PURPOSE To assess short-term functional and anatomical outcomes of refractory diabetic macular edema (DME) following a switch from ranibizumab or dexamethasone to aflibercept. METHODS We included retrospectively eyes with persistent DME after at least 3 ranibizumab and/or one dexamethasone implant intravitreal injections (IVI). The primary endpoint was the mean change in visual acuity (VA) at...

The interaction of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]) with its human host requires several surface proteins. In this study, we isolated mutations in a gene required for the surface localization of protein F by transposon mutagenesis of the M6 strain JRS4. This gene (srtA) encodes a protein homologous to Staphylococcus aureus sortase, which covalently links proteins containing ...

As with most herpesviruses, CMVs encode viral genes that inhibit Ag presentation to CD8 T cells (VIPRs). VIPR function has been assumed to be essential for CMV to establish its characteristic lifetime infection of its host. We compared infection of C57BL/6 mice with wild-type murine CMV (MCMV) and a virus lacking each of MCMV's three known VIPRs: m4, m6, and m152. During acute infection, there ...

The objective of this study was to determine (i) if complementation of ureB-negative Helicobacter pylori restores colonization and (ii) if urease is a useful reporter for promoter activity in vivo. Strains used were M6, M6DeltaureB, and 10 recombinant derivatives of M6 or M6DeltaureB in which urease expression was under the control of different H. pylori promoters. Mice were orally inoculated w...

Ginger has received extensive attention because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. However, the metabolic fate of its major components is still unclear. In the present study, the metabolism of [6]-shogaol, one of the major active components in ginger, was examined for the first time in mice and in cancer cells. Thirteen metabolites were detected and identified, sev...

[1] We used dense linear seismic arrays across and along the San Andreas Fault (SAF) at Parkfield, California to record fault zone trapped waves generated by explosions and microearthquakes in 2002. Prominent trapped waves appeared at stations close to the SAF main fault trace while some energy was trapped in the north strand at the array site. Observations and 3-D finitedifference simulations ...

Early inflammatory events are initiated by phased production of C5a and interleukin-8 in tissue. Most serotypes of group A streptococci express a surface-bound peptidase (SCPA) which specifically cleaves mouse and human C5a chemotaxins. This study investigates the impact of SCPA on colonization of the nasopharyngeal mucosa of mice and evaluates its potential to induce protective immunity. Two s...

Deep water samples (ca. 4,200 m) were taken from two hydrologically-similar sites around the Crozet islands with highly contrasting surface water productivities. Site M5 was characteristic of high productivity waters (high chlorophyll) whilst site M6 was subject to a low productivity regime (low chlorophyll) in the overlying waters. Samples were incubated for three weeks at 4 °C at in-situ and ...

A site situated near Alkali Lake (Oregon) and highly contaminated by chloroaromatic compounds was chosen for isolation of alkaliphilic chlorophenol-degrading bacteria. Prolonged cultivation of an enrichment culture followed by successive transfers resulted in a strong increase in the 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) degradation rate. Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR and amplified ribosoma...

We investigate solutions of type II supergravity which have the product R × M6 structure with non-compact M6 factor and which preserve at least four supersymmetries. In particular, we consider various conifolds and the N = 1 supersymmetric “NS5-brane wrapped on 2-sphere” solution recently discussed in hepth/0008001. In all of these cases, we explicitly construct the complex structures, and the ...