AETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF HYPERHOMOCYSTEINAEMIA CAUSING ISCHAEMIC STROKE

Recent studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinaemia is a common, independent and easily modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic and thromboembolic diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease and venous thrombosis. The vascular risk rises continuously across the spectrum of elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations. It is at least as important as cholesterol, lipoprotein abnormalities and hypertension and should be part of risk assessment, especially those at high risk. Moderately elevated plasma homocysteine concentration is readily correctable by folic acid, betaine, or vitamin B₁₂ supplementation. It seems logical to assume that a reduction in homocysteine concentration will reduce the risk of ischaemic stroke, but there are as yet no published data to prove this. This review will discuss the aetiology and possible treatment of hyperhomocysteinaemia causing ischaemic stroke.     

食管切除术后病人的护理

在美国,食管癌是死亡率最高的恶性肿瘤之一,男性多于女性,其发病率随年龄增长而增加。食管癌临床表现早期食管癌临床表现不明显,吞咽困难是最常见的初始症状,但由于食管壁的柔韧性,病人到晚期才感觉到,从不能吞咽固体开始,进展到最终不能吞咽液体。此外,病人还可有吞咽时疼痛、体重减轻、营养不良和虚弱等表现。晚期表现还包括胸骨后疼痛、呃逆、呼吸困难、胃烧灼感、口臭、声音嘶哑、咳嗽、流涎过多及夜间误吸等。食管切除术后病人的护理食管切除术后24~48 h病人在重症监护室度过,通常带有气管插管等多种导管,护士应加强心肺及各方面的监护…     

The pharmacokinetic diversity of two von Willebrand factor (VWF)/ factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates in subjects with congenital von Willebrand disease. Results from a prospective, randomised crossover study

The pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of von Willebrand factor (VWF) /factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates are important for treatment efficacy and safety of von Willebrand disease (VWD) patients. This prospective, head-to-head, randomised crossover study compared the PK profile of a new, high purity, human plasma-derived (pd)VWF/FVIII concentrate, Wilate, with the PK profile of an intermediate purity (pd)VWF/FVIII concentrate, Humate-P, in VWD patients. Subjects with inherited VWD were randomised to a single intravenous dose (40 IU/kg VWF ristocetin cofactor activity [VWF:RCo]) of Wilate or Humate-P in Period 1, and switched to the other study drug in Period 2. Each period was preceded by a washout time of ≥ 7 days. Coagulation factor parameters were analysed at multiple time-points. Of 22 randomised subjects, 20 had evaluable PK profiles, which indicated comparability for VWF antigen and VWF:RCo between Wilate and Humate-P. The reported VWF:RCo average and terminal t1/2 of 10.4 and 15.8 hours (h), respectively, for Wilate and 9.3 h and 12.8 h for Humate-P, were not statistically different. Also, the mean VWF:RCo in vivo recoveries (Wilate 1.89, Humate-P 1.99 IU/dl per IU/kg) were similar between the two replacement therapies. Wilate showed parallel decay curves for VWF:RCo and FVIII clotting activity (FVIII:C) over time, while FVIII:C of Humate-P displayed a plateau between 0 and 12-24 h. This study demonstrated bioequivalent PK properties for VWF between Wilate and Humate-P. The PK profile of Wilate, combined with the 1:1 VWF/FVIII ratio, theoretically should facilitate dosing and laboratory monitoring of VWF replacement to prevent bleeding in individuals with VWD.     

Heterologous expression in transgenic mosquitoes

Arthropod-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue virus afflict billions of people worldwide imposing major economic and social burdens. Control of such pathogens is mainly performed by vector management and treatment of affected individuals with drugs. The failure of these conventional approaches due to emergence of insecticide-resistant insects and drug-resistant parasites demonstrate the need of novel and efficacious control strategies to combat these diseases. Genetic modification (GM) of mosquito vectors to impair their ability to be infected and transmit pathogens has emerged as a new strategy to reduce transmission of many vector-borne diseases and deliver public health gains. Several advances in developing transgenic mosquitoes unable to transmit pathogens have gained support, some of them attempt to manipulate the naturally occurring endogenous refractory mechanisms, while others initiate the identification of an exogenous foreign gene which disrupt the pathogen development in insect vectors. Heterologous expression of transgenes under a native or heterologous promoter is important for the screening and effecting of the transgenic mosquitoes. The effect of the transgene on mosquito fitness is a crucial parameter influencing the success of this transgenic approach. This review examines these two aspects and describes the basic research work that has been accomplished towards understanding the complex relation between the parasite and its vector and focuses on recent advances and perspectives towards construction of transgenic mosquitoes refractory to vector-borne disease transmission.     

Boston ocular surface prosthesis: an Indian experience

Context:

Boston ocular surface prosthesis (BOSP) is a scleral contact lens used in the management of patients who are rigid gas permeable (RGP) failures as with corneal ectasias such as keratoconus and in those patients who have ocular surface disease such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS).

Aim:

To report utilization of BOSP in a tertiary eye care center in India.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed charts of 32 patients who received BOSP from July 2008 to May 2009. Indications for fitting these lenses, improvement in visual acuity (VA) before and after lens fitting and relief of symptoms of pain and photophobia were noted. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows.

Results:

Thirty-two patients (43 eyes) received these lenses. These consisted of 23 eyes of 17 patients who failed RGP trials for irregular astigmatism and corneal ectasia such as keratoconus and post radial keratotomy and scar and 20 eyes of 15 patients with SJS. Mean age of RGP failures was 27.94 years. Pre- and post-BOSP wear mean LogMAR VA was 1.13 and 0.29, respectively, in RGP failures. The P value was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In patients with SJS, LogMAR VA was 0.84 ± 0.92 before and 0.56 ± 0.89 after lens wear. The P value was statistically significant (P < 0.001). VA improved by >2 lines in 7/20 eyes (35%) with SJS, with improvement in symptoms.

Conclusion:

BOSP improves VA in patients who have irregular astigmatism as in ectasias and RGP failures and improves vision and symptoms in patients with SJS.     

Protective effect of LASIK flap in penetrating keratoplasty following blunt trauma

Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) often results in large and unpredictable refractive errors following suture removal in the postoperative period. Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is an effective means of correcting these errors. However, LASIK following PKP is believed to further weaken an already weak graft-host junction and may predispose such eyes to traumatic dehiscence of the graft-host junction. We describe a case in which the LASIK surgery following PKP seemed to benefit the patient by preventing complete dehiscence of the graft-host junction.     

USEFULNESS OF EVALUATION OF ANTIMEASLES ANTIBODIES IN PRETERM BABIES

As per WHO recommendations, measles vaccine is administered at the age of 9 months which is based on studies demonstrating seroconversion (from positive to negative) at this age. However this contention may not hold good in preterm babies since they may have lower initial levels of passively transferred IgG antimeasles antibodies of maternal origin. To explore this possibility, 50 preterm babies (gestational age less than 37 weeks) were studied for antimeasles antibodies. Serum samples were collected at birth and then at 3 months and 5 months of age in all the cases. Antimeasles antibody assay was done in all the serum samples using ELISA kits. At birth 32% of infants were positive for antimeasles antibodies whereas 60% were weakly positive and 8% were negative. At 3 months of age 50% were sero negative, 2% positive and 40% weakly positive. The sero negativity was found to be 98% at 5 months with only 2% remaining positive. Since seroconversion is seen to occur in this vast majority of preterm infants at the age of 5 months, antimeasles vaccine should be administered at this age to this subset of more vulnerable babies.KEY WORDS: Antimeasles antibodies, Preterm babies, Seroconversion