Suprachoroidal implant surgery in intractable glaucoma

Abstract Purpose To report the early results of suprachoroidal silicone implant surgery in intractable glaucoma. Materials and methods A modified silicone implant with no valve was implanted into the suprachoroidal space of 15 eyes with intractable glaucoma. Results The mean age of the patients was 53.0 ± 24.5 (range 7-85) years, the mean follow-up time was 17.1 ± 4.8 (range 10-28) months, and the mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients receiving two or more medications was 33.1 ± 9.8 mmHg. At the last follow-up visit, mean IOP was 16.5 ± 7.9 (range 10-35) mmHg (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.001). The functional success, i.e., IOP B21 mmHg both with and without antiglaucomatous drugs, was 93.3%. The total success rate, i.e., IOP B21 mmHg without medication, was 13.3%. The average number of antiglaucomatous drugs used was 3.8 (range 2-5) preoperatively, and 2.2 postoperatively (range 0-4) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.011). There was a C30% decrease in the IOP of 66.6% of the eyes. Shallow choroidal detachment as proof of drainage was evident in all cases. Conclusion Drainage of the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space via implantation of a modified silicone implant is effective in lowering the IOP in intractable glaucoma

Lithium promotes long-term neurological recovery after spinal cord injury in mice by enhancing neuronal survival, gray and white matter remodeling, and long-distance axonal regeneration

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces neurological deficits associated with long-term functional impairments. Since the current treatments remain ineffective, novel therapeutic options are needed. Besides its effect on bipolar mood disorder, lithium was reported to have neuroprotective activity in different neurodegenerative conditions, including SCI. In SCI, the effects of lithium on long-term neurological recovery and neuroplasticity have not been assessed. We herein investigated the effects of intraperitoneally administered lithium chloride (LiCl) on motor coordination recovery, electromyography (EMG) responses, histopathological injury and remodeling, and axonal plasticity in mice exposed to spinal cord transection. At a dose of 0.2, but not 2.0 mmol/kg, LiCl enhanced motor coordination and locomotor activity starting at 28 days post-injury (dpi), as assessed by a set of behavioral tests. Following electrical stimulation proximal to the hemitransection, LiCl at 0.2 mmol/kg decreased the latency and increased the amplitude of EMG responses in the denervated hindlimb at 56 dpi. Functional recovery was associated with reduced gray and white matter atrophy rostral and caudal to the hemitransection, increased neuronal survival and reduced astrogliosis in the dorsal and ventral horns caudal to the hemitransection, and increased regeneration of long-distance axons proximal and distal to the lesion site in mice receiving 0.2 mmol/kg, but not 2 mmol/kg LiCl, as assessed by histochemical and immunohistochemical studies combined with anterograde tract tracing. Our results indicate that LiCl induces long-term neurological recovery and neuroplasticity following SCI.TUBA ; Istanbul Medipol University ; Turkish Academy of Science

Zinc supplementation induces apoptosis and enhances antitumor efficacy of docetaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Exposure to exogenous zinc results in increased apoptosis, growth inhibition, and altered oxidative stress in cancer cells. Previous studies also suggested that zinc sensitizes some cancer cells to cytotoxic agents depending on the p53 status. Therefore, zinc supplementation may show anticancer efficacy solely and may increase docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity in non-small-cell lung cancer cells. METHODS: Here, we report the effects of several concentrations of zinc combined with docetaxel on p53-wild-type (A549) and p53-null (H1299) cells. We evaluated cellular viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression as well as oxidative stress parameters, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde levels. RESULTS: Zinc reduced the viability of A549 cells and increased the apoptotic response in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Zinc also amplified the docetaxel effects and reduced its inhibitory concentration 50 (IC(50)) values. The superoxide dismutase levels increased in all treatment groups; however, glutathione peroxidase was slightly increased in the combination treatments. Zinc also caused malondialdehyde elevations at 50 μM and 100 μM. CONCLUSION: Zinc has anticancer efficacy against non-small-cell lung cancer cells in the presence of functionally active p53 and enhances docetaxel efficacy in both p53-wild-type and p53-deficient cancer cells

Three-dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging and Treatment of Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Head Defects Associated with Schisis-like Maculopathy

WOS: 000397191000013PubMed ID: 28405489We present the three-dimensional (3D) spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings of schisis-like maculopathy associated with structural changes of the optic nerve (ON) head as well as the treatment outcomes of a case of advanced glaucoma. In addition to ophthalmological examination, B-scan and 3D-SD-OCT images of the ON head, peripapillary retina, and the macula were obtained. The B-scan images only detected typical retinoschisis findings. However, the 3D-SD-OCT images of the ON head revealed defects of various sizes, shapes, and depths at the outer wall of the prelaminar and laminar regions of the ON canal. The 3D images were able to establish that these defects were both adjacent to and interconnected with the retinal layers. The patient successfully received 3D-SD-OCT-guided thermal laser treatment that is used in congenital optic disc pits complicated with macular schisis. In brief, 3D-SDOCT is very useful for demonstrating the ON head defects that can lead to schisis-like maculopathy in cases of advanced glaucoma

Evaluation of the learning curve of non-penetrating glaucoma surgery

WOS: 000444586400024PubMed ID: 28801700PurposeTo evaluate the learning curve of non-penetrating glaucoma surgery (NPGS).MethodsThe study included 32 eyes of 27 patients' (20 male and 7 female) with medically uncontrolled glaucoma. Non-penetrating glaucoma surgeries performed by trainees under control of an experienced surgeon between 2005 and 2007 at our tertiary referral hospital were evaluated. Residents were separated into two groups. Humanistic training model applied to the one in the first group, he studied with experimental models before performing NPGS. Two residents in the second group performed NPGS after a conventional training model. Surgeries of the residents were recorded on video and intraoperative parameters were scored by the experienced surgeon at the end of the study. Postoperative intraocular pressure, absolute and total success rates were analyzed.ResultsIn the first group 19 eyes of 16 patients and in the second group 13 eyes of 11 patients had been operated by residents. Intraoperative parameters and complication rates were not statistically significant between groups (p>0.05, Chi-square). The duration of surgery was 32.75.6min in the first group and 45 +/- 3.8min in the second group. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001, Student's t test). Absolute and total success was 68.8 and 93.8% in the first group and 62.5 and 87.5% in the second group, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions Humanistic and conventional training models under control of an experienced surgeon are safe and effective for senior residents who manage phacoemulsification surgery in routine cataract cases. Senior residents can practice these surgical techniques with reasonable complication rates

Clinical outcomes of trabeculectomy versus Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in patients with penetrating keratoplasty

WOS: 000383601800001PubMed ID: 2680165