Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), also called the human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus [HTLV-III/LAV], has affected over 23,000 people; more than half of those with the disease have died. The actual case fatality rate approaches 100%. AIDS affects all groups and classes of people, although some are at special risk. Distribution of the disease is worldwide. The illness' effects on the body are widespread; of special interest are the ophthalmologic manifestations. The eye may be infected by various viruses (cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simples virus or HIV itself), toxoplasma gondii, candida sp, cryptococcus neoformans, M. tuberculosis, or M. avium-intracellulare. Kaposi's sarcoma may affect the eye as well. Retinal vascular abnormalities (e.g., cotton-wool spots, vasculitis) are not uncommon in AIDS. The syndrome may present with neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations. No effective treatment for the illness is currently available, although several hold promise and there is hope for an AIDS vaccine. Prevention of infection through reduction of risks appears to be the only defense against AIDS at this time.     

Imaging in glaucoma

Structural assessment using the imaging technologies discussed herein provides reproducible quantitative measurements of posterior segment ocular structures. These measurements have been found to provide useful data for glaucoma detection in various regions of the posterior segment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the utility of these technologies for pre-perimetric glaucoma detection and for monitoring glaucoma progression over an extended period.     

Parathyroid surgery and methylene blue: A review with guidelines for safe intraoperative use

Methylene blue has been used to help facilitate parathyroid surgery for over 30 years. Its use has been widely considered both safe and cost effective. Twenty‐six cases of a toxic metabolic encephalopathy, however, have been reported with its use. As a result, some surgeons have stopped using this technique altogether. It is now known that methylene blue is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. When combined with drugs that increase central serotonin neurotransmission, serotonin toxicity results. This is the cause of the encephalopathy described in the literature. A case report, review of the literature, and guidelines as to its proper use are presented so as to allow for safe parathyroid surgery. Laryngoscope, 2009     

Tea and cancer prevention: studies in animals and humans

The role of tea in protection against cancer has been supported by ample evidence from studies in cell culture and animal models. However, epidemiological studies have generated inconsistent results, some of which associated tea with reduced risk of cancer, whereas others found that tea lacks protective activity against certain human cancers. These results raise questions about the actual role of tea in human cancer that needs to be addressed. This article is intended to provide a better perspective on this controversy by summarizing the laboratory studies in animals and humans with emphasis on animal tumor bioassays on skin, lung, mammary glands and colon, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms affected by tea. Finally, a recent small pilot intervention study with green tea in smokers is presented.     

A new heparin fragment decreases liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

<正>To the Editor:Ischemia-reperfusion injury following surgery and transplantation can lead to irreversible multiorgan failure.Intracellular calcium overload is associated to cellular death during ischemiareperfusion.A recently discovered heparin fragment (HF),trisulfated disaccharide (TD),that acts on sodium-calcium exchanger(NCX) decreasing intracellular Ca²⁺,showed effectiveness on protecting hepatocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury [1],     

Validation of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Moist Desquamation among Breast Radiotherapy Patients

There has been an increasing interest in patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in both the clinical and research settings to improve the quality of life among patients and to identify when clinical intervention may be needed. The primary purpose of this prospective study was to validate an acute breast skin toxicity PRO measure across a broad sample of patient body types undergoing radiation therapy. Between August 2018 and September 2019, 134 women undergoing adjuvant breast radiotherapy (RT) consented to completing serial PRO measures both during and post-RT treatment and to having their skin assessed by trained trial radiation therapists. There was high patient compliance, with 124 patients (92.5%) returning to the clinic post-RT for at least one staff skin assessment. Rates of moist desquamation (MD) in the infra-mammary fold (IMF) by PRO were compared with skin assessments completed by trial radiation therapists. There was high sensitivity (86.5%) and good specificity (79.4%) between PRO and staff-reported presence of MD in the IMF, and there was a moderate correlation between the peak severity of the MD reported by PRO and assessed by staff (rho = 0.61, p < 0.001). This prospective study validates a new PRO measure to monitor the presence of MD in the IMF among women receiving breast RT.