Combined autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance for brain tumour surgical guidance: initial ex vivo study results

This ex vivo study was conducted to assess the potential of using a fibre optic probe system based on autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance for tissue differentiation in the brain. A total of 180 optical measurements were acquired from 28 brain specimens (five patients) with eight excitation and emission wavelengths spanning from 300 to 700 nm. Partial least square-linear discriminant analysis (PLS-LDA) was used for tissue discrimination. Leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) was then used to evaluate the performance of the classification model. Grey matter was differentiated from tumour tissue with sensitivity of 89.3% and specificity of 92.5%. The variable importance in projection (VIP) derived from the PLS regression was applied to wavelengths selection, and identified the biochemical sources of the detected signals. The initial results of the study were promising and point the way towards a cost-effective, miniaturized hand-held probe for real time and label-free surgical guidance.     

Synthesis and analgesic activity of new heterocyclic compounds derived from monoterpenoids

A set of new heterocyclic compounds with different types of framework, including a new type of framework, were synthesized by reactions of verbenol epoxide and (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol with aromatic aldehydes containing three methoxy groups. The analgesic activity of these substances was studied. Three compounds possessed considerable activity in vivo in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. (2S,4R,4aR,8S,8aR)-4,7-Dimethyl-2-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-3,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-4,8-epoxychromene exhibited high analgesic activity in both acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests; its selectivity index IS₅₀ exceeded 60.     

Allergic sensitization in kidney‐transplanted patients prevails under tacrolimus treatment

Background Type I allergies have repeatedly been reported after solid organ transplantation despite T cell‐targeted immunosuppressive therapy. A causal relationship with tacrolimus has been proposed. Objective The present study directly compared the occurrence of allergic sensitization and disease under tacrolimus‐ vs. cyclosporin A‐based immunosuppressive therapy. Methods The prevalences of IgE‐mediated sensitization and allergy were assessed in a cross‐sectional study of kidney‐transplanted adults receiving tacrolimus (n=100) or cyclosporin A (n=100). Methods included a standardized questionnaire, skin prick test and measurement of total and specific IgE against common nutritive and inhalant allergens. Results The prevalence of sensitization was significantly higher in the tacrolimus‐ than in the cyclosporin A‐treated group (34%, n=34, vs. 20%, n=20; P=0.026). The rate of clinically relevant allergy in patients receiving tacrolimus was twice that in patients receiving cyclosporin A (15%, n=15, vs. 8%, n=8; P=0.12). No other factor (age, serum drug level, concomitant immunosuppressive medication, time since transplantation, underlying disease) was found to have an influence on sensitization or allergy prevalence (logistic regression). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Our results suggest that post‐transplant immunosuppression with tacrolimus is associated with an increased occurrence of IgE‐mediated sensitization and probably manifestation of allergic disease, which has to be treated specifically despite immunosuppressive therapy. Cite this as: S. Gruber, K. Tiringer, E. Dehlink, T. Eiwegger, E. Mayer, H. Konstantin, Z. Kikic, A. Graf and Z. Szépfalusi, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1125–1132.     

Short-term variability of systemic blood pressure and submacular choroidal blood flow in eyes of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose  

To analyse short-term variability of systemic blood pressure and choroidal blood flow in glaucoma patients, and compare them with ocular hypertensive patients and controls.