Contrast Sensitivity Changes in Center Involving Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Aflibercept.

Purpose: To characterize the changes in contrast sensitivity (CS) and retinal anatomy in patients with center involving diabetic macular edema (CDME) measured from baseline to post-loading doses of aflibercept.

Patients And Methods: This single center, prospective, open-label, non-controlled evaluation of five aflibercept intravitreal injections for treatment of CDME over a 16-week period. One eye in each of the forty patients will receive aflibercept every 4 weeks.

Visual Function for Driving in Diabetic Macular Edema and Retinal Vein Occlusion Post-Stabilization with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Purpose: What is the level of visual function in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) post-stabilization with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor?

Patients And Methods: This observational non-controlled single center study evaluated visual function in two patient populations with macular edema 25 with diabetic macular edema and 25 with retinal vein occlusion treated following standard protocol of anti-VEGF therapy post- stabilization.

Results: A total of 68 eyes from 50 patients were analyzed including 18 bilateral and 7 unilateral diabetic macular edema, 14 patients with central and 11 with branch retinal vein occlusion. The mean age was 69± 11 years and 64% were male.

Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in contrast sensitivity (CS), visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and vision-related quality of life in subjects with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema switched from long-term ranibizumab treatment to aflibercept.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective, investigator-masked, single-center study, 40 patients with persistent fluid, despite previous ranibizumab treatment, were switched to aflibercept with 5 consecutive monthly doses. The primary outcome was mean change from baseline to week 20 in Pelli-Robson CS.

Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients after treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab.

Purpose: This study evaluated visual function and anatomic and vision-related quality-of-life outcomes in recalcitrant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) subjects switched to aflibercept (Eylea) from ranibizumab (Lucentis).

Methods: In a single-center study conducted in Barrie, ON, 40 patients with persistent fluid despite previous ranibizumab treatment were switched to aflibercept with 3 consecutive monthly doses. Main outcome measure was mean change from baseline to week 12 in Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (CS).

Substrate mapping and inhibitor profiling of falcipain-2, falcipain-3 and berghepain-2: implications for peptidase anti-malarial drug discovery.

The Plasmodium falciparum cysteine peptidases FP-2 (falcipain-2) and FP-3 (falcipain-3), members of the papain-like CAC1 family, are essential haemoglobinases and are therefore potential anti-malarial drug targets. To facilitate a rational drug discovery programme, in the current study we analysed the synthetic substrate and model inhibitor profiles of FP-2 and FP-3 as well as BP-2 (berghepain-2), an orthologue from the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. With respect to substrate catalysis, FP-2 exhibited a promiscuous substrate profile based around a consensus non-primeside motif, FP-3 was somewhat more restricted and BP-2 was comparatively specific.

A single-step method for the production of sugar hydrazides: intermediates for the chemoselective preparation of glycoconjugates.

The ability to selectively conjugate carbohydrate molecules to a protein is a key step in the preparation of conjugate vaccines, while facile methods for linking carbohydrates to polymers or solid surfaces to produce diagnostic probes and functional microarrays are also sought. Here, we describe a simple, single-step method of producing glycosylhydrazides from unprotected sugars, which were then linked in a controlled manner to a desired carrier, through an appropriate linker. The method was chemoselective and did not require coupling reagents, and the native pyranose form of the reducing end residue was retained.

Novel chemoselective linkage chemistry toward controlled loading of ligands to proteins through in situ real-time quantification of conjugate formation.

'Linkage chemistry', which encompasses the science of chemical attachment of a ligand molecule to a carrier moiety, plays a crucial role in a wide range of biochemical and biophysical disciplines. In particular, the production of synthetic vaccines, where quality assurance criteria are an essential part of the approvals procedure for development of medicines, is reliant upon reproducible linkage chemistries. Herein, we describe novel 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde-based quaternary amine containing chemoselective linkers that provide a simple and robust linkage process that overcomes the deficiencies present in state-of-the-art linkage chemistries.

Enhancing the immunogenicity and modulating the fine epitope recognition of antisera to a helical group A streptococcal peptide vaccine candidate from the M protein using lipid-core peptide technology.

A conserved helical peptide vaccine candidate from the M protein of group A streptococci, p145, has been described. Minimal epitopes within p145 have been defined and an epitope recognized by protective antibodies, but not by autoreactive T cells, has been identified. When administered to mice, p145 has low immunogenicity.