Effect of Tropicamide on Laser Flare Meter Measurements in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the effect of 1% tropicamide on anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) measurements acquired with laser flare meter in patients with pseudoexfoliation.     

Design and synthesis of novel organometallic complexes using boronated phenylalanine derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Drug design and discovery studies are important because of the prevalence of diseases without available medical cures. New anticancer agents are particularly urgent because of the high mortality rate associated with cancer. A series of mononuclear gold (III) and platinum (II) complexes based on boronated phenylalanine (BPA) were designed and synthesized using 4,4’-dimethyl-2,2’-dipyridyl (L1) or 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dion (L2) ligands to obtain promising anticancer drug candidates. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses were utilized for chemical characterizations. Cell viability, cancer cell colony formation, endothelial tube formation, and cytoskeleton staining assays were performed using A549 lung adenocarcinoma and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate preliminary pharmacological activities. L1-based platinum (II) complex (BPA-L1-Pt) was the most promising complex, and has similar activity with the approved chemotherapy drug cis-platinum. Half maximal inhibitory concentration values for BPA-L1-Pt were 9.15 µM on A549s and 16.61 µM on HUVECs; the values for cis-platinum were 5.24 µM on A549s and 23.14 µM on HUVECs. Consequently, further synthesis studies should be performed to boost the cancer cell selectivity feature of BPA by varying metal and ligand types.     

冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病的外科治疗

目的分析冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病的临床特点,探讨一期外科治疗的方法和临床疗效。方法分析2004年4月至2006年4月冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病患者13例,其中风湿性心脏病联合瓣膜病1例,二尖瓣病变4例,二尖瓣退行性病变3例,主动脉瓣关闭不全3例,升主动脉瘤1例,继发孔房缺1例。因冠心病首诊入院5例,以其他器质性心脏病首诊入院8例。术前有心绞痛症状者8例,无心绞痛5例。体外循环下一期外科治疗。结果无死亡病例,13例均顺利出院。冠脉搭桥+瓣膜置换8例,冠脉搭桥+瓣膜成形3例,冠脉搭桥+Bentall+室壁瘤切除1例,冠脉搭桥+房缺修补1例。手术中搭桥1～3支,平均(1.92±0.73)支。术后1周,左心室舒张末内径(LVDD)为(51.77±2.64)mm,较术前[(58.92±3.81)mm]明显缩小(P<0.05)。随访3个月,心绞痛症状完全消失,心功能(NYHA)明显提高(P<0.05)。结论冠心病合并其他器质性心脏病临床症状无特异性,容易漏诊。虽然手术风险性和难度增加,但未得到血液重建,对患者更将是致命性的灾难,应争取一期手术。     

Evaluation of Tc-99m(V) DMSA for imaging inflammatory lesions: An experimental study

The present study evaluated^99mTc(V) DMSA as an agent for the visualization of inflammatory lesions in comparison to^99mTc(HI) DMSA and^99mTc-HIG. All three radiopharmaceuticals were prepared with commercial kits.^99mTc(V) DMSA was prepared at neutral pH by the addition of first bicarbonate and then pertechnetate to the kit contents. The labeling efficiency was 99% as determined by ITLC. Abscesses were induced by i.m. injection of 50 μl turpentine into the right thighs of 36 Swiss albino mice. Six days later 3.7 MBq of each radiopharmaceutical was i.v. administered to 12 mice. The mice were sacrificed at 1,3,6 and 24 h later. Scintigrams were obtained with a gamma camera. The abscesses were better visualized on scintigrams with^99mTc(V) DMSA compared to^99mTc(III) DMSA, starting at 1 h. The animals were dissected and the organs were removed, weighed and the radioactivity determined with a gamma counter. The abscess to other tissue ratios were higher with^99mTc(V) DMSA than the other radiopharmaceuticals. The max. abscess/muscle ratios were 9.46 ± 3.20 (24 h), 4.19 ± 1.39 (6 h) and 5.98 ± 1.17 (24 h) and max. abscess/blood ratios were 6.22 ± 1.41, 4.09 ± 0.84 and 0.914 ± 0.351 all at 24 h for^99mTc(V) DMSA,^99mTc(III) DMSA and^99mTc-HIG, respectively. Experimental arthritis was produced in 6 New Zealand white rabbits by intra-articular injection of ovalbumin. Four days later 37 MBq of^99mTc(V) DMSA and^99mTc-HIG were each i.v. administered to 3 rabbits. Scintigrams obtained at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h clearly demonstrated arthritic joints. ROFs over arthritic joints were compared to contralateral normal joints (A/C). The max. A/C ratios were 2.10 ± 0.31 (3 h) and 2.92 ± 0.99 (24 h) for^99mTc(V) DMSA and^99mTc-HIG, respectively. Our results indicated the feasibility of imaging inflammatory lesions with^99mTc(V) DMSA.     

Stoma Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding versus Vertical Banded Gastroplasty for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity

Background: Among gastric restrictive operations, the procedure of choice is still controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the results of two different gastric restrictive procedures: vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and stoma adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB). Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 51 patients were treated surgically for morbid obesity: 27 underwent VBG and 24 underwent ASGB. Preoperative body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI) and percentage of ideal body weight (% IBW) were (mean ± SD): 145.7 ± 45.3 kg; 53.9 ± 15.9 kg/m²; 249.1 ± 73.5% respectively in the VBG group. Corresponding figures for the ASBG group were 132.5 ± 22.7 kg; 46.9 ± 7.8 kg/m² and 207.2 ± 35.0%. Results: In the VBG group, the median follow-up period was 26 months (range: 7-47). Eighteen months after the operation BW, BMI, % IBW and percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL) were 85.5 ± 26.8 kg, 31.9 ± 9.8 kg/m², 145.4 ± 43.9% and 74 ± 1% respectively. Complications included incisional hernia (n = 1), and bowel obstruction (n = 1). One patient died of acute myocardial infarction on the third postoperative day. In the ASGB group, median follow-up time was 19.7 months (range: 18-26). At 18 months postoperation BW, BMI, % IBW and % EWL values were 86.6 ± 20.6 kg 30.6 ± 6.6 kg/m2 140.6 ± 29.3% and 64 ± 1% respectively. Gastric wall erosion occurred in two patients and the bands had to be removed. These patients underwent VBG 6 months later. Complications encountered in this group were incisional hernia (n = 1), outlet stenosis and reflux esophagitis (n = 1), reservoir leakage (n = 1) and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). Two patients died of pulmonary embolism and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: Weight reduction was not statistically significant between the two groups. ASGB was easier to perform and less invasive than VBG.     

Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report

Introduction Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus–newborn with a 0.1–10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality’s prognosis is thought to be dismal. This abnormality can be associated with other abnormalities such as anencephaly, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, cyclopia, absence of the mandible, cleft lip and palate, cardiovascular disorders, diaphragmatic hernia, renal abnormalities, overgrowth of the arms compared to the legs, and club food and gastrointestinal atresia. Discussion Most of the patients are dead born, and the others die in a few hours. There are only six previously documented long-term survivors. In our case, our patient with iniencephalic signs and findings is still living. She is 2 years old now. We think that this patient presents a mild form of iniencephaly.     

Serum iron levels in schizophrenic patients with or without akathisia.

The pathophysiology of akathisia still remains controversial. Iron deficiency was proposed to be an important factor in the development of akathisia. In the present study, it was aimed to compare levels of serum iron and linked variables in chronic akathisic (n=30), and non-akathisic patients (n=30) with schizophrenia and healthy controls (n=30) because of the controversy in the association of iron and akathisia. The Barnes Akathisia Scale for akathisia and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale for extrapyramidal side effects were used. Serum iron and linked variables and hematological profile of the patients and control subjects were determined. Serum iron levels were significantly lower both in akathisic and non-akathisic groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, akathisic patients had significantly lower iron levels than non-akathisic patients (P<0.05). Total iron binding capacity was significantly higher in patients with akathisia compared to the control group (P<0.01). Although non-akathisic patients had a mild increase in total iron binding capacity, it was not statistically significant compared to the control group (P>0.05). Ferritin levels were determined to be significantly lower in both groups compared to the control group (P<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in ferritin levels between the patients with and without akathisia (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that an association between akathisia and iron metabolism exists.