A natural case of salpingitis, apparently caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), in layer chickens is described. In the flock from which the chickens originated, there was a 3 to 4% drop in egg production per month around 250 days old. The production was reduced 70% at 400 days of age, which was 77% of the predisease level. Salpingitis was characterized by marked thickening of the oviductal mucosa due to epithelial hyperplasia and marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Colonization of MG on the epithelial surface was evidenced by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using rabbit hyperimmune serum against the S6 strain of MG. Antibodies to MG were detected in all the chickens examined..

The commercially available rebamipide ophthalmic suspension (CA-REB) was approved for clinical use in patients with dry eye; however, the residence time on the ocular surface for the traditional formulations is short, since the drug is removed from the ocular surface through the nasolacrimal duct. In this study, we designed a novel sustained-release drug delivery system (DDS) for dry eye therapy by rebamipide nanoparticles. The rebamipide solid nanoparticle-based ophthalmic formulation (REB-NPs) was prepared by a bead mill using additives (2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and methylcellulose) and a gel base (carbopol). The rebamipide particles formed are ellipsoid, with a particle size in the range of 40–200 nm. The rebamipide in the REB-NPs applied to eyelids was delivered into the lacrimal fluid through the meibomian glands, and sustained drug release was observed in comparison with CA-REB. Moreover, the REB-NPs increased the mucin levels in the lacrimal fluid and healed tear film breakup levels in an N-acetylcysteine-treated rabbit model. The information about this novel DDS route and creation of a nano-formulation can be used to design further studies aimed at therapy for dry eye.

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of post-inflammatory treatment with luteolin on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. Intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg luteolin or 1 mg/kg prednisolone (Pred) at 4 hr post-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (200 µg) was associated at 24 hr post-LPS injection with decreased clinical severity scores, number of inflammatory cells, protein levels and levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E2 in the aqueous humor (AqH) and degrees of histological ocular tissue injury. The anti-inflammatory potency of luteolin was comparable to that of Pred. Luteolin exhibited robust efficacy in the treatment of EIU in rats, indicating its potential clinical utility in treating uveitis.

Purpose: Disulfiram (DSF) exhibits a wide variety of biological activities, including an anti-inflammatory action, on which we focused our attention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral DSF on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. Methods: We investigated its effect upon cellular infiltration and protein leakage, as well as on the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the anterior chamber. Some eyes were enucleated for histologic examination and immunohistochemical analysis. EIU was induced in male Lewis rats by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). One hour before the LPS injection, either 250, 500, or 750 mg/kg DSF was administered orally. Twenty-four hours later, the aqueous humor was collected from both eyes, and the number of infiltrating cells and protein concentration in the aqueous humor were determined. Levels of TNF-α, NO, and PGE2 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical analysis in the iris ciliary body (ICB) cells was perfomed to determine the expression of activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), inducible-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Results: The oral administration with DSF suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, the number of inflammatory cells, the protein concentration, and the levels of TNF-α, NO, and PGE2 in the aqueous humor and improved the histiologic status of the ocular tissue. The expression of activated NF-κB-positive cells in the ICB was significantly inhibited by oral administrated with DSF 3 hr after the LPS injection. The LPS-induced increased expressions of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in the ICB were also inhibited by oral DSF 24 hr after LPS injection. Conclusions: The present results indicate that oral DSF suppresses the inflammation in EIU by inhibiting the NF-κB-dependent pathway and the subsequent production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the instillation of disulfirum (DSF) eyedrops that enhance solubility using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats and mechanisms related to ocular inflammation. Methods: EIU was induced in male Lewis rats by subcutaneous injection of 200 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). DSF (0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5%) or commercially available 0.05% dexamethasone (Dexa) was topically applied to both eyes of rats 1 hour before, immediately after, and 1 and 2 hours after injection of LPS. The aqueous humor (AqH) was collected 24 hours after LPS injection, and the number of infiltrating cells, protein concentration, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were determined. Immunohistochemical analysis of the iris ciliary body (ICB) cells was performed to determine the expression of activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Results: The topical administration with DSF suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, the number of inflammatory cells, the protein concentration, and the levels of NO, TNF-α and PGE2 in the AqH and improved the histologic status of the ocular tissue. The anti-inflammatory potency of 0.5% DSF treatment was as strong as that of 0.05% Dexa. Topical DSF treatment also suppressed the activated NF-κB 3 hours after LPS injection, and iNOS and COX-2 expression in the ICB 24 hours after LPS injection. Conclusions: The present results demonstrate that the topical instillation of DSF eyedrops suppresses the inflammation in EIU, suggesting a possible novel approach for the treatment of ocular inflammation.