First 5 years in facoemulsification in Department of Ophthalmology in Oradea County Hospital

The retrospective study of cataract surgery with new technique, phacoemulsification, prove that the method implementation was a success in Ophthalmology Department of University Emergency Hospital Oradea. The phacoemulsification demonstrated it is superior in functional rehabilitation and in the socio/professional reintegration of patient. In year 2005 the number of patients with cataract with phacoemulsification surgery was 98 of total of 521 cataracts. The number of intervention increased from year to year to amount that the phacoemusification was practiced in all patients in 2009. The small incision reduced the risk of intra-operator incidents and some post-operator complications, the hospitalization period was reduced by half.     

Increased brain temperature in Parkinson's disease

The maintenance of a stable temperature is of the utmost importance for the proper functioning of the brain. Brain temperature is tightly linked to mitochondrial energetics. Although Parkinson's disease is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, no data are available on brain temperature. We measured the temperature in the visual cortex and in the centrum semiovale at rest by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with Parkinson's disease and in age-matched and sex-matched control participants. We report evidence of increased temperature in the visual cortex and, to a minor extent, in the centrum semiovale of patients with Parkinson's disease. The increase in brain temperature is best explained by an energy loss along the oxidative phosphorylation/respiratory chain.     

Bergamot polyphenolic fraction enhances rosuvastatin-induced effect on LDL-cholesterol,LOX-1 expression and protein kinase B phosphorylation in patients with hyperlipidemia

Background

Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs to reduce cardiometabolic risk. Besides the well-known efficacy of such compounds in both preventing and treating cardiometabolic disorders, some patients experience statin-induced side effects. We hypothesize that the use of natural bergamot-derived polyphenols may allow patients undergoing statin treatment to reduce effective doses while achieving target lipid values. The aim of the present study is to investigate the occurrence of an enhanced effect of bergamot-derived polyphenolic fraction (BPF) on rosuvastatin-induced hypolipidemic and vasoprotective response in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia.

Methods

A prospective, open-label, parallel group, placebo-controlled study on 77 patients with elevated serum LDL-C and triglycerides was designed. Patients were randomly assigned to a control group receiving placebo (n = 15), two groups receiving orally administered rosuvastatin (10 and 20 mg/daily for 30 days; n = 16 for each group), a group receiving BPF alone orally (1000 mg/daily for 30 days; n = 15) and a group receiving BPF (1000 mg/daily given orally) plus rosuvastatin (10 mg/daily for 30 days; n = 15).

Results

Both doses of rosuvastatin and BPF reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and urinary mevalonate in hyperlipidemic patients, compared to control group. The cholesterol lowering effect was accompanied by reductions of malondialdehyde, oxyLDL receptor LOX-1 and phosphoPKB, which are all biomarkers of oxidative vascular damage, in peripheral polymorphonuclear cells.

Conclusions

Addition of BPF to rosuvastatin significantly enhanced rosuvastatin-induced effect on serum lipemic profile compared to rosuvastatin alone. This lipid-lowering effect was associated with significant reductions of biomarkers used for detecting oxidative vascular damage, suggesting a multi-action enhanced potential for BPF in patients on statin therapy.     

Association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein,heart rate variability and corrected QT interval in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis

BackgroundThe risk of sudden cardiac death is increased in chronic inflammatory arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA).To evaluate the putative effect of systemic inflammation on heart rate variability (HRV) and ventricular repolarization in chronic inflammatory arthritis, we analyzed in these patients the possible relationship among HRV parameters, QT interval, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).MethodsOne hundred-one patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis underwent a 15-minute ambulatory twelve-channel electrocardiogram-recording, to evaluate HRV and QT interval, as well as a venous withdrawal for hsCRP as an estimation of ongoing systemic inflammation.ResultsIn patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, hsCRP is inversely correlated with HRV and directly with QTc duration, but while hsCRP is associated with HRV independently from any other investigated factor, the association between hsCRP and QTc seems to be an indirect consequence of the autonomic dysfunction itself. Within the whole cohort of patients, those subjects having elevated hsCRP levels displayed both a significant reduction in HRV and a prolongation of QTc with respect to patients with a normal hsCRP value. A similar, although less marked, degree of HRV depression and QTc prolongation was found in RA patients when compared to subjects with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and healthy controls.ConclusionsThese data provide evidence of a link between systemic inflammation and the arrhythmic risk in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, also putatively explaining, at least in part, how the different inflammatory load characterizing RA and SpA parallels the different risks of cardiovascular death in these two conditions.     

P53, Bcl-2 and Ki67 immunoexpression in follicular solid ameloblastomas

The study included a total of 17 ameloblastomas diagnosed in a range of 15 years. Clinical data processing was followed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis, following the expression of p53, Bcl-2 and Ki67 in the tumor epithelial compartments. Lesions predominated in the age range 20-40 years, to male gender, being located mainly in the mandible (88.2%). Typical follicular ameloblastoma was present in 70.6% of analyzed tumors. P53 and Bcl-2 immunoexpression was identified especially in the peripheral cells, the number of marked cells being over 50%, while the percentage of positive cells from the stellate reticulum was below 10%. The Ki67 positivity index was below 10% in both compartments. Squamous and granular cells reveal no stain for the investigated markers. Peripheral columnar cells are active compartment of ameloblastomas being involved in the processes of proliferation-apoptosis.     

Angiogenesis in the reparatory mucosa of the mandibular edentulous ridge is driven by endothelial tip cells

Sprouting angiogenesis is led by specialized cell--the endothelial tip cells (ETCs) which can be targeted by pro- or anti-angiogenic therapies. We aimed to perform a qualitative study in order to assess the guidance by tip cells of the endothelial sprouts in the repairing mucosa of the edentulous mandibular crest. Mucosa of the mandibular edentulous ridge was collected from six adult patients, prior to healing abutment placement (second surgery). Slides were prepared and immunostained with antibodies for CD34 and Ki67. The abundant vasculature of the lamina propria was observed on slides and the CD34 antibodies labeled endothelial tip cells in various stages of the endothelial sprouts. Ki67 identified positive endothelial cells, confirming the proliferative status of the microvascular bed. According to the results, the in situ sprouting angiogenesis is driven by tip cells in the oral mucosa of the edentulous ridge and these cells can be targeted by various therapies, as required by the local pathologic or therapeutic conditions.     

Cutaneous larva migrans: a bad souvenir from the vacation

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a common endemic disease in tropical and subtropical countries. This condition is caused by skin-penetrating larvae of nematodes, mainly of the hookworm Ancylostoma braziliense and other nematodes of the family Ancylostomidae. We report three cases of CLM acquired during vacations in different regions of Brazil.     

Pharmaceutical formulations and adherence to pharmacological treatment in psychiatry: the example of oral disintegrating tablet of olanzapine

Adherence to treatment in psychiatric as in other chronic or recurrent conditions, is often suboptimal. A high proportion of relapses is due to non-adherence to prescribed treatment. Adherence to treatment is a potent predictor of effectiveness, both in clinical trials and cohort studies, therefore is a very relevant area where any improving tool is looked forward. Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) were developed with the aim to improve patient's compliance due to their fast oral absorption. They are particularly useful in psychiatric patients who often simulate drug assumption or experience difficulties in taking pills. ODT formulations have been developed for many antypsychotics including olanzapine. The ODT formulations of olanzapine show to be significantly different one from the other in the dissolution time, thus having a potential impact on compliance. In this review, the results of different studies consistently highlight the positive risk/benefit profile, the contribution to patient's compliance and their preference while using ODT formulation of olanzapine produced throughout the ZYDIS technology (Velotab). Moreover, the differences between olanzapine ODT (Velotab) and the standard formulation of olanzapine and other antipsychotics are described focusing on in efficacy, safety, patient acceptance and health economic impact. The ODT formulation of olanzapine (Velotab) seems to ameliorate patient's adherence thus improving psychiatrist/caregiver/patient alliance.