Decreased Keratocyte Density And Central Corneal Thickness In Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients Undergoing Treatment With Topical Prostaglandin Analogues

Purpose: To evaluate whether prostaglandin (PG) analogue use is associated with alterations in keratocyte density and central corneal thickness (CCT) in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five POAG patients treated with PG analogues for >2 years and 35 control subjects without glaucoma were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects were underwent CCT measurements using ultrasound pachymetry. Keratocyte densities of each stromal layer were determined by in vivo confocal microscopy. Student's t-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical evaluations. Correlations between keratocyte densities and CCT were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Keratocyte densities in each stromal layer were significantly lower in glaucoma patients receiving PG analogues as compared to those of controls (P < 0.001). The mean CCT was also lower in glaucoma patients (515.2 ± 18.8 μ) than control subjects (549.6 ± 21.1 μ, P < 0.001). A positive correlation between keratocyte densities in each stromal layer and CCT was observed in POAG patients. Conclusions: Long-term administration of topical PG analogues may adversely influence keratocyte densities and CCT. Further prospective studies are required clarify the relationship between PG analogues and their effects on the cornea.PubMedWoSScopu

Cerebral blood flow velocity in migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients

S Karacay Ozkalayci,&nbsp;B Nazliel,&nbsp;HZ Batur Caglayan,&nbsp;C Irkec Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey Introduction: The present study seeks to use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in anterior and posterior circulation arteries, during an attack-free episode in migraine patients, with and without aura, as well as in chronic tension-type headache patients who were not receiving prophylactic medication. Methods: A total of 50 patients (35 female, 15 male) were evaluated during a headache-free episode: 30 migraine patients without aura (mean age: 32&plusmn;8 years), 10 migraine patients with aura (mean age: 34&plusmn;4 years), and 10 patients with chronic tension-type headache (mean age: 34&plusmn;5 years). Results: No significant difference was present between anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral and vertebral arteries&rsquo; blood flow velocities between migraine patients, with and without aura, or in patients with a tension-type headache, and normal controls (p&gt;0.05). However, a significant increase in basilar artery cerebral blood flow velocities relative to controls was present in patients with a tension-type headache (p&gt;0.001). Conclusion: It is difficult to predict the main reason for the significant increase in basilar artery blood flow velocities in patients with chronic tension-type headache. It may be due to constriction of conductance or the dilatation of the resistance vessels. Keywords: cerebral blood flow, migraine without aura, migraine with aura, tension-type headache, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography&nbsp

Serum nitric oxide metabolites in patients with multiple sclerosis

WOS: 000178933900007PubMed ID: 12383409Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by myelin breakdown. The free radical nitric oxide (NO), which is considered to be a major metabolite in immune function and in autoimmune disorders, is among the possible mediators causing the inflammatory reactions in MS. Consequently, NO has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MS and its animal model experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this study, stable metabolites of NO (NO2-+NO3-) levels were determined in sera of MS patients (n=23) and control subjects (n=16). NO2-+NO3- levels were higher in MS patients when compared to control subjects. However, there was not any correlation with serum NO2-+NO3- values and clinical features of the disease such as duration of sickness, the time elapsed from the last attack and EDSS values. Our results imply that nitric oxide may be involved in the pathogenesis of MS although further studies are required to elucidate underlying mechanisms. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Involvement of nitric oxide in Parkinson's disease: Emphasis on sex difference in prevalence

WOS: 000182492100008Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by severe movement disorders. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species has been implicated as a possible mediator of neurodegenerative changes in nigrostriatal neurons in PD. Nitric oxide (NO) has received substantial attention among pathophysiological factors underlying glutamate neurotoxicity in neurodgenerative disorders including PD. PD is more prevalent in men than in women by an approximate 3:2 ratio; the nitrergic systems are also more active in males than females. In this study, NO2-+NO3- (stable metabolites of NO) levels were determined in sera of PD patients (n=20) and control subjects (n=16). NO2-+NO3- Levels were higher in PD patients compared to controls, and in males compared to females. Furthermore, there was a correlation between age and NO metabolites in females but not in males. These data support a role for NO in PD and provide further evidence for sex differences in NO activity that may underlie neurodegenerative disorders

Cerebral blood flow velocity in migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients.

The present study seeks to use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in anterior and posterior circulation arteries, during an attack-free episode in migraine patients, with and without aura, as well as in chronic tension-type headache patients who were not receiving prophylactic medication

Olfactory functioning in early multiple sclerosis: Sniffin&rsquo; Sticks Test study

Hale Z Batur Caglayan,1 Ceyla Irkec,1 Bijen Nazliel,1 Aslı Akyol Gurses,2 Irem Capraz11Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, 2Department of Neurology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey Introduction: Previous studies have shown that olfactory functioning is affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). This study assessed the level of the olfactory impairment in early MS by using the Sniffin&rsquo; Sticks Test.Methods: This study included 30 patients with MS and 30 healthy controls. We collected demographic and clinical data from participants and administered the Sniffin&rsquo; Sticks Test.Results: We found no differences between the MS and control groups in odor discrimination, odor identification, and threshold discrimination identification scores, but odor threshold (OT) scores were higher in the control group than in the MS group (P=0.49). In addition, we did not find any correlation between MS patients&rsquo; olfactory test scores and their scores on the Mini&ndash;Mental State Examination (MMSE), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, history of optic neuritis, or being on immunomodulatory therapy. Conclusion: In recent studies, odor threshold impairment seemed to be the most striking finding in patients with MS. Although the present study found a mild alteration in odor threshold, olfactory dysfunction appears to be a consequence of neurodegeneration in the higher order olfactory brain regions, which is thought to be a time-dependent process. Keywords: demyelinating diseases, multiple sclerosis, odors, olfaction, olfaction disorders, smel

Evaluation of long-term silicone hydrogel use on ocular surface inflammation and tear function in patients with and without meibomian gland dysfunction

Objectives:To determine whether silicone hydrogel (SH) contact lens (CL) use, with or without meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), promotes ocular surface inflammation.Methods:Subjects wearing SH-CL for at least 6 months who also had coexisting MGD (group 1, n=20), SH-CL users who did not have MGD (group 2, n=20), patients who had MGD but did not use CL (group 3, n=20), and healthy CL-naive individuals with no known systemic or ocular diseases (group 4, n=20) were included in this cross-sectional, single-center study. All subjects underwent tear function tests consisting of tear break-up time (tBUT), ocular surface staining, Schirmer test, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, as well as determination of tear IL-1RA, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-2R, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IFN-α, IFN-γ, TNF-α, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IP-10, monokine induced by gamma interferon, RANTES, eotaxin, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and MCP-1 levels using Luminex multicytokine immunobead assay. Intergroup comparisons were made using one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test.Results:The tBUT was lower (P=0.048) and ocular surface staining (P=0.032) as well as OSDI scores (P=0.001) were higher in group 1 but not in groups 2 or 3 when compared with those in the control group. Tear cytokine levels were similar across all groups. None of the tear cytokine levels were elevated in CL wearers (groups 1 and 2) or those with MGD (groups 1 and 3) as compared to those in control subjects.Conclusion:Silicone hydrogel contact lens use with concomitant MGD is not associated with cytokine-driven ocular surface inflammation but may impact tear function leading to dry eye symptoms

Juvenile xanthogranuloma of the corneal limbus - Report of two cases and review of the literature

Purpose: To report the clinical and histopathologic findings of limbal juvenile xanthograuloma lesions in 2 pediatric cases. Methods: Case report and literature review. Results: Two cases (a 7-month-old girl and a 7-year-old boy), both of whom developed a yellowish corneoscleral limbal mass not associated with other ocular or systemic findings, were evaluated. Both cases underwent simple excision of the lesion followed by local steroid treatment. Histopathologic examination in both cases revealed foamy histiocytes within an inflammatory infiltrate. One of the lesions also harbored multinucleate giant cells. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD68 and negative for S-100 and CD1a in both cases. Conclusions: Juvenile xanthogranuloma may rarely present with an isolated lesion occurring only at the corneoscleral limbus. The diagnosis in the early stages of this disorder may be established with immunophenotyping and characteristic histopathologic features even without the presence of the multinucleate giant cells

Cerebral blood flow velocity in migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients

Introduction: The present study seeks to use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in anterior and posterior circulation arteries, during an attack-free episode in migraine patients, with and without aura, as well as in chronic tension-type headache patients who were not receiving prophylactic medication. Methods: A total of 50 patients (35 female, 15 male) were evaluated during a headache-free episode: 30 migraine patients without aura (mean age: 32 +/- 8 years), 10 migraine patients with aura (mean age: 34 +/- 4 years), and 10 patients with chronic tension-type headache (mean age: 34 +/- 5 years). Results: No significant difference was present between anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral and vertebral arteries' blood flow velocities between migraine patients, with and without aura, or in patients with a tension-type headache, and normal controls (p>0.05). However, a significant increase in basilar artery cerebral blood flow velocities relative to controls was present in patients with a tension-type headache (p>0.001). Conclusion: It is difficult to predict the main reason for the significant increase in basilar artery blood flow velocities in patients with chronic tension-type headache. It may be due to constriction of conductance or the dilatation of the resistance vessels