Analysis of corneal inflammation induced by cauterisation in CCR2 and MCP-1 knockout mice.

AIM: To elucidate the role of CCR2/MCP-1 in corneal inflammation. METHODS: A cauterisation induced corneal inflammation model was used. The corneas were cauterised with silver nitrate in CCR2 knockout (KO) mice, MCP-1 KO mice, and control mice. Clinical signs such as corneal oedema and opacity were examined 96 hours after cauterisation and the phenotypes of the cells infiltrating the cornea were analysed by flow cytometry. Corneal inflammation in neutrophil depleted mice was also analysed. RESULTS: After cauterisation both CCR2 KO and MCP-1 KO mice showed the same levels of corneal oedema and opacity as control mice. Flow cytometry revealed that in control mice most of the infiltrating cells were neutrophils and macrophages, whereas in both CCR2 KO mice and MCP-1 KO mice, the number of macrophages infiltrating the cornea were markedly reduced. However, prominent infiltrates of neutrophils were still observed in the cornea in CCR2 KO mice and MCP-1 KO mice. The depletion of neutrophils significantly reduced the oedema and opacity induced in the cornea by cauterisation. CONCLUSION: The CCR2 and MCP-1 molecules are not essential for cauterisation induced corneal inflammation. Neutrophils, rather than migrated macrophages, are the final effector cells involved in inducing inflammation in this model.

The relative contributions of each subset of ocular infiltrated cells in experimental choroidal neovascularisation.

AIM: Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) is a major cause of blindness in adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of infiltrating cells in the development of experimental CNV. METHODS: CNV was induced in C57BL/6 (B6) mice by laser photocoagulation (PC). After PC, the numbers of each subset of infiltrated cells were analysed by flow cytometry at multiple time points. Each subset (except for macrophages) was depleted by the specific antibodies in vivo. Thereafter, the area of CNV was compared between the control B6 mice and the specific antibody treated mice 7 days after PC. The CNV formation in neutrophil depleted CC chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2) knockout mice was also examined to minimise the effects of macrophages. RESULTS: In the early phase of CNV formation, a large number of neutrophils and macrophages infiltrated to the eyes. Natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocytes were barely detected while no B lymphocytes were detected. The CNV areas did not significantly change compared between the control B6 mice and the specific antibody treated mice. However, the neutrophil depleted CCR2KO mice resulted in a reduction of CNV. CONCLUSION: Although lymphocytes and NK cells had little effect on CNV formation, neutrophils partially contributed to CNV in the absence of macrophages.

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase in tomato fruits: cloning and properties of a recombinant enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli.

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is a member of a novel subfamily of cytochrome P450 and catalyzes a cleavage reaction of fatty acid hydroperoxides to form short-chain aldehydes and oxo-acids. A cDNA encoding tomato fruit HPL (LeHPL) was obtained. An active LeHPL was expressed in E. coli and purified. It showed highest activity against the 13-hydroperoxide of linolenic acid, followed by that of linoleic acid. 9-Hydroperoxides were poor substrates. The absorption spectrum of the purified LeHPL in the native form was similar to that of most P450s although a CO-adduct having a lambda max at 450 nm could not be obtained. LeHPL activity is reversibly inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, while salicylic acid irreversibly inhibited it. LeHPL is kinetically inactivated by fatty acid hydroperoxides, especially 9-hydroperoxides. The inactivation is prevented by inhibitors of LeHPL. Thus, HPL catalytic activity is thought to be essential to its inactivation. During the inactivation, an abolition of the Soret band was evident, indicating that inactivation is caused mainly by degradation of the prosthetic heme in LeHPL.

Severe bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass.

PURPOSE: To describe the rare problem of severe bronchospasm occurring during cardiopulmonary bypass in a six-year-old-child. CLINICAL FEATURES: Severe bronchospasm became apparent on attempting to resume controlled ventilation prior to weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient had a previous history of asthma but was asymptomatic preoperatively. Aggressive therapy with multiple bronchodilating agents was necessary before cardiopulmonary bypass could be discontinued. The bronchospasm resolved over the first 24 hr after surgery. CONCLUSION: Severe bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass is rare. It should only be diagnosed after ruling out other reasons for failure to ventilate. Treatment with intravenous bronchodilators is required. The cause is unknown.

[Evaluation of the bonding strength of two resins for bonded fixed denture]. / Avaliação da capacidade de união de duas resinas para prótese fixa adesiva.

This paper reports the tensile bond strength of two composite resins used for cast bonded restorations (Comspan and Panavia Ex) on metallic surface with or without electrolytic etch. The best results were obtained by the union of Comspan to the alloy electrolytic etched.