Association of Lysyl oxidase (LOX) Polymorphisms with the Risk of Keratoconus in an Iranian Population

Background: Keratoconus is a connective tissue-related eye disease with unknown etiology that causes the loss of visual acuity. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an amine oxidase that catalyzes the covalent cross-link of collagens and elastin in the extracellular environment, thus determining the mechanical properties of connective tissue. The current study aimed to investigate the possible associations between two LOX polymorphisms, rs1800449 and rs2288393, and susceptibility to keratoconus.

Methods: A total of 262 Iranian subjects including 112 patients with keratoconus and 150 healthy individuals as controls were recruited. Genotyping for the LOX variants was performed using allele-specific PCR.

Results: A significant difference was found between two groups regarding allelic and genotyping distribution of LOX polymorphism at position rs1800449 G>A. The frequency of AA and GA?+?AA genotypes were increased in patients compared to controls (17% versus 8% and 62.5% versus 50%, respectively), showing a statistically significant difference (OR?=?2.827, 95% CI: 1.251–6.391, p?=?0.012). The A allele was associated with an increased risk for keratoconus, with the frequency of 39.9% and 29% in patients and controls, respectively (OR?=?1.614, 95% CI: 1.119–2.326, p?=?0.011). Furthermore, the haplotype analysis revealed that the rs1800449G/rs2288393C is a protective factor against keratoconus (OR?=?0.425, 95% CI?=?0.296–0.609, p?=?0.001). Conversely, the +473A/rs2288393C (OR?=?3.703, 95% CI?=?2.230–6.149, p?=?0.001) and +473G/rs2288393G (OR?=?15.48, 95% CI?=?3.805–63.03, p?=?0.001) haplotypes were identified as risk factors for keratoconus.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the LOX rs1800449 genotypes (AA and GA?+?AA) and allele (A) appears to confer risk for susceptibility to keratoconus.     

Definition of left ventricular remodelling following ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review of cardiac magnetic resonance studies in the past decade

Heart Failure Reviews - An increase in left ventricular volumes between baseline and follow-up imaging is the main criteria for the quantification of left ventricular remodelling (LVR) after...     

Feasibility of outpatient coronary angiography with "ad hoc" angioplasty

To assess the feasibility and safety of coronary angiography combined, where necessary, with ad hoc angioplasty in an outpatient setting; a prospective, single-center study. The first 172 patients (154 men, 59 +/- 11 years) considered at low risk for complications were enrolled for outpatient-coronary angiography with or without angioplasty via a radial approach. The inclusion criteria were clinical, not based on angiography. After angiography/angioplasty, creatinine and troponin were assayed (outside the hospital) within 24h and patients were telephoned and asked about their clinical condition. Angioplasty was performed in 69 (40%) patients and 130 patients (75.6%) were discharged on the same day. In the angioplasty group, a history of coronary dilatation was more common in patients discharged on the same day (p = 0.05), whereas bifurcation lesions were more frequent in subjects who were kept in hospital (p < 0.0001). No serious complications occurred during the study. Of the 42/172 prolonged hospitalizations, eight were due to minor procedural complications, five due to failure of the radial route and three for indications for bypass surgery; the others were kept in for reasons unrelated to a complication (e.g., the examination was performed late in the day, a particularly complex procedure, etc.). Four (3%) of the 24-hour telephone calls led to a visit, but not hospital admission. Overall, performing angiography and "ad hoc" angioplasty in the course of a single outpatient visit makes it possible to foreshorten the hospital stay and increase patient throughput with a given hospital capacity and, this, without increasing clinical risk. Exactly how these patients are selected remains to be defined and may certainly be improved compared to this initial experiment. An outpatient-coronary angiography and ad hoc angioplasty strategy is a viable option with a low risk for patients selected on the basis of simple clinical criteria. It combines the advantages of increased convenience for the patient and lower costs.     

Effect of different activations of silver nanoparticle irrigants on the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis

Clinical Oral Investigations - This study aimed to compare the efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) irrigating solution alone and following activation with photon-induced photoacoustic...     

Hierarchically self-assembled NiCo2O4 nanopins as a high-performance supercapacitor cathodic material: a morphology controlled study

In this study, 3D hierarchically self-assembled NiCo₂O₄ nanopins were synthesized by a morphology controlled hydrothermal method. Structure, morphology, and composition of the samples were investigated using FT-IR, XRD, EDS, and SEM methods. Electrochemical tests such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) studies were done in a three-electrode system with 1.0 M Na₂SO₄ solution as the electrolyte for the supercapacitive study of the samples on a carbon paste electrode for the first time. The results confirmed the high-performance supercapacitive behavior of the dense nanostructure and acceptable stability during the charge–discharge cycle. The specific capacitance for the dense self-organized nanopins was calculated using a galvanostatic charge/discharge experiment which gave 2168 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 5 A g⁻¹.

In this study, 3D hierarchically self-assembled NiCo₂O₄ nanopins were synthesized by a morphology controlled hydrothermal method.     

Effect of blood pressure on cognitive functions in elderly persons

BACKGROUND: Little is known about what specific cognitive functions are affected by elevated blood pressure (BP) and how orthostatic BP change is related to cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of BP and its postural change on cognitive functions in otherwise healthy elders. METHODS: In 70 healthy persons (mean age, 72 +/- 4 years), supine systolic BP (SBP) was assessed 3 times using a sphygmomanometer, and the average values were obtained for the analysis. After 1, 3, and 5 minutes of standing, 3 BP measurements were obtained and the orthostatic SBP changes were determined by subtracting these values from the supine average. Neuropsychological tests were administered to assess short-term and long-term verbal and visual memory, visuospatial skills, and frontal-executive functions. Participants were considered impaired in the specific cognitive performance if their scores fell below the 25th percentile of the study population. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relation of SBP and the magnitude of orthostatic SBP decline to risk for impairment in each of the cognitive tests. RESULTS: Controlling for potential confounders, each 10 mmHg increase in supine SBP was associated with a 2.31-fold increase (95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 4.66) in risk for impairment in psychomotor speed and set shifting as measured using the Trailmaking Part-B test. There was no significant association between cognitive functions and orthostatic SBP decline at 1, 3, and 5 minutes of standing. CONCLUSION: Elevation of BP is associated with a selective impairment in executive function in otherwise healthy community-dwelling elders.     

Effects of counter torque and transposition (transfer) of installed implants timing on their integration in dog tibia

PURPOSE

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the amount of reosseointegration after counter torquing (reverse torque) and transposing the installed implants at different times.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was done on ten tibiae of five cross-bred dogs. At the first day one implant was installed in each tibia. After one week half of the implants were randomly counter torqued (1WCT) and the other half were explanted and reimplanted in a new juxtaposition site (transposed)(1WT). At the same time three new implants were installed in each dog, one of them was considered as one week control (1WC) and remaining two as 8 week groups (8WCT&8WT). After eight weeks the 1WCT and 1WT implants were loosened by counter torque and the quantity of needed force for liberation was measured with the digital device (BGI). At the same time one implant was installed in each dog as eight week control (8WC) and the same protocol was repeated for 8 week groups after another 8 weeks.

RESULTS

All implants were osseointegrated. Mean quantities of osseointegration in case groups indicated better amounts rather than control groups.

CONCLUSION

Counter torque or transposition of the installed implants one week or eight weeks after the implantation did lead to osseointegration.