Proteomic characterization of HIV-modulated membrane receptors, kinases and signaling proteins involved in novel angiogenic pathways

Background  

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), hemangioma, and other angioproliferative diseases are highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. While KS is etiologically linked to the human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) infection, HIV-patients without HHV-8 and those infected with unrelated viruses also develop angiopathies. Further, HIV-Tat can activate protein-tyrosine-kinase (PTK-activity) of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor involved in stimulating angiogenic processes. However, Tat by itself or HHV8-genes alone cannot induce angiogenesis in vivo unless specific proteins/enzymes are produced synchronously by different cell-types. We therefore tested a hypothesis that chronic HIV-replication in non-endothelial cells may produce novel factors that provoke angiogenic pathways.     

Deficiency of a New Protein Associated with Cardiac Syndrome X; Called Adropin

The pathophysiology of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is still unclear, but most patients with CSX have endothelial dysfunction. It has been shown that adropin uniquely effects the regulation of endothelial function. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of adropin in CSX. Eighty‐six consecutive cardiac syndrome X‐diagnosed patients and 86 age‐sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled into the study. Serum adropin levels, nitrite/nitrate levels were measured in each subject. The adropin levels were significantly lower in patients with CSX than healthy subjects (1.7 ± 0.8 ng/mL and 3.4 ± 1.8 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). The BMI values of patients with CSX were significantly higher than control subjects (28.1 ± 2.4 kg/m² and 26.0 ± 3.7 kg/m², respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were lower in patients with CSX than control subjects (15.9 ± 1.6   μmol/L vs. 25.4 ± 2.8 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001), and they have a significantly positive correlation with plasma adropin levels (r = 0.463, P < 0.001). In the multiple linear regression analysis, nitrite/nitrate levels, BMI, and adropin were found to be independent risk factors for CSX. A ROC curve is used to identify the ability of adropin levels to predict the cardiac syndrome X. The area under the ROC curve was 0.854 for adropin levels (P = 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity values of adropin levels were 90.7 and 70.9%, respectively (cut‐off value 2.73). In conclusion, lower serum adropin levels were associated with CSX. Adropin is an independent risk factor for CSX.     

Scleral buckling technique for longstanding inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with subretinal bands.

We investigated the effectiveness and safety of conventional surgery on longstanding retinal detachments (RD) with subretinal bands (SRB). We found that conventional surgery were safe and effective method in the treatment of inferior chronic rhegmatogenous RD cases with SRB without other signs of advanced proliferative vitreopathy. Further studies with larger numbers and longer follow up are needed.     

Nd:YAG Laser Posterior Capsulotomy After Pediatric and Adult Cataract Surgery

We evaluated neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy procedure with or without anesthesia in 35 pediatric eyes and 51 adult eyes. We concluded that Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomies in children are similar to adults in general aspects and that Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy can be performed safely and effectively in children under topical or no anesthesia.