Comparing Three Different Contrast Sensitivity Tests in Adults and in Children with and without Amblyopia.

BACKGROUND: Tests of contrast sensitivity (CS) are not routinely performed in the clinic, although CS is reduced in many conditions, such as amblyopia or glaucoma. This may be due to perceived time constraints or unaffordability of equipment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Monocular CS functions obtained with the FACT, CSV 1000E, and Lea Symbols were compared in 19 healthy subjects aged 24 - 78 years and 24 subjects aged 5 - 16 years, 9 of whom had amblyopia. RESULTS: CS functions could be obtained with all three tests. The tests were equally comfortable for young and adult patients, and took less than 5 minutes to perform (one eye). All measured CSs at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (cpd), but the FACT included 1.5 cpd. LINEAR MIXED EFFECT MODELS: were performed. While there was no significant difference at low spatial frequencies, the Lea CS test showed a ceiling effect in that range, while the FACT showed a floor effect at high spatial frequencies. CS in amblyopic children did not differ between the contralateral and the amblyopic eye. Overall, amblyopic eyes had lower CS values than the control eyes and CS did not correlate significantly to visual acuity at distance. CONCLUSION: All three CS tests could be usefully applied in the clinic in adults as well as children over the age of 4 years. Only the CSV 1000E exhibited neither a ceiling nor a floor effect. This was also the fastest test. In children with amblyopia, CS testing offers additional information on visual function. In contrast to previous reports, we did not find that the CSV and FACT are interchangeable.

Extractable organic matter of standard reference material 1649a influences immunological response induced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Lungs are permanently and simultaneously challenged by airborne microorganisms and airborne pollutants. Temporal increase of airborne particulate matter (APM), a potential carrier for extractable organic matter (EOM), degrades the situation of pulmonary patients. The Ah receptor (AhR) has been described as an important factor influencing the immunological challenge by viral infections. Molecular mechanisms underlying epidemiological observations are not well understood. Cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-8, and TGF-beta) from human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B) was determined as an indicator for immune responses upon co-stimulation with an artificial analog of viral dsRNA [polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid, (PIC)] and EOM of Standard Reference Material 1649a (SRM). Since polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are major components of APM usually acting via the AhR, particular focus was on AhR involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytokine secretion was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To mimic the activation of organic matter during contact of particles with the human lung, Soxhlet extraction of SRM was performed. In some experiments, the AhR was blocked by alpha-naphthoflavone. RESULTS: Microbial stimulation (PIC) induced Beas2B cytokine release, whereas isolated exposure to EOM of APM did not. Co-stimulation with EOM and PIC increased IL-8 secretion, whereas neither IL-6 nor TGF-beta was affected. Blocking of the AhR suppressed the release of IL-8. DISCUSSION: Organic compounds adsorbed on airborne particulate matter influence the cytokine secretion of lung epithelial cells induced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Further investigation of these observations is required to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying adverse health effects of APM reported in epidemiological studies.