biobanking-human-aqueous-vitreous-liquid-biopsies-for-molecular

Biobanking of Human Aqueous and Vitreous Liquid Biopsies for Molecular Analyses

A critical challenge in translational research is establishing a viable and efficient interface between patient care in the operating room (OR) and the ...

Stanford University

The balance between controlling infection and limiting inflammation is particularly precarious in the brain because of its unique vulnerability to the toxic effects of inflammation. Astrocytes have been implicated as key regulators of neuroinflammation in CNS infections, including infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that naturally establishes a chronic CNS infection in mice and humans. In CNS toxoplasmosis, astrocytes are critical to controlling parasite growth. They secrete proinflammatory cytokines and physically encircle parasites. However, the molecular mechanisms used by astrocytes to limit neuroinflammation during toxoplasmic encephalitis have not yet been identified. TGF-β signaling in astrocytes is of particular interest because TGF-β is universally upregulated during CNS infection and serves master regulatory and primarily anti-inflammatory functions. We report in this study that TGF-β signaling is activated in astrocytes during toxoplasmic encephalitis and that inhibition of astrocytic TGF-β signaling increases immune cell infiltration, uncouples proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production from CNS parasite burden, and increases neuronal injury. Remarkably, we show that the effects of inhibiting astrocytic TGF-β signaling are independent of parasite burden and the ability of GFAP(+) astrocytes to physically encircle parasites.

Astrocytic TGF-β signaling limits inflammation and reduces neuronal damage during central nervous system Toxoplasma infection.

We describe the development and management of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a patient with acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC).

Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinitis With Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Managed With Anti-VEGF Therapy.

To report a series of fundus photographs taken for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening that contain artifacts with imaging characteristics mimicking a notch, a recently refined classification metric in the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, third edition.

Photographic Gel Artifact Simulating International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity Notch: Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) Report no. 16.

To examine rates of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and death in patients after retinal vein occlusion (RVO) compared to controls.

Article	Year
Astrocytic TGF-β signaling limits inflammation and reduces neuronal damage during central nervous system Toxoplasma infection. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)\| PubMed ID: 24860191	2014
Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinitis With Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Managed With Anti-VEGF Therapy. Journal of vitreoretinal diseases\| PubMed ID: 35967270	2022
Photographic Gel Artifact Simulating International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity Notch: Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) Repor... Ophthalmology. Retina\| PubMed ID: 37548218	2023
Risk of Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, and Death after Retinal Vein Occlusion. American journal of ophthalmology\| PubMed ID: 37660963	2023

Karen M. Wai

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