Dry eye in chronic stroke patients with hemiplegia: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective: Dry eye is reported to be associated with several neurological diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the patients with hemiplegia after stroke for dry eye and compare their results with a control group.

Materials and methods: Forty-five patients with hemiplegia and 45 individuals as the control group were included in the study. Tear function tests (Schirmer and tear breakup time) and a dry eye questionnaire for dry eye symptoms (ocular surface disease index) were performed and the results of the two groups were compared.

Results: Schirmer test results were significantly lower in the post-stroke hemiplegia group compared to the control group (11.3 ± 8.2 mm and 20.6 ± 11.6 mm, respectively, p < .001). Tear breakup time results were significantly lower in the post-stroke hemiplegia group compared to the control group (7.9 ± 3.1 s and 12.1 ± 4.3 s, respectively, p < .001). Ocular surface disease index scores were not significantly different between hemiplegia and control groups (21.6 ± 20.0 and 19.8 ± 13.9, respectively, p = .635). Schirmer scores lower than 10 mm (60% and 30%, p < .001) and tear breakup time results lower than 10 s (65.6% and 28.9%, p < .001) were also higher in the hemiplegia group compared to control group.

Conclusion: We found lower Schirmer test and tear breakup time results and similar OSDI scores in hemiplegia patients compared to controls. Hemiplegia patients may have dry eye without typical symptoms. This should be taken into consideration in the follow-up and rehabilitation of post-stroke hemiplegia patients.     

良性前列腺增生与前列腺慢性炎症的相关性研究进展

良性前列腺增生（BPH）是老年男性常见的泌尿系统疾病，其发病与前列腺慢性炎症之间存在显著相关。感染因子、尿液返流、代谢综合征、衰老过程和自身免疫应答在内的几种刺激，通过相应分子途径引起前列腺免疫细胞的组织定位和组成成分发生广泛改变，从而导致免疫系统失调，之后引发的组织损伤和缓慢愈合，导致了BPH发生和进展。本文通过总结良性前列腺增生与前列腺慢性炎症的相关性的临床研究结果，前列腺免疫细胞在病理生理机制层面与前两者之间的内在联系，以及抗炎药物对BPH-LUTS的干预作用，以其为BPH-LUTS的药物研发提供参考。     

Emerging Viral Infections Causing Anterior Uveitis

Purpose: To review the systemic and ocular manifestations of specific emergent viral infectious diseases relevant to the ophthalmologist with particular emphasis on anterior uveitis

Methods: Review of literature.

Results: Arboviral diseases are among the most important emergent and resurgent human infections, occurring mostly in tropical and subtropical zones, but appearing in virtually all regions of the world as a result of climate change, travel, and globalization. Arboviral infections are transmitted to humans by the bite of hematophagous arthropods, mainly mosquitoes. Systemic disease may range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. A wide variety of ocular manifestations, including uveitis, has been reported in association with these emerging viral diseases. Numerous viruses other than arboviruses also have been recently recognized as a potential cause of uveitis.

Conclusions: Proper clinical diagnosis of any emerging infectious disease is based on epidemiological data, history, systemic symptoms and signs, and the pattern of ocular involvement. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by detection of virus-specific DNA or antivirus antibodies in serum.     

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.     

Caffeic Acid–coated Nanolayer on Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Potentiates the Host Immune Responses,Angiogenesis, and Odontogenesis

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate whether mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) can be modified with caffeic acid (CA) to form caffeic acid/mineral trioxide aggregate (CAMTA) cement and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties as well as its capability in immune suppression and angiogenesis.MethodsMTA was immersed in trishydroxymethyl aminomethane buffer with CA to allow coating onto MTA powders. X-ray diffractometry and tensile stress-strain tests were conducted to assess for physical characteristics of CAMTA and to evaluate for successful modification of MTA. Then, the CAMTA cement was immersed in simulated body fluid to evaluate its hydroxyapatite formation capabilities and Si release profiles. In addition, RAW 264.7 cells and human dental pulp stem cells were used to evaluate CAMTA’s immunosuppressive capabilities and cell responses, respectively. hDPSCs were also used to assess CAMTA’s angiogenic capabilities.ResultsThe X-ray diffractometry results showed that CA can be successfully coated onto MTA without disrupting or losing MTA’s original structural properties, thus allowing us to retain the initial advantages of MTA. CAMTA was shown to have higher mechanical properties compared with MTA and had rougher pitted surfaces, which were hypothesized to lead to enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and secretion of angiogenic- and odontogenic-related proteins. In addition, it was found that CAMTA was able to enhance hydroxyapatite formation and immunosuppressive capabilities compared with MTA.ConclusionsCAMTA cements were found to have improved physicochemical and biological characteristics compared with their counterpart. In addition, CAMTA cements had enhanced odontogenic, angiogenic, and immunosuppressive properties compared with MTA. All of the results of this study proved that CAMTA cements could be a biomaterial for future clinical applications and tissue engineering use.     

Interleukin-11 Overexpression and M2 Macrophage Density are Associated with Angiogenic Activity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the expression of IL-11 and its receptor IL-11Rα and to quantify density of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).     

Vestibular Function Measurement Devices

Vestibular function laboratories utilize a multitude of diagnostic instruments to evaluate a dizzy patient. Caloric irrigators, oculomotor stimuli, and rotational chairs produce a stimulus whose accuracy is required for the patient response to be accurate. Careful attention to everything from cleanliness of equipment to threshold adjustments determine on a daily basis if patient data are going to be correct and useful. Instrumentation specifications that change with time such as speed and temperature must periodically be checked using calibrated instruments.