Effects of consumption of contaminated feed with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the rat tibia: analysis by Raman spectroscopy and mechanical properties

Lasers in Medical Science - Studies reported the harmful effects of 2,4-D on body tissues, provoking changes in the anatomy and physiology of the kidneys, liver, and testicles. Thus, the objective...     

Comparison of angioplasty with infusion of tirofiban or abciximab and with implantation of sirolimus-eluting or uncoated stents for acute myocardial infarction: the MULTISTRATEGY randomized trial

Context  Abciximab infusion and uncoated-stent implantation is a complementary treatment strategy to reduce major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is uncertain whether there may be similar benefits in replacing abciximab with high-dose bolus tirofiban. Similarly, the use of drug-eluting stents in this patient population is currently discouraged because of conflicting results on efficacy reported in randomized trials and safety concerns reported by registries. Objective  To evaluate the effect of high-dose bolus tirofiban and of sirolimus-eluting stents as compared with abciximab infusion and uncoated-stent implantation in patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Design, Setting, and Patients  An open-label, 2 x 2 factorial trial of 745 patients presenting with STEMI or new left bundle-branch block at 16 referral centers in Italy, Spain, and Argentina between October 2004 and April 2007. Interventions  High-dose bolus tirofiban vs abciximab infusion and sirolimus-eluting stent vs uncoated stent implantation. Main Outcome Measures  For drug comparison, at least 50% ST-segment elevation resolution at 90 minutes postintervention with a prespecified noninferiority margin of 9% difference (relative risk, 0.89); for stent comparison, the rate of major adverse cardiac events, defined as the composite of death from any cause, reinfarction, and clinically driven target-vessel revascularization within 8 months. Results  ST-segment resolution occurred in 302 of 361 patients (83.6%) who had received abciximab infusion and 308 of 361 (85.3%) who had received tirofiban infusion (relative risk, 1.020; 97.5% confidence interval, 0.958-1.086; P < .001 for noninferiority). Ischemic and hemorrhagic outcomes were similar in the tirofiban and abciximab groups. At 8 months, major adverse cardiac events occurred in 54 patients (14.5%) with uncoated stents and 29 (7.8%) with sirolimus stents (P = .004), predominantly reflecting a reduction of revascularization rates (10.2% vs 3.2%). The incidence of stent thrombosis was similar in the 2 stent groups. Conclusions  In patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, compared with abciximab, tirofiban therapy was associated with noninferior resolution of ST-segment elevation at 90 minutes following coronary intervention, whereas sirolimus-eluting stent implantation was associated with a significantly lower risk of major adverse cardiac events than uncoated stents within 8 months after intervention. Trial Registration  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00229515      

Histopathologic study of corneal stromal dystrophies: a 10-year experience

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and describe the histopathologic features of stromal corneal dystrophies over a 10-year period. METHODS: A single-centered, retrospective analysis was performed on corneal specimens diagnosed as stromal dystrophies retrieved from the Henry C. Witelson Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and Registry (Montreal, Canada) over a period of 10 years. Corneal specimens obtained during keratoplasty were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and other special staining. RESULTS: During the period of the study, 885 corneal specimens from penetrating keratoplasties were received. Twenty-six (2.9%) specimens from a total of 22 patients showed stromal corneal dystrophies: 17 (65.4%) eyes with lattice dystrophy, 5 (19.2%) eyes with combined granular/lattice ("Avellino") dystrophy, 3 (11.5%) eyes with granular dystrophy, and 1 (3.9%) eye with macular dystrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal stromal dystrophies have distinct histopathologic features, which can be diagnosed with routine and special staining, particularly for combined granular/lattice (Avellino) dystrophy. Clinically, combined granular/lattice (Avellino) dystrophy can have features of both lattice and granular dystrophies, which can be misleading for diagnosis. Lattice dystrophy was the most frequent stromal dystrophy in this particular population.     

Primary piggyback implantation using the Tecnis ZM900 multifocal intraocular lens: case series

PURPOSE: To assess the postoperative outcomes of primary piggyback implantation using the Tecnis ZM900 multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) (Advanced Medical Optics). SETTING: Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. METHODS: Patients who had phacoemulsification with primary piggyback IOL implantation were analyzed prospectively. In all cases, a Tecnis ZM900 multifocal IOL was implanted in the capsular bag and a second silicone IOL was implanted in the ciliary sulcus. Information collected included near and distance uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and the spherical equivalent (SE) before and after the surgery. RESULTS: Twenty eyes of 12 patients were included in the study. They were followed for 6 months. The mean preoperative distance UCVA was 20/400. At the last follow-up (6 months), the mean distance UCVA was 20/29, significantly better than before referral (P<.001). The mean preoperative SE was +6.35 diopters (D) +/- 2.25 (SD). Six months after surgery, the mean SE was -0.25 +/- 0.40 D (range -1.00 to +0.50 D), significantly better than before referral (P<.001). No patient lost lines of BCVA after surgery. At the last follow-up, 90% of the eyes achieved a near UCVA of J1 and 83.3% of patients were spectacle independent for near and distance vision. A second refractive procedure was performed in 2 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Primary piggyback implantation using the Tecnis ZM900 multifocal IOL was a simple, safe, and accurate option for patients with high hyperopia who wanted to reduce their dependency on spectacles.     

Primary piggyback implantation using the ReSTOR intraocular lens: case series

PURPOSE: To assess the postoperative outcomes of piggyback implantation using the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL) (model SA60D3, Alcon Surgical Laboratories). SETTING: Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. METHODS: Thirteen eyes of 7 patients who had phacoemulsification with piggyback IOL implantation were analyzed prospectively. In all cases, a ReSTOR IOL was implanted in the capsular bag and a second silicone IOL was implanted in the ciliary sulcus. Information collected included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at near and distance, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and spherical equivalent (SE) before and after surgery. RESULTS: The patients were followed for 12 months. The mean distance UCVA was 0.25 (20/80) preoperatively and 0.88 (20/23) at the last follow-up (1 year), which was significantly better than before surgery (P<.05). The mean SE was +4.25 diopters (D) +/- 1.5 (SD) preoperatively and +0.15 +/- 0.44 D (range -0.50 to +0.75 D) at 1 year, which was significantly better than preoperatively (P<.05). No patient lost lines of BCVA after surgery. At the last follow-up, all eyes had a near UCVA of J1 and none required spectacles for near or distance vision. CONCLUSION: Piggyback implantation using the ReSTOR IOL appeared to be a safe and efficient procedure providing high-quality visual acuity for near and distance vision in selected patients.     

Increased Risk of Infections with Anti-TNF Agents in Patients with Crohn’s Disease After Elective Surgery: Meta-Analysis

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Postoperative complication rates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving preoperative biologics have been analyzed without considering the...     

Exercise training improves the IL-10/TNF-α cytokine balance in the gastrocnemius of rats with heart failure

Objective

This study examined the effects of exercise training (ExT) upon concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the gastrocnemius of rats with heart failure (HF) induced by left coronary artery ligation.