Oxidative events involving band 3 (Anion Exchanger 1) have been associated with RBC (red blood cell) removal through binding of NAbs (naturally occurring antibodies); however, the underlying mechanism has been only partially characterized. In addition to inducing direct membrane protein oxidative modification, oxidative treatment specifically triggers the phosphorylation of band 3 tyrosine residues. The present study reports that diamide, a thiol group oxidant, induces disulfide cross-linking of poorly glycosylated band 3 and that the oligomerized band 3 fraction is selectively tyrosine phosphorylated both in G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)-deficient and control RBCs. This phenomenon is irreversible in G6PD-deficient RBCs, whereas it is temporarily limited in control RBCs. Diamide treatment caused p72 Syk phosphorylation and translocation to the membrane. Diamide also induced p72 Syk co-immunoprecipitation with aggregated band 3. Moreover, following size-exclusion separation of Triton X-100-extracted membrane proteins, Syk was found only in the high-molecular-mass fraction containing oligomerized/phosphorylated band 3. Src family inhibitors efficiently abrogated band 3 tyrosine phosphorylation, band 3 clustering and NAbs binding to the RBC surface, suggesting a causal relationship between these events. Experiments performed with the non-permeant cross-linker BS(3) (bis-sulfosuccinimidyl-suberate) showed that band 3 tyrosine phosphorylation enhances its capability to form large aggregates. The results of the present study suggest that selective tyrosine phosphorylation of oxidized band 3 by Syk may play a role in the recruitment of oxidized band 3 in large membrane aggregates that show a high affinity to NAbs, leading to RBC removal from the circulation.

Objectives-By using proteomics we isolated and identified proteins that were expressed/retained in stable and unstable human carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques.Methods-The criteria for plaque instability were the presence of a thin fibrous cap or fissured cap covering the foamy or necrotic core, and the presence of overt, hemorrhagic, ulcerated or thrombotic plaques. Proteins were extracted from finely minced endarterectomy specimens (19 stable, 29 unstable plaques) and separated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Coomassie Blue-stained gels were analysed using PD-Quest software.Results-A total of 57 distinct spots corresponding to 33 different proteins were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using the NCBI database. Most of the spots were present in both types of extracts, although significantly (p<0.05) differing in abundance between them. Compared to stable plaque, unstable ones showed reduced abundance of: protective enzymes SOD3 and GST, small heat shock proteins HSP27 and HSP20, annexin A10, and Rho GDI. In unstable plaques the more abundant proteins were: ferritin light subunit, SOD 2 and fibrinogen fragment D. For fibrinogen fragment D, the increased levels in unstable versus stable plaques was confirmed by Western blot analysis.Conclusions-Since many of the differentially expressed proteins are known to have a functional role in inflammation and oxidative stress, we speculate that they may be involved in events relating to plaque stability.

© F e r r a t a S t o r t i F o u n d a t i o ndifferent genetic and clinical status provided new insights into the pathogenic role of circulating MP and possible interventions to control their amount in thalassemia. MethodsUnless otherwise stated, all materials were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA. Additional information about the methods are provided in the Online Supplementary Data. Treatment of red blood cellsVenous blood was drawn from 12 healthy individuals, eight non-splenectomized TI patients and six splenectomized TI patients. All subjects provided written, informed consent before entering the study. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki.Clinical analyses were performed by routine laboratory tests at the Policlinico Hospital (Milan, Italy). Blood anti-coagulated with heparin was stored in citrate-phosphate-dextrose with adenine (CPDA-1) prior to its use. RBC were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS: 137mM NaCl, 2.7mM KCl, 8.1mM K 2 HPO 4 , 1.5mM KH 2 PO 4 , pH 7.4) containing glucose 5 mM to obtain packed RBC.To stimulate HMC formation, RBC from healthy donors were suspended at a hematocrit of 30% and incubated with different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mM) of phenylhydrazine at 37 °C for 4 h. To test the antioxidant effect in MP release we incubated 200 μM of 2-mercaptoethanol in the presence of 1 mM phenylhydrazine. When necessary, RBC were pretreated with Syk kinase inhibitors (10 μM Syk inhibitors II and 10 μM Syk inhibitors IV, Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany), for 1 h at 37 °C in the dark. Each reaction was terminated by three washes with PBS-glucose. For all protocols described, untreated controls were processed identically except that the stimulant/inducer was omitted from the incubation. Red blood cell membrane preparationStandard hypotonic membranes were prepared, as previously described, 20 and stored frozen at -80°C until use. Membrane protein content was quantified using the DC Protein assay (Biorad, Hercules, CA, USA). Analysis of microparticlesThe MP in plasma were analyzed by flow cytometry using a modification of a previously described method:22 25 μL of plasma diluted 1:1 with PBS-glucose 5mM were analyzed using anti-CD41 (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) and anti-glycophorin-A (Dako, Denmark), both diluted 1:10. Assay of hemichromesHMC were quantified by measuring heme absorbance (Abs) using the following equation:HMC= -133xAbs577 -114xAbs630 + 233xAbs560, and expressed as nMoles/mL of solubilized membranes. 23 Microparticle isolationTo induce MP release in vitro, RBC from each volunteer and phenylhydrazine-treated RBC in PBS (30% hematocrit) were incubated as previously described. 24 Electrophoresis and immunoblottingMembrane and MP proteins were solubilized in Laemmli buffer 25 under reducing [2% (w/v) dithiothreitol] or non-reducing conditions at a volume ratio of 1:1. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electropho...

Objective: To investigate a possible correlation between final visual acuity and the presence at baseline of various systemic and local (orbital/ocular) signs in patients affected by indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. Methods: 35 cases of traumatic optic neuropathy were examined retrospectively and 13 variables were tested. Univariate analysis with "no recovery of visual acuity" as the primary outcome was performed. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Fisher's exact test was used for two variables to test differences between proportions. Results: Four variables showed a significantly increased risk for no recovery of visual acuity: presence of blood within the posterior ethmoidal cells (RR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.04); age over 40 years (RR = 1.79, 1.07 to 2.99); loss of consciousness associated with traumatic optic neuropathy (RR = 2.21, 1.17 to 4.16); and absence of recovery after 48 hours of steroid treatment (p < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Recovery documented at the first follow up visit after treatment was significantly associated with recovery at the last follow up visit (p < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Conclusions: These four negative prognostic signs in patients affected by traumatic optic neuropathy may be useful in predicting the visual outcome in patients developing visual loss after head trauma and in deciding on the need for surgical treatment.

Aims-To identify and determine antibiotic susceptibility of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from patients with chronic blepharitis, purulent conjunctivitis, and suppurative keratitis. Methods-A retrospective review of all culture positive cases of chronic blepharitis, purulent conjunctivitis, and suppurative keratitis between July 1995 and December 1996 was performed. Cases in which CoNS were the sole isolates were analysed. Species identification was performed by using a commercially available standardised biochemical test system. Antibiotic susceptibility to penicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and teicoplanin was determined by agar disc diVusion (KirbyBauer method). Teicoplanin resistance was confirmed by agar dilution. Results-42 Staphylococcus epidermidis, four S warneri, three S capitis, two S hominis, one each of S xylosus, S simulans, S equorum, and S lugdunensis were identified. 37 CoNS were penicillin resistant, 12 gentamicin resistant, 28 tetracycline resistant, 18 erythromycin resistant, four ciprofloxacin resistant, and one teicoplanin resistant (MIC, 32 µg/ml). In total, 16 strains were resistant to three or more antibiotics. Conclusion-Species of CoNS apart from S epidermidis may be isolated from patients with corneal and external infection. Antibiotic susceptibility of CoNS is unpredictable and multiresistant strains are common. As a result, antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed in all cases of clinically significant ocular infections caused by CoNS. (Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:771-773)