To evaluate the optical quality of Acrysof Restor SN6AD1 refractive-diffractive +3.00 D and Lentis Mplus LS-312 nonrotational symmetric +3.00 D aspheric multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and ...analyze the effect of tilt and decentration.
University of Valencia, Valencia, and University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Experimental study.
An artificial model eye was used to measure wavefront aberrations of both IOL models. The modulation transfer function (MTF) and point-spread function (PSF) were calculated for a 5.0 mm pupil and under 5 situations: centered, 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm decentered, and 2 degrees and 4 degrees tilted.
The refractive-diffractive IOL had the highest MTF values at all spatial frequencies. Similarly, the PSF was worse for the refractive-diffractive IOL. The MTFs for the refractive-diffractive IOL decreased when the IOL was decentered or tilted, being more robust for tilting than decentration. The MTFs for the nonrotational symmetric IOL were similar under all testing conditions. Cutoff frequencies for the refractive-diffractive IOL were stable over the range of tilting studied and comparable with the cutoff when the IOL was centered (approximately 50 cycles per degree cpd). When the IOL was decentered, the cutoff frequency decreased by approximately 40 cpd. The nonrotational symmetric IOL cutoff frequencies for misalignment and tilt were low (approximately 30 cpd) and similar under all conditions.
The refractive-diffractive IOL provided better optical quality than the nonrotational symmetric IOL. Tilt and decentration had a significant impact on optical quality with both IOLs, being more severe with the nonrotational symmetric IOL.
Summary Background Zanzibar, in east Africa, has been severely and repeatedly affected by cholera since 1978. We assessed the effectiveness of oral cholera vaccination in high-risk populations in the ...archipelago to estimate the indirect (herd) protection conferred by the vaccine and direct vaccine effectiveness. Methods We offered two doses of a killed whole-cell B-subunit cholera vaccine to individuals aged 2 years and older in six rural and urban sites. To estimate vaccine direct protection, we compared the incidence of cholera between recipients and non-recipients using generalised estimating equations with the log link function while controlling for potential confounding variables. To estimate indirect effects, we used a geographic information systems approach and assessed the association between neighbourhood-level vaccine coverage and the risk for cholera in the non-vaccinated residents of that neighbourhood, after controlling for potential confounding variables. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00709410. Findings Of 48 178 individuals eligible to receive the vaccine, 23 921 (50%) received two doses. Between February, 2009, and May, 2010, there was an outbreak of cholera, enabling us to assess vaccine effectiveness. The vaccine conferred 79% (95% CI 47–92) direct protection against cholera in participants who received two doses. Indirect (herd) protection was shown by a decrease in the risk for cholera of non-vaccinated residents within a household's neighbourhood as the vaccine coverage in that neighbourhood increased. Interpretation Our findings suggest that the oral cholera vaccine offers both direct and indirect (herd) protection in a sub-Saharan African setting. Mass oral cholera immunisation campaigns have the potential to provide not only protection for vaccinated individuals but also for the unvaccinated members of the community and should be strongly considered for wider use. Because this is an internationally-licensed vaccine, we could not undertake a randomised placebo-controlled trial, but the absence of vaccine effectiveness against non-cholera diarrhoea indicates that the noted protection against cholera could not be explained by bias. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the South Korean Government.
Background and Aims It is known that sodium picosulfate–magnesium citrate (SPMC) bowel preparations are effective, well tolerated and safe, and that split-dosing is more effective for colon cleansing ...than previous-day regimens. Anesthetic guidelines consider that residual gastric fluid is independent of clear liquid fasting times. However, reluctance to use split-dosing persists. This may be due to limited data on residual gastric fluid volumes (RGFVs) and split-dosing bowel preparations, and that these may not be perceived as standard clear liquids. Furthermore, no studies are available on RGFV/residual gastric fluid pH (RGFpH) and SPMC. We aimed to evaluate the cleansing effectiveness and the RGFV/RGFpH achieved after an SPMC split-dosing regimen compared with a SPMC previous-day regimen. Methods This was a single-center observational study. A total of 328 outpatients scheduled for simultaneous EGD and colonoscopy and following a split-dosing or previous-day regimen of SPMC were included. We prospectively measured colon cleanliness by using the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale, RGFV, and RGFpH. Results Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale scores for overall, right, mid-colon, and colon fluid were significantly better in the split-dosing group. In the split-dosing group, the 3- to 4-hour fasting time consistently achieved the best cleansing quality. RGFV was significantly lower in the split-dosing group (11.09 vs 18.62, P < .001). No significant differences in RGFpH were detected. Conclusions Split-dosing SPMC provides higher colon cleansing quality with lower RGFVs than previous-day SPMC regimens. SPMC in split-dosing acts exactly as a standard clear liquid acts, and thus anesthetic guidelines on this issue may be applied with no concerns.
To analyze visual quality differences between intraocular lenses (IOLs) and assess the impact of IOL decentration and tilt on visual quality.
University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Cohort study.
...The crx1 adaptive optics visual simulator was used to simulate the wavefront aberration pattern of 2 commercially available aspheric aberration-correcting IOLs (Acrysof IQ SN60WF and Tecnis ZA9003) and 2 spherical IOLs (Akreos Adapt and Triplato) in 5 situations: centered, decentered 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm, and tilted 2 degrees and 4 degrees. Monocular distance visual acuity at 100%, 50%, and 10% contrast and the depth of focus were measured.
Ten eyes of 10 patients were evaluated. When the IOLs were centered, there were no differences in visual acuity between the 4 IOLs at any contrast. The aberration-correcting IOLs were more sensitive to tilt and decentration than the spherical IOLs; Tecnis ZA9003 IOL was the most sensitive to decentration and the Acrysof IQ SN60WF IOL was the most sensitive to tilt. Higher residual spherical aberration slightly improved depth of focus and the tolerance to defocus.
The results in this study suggest that the aspheric aberration-correcting and spherical IOLs provided comparable visual quality when centered in eyes in which the corneal higher-order aberrations are those of the average of the human cornea. Tilt and decentration of the IOLs had an impact on visual quality, with aberration-correcting IOLs having a greater effect than the spherical IOLs.
Abstract Background Incisional hernia formation is one of the most frequent complications of midline laparotomies requiring reoperation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy ...of prophylactically placing a biodegradable mesh within the incision site at closure in a rat model. Methods A 4-cm full-thick midline laparotomy was made in Sprague–Dawley rats along the linea alba and closed by inserting a commercially available web of synthetic polymers (polyglycolic acid–trimethylene carbonate) that are slowly degraded by the body. Host tissue reaction was evaluated ex vivo and compared with that obtained in suture-only–treated rats. Specimens were harvested at 1, 3, and 6 mo after surgery and divided for histologic and zymographic analyses and uniaxial material testing. A group of intact nonoperated animals were included to serve as a reference. Results The excised tissue explants revealed that the performance of the synthetic device was good and resulted in enhanced fibroproliferation, gelatinolytic activity, and angiogenesis within the repair site as compared with the suture-only procedure. Lastly, tensile strength augmented over the suture-only condition. Conclusions The preventive introduction of an absorbable mesh stimulates new tissue ingrowth and performance relative to suture repair without prosthesis, probably contributing to eventually reinforce the tension line. These results have a clinical potential in abdominal wall closure, especially in patients with multiple risk factors such as those treated for aortic reconstructive surgery, without the short- and long-term complications related to permanent grafts. However, data are preliminary and should be confirmed with longer follow-ups.
Management of locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) consists of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with fluoropyrimidines, followed by total mesorectal excision. We sought to evaluate the expression ...of selected genes, some of which were derived from a previous undirected SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression)-based approach, before and after CRT, to identify mechanisms of resistance.
This retrospective cohort study included 129 consecutive patients. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction of 53 candidate genes was performed on the biopsy specimen before treatment and on the surgical specimen after CRT. A paired-samples t test was performed to determine genes that were significantly changed after CRT. The result was correlated with patients' disease-free survival.
Twenty-two genes were significantly upregulated, and two were significantly downregulated. Several of the upregulated genes have roles in cell cycle control; these include CCNB1IP1, RCC1, EEF2, CDKN1, TFF3, and BCL2. The upregulation of TFF3 was associated with worse disease-free survival on multivariate analyses (hazard ratio, 2.64; P=.027). Patients whose surgical specimens immunohistochemically showed secretion of TFF3 into the lumen of the tumoral microglands had a higher risk of relapse (hazard ratio, 2.51; P=.014). In vitro experiments showed that DLD-1 cells stably transfected with TFF3 were significantly less sensitive to 5-fluorouracil and showed upregulation of genes involved in the transcriptional machinery and in resistance to apoptosis.
Upregulation of TFF3 after CRT for RC is associated with a higher risk of relapse. The physiological role of TFF3 in restoring the mucosa during CRT could be interfering with treatment efficacy. Our results could reveal not only a novel RC prognostic marker but also a therapeutic target.
Abstract Neurotensin (NTS)-polyplex is a gene nanocarrier that has potential nanomedicine-based applications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and cancers of cells expressing NTS receptor type ...1. We assessed the acute inflammatory response to NTS-polyplex carrying a reporter gene in BALB/c mice. The intravenous injection of NTS-polyplex caused the specific expression of the reporter gene in gastrointestinal cells. Six hours after an intravenous injection of propidium iodide labeled-NTS-polyplex, fluorescent spots were located in the cells of the organs with a mononuclear phagocyte system, suggesting NTS-polyplex clearance. In contrast to lipopolysaccharide and carbon tetrachloride, NTS-polyplex did not increase the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, bilirubin, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. NTS-polyplex increased the levels of serum amyloid A and alkaline phosphatase, but these levels normalized after 24 h. Compared to carrageenan, the local injection of NTS-polyplex did not produce inflammation. Our results support the safety of NTS-polyplex. From the Clinical Editor This study focuses on the safety of neurotensin (NTS)-polyplex, a gene nanocarrier that has potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and cancers of cells expressing NTS receptor type 1. NTS polyplex demonstrates a better safety profile compared with carrageenan, lipopolysaccharide, and carbon tetrachloride in a murine model.
Cupressaceae is a family of plants resistant to airborne contamination, and its pollen is the main cause of winter allergic respiratory diseases, especially in North America, Japan, and Mediterranean ...countries. Recently, a major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen grains, Cup a 3, was cloned and expressed.
To study the effects of air pollution on the expression of Cup a 3, a thaumatinlike protein, in C. arizonica pollen grains using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemical techniques.
Observations were made in mature and hydrated C. arizonica pollen grains from various regions in Spain with different degrees of air pollution. Specimens were fixed using freezing protocols, and ultrathin sections were incubated with anti-rCup a 3 rabbit polyclonal antibodies.
Labeling of Cup a 3 was detected in mature and hydrated C. arizonica pollen grains. It was more intense in pollen from polluted air regions, and abundant gold particles were observed as they were released through the pollen grain walls. Furthermore, gold particles remained abundant in the pollen cytoplasm. The labeling was noticeably lower in pollen grains from unpolluted air regions.
Cup a 3 is present in the cytoplasm and walls of cypress pollen grains during the air dispersion and hydration stages. The abundance of Cup a 3 in pollen grains under polluted air conditions indicates that these cypresses intensify their activity as a defense from environmental pollution, thus strengthening their allergenicity.
Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Alonso, Rodrigo, MD, PhD; Andres, Eduardo, BSc; Mata, Nelva, MD ...
Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
05/2014, Volume:
63, Issue:
19
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between lipoprotein(a) Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large cohort of patients with heterozygous familial ...hypercholesterolemia (FH). Background Lp(a) is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. Nevertheless, the role of Lp(a) as a predictor of CVD in patients with FH has been a controversial issue. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 1,960 patients with FH and 957 non-FH relatives recruited for SAFEHEART (Spanish Familial Hypercholesterolemia Cohort Study), a long-term observational cohort study of a molecularly well-defined FH study group, was performed. Lp(a) concentrations were measured in plasma using an immunoturbidimetric method. Results Patients with FH, especially those with CVD, had higher Lp(a) plasma levels compared with their unaffected relatives (p < 0.001). A significant difference in Lp(a) levels was observed when the most frequent null and defective mutations in LDLR mutations were analyzed (p < 0.0016). On multivariate analysis, Lp(a) was an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Patients carrying null mutations and Lp(a) levels >50 mg/dl showed the highest cardiovascular risk compared with patients carrying the same mutations and Lp(a) levels <50 mg/dl. Conclusions Lp(a) is an independent predictor of CVD in men and women with FH. The risk of CVD is higher in those patients with an Lp(a) level >50 mg/dl and carrying a receptor-negative mutation in the LDLR gene compared with other less severe mutations.
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