PURPOSE To better understand the molecular program of neuronal cell death induced by axotomy, the authors attempted to identify retinal genes differentially expressed by optic nerve crush. METHODS Total RNA isolated from rat retinas at 1 and 4 days after intraorbital optic nerve crush was used in a modification of the differential display technique. After several rounds of screening, a single...

PURPOSE To determine whether a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) is useful for in vivo imaging and counting of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). METHODS RGCs of Brown Norway rats were retrogradely labeled bilaterally with the fluorescent dye 4-(4-(dihexadecylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium iodine (DiA). The unilateral optic nerve was crushed intraorbitally with a clip. RGCs were imaged in...

PURPOSE Traumatic optic neuropathy often induces a loss of vision that proceeds rapidly within several hours, together with retinal ganglion cell death, in a much slower time course. Electrical stimulation has previously been shown to rescue injured retinal ganglion cells from cell death. The present study tests whether transcorneal electrical stimulation could preserve visual function after an...

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of repeated treatments with a neuroprotective compound, R(-)-1-(benzo [b] thiophen-5-yl)-2-[2-(N, N-diethylamino) ethoxy] ethanol hydrochloride (T-588), on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival in rat eyes with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) or after optic nerve crush. METHODS An increase in IOP was induced by a single laser treatment to the trabecular m...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to compare long-term follow-up results of crush versus culotte stent techniques in coronary bifurcation lesions. BACKGROUND The randomized Nordic Stent Technique Study showed similar 6-month clinical and 8-month angiographic results with the crush and culotte stent techniques of de novo coronary artery bifurcation lesions using sirolimus-eluting stents. Her...

Activated Schwann cells distal to nerve injury upregulate inflammatory mediators, including cytokines. The goal of the present study was to investigate expression of proinflammatory (IL-1β, TNFα) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) in activated Schwann cells in relation to growing axons distal to crush injury of rat sciatic nerves. Seven days from sciatic nerve crush, transverse cryos...

The significance of a previously observed increase in retinal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) following optic nerve crush was investigated in goldfish using a specific irreversible inhibitor of ODC, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). Retinal ODC activity and putrescine levels were reduced 80% and 40%, respectively, by intraperitoneal injection(s) of DFMO. In fish in which the righ...

INTRODUCTION The experience on management of crush injury after a devastating earthquake is lacking, and there are even less reports on the front-line critical care of these patients. A front-line intensive care unit (ICU) was set up in a tent after the disastrous Wenchuan earthquake (May, 12, 2008, China), where 32 patients suffering from crush injury were treated from May 12 to May 26. This s...

INTRODUCTION Peripheral nerves are often damaged by direct mechanical injury, diseases, and tumors. The peripheral nerve injuries that result from these conditions can lead to a partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, which in turn are related to changes in skin temperature, in the involved segments of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in h...