Heterogeneous pattern of retinal nerve fiber layer in multiple sclerosis. High resolution optical coherence tomography: potential and limitations

Background

Recently the reduction of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) was suggested to be associated with diffuse axonal damage in the whole CNS of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, several points are still under discussion. (1) Is high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) required to detect the partly very subtle RNFL changes seen in MS patients? (2) Can a reduction of RNFL be detected in all MS patients, even in early disease courses and in all MS subtypes? (3) Does an optic neuritis (ON) or focal lesions along the visual pathways, which are both very common in MS, limit the predication of diffuse axonal degeneration in the whole CNS? The purpose of our study was to determine the baseline characteristics of clinical definite relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS) MS patients with high resolution OCT technique.

Methodology

Forty-two RRMS and 17 SPMS patients with and without history of uni- or bilateral ON, and 59 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were analysed prospectively with the high resolution spectral-domain OCT device (SD-OCT) using the Spectralis 3.5mm circle scan protocol with locked reference images and eye tracking mode. Furthermore we performed tests for visual and contrast acuity and sensitivity (ETDRS, Sloan and Pelli-Robson-charts), for color vision (Lanthony D-15), the Humphrey visual field and visual evoked potential testing (VEP).

Principal Findings

All 4 groups (RRMS and SPMS with or without ON) showed significantly reduced RNFL globally, or at least in one of the peripapillary sectors compared to age-/sex-matched healthy controls. In patients with previous ON additional RNFL reduction was found. However, in many RRMS patients the RNFL was found within normal range. We found no correlation between RNFL reduction and disease duration (range 9–540 months).

Conclusions

RNFL baseline characteristics of RRMS and SPMS are heterogeneous (range from normal to markedly reduced levels).     

Inhibitors of unactivated p38 MAP kinase

Inhibition of the p38 map kinase pathway has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The first class of potent p38 kinase inhibitors was the pyridinylimidazole compounds from SKB. Since then several pyridinylimidazole-based compounds have been shown to inhibit activated p38 kinase in vitro and in vivo. We have developed a novel series of pyridinylimidazole-based compounds, which potently inhibit the p38 pathway by binding to unactivated p38 kinase and only weakly inhibiting activated p38 kinase activity in vitro.     

Metal binding by bacteria from uranium mining waste piles and its technological applications

Uranium mining waste piles, heavily polluted with radionuclides and other toxic metals, are a reservoir for bacteria that have evolved special strategies to survive in these extreme environments. Understanding the mechanisms of bacterial adaptation may enable the development of novel bioremediation strategies and other technological applications. Cell isolates of Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 from a uranium mining waste pile in Germany are able to accumulate high amounts of toxic metals such as U, Cu, Pb, Al, and Cd as well as precious metals. Some of these metals, i.e. U, Cu, Pd(II), Pt(II) and Au(III), are also bound by the highly orderd paracrystalline proteinaceous surface layer (S-layer) that envelopes the cells of this strain. These special capabilities of the cells and the S-layer proteins of B. sphaericus JG-A12 are highly interesting for the clean-up of uranium contaminated waste waters, for the recovery of precious metals from electronic wastes, and for the production of metal nanoclusters. The fabricated nanoparticles are promising for the development of novel catalysts. This work reviews the molecular biology of the S-layer of the strain JG-A12 and the S-layer dependent interactions of the bacterial cells with metals. It presents future perspectives for their application in bioremediation and nanotechnology.     

Characterization of esterases from Cucurbita pepo cv. "Eskandrani"

Two of the six esterases identified in Cucurbita pepo cv. "Eskandrani" were purified to homogeneity using two chromatography steps: anion exchange and gel filtration. The molecular weights of C. pepo esterases EIc and EII were 50,000 +/- 1500 and 68,000 +/- 1900 Da from gel filtration and 47,000 and 66,000 Da from SDS/PAGE, respectively, suggesting a monomeric structure for both enzymes. Esterases EIc and EII had K(m) values of 1.22 and 1.56 mM and pH optima at 9.0 and 8.0, respectively. The substrate specificity of C. pepo esterases EIc and EII were determined for a number of p-nitrophenyl esters, where their affinity toward these substrates were decreased as carbon atom number increased. Esterases EIc and EII had the same temperature optima, 40 degrees C. Thermal stability studies of esterases EIc and EII indicated that half maximal activities of EIc and EII esterases were reached at 55 degrees C and 50 degrees C, while they lost 45%, 51% and 70%, 77% of their activities after 30 and 90 min of incubation at 40 degrees C, respectively. The effect of different metal cations and inhibitors were examined. The inhibition studies revealed that the active sites of the two esterases contain serine and cysteine residues. The characteristics of C. pepo esterases are closely similar to those of microbial esterases used in food processing and food industry.     

Comparison of the potential of Ficus sycomorus latex and horseradish peroxidases in the decolorization of synthetic and natural dyes

The aim of this study was to compare the potential of Ficus sycomorus latex peroxidase (POL) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the decolorization of a wide spectrum of eight synthetic dyes and two natural dyes, hibiscus flower color and pomegranate juice. We study for the first time the decolorization of natural dyes enzymatically. The highest decolorization percent was reported at 20 mg/l for all dyes treated with POL and HRP. Both the enzymes had lower decolorization % for azo-carmin (30–33%). During decolorization treatment, both natural dyes and titan yellow formed precipitates which settled down and were removed by centrifugation. The enhancement of the decolorization % of the most tested dyes by treatment with POL and HRP was reported in the presence of some redox mediators. The rate of decolorization was enhanced by increasing the time and the most significant changes were observed during the first 6 h of incubation. One hundred percent enhancement in decolorization was reported for azo-carmine in the presence of histidine and α-naphthol as redox mediators. A few of redox mediators caused no significant effect or decreases the decolorization % for a little number of tested dyes. The decolorization of dyes by POL and HRP in the presence of redox mediators appeared without the formation of precipitate. A similar decolorization % for all the tested dyes by POL and HRP was detected. The data suggested that the peroxidase/mediator system was an effective biocatalyst for the decolorization of synthetic and natural dyes, and POL could be used as a potential option for the application of dye decolorization.