Focal electroretinograms and fundus appearance in nonexudative age-related macular degeneration

· Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the focal electroretinogram (FERG), an objective indicator of outer retinal function, in nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (NE-AMD), and to compare FERG results with morphological lesions assessed by stereoscopic fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms. · Methods: Twenty-five patients (25 eyes) with bilateral NE-AMD (visual acuity of the study eyes ≥0.4) as well as 10 age- and sex-matched control subjects (10 eyes) were evaluated. FERGs were recorded from the macular region (9°) in response to sinusoidal stimuli flickered at 32 Hz. Amplitude and phase angle of the Fourier-analyzed FERG fundamental component were measured. Fundus lesions were graded from color slides according to the Wisconsin age-related maculopathy grading system [15]. Fluorescein angiograms were evaluated by an image analysis technique to compute the area with pathological hyperfluorescence (associated with drusen and/or retinal pigment epithelial atrophy) within the macular (approximately 9°×9°) region. · Results: Compared to control eyes, NE-AMD eyes had a reduction in the mean FERG amplitude (57% loss, P<0.001) with no phase changes. Amplitudes of individual affected eyes were negatively correlated with either the Wisconsin grading score (r=–0.63, P<0.001) or the percentage area of pathological hyperfluorescence (r=–0.70, P<0.01). Eyes with minimal NE-AMD lesions (Wisconsin score ≤6) and normal acuity had a lower mean amplitude (47% loss, P<0.05) than that of control eyes. · Conclusions: The results indicate that, in NE-AMD, the FERG is altered in parallel with the extent and severity of fundus lesions. However, a functional impairment of outer macular layers, which is detected by FERG losses, could precede morphological changes typical of more advanced disease. Received: 6 March 1998 Revised version received: 5 June 1998 Accepted: 17 June 1998     

Organophosphorus pesticide exposure decreases sperm quality: association between sperm parameters and urinary pesticide levels

Several studies have suggested that human semen quality has declined over the past decades and some of them have associated it with occupational exposure to pesticides. However, most of these studies have not been associated with a reliable exposure level and have been designed mostly as cross-sectional studies. The present work evaluates, in a longitudinal follow-up study, the effect of organophosphate pesticides (OP) at three occupational exposure levels on semen quality. In addition, the study examined the association between OP urinary levels and sperm parameters in exposed and unexposed workers. A total of 139 semen samples from 52 volunteers were assessed. Urinary OP levels were measured by gas-liquid chromatography.The results revealed that the poorest semen quality was found among the subjects with the highest OP exposure and the highest urinary OP levels. Seasonal variations in sperm concentration and sperm count were registered.The results showed a significant decrease in total sperm count among subjects with the highest exposure to OP. Further studies assessing the effects of OP on male reproductive health should be controlled by the variability in human sperm parameters, sperm seasonality, spermatogenesis time and the changing OP exposure level in men highly exposed to OP.     

新型分子靶向药物联合放疗在肺癌中的应用

非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)约占肺癌总病例数的80%-85%,对于III期患者 来说,NSCLC约占肺癌总病例数的40%.不可切除III期NSCLC的治疗为以铂类为基础的化疗联合胸部放疗. 本文将综述正在研发中且有可能用于联合治疗的新型靶向制剂.其中最具前景的策略之一为表皮生长因子受 体(epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR)通路的抑制.放疗可激活EGFR信号,通过诱导细胞增殖并增强DNA 修复而导致放疗抵抗.几项临床前模型研究表明西妥昔单抗与放疗联合具有协同效应.几项II期试验评估了西 妥昔单抗与放疗同步使用的安全性与疗效,结果喜人.吉非替尼对多种细胞系具有放疗增敏作用,其与放疗 的联合已被试验用于不可切除III期NSCLC的治疗.然而,放化疗后使用吉非替尼作为维持治疗的结果不容乐 观.一项I期试验评估了厄洛替尼与放化疗联合的疗效.放疗可通过损伤细胞膜、DNA以及微血管内皮细胞而 诱导肿瘤死亡,而这反过来可增加促血管生成生长因子的产生.抗血管生长制剂可降低血管密度,但可改善 肿瘤的含氧量.应用血管内皮生长因子受体(vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, VEGFR)抑制剂可通过阻 断亚致死量辐射损伤的修复而增强放疗对人NSCLC的疗效.厄洛替尼、贝伐珠单抗与胸部放疗联合试验正在 进行中.该三种药物联合治疗的新策略尚需制订.由于放疗可增强HSP90分子伴侣的功能从而引起肺癌细胞的 放疗抵抗,此通路的阻断剂可通过抑制HIF-1α和VEGF的表达进而抑制肺癌细胞的生存和血管生成,因而可能 用于减少放疗抵抗.在NSCLC和间皮瘤的临床前模型中,Aurora激酶抑制剂似乎对放疗具有增效作用.     

Grape seed extract suppresses MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell migration and invasion

Background and aim

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women. In metastasis, cascade migration of cancer cells and invasion of extracellular matrix (ECM) represent critical steps. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), as well as metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, strongly contribute to ECM remodelling, thus becoming associated with tumour migration and invasion. In addition, the high expression of cytoskeletal (CSK) proteins, as fascin, has been correlated with clinically aggressive metastatic tumours, and CSK proteins are thought to affect the migration of cancer cells. Consumption of fruits and vegetables, characterized by high procyanidin content, has been associated to a reduced mortality for breast cancer. Therefore, we investigated the biological effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on the highly metastatic MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell line, focusing on studying GSE ability in inhibiting two main metastatic processes, i.e., cell migration and invasion.

Methods

After MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells stimulated with GSE migration and invasion were evaluated by means of trans-well assays and uPA as well as MMPs activity was detected by gelatin zymography. Fascin, β-catenin and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression were determined using western blot technique. β-Catenin localization was observed by confocal microscopy.

Results

We observed that high concentrations of GSE inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis. Conversely, low GSE concentration decreased cell migration and invasion, likely by hampering β-catenin expression and localization, fascin and NF-κB expression, as well as by decreasing the activity of uPA, MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Conclusions

These results make GSE a powerful candidate for developing preventive agents against cancer metastasis.     

Laparoscopic ICG-guided RALPPS procedure for HCC on cirrhosis with 3D reconstruction implementation: a case report

We present a fully laparoscopic partial RALPPS (radiofrequency-assisted liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy) on a cirrhotic 71-year...     

Calcimimetics maintain bone turnover in uremic rats despite the concomitant decrease in parathyroid hormone concentration

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Biosutures improve healing of experimental weak colonic anastomoses

Purpose  

Use of biosutures in animal models of colonic anastomoses is associated with decreased adhesions without affecting anastomotic strength. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of biosutures on colonic anastomoses kept free of adhesions by peritoneal instillation of icodextrin 4%.