Reduced structural proteins in the conjunctival epithelium in allergic eye disease..

Aims: Allergic eye disease affects up to 20% of the population with varying severity. The conjunctival epithelium plays a key role in allergic eye disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the conjunctival epithelium is abnormal in allergic eye disease. Methods: Conjunctival biopsy samples were taken from patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) 'in' and 'out of season' and nonatopic control subjects. Specimens were fixed in glycol methacrylate, 2 microm serial sections cut and Image-J used to assess the sites and areas of immuno-staining. Results: E-cadherin, CD44, keratins K5/6, K8, K13, K14, K18 and pan-keratin immuno-staining were all significantly lower in patients 'out of season' compared with normal controls. No structural differences in the epithelium were observed between the two groups. The epithelium of patients 'in season' was thicker and immuno-staining of the above markers similar to controls. Conclusions: The expression of a wide spectrum of epithelial cell adhesion proteins and cytoskeletal elements is downregulated in the conjunctiva of SAC patients 'out of season' compared with normal controls. We suggest that this could have an important impact on the ability of the epithelium to protect itself against allergen penetration, potentially influencing the development and course of allergic eye disease and offering a novel area for therapeutic control

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis Is associated with increased conjunctival epithelial height & upregulation of both PAR 2 & HSP 70 Protein

Purpose: : To evaluate the distribution/expression of PAR 2 & HSP 70 in patients with SC in season (SCS) and compare to non-atopic subjects & out of season allergic conjunctivitis (OSC) patients.Methods: : Conjunctival biopsies were collected from 8 SCS & 7 normals (non-atopic). Sections were embedded in glycol methacrylate (photographed using Leica DMRBE) & examined for CE heights using light microscopy & computer assisted imaging software. A standard 1mm stage scale at x10 magnification was used to measure CE heights from the basement membrane to the apical surface of the epithelium. Measurements were taken at 1 cm interval.In 6 SCS, 8 normal and 4 OSC patient specimens, section were examined immunohistochemically for PAR 2 and HSP 70. Immunohistochemical expression was quantified for the percentage of epithelia stained using Image-J software. This analysis was done in a masked fashion.Results: : Mean CE percentage staining of PAR 2 in SCS, normals & OSC was 75.0 + 15.4 %, 32.8 + 30.0 % & 1.36 + 2.2 % respectively. The degree of staining in SCS was significantly greater when compared to normals (P= 0.038) or OSAC (P=0.01) groups (using Mann-Whitney U test). Mean CE percentage staining of HSP 70 in SCS, normals & OSC were 73.3 + 22.2 %, 50.3 + 34.1% &22.0 + 7.8%, respectively. Again, HSP 70 expression in SCS was found to be significantly greater in comparison to OSC (P= 0.013, Mann-Whitney U test). There was no difference in HSP 70 expression between normal & OSC. Mean CE heights were significantly raised in SCS (63.8 + 9.0 µm) compared to controls (44.7 + 11.2 µm) (P=0.003, two-tailed unpaired t test).Conclusions: Both PAR 2 & HSP 70 proteins are significantly up-regulated in SCS, in the presence of elevation of CE heights. This data suggest that both the physical and immunological character of the CE are significantly altered in SCS. These changes may have an important role in the pathogenesis in Allergic Eye Disease

Deterministic Price Setting Rules to Guarantee Profitability of Unbundling in the Airline Industry

Unbundling the traditional airfare is one of the airline industry’s practices to generate ancillary revenue in its struggle for profitability. However, unbundling might just as well negatively affect profit. In this paper deterministic price setting rules are established to guarantee profitability of unbundling irrespective of what product is unbundled. By comparing unbundling to a conventional price change, the least profitable scenarios of unbundling can be solved using the economic principle of price elasticity. The solution can be optimized dichotomously for profitability – profit guaranteed versus not guaranteed – by setting the unbundled prices such that the least profitable scenarios would still be profitable; profitability would then be guaranteed for any other scenario. The price setting rules this method renders are incorporated in a decision tree model and corresponding procedure for airline managers. As opposed to what customer research can produce, the model and corresponding procedure are generally applicable.Control & OperationsAerospace Engineerin