Background: There is a direct correlation between ocular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level and progression of pathological outcomes in diabetic retinopathy. In our previous study, the periocular administration of propranolol and celecoxib could significantly reduce ocular VEGF levels in a diabetic mouse model. Here, we investigated the changes of serum VEGF after ...

BACKGROUND The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) industry in Alaska began with animals imported from Siberia (Russia) in the 1890's. Cervid herpes virus 2 (CvHV2) is endemic in reindeer in Scandinavia. We sought to determine if the same virus, or similar herpesviruses, were circulating in Alaskan reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti). Serum samples from 292 reindeer were collected...

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a skin puncture technique (blood-swab method) to collect blood for detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in experimentally infected boars, and to examine the effect of sampling method (blood swab, serum, semen, or mouth swab) and rectal temperature on the ability to detect PRRSV in...

Methods The ocular samples viz., corneal swab, corneal scraping, aqueous tap and vitreous tap were processed for culture and the isolated Nocardia species were further confirmed for speciation by standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility analysis for the confirmed isolates of N. asteroides was performed by agar disk diffusion method following the guidelines of Clinical Labo...

forty patients with cataracts, as well as 40 patients with proven ocular toxoplasmosis were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. serum igg and aqueous igg in both groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) and the corresponding ratios were calculated. serum igg/aqueous humor igg ratio was less than 100 in the patient group and more than 100 in the control group. o...

BACKGROUND The Surecell herpes (HSV) test kit is a test for detecting the presence of herpes simplex viral antigen by means of a monoclonal antibody based immunoassay. The test has proved to be highly sensitive and specific in diagnosing genital, oral, and dermatological herpes infections. METHODS In this study, samples from patients with ocular keratitis were evaluated by tissue cultures and...

We report here a case of conjunctivitis in an immunocompetent patient due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans, which was associated with the use of rigid contact lenses. The bacteria were isolated from the scraped conjunctival swab as well as from the lens cleaning fluid. A. xylosoxidans is an opportunistic pathogen, especially in immunocompromised patients; however, in isolates of ocular infections,...

BACKGROUND Trachoma, caused by ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection, is the leading infectious cause of blindness, but its prevalence is now falling in many countries. As the prevalence falls, an increasing proportion of individuals with clinical signs of follicular trachoma (TF) is not infected with C. trachomatis. A recent study in Tanzania suggested that other bacteria may play a role in t...

The aims of this study were to assess whether the increased oxidative stress in affected tissues is reflected by serum lipid peroxidation and to check for alterations in serum levels of extracellular antioxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels and CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and glutath...

OBJECTIVE To clarify the relationship between enteroviral infection and febrile seizures. STUDY DESIGN Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, throat swab, and rectal swab samples were collected for virologic examination from 67 children with febrile seizures from April 1997 to March 1999. Those samples were examined for the presence of enterovirus using cell culture and 2 polymerase chain reaction...