Long-term outcomes of allogeneic ocular surface reconstruction : keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) followed by penetrating keratoplasty (PK)

Purpose. Long-term results of the patients with total LSCD, who had undergone keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) for limbal reconstruction followed by penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Methods. +e study analyzes surgical treatment of 43 eyes with severe ocular surface disorders. All subjects underwent KLAL to achieve suitable conditions for consecutive PK. Due to failures of primary treatment in 17 eyes (39%), the KLAL was repeated. PK was performed in all the patients at 9-12 months after KLAL. As a retrospective study we analyzed data from the medical records including the preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, corneal clarity, surgical outcomes and complications, postoperative intraocular pressure, graft rejection, and other comorbidities and complications. Results. +e preoperative visual acuity ranged from light perception to 0.01. +e final improvement of visual acuity within a gain of one or more lines with the Snellen chart, including the results of successive surgical treatments after PK, was achieved in 23 operated eyes (53%). Early graft rejection was observed in 4 eyes (9%). In 3 eyes, it was manifested as endothelial rejection, and in 1 eye, as combined endothelial and epithelial rejection. PK failure requiring repetitive PK was present in 14 eyes (32%). Phthisis bulbi developed in 6 eyes (14%). Glaucoma or ocular hypertension was reported in 25 eyes (58%). A majority were treated with up to 3 topical agents or referred for trabeculectomy in 3 cases, transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in 2 eyes, and EX-PRESS glaucoma shunt implantation in 3 cases. Conclusions. Successful KLAL carries a high risk of subsequent PK failure. Visual function remains the second aim of treatment; the primary one is to stabilize the surface

Comparative study of anterior eye segment measurements with spectral swept-source and time-domain optical coherence tomography in eyes with corneal dystrophies

Purpose. To compare anterior eye segment measurements and morphology obtained with two optical coherence tomography systems (TD OCT, SS OCT) in eyes with corneal dystrophies (CDs). Methods. Fifty healthy volunteers (50 eyes) and 54 patients (96 eyes) diagnosed with CD (epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, EBMD = 12 eyes; Thiel-Behnke CD = 6 eyes; lattice CD TGFBI type = 15 eyes; granular CD type 1 = 7 eyes, granular CD type 2 = 2 eyes; macular CD = 23 eyes; and Fuchs endothelial CD = 31 eyes) were recruited for the study. Automated and manual central corneal thickness (aCCT, mCCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and nasal and temporal trabecular iris angle (nTIA, tTIA) were measured and compared with Bland-Altman plots. Results. Good agreement between the TD and SS OCT measurements was demonstrated for mCCT and aCCT in normal individuals and for mCCT in the CDs group. The ACD, nTIA, and tTIA measurements differed significantly in both groups. TBCD, LCD, and FECD caused increased CCT. MCD caused significant corneal thinning. FECD affected all analyzed parameters. Conclusions. Better agreement between SS OCT and TD OCT measurements was demonstrated in normal individuals compared to the CDs group. OCT provides comprehensive corneal deposits analysis and demonstrates the association of CD with CCT, ACD, and TIA measurements

Recent Multiomics Approaches in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancers in developed countries. Many of the mechanisms involved in its initiation and progression remain unclear. Analysis providing comprehensive data on the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and epigenome could help in selecting molecular markers and targets in endometrial cancer. Multiomics approaches can reveal disturbances in multiple biological systems, giving a broader picture of the problem. However, they provide a large amount of data that require processing and further integration prior to analysis. There are several repositories of multiomics datasets, including endometrial cancer data, as well as portals allowing multiomics data analysis and visualization, including Oncomine, UALCAN, LinkedOmics, and miRDB. Multiomics approaches have also been applied in endometrial cancer research in order to identify novel molecular markers and therapeutic targets. This review describes in detail the latest findings on multiomics approaches in endometrial cancer

-643C/T polymorphism of RANKL gene and its association with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

INTRODUCTION RANKL is a key cytokine involved in osteoclast differentiation from its precursors, activation and survival of osteoclasts themselves. Because RANKL binds with RANK, the presence of RANK on target cells is a necessary condition of target cell control mediated by RANKL. AIM OF STUDY The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of RANKL gene polymorphism and evaluate its association with the clinical parameters concerning bone turnover and the degree of postmenopausal osteoporosis development. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted among a group of 570 women at postmenopausal age (404) and reproductive age (166). The group at postmenopausal age included women with osteoporosis, osteopenia as well as healthy individuals. The women at reproductive age were healthy. The polymorphism incidence of the examined gene in a group of patients with determined bone mineral density (BMD) and in the control group was studied. The study was performed by means of the RFLP-PCR method. RESULTS The obtained results did not show a correlation of RANKL gene C-643T polymorphism with decreased bone density or increased risk of osteoporotic changes after menopause. CONCLUSIONS The homozygote of the TT polymorphism of the RANKL receptor gene seems to be an increased risk factor of osteoporosis development and is associated with growth and birth mass.WSTĘP RANKL jest kluczową cytokiną uczestniczącą w różnicowaniu osteoklastu ze swoich prekursorów oraz aktywacji i przeżyciu samych osteoklastów. Ponieważ wiąże się z RANK, obecność RANK na komórkach docelowych jest nieodzownym warunkiem kontroli komórek docelowych za pośrednictwem RANKL. CEL PRACY Celem pracy było zbadanie częstości występowania polimorfizmu genu RANKL oraz ocena jego związku z parametrami klinicznymi dotyczącymi obrotu kostnego i stopnia zaawansowania osteoporozy pomenopauzalnej. MATERIAŁY I METODY Badania przeprowadzono w grupie 570 kobiet w wieku postmenopauzalnym (404 kobiety) i rozrodczym (166 kobiet). Grupa w wieku postmenopauzalnym obejmowała kobiety z osteoporozą, osteopenią i zdrowe. Kobiety w wieku rozrodczym były zdrowe. Zbadano częstość występowania polimorfizmu badanego genu w grupie pacjentek z oznaczoną gęstością mineralną kości (bone mineral density – BMD) oraz w grupie kontrolnej. Badanie przeprowadzono metodą RFLP-PCR. WYNIKI Uzyskane wyniki badań nie wykazały korelacji polimorfizmu C-643T genu RANKL ze zmniejszoną gęstością kości oraz zwiększonym ryzykiem występowania zmian osteoporotycznych po menopauzie. WNIOSKI Wydaje się, że homozygota TT polimorfizmu genu receptora RANKL może być czynnikiem zwiększonego ryzyka wystąpienia osteoporozy i jest powiązana ze wzrostem i masą urodzeniową

575C/T polymorphism of RANK gene and its association with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

INTRODUCTION Osteoporosis is a skeletal disturbance in which bone strength is at increased risk of fracture. It was demonstrated that genetic variations in RANK are associated with skeletal diseases. AIM OF STUDY The aim of the study is to examine the frequency of RANK gene polymorphism and evaluate its relation with clinical parameters concerning bone turnover and the degree of postmenopausal osteoporosis progress. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted among a group of 570 women at postmenopausal age (404) and reproductive age (166). The group at postmenopausal age included women with osteoporosis, osteopenia and healthy individuals. The women at reproductive age were healthy. The polymorphism incidence of the examined gene in a group of patients with a determined bone mineral density (BMD) and in the control group was studied. The study was performed by means of the RFLP-PCR method. RESULTS The obtained results did not show a correlation of RANK C575T polymorphism with decreased bone density or increased risk of postemopausal osteoporosis incidence. CONCLUSIONS The TT polymorphism homozygote of the RANK receptor gene is not an increased risk factor of osteoporosis development and is associated with lower values describing bone density in women with osteoporosis and osteopenia.W S T Ę P Osteoporoza jest szkieletowym zaburzeniem charakteryzującym się obniżeniem wytrzymałości kości, zwiększającym ryzyko złamania. Wykazano, że genetyczne wariacje w RANK mają związek z chorobami szkieletu kostnego. Celem pracy było zbadanie częstości występowania polimorfizmu genu RANK oraz ocena jego związku z parametrami klinicznymi dotyczącymi obrotu kostnego i stopnia zaawansowania osteoporozy pomenopauzalnej. M A T E R I A Ł Y I M E T O D Y Badania przeprowadzono w grupie 570 kobiet w wieku postmenopauzalnym (404) i rozrodczym (166). Grupa w wieku postmenopauzalnym obejmowała kobiety z osteoporozą, osteopenią i zdrowe. Kobiety w wieku rozrodczym były zdrowe. Zbadano częstość występowania polimorfizmu badanego genu w grupie pacjentek z oznaczoną gęstością mineralną kości (bone mineral density – BMD) oraz w grupie kontrolnej. Badanie przeprowadzono metodą RFLP-PCR. WYNIKI Uzyskane wyniki badań nie wykazały korelacji polimorfizmu RANK C575T ze zmniejszoną gęstością kości oraz zwiększonym ryzykiem występowania osteoporozy pomenopauzalnej. WNIOSKI Homozygota TT polimorfizmu genu receptora RANK nie jest czynnikiem zwiększonego ryzyka wystąpienia osteoporozy i jest powiązana z niższymi wartościami opisującymi BMD u kobiet z osteoporozą i osteopenią

OCT on Anterior Segment Anomalies of the Eye in a Polish Paediatric Cohort: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Purpose. To present applications of anterior segment optical coherent tomography (AS OCT) for anomalies of the eye in a Polish paediatric cohort. Materials and Methods. Seventy-four eyes of infants and older children were examined. The majority of them underwent general anaesthesia to allow OCT to be performed in the operating room, but a few were examined in a routine way. We focused on corneal, anterior chamber, iris, and lens disorders. Measurements included corneal morphology, anatomy of the anterior chamber, and general involvement of surrounding tissues in pathologic lesions. Results. We divided the paediatric patients into several groups by considering the type of disease and involvement of particular tissues. The groups were selected based on OCT usefulness in describing their ocular disorders. Conclusion. The collected anterior segment disorders showed huge usefulness for paediatric diagnosis and treatment planning

Expression Pattern of Leptin and Its Receptors in Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer

The identification of novel molecular markers and the development of cancer treatment strategies are very important as cancer incidence is still very high. Obesity can contribute to cancer progression, including endometrial cancer. Adipocytes secrete leptin, which, when at a high level, is associated with an increased risk of cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the expression profile of leptin-related genes in the endometrial tissue samples and whole blood of patients. The study material included tissue samples and whole blood collected from 30 patients with endometrial cancer and 30 without cancer. Microarrays were used to assess the expression profile of leptin-related genes. Then, the expression of leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LEPROT), and leptin receptor overlapping transcript-like 1 (LEPROTL1) was determined by the Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription Reaction (RT-qPCR). The serum leptin concentration was evaluated using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Leptin and its receptors were overexpressed both at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, there were strong positive correlations between leptin levels and patient Body Mass Index (BMI). Elevated levels of leptin and its receptors may potentially contribute to the progression of endometrial cancer. These observations may be useful in designing endometrial cancer treatment strategies