scholarly journals Testing the Medina embolization device in experimental aneurysms

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 1485-1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fahed ◽  
Tim E. Darsaut ◽  
Igor Salazkin ◽  
Guylaine Gevry ◽  
Jean Raymond
Keyword(s):  
Flow Diverter ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Aneurysmal Neck ◽  
Near Occlusion ◽  
Platinum Coils ◽  
Group 1

OBJECTIVEThe Medina embolization device (MED) is a novel, braided self-expanding endovascular device designed to occlude aneurysms by constructing an in situ intrasaccular flow diverter. Although a single device can be positioned at the neck of simple spherical in vitro aneurysms, the best way to occlude more complex in vivo aneurysms (using multiple MEDs or a combination of MEDs and platinum coils) is currently unknown.METHODSFifty-two aneurysms of 3 different types were created in 31 canines, yielding 48 patent aneurysms. Treatments were randomly allocated by drawing lots: group 1, MEDs alone (n = 16); group 2, MEDs plus standard platinum coils (n = 16); and group 3, control aneurysms treated with coils alone (n = 16). Angiographic results were scored and compared immediately following treatment completion and at 3 months. Specimens were photographed and the extent of neointimal closure of the aneurysmal neck scored, followed by histopathological analyses.RESULTSAngiographic scores of 0 or 1 (occlusion or near occlusion) were initially obtained in 2 of 16 (12.5%, 95% CI 1.6%–38.3%) group 1 (MEDs alone), 3 of 16 (18.7%, 95% CI 4%–45.6%) group 2 (MEDs plus coils), and 10 of 16 (62.5%, 95% CI 35.4%–84.8%) group 3 (coils alone) aneurysms (p = 0.005). At 3 months, scores of 0 or 1 were found in 11 of 16 (68.7%, 95% CI 41.3%–89.0%) group 1, 9 of 16 (56.2%, 95% CI 29.9%–80.2%) group 2, and 8 of 16 (50%, 95% CI 24.7%–75.3%) group 3 aneurysms (p = 0.82). Neointimal scores were similar for the 3 treated groups (p = 0.66).CONCLUSIONEndovascular treatment of experimental aneurysms with MEDs or MEDs and coils showed angiographic occlusion and neointimal scores at 3 months that were similar to those achieved with standard platinum coiling.

97 PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF EQUINE PLACENTA GENERATED AFTER TRANSFER OF IN VIVO- AND IN VITRO-PRODUCED EMBRYOS

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lanci ◽  
J. Mariella ◽  
B. Merlo ◽  
C. Castagnetti ◽  
E. Iacono
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Placental changes associated with artificial reproductive technologies have been described in several species, but little information is available in horses. Joy et al. (2012) reported that human placentas from intracytoplasmic sperm injection derived embryos were heavier and thicker than those produced after natural conception. Despite the most growing interest and efficiency of artificial reproductive technologies in equine species, only recently, Pozor et al. (2016) described placental abnormalities in pregnancies generated by somatic cell NT, but there are no studies on equine placenta generated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and traditional embryo transfer. In the present preliminary study, macroscopic differences of placentas generated after transfer of in vitro- or in vivo-produced embryos were registered. Twelve Standardbred recipient mares with pregnancy generated after transfer of in vivo-derived (Group 1) and in vitro-derived (Group 2) embryos were enrolled; 10 Standardbred mares with pregnancy derived by traditional AI were included as control (Group 3). All pregnancies were physiological, and newborn foals were healthy. Mare age, parity, length of pregnancy, gross evaluation and weight of placenta, total length of umbilical cord (UC), length of UC, number of UC coils, foal sex, and weight at birth were registered. Collected data are listed in Table 1 and are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Differences between groups were evaluated by 1-way ANOVA, and the difference in proportion of overweight placentas was evaluated with the Fisher test. The gross evaluation of placenta revealed 8/12 placentas (2/4 Group 1; 6/8 Group 2) were heavier than 11% (Madigan, 1997) due to oedema of the chorioallantois. No overweight placentas were registered in Group 3. In Group 1, 1/4 placentas had villous hypoplasia, and in Group 2, 1/8 placentas had cystic pouches on the UC. There were no significant differences among groups. However, the proportion of overweight placentas between Group 2 (6/8) and Group 3 (0/10) approached significance (P = 0.06). Although preliminary, the results of the present study suggest that production of equine embryos in vitro may lead to alterations in placental development. Several studies in cattle and sheep have suggested that alterations in the placentas of pregnancies derived from in vitro-produced embryos are related to effects of culture on epigenetic regulation. Less is known in the horse about the effects of in vitro embryo production on placental development; thus, further research in this area is necessary. Table 1. Characteristics of full-term placentas derived from AI or embryo transfer with in vivo- and in vitro-produced embryos

Effect of intracisternal antithrombin III on subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced arterial narrowing

1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis G. Vollmer ◽  
Kazuhiro Hongo ◽  
Neal F. Kassell ◽  
Hisayuki Ogawa ◽  
Tetsuya Tsukahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Antithrombin Iii ◽  
White Male ◽  
Rabbit Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

✓ The ability of antithrombin III, an endogenous plasma glycoprotein, to reverse the arterial narrowing in a rabbit model of cerebral vasospasm was evaluated. The vasodilator activity of antithrombin III on rabbit arteries was first assessed in vitro using a myograph-arterial ring preparation. Antithrombin III (10 IU/ml) induced a 55.4% ± 2.66% (mean ± standard error of the mean) relaxation in basilar artery precontracted with serotonin (5-HT) in five specimens as compared with a 9.8% ± 1.6% relaxation of common carotid artery in six specimens. For in vivo analysis, 21 New Zealand White male rabbits were separated into three groups: Group 1 served as normal controls; Group 2 received a subarachnoid blood injection (SAH) and were sacrificed on Day 3 thereafter; and Group 3 animals were subjected to SAH, then received a 2-hour intracisternal infusion of antithrombin III (100 IU) in saline prior to sacrifice on Day 3. Basilar artery caliber was determined using a morphometric method to analyze perfusion-fixed arterial segments. Control basilar artery diameter in Group 1 was 0.64 ± 0.02 mm. In Group 2 a 27% reduction in arterial caliber to 0.47 ± 0.03 mm was observed by Day 3 post SAH (p < 0.0001). Group 3 animals had a mean basilar artery diameter of 0.68 ± 0.02 mm. This was significantly larger than the untreated SAH rabbits in Group 2 (p < 0.0001), but not different from control artery diameters in Group 1. The findings demonstrate that antithrombin III in saline has a significant ability to reverse delayed narrowing of the rabbit basilar artery after SAH.

25 DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF CLONED BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) EMBRYOS PRODUCED BY TRANSFECTED OR NONTRANSFECTED FIBROBLASTS TRANSFER TO ENUCLEATED OOCYTES DERIVED FROM OVUM PICK-UP AND ABATTOIR OVARIES

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
C. Yang ◽  
J. Shang ◽  
H. Zheng ◽  
M. Chen ◽  
F. Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Science ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Cleavage Rate ◽  
Reconstructed Embryos ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

The objective of this study was to explore whether fibroblasts transfection and the source of oocytes – ovum pick-up (OPU) versus abattoir ovaries – affected the in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of somatic cell nuclear transferred (SCNT) embryos in buffalo. To this aim, the serum-starved ear fibroblasts were fused into enucleated oocytes derived from abattoir ovaries (Group 1) and OPU (Group 2). Furthermore, the enucleated buffalo oocytes derived from abattoir ovaries were also fused with pEGFP-N1 transfected ear fibroblasts, and the cloned embryos were enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-positive confirmed by fluorescence microscopy (Group 3). The reconstructed embryos cultured in Groups 1 to 3 were 262, 83, 120, respectively (5 replicates); and the data were analysed by one-way ANOVA (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). As a result, the cleavage rate in Group 3 was significantly higher than that in Group 1 (75.0% v. 54.3%; P < 0.01), and the total blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos in Group 3 (27.3%) was significantly higher than that in Group 1 (17.4%; P < 0.01) and Group 2 (24.4%; P < 0.05). The SCNT blastocysts were vitrified with 20% ethylene glycol + 20% dimethylsulfoxide + 0.5 M sucrose; the cryosurvival rates of SCNT blastocysts in the 3 groups were not different from each other (90.0%, 94.7%, 92.3%). Following culture, the cryosurvived blastocysts were transferred into synchronized local and crossbred buffaloes, with each recipient receiving 1 or 2 embryos. The pregnancy rates after transferring embryos derived from Groups 1 to 3 were not different from each other, and were 18.75% (3/16), 33.33% (4/12), and 26.67% (4/15), respectively. These results indicate that the oocytes derived from OPU can be enucleated as recipient cytoplasm and transfected fibroblast can be adopted as nuclei donor without decreasing the SCNT efficiency in buffalo.This research was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31160456) and the Natural Science Foundations of China under Grant No. 0991011, No. 2011GXSFB018045).

scholarly journals Detection and in vitro and in vivo characterization of porcine circovirus DNA from a porcine-derived commercial pepsin product

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (11) ◽  
pp. 3377-3382 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fenaux ◽  
T. Opriessnig ◽  
P. G. Halbur ◽  
Y. Xu ◽  
B. Potts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porcine Circovirus Type ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Porcine Circovirus ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Non-pathogenic porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and pathogenic PCV2 are widespread in swine herds. In this study, the detection and characterization of PCV1 and PCV2 DNA from porcine-derived commercial pepsin are reported. The complete genomic sequences of the pepsin-derived PCV1 and PCV2 share 76 % nucleotide sequence identity with each other and 95–99 % identity with respective North American PCV1 and PCV2 isolates. However, the PCV-contaminated pepsin lacks infectivity in PK-15 cells. To further assess the infectivity of the contaminating pepsin in vivo, 16 5-week-old, specific-pathogen-free pigs were divided randomly into three groups: pigs in group 1 (n=5) were each inoculated intramuscularly and intranasally with 4 ml PBS buffer as negative controls, those in group 2 (n=6) were each inoculated with 400 mg contaminated pepsin dissolved in 4 ml PBS and those in group 3 (n=5) were each inoculated with 4×104·3 TCID50 PCV2 as positive controls. PCV2 viraemia, seroconversion and pathological lesions were detected in group 3 pigs, but not in group 1 or 2 pigs, confirming that the contaminating PCVs were non-infectious. Nevertheless, the detection of PCV DNA in a porcine-derived commercial product raises concern for potential human infection through xenotransplantation.

scholarly journals Reduced LH sensitivity in vivo and in vitro of corpora lutea induced during anoestrus by GnRH, and during the late breeding season, in Scottish Blackface ewes

2004 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
T A Bramley ◽  
D Stirling ◽  
G S Menzies ◽  
D T Baird
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Scottish Blackface ewes were synchronised in mid-breeding (November; group 1; n=12 ewes) or late-breeding season (March; group 2; n=16). Anoestrous ewes (May) were treated with progestagen sponges for 7 days and then given 250 ng GnRH 3-hourly for 24 h, 2-hourly for 24 h and hourly for a further 24 h (group 3; n=12). A second group of anoestrous ewes (group 4, n=19) received three bolus injections (30 μg) of GnRH at 90-min intervals without progestagen pretreatment. After ovulation, ewes were bled twice daily until slaughter (day 4 or day 12: oestrus=day 0). Mid-breeding season (group 1) and anoestrous ewes in group 3 formed ‘adequate’ corpora lutea (CL) with high plasma progesterone levels (3–4 ng/ml) maintained for at least 12 days, and responded in vivo to ovine LH (oLH) (10 μg) with a rise in plasma progesterone on day 11 (group 3, but not group 1, ewes also responded on day 3). CL minces from these ewes responded to human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in vitro with a dose-dependent increase in progesterone secretion. Ewes in group 4 had a foreshortened luteal phase (8–10 days) and low plasma progesterone levels (~1 ng/ml), consistent with formation of inadequate CL. LH injection failed to induce a significant plasma progesterone increase. Furthermore, although progesterone secretion in vitro in response to maximally stimulating doses of hCG or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) was similar to that in adequate CL, the sensitivity of these CL to hCG (EC (effective concentration)50, 1 IU hCG/ml) was reduced 10-fold compared with adequate CL (EC50, 0.1 IU hCG/ml; P<0.01). Ewes that ovulated in the late breeding season (group 2) had high plasma progesterone, although levels began to decrease after day 10. Injection of oLH in vivo increased plasma progesterone. However, sensitivity to hCG in vitro (EC50, 0.5 IU hCG/ml) was intermediate between that of adequate luteal tissue (groups 1 and 3; EC50, 0.1 IU/ml) and that of group 4 ewes (EC50, 1 IU hCG/ml). Our data demonstrate a markedly reduced luteal sensitivity to LH in vivo and hCG in vitro in Scottish Blackface ewes with inadequate CL, and suggest that a similar loss of sensitivity to LH may occur in the late breeding season.

scholarly journals Role of Biofilm-Associated Protein Bap in the Pathogenesis of Bovine Staphylococcus aureus

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2177-2185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carme Cucarella ◽  
M. Ángeles Tormo ◽  
Carles Úbeda ◽  
M. Pilar Trotonda ◽  
Marta Monzón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bovine Mastitis ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Vitro Analysis ◽  
Group 1

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of intramammary infections, which frequently become chronic, associated with the ability of the bacteria to produce biofilm. Here, we report a relationship between the ability to produce chronic bovine mastitis and biofilm formation. We have classified bovine mastitis S. aureus isolates into three groups based on the presence of particular genetic elements required for biofilm formation: group 1 (ica + bap +), group 2 (ica +, bap negative), and group 3 (ica negative, bap negative). Overall, animals naturally infected with group 1 and 2 isolates had a lower milk somatic cell count than those infected with isolates of group 3. In addition, Bap-positive isolates were significantly more able to colonize and persist in the bovine mammary gland in vivo and were less susceptible to antibiotic treatments when forming biofilms in vitro. Analysis of the structural bap gene revealed the existence of alternate forms of expression of the Bap protein in S. aureus isolates obtained under field conditions throughout the animal's life. The presence of anti-Bap antibodies in serum samples taken from animals with confirmed S. aureus infections indicated the production of Bap during infection. Furthermore, disruption of the ica operon in a bap-positive strain had no effect on in vitro biofilm formation, a finding which strongly suggested that Bap could compensate for the deficiency of the PIA/PNAG product (a biofilm matrix polysaccharide). Altogether, these results demonstrate that, in the bovine intramammary gland, the presence of Bap may facilitate a biofilm formation connected with the persistence of S. aureus.

scholarly journals Cryopreservation of Immature Oocytes at Germinal Vesicle Stage. When Gamete Maturation Performance Seems to Be Most Appropriate?

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167
Author(s):  
Taisiia Yurchuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Ovarian Tissue ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Immature Oocytes ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Fertility preservation is among the priorities in reproductive medicine. However, the cancer patients and women with various functional ovarian disorders, wishing to preserve future reproductive potential may have some contraindications or no possibilities to cryopreserve mature oocytes and ovarian tissue. Therefore, the development of techniques for immature oocyte cryopreservation is considered an alternative strategy. Here, we have evaluated the survival, maturation, fertilization and embryo development rates of immature oocytes (Germinal vesicle (GV) stage – group 1) after cryopreservation and in vitro matured (IVM) ones (group 2) prior to cryopreservation, compared with in vivo matured metaphase-II (MII) oocytes (group 3). Survival rates were 97.6, 96.2 and 98.2 % for groups 1–3, respectively. The maturation rate of GV oocytes in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 and made 52.0 and 73.2%, respectively. The highest fertilization rate was revealed in group 3, and the lowest one was in group 1. The groups 1–3 showed the same tendency for further embryo development, i. e. the blastulation rates were 20.0, 38.5 and 56.9%, respectively. Thus, the survival rate of cryopreserved oocytes did not depend on their maturity rate. However, the IVM oocytes displayed lower fertilization and blastulation rates, than the in vivo matured ones. It was found that oocytes IVM should be performed prior to cryopreservation, because it ensured higher rates of maturation, fertilization and embryo development in vitro.

In-vivo evaluation of the effect of cyanoacrylate on prosthetic vascular graft infection – does cyanoacrylate increase the severity of infection?

VASA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-284
Author(s):  
Atıf Yolgosteren ◽  
Gencehan Kumtepe ◽  
Melda Payaslioglu ◽  
Cuneyt Ozakin
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Graft ◽  
Graft Infection ◽  
Vascular Graft Infection ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infection ◽  
Group 1

Summary. Background: Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a complication with high mortality. Cyanoacrylate (CA) is an adhesive which has been used in a number of surgical procedures. In this in-vivo study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between PVGI and CA. Materials and methods: Thirty-two rats were equally divided into four groups. Pouch was formed on back of rats until deep fascia. In group 1, vascular graft with polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) was placed into pouch. In group 2, MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected into pouch. In group 3, 1 cm 2 vascular graft with PET piece was placed into pouch and MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected. In group 4, 1 cm 2 vascular graft with PET piece impregnated with N-butyl cyanoacrylate-based adhesive was placed and MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected. All rats were scarified in 96th hour, culture samples were taken where intervention was performed and were evaluated microbiologically. Bacteria reproducing in each group were numerically evaluated based on colony-forming unit (CFU/ml) and compared by taking their average. Results: MRSA reproduction of 0 CFU/ml in group 1, of 1410 CFU/ml in group 2, of 180 200 CFU/ml in group 3 and of 625 300 CFU/ml in group 4 was present. A statistically significant difference was present between group 1 and group 4 (p < 0.01), between group 2 and group 4 (p < 0.01), between group 3 and group 4 (p < 0.05). In terms of reproduction, no statistically significant difference was found in group 1, group 2, group 3 in themselves. Conclusions: We observed that the rate of infection increased in the cyanoacyrylate group where cyanoacrylate was used. We think that surgeon should be more careful in using CA in vascular surgery.

scholarly journals THU0227 CAFFEINE INTAKE MODULATES DISEASE ACTIVITY AND CYTOKINES LEVELS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 340.2-341
Author(s):  
V. Orefice ◽  
F. Ceccarelli ◽  
C. Barbati ◽  
R. Lucchetti ◽  
G. Olivieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Activity ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Caffeine Intake ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
Group 4 ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Group 1

Background:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease mainly affecting women of childbearing age. The interplay between genetic and environmental factors may contribute to disease pathogenesis1. At today, no robust data are available about the possible contribute of diet in SLE. Caffeine, one of the most widely consumed products in the world, seems to interact with multiple components of the immune system by acting as a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor2.In vitrodose-dependent treatment with caffeine seems to down-regulate mRNA levels of key inflammation-related genes and similarly reduce levels of different pro-inflammatory cytokines3.Objectives:We evaluated the impact of caffeine consumption on SLE-related disease phenotype and activity, in terms of clinimetric assessment and cytokines levels.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study, enrolling consecutive patients and reporting their clinical and laboratory data. Disease activity was assessed by SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2k)4. Caffeine intake was evaluated by a 7-day food frequency questionnaire, including all the main sources of caffeine. As previously reported, patients were divided in four groups according to the daily caffeine intake: <29.1 mg/day (group 1), 29.2-153.7 mg/day (group 2), 153.8-376.5 mg/day (group 3) and >376.6 mg/day (group 4)5. At the end of questionnaire filling, blood samples were collected from each patient to assess cytokines levels. These were assessed by using a panel by Bio-Plex assays to measure the levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-27, IFN-γ, IFN-α and Blys.Results:We enrolled 89 SLE patients (F/M 87/2, median age 46 years, IQR 14; median disease duration 144 months, IQR 150). The median intake of caffeine was 195 mg/day (IQR 160.5). At the time of the enrollment, 8 patients (8.9%) referred a caffeine intake < 29.1 mg/day (group 1), 27 patients (30.3%) between 29.2 and 153.7 mg/day (group 2), 45 patients (51%) between 153.8 and 376.5 mg/day (group 3) and 9 patients (10.1%) >376.6 mg/day (group 4). A negative correlation between the levels of caffeine and disease activity, evaluated with SLEDAI-2K, was observed (p=0.01, r=-0.26). By comparing the four groups, a significant higher prevalence of lupus nephritis, neuropsychiatric involvement, haematological manifestations, hypocomplementemia and anti-dsDNA positivity was observed in patients with less intake of caffeine (figure 1 A-E). Furthermore, patients with less intake of caffeine showed a significant more frequent use of glucocorticoids [group 4: 22.2%,versusgroup 1 (50.0%, p=0.0001), group 2 (55.5%, p=0.0001), group 3 (40.0%, p=0.009)]. Moving on cytokines analysis, a negative correlation between daily caffeine consumption and serum level of IFNγ was found (p=0.03, r=-0.2) (figure 2A); furthermore, patients with more caffeine intake showed significant lower levels of IFNα (p=0.02, figure 2B), IL-17 (p=0.01, figure 2C) and IL-6 (p=0.003, figure 2D).Conclusion:This is the first report demonstrating the impact of caffeine on SLE disease activity status, as demonstrated by the inverse correlation between its intake and both SLEDAI-2k values and cytokines levels. Moreover, in our cohort, patients with less caffeine consumption seems to have a more severe disease phenotype, especially in terms of renal and neuropsychiatric involvement. Our results seem to suggest a possible immunoregulatory dose-dependent effect of caffeine, through the modulation of serum cytokine levels, as already suggested byin vitroanalysis.References:[1]Kaul et alNat. Rev. Dis. Prim.2016; 2. Aronsen et alEurop Joul of Pharm2014; 3. Iris et alClin Immun.2018; 4. Gladman et al J Rheumatol. 2002; 5. Mikuls et alArth Rheum2002Disclosure of Interests:Valeria Orefice: None declared, Fulvia Ceccarelli: None declared, cristiana barbati: None declared, Ramona Lucchetti: None declared, Giulio Olivieri: None declared, enrica cipriano: None declared, Francesco Natalucci: None declared, Carlo Perricone: None declared, Francesca Romana Spinelli Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Consultant of: Novartis, Gilead, Lilly, Sanofi, Celgene, Speakers bureau: Lilly, cristiano alessandri Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Guido Valesini: None declared, Fabrizio Conti Speakers bureau: BMS, Lilly, Abbvie, Pfizer, Sanofi

scholarly journals An In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Study of Corneal Nerve Morphology in Unilateral Keratoconus

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Kishore Pahuja ◽  
Rohit Shetty ◽  
Rudy M. M. A. Nuijts ◽  
Aarti Agrawal ◽  
Arkasubhra Ghosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Fiber ◽  
Nerve Branch ◽  
Intergroup Comparison ◽  
Corneal Nerve ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Branch Density ◽  
Corneal Nerve Morphology ◽  
Group 1

Purpose.To study the corneal nerve morphology and its importance in unilateral keratoconus.Materials and Methods.In this prospective cross-sectional study, 33 eyes of 33 patients with keratoconus in one eye (Group 3) were compared with the other normal eye of the same patients (Group 2) and 30 eyes of healthy patients (Group 1). All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination followed by topography with Pentacam HR and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Five images obtained with IVCM were analyzed using an automated CCmetrics software version 1.0 for changes in subbasal plexus of nerves.Results.Intergroup comparison showed statistically significant reduction in corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and length (CNFL) in Group 3 as compared to Group 1 (p<0.001andp=0.001, resp.) and Group 2 (p=0.01andp=0.02, resp.). Though corneal nerve fiber length, diameter, area, width, corneal nerve branch density, and corneal total branch density were found to be higher in decentered cones, only the corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) as compared to centered cones.Conclusion.Quantitative changes in the corneal nerve morphology can be used as an imaging marker for the early diagnosis of keratoconus before the onset of refractive or topography changes.

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