Immunohistochemical analysis of ocular platelet basic protein expression during infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Platelet basic protein (PBP) and several of its derivatives are known to express a wide range of biological characteristics. It is the precursor of connective tissue activating peptide (CTAP-III), beta thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and neutrophil activating peptide (NAP-2), which is the proteolytic derived end product. The temporal ocular expression of the chemokine PBP before and during corneal infection over several days by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined by immunohistochemistry. Prior to corneal infection, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the constitutive expression of PBP in the cornea, lens and retina. PBP expression was present in the corneal epithelium, stromal fibroblasts and endothelium. There was a temporal increase in PBP expression in the cornea after infection. The entire cornea exhibited extensive cellular infiltration by positive PBP staining infiltrating cells within 6 days post-infection. The cornea, lens and retina underwent extensive degradation within 5-6 days post-infection with some apparent selective increase in PBP staining in the lens and retina.

Effects of Prenatal Cocaine on Hearing, Vision, Growth, and Behaviora.

The illicit use of cocaine has increased dramatically over the last 10-12 years. There has been a corresponding increase in cocaine abuse among obstetric patients and in the number of "cocaine babies." According to some estimates, these children make up more than half of the drug-associated births. This problem is therefore a major public health concern. Consequently, our laboratory investigated the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on hearing, vision, growth, and exploratory/stress behavior. This chapter summarizes the literature on animals and humans on these topics and presents new observations from our laboratory. In terms of maternal toxicity, prenatal cocaine exposure causes hypertension, placental abruption, spontaneous abortion, poor pregnancy weight gain, and undernutrition secondary to appetite suppression. Some offspring effects include in utero growth retardation, cephalic hemorrhage, fetal edema, altered body composition, congenital malformations, and even pre- and postnatal death. The offspring can also exhibit a variety of behavioral, visual, hearing, and language disorders. Differential effects of animal strain and late gestational cocaine exposure are discussed. Comparisons are made between prenatal cocaine, the fetal alcohol syndrome, and the effects of prenatal undernutrition. Recommendations for clinical assessment and intervention are made.