Therapies in Development for Non-Infectious Uveitis

Uveitis represents a spectrum of diseases characterized by ocular inflammation that leads to significant visual loss if left untreated. Adequate, long-term control of inflammation with minimal systemic and local adverse effects is the preferred strategy for treating patients with uveitis. Pharmacotherapy for uveitis consists mainly of corticosteroids in various formulations such as topical, local, intraocular and systemic. However, monotherapy with corticosteroids is often unacceptable due to serious adverse effects on various organ systems. There exist limitations with the use of steroid-sparing systemic immunosuppressive agents, as these medications may have significant adverse events and a narrow therapeutic window. Thus, newer molecular targets that act on various steps of the inflammatory pathway appear to be promising emerging strategies for treating uveitis. Specially designed monoclonal antibodies in development can potentially halt the inflammatory processes resulting in remission of the disease. In the index review, novel molecular agents and biological therapies that have shown promising efficacy and safety data in preclinical and clinical studies have been summarized. In addition, new drug delivery systems that may ensure high intraocular therapeutic levels of pharmacologic agents have been highlighted.

Amoxycillin in the control of furunculosis in Atlantic salmon parr

The efficacy of amoxycillin in the control of laboratory induced Aeromonas salmonicida infection in Atlantic salmon parr was investigated. When given in the diet at a dose rate of 80 mg per kg bodyweight it was effective against both a moderate and severe challenge (with mortality rates in untreated groups of 75 per cent and 45 per cent). At 40 mg per kg it was effective against the moderate challenge only. The plasma levels in these regimens were 1.25 micrograms per ml and 0.3 to 0.6 micrograms per ml and the minimum inhibitory concentration of the challenge strain of A salmonicida was 0.6 micrograms per ml. The potential of the Charm radiobioassay system in detecting antibiotic residues in fish tissue was studied. The level of amoxycillin in muscle and bone from fish in mid-treatment at 80 mg per kg was 0.32 micrograms per ml. After a 12 day withdrawal period at 18 degrees C no residue was detected within the 0.005 micrograms per ml limit of this test.

Motile aeromonas infection of striped (grey) mullet Mugil cephalus

Infection of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) with Aeromonas hydrophila results in an acute septicemic disease. The disease can be experimentally induced by intramuscular injection, skin or gill scarification or by the oral route using pellets purposely seeded with bacteria. The organism was isolated from the blood 1-2 days after infection and from all organs 24 hr or longer after infection. The disease is characterized by early inflammatory and proliferative changes and later necrotic changes. Enteritis and hepatic necrosis are constant findings in aeromonad disease of M. cephalus but surface lesions are not pathognomic for these infections in mullet. Death of infected fish may be attributed to bacterial toxins which cause necrosis of parenchymal organs and soft tissue structure.

Studies on the physiological chemistry of the tibio-tarsal synovial fluid of healthy bovines

The physical properties, chemical composition and cytological content of the synovial fluid of healthy native breed cattle, obtained by tibio-tarsal arthrocentesis, was studied. Normally the synovial fluid of bovines is a clear, colourless or straw coloured, viscous, non-coagulable liquid with a normal mucin precipitate quality. The fluid is alkaline in reaction and with a lower specific gravity than serum. Bovine tibio-tarsal fluid exhibits no erythrocytes and presents a low leucocytic count which is dominated by lymphocytes and monocytes. Compared to bovine serum, synovial fluid contains almost the same levels of sugar, urea, creatinine and phosphorous; slightly lower calcium concentration and rather higher chlorides. The fluid is devoid of any traces of bilirubin. Young calves showed a significantly lower total leucocyte number, chloride level and sugar content and a higher calcium and inorganic phosphorous than bulls.