Synovial fluid is a viscous solution found in the cavities of synovial joints. The principal role of synovial fluid is to reduce friction between the articular cartilages of synovial joints during ...movement. The presence of high molar mass hyaluronan (HA) in this fluid gives it the required viscosity for its function as lubricant solution. Inflammation oxidation stress enhances normal degradation of hyaluronan causing several diseases related to joints. This review describes hyaluronan properties and distribution, applications and its function in synovial joints, with short review for using thiol compounds as antioxidants preventing HA degradations under inflammation conditions.
To report the structural and functional outcomes of autologous neurosensory retinal transplant for closure of refractory large macular holes (MHs).
Multicenter, retrospective, consecutive case ...series.
A total of 41 eyes of 41 patients with a full-thickness MH refractory to prior vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel and tamponade.
All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy, autologous neurosensory retinal transplant with gas, silicone oil tamponade, or short-term perfluoro-n-octane heavy-liquid tamponade. All patients had at least 6 months' follow-up.
Anatomic closure of MH, change in ellipsoid zone (EZ) and external limiting membrane (ELM) defect on OCT, visual acuity (VA) recovery, and surgical complications were analyzed.
Mean number of prior surgeries was 1.5±0.94 (range, 1-3), and patients were followed for a mean of 11.1±7.7 months (range, 6-36 months). Complete anatomic closure of MH by OCT was achieved in 36 of 41 eyes (87.8%). Mean corrected VA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution logMAR) improved (P = 0.03) from 1.11±0.66 (range, 0.48-3) to 1.03±0.51 (range, 0.1-2) at the last postoperative visit. The VA improved (≥0.3 logMAR units) in 15 eyes (36.6%), was stable in 17 eyes (41.5%), and worsened in 9 eyes (21.9%). Among eyes with anatomic closure, VA improved in 52.3% and worsened in 13.8%, whereas in those without closure, VA worsened in 40% and improved in none. Mean preoperative largest basal diameter was 1468.1±656.4 μm (range, 621-2600 μm), and mean inner-opening diameter was 825±422.5 μm (range, 336-1649 μm). Mean preoperative EZ defect was 1777.3±513.8 μm (range, 963-2808 μm), which decreased to 1370±556.9 μm (range, 288-2000 μm) at final follow-up (P = 0.007). Mean preoperative ELM was 1681.5±429 μm (range, 1172-2606 μm), which decreased to 1408.5±571.2 μm (range, 200-2000 μm) at final follow-up (P = 0.017). Major postoperative complications were retinal detachment (n = 1) and vitreous hemorrhage (n = 1). There were no cases of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, endophthalmitis, suprachoroidal hemorrhage, or choroidal neovascularization.
The autologous retinal transplant technique offers a high degree of anatomic success and proved safe in this initial experience for closure of refractory MHs.
A novel chitosan grafted citronellal (Ch-Cit) schiff base amphiphilic polymer was developed for the adsorptive removal of oil spills. The chemical structure was verified by FT-IR spectroscopy and
H ...NMR spectrometer, while the morphological changes and surface area were investigated by SEM and BET analysis tools. The amphiphilic character of Ch-Cit schiff base was controlled through variation of the grafting percentage (G%) of citronellal from 11 to 61%. Dramatic changes in the ion exchange capacity (IEC), solubility and water uptake profiles were established, while the oil adsorption capacity was founded in direct relation with the G (%) of citronellal. Operational conditions such as oil amount, adsorption time, adsorbent dose and agitation speed were investigated. The developed Ch-Cit schiff base exhibited a higher surface area (115.94 m
/g) compared to neat chitosan (57.78 m
/g). The oil adsorption capacity of the Ch-Cit schiff base was greatly improved by 166% and 120% for light crude and heavy crude oil, respectively. Finally, the adsorption process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM).The results substantiate that the amphiphilic Ch-Cit schiff base could be efficiently applied as a low-cost oil-adsorbent for the removal of crude oil spills from sea-water surfaces.
Display omitted
A novel cellulose acetate-g-poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid-co- methyl methacrylate) copolymer was prepared via free radical polymerization for the first time. The ...chemical structure of the graft copolymer was confirmed using FT-IR, 1H NMR and EDX. The TGA and DSC investigated the thermal changes. Factors affecting the grafting process were studied and various grafting characteristic parameters such as grafting efficiency (%), grafting yield (%) and add-on value (%) were determined. Flexible membranes based on different graft copolymer compositions were fabricated by simple solution casting. Physicochemical properties including ion exchange capability (IEC), water uptake (WU) and proton conductivity (σ) were evaluated. These membranes demonstrated higher IEC, WU and conductivity than the pristine CA. The maximum proton conductivity of the CA-g-poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid-co- methyl methacrylate) copolymer membrane (68%; Add-on %) was found to be 6.44 × 10−3 S/cm compared with 0.035 × 10−3 S/cm of the pristine CA. Thus, the appropriate graft copolymer composition will allow fine-tuning of the physical characteristics and led to several potential applications, such as polyelectrolyte fuel cells membranes or biodiesel production.
Purpose To determine the effect of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy on choroidal thickness in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). Design A retrospective, cohort analysis of ...59 eyes from 59 patients with DME without prior anti-VEGF therapy. Methods Choroidal thickness was measured using semiautomated segmentation of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography images at 0.5-mm intervals from 2.5 mm nasal to 2.5 mm temporal to the fovea. Changes in choroidal thickness with and without anti-VEGF treatment over 6 months were compared. Best-corrected visual acuity and central foveal thickness were analyzed to evaluate the association of choroidal thickness with functional and anatomic outcomes. Results Of the 59 eyes with DME, 26 eyes were observed without treatment, whereas 33 underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy (mean number of injections, 2.73) over 6 months. In untreated eyes, there was no significant change in best-corrected visual acuity ( P = .098), central foveal thickness ( P = .472), or choroidal thickness at all measurements along the macula ( P = .057 at the fovea). In eyes treated with anti-VEGF injections, choroidal thickness decreased significantly at the fovea (246.6 to 224.8 μm; P < .001) and at 0.5 mm nasal (240.9 to 221.9 μm; P = .002) and 0.5 mm temporal (249.3 to 224.8 μm; P = .011) to the fovea. The decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness after anti-VEGF treatment was not associated with the cumulative number of anti-VEGF injections ( R2 = 0.031; P = .327) or to changes in best-corrected visual acuity ( R2 = 0.017; P = .470) or central foveal thickness ( R2 = 0.040; P = .263). Conclusions Central choroidal thickness decreases after anti-VEGF therapy for DME after 6 months, but may not be associated with functional or anatomic outcomes in eyes with DME.
Massive submacular hemorrhage can cause disastrous visual complications. Prompt displacement away from the fovea is desirable in some patients. We describe a novel surgical technique involving ...subretinal air as a therapeutic adjuvant for massive submacular hemorrhage displacement.
To review the autologous retinal transplantation surgical technique, indications, rationale, and current outcomes of data published to date.
Review of surgical technique, preoperative and ...postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and macular hole (MH) closure rate in studies with at least five eyes.
The weighted average macular hole closure rate is 88%, with a MH closure rate ranging from 66.7% to 100%. The weighted average best-corrected visual acuity improved from mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.35 (Snellen equivalent of 20/450) preoperatively to mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.02 (Snellen equivalent of 20/210) postoperatively. From the largest autologous retinal transplantation case series, 37% of patients gained 3 or more lines of visual acuity after autologous retinal transplantation for primary or refractory MHs and 74% gained 3 or more lines of visual acuity after autologous retinal transplantation for MH-retinal detachments. Functional improvement including negative Watzke-Allen sign and conversion from positive to negative scotoma was reported in large case series.
Autologous retinal transplantation is a promising technique for closure of large and refractory MHs otherwise difficult to repair with conventional techniques. This technique may allow for replacement of neural tissue in the macula through cell rehabilitation and regeneration through presumed ectopic synaptogenesis, retinal progenitor cell differentiation and integration, and/or retinal progenitor cell material transfer to host neurons.
Display omitted
•Hydrophilic and hydrophobic cavities were both used to co-load VC and βC.•The stability of βC was improved after co-loading VC and βC in liposomes.•The release kinetics and ...mechanisms of βC from L-βC and L-VC-βC were studied.
Vitamin C (VC) and β-Carotene (βC) were selected to produce co-encapsulated liposomes using hydrophilic and hydrophobic cavities simultaneously by ethanol injection method. The results of liposomal structure characterized by particle size, polydispersity index, zeta-potential and transmission electron microscope showed that the microstructure of all liposomal samples was spherical without adhesion or break and the size of VC-βC-loaded liposome (L-VC-βC) was bigger than VC-loaded liposome (L-VC) or βC-loaded liposome (L-βC). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of VC in L-VC-βC was significantly higher than that in L-VC, and the EE of βC in L-VC-βC had no significant change compared with that in L-βC. The free radical scavenging rate of L-VC-βC was significantly higher than that of L-βC, while it had no significant change compared with that of L-VC. In addition, the storage stability of βC in L-VC-βC improved greatly compared with that in L-βC. Furthermore, the zero order model was applied to understand the release kinetics of βC from L-βC and L-VC-βC in the stomach, whereas the Korsmeyr-Peppas model was chosen to describe the release of βC from two types of liposome in small intestine and their release mechanisms were mainly dominated by Fickian diffusion. It was significant to provide a new idea for using hydrophilic and hydrophobic cavities simultaneously in liposomes to design the multicomponent nutrient delivery system.
PDF
