RESUMO
Two interesting fungi were isolated from fluvial sediments collected in the North of Spain. They were morphologically related to the thermally dimorphic fungi of the family Ajellomycetaceae, but the analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA, and the domains D1 and D2 of the 28S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that they were different from all the species described in that family. They were accommodated in the new genus Emmonsiellopsis as E. coralliformis sp. nov. and E. terrestris sp. nov. The two species are distinguished mainly by the maximum temper-ature of growth (up to 33 °C for E. coralliformis and to 42 °C for E. terrestris), the dendritic mycelium of E. coralliformis and the conidial ornamentation (verrucose in E. coralliformis and spinulose in E. terrestris). In addition, the phylogenetic data demonstrated that Ajellomyces griseus also represents a new genus within the Ajellomycetaceae, namely Helicocarpus. This new genus is easily distinguished by the lack of asexual morph, the production of brownish gymnothecial ascomata and oblate to lenticular, sparingly pitted ascospores. The proposal of both new genera was confirmed by the analysis of actin gene sequences.
Assuntos
Onygenales/classificação , Onygenales/genética , Animais , DNA Fúngico/genética , DNA Ribossômico/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Micoses/microbiologia , Onygenales/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Onygenales/patogenicidade , Fenótipo , Filogenia , RNA Ribossômico/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Espanha , Esporos Fúngicos/citologiaRESUMO
Sporothrix luriei is a rare fungus causing sporotrichosis in humans. The virulence of this fungus was evaluated in a murine model of disseminated infection. Mice were challenged intravenously with two different inocula (2 × 10(5) and 2 × 10(7) CFU/animals) but only the highest one was able to kill the animals. Infected mice died between days 12 and 16, liver and spleen being the most affected organs. In the infected tissues, a massive infiltration of fungal cells and phagocytes were observed, but not the typical "eyeglass" cells described in infected human tissue.
Assuntos
Modelos Animais de Doenças , Sporothrix/patogenicidade , Esporotricose/microbiologia , Animais , Humanos , Fígado/microbiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Sporothrix/fisiologia , Esporotricose/patologia , VirulênciaRESUMO
This study was performed to assess the influence of age, sex, smoking, and contraceptive use on CYP2A6 activity. In the metabolism of caffeine, the conversion of 1,7 dimethylxanthine (17X) to 1,7 dimethiylurate (17U) is catalyzed primarily by CYP2A6. CYP2A6 phenotype was determined by the urinary ratio 17U:17X in the interval of 4-5 h after caffeine intake in 179 healthy white Spaniards (102 women and 76 men). There were 99 non-smokers and 80 smokers. Among women, 26 were taking oral contraceptives. The age was the most important predictive factor of CYP2A6 activity (P < 0.001) with older subjects having higher activity. The influence of the gender was more modest (P = 0.07) with women exhibiting borderline increased values of the CYP2A6 marker than men. Tobacco smoking did not affect CYP2A6 activity. However, the CYP2A6 marker resulted to be strongly related to the use of oral contraceptives. The women users of oral contraceptives had higher values of CYP2A6 marker than both women not taking oral contraceptives and men (P < 0.001 in both comparisons). The results indicate that age, oral contraceptive use, and possibly gender should be controlled in epidemiological studies dealing with CYP2A6 activity and its relationship with xenobiotics exposure and genetic or pathological factor.
Assuntos
Hidrocarboneto de Aril Hidroxilases/metabolismo , Anticoncepcionais Orais , Fumar , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Biomarcadores/urina , Cafeína/administração & dosagem , Citocromo P-450 CYP2A6 , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fenótipo , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Sexuais , Espanha , Teofilina/urina , Ácido Úrico/análogos & derivados , Ácido Úrico/urinaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence of PIN and Atypical Small Acinar Proliferation (ASAP) on first biopsy, the risk to find cancer on following biopsies and what is the importance given to this findings, analizing how frequently and how long after the initial finding this patients are rebiopsied. METHOD: We selected 6000 patients who underwent TRUS biopsy between 1994 and 2002. Patients with prior cancer diagnosis were not included. 861 of them underwent more than one biopsy, adding up to a total of 7127 biopsies. A descriptive study has been done including percentages and percentiles for qualitative variables, mean and median for continuous variables. RESULTS: Incidence of cancer on the first biopsy was 39,1%. PIN and ASAP are stable or slightly increase from 2 and 2,1% respectively on the first biopsy to more than 6% on the fourth and fifth ones. Mean time between biopsies when ASAP or PIN are the initial findings is 180 +/- 221,6 and 264 +/- 213,8 days respectively. Just 42 and 40% of patients with prior PIN or ASAP diagnose are rebiopsied. On subsequent biopsies 45 and 40% of cancers were respectively found. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of PIN or ASAP implies a higher cancer risk on subsequent biopsies; in spite of that, less than half of them are biopsied again. Performing two more biopsies or an amplified biopsy can find most of the tumors associated.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Biópsia por Agulha/métodos , Próstata/patologia , Neoplasia Prostática Intraepitelial/patologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/patologia , Cirurgia Assistida por Computador , Ultrassonografia de Intervenção , Adenocarcinoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Adenocarcinoma/epidemiologia , Adulto , Divisão Celular , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasia Prostática Intraepitelial/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasia Prostática Intraepitelial/epidemiologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Próstata/epidemiologia , Reoperação/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de TempoAssuntos
Histiocitose de Células de Langerhans , Antígenos CD/análise , Antígenos CD1/análise , Biomarcadores , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Histiocitose de Células de Langerhans/congênito , Histiocitose de Células de Langerhans/diagnóstico , Histiocitose de Células de Langerhans/patologia , Humanos , Lactente , Lectinas Tipo C/análise , Lectinas de Ligação a Manose/análise , Remissão Espontânea , Proteínas S100/análise , Coxa da PernaRESUMO
Autoinfective strongyloidiasis is often fatal in immunosuppressed patients or in immunocomprised hosts. An interesting case of Strongyloides stercolaris hyperinfection was seen in an immunocompetent patient. This report describes a case of fatal strogyloidiasis in a 79 year old man, who had suffered gastrointestinal discomfort for years, and who presented because of respiratory illness. A chest radiograph showed an irregular mass close to the mediastinum and interstitial infiltrates, but blood eosinophilia was not observed. Cytological examination of the samples obtained from bronchial aspiration and brushing identified several filariform larvae. Thus, cytology was essential for the correct diagnosis in this patient and is a very reliable method to diagnose lung parasitosis.
Assuntos
Pneumopatias Parasitárias/patologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Strongyloides stercoralis , Estrongiloidíase/patologia , Idoso , Animais , Brônquios/patologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Evolução Fatal , Humanos , Imunocompetência , Masculino , Alvéolos Pulmonares/patologiaRESUMO
The aim was to study the effects of radiofrequency (Rf) in a mice strain characterized by age-determined carcinogenesis of lymphatic tissues. Mice were treated with a 1?h/week Rf exposure for 4 months. A group submitted to sham exposure was used as control animals. The evolution of carcinogenesis was followed up to 18 months. The maximal life span of control mice was about 24 months. All dead animals were clinically and histologically examined to give an age-determined comparative quantification of the evolving carcinogenesis. A radiocalcium tracer method permitted the evaluation of Rf effects on transmembrane transport of extracellular calcium at 1 and 24 h after exposure. The determination of induced lipid peroxidation completed this second study. The findings show that Rf provoked an earlier general lymphocyte cell infiltration, formation of lymphoblastic ascites and extranodal tumours of different histological types, as well as an increased early mortality. The results suggest that in Rf-exposed mice, carcinogenesis may be induced earlier and with different pathological forms than in control animals. The modifications in cellular calcium homeostasis and the age-determined thymus involution appear to be important factors involved in this carcinogenesis process.
Assuntos
Cálcio/metabolismo , Homeostase/efeitos da radiação , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/etiologia , Ondas de Rádio/efeitos adversos , Animais , Feminino , CamundongosRESUMO
The incidence of retroperitoneal primitive tumour varies from the 0.3 to 3%. The sarcomas suppose the group but it frequents of retroperitoneal tumour, being the Schwannoma an unusual tumour with an incidence from 1% to 50% of the retroperitoneal primary tumours. The schwannoma also denominated neurinoma or neurolenoma, it is a derived tumour of the cells of Schwann of the outlying nerves. It is characterized by their clinical and radiological inespecify, being the diagnose pathological, with intense positive inmunohistoquimics to the protein S-100. The election treatment is the surgical remove, with wide margins; not being described cases of malignización neither of metastasis at distance, but if the recurrence existence at probably secondary local level to incomplete resection.
Assuntos
Hematúria/etiologia , Neurilemoma/complicações , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/complicações , Adulto , Hematúria/diagnóstico por imagem , Hematúria/cirurgia , Humanos , Achados Incidentais , Masculino , Neurilemoma/diagnóstico , Neurilemoma/cirurgia , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/cirurgia , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Resultado do Tratamento , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Urológicos/métodosRESUMO
The renal cell tumour supposes 1% of the adult's tumors, while the transitional carcinoma has an incidence of 7%. The simultaneous appearance of a carcinoma of renal cells, and a transitional tumour of pelvis in the same kidney, they suppose an exceptional fact not existing but of 30 cases published in the world, presenting an approximate incidence of 0.14% of the pathology renal tumoral. We present a new case of this unusual association that supposes the 4 case indexed in the literature in Spanish.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Renais/patologia , Carcinoma de Células de Transição/patologia , Neoplasias Renais/patologia , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/patologia , Neoplasias Ureterais/patologia , Idoso , Carcinoma de Células Renais/diagnóstico por imagem , Carcinoma de Células Renais/cirurgia , Carcinoma de Células de Transição/diagnóstico por imagem , Carcinoma de Células de Transição/cirurgia , Humanos , Neoplasias Renais/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Renais/cirurgia , Pelve Renal/diagnóstico por imagem , Pelve Renal/patologia , Pelve Renal/cirurgia , Masculino , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/cirurgia , Radiografia , Resultado do Tratamento , Neoplasias Ureterais/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Ureterais/cirurgiaRESUMO
To choose a sensitive protocol to discriminate populations exposed and not exposed to inducers, five urinary metabolite ratios (MRs) [MR1 (17X + 17U)/137X, MR2 (5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil [AFMU] + 1X + 1U)/17U, MR3 (17X/137X), MR4 (AFMU + 1X + 1U + 17X + 17U)/137X, and MR5 (AFMU + 1X + 1U)/17X] were calculated in 4-5 h and 0-24 h urine samples after caffeine intake. One hundred twenty-five healthy volunteers (59 nonsmokers and 66 smokers) were included in the study. All ratios showed a log-normal distribution. MR2 in the two time intervals was the only ratio nondependent on the urine flow. Differences between nonsmokers and smokers could be detected with all ratios at 4-5 h. However, only MR2 and, to a lesser extent, MR5 allowed the discrimination of higher cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) activity in smokers in the 0-24 h sample. Although smokers had increased urinary mutagenicity in relation to nonsmokers, a significant association between MRs and urine mutagenicity was observed only with MR2 in the 4-5 h interval; this ratio/time schedule being that of higher association with tobacco consumption. The most flow-dependent ratios, MR1, MR3, and MR4, were closely correlated with each other at the two intervals. The flow dependency profile of each ratio may explain their different power to indicate both tobacco exposure and tobacco-derived mutagenicity. In conclusion, MR2 in the period of 4-5 h after caffeine intake seems preferable, especially at high urine flow rates.
Assuntos
Cafeína/urina , Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/urina , Citocromo P-450 CYP1A2/metabolismo , Mutagênicos/farmacologia , Fumar/metabolismo , Micção , Adolescente , Adulto , Cafeína/farmacologia , Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Exposição Ambiental , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reologia , Fumar/urina , Teofilina/urina , Fatores de Tempo , Uracila/análogos & derivados , Uracila/urina , Ácido Úrico/análogos & derivados , Ácido Úrico/urina , Xantinas/urinaRESUMO
Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia has been described mainly in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck, and only occasionally in the oral cavity. A case of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia of the tongue in an 82-year-old man with typical morphologic features is presented. The diagnosis criteria and treatment of this lesion reported in the English literature are also reviewed.
Assuntos
Hiperplasia Angiolinfoide com Eosinofilia/patologia , Neoplasias da Língua/patologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
This report describes a case of granulomatous endometritis caused by coccidiosis in an immunologically uncompromised 63 year old patient. The glandular epithelium of the endometrium contained numerous intracytoplasmic cysts, corresponding to periodic acid Schiff positive and methenamine silver negative sporoblasts. The endometrial glands revealed reactive phenomena, such as eosinophilic and squamous glandular metaplasia and intraluminal desquamation. Non-necrotising epithelioid granulomata, lacking the presence of parasites, were present in the stroma. Although not detected in the stool examination, the organisms were probably Isospora belli. There was no evidence of other foci of the disease. Coccidiosis should be differentiated from the more commonly occurring coccidiomycosis.
Assuntos
Endometrite/parasitologia , Isospora , Isosporíase/diagnóstico , Animais , Doença Crônica , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Endometrite/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Isosporíase/imunologia , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
A murine model with immunocompetent animals was used in a comparative study of experimental pathogenicity of 13 isolates belonging to the four most frequent pathogenic species of Fusarium in man (F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum). Inocula of 5 x 10(6) conidia/mouse of each isolate of Fusarium were injected into a lateral vein of the tail of the mice to produce a systemic infection. F. solani was the most virulent species; the five strains of this species assayed caused the death of all the animals tested in <19 days. The other species of Fusarium were not virulent in this model. The organs mainly affected by F. solani were the kidneys and the heart. These findings correlate with the clinical evidence and demonstrate that there is a high risk associated with infection by F. solani, especially for immunocompromised patients.
Assuntos
Fusarium/patogenicidade , Micoses/microbiologia , Infecções Oportunistas/microbiologia , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Fusarium/isolamento & purificação , Coração/microbiologia , Humanos , Imunocompetência , Rim/microbiologia , Rim/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Miocárdio/patologia , VirulênciaRESUMO
Scedosporium prolificans is an emerging opportunist fungus that causes different types of infections in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed people. These infections show an irregular geographical distribution and, generally, disseminated systemic infections are noticed only in specific countries. This study used a murine model of disseminated infection by this fungus to assess if strains from different origins have different virulence. Two strains from each of four different sources (disseminated infection, localised infection, asymptomatic cystic fibrosis patients and the environment) were tested. Two strains of S. apiospermum of clinical origin were also included in the study; these were clearly less virulent than those of S. prolificans. The S. prolificans strains tested were classified in three groups according to their virulence. The groups with higher and lower virulence were represented by only one strain each, and the intermediate group contained six strains. No significant differences were found between the strains from different geographic areas or different forms of disease.
Assuntos
Micetoma/microbiologia , Scedosporium/patogenicidade , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Microbiologia Ambiental , Humanos , Pulmão/microbiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Micetoma/transmissão , Espanha , Especificidade da Espécie , Fatores de Tempo , Estados Unidos , VirulênciaRESUMO
The possible existence of plastic changes in the branching pattern and the complexity of silver-impregnated motor nerve terminals was studied in the extensor digitorum longus muscle of adult rats housed in metabolic cages or trained to walk. Results indicate a precise inverse relation between the amount of locomotor activity and the complexity finally attained by the motor nerve terminals.
Assuntos
Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Neurônios Motores/fisiologia , Terminações Nervosas/fisiologia , Plasticidade Neuronal , Animais , Masculino , Neurônios Motores/ultraestrutura , Terminações Nervosas/ultraestrutura , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos , Prata , Coloração e RotulagemRESUMO
Sodium 4,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,3-disulfonate (Tiron) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) are two chelating agents that have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of experimental poisoning by a number of heavy metals. In this study, the effects of Tiron and DTPA on uranium-induced nephrotoxicity were evaluated in a rat model. A series of four Tiron or DTPA injections was administered intraperitoneally to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats immediately after a single subcutaneous injection of uranyl acetate dihydrate (5 mg/kg) and at 24, 48 and 72 h thereafter. Positive and negative control groups received 0.9% saline with or without uranyl acetate, respectively. Tiron effectiveness was assessed at 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg, whereas DTPA was administered at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Although the urinary excretion of uranium was significantly enhanced by Tiron administration, significant amounts of uranium still remained in the kidney at the end of the treatment. However, the partial reduction of the renal uranium concentrations was in accordance with the amelioration noted in some urinary and serum indicators of uranium nephrotoxicity. Moreover, Tiron administration also reduced the severity of the uranium-induced histological alterations in the kidney. According to these results, Tiron offers only a modest encouragement with regard to its possible therapeutic potential to treat acute uranium-induced nephrotoxic effects. In turn, DTPA was less effective than Tiron in protecting against the nephrotoxicity of uranium in rats.
Assuntos
Sal Dissódico do Ácido 1,2-Di-Hidroxibenzeno-3,5 Dissulfônico/farmacologia , Quelantes/farmacologia , Rim/efeitos dos fármacos , Compostos Organometálicos/toxicidade , Ácido Pentético/farmacologia , Urânio/toxicidade , Sal Dissódico do Ácido 1,2-Di-Hidroxibenzeno-3,5 Dissulfônico/administração & dosagem , Sal Dissódico do Ácido 1,2-Di-Hidroxibenzeno-3,5 Dissulfônico/uso terapêutico , Acetilglucosaminidase/urina , Animais , Quelantes/administração & dosagem , Quelantes/uso terapêutico , Creatinina/metabolismo , Creatinina/urina , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Masculino , Ácido Pentético/administração & dosagem , Ácido Pentético/uso terapêutico , Intoxicação/prevenção & controle , Proteinúria/urina , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Urânio/administração & dosagem , Urânio/urina , Ureia/urinaRESUMO
Aspirin reduces the incidence of thrombotic occlusive events. Classically this has been thought to be due to the platelet inhibitory action of aspirin but it has recently been shown that inflammation plays a predominant role in the initiation and progression of lesions in atherosclerosis. In humans, treatment with aspirin reduces cardiovascular risk and slows carotid plaque growth in a dose-dependent fashion. We have explored this issue in Apo E-deficient mice on a high-fat, high cholesterol diet which provided these animals with a continuous administration of 500 microg/day of acetylsalicylic acid in the drinking water. After 10 weeks of treatment, the size of the atherosclerotic lesion at the aortic sinus had reduced by 35%. At the end of the trial there were no significant changes in either plasma lipids or in the quantitative distribution among lipoproteins. Likewise, the total antioxidant status and the resistance of plasma to oxidation in vitro was similar and there was no change in the distribution of iron deposits and in the relative composition of plasma pro-oxidants and antioxidants, or in the concentration of plasma in ferritin. Therefore, it is our hypothesis that the antiinflammatory effect is responsible for the reduction in lesion size. We propose that antiinflammatory molecules which do not cause gastrointestinal complications should be tested in humans to determine long-term efficacy in the attenuation of atherosclerosis.
Assuntos
Apolipoproteínas E/deficiência , Arteriosclerose/prevenção & controle , Aspirina/uso terapêutico , Inibidores da Agregação Plaquetária/uso terapêutico , Animais , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Arteriosclerose/genética , Arteriosclerose/patologia , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Ferro/metabolismo , Lipídeos/sangue , Lipoproteínas/sangue , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , OxirreduçãoRESUMO
The present study was designed to assess potential age dependent differences of vanadium nephrotoxicity in the rat following parenteral administration of vanadate. Young (22 days) and adult (62 days) male Sprague-Dawley rats received i.p. injections of sodium orthovanadate at 10 mg/kg/day for 8 consecutive days. Two additional groups of control rats received i.p. injections of 0.9% saline during the same period. Significant age-differences were found in most of the parameters used as indicators of nephrotoxicity in young and adult rats, with adverse renal effects being more severe with age. Vanadium-induced morphologic changes in the kidney were also more pronounced with age. These findings agree with a higher renal concentration of vanadium in the group of adult rats treated with vanadate than in the vanadate-untreated group. The current results can be of concern if in the future, vanadium compounds can be administered in the treatment of diabetic patients.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/patologia , Nefropatias/induzido quimicamente , Vanádio/toxicidade , Animais , Injeções Intraperitoneais , Rim/metabolismo , Rim/patologia , Nefropatias/sangue , Nefropatias/patologia , Nefropatias/urina , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Vanadatos/metabolismo , Vanádio/farmacocinética , Aumento de Peso/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
A controlled study in the rabbit eye was performed to clarify the suitability of collagen shields in accelerating the wound healing process in damaged cornea. After a standardized bilateral keratectomy, the spontaneous evolution of the healing process in the right eye (control eye) was compared with the evolution in the left eye, treated with a collagen shield (a shield of the 12- or 24-h type). The healing area was measured by planimetry after fluorescein staining at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after keratectomy. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the healing process was also performed. Reepithelization of the damaged cornea was almost complete at 72 h, and there were no differences in the time course of the healing process between control and treated eyes. There was an important polymorphonuclear infiltration in treated eyes, mainly composed of eosinophiles, which was not present in control eyes. This indicates a subacute inflammatory immunological reaction. It is concluded that the usefulness of collagen shields should be reappraised, especially in injured corneas.
Assuntos
Bandagens , Colágeno/uso terapêutico , Córnea/fisiopatologia , Cicatrização , Animais , Movimento Celular , Córnea/patologia , Córnea/cirurgia , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Fibronectinas/metabolismo , Masculino , Neutrófilos/fisiologia , CoelhosRESUMO
The corneal wound-healing properties of fibronectin (FN) and a fibronectin hydrolysate (FNH) have been evaluated in comparison with commonly used drugs. Nonpenetrating bilateral surgical keratectomy was performed in male albino rabbits. The left eye was treated with the active product, whereas the right eye served as a control (vehicle). The healing area was measured by planimetry after fluorescein staining at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after keratectomy. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the healing process was also performed. Results were as follows: (a) Nandrolone (p < 0.005) and asiaticoside (p < 0.001), both at 10 mg/ml, in eyedrops delayed the healing process. (b) An ointment containing vitamin A and amino acids also delayed the process but at the limit of statistical significance (p = 0.055). (c) FNH (20-80 mg prot/ml) significantly improved the quality and shortened the time of the healing process at 60 mg prot/ml and above. (d) Human FN (100-800 micrograms/ml) did not affect the healing process. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that FNH accelerated the appearance of endogenous FN in the damaged cornea earlier than in the control eyes. It is concluded that FNH may be useful in the management of corneal wounds, whereas the effectiveness of FN is doubtful.