Effects of ambient particulate matter on vascular tissue: a review

ABSTRACT

Fine and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM) are major constituents of urban air pollution and recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This review examined the effects of PM exposure on vascular tissue. Specific mechanisms by which PM affects the vasculature include inflammation, oxidative stress, actions on vascular tone and vasomotor responses, as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation. Further, there appears to be a greater PM exposure effect on susceptible individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.     

Preservative-free versus preserved brimonidine %0.15 preparations in the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension: short term evaluation of efficacy,safety, and potential advantages

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, safety, and potential advantages of the preservative-free versus preserved brimonidine %0.15 preparations in patients with primer open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT).

Methods: Forty-two eyes of the 21 treatment-naive patients with POAG or OHT were enrolled in this study. Eyes were randomly assigned to receive brimonidine-purite 0.15% or preservative-free brimonidine 0.15% two times daily. Efficacy of the two eye drops was assessed by measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) at 9–10 am at baseline and week 4. Safety and potential advantages of the drops were evaluated at weeks 4 in terms of ocular symptoms and tear parameters. Ocular symptom values of the patients were evaluated with a scale of 0–4 (0?=?no discomfort and 4?=?severe discomfort).

Results: Both of the brimonidine tartrate formulations resulted in statistically similar IOP reduction (preserved formulation; ?5.2?mmHg [22.9% reduction] preservative-free formulation; ?5.7?mmHg [24.1% reduction], p?=?0.37). It was found that brimonidine tartrate formulations with and without topical preservatives did not produce a statistically significant difference in pain, stinging, and blurred vision at the upon instillation (p?>?0.05). However, the burning sensation was significantly higher in the preservative-free formulation at the first instillation compared to the preserved formulation (p?=?0.01). Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the two formulations in terms of symptoms (itching, burning, tearing, stinging, and photophobia) and tear parameters during the day (p?>?0.05).

Conclusions: Although topical preservative-free brimonidine tartrate treated eyes had a more burning sensation at the first drop, the two formulations were similar in terms of ocular tolerability in the short term period. Also, both formulations were found to reduce IOP at a similar rate.     

B cell and B cell-related pathways for novel cancer treatments

B cells are recognized as the main effector cells of humoral immunity which suppress tumor progression by secreting immunoglobulins, promoting T cell response, and killing cancer cells directly. Given these properties, their anti-tumor immune response in the tumor micro-environment (TME) is of great interest. Although T cell-related immune responses have become a therapeutic target with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, not all patients benefit from these treatments. B cell and B cell-related pathways (CCL19, −21/CCR7 axis and CXCL13/CXCR5 axis) play key roles in activating immune response through humoral immunity and local immune activation via tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation. However they have some protumorigenic works in the TME. Thus, a better understanding of B cell and B cell-related pathways is necessary to develop effective cancer control. In this review, we summarize recent evidences regarding the roles of B cell and B cell-related pathways in the TME and immune response and discuss their potential roles for novel cancer treatment strategies.     

左上侧切牙Ⅲ型牙内陷牙髓及牙周联合治疗1例

本文报告1例因牙齿根面畸形导致严重根尖病变及牙周破坏的牙周牙髓联合病变的左上侧切牙,瘘道长期不愈,腭侧窄而深牙周袋,严重根尖病变及牙槽骨垂直吸收。通过显微根管治疗、根尖手术、引导牙周组织再生术治疗,实现了控制根尖及牙周感染,达到了保留患牙的目的。     

Vitiligo surgery: A journey from tissues via cells to the stems!

Depigmented patches in vitiligo, a common dermatosis, cause a great psychological distress to the patients. Hence, apart from halting the disease process, the strategies to impart normal skin colour to these white patches carry an important role in the management of vitiligo. Surgical procedures are often required for stable vitiligo lesions not responding to medical therapies. It involves “shuffling” of melanocytes from the pigmented skin to the depigmented areas. During the last fifty years, the vitiligo surgery has evolved from tissue transplantation via cellular transplantation to reach a stage where the use of stem cells or immunomodulatory cells is contemplating. We would like to depict this wonderful journey of vitiligo surgery through this viewpoint.     

Liquid‐based cytology of pigmented phaeohyphomycotic lesion of the palm masquerading as a metastatic tumor

Phaeohyphomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous fungal infection caused by dematiaceous fungi, commonly involving the extremities, which present as single or multiple lesions mimicking a benign tumor. Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an easy method for the diagnosis of the lesion. Morphology of the fungus is characteristic with no difficulty for cytopathologist for identification; with a close differential diagnosis of Candida and Aspergillosis. The special stains like periodic acid schiff (PAS) highlights the fungus and the Masson Fontana confirm the melanin pigment and dematiaceous nature of the fungi. Liquid‐based cytology (LBC) preparation of the aspirated material was attempted, which is not usually performed on day to day basis. However, in our case the conventional smears were better for appreciating the fungal morphology.     

实时超声弹性成像在诊断慢性乙肝肝纤维化程度中的应用价值

【摘要】 目的 探讨实时超声弹性成像在诊断慢性乙肝肝纤维化程度中的应用价值。方法 以2016年1月～2019年1月我院收治的慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者146例为研究对象。分别行肝脏穿刺检查及实时组织弹性成像（RTE）检查，然后进行病理分期，并记录相应的应变均值（MEAN）、标准偏差（SD）、蓝色区域面积比（%AREA）、复杂度（COMP）、峰度（KURT）、偏度（SKEW）、对比度（CONT）、均等性（ENT）、杂乱度（IDM）、一致性（ASM）、相关性（CORR），并计算得出肝纤维化指数（LFI）值。结果 与S0、S1、S2期比较，S4期MEAN显著降低（P＜0.05）；与S0、S1、S2、S3期比较，S4期%AREA、COMP显著升高（P＜0.05）；与S0、S1、S2期比较，S4期SKEW、LFI显著升高（P＜0.05）；与S0期比较，S3期LFI显著升高（P＜0.05）。Spearman相关分析结果示，MEAN、ENT与肝纤维化分期呈负相关（P＜0.05）。SD、%AREA、COMP、SKEW、IDM、ASM、LFI与肝纤维化分期呈正相关（P＜0.05）。RTE参数MEAN、%AREA、COMP、SKEW、IDM、LFI诊断肝纤维化程度的ROC曲线下面积均在0.7~0.9。当MEAN、%AREA、COMP、SKEW、IDM、LFI 6个参数的截断值分别取10029、3014、2752、042、012、281时，诊断肝纤维化程度的准确性和特异性均在70%以上。〖HT5"H〗结论〖HTK〗〓实时组织弹性成像与慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化分期具有较高的相关性，其中与肝纤维化指数的相关系数最大，其在慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化的诊断和评估中具有重要应用价值。     

Three-dimensional soft tissue prediction in orthognathic surgery: a clinical comparison of Dolphin,ProPlan CMF,and probabilistic finite element modelling

Three-dimensional surgical planning is used widely in orthognathic surgery. Although numerous computer programs exist, the accuracy of soft tissue prediction remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare the prediction accuracy of Dolphin, ProPlan CMF, and a probabilistic finite element method (PFEM). Seven patients (mean age 18 years; five female) who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy with preoperative and 1-year postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were included. The three programs were used for soft tissue prediction using planned and postoperative maxillary position, and these were compared to postoperative CBCT. Accurate predictions were obtained with each program, indicated by root mean square distances: RMS_Dolphin = 1.8 ± 0.8 mm, RMS_ProPlan = 1.2 ± 0.4 mm, and RMS_PFEM = 1.3 ± 0.4 mm. Dolphin utilizes a landmark-based algorithm allowing for patient-specific bone-to-soft tissue ratios, which works well for cephalometric radiographs but has limited three-dimensional accuracy, whilst ProPlan and PFEM provide better three-dimensional predictions with continuous displacements. Patient or population-specific material properties can be defined in PFEM, while no soft tissue parameters are adjustable in ProPlan. Important clinical considerations are the topological differences between predictions due to the three algorithms, the non-negligible influence of the mismatch between planned and postoperative maxillary position, and the learning curve associated with sophisticated programs like PFEM.