Width of abnormal ganglion cell complex area determined using optical coherence tomography to predict glaucoma

Purposes

We examined the relationships of ganglion cell complex (GCC) parameters determined on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), especially the width of abnormal areas, and its ability to detect various stages of glaucoma.

Methods

OCT parameters of glaucomatous and normal eyes were determined with the RTVue SD-OCT. Widths of abnormal GCC areas marked by either red or yellow on the OCT significance map were quantified with image J software. The relationships between the abnormal GCC area and other GCC parameters [thickness, focal loss volume (FLV), and global loss volume (GLV)] and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were determined using regression analyses. The potential of using the GCC and RNFL parameters to discriminate between glaucomatous and normal eyes was examined using the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC).

Results

One hundred and eighteen glaucomatous eyes and 45 normal control eyes were studied. Nonlinear models best described the relationships between abnormal GCC area and other GCC parameters. Scatter plots showed changes in the average thickness of the GCC and RNFL, and the average sizes of the GLV preceded changes of abnormal areas of the GCC. The width of the abnormal areas on the GCC thickness map was comparable with other parameters for diagnosing glaucoma.

Conclusions

OCT thickness parameters appeared to decrease faster than the area parameter at the initial stage of glaucoma. The sizes of abnormal areas of the GCC were the most pertinent parameters for detecting glaucoma.     

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with prognosis in hematological malignancies

It has been proposed that Vitamin D has a significant influence on disease progression in malignancy. This study aims to investigate whether serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are associated with prognosis in patients with hematological malignancies. This study is based on 105 patients with hematological disease (acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, monoclonal gammapathies, and chronic lymphoid disorders), seen over a 6-months period. 25(OH)D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) appeared very common and an inverse relationship was observed between 25(OH)D levels and the response to therapy: lower levels being related to poorer response. In acute leukemias, a significant difference was noted between patients with long-term disease-free survival in those tested at diagnosis (P=0·001) or in those tested at the time of relapse (P=0·05). Similarly in patients with Philadelphia-positive leukemias, there was a correlation between molecular response and levels of 25(OH)D (P=0·01). Previously identified factors, such as age, season, gender, or nutritional index, were not related to circulating 25(OH)D levels. Lower levels of circulating 25(OH)D appeared related to a progressive stage of the disease and poor response to therapy, and, therefore, to the aggressiveness of the disease. It is a potential marker of prognosis in patients with leukemia.     

Erosion of an Amplatzer septal occluder device into the aortic root

Atrial septal defects can be closed surgically or percutaneously. We report a patient who underwent percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect with an Amplatzer septal occluder device (AGA Medical Corp, Golden Valley, MN). The patient presented 4 months later with congestive heart failure secondary to an erosion of the Amplatzer septal occluder into the aortic root. The device was removed surgically, and the fistula was repaired. Amplatzer septal occluder indications, selection criteria, and complications are discussed.     

Protective Function of Nicotinamide Against Ketamine-induced Apoptotic Neurodegeneration in the Infant Rat Brain

During development, anesthetics activate neuroapoptosis and produce damage in the central nervous system that leads to several types of neurological disorders. A single dose of ketamine (40 mg/kg) during synaptogenesis in a 7-day-old rat brain activated the apoptotic cascade and caused extensive neuronal cell death in the forebrain. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of nicotinamide against ketamine-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration. After 4 h, neuronal cell death induced by ketamine was associated with the induction of Bax, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and activation of caspase-3. One single dose of 1 mg/g nicotinamide was administered to a developing rat and was found to inhibit ketamine-induced neuroapoptosis by downregulating Bax, inhibiting cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytosol, and inhibiting the expression of activated caspase-3. TUNEL and immunohistochemical analyses showed that ketamine-induced cell death occurred through apoptosis and that it was inhibited by nicotinamide. Fluoro-Jade-B staining demonstrated an increased number of dead cells in the cortex and thalamus after ketamine treatment; treatment with nicotinamide reduced the number of dead cells in these brain regions. Our findings suggest that nicotinamide attenuated ketamine-induced neuronal cell loss in the developing rat brain and is a promising therapeutic and neuroprotective agent for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.     

Two new phthalate derivatives from Nepeta clarkei (Labiatae)

Two new phthalates bis(2-ethylundecyl)phthalate and bis(2-ethyltridecyl)phthalate have been isolated from the chloroform-soluble portion of the whole plant of Nepeta clarkei along with one known compound β-amyrin. The structures of the two new compounds and β-amyrin were assigned on the basis of their 1H and 13C NMR spectra including 2D NMR techniques such as COSY, HMQC, and HMBC experiments and compared with the literature data.     

Coniothyren: a new phenoxyphenyl ether from the endophytic fungus,Coniothyrium sp.

Phytochemical investigation of the endophytic fungus Coniothyrium sp. resulted in the isolation of a new phenoxyphenyl ether, named coniothyren (1), and two known compounds, coniol (2) and (+)-epoxydon (3). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, namely, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and HR-EI-MS. Preliminary studies demonstrated that (+)-epoxydon (3) displayed good antibacterial and antialgal activities toward Bacillus megaterium and Chlorella fusca, respectively.     

Bobbin Tool Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Thick Lap Joints: Effect of Process Parameters on Temperature Distribution and Joints’ Properties

Bobbin tool friction stir welding (BT-FSW) is characterized by a fully penetrated pin and double-sided shoulder that promote symmetrical solid-state joints. However, control of the processing parameters to obtain defect-free thick lap joints is still difficult and needs more effort. In this study, the BT-FSW process was used to produce 10 mm AA1050-H14 similar lap joints. A newly designed bobbin tool (BT) with three different pin geometries (cylindrical, square, and triangular) and concave shoulders profile was designed, manufactured, and applied to produce the Al alloy lap joints. The experiments were carried out at a constant tool rotation speed of 600 rpm and a wide range of various welding travel speeds of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mm/min. The generated temperature during the BT-FSW process was recorded and analyzed at the joints’ center line, and at both advancing and retreating sides. Visual inspection, macrostructures, hardness, and tensile properties were investigated. The fracture surfaces after tensile testing were also examined. The results showed that the pin geometry and travel speed are considered the most important controlling parameters in BT-FSW thick lap joints. The square (Sq) pin geometry gives the highest BT-FSW stir zone temperature compared to the other two pins, cylindrical (Cy) and triangular (Tr), whereas the Tr pin gives the lowest stir zone temperature at all applied travel speeds from 200 to 1000 mm/min. Furthermore, the temperature along the lap joints decreased with increasing the welding speed, and the maximum temperature of 380 °C was obtained at the lowest travel speed of 200 mm/min with applying Sq pin geometry. The temperature at the advancing side (AS) was higher than that at the retreating side (RS) by around 20 °C. Defect-free welds were produced using a bobbin tool with Cy and Sq pin geometries at all the travel welding speeds investigated. BT-FSW at a travel speed of 200 mm/min leads to the highest tensile shear properties, in the case of using the Sq pin. The hardness profiles showed a significant effect for both the tool pin geometry and the welding speed, whereas the width of the softened region is reduced dramatically with increasing the welding speed and using the triangular pin.