Inhibitory effect of crocin(s) on lens crystallin glycation and aggregation, results in the decrease of the risk of diabetic cataract

The current study investigates the inhibitory effect of crocin(s), also known as saffron apocarotenoids, on protein glycation and aggregation in diabetic rats, and α-crystallin glycation. Thus, crocin(s) were administered by intraperitoneal injection to normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The cataract progression was recorded regularly every two weeks and was classified into four stages. After eight weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the parameters involved in the cataract formation were measured in the animal lenses. Some parameters were also determined in the serum and blood of the rats. In addition, the effect of crocin(s) on the structure and chaperone activity of α-crystallin in the presence of glucose was studied by different methods. Crocin(s) lowered serum glucose levels of diabetic rats and effectively maintained plasma total antioxidants, glutathione levels and catalase activity in the lens of the animals. In the in vitro study, crocin(s) inhibited α-crystallin glycation and aggregation. Advanced glycation end products fluorescence, hydrophobicity and protein cross-links were also decreased in the presence of crocin(s). In addition, the decreased chaperone activity of α-crystallin in the presence of glucose changed and became close to the native value by the addition of crocin(s) in the medium. Crocin(s) thus showed a powerful inhibitory effect on α-crystallin glycation and preserved the structure-function of this protein. Crocin(s) also showed the beneficial effects on prevention of diabetic cataract. © 2016 by the authors

Effects of sutureless amniotic membrane patching with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) on experimental corneal alkali burn in dogs

This study was performed to evaluate the surgical technique required and the clinical usefulness of tissue adhesive (2-Octyl cyanoacrylate) combined with amniotic membrane (AM) patching in the treatment of experimental corneal burn in dogs. Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of dogs by applying a round filter paper, 6.0 mm in diameter, soaked in 1 M NaOH for 60 s. Only one eye in each dog was used. A total of 15 dogs were divided into three groups of five animals each: (1) uncovered-control, (2) covered by AM with the amnion cell side down and secured with 10-0 nylon sutures to the cornea around the wound area-AM + suture, and (3) covered by sutureless AM patching secured with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond)-AM + glue. The operating time was compared between both treatment groups. Clinical outcome was monitored by evaluation of epithelial defects, corneal opacity, duration of blepharospasm, time of AM persistence, corneal vascularisation, and duration of ocular discharge. The mean surgery time in AM + suture group was significantly longer than AM + glue group. AM persistence in AM + glue group was significantly greater than AM + suture group. The duration of ocular discharge and corneal vascularisation in AM + glue group was significantly lower in comparison with control group. Epithelial healing was faster in the AM + glue group than in controls. In conclusion, sutureless AM patching with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) as a dressing on a corneal alkali burn, used for the first time in this research, may induce rapid epithelial healing with less vascularisation and be a much faster and useful technique in dogs. © 2009 Springer-Verlag London Limited

Robust Optimization-Based Optimal Operation of Islanded Microgrid Considering Demand Response

This paper presents a new robust scheduling model for an islanded microgrid (MG) considering demand response. The model is expressed as a min–max bilevel optimization problem that tries to minimize the total costs of MG including operation cost of conventional distributed generators, energy storages, renewable energy sources (RES), cost of load shifting, and interruptible/non-interruptible load shedding in the worst situation of uncertainties. The uncertainties associated with renewable power generations and MG demand are modeled via robust optimization method. A hybrid method based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and mixed-integer programming technique is utilized to solve the bilevel optimization problem. The proposed model is utilized on a typical MG, and the outcomes are analyzed to show the effectiveness of the proposed method

Robust Optimization-Based Optimal Operation of Islanded Microgrid Considering Demand Response

This paper presents a new robust scheduling model for an islanded microgrid (MG) considering demand response. The model is expressed as a min–max bilevel optimization problem that tries to minimize the total costs of MG including operation cost of conventional distributed generators, energy storages, renewable energy sources (RES), cost of load shifting, and interruptible/non-interruptible load shedding in the worst situation of uncertainties. The uncertainties associated with renewable power generations and MG demand are modeled via robust optimization method. A hybrid method based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and mixed-integer programming technique is utilized to solve the bilevel optimization problem. The proposed model is utilized on a typical MG, and the outcomes are analyzed to show the effectiveness of the proposed method

Accuracy of exercise tolerance test in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients with left dominant coronary circulation

Background: Exercise is a physiologic stress that helps the physicians to clarify the presence or absence of cardiovascular disease which may be obscure at rest. Although it is sensitive, its specificity is affected by several parameters, such as some metabolic conditions, some structural heart diseases, and some baseline electrocardiogram abnormalities. Currently, the relationship between coronary dominance and accuracy of EET is not examined. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the potential impact of coronary dominance on the accuracy of EET. Methods: In this retrospective study, data were gathered from 720 patients from four medical centers. The pattern of dominancy was determined, and the coronary dominance pattern of the patients who had normal angiograms despite abnormal EETs was compared to that from all the patients. Results: Among the patients who had a normal angiogram despite an abnormal EET, 27% were left dominant while the frequency of left dominancy in the whole population of the study was only 10.9% (P = 0.013). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, such as age and sex, between the two studied groups. Conclusion: The results indicated that the presence of left dominance in patients who had normal angiograms despite an abnormal EET was significantly higher than general population. Therefore, left dominance may be considered a confounding factor for EET, producing false positive results