Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.     

Bio-accumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in different edible fish species from Hurghada City,Red Sea,Egypt

BackgroundHeavy metal contamination has become a serious issue in this century especially detected in fish organs. Due to the presence of radioactive compounds in agricultural and sewage effluent, which destroys aquatic ecosystems, threatening human livelihoods. Health hazards associated with low and high consumption consumers assessed in five commercial fish species collected from Hurghada City, Egypt, during winter and summer, 2020. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique used for determination heavy meals in different organs and expressed as μg/g wet weight.ResultsHeavy metal concentrations in muscle ranged between:(0.054–0.109), (0.260–1.043), (0.264–0.897), (5.895–11.898), (0.381–0.970), (13.582–29.133) and (0.332–0.589) µg/g for Cd, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe and Ni respectively, which were lower than those of gills and liver. These concentrations were within WHO, FAO/WHO, and EU standards. Consumption of edible species was lower than the (TDIs) established by the (JECFA) and Egyptian Standards. Even though THQ and TTHQ values were < 1 while, in children with highly consumer were> 1.ConclusionThis study concluded that intake of Red Sea fish is safe for human health. It is critical for consumers to be aware of the consequences of excessive fish consumption, particularly children with highly consumer, which represent possible health risks.     

Infective Endocarditis Due to Treponema pallidum: A Case Diagnosed Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Aortic Valve

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Syphilitic aortitis might coexist in a dysfunctional aortic valve, but the etiology remains unclear, because microbiological diagnosis is difficult. A 62-year-old man with low-grade fever was diagnosed with aortitis and infective endocarditis, due to Treponema pallidum infection, using polymerase chain reaction analysis. This case suggests that syphilis might cause infective endocarditis.     

人参、白术有效组分群对慢性萎缩性胃炎大鼠口腔、肠道菌群的影响

目的研究人参、白术有效组分群对慢性萎缩性胃炎大鼠口腔、肠道菌群的影响。方法将大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、给药(人参白术有效组分群)组,用主动免疫法复制慢性萎缩性胃炎模型。HE染色、扫描电子显微技术观察胃黏膜组织显微及超微结构,高通量测序技术检测肠道及口腔菌群,利用SPSS软件进行相关性分析。结果人参、白术有效组分群能改善慢性萎缩性胃炎大鼠胃组织病理形态(P<0.05);增加大鼠肠道、口腔菌群多样性及丰富度(P<0.05);减少肠道、口腔中致病菌群(普雷沃氏菌科_UCG-003、梭杆菌属)的数目(P<0.05)。其中,大鼠病理学评分与其口腔、肠道菌群的丰度、多样性以及门、属水平上的差异菌具有相关性(P<0.05)。结论人参、白术有效组分群对慢性萎缩性胃炎大鼠有良好的保护作用,缓解胃黏膜萎缩,其作用机制可能与改善肠道和口腔菌群有关。     

百年乐与人参黄芪合剂对心血管系统的药理作用比较

百年乐和人参黄芪合剂对心血管系统的作用研究表明:百年乐能加速小鼠肠系膜微循环障碍的恢复,增加离体兔耳血管的流量,使主动脉平滑肌松弛,对抗心肌缺氧,抑制血栓形成,其作用强于人参黄芪合剂。     

烧伤后红细胞免疫的变化及意义

对近年来烧伤后红细胞免疫的研究作一综述。     

油茶皂甙对实验动物造血机能的影响

目的：研究油茶皂甙对豚鼠和罗非鱼造血功能的影响。方法：比较油茶皂甙（1mg/kg）处理前和处理后豚鼠红细胞和血红蛋白量计数变化。罗非鱼分对照组和油茶皂甙处理组，分别在清水和含1ppm油茶皂甙水饲养6天后，再同时置入清水中净养，观察其存活20％的最高温度。结果：豚鼠用药前后红细胞计数和血红蛋白含量改变轻微，无明显统计学差异（P＞0．05），对照组和油茶皂甙处理组罗非鱼在清水中饲养的耐受最高温度为41．5℃，但在含油茶皂甙水中能耐受的最主温度为36℃。结论：油茶皂甙可短暂，轻微地降低红细胞和血红蛋白，但并不影响造血功能。     

A case of drug-induced hematotoxicity: from in vivo to in vitro assessment

As part of the early preclinical development of a new antipsychotic compound, Wistar rats of both sexes were dosed orally for upto 7 days. At high doses, expected changes in appearance and behavior, decreases in bodyweight gain and feed intake but also a fluid and pale bone marrow (BM) were observed. Blood cell counts were normal as were clinical chemical values. BM sections showed a red cell hypoplasia. Circulating reticulocytes and erythroblasts on BM smears were decreased suggesting that the compound might have a selective toxicity for the erythroid lineage. In a mechanistic experiment, rats were dosed for 9 days and phlebotomized after 7 days of exposure to stimulate erythroid regeneration. Red-blood cell mass, reticulocytes and erythropoietin (EPO) levels were monitored before and upto 48 h after bleeding. Results showed that an EPO-mediated pathogenesis could be excluded. The effect of the drug on the formation of Colony-forming units (CFU)-E and CFU-GM was then quantitatively measured in vitro after direct exposure to the compound. In two successive assays, rat or human BM cells were incubated with the drug dissolved in the collection medium at final concentrations of 0.3×10^–7 –3×10^–5 M. In the presence of adequate growth factors, CFU-E and CFU-GM were cultured and cell proliferation was compared between treated and control groups. Our results showed an expected inhibition by the drug of the growth of erythroid progenitors associated to a similar effect on myeloid progenitors. The CFU-E and CFU-GM of both human and rat sources were totally inhibited from the concentration of 3×10^–5 M. The IC₅₀ values were consistent with rat peak plasma levels reached in vivo by the drug. Therefore, the short-term cloning assays performed on rat BM cells were sensitive indicators of the hematotoxicity of the compound and were considered as predictive for human toxicity.     

Cisplatin-associated anaemia in patients with solid tumours

We have reviewed the incidence of cisplatin-induced anaemia in patients affected with solid tumours treated with at least three courses of first-line cisplatincontaining regimens. In our experience, a low percentage (5%) of patients required transfusions of red blood cells. We think it is of the utmost importance to adopt uniform criteria in monitoring and treatment of patients at risk of developing cisplatin anaemia and to identify subsets of patients to eventually treat with erythropoietin.