify and speed up the processing. Using spectra measured by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy missions, we investigated the effect of apodization on the retrieval of volume mixing ratio profiles for the case in which these correlations are ignored.

The C-terminal domains of the RNA polymerase alpha subunits: contact site with Fis and localization during co-activation with CRP at the Escherichia coli proP P2 promoter.

Fis is a versatile transactivator that functions at many different promoters. Fis activates transcription at the RpoS-dependent proP P2 promoter when bound to a site that overlaps the minus sign35 hexamer by a mechanism that requires the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (alphaCTD). The region on Fis responsible for activating transcription through the alphaCTD has been localized to a short beta-turn near the DNA-binding determinant on one subunit of the Fis homodimer.

Architecture of Fis-activated transcription complexes at the Escherichia coli rrnB P1 and rrnE P1 promoters.

The transcription factor Fis activates the Escherichia coli rRNA promoters rrnB P1 and rrnE P1 by binding to sites centered at -71 and -72, respectively, and interacting with the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP alphaCTD). To understand the mechanism of activation by Fis at these promoters, we used oriented alpha-heterodimeric RNAPs and heterodimers of Fis to determine whether one or both subunits of alpha and Fis participate in the alphaCTD-Fis interaction. Our results imply that only one alphaCTD in the alpha dimer and only one activation-proficient subunit in the Fis dimer are required for activation by Fis.

Consonant cluster development in two-year-olds: general trends and individual difference.

A holistic view of phonological development can be attained only through exploration of the relationship between universal developmental sequences, to establish a general pattern of development and individual learning and to provide information regarding variability. This study examined consonant cluster production, looking specifically at the relationship between general trends and individual differences as children acquire these sounds. The spontaneous speech of 16 normally developing Anglo-Australian 2-year-olds was elicited monthly for 6 months, and the corpus of 96 samples was examined using independent and relational phonological analyses.

Phakic intraocular lenses.

Because of the potential risks associated with phakic IOL implantation, the current use of these devices is mainly in the treatment of high and extreme myopia which are expected to respond poorly to keratorefractive procedures. Overall, in this setting, the outcomes of phakic IOL implantation have been rather favorable, with significant improvement in uncorrected visual acuity, and tolerable visual symptoms in terms of glare and halo.

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

The excimer laser has proved to be a precise and versatile tool for treating refractive errors. Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia is now an established safe and effective alternative to contact lenses and glasses, and should be part of the ophthalmologist's standard armamentarium for treating this condition. This article provides a brief overview of the basic principles underlying excimer laser technology, as well as the surgical technique and postoperative management of myopic correction.

Evaluating the human optical system: corneal topography and wavefront analysis.

In this article we review three different systems for evaluating the human optical system: placido-disc based corneal topography, scanning slit topography, and wavefront sensors. We briefly describe the principles of each system, and discuss the strengths and weakness. We suspect all three will be used by ophthalmologists in the coming decade.