Changes in aqueous humour following single or repeated UVB irradiation of rabbit cornea

Background Aqueous humour is the main nutritive source for corneal and lenticular tissues, and knowledge of a possible cumulative effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on its metabolic profile might be of great help in the assessment of cataract risks. By using high-resolution ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, it was possible to evaluate the effect of a single and repeated UVB radiation of the rabbit eye with the same overall dose on the aqueous humour. Methods Samples of aqueous humour from twenty-four albino white rabbit eyes were examined for the effects of UVB exposure (312 nm). In the first group (UVB1), four animals were irradiated with a single dose 3.12 J/cm² (21 minutes) of UVB radiation. The animals in the second group (UVB2, n = 4) were irradiated three times for 7 minutes every 2nd day (dose of 1.04 J/cm²; days 1, 3, 5) to give the same overall dose (3.12 J/cm²). The third group (n = 4) served as an untreated control group. ¹H NMR spectra of aqueous humour from all eyes were obtained. Special grouping patterns among the tissue samples and relative percentage changes in particular metabolite concentrations were evaluated using appropriate statistical methods (multivariate analysis, Independent sample t-test). Results Significant alterations in the metabolic profile of aqueous humour from UVR-B exposed rabbit eyes and an apparent cumulative effect of repeated UVB irradiation were observed. Conclusions Application of a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill spin echo pulse sequence was found to have a great advantage for correct analysis of the results obtained with NMR spectroscopy of aqueous humour from eyes where increase of protein level due to an inflammatory process could not be excluded. Grants were received from: The Norwegian Quota Program The Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology The Norwegian Research Council The Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 304/06/1379 The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic AVOZ50390512.     

Sexual life of women with the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome

The course of sexual socialization of 50 women suffering from the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome (SLS), on which the wedge resection of the ovaries was carried out, as examined using the HTDW (heterosexual development of women) questionnaire, did not differ from that of 50 normal women of the same age. Sexual life of SLS patients was examined using an interview and the SAW (sexual activity of women), SFW (sexual function of women), and SAI (sexual arousability inventory) questionnaires. Comparison with the findings in the control group showed that the average score in all the three questionnaires was within normal limits for both groups; the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Among 45 SLS patients who had sexual experience before the surgery, 42 stated that no pronounced changes occurred in their sexual lives after resection of the ovaries.The average value of testosterone in the whole group (0.52 ng/ml plasma) was within normal limits. The level of the male sexual hormone tended to be higher in the subgroup of 19 patients with low orgastic capacity than in the subgroup of 31 orgastic SLS patients. The differences in the average scores of neurotic symptoms in the N₅ questionnaire between the SLS patients and the control group were not significant.On the basis of the above findings, it is concluded that SLS patients, after wedge resection of the ovaries, are not more sexually arousable, more active, or more orgastic than medically healthy women.     

Characterization of four clones derived from human adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29, and analysis of their response to sodium butyrate

The differentiation of colorectal cancer cells is associated with the arrest of tumor growth and tumor regression. However, the mechanism of such tumor cell differentiation has not yet been elucidated. Several adenocarcinoma cell lines, including HT29 which differentiates only upon stimulation with a differentiation agent, have been used for the study of colorectal cells. Since we had previously obtained variable results during analyses of these cells, we selected several clones of this cell line. In this study, four clones of the parental HT29 cells, H8, G9, G10 and A3, were characterized. All of them differentiated upon treatment with sodium butyrate as the differentiation agent but they appeared different in their response regarding some of the markers of differentiation. As revealed by ultrastructural analysis, H8 and G10 clones formed numerous intercellular cysts with microvilli whereas these structures were found only occasionally in G9 and A3 clones. An elevated level of the indicator of cell differentiation, CEACAM 1, was found in H8 and G10 clones and the activity of alkaline phosphatase, another important marker of colorectal cell differentiation, was up-regulated and highly increased upon butyrate treatment in the H8 clone. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased in H8 and A3 butyrate-treated clones. According to the levels of cleaved PARP and activated caspase-3, the apoptotic response to butyrate appeared similar in all four clones, while electronoptic analysis revealed that clones G9 and A3 were more perceptive to butyrate-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, our data showed considerable heterogeneity in morphology and some enzymatic activity of the cloned cells. This fact may contribute to the evidence that many HT29 cells possess multipotent information similar to that of stem cells of the normal intestinal crypt.     

Effect of UV-A and UV-B irradiation on the metabolic profile of aqueous humor in rabbits analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate metabolic changes in aqueous humor from rabbit eyes exposed to either UV-A or -B radiation, by using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and unsupervised pattern recognition METHODS: methods. Both eyes of adult albino rabbits were irradiated with UV-A (366 nm, 0.589 J/cm(2)) or UV-B (312 nm, 1.667 J/cm(2)) radiation for 8 minutes, once a day for 5 days. Three days after the last irradiation, samples of aqueous humor were aspirated, and the metabolic profiles analyzed with (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The metabolic concentrations in the exposed and control materials were statistically analyzed and compared, with multivariate methods and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: UV-B radiation caused statistically significant alterations of betaine, glucose, ascorbate, valine, isoleucine, and formate in the rabbit aqueous humor. By using principal component analysis, the UV-B-irradiated samples were clearly separated from the UV-A-irradiated samples and the control group. No significant metabolic changes were detected in UV-A-irradiated samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential of using unsupervised pattern recognition methods to extract valuable metabolic information from complex (1)H NMR spectra. UV-B irradiation of rabbit eyes led to significant metabolic changes in the aqueous humor detected 3 days after the last exposure.     

The management of strabismus in adults--II. Patient and provider perspectives on the severity of adult strabismus and on outcome contributors.

PURPOSE: As part of a larger study intended to evaluate the management of strabismus in adults, we documented and compared patient and provider perspectives on the various factors that may contribute to treatment outcome and value of strabismus care. METHODS: By completing a questionnaire, 170 patients with strabismus (ages 19 to 87 years) and 11 strabismus specialists who performed surgery on these patients each indicated the relative weight of several disease- and treatment-related contributors to the outcome and value of care. In addition, each respondent rated the severity of the strabismus before and after surgery. RESULTS: Overall severity ratings improved as a result of surgery. The improvement perceived by the physicians was 5.1 +/- 1.7 on a 10-point scale and was larger than the 2.6 +/- 3.6 points improvement perceived by the patients ( P < 0.001). Patients and physicians expressed different views on the relative contributions to outcome and value (overall P < 0.001). Both groups indicated "the condition," "the physician," and "the procedures" as the largest contributors, but "condition" was perceived as more important by the physicians than by the patients ( P < 0.001), and "physician" was more important to the patients than to the physicians ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although in approximate agreement on the main contributors to outcome and value, discrepancies exist between perspectives of patients and physicians on the relative weights of those contributors. Public information, education, and counseling may bring these perspectives better in line and ultimately improve both quality and patient satisfaction.