There is evidence that locWG is a long-term disease stage or phenotype (5% of all patients with WG), 46% of whom are ANCA-positive. LocWG is characterised by destructive and/or space-consuming lesions associated with high relapse rates (46%) and local damage.

The overall response rate of refractory GPA to RTX was high (61.3% complete remission or improvement). Response rates of vasculitic manifestations were excellent; failure of response/progress was mostly due to granulomatous manifestations, especially orbital masses. Relapse rates were high (40%) despite maintenance treatment.

This study concerns the long-term prognosis of lacunar infarcts. We report the analysis of our hospital-based series of 178 patients consecutively admitted for a lacunar syndrome due to a lacunar infarct diagnosed with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Demographic data, medical history, vascular risk factors, and imaging data were recorded for each patient. The follow-up was 35 +/- 22 months. The lacunar syndrome was pure motor hemiparesis in 69 patients (39%), ataxic hemiparesis in 45 patients (25.4%), pure sensory stroke in 15 patients (8.5%), sensorimotor stroke in 14 patients (7.9%), and miscellaneous syndrome in 34 patients (19.2%). The 4-year survival rate was 80 +/- 4% and the 4-year survival rate without recurrent stroke was 85 +/- 3.5%. Using Cox proportional-hazards analysis, the predictors of death were age (P < .02), diabetes mellitus (P < .05), and cigarette smoking (P < .05). We did not find any predictors of recurrence. After 1 year, 74% of the patients had mild or no disability. Using logistic regression analysis, the predictive factors of disability were age more than 70 years (P < .01), diabetes (P < .01), history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (P < .05), and type of lacunar syndrome (P < .01). Imaging data, number of lacunes, and presence of leukoaraiosis were not predictors of outcome. Our study suggests that with a high survival rate, a low recurrence rate, and a relatively good functional recovery, lacunar infarcts have a relatively favorable prognosis.

Long-term storage of amniotic membrane in cell culture media with 50% glycerol does not significantly impair sterility, histology, or biological properties of AM.

Aims: To evaluate the changes of morphological and functional characteristics of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid perfusion culture during cultivation. Methods: PorcineRPE-choroid tissue was cultivated in a perfusion tissue culture system. After the indicated times, histology, immunolocalization of collagen IV and von Willebrand factor, RPE cell viability with calcein-AM, TUNEL assay and occludin immunolocalization of RPE cells were examined. The tissue was treated with selective RPE treatment laser after different time periods and the wound healing response was characterized. Vascular endothelial growth factor secretion was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: On day 8, prominent morphological degenerative changes of RPE cells were observed in histology. According to the immunohistochemistry for collagen IV, the Bruch’s membrane did not display any obvious decomposition until day 8. Von Willebrand factor staining decreased during cultivation, especially at the choriocapillaris. Calcein-AM staining and TUNEL assay displayed the increase of apoptotic changes in only a minority of the cells on day 4, but in many cells on day 8. Occludin delocalization was observed on day 8. Selective RPE treatment laser-produced wounds were completely closed by monolayer RPE when wounded on fresh and 3-day-old cultures, but not when wounded on 6-day-old cultures. Vascular endothelial growth factor secretion was stable between days 2 and 5, but increased after that. Conclusion: Under the stated culture perfusion conditions, porcine RPE-choroid tissue was suitable for experimentation up to 5 days of maintenance.