Physician workforce planning in Ontario must move from short-term reactivity to long-term proactivity

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Role of Angiopoietin-2 in Regulating Growth and Vascularity of Astrocytomas

Angiopoietins and Tie2 are angiogenic-specific ligand and receptor complex that have been shown to play a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) is one of four ligands for receptor Tie2 and it is the naturally occurring antagonist to Tie2, inhibiting the action of Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1). Over the last decade, significant research has focused on elucidating the role of Ang2 in cancer biology and its exact role in tumor angiogenesis remains elusive. In this study we have focused on establishing the role of Ang2 in angiogenesis of malignant astrocytomas. We have demonstrated that Ang2 significantly enhances the vascular growth of malignant astrocytomas and constant upregulation of Ang2 throughout all phases of tumor growth generates abnormal vascular structures that are not typically seen in human astrocytomas, suggesting that Ang2 plays a tumor stage-dependent role and is not a consistently elevated throughout all growth stages of malignant astroctyomas

Traumatic aniridia in a pseudophakic patient 6 years following surgery

Mikel Mikhail1, Keyvan Koushan2, Rajeshvar K Sharda2, Gloria Isaza2, Keith D Mann21Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, 2Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaPurpose: To report a case of aniridia in a pseudophakic patient following blunt trauma to the eye.Case report: The traumatized eye had cataract surgery through a 3.0 mm clear corneal incision 6 years prior to the incident. While there have been previous cases of traumatic aniridia in pseudophakic eyes, previous reports have all occurred closer to the time of the cataract surgery. We believe that the most likely mechanism of loss of iris tissue is through wound dehiscence, which would suggest the relative instability of clear corneal incisions several years postoperatively. The patient's visual acuity returned to 20/20 4 weeks post-trauma, with symptoms of glare which were managed by the use of a colored contact lens.Conclusion: The possibility of wound dehiscence should be recognized as an important clinical entity in the immediate postoperative period, but also several years following cataract surgery.Keywords: anirida, pseudophakia, cataract extraction, cataract, phacoemulsification, traum

Regulation of the Pathological Vasculature of Malignant Astrocytomas by Angiopoietin-1

Malignant astrocytomas are the most common and highly vascularized of all primary adult brain tumors. The histopathological hallmarks of malignant astrocytomas are microvascular proliferation and formation of vascular entities, which are referred to as “glomeruloid bodies.” The significance of glomeruloid bodies and the molecular mechanisms driving the abnormal vascular architecture in malignant astrocytomas are not understood. We have observed that overexpression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) in both subcutaneous and intracranial xenograft models of malignant astrocytomas reproduces many of the vascular features of these tumors, including glomeruloid bodies. To confirm that the formation of glomeruloid bodies was directly dependent on Ang1, we performed experiments where levels of Ang1 expression were regulated under tetracycline control, and we found a direct correlation between levels of Ang1 expression and the occurrence of glomeruloid bodies in xenografts. Additionally, we inhibited the action of Ang1 by blocking its cognate receptor Tie2, and we found that the formation of glomeruloid bodies was inhibited. Collectively, these results support our hypothesis that Ang1 is a key molecular regulator of pathological vascularization characteristic of malignant astrocytomas

The Role of Lutein in Eye-Related Disease

The lens and retina of the human eye are exposed constantly to light and oxygen. In situ phototransduction and oxidative phosphorylation within photoreceptors produces a high level of phototoxic and oxidative related stress. Within the eye, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are present in high concentrations in contrast to other human tissues. We discuss the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in ameliorating light and oxygen damage, and preventing age-related cellular and tissue deterioration in the eye. Epidemiologic research shows an inverse association between levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in eye tissues and age related degenerative diseases such as macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. We examine the role of these carotenoids as blockers of blue-light damage and quenchers of oxygen free radicals. This article provides a review of possible mechanisms of lutein action at a cellular and molecular level. Our review offers insight into current clinical trials and experimental animal studies involving lutein, and possible role of nutritional intervention in common ocular diseases that cause blindness