title: Tear total protein analysis in patients with late sulfur mustard-induced ocular complications: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eyes are the most sensitive organs to sulfur mustard (SM). Late ocular complications have been reported even 15-20 years post-exposure. To date, no study has investigated the composition of tear proteins in tear samples of SM-intoxicated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total protein content as well as concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and substance P were measured in unstimulated tears of chemically-injured patients who suffer from late ocular complications of SM. These levels were compared to corresponding values obtained from tears of healthy control subjects. The concentration of total proteins was measured using the Bradford method and those of VEGF, CGRP and substance P by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total protein concentration was significantly lower in tears of the SM compared to control group (p<0.01). In contrast, tear samples of the SM group had significantly higher VEGF and VEGF/total protein compared to control group (p<0.01). Tear CGRP concentration was found to be lower in the SM vs. control group (p<0.05) but no significant difference in CGRP/total protein was observed (p>0.05). Finally, tear substance P concentrations were not found to be significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this investigation indicated decreased total protein and CGRP, and elevated VEGF concentration in tears of SM-intoxicated patients who suffer from chronic ocular complications.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Molla-Sadra Street, Tehran, P.O. Box: 19945-581, Iran. yunespanahi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yunes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eftekhari Milani
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beiraghdar
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parvin
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dadjo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D005136:Eye Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C042434:tear proteins; D013373:Substance P; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D009151:Mustard Gas