Effects of primary selective laser trabeculoplasty on anterior segment parameters

AIM:To investigate the effects of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) on the main numerical parameters of anterior segment with Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).METHODS: Pentacam measurements of 45 eyes of 25 (15 females and 10 males) patients (12 with OHT, 13 with POAG) before and after SLT were obtained. Measurements were taken before and 1 and 3mo after SLT. Pentacam parameters were compared between OHT and POAG patients, and age groups (60y and older, and younger than 60y).RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.8±13.9 (range 20-77y). Twelve patients (48%) were younger than 60y, while 13 patients (52%) were 60y and older. Measurements of pre-SLT and post-SLT 1mo were significantly different for the parameters of central corneal thickness (CCT) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) (P<0.05). These parameters returned back to pre-SLT values at post-SLT 3mo. Decrease of ACV at post-SLT 1mo was significantly higher in younger than 60y group than 60y and older group. There was no statistically significant difference in Pentacam parameters between OHT and POAG patients at pre- and post-treatment measurements (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:SLT leads to significant increase in CCT and decrease in ACV at the 1^st month of the procedure. Effects of SLT on these anterior segment parameters, especially for CCT that interferes IOP measurement, should be considered to ensure accurate clinical interpretation.     

p53 point mutations in primary human gastric carcinomas

Summary p53 point mutations in primary gastric carcinomas were analyzed by performing cDNA deoxynucleotide sequencing of the gene. Out of 16,9 (56.3%) primary gastric carcinoma cases, including early cancer, showed one or more p53 point mutations in their open-reading frame, and 4 out of 9 cases had a p53 point mutation within highly conserved domains. The characteristics of the p53 mutation spectrum observed in primary tumors were (a) frequent mutation at an A:T pair (50%, 7 out of 14 mutations), (b) high transversion incidence (29%, 4 out of 14 mutations), (c) no transition at CpG, and (d) no G:C to T:A transversion. Our results suggest that p53 mutation is a common event in gastric carcinoma occurring from the early stage of progression with its specific mutation spectrum.Abbreviation PCR-SSCP polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism     

Pulsed Doppler tissue imaging can help to identify patients with right ventricular infarction

This study was planned to assess whether tissue Doppler imaging is a useful method for the detection of the right ventricular myocardial infarction. Forty-eight patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Twenty-four patients had electrocardiographic signs of inferior myocardial infarction without right ventricular infarction (group I), and the other 24 patients had electrocardiographic signs of inferior myocardial infarction with right ventricular infarction (group II). From the echocardiographic apical four-chamber view, peak systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic velocities of the tricuspid annulus at the right ventricular free wall were recorded with the use of pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging. The tricuspid annular peak tissue Doppler imaging systolic velocity was significantly lower in group I (14.03 ± 2.57cm/s, P 0.005) and in group II (8.50 ± 0.84cm/s, P 0.005) than in controls (16.63 ± 2.31cm/s). The tricuspid annular peak systolic (8.50 ± 0.84cm/s vs 16.63 ± 2.31cm/s) and peak early diastolic (10.99 ± 3.28cm/s vs 19.39 ± 4.3cm/s) velocities were significantly lower in group II than in group I, as compared with controls (P 0.001). Peak early diastolic velocity of tricuspid annulus (10.99 ± 3.28cm/s vs 19.39 ± 4.3cm/s) was significantly lower in group I than in controls (P 0.001); however, late diastolic velocity was significantly lower in group II (15.98 ± 5.08cm/s, P 0.05) than in group I (18.21 ± 2.63cm/s, P 0.05) and in controls (19.02 ± 5.29cm/s). The results of this study indicate that tricuspid annular peak systolic and early diastolic velocities are reduced in patients with right ventricular infarction. The velocity of the tricuspid annulus by tissue Doppler imaging is simple and can be used to distinguish whether patients with inferior myocardial infarction have right ventricular infarction.This study was presented at the XXIII. Congress of the European Society of Cardiology, Stockholm, Sweden, 1–5 September 2001     

Melatonin ameliorates oxidative organ damage induced by acute intra-abdominal compartment syndrome in rats

Acutely increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) can lead to multiple organ failure. As blood flow to intra-abdominal organs is reduced by high venous resistance, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury plays an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) following IAP. Melatonin, a secretory product of the pineal gland, is known to have free radical scavenging and antioxidative properties in several oxidative processes. The objective of this study was to examine the potential protective properties of melatonin on the oxidative organ damage in a rat model of ACS. Under ketamine anesthesia, an arterial catheter was inserted intraperioneally (i.p.) and using an aneroid manometer connected to the catheter, IAP was kept at 20 mmHg (ischemia group; I) for 1 hr. In the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, pressure applied for an hour was decompressed and a 1-hr reperfusion period was allowed. In another IR group, melatonin was administered (10 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately before the decompression of IAP. The results demonstrate that tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO; index of tissue neutrophil infiltration) were elevated, while glutathione (GSH; a key to antioxidant) levels were reduced in both I and I/R groups (P < 0.05-0.001). Melatonin treatment in I/R rats reversed these changes (P < 0.01-0.001). Moreover, melatonin given to the I/R group reduced the elevations in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen levels and abolished the increase in serum creatinine levels. Our results indicate that melatonin, because of antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, ameliorates reperfusion-induced oxidative organ damage. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the therapeutic value of melatonin as a 'reperfusion injury-limiting' agent must be considered in ACS.     

Plasma homocysteine levels in polycystic ovary syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH) are related to hyperhomocysteinemia, and to investigate if there is a correlation between homocysteine levels and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS and CAH. Fifty patients with PCOS, 50 patients with CAH and 25 control women were included in the study. Blood samplings were performed in the early follicular phase for measuring hormone profile, Vitamin B(12), folate, homocysteine levels and fasting blood glucose. Ovulatory status was assessed with timed serum progesterone measurements. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as a measure of insulin resistance. Mean homocysteine levels were found as (8.9 + 1.9 micromol/l and 17.7 + 3.6 micromol/l) in the normal group and PCOS respectively (p<0.001), but there was no statistical significance between nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (9.0 + 2.2 micromol/l) and control group. Most of the patients in PCOS group (35 of 50) were significantly insulin resistant. However, there was no insulin resistant patient in CAH or control group. When we compare the two subgroups of PCOS women, the patients with insulin resistance had significantly higher homocysteine levels than the ones who were not insulin resistant. There were positive correlations among serum homocysteine, insulin and androgen levels in PCOS patients. There were no correlations among these parameters in CAH and control groups. Increased homocysteine levels may contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk in patients with PCOS. The reason for hyperhomocysteinemia seems to be related to insulin resistance but not high androgen levels.     

Ultrastructural Damage in Vascular Endothelium in Rats Treated with Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin

Endothelium is the first physiological barrier between blood and tissues and can be injured by physical or chemical stress, particularly by the drugs used in the cancer therapy. Paclitaxel and doxorubicin are frequently used anticancer drugs and their cardiac side effects are well observed in clinical setting. Their side effects on the endothelium are still not clear enough. There are few investigations assessing the damages elicited by the combination use of chemotherapy agents in animal experimental models. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the side effects of doxorubicin and paclitaxel on endothelium in vivo. The drugs were administered weekly to rats via intraperitoneal injections singly or in combinations. Lastly, aorta endothelium was examined. The most familiar parts of the aorta endothelium are the nucleus, free ribosomes, Weibel-Palada granules, plasmalemmal vesicles, and clear basement membrane. Examination of the endothelium and the related structures revealed some clear degenerative findings. Notably, administration of a paclitaxel and doxorubicin combinations caused the most dramatic change in ultrastructure, which may disrupt many functions of the endothelium.