The quantity of rhodopsin in human eyes

The content of rhodopsin in the eyes of 15 donors (30 eyes) was determined. Both retinal and pigment epithelial fractions were collected from each globe, extracted using 1% CTAB, and the rhodopsin difference spectrum of each fraction was obtained separately. The total amount of rhodopsin, obtained by summing the amounts recovered from the retinal and PE fractions, ranged from 2.00 to 11.94 (median: 6.40) nmoles/eye. Previously reported mean values of about 3.5 to 4.0 nmoles per retina have been obtained using a variety of methods. The present higher values, perhaps largely dependent on procedural details described herein, appear plausible given the known concentrations of rhodopsin in rod outer segments, rod outer segment volumes, and number of rods in the human retina.     

Occult cardiac tamponade detected by transesophageal echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that should be considered when the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade is a possibility and when conventional methods fail to provide conclusive diagnostic information. In this report, we describe a 74-year-old man in the intensive-care unit whose condition was unstable postoperatively because of an occult loculated pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. Routine noninvasive and invasive monitoring, including hemodynamic monitoring and transthoracic echocardiography, failed to confirm definitively the suspected diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. In addition, because of the hemodynamic instability of the patient, transporting him for definitive tests (such as fast computed tomographic scanning of the mediastinum, which could not be performed at the bedside) for assessment of cardiac tamponade was relatively contraindicated. In our patient, the diagnostic information obtained by transesophageal echocardiography may have been lifesaving.     

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on oxidative stress,inflammation, and symptoms in children with autism: an open-label pilot study

Background  

Recently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has increased in popularity as a treatment for autism. Numerous studies document oxidative stress and inflammation in individuals with autism; both of these conditions have demonstrated improvement with HBOT, along with enhancement of neurological function and cognitive performance. In this study, children with autism were treated with HBOT at atmospheric pressures and oxygen concentrations in current use for this condition. Changes in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were measured. The children were evaluated to determine clinical effects and safety.     

Allergic rhinitis: selective comparisons of the pharmaceutical options for management.

The depth and variety of pharmaceuticals available to manage the syndrome of allergic rhinitis is unparalleled. To arrive at a personal formulary, a physician would be well advised to understand what patients want and what they are willing to accept in terms of expense and adverse events. Patients want medications that are nonsteroidal, non habituating, produce no drowsiness, and could be used intermittently on demand only. This review is intended as an aid in comparing classes and formats of medications affecting nasal allergy.     

NK cell activation: distinct stimulatory pathways counterbalancing inhibitory signals

A delicate balance between positive and negative signals regulates NK cell effector function. Activation of NK cells may be initiated by the triggering of multiple adhesion or costimulatory molecules, and can be counterbalanced by inhibitory signals induced by receptors for MHC class I. A common pathway of inhibitory signaling is provided by immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) in the cytoplasmic domains of these receptors which mediate the recruitment of SH2 domain-bearing tyrosine phosphate-1 (SHP-1). In contrast to the extensive progress that has been made regarding the negative regulation of NK cell function, our knowledge of the signals that activate NK cells is still poor. Recent studies of the activating receptor complexes have shed new light on the induction of NK cell effector function. Several NK receptors using novel adaptors with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) and with PI 3-kinase recruiting motifs have been implicated in NK cell stimulation.     

Loratadine-pseudoephedrine combination versus placebo in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

Two hundred sixty-four patients with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis were treated with loratadine 5 mg plus pseudoephedrine 120 mg twice a day or placebo in a 28-day multicenter study. Four nasal and four non-nasal symptoms were evaluated for efficacy. At the last evaluable visit, the active treatment group had significantly lower (P = .05) mean combined nasal and non-nasal symptom scores than the placebo group. Also, the physician's rating of overall therapeutic response was significantly better in the active-treatment group (P = .03). Dry mouth, insomnia, and nervousness were reported by a significantly greater proportion (P less than or equal to .04) in the active-treatment group. Sedation occurred in 7% of patients in each treatment group and 6% of patients in each group discontinued the study because of adverse experiences. Loratadine plus pseudoephedrine was safe and significantly more effective than placebo in relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.     

NKG2D blockade prevents autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice

NKG2D is an activating receptor on CD8(+) T cells and NK cells that has been implicated in immunity against tumors and microbial pathogens. Here we show that RAE-1 is present in prediabetic pancreas islets of NOD mice and that autoreactive CD8(+) T cells infiltrating the pancreas express NKG2D. Treatment with a nondepleting anti-NKG2D monoclonal antibody (mAb) during the prediabetic stage completely prevented disease by impairing the expansion and function of autoreactive CD8(+) T cells. These findings demonstrate that NKG2D is essential for disease progression and suggest a new therapeutic target for autoimmune type I diabetes.