Hyperosmolar conjunctival provocation for the evaluation of nonspecific hyperreactivity in healthy patients and patients with allergy.

Background: Tissue hyperreactivity of target organs to nonspecific stimuli is known to be an important factor in influencing the clinical picture of allergic disease.

Objective: To identify the sensitivity and specificity of a hyperosmolar conjunctival provocation test in predicting conjunctival hyperreactivity and to relate this reactivity to the presence of ocular discomfort in subjects with and without allergy.

Methods: In 50 healthy patients and 19 patients with allergic conjunctivitis during remission phase, symptoms of ocular discomfort triggered by nonspecific stimuli were identified and graded with a discomfort score.

Undetectable phospho-STAT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C who do not respond to interferon-alpha therapy.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) plays an important role in interferon (IFN)-mediated biological functions, including antiviral activity. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that suppressors of the cytokine signal 1 (SOCS1) negatively regulates IFN activities.

Aims: To investigate the involvement of phospho-STAT1 in the response to IFN-alpha therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to evaluate the negative regulatory effect of SOCS1 on STAT1 activation.