Background
Environmental exposure chambers (EECs) have been used extensively to study allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Few studies have been published using EECs in conjunctivitis only, and none have used conjunctival allergen challenge as a selection criterion. The present study validated ALYATEC EEC in allergic conjunctivitis to birch pollen.
Methods
Sixteen patients with a positive conjunctival allergen challenge (CAC) were exposed to 60 ng/m
3
of Bet v 1 in an EEC on two consecutive days for a maximum of 4 h to validate EEC exposure to birch. Reproducibility was tested among seven of the patients. A conjunctival positive scoring during the CAC and the EEC exposure was defined as a Total Ocular Symptom Score (TOSS) ≥ 5.
Results
Fifty percent of patients had a conjunctival positive scoring during first exposure and 75% during second exposure. The mean time to a conjunctival response was 81.2 ± 33.9 min and 101.6 ± 57 (
P
> 0.05) during first and second exposure, respectively. No difference in TOSS occurred between the two exposures. The time necessary to obtain a positive response during the CAC was significantly shorter than with the EEC. The estimated quantity of Bet v 1 inducing a positive response was 0.07 ± 0.03 ng (exposure 1), 0.07 ± 0.07 ng (exposure 2), 980 ± 784 ng (CAC). Conjunctival positive scoring and quantity of Bet v 1 was reproducible in all six EEC exposures.
Conclusions
Early conjunctival responses induced by birch allergen exposures in EEC were different than from those identified with direct instillation during CAC. EEC appears to be closer to natural exposure than CAC.
Background
Serum thymidine kinase 1 (sTK1) activity is closely correlated with DNA synthesis.
Objectives
Evaluate sTK1 activity as a biomarker for treatment response and early detection of relapse in dogs with lymphoma.
Animals
Ninety‐seven client‐owned dogs with naive or relapsed lymphoma and 23 healthy dogs.
Methods
Prospective study. Serum TK1 activity measured by refined ELISA‐based method (DiviTum assay, Biovica International) before treatment, at clinical response, and every 4 weeks until relapse or last follow‐up.
Results
Serum TK1 activity was ≤20 Du/L in 96% (22/23) of healthy dogs. Pretreatment sTK1 activity was >20 Du/L in 88% (85/97) dogs with lymphoma. At clinical response, sTK1 activity was significantly lower in dogs with complete (CR, n = 36) versus partial (PR, n = 29) response (
P
< .0001). Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of sTK1 activity for detecting nonfully responders were 76% and 100%, respectively, with cutoff of 119.5 Du/L (AUC, 0.90; 95%‐CI, 0.81‐0.98;
P
< .0001). In dogs with CR, a 5‐fold increase in sTK1 activity at a 4‐week interval predicted relapse at the subsequent 4‐week assessment with a Se 50% and Sp 94% (AUC, 0.72; 95%‐CI, 0.55‐0.90;
P
= .02). An increase of sTK1 activity (>2.7‐fold value measured at clinical response) predicted relapse at subsequent 4‐week assessment with a Se 61% and Sp 88% (AUC, 0.79; 95%‐CI, 0.64‐0.95;
P
= .004).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Monitoring sTK1 activity could help to detect complete responders and early disease progression in dogs with lymphoma.
To transmit the information inside the cell, one possibility is the action of an enzyme called kinase that phosphorylates other proteins. To study these enzymes, chemical compound synthesis was needed to know the function and the mechanism of activation. The major difficulty is creating a specific molecule for one kinase. In this study, we test the action of Rho-kinase inhibitors (HA-1077 and Y-32885) on protein kinase C (PKC) in the respiratory burst in the human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. We have shown that these compounds could inhibit the anion superoxide production. To prove their action on PKC, we have shown a decrease of binding of a specific ligand (phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate) with each inhibitor. During its activation, PKC was translocated from the cytoplasm to the plasmic membrane. We have also shown an inhibition of this translocation, proving an inhibition of PKC by HA-1077 and Y-32885.
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