Outcome of Nivolumab-Induced Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease-Like Uveitis in a Patient Managed without Intravenous Methylprednisolone Therapy.

Background: In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been often used for several types of cancers. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are autoimmune responses caused by ICI. Among the different types of irAEs, uveitis is common in ophthalmology.

[Endogenous endophthalmitis following staphylococcus aureus meningitis].

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare complication of acute meningitis. A healthy 82-year-old woman suddenly developed septic bacteremia and meningitis owing to Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus); she presented with a high fever and drowsiness. Improvement of these initial symptoms unveiled impaired bilateral visual acuity.

Association of swine vertnin (VRTN) gene with production traits in Duroc pigs improved using a closed nucleus breeding system.

Vertnin (VRTN) is involved in the variation of vertebral number in pigs and it is located on Sus scrofa chromosome 7. Vertebral number is related to body size in pigs, and many reports have suggested presence of an association between body length (BL) and meat production traits. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between the VRTN genotype and the production and body composition traits in purebred Duroc pigs.

A genome-wide scan for quantitative trait loci affecting respiratory disease and immune capacity in Landrace pigs.

Respiratory disease is the most important health concern for the swine industry. Genetic improvement for disease resistance is challenging because of the difficulty in obtaining good phenotypes related with disease resistance; however, identification of genes or markers associated with disease resistance can help in the genetic improvement of pig health. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with disease resistance were segregated in a purebred population of Landrace pigs that had been selected for meat production traits and mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS) scores over five generations.

[Evaluating post-cataract surgery changes in bacterial culture tests with and without face-washing].

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in conjunctiva and eyelid culture test results before and after cataract surgery and their relation to face-washing.

Methods: 70 patients (109 eyes) who had cataract surgery at Nishi-Kobe Medical Center had conjunctiva and eyelid smears taken both preoperatively and postoperatively. They had cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and aspiration followed by intraocular lens implantation.

Development of a rapid one-step immunochromatographic assay for HCV core antigen detection.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein possesses amino acid sequences highly conserved among HCV isolates and has proved useful for various diagnostic tests. To date, no information has been published regarding the development of an immunochromatographic test for HCV core antigen detection. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop a rapid, easily performed, highly sensitive and specific test for detection of the HCV core antigen, based on the immunochromatographic strip.

Polysiloxane-poly(propylene oxide) hybrid discs as solid phase in anti-HCV detection using a recombinant core protein.

In this work, siloxane-poly(propylene oxide) discs (PPO disc) prepared using the sol-gel process were used as solid phase in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. The HCV RNA from serum (genotype 1b) was submitted to the RT-PCR technique and subsequent amplification of the HCV core 408 pb. This fragment was cloned into expression vector pET42a and expressed in Escherichia coli as recombinant protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST).

A new 4016-marker radiation hybrid map for porcine-human genome analysis.

We constructed a 5000-rad comprehensive radiation hybrid (RH) map of the porcine (Sus scrofa) genome and compared the results with the human genome. Of 4475 typed markers, 4016 (89.7%) had LOD >5 compared with the markers used in our previous RH map by means of two-point analysis and were grouped onto the 19 porcine chromosomes (SSCs).

Recombinant expression and characterization of a Xylella fastidiosa cysteine protease differentially expressed in a nonpathogenic strain.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited, Gram-negative bacterium responsible for citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) in sweet oranges. In the present study, we present the recombinant expression, purification and characterization of an X. fastidiosa cysteine protease (dubbed Xylellain).

[Visual prognosis of branch retinal vein occlusion with macular edema].

Purpose: To evaluate visual outcome and prognostic factors of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) combined with macular edema, when no aggressive treatment is performed.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 eyes of 80 patients of BRVO associated with macular edema. The average age was 65.

Structure and polymorphism analysis of transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in pigs.

Many quantitative trait loci (QTL) for growth and reproductive traits have been detected on the porcine chromosome region 1qter (SSC1qter), making it one of the most important genomic regions for pig breeding. SSC1q corresponds to human chromosome 9, on which lies transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1). We cloned the porcine TGFBR1 cDNA and gene (as a candidate for QTL) and analyzed the gene structure and polymorphism.

The beta-chemokines MIP-1alpha and RANTES and lipoprotein metabolism in HIV-infected Brazilian patients.

HIV patients are predisposed to the development of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia as a result of both viral infection and HIV infection therapy, especially the protease inhibitors. Chemokines and cytokines are present at sites of inflammation and can influence the nature of the inflammatory response in atherosclerosis. We investigated the correlation between biochemical variables and beta-chemokines (MIP-1alpha and RANTES) and the apolipoprotein E genotype in HIV-infected individuals.

[Evaluation of the polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and the levels of folate and B12 in HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy].

In this study we sought to investigate the B12 and folate levels regarding the influence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes, immunological profile and antiretroviral therapy in the Brazilian HIV-infected population. The study group comprised 89 HIV-infected individuals and 29 blood donors. There was a decrease in the B12 levels in the HIV-infected group with higher TCD4+ lymphocyte counts.

Comparative analysis and development of microsatellite markers on swine (Sus scrofa) chromosome 1qter.

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been detected on SSC1qter (Sus scrofa chromosome 1qter), including QTL for the number of vertebrae, as reported in our previous study. To provide the tools for analysis of QTLs on SSC1qter, we constructed a comparative map of swine and human. In addition, we identified 26 swine STSs and mapped 16 of them on SSC1qter using the INRA - University of Minnesota porcine radiation hybrid (IMpRH) panel.

Abnormalities in apolipoprotein and lipid levels in an HIV-infected Brazilian population under different treatment profiles: the relevance of apolipoprotein E genotypes and immunological status.

HIV infection is associated with disturbances in lipid metabolism due to a host's response mechanism and the current antiretroviral therapy. The pathological appearance and progression of atherosclerosis is dependent on the presence of injurious agents in the vascular endothelium and variations in different subsets of candidate genes. Therefore, the Hha I polymorphism in the apolipoprotein E gene was evaluated in addition to triglycerides, total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and apolipoprotein (apo) Al, B and E levels in 86 Brazilian HIV-infected patients and 29 healthy controls.

Characterization of 298 ESTs from porcine back fat tissue and their assignment to the SSRH radiation hybrid map.

Following several criteria, we collected, clustered, and functionally categorized 653 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of 5' ends from porcine back fat libraries from the >15,000 porcine ESTs collected to date. By searching the LocusLink and Mapviewer database, we knew the positions of these 653 ESTs on human chromosomes (HSAs). Sus scrofa radiation hybrid (SSRH) mapping revealed that 298 porcine EST clusters out of 653 were localized near microsatellite (MS) markers.

Construction of a new porcine whole-genome framework map using a radiation hybrid panel.

We have constructed a radiation hybrid (RH) map of the porcine genome using an RH panel generated by an irradiation dose of 5000-rad (Sus scrofa radiation hybrid map, SSRH map). Normal porcine aortic endothelial cells were irradiated and fused with a thymidine kinase-deficient mouse cell line, L-M (TK-). A total of 110 cell lines were selected and used for further analysis.

CCR5 genotype and plasma beta-chemokine concentration of Brazilian HIV-infected individuals.

The 32-bp deletion in the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 confers a high degree of resistance to HIV-1 infection in homozygous individuals for the deleted allele and partial protection against HIV-1 during disease progression in heterozygotes. Natural ligands for CCR5, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta and RANTES, have been shown to inhibit HIV replication in CD4+ T cells. In the present study, we examined the CCR5 genotype by PCR and the plasma levels of RANTES and MIP-1alpha by ELISA among blood donors (N = 26) and among HIV-1-infected individuals (N = 129).