Direct demonstration of transsynaptic degeneration in the human visual system: a comparison of retrograde and anterograde changes

Transneuronal degeneration of retinal ganglion cells was directly demonstrated in a patient who had unilateral removal of the striate cortex forty years prior to necropsy. For comparison, another case is presented showing anterograde transneuronal atrophy forty years after enucleation of one eye.     

Value of pretransplantation cytokine profiles for predicting acute rejection in renal transplant recipients

Episodes of acute rejection may represent an important risk factor for the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. Various studies have shown that pretransplant cytokine profiles in recipient blood are associated with transplant outcome. Serum samples were collected 24 hours before transplantation from 57 patients (38 men and 19 women of age 36 +/- 5 years) receiving kidneys from unrelated living donors. Additional samples were collected at 1 and 2 weeks after transplantation, as well as during every rejection episode. The immunosuppression consisted of a cyclosporine, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Among the transplanted patients, 19 (33.3%) individuals experienced an acute rejection episode based on an increased level of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen during the first 14 days after transplantation. TGF-beta, IL-2 and IFN-gamma serum levels were determined by an ELISA method using Bindermed system kits. The mean concentration of TGF-beta before transplantation tended to be lower among patients with acute rejection episodes compared to those with stable graft (75,265 versus 85,394 pg/mL; P = .34) and at 1 week after transplantation (77,558 versus 84,390 pg/mL), although the differences were not significant. Among patients with rejection the mean IL-2 concentration was significantly higher before, at 1 week, and at 2 weeks after transplantation (15.0 versus 6.8 pg/mL, P = .005; 19.0 versus 4.9 pg/mL, P = .001; and 21.1 versus 4.7 pg/mL, P = .0001). The mean concentration of IFN-gamma was significantly higher pre- and at 1 and 2 weeks posttransplantation in patients with acute rejection episodes (161.1 versus 65.2, 175.6 versus 66.5 and 173.7 versus 77.1 pg/mL, all P < .001). In conclusion, evaluation of Th1 cytokines before transplantation may represent valuable predictive marker for an acute rejection episode.     

Influence of HLA on progression of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis: results of a four-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND: Genetic predisposition in multiple sclerosis (MS) has always been a critical concern in aetiology and progress of the disease. The present study looks into the relations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA), optic neuritis (ON) and MS in the Iranian population. METHODS: Patients with potential diagnosis of acute ON underwent a standardized clinical examination for confirming the diagnosis. Selected patients were gathered for HLA typing and clinical follow up. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients, 46 (83.6%) were female. The mean age was 25(+/-7.3) with a range of 12-43. Twenty of the 55 (36%) were confirmed for the diagnosis of clinically definite MS (CDMS). Results show that A23, B21, A11 and B51 alleles were present in 4 (20%), 6 (30%), 2 (10%) and 1 (5%) of the CDMS patients, respectively. Ten (50%) and 17 (85%) CDMS patients were positive for HLA class II alleles, DR2 and DQ1, correspondingly. CONCLUSIONS: The study strongly suggests the association among DR2, A23 and B21 allele and the evolution of ON to MS. High prevalence of A23 and DR2 alleles in CDMS patients compared with the normal population may suggest an important role for these alleles in the development of MS. The study suggests B51 as a protective factor against development of ON in the normal population. In addition, results do not confirm previous studies considering A11 as a predisposing factor. The present study finally evokes that different classes of HLA have different roles in susceptibility to MS and confirms disease heterogeneity as an important emerging concept in MS.     

Occupational stress in naval personnel

Introduction: Increased stress levels have been reported and it has been implicated for mental illness amongst service personnel. However no study has been reported among Indian naval sailors.     

Forced vergence fixation disparity parameters with and without a central fusion lock

The effect of a central fusion lock on forced vergence fixation disparity curve parameters, that is, magnitudes of fixation disparity and associated phoria, curve type and the central slope of the curve, was studied in 84 subjects because of ambiguity in the previous studies. It was found that the magnitudes of exo fixation disparity and exo associated phoria decreased significantly when they were measured with the central fusion lock. The central lock had no noticeable effect on the type of the curve, although, the central slope of the curve was flatter in the presence of the central lock.     

Transient synovitis of the hip in children: role of US

Transient synovitis of the hip remains a common diagnostic problem for the clinician. The physical signs are not pathognomonic of the condition, and the classic technical examinations are of little help. Therefore, the authors retrospectively studied the value of hip arthrosonography in 46 children with clinical symptoms suggesting pathologic hip conditions. In 20 of the 21 patients with a final diagnosis of transient synovitis, articular effusion was detected on ultrasound (US). Conventional radiography showed an increased medial joint space in only eight of these patients. Increased echogenicity of the articular fluid was found in both transient synovitis and septic arthritis. The high sensitivity of US in detecting intraarticular fluid was demonstrated by cadaver studies.