Active immunization with tau epitope in a mouse model of tauopathy induced strong antibody response together with improvement in short memory and pSer396-tau pathology.

Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and its aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles are a hallmark of tauopathies, neurodegenerative disorders that include Alzheimer's disease (AD). Active and passive Tau-immunotherapy has been proposed as a therapeutic approach to AD with mixed results. One of the limitations of active immunotherapy may be associated with the mediocre immunogenicity of vaccines that are not inducing therapeutically potent titers of antibodies. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of an anti-tau vaccine, AV-1980R/A composed of N terminal peptide of this molecule fused with an immunogenic MultiTEP platform and formulated in a strong adjuvant, AdvaxCpG in a Tg4510 mouse model of tauopathy. Experimental mice were immunized with AV-1980R/A and a control group of mice were injected with adjuvant only. Nontransgenic and tetracycline transactivator (tTA) transgenic littermates were included as baseline controls to contrast with the tau phenotype. Active immunization with AV-1980R/A induced very strong anti-tau humoral immune responses in both nontransgenic and transgenic mice with evidence of IgG in brains of AV-1980R/A vaccinated mice. These experimental animals displayed an improvement in short-term memory during a novel object recognition test. However, impairments in other behavioral tasks were not prevented by AV-1980R/A vaccinations. At the same time, high titers of anti-tau antibodies reduced hyperphosphorylated pSer396 tau but did not lower the level of other phosphorylated tau species in the brains of AV-1980R/A vaccinated mice. These data indicate that active immunotherapy with an N-terminal Tau epitope was only partially effective in improving cognition and reducing pathology in the stringent Tg4510 mouse model of tauopathy.

Inflammatory ocular hypertension syndrome (IOHS) in patients with syphilitic uveitis.

AIM: To determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the inflammatory ocular hypertension syndrome (IOHS) in patients with uveitis and serological evidence of syphilis. METHODS: A retrospective, observational case review of 39 consecutive patients with uveitis and serological evidence of syphilis was carried out between January 1977 and December 2001. Other causes of uveitis were excluded. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of IOHS among patients with uveitis and serological evidence of syphilis were documented. IOHS was defined as an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mm Hg that began at the onset of acute, recurrent, or chronic anterior chamber inflammation and reversed promptly with appropriate anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial treatment. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients with uveitis and serological evidence of syphilis, eight eyes from seven patients (18%) presented with IOHS, a significantly higher prevalence than in the uveitis population at large (2.3%; p<0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity varied from 20/20 to 20/200, with a median of 20/40, and three of the eight eyes (37.5%) had granulomatous features, including large keratic precipitates and, in two eyes, Koeppe nodules. Intraocular pressure varied from 23 to 51 mm Hg, with a mean of 36 and a median of 34. One patient had bilateral IOHS. CONCLUSIONS: Syphilitic uveitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of IOHS along with more commonly recognised causes.

Results of surgical treatment of retinal detachments complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathies with the use of perfluropropane (C3F8) gas.

The aim of the current study is the efficiency assessment of C3F8 gas usage in posterior vitrectomies in patients having retinal detachment of different etiologies with presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathies and retinal tears. 34 patients have undergone posterior vitrectomy with the usage of perfluoropropane C3F8 gas for providing internal tamponade. Total attachment of retina has been attached in all 34 cases and C3F8 gas has been injected in each eye. The most frequent complications that have been revealed after the usage of C3F8 gas and their management are reflected in the article. Thus, we came to a conclusion that vitrectomy in combination with episcleral buckling, transvitreal drainage of subretinal liquid, diode endolaser coagulation of retina and internal tamponade with C3F8 gas is effective and pathogenetikally proved method for treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments complicated with severe vitreoretinopathies. The achievement of perfect anatomical results depends on manifestation degree of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. This study was supported by grant of the Ministry of Health of Armenia.