Treatment of ocular allergies:nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic and immunotherapy

Ocular allergy is a significant and growing issue worldwide but for many patients, it is often not differentiated from systemic conditions, such as hay fever. Management of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis is often poor. Management is principally through avoidance measures (blocking or hygiene), nonpharmaceutical (such as artificial tears and cold compresses) and pharmaceutical (such as topical antihistamines and prophylactic mast cell stabilizers). Vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis are more severe and generally need treatment with NSAIDs, steroids and immunomodulators. Giant papillary conjunctivitis can be related to allergy but also is often contact lens related and in such cases can be managed by a period of abstinence and replacement of the lens or a change in lens material and/or design. Immunotherapy can be efficacious in severe, persistent cases of contact lens or allergic conjunctivitis

Immunohistochemical analysis of orbital connective tissue specimens of patients with active graves ophthalmopathy

Purpose: To explore the immune mechanism of Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) by analyzing infiltrating cells in orbital connective tissue (OCT) specimens of patients with active GO using immunohistochemical methods. Methods: Five OCT specimens obtained from patients with active GO and five control specimens obtained from forensic cadavers who died from nonmedical reasons were stained with anti-CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, HLA-Dr, CD25, and TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. Positively stained cells were counted and results were interpreted as cell counts/mm(2). Four of five GO patients had never been treated with any immunomodulating therapy. Only one had received oral prednisolone prior to tissue sampling, but this treatment had ceased 5 months before surgery. Results: The retro-orbital tissue specimens obtained from forensic cadavers did not show any significant positive staining for any monoclonal antibody tested. However, the specimens from GO patients showed positively stained means of 36.66 +/- 4.61 HLA- Dr(+), 12.8 +/- 3.42 CD8(+), 11.8 +/- 1.78 CD4(+), 16.6 +/- 1.81 CD3(+), 21.2 +/- 3.12 CD45RO(+), 10.4 +/- 2.07 TNF-alpha(+), 7.2 +/- 1.48 CD25(+), 3.2 +/- 1.09 CD4(+) CD8(+), 4.6 +/- 1.67 CD4(+) CD45RO(+), 2.8 +/- 0.83 CD8(+) CD45RO(+), 1.6 +/- 0.89 CD4(+) CD25(+), and 1.8 +/- 1 0.83 CD8(+) CD25(+) cells/ mm(2). Conclusions: Our study supports that most of the infiltrating lymphocytic cells in the active stage of GO are T cells, and a significant proportion of them are CD45RO+ cells. Infiltration of OCT by HLA- Dr+, CD25+, and TNF-alpha cells suggests that Th1-type immune reaction with the interference of proinflammatory cytokine(s) (TNF-alpha) may be important in the pathogenesis of disease. Further studies are needed to understand the disease pathogenesis and may provide a scientific basis for future treatment alternatives for the disease (e. g., anticytokine treatment)

Triterpene saponins from Knautia integrifolia var. bidens

WOS: 000222951900012Two new triterpene saponins (1 and 2), named bidenosides A and B, were isolated from the roots of Knautia integrifolia var. bidens. The structures were identified as 3-O-alpha-L-rhanmopyranosyl-28-O-[beta-D-allopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-pomolic acid, and 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-28-O-[beta-D-allopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid on the basis of spectroscopic evidence

Histomorphometric evaluation of the effects of zoledronic acid on mandibular distraction osteogenesis in rabbits

Kisnisci, Reha/0000-0003-3397-4947WOS: 000255540500012PubMed: 18423279Purpose: To assess the effect of systemic administration of zoledronic acid (ZA) on mineralization of newly formed bone and to determine strain-related osteoporosis on surrounding bone during lengthening of immature rabbit mandible. Materials and Methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 2 groups, and bone lengthening was carried out in the left portion of the mandible through distraction osteogenesis with a rate of 0.5 mm every 12 hours for 5 days. The experimental group was administered 0.1 mg/kg ZA intravenously. The control group was given saline infusion only during operation. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the 28-day consolidation period. The mandibles of all animals were removed and regenerate was evaluated. Osteoblasts, osteoclasts, collagen fibers, and fibroblasts were marked within 0.1-mm(2) area and newly formed bone area was measured within 0.5-mm(2) area. All data were analyzed using Mann-VAiitney U test. Results: Although irregular bone destruction spots were seen in the control group, the experimental group showed regular ossification areas and significant difference between osteoblast and osteoclast numbers (P < .05). In the regenerate zone, there was considerable difference between the 2 groups in terms of osteoblast, osteoclast, and collagen amounts (P < .05). Additionally, newly formed bone areas and fibroblast count were higher in experimental group. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that ZA had positive effects on the new bone formation, which may potentially shorten the consolidation period. (c) 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons