Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: A Systematic Immunofluorescence Study of Collagen Type VIII Suggests Heterogeneous Pathophysiology.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathophysiologic heterogeneity of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).

Methods: We conducted a systematic immunofluorescence study on 39 Descemet membrane samples from FECD patients and compared these with 10 Descemet membrane samples from patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) and 7 normal corneas. Samples were analyzed with immunofluorescence using antibodies to the α1-chain [collagen VIII α1-chain (COL8A1)] and α2-chain (COL8A2).

An extract of the medicinal plant Artemisia annua modulates production of inflammatory markers in activated neutrophils.

Purpose: To investigate the ability of a commercial extract from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua to modulate production of the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the cyclooxygenase (COX) inflammatory marker, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in activated neutrophils.

Methods: Neutrophils were harvested from rat whole blood and cultured in the presence of plant extract or control samples. Neutrophils, except unactivated control cells, were activated with 10 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Influence of tail versus cardiac sampling on blood glucose and lipid profiles in mice.

Blood is collected during animal experimentation to measure haematological and metabolic parameters. It cannot be assumed that circulating blood has the same composition irrespective of its location, and indeed, differences in the composition of blood sampled from the arterial and venous compartments have been reported. Here we investigated whether blood collected by cardiac puncture (CP) versus that collected following removal of the distal 1 mm of the tail tip (TT) differs with respect to glucose and lipid profiles in male C57BL/6J mice at 4, 7, 20 and 28 weeks of age.

Changes in the localization of collagens IV and VIII in corneas obtained from patients with posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy.

Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is a hereditary bilateral disorder affecting primarily the endothelium and Descemet's membrane (DM). The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the presence and localization of the alpha1-alpha6 collagen IV chains and alpha1, alpha2 collagen VIII chains in Czech patients with PPCD. Twelve corneal buttons from ten PPCD patients who underwent corneal grafting, as well as eight unaffected corneas, were used.

The safety of New Zealand bovine colostrum: nutritional and physiological evaluation in rats.

The potential detrimental effects of two different oral doses of bovine colostrum were assessed in young rats according to OECD guidelines. Colostrum was supplemented at 3% and 10% into a normal rat chow. A control group received the rat chow with no supplementation.

Astrocytes express type VIII collagen during the repair process of brain cold injury.

We recognized for the first time upregulation of type VIII collagen gene expression during the repair process in the mouse brain cold injury model. Immunohistochemical staining showed that type VIII collagen expression was around the necrotic region, where reactive astrocytes are frequently observed. Cultured astrocytes demonstrated a high expression of type VIII collagen genes.