Dietary supplementation with non-digestible isomaltooligosaccharide and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZDY2013 ameliorates DSS-induced colitis via modulating intestinal barrier integrity and the gut microbiota.

Non-digestible oligosaccharides have attracted attention due to their critical role in maintaining the balance of a host's gut microbiota. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZDY2013 was isolated from traditional fermented acid beans, which could metabolize many complex carbohydrates and had intestinal immunomodulatory effects. In our study, the ameliorative effect of a combination of non-digestible isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) and L. plantarum ZDY2013 was investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. The results showed that IMO could specifically promote L. plantarum ZDY2013 intestinal colonization after five days of gavage and ameliorate the symptoms of colitis (survival rate, DAI score, colon length, etc.) as well as colon tissue integrity. IMO combined with L. plantarum ZDY2013 increased the levels of intestinal tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and claudin) and mucin (MUC-2), followed by alleviation of inflammatory responses (decreased the expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increased the expression of IL-10 and IL-22) and the level of oxidative stress (decreased the level of COX-2 and iNOS and increased the expression of T-AOC and SOD). Furthermore, the combination increased the diversity of the gut microbiota and modulated the microbial structural component (decreased the abundance of Escherichia and Helicobacter and increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and SCFA-producing related species). Taken together, our results suggested that the consumption of IMO and L. plantarum ZDY2013 could improve the symptoms of colitis in mice by improving the intestinal barrier along with regulating the composition and metabolites of the gut microbiota.

The photopic negative response of the flash electroretinogram in multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To use the photopic electroretinogram (ERG) to evaluate retinal function in eyes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without a history of optic neuritis (ON) and to compare the functional and structural status of the inner retina. METHODS: Full-field ERG responses to brief red flashes (0.04-2.8 cd · s/m²) on a rod-saturating blue background were recorded from 51 MS patients and 33 age-matched control subjects. In patients, perimetry was performed and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (SLP). MS eyes were separated into groups: "ON >6" months (n = 25), "ON <6" months (n = 29), and "no ON" (n = 33) based on positive or negative history of ON and time since the last episode. Thirteen ON<6 eyes were re-evaluated 1 year later. RESULTS: PhNR amplitudes were lower in ON>6, ON<6, and no-ON eyes (mean ± SD, 17.3 ± 7.6, 16.0 ± 6.5, and 23.8 ± 9.3 µV, respectively), than in control eyes (29.8 ± 6.5 µV; P < 0.001) for a standard stimulus of 1.42 cd · s/m²; a- and b-wave amplitudes were unaffected. PhNR amplitudes correlated with visual fields mean deviation (MD) in ON>6 (r² = 0.43; P < 0.001) and no-ON eyes (r² = 0.10; P < 0.05), with similar results for weaker stimuli. PhNR amplitudes correlated with RNFLT in ON>6 eyes: OCT (r² = 0.52; P < 0.0001) and SLP (r² = 0.51; P < 0.01); and in no-ON eyes, OCT (r² = 0.21; P < 0.01) and SLP (r² = 0.17; P < 0.05). ON<6 amplitudes did not correlate significantly with other measures, but increased after 1 year by 5.1 ± 3.1 µV (P < 0.001), visual fields MD increased by 1.8 ± 2.3 dB (P < 0.05), and RNFL loss persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Photopic ERG PhNR amplitudes in MS patients are significantly reduced in eyes with and without a history of ON.

Comparison of two drug combinations for dilating dark irides.

PURPOSE: Two combinations of dilation drops [1% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylephrine (TP) vs. 1% tropicamide and 1% cyclopentolate (TC)] were compared to determine time course and magnitude of dilation for patients with dark irides. METHODS: Forty-five subjects, aged 4 to 32 years, with dark irides were enrolled. Photographs were taken before dilation and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 60 min after instillation of drops. Subjects received TP in one eye and TC in the fellow eye, with eyes randomized to the combination received. An examiner masked to drug combination and time used digital analysis to calculate pupil diameter for each photograph. TP and TC were compared to determine the time to reach both 6- and 7-mm pupil diameter and the percentage of subjects reaching these diameters. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of pupils reached 6 mm with either combination; however, 80% reached 7 mm with TP and only 58% with TC (p = 0.0062, McNemars exact test). Time at which 50% of pupils reached 6 mm was not significantly different between drug combinations (TP 11 min vs. TC 12 min, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis). However, time at which 50% reached 7 mm was statistically and clinically significant (TP 32 min vs. TC 52 min, p = 0.0325). For subjects < or =10 years vs. >10 years, there was no significant difference in time at which 50% reached a 6- or 7-mm pupil with TP or TC; however, in every case, the younger group took longer. CONCLUSIONS: A 6-mm pupil dilation may be obtained with either TP or TC; however, more subjects achieved a 7-mm pupil with TP than TC and had a faster time course to attain that size.

The effect of strabismus on a young child's selection of a playmate.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of strabismus on a child's playmate selection. METHODS: Photographs of orthotropic children aged 3-6 years were altered to simulate various magnitudes of strabismus. The pictures were arranged in pairs, one orthotropic child and one with strabismus. One hundred children aged 3-8 years viewed the photographs and were asked to select a playmate from each pair. RESULTS: Chi-squared analysis found 23 children showed evidence that strabismus influenced their choices (p < 0.07). Of these 23, 12 preferred playmates with strabismus and 11 preferred orthotropic playmates. Chi-squared analysis of all subjects combined found decisions were not based on the magnitude or direction of strabismus. CONCLUSIONS: As only 11% of the children consistently selected against playmates with strabismus, and about the same percentage preferred playmates with strabismus (12%), the presence of strabismus does not appear to be a significant factor in peer acceptance in this age group.

The effect of interleukin-1 on cytokine gene expression by human corneal epithelial cells.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the pattern of cytokine gene expression by human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1). Primary cultured HCEC (P-HCEC) or SV40 transformed HCEC (SV40-HCEC) were treated for 6 hr with serum-free growth-media alone or with recombinant human IL-1beta or IL-1alpha (10 ng ml(-1)). 33P labeled cDNA was generated from total RNA, then hybridized to a human cytokine expression array. An autoradiograph was generated for each experimental condition and results analysed semi-quantitatively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect mRNA for IL-8, growth related oncogene-beta (GRO-beta), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and Ephrin A5. P-HCEC and SV40-HCEC demonstrated comparable cytokine profiles. For P-HCEC (n=2) the expression of 35 genes was upregulated or only detectable following IL-1beta treatment whereas the expression of nine genes was downregulated or undetectable after IL-1beta treatment. In SV40-HCEC (n=3), the expression of 48 genes was upregulated or only detectable following IL-1beta treatment and the expression of 10 genes was downregulated or undetectable after IL-1beta treatment. Some genes that demonstrated increased expression included cadherin-5, ICAM-1, GRO-alpha, GRO-beta, GRO-gamma, Activin A (bA subunit), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8. Genes that showed decreased expression included the chemokine receptor-CXCR-4, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), c-kit ligand, Ephrin A5, G-protein coupled receptor RDC-1 and FGF family FGFR2. Bayesian analysis of the SV40-HCEC data (n=3) revealed the expression of 15 genes that were significantly (p<0.05) differentially regulated. Within these 15 genes, the expression of chemokines (GRO-alpha, GRO-beta, IL-8), fibroblast growth factor 13 and the cytokine IL-6 were the most upregulated, while ephrin A5 and chemokine receptor-4 were the most downregulated. IL-1alpha treatment (n=1 P-HCEC; n=1 SV40-HCEC) produced results very similar to IL-1beta treatment. RT-PCR revealed differential regulation of IL-8, GRO-beta, ICAM-1 and ephrin A5 in accordance with gene array data. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that IL-1 treatment of HCEC differentially regulates the expression of other cytokine and related genes, thus adding to the body of evidence that IL-1 is a major mediator of ocular surface inflammatory reactions. Since the expression of a large number of genes can be studied simultaneously, gene array studies such as these offers the advantage of understanding global changes in response to a specific stimulus. Thus our study provides insight in to the ocular surface response in conditions of inflammation and corneal wound healing where the levels of IL-1 are known to be increased.

The intraexaminer and interexaminer repeatability of the alternate cover test using different prism neutralization endpoints.

PURPOSE: The alternate cover test (ACT) measures the magnitude of a deviation, but different prism endpoints may be used. This study investigated the intraexaminer and interexaminer repeatability of the ACT using two different prism neutralization endpoints. METHODS: To determine repeatability of two prism neutralization endpoints (first neutral and midpoint of reversal), two experienced examiners measured near point phoria on 72 subjects. Measurements were repeated with examiners masked to each other and the first results. Paired t-tests were used to assess interexaminer and intraexaminer repeatability and the agreement between different prism endpoints for each examiner within each session. Signed and absolute differences in phoria magnitude were calculated. RESULTS: For two different test sessions with the same examiner using the same prism neutralization endpoint (intraexaminer repeatability), none were significant except examiner 1 using first neutral (p = 0.038). Average signed differences (ASD's) between two test sessions for each comparison were <0.5 prism diopter (pd) with SD's of