Metastatic endophthalmitis caused by Clostridium perfringens

A case of metastatic endophthalmitis due to Clostridium perfringens originating from the biliary tract is reported. The grave visual prognosis and the importance of early detection and treatment of the primary source of infection are emphasised.

Mental and physical health of spouse caregivers: The role of personality

Although personal resources of caregivers, such as coping skills and social support, have been shown to be important in understanding caregiver stress and health outcomes, personality traits have not previously been considered. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the personality traits of neuroticism and dispositional optimism and mental and physical health outcomes. It was predicted that personality would have direct effects, and indirect effects through perceived stress, on health outcomes. Participants were spouse caregivers of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Results showed that neuroticism and optimism were significantly related to mental and physical health. Furthermore, neuroticism had significant direct effects on all of the health outcomes, and substantial indirect effects, through perceived stress, on mental health outcomes. Optimism showed stronger indirect than direct effects on all health outcomes. These findings demonstrate the importance of including personality of the caregiver in theoretical and empirical models of the caregiving process.

Sentinel surveillance of HIV infection among new inmates and implications for policies of corrections facilities

Seroprevalence surveys of incoming inmates provide useful sentinel information on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rates among groups that practice HIV-associated high-risk behaviors. In addition, such data are beneficial to corrections officials in the formulation of institutional policies to prevent HIV infection. Inmates entering the Michigan corrections system from December 1987 to March 1988 participated in blind, anonymous serosurveys for HIV infection. Eight of 802 entering inmates (1.0 percent) were seropositive; most seropositive persons reported intravenous drug use. The most common risk behaviors reported by study participants were intravenous drug use (20.0 percent), multiple sexual partners (37.1 percent), and infrequent (that is, never or seldom) use of condoms (82.6 percent). Women reported the highest rates of intravenous drug use (35.1 percent) and needle-sharing (19.4 percent). Results from this study indicate that in spite of wide-spread HIV-associated risk behaviors, the extent of HIV-seropositivity among incoming inmates in Michigan is relatively low. Such data suggest that there is still time to impact the course of the AIDS epidemic among high-risk groups in States where the prevalence of HIV infection is relatively low. The data also indicate that the potential for HIV spread in correctional facilities is noteworthy and that HIV prevention education and substance abuse treatment services are needed in corrections facilities.

Colocalization of fibroblast growth factor binding sites with extracellular matrix components in normal and keratoconus corneas

Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, aFGF) binding sites were determined in frozen sections of normal and keratoconus corneas. After incubation with I-125 radiolabelled growth factors, corneal binding sites were revealed by autoradiography. The growth factors were localized mainly to Descemet's membrane and to the epithelial basement membrane. FGF binding sites were generally similar in normal and keratoconus corneas. The binding specificity was demonstrated by competitive inhibition experiments with an excess of unlabelled growth factors. The binding sites were sensitive to pretreatment of the corneal sections with heparitinase. We have attributed FGF's basement membrane affinity to one of its constituents, proteoheparan sulfate. Proteoheparan sulfate, laminin, collagen type IV, and fibronectin were all revealed by immunofluorescent techniques. While keratoconus cornea stroma had less laminin but more fibronectin than normal corneas the main difference lied in type IV collagen which was overexpressed in keratoconus epithelium.

In vivo binding of topically applied human bFGF on rabbit corneal epithelial wound

We present the results of the first evaluation of human placenta extracted basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a rabbit corneal epithelium wound-healing model. Healing dose-response experiments after selective epithelial wounding with iodine vapors demonstrated that bFGF accelerated the repair process in a saturable manner. Corneal binding of topically applied 125I-labeled bFGF was investigated using radioassay and autoradiographic techniques. Basic FGF was shown to bind specifically to denuded epithelial basement membrane in a very stable fashion and not to the intact epithelium. No transfer of the topical bFGF to the aqueous humor or any intraocular structure could be observed. The stability of this interaction was further demonstrated by reextracting and characterizing the labeled factor from treated corneas. The specificity of the fixation was documented by in vivo topical competition with unlabeled bFGF or heparin. We propose that bFGF-basement membrane interactions play a role in corneal wound healing.