Evidence from comprehensive independent validation studies for smooth pursuit dysfunction as a sensorimotor biomarker for psychosis.

Smooth pursuit eye movements are considered a well-established and quantifiable biomarker of sensorimotor function in psychosis research. Identifying psychotic syndromes on an individual level based on neurobiological markers is limited by heterogeneity and requires comprehensive external validation to avoid overestimation of prediction models. Here, we studied quantifiable sensorimotor measures derived from smooth pursuit eye movements in a large sample of psychosis probands (N = 674) and healthy controls (N = 305) using multivariate pattern analysis.

The effects of functionally monocular patients' emotional reactions during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between the incidence of complications and functionally monocular patients' emotional reactions during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia.

Methods: We enrolled 22 functionally monocular patients (11 males and 11 females; group 1) and 19 age- and sex-matched controls (6 males and 13 females; group 2) in this prospective, interventional, cross-sectional, case control study. Demographics data, including age, sex, and educational background, were collected.

A topical cell therapy approach for diabetic chronic ulcers: Effects of mesenchymal stromal cells associated with platelet-rich plasma.

Background: Diabetic cutaneous ulcers are subjected to several physiological and biochemical defects, which contribute to wound chronicity and therapeutic failure. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used for stimulating tissue regeneration, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have demonstrated therapeutic properties in all phases of skin regeneration in cell therapy studies.

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects related to the use of a biomembrane composed of autologous MSCs and PRP on chronic wounds of diabetic patients (pre-post pilot study).

Consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri-containing lozenges improves periodontal health in navy sailors at sea: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The objective of this trial was to evaluate whether the regular consumption of probiotics may improve the known deterioration of periodontal health in navy sailors during deployments at sea.

Methods: 72 healthy sailors of a naval ship on a practicing mission at sea were recruited and randomly provided with a blinded supply of lozenges to be consumed twice daily for the following 42 days containing either the probiotic strains Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938 and L. reuteri (ATTC PTA 5289) (test n = 36) or no probiotics (placebo n = 36).

High-performance liquid chromatography under partially denaturing conditions (dHPLC) is a fast and cost-effective method for screening molecular defects: four novel mutations found in X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

Implementing precise techniques in routine diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), which expedite the screening of molecular defects, may be critical for a quick assumption of patient prognosis. This study compared the efficacy of single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and high-performance liquid chromatography under partially denaturing conditions (dHPLC) for screening mutations in CGD patients. We selected 10 male CGD patients with a clinical history of severe recurrent infections and abnormal respiratory burst function.

Quality of life in leprosy: a comparative analysis between patients in the Amazon region and patients in Santo André in the ABC region of São Paulo, Brazil.

This study analyzed the quality of life of individuals with leprosy and compared quality of life indexes of patients in two different socioeconomic scenarios. The study was conducted at the leprosy clinic of the ABC School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil and during visits to the populations living along the Purus River in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used to evaluate the patients.

[Ice pack test in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis].

Purpose: To demonstrate the sensitivity and the specificity of the ice test in the differential diagnosis of ptosis in myasthenia gravis.

Methods: Prospective trial with a control group. The patients were instructed to hold a frozen ice pack on the closed ptotic eyelid.

Diapocynin versus apocynin as pretranscriptional inhibitors of NADPH oxidase and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Apocynin has been extensively used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase (NOX) in many experimental models using phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. Currently, there is some controversy about the efficacy of apocynin in non-phagocytic cells, but in phagocytes the reported results are consistent, which could be due to the presence of myeloperoxidase in these cells. This enzyme has been proposed as responsible for activating apocynin by generating its dimer, diapocynin, which is supposed to be the active compound that prevents NADPH oxidase complex assembly and activation.

Metastatic eyelid disease associated with primary breast carcinoma: case report.

Metastasis confined to eyelids are rare, representing less than 1% of malignant eyelid lesions. More than 50% of all eyelid metastasis are reported to have the breast as the most common primary origin. Two cases of metastatic eyelid disease associated with primary breast carcinoma are described.

[Comparison of two modified lidocaine solutions for local anesthesia in blepharoplasty].

Purpose: To compare pain on injection of two modified anesthetic lidocaine solutions for use in upper blepharoplasty: 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine buffered 9:1 with 8.4% sodium bicarbonate.

Methods: In this prospective, double-masked study, 25 consecutive patients undergoing upper blepharoplasty were submitted to the anesthesic procedure.

Immunoarchitectural characterization of a human skin model reconstructed in vitro.

Context And Objective: Over the last few years, different models for human skin equivalent reconstructed in vitro (HSERIV) have been reported for clinical usage and applications in research for the pharmaceutical industry. Before release for routine use as human skin replacements, HSERIV models need to be tested regarding their similarity with in vivo skin, using morphological (architectural) and immunohistochemical (functional) analyses. A model for HSERIV has been developed in our hospital, and our aim here was to further characterize its immunoarchitectural features by comparing them with human skin, before it can be tested for clinical use, e.

[Frontalis suspension with polytetrafluorethylene for the treatment of blepharoptosis].

Purpose: To evaluate the functional results and complications of the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in frontalis suspension surgery for the treatment of blepharoptosis.

Methods: Frontalis suspension procedure with polytetrafluoroethylene was performed between 2003 and 2007 on 23 patients (36 eyes) with blepharoptosis. An average follow-up time was 15.

Assessment of inflammation based on the release of oxygen radicals by granulocytes in chronic uncontrolled asthma.

Objective: To evaluate spontaneous release of superoxide anion by peripheral blood granulocytes of atopic patients with uncontrolled asthma undergoing glucocorticoid therapy and of healthy subjects.

Methods: We studied 32 patients, aged 6 to 18 (mean 12.04), and 29 healthy subjects as a comparative group.

[Therapeutical effectiveness of interferon alpha in a child with craniofacial giant hemangioma: case report].

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of infancy. Capillary hemangioma generally is presented as a spot or well-defined purple lesion. The diagnosis of these tumors is based on physical examination.

Essential role of nuclear factor-kappaB for NADPH oxidase activity in normal and anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia leukocytes.

This work investigated the functional role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in respiratory burst activity and in expression of the human phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase genes CYBB, CYBA, NCF1, and NCF2. U937 cells with a stably transfected repressor of NF-kappaB (IkappaBalpha-S32A/S36A) demonstrated significantly lower superoxide release and lower CYBB and NCF1 gene expression compared with control U937 cells. We further tested Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells from patients with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID), an inherited disorder of NF-kappaB function.

A West Nile virus (WNV) recombinant canarypox virus vaccine elicits WNV-specific neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses in the horse.

Successful vaccination against West Nile virus (WNV) requires induction of both neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we have assessed the ability of a recombinant ALVAC-WNV vaccine (RECOMBITEK WNV) to elicit neutralizing antibodies and virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses in horses. In addition, we examined whether prior exposure to ALVAC-WNV vaccine would inhibit B and cell-mediated immune responses against the transgene product upon subsequent booster immunizations with the same vaccine.

Up-regulation of NADPH oxidase components and increased production of interferon-gamma by leukocytes from sickle cell disease patients.

We have previously demonstrated that mononuclear leukocytes from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) release higher amounts of superoxide compared with normal controls. The aim of this study was to further study the NADPH oxidase system in these patients by investigating gene expression of NADPH oxidase components, phosphorylation of p47(phox) component, and the release of cytokines related to NADPH oxidase activation in mononuclear leukocytes from patients with SCD. gp91(phox) gene expression was significantly higher in monocytes from SCD patients compared with normal controls (P=0.

[The role of senile enophthalmos in involutional entropion].

Purpose: To observe the role of senile enophthalmos in involutional entropion.

Methods: Prospective clinical study comparing a population of 30 white patients above 65 years with involutional entropion (Group I) of an age- and race-matched control group (Group II). All age and exophthalmometric values were analyzed by a statistical study.

Effects of BAY 41-2272, an activator of nitric oxide-independent site of soluble guanylate cyclase, on human NADPH oxidase system from THP-1 cells.

We investigated the effects of the 5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridin-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine (BAY 41-2272) on the NADPH oxidase activity, gp91(phox) gene expression, cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels in the human myelomonocytic THP-1 cell line. THP-1 cells treated with BAY 41-2272 (0.3-10 microM) for 48 h significantly increased the superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) release.

Model for human skin reconstructed in vitro composed of associated dermis and epidermis.

Context And Objective: The technique of obtaining human skin with dermis and epidermis reconstructed from cells isolated from patients can enable autologous skin grafting on patients with few donor sites. It also enables in vitro trials on chemicals and drugs. The objective of this work was to demonstrate a method for obtaining human skin composed of associated dermis and epidermis, reconstructed in vitro.

Hypopituitarism following severe traumatic brain injury.

Although hypopituitarism is a known complication of traumatic head injury, it may be under-recognized due to its subtle clinical manifestations. To address this issue, we determine the prevalence of neuroendocrine abnormalities in patients rehabilitating from severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8). 76 patients (mean age 39 +/- 14 yr; range 18-65; 53 males and 23 females; BMI 25.

[Bipedicle myocutaneous flap for cicatricial ectropion correction].

Purpose: To evaluate the correction of lower eyelid cicatricial ectropion due to shrinking of anterior lamela with the surgical technique of bipedicle myocutaneous flap from the upper eyelid.

Methods: Prospective study with eight eyelids of six patients. There were two patients with unilateral ectropion who had received external local radiotherapy.

[Unintentional staining of lens posterior capsule with trypan blue during extracapsular cataract extraction: case report].

Report of a complication related to the use of 0.1% trypan blue during capsular staining of the anterior crystalline lens capsule in an extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. The capsular dye was injected using an air-bubble technique, inadvertently, it was done using high pressure dispersing the dye through the zonules leading to a complete lost of red reflex, the following steps of the procedure becoming more difficult after the cataract extraction and causing a temporary disturbance of visual acuity in the postoperative period.

[Corneal topographic alteration after radiofrequency application to an animal model].

Purpose: To verify the topographical alterations in enucleated pig eye cornea after radiofrequency application.

Methods: A prototype radiofrequency modulator with 10 different energy possibilities was used. For each energy we used 10 enucleated pig eyes that were topographed before and after applying radiofrequency, following a nomogram with 8 spots in step one, 16 spots in step 2, and 24 spots in step 3, in a total of 3 steps for each eye, 300 applications and 400 topographies.