Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.     

Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa

Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index ([ATP + 0.5 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality.     

Comparison of assays for determination of peptide content for lyophilized thymalfasin*

Abstract: Precise determination of the peptide content in drug substance samples depends highly upon the particular peptide compound and methodology used. Four independent methods were evaluated and compared to determine which would produce the best experimental precision for analysis of thymalfasin (thymosin α‐1). Four different methods were evaluated including elemental analysis (CHN), quantitative amino acid analysis (AAA), high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Kjeldahl. This study demonstrates that the AAA method is highly variable in one laboratory while quite precise in another laboratory. Similarly, HPLC results depended on the laboratory conducting the study with more precise values obtained under cGMP. On the contrary, the CHN method yielded highly precise [i.e. <2% coefficient of variation (CV)] values. As precise knowledge of protein content is fundamental for the compounding of final pharmaceutical product of a specific potency, the CHN analysis is recommended for peptide content determination of the drug substance thymalfasin.     

Bone growth patterns in Chinese children and adolescents: a 6-year follow-up study provides evidence for sexual dimorphism and tracking

Summary We prospectively examined bone growth patterns in 894 children aged 6–17 years at the baseline visit, with a 6-year follow-up. Results show bone “tracking” over a six-year interval and sexual dimorphism of bone attained levels and timing of peak bone growth. Our findings underscore childhood and adolescence as critical periods for building bone and developing gender differences. Introduction Bone growth patterns were prospectively examined in 894 Chinese children (496 males), aged 6–17 yrs, from a population-based twin cohort. Whole-body bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by DEXA at baseline and a 6-yr follow-up. Methods Graphic smoothing plots and generalized estimating equations were used to model bone attained levels, growth, and “tracking”. Results Attained levels of BMC and BA increased curvilinearly with age. Male attained levels were higher than females after age ∼15 yr, but BMD was lower between 13–17 yrs (Tanner stage I to IV). In both genders, peak BMC and BMD growth lagged ∼2 yrs behind peak BA growth, which lagged 2 yrs behind peak height growth. Peak bone growth occurred 1–3 yrs later in males. Over the 6-yr follow-up, all bone measurements “tracked”, but “shifting” across ranks also occurred, and baseline tertile ranking influenced bone growth. Females with early menarche had higher attained levels than females with late menarche at age 12–13 yrs. Conclusion Our findings confirm and expand previous studies on peak bone growth conducted in Caucasian cohorts, particularly sexually dimorphic and maturational effects. The significant “tracking” of bone measurements in this 6-yr follow-up study underscores the importance that osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood and adolescence. Fengxiu Ouyang and Binyan Wang contributed equally to this article. Source(s) of support: This study is supported in part by grant R01 HD049059, R01 HL0864619 and R01 AR045651 from the National Institute of Health and by the Food Allergy Project.     

接触镜与泪液形态关系的临床评价

目的 :观察配戴不同种类接触镜后眼表面泪膜的形态、稳定性及泪液量的变化。方法 :对日戴SCL、RGPCL和Ortho KCL的 2 14名近视患者 4 2 8只眼 ,利用表面泪膜观察装置 (DR 1)观察戴镜前后眼表泪液膜和戴镜状态下镜上泪液膜的形态分级 ,同时测定泪膜破裂时间 (BUT)。利用酚红染色棉丝测定SCL戴镜前后的泪液量 ,并用折射仪 (AtagoCL 1)测量SCL含水量的变化。结果 :SCL配戴者随戴镜时间延长 ,BUT明显缩短 (P <0 .0 1) ,RGPCL和Ortho KCL配戴者戴镜 5年以内 ,BUT无明显变化 (P >0 .0 5 )。戴镜后RGPCL ,Ortho KCL和非戴镜正常眼三组间眼表泪膜分级比例差异无显著性 ,SCL组Ⅰ级比例为 6 .5 % ,显著低于其他组(16 .1%～ 2 3.0 % )。镜上泪膜 ,SCL、RGPCL和Ortho KCL三组均以Ⅳ级为主 (分别占 5 4 .4 %、5 3.4 %和 5 1.5 % ) ,SCLⅠ级比例仅 1.9% ,显著低于另二组 (分别占 6 .2 %和 12 .4 % )。SCL配戴者随戴镜时间延长 ,泪液量轻度减少 ,SCL含水量在戴镜 1w后即显著降低。结论 :科学配戴接触镜对泪液膜质量无明显影响 ,但SCL长期使用可能对泪膜有一定干扰作用。     

As_2O_3诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡及对Fas表达和钙含量的影响

化疗在原发性肝癌的综合治疗中占重要地位.为寻找肝癌治疗新的有效药物,我们观察了As2O3对人肝癌细胞株BEL7402的生物学效应,以期为As2O3临床治疗肝癌提供实验依据.