Evaluation of the Intraocular Pressure-Reducing Effect of Latanoprost as Monotherapy in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Objective of this study was to evaluate the intraocular pressure-reducing effect of latanoprost as monotherapy after replacing current dual therapy in glaucoma patients. The 6-months study comprised 189 patients with primary open angle glaucoma who were treated at least 6 months with two different kind of topical medications ( -blockers, pilocarpine, dorzolamide and brimonidine). Due to local side effects, multiple dosing regime and inadequately controlled intraocular pressure (IOP), they where switched to latanoprost 0.005% monotherapy. After switched to latanoprost, mean (IOP) was measured at baseline, after l5 days, 2 and 6 months of treatment. After six-months 178 patients had completed the study. These analyses enrolled all patients (n=189), thus, the Intention-To-Treat (ITT) results were shown instead of the results of the reduced population. IOP was clinically importantly reduced from baseline level. Five patients had uncontrolled IOP. The difference between IOP before (21.9 2.4) and after 15 days (17.4 1.7), 2 months (16.7 1.8) and 6 months (16.6 1.4) was statistically significant (p< 0.001). 90% patients has reached target IOP 18 mm. A conjunctival hyperaemia in 18 (9%), stinging and itching in 7 (4%) patients was reported. Increased iris pigmentation was seen in 3 (2%) patients. The results of this study indicate that dual therapy in open-angle glaucoma can effectively be replaced by latanoprost monotherapy in many patients

The application of hydrogen-palladium electrode for potentiometric acid-base determinations in tetrahydrofuran

The application of the hydrogen-palladium electrode (H2/Pd) as an indicator electrode for the determination of the relative acidity scale (Es, mV) of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and potentiometric titrations of acids in this solvent were investigated. The relative acidity scale of THF was determined from the difference between the half-neutralization potentials of perchloric acid and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH), which were measured using both H2/Pd-SCE and glass-SCE electrode pairs. The experimentally obtained value of the Es scale of THF with the H2/Pd-SCE electrode pair was 1155 mV, while that obtained with the glass-SCE electrode pair was 880 mV. By using an H2/Pd indicator electrode, the individual acids (benzoic acid, palmitic acid, maleic acid, acetyl acetone and α-naphthol) and two component acid mixtures (benzoic acid + α-naphthol, palmitic acid + α-naphthol, maleic acid + α-naphthol and maleic acid + phthalic acid) were titrated with a standard solution of TBAH. In addition, sodium methylate and potassium hydroxide proved to be very suitable titrating agents for the titrations of the individual acids and the acids in mixtures, respectively. The relative error of the determination of acids in the mixtures was less than 3 %. The results are in agreement with those obtained using a conventional glass electrode. The advantages of the H2/Pd electrode over a glass electrode in the potentiometric acid-base determinations in THF lie in the following: this electrode gives a wider relative acidity scale for THF, larger potential jumps at the titration end-point and relatively fast response times. Furthermore, it is very durable, simple to prepare and can be used in the titrations of small volumes. © 2013 (CC) SCS

Food patterns in intake of dietary fibre in small group of Croatian adults

The aim of this study was to determine the intake of total dietary fibre, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre, as well as their food sources. Additionally, a relationship between dietary fibre intake and intake of foods that do not contain dietary fibre was examined. Forty-five adult subjects (22-52 yr; 28 women and 17 men) took part in the study. A method of 7-day weighed dietary records was used. An average daily total dietary fibre intake for the whole group was 21.0 g, i.e. 2.6 g/MJ. The mean soluble dietary fibre intake was 7.5 g. Cereals and products made the greatest contribution to daily dietary fibre intake (45% total, 53% soluble and 40% insoluble dietary fibre). This group of subjects had a mean daily consumption of fruits and vegetables of 482 g, and 241 g of cereals. Aside to an expected higher intake of fruits, vegetables and cereals, subjects with high intake of total dietary fibre (4th quartile), also had a higher intake of meat and products and fats and oils, as opposed to subjects from the lowest quartile of total dietary fibre intake. Daily intake of total dietary fibre is best correlated with intakes of vegetables (without potatoes) and cereals

Circulating Platelet Aggregates and Progression of Visual Field Loss in Glaucoma

The aim of the study was to assess a relationship between circulating platelet aggregates (CPA) and progression of visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma patients. CPA was determined in 27 patients with open-angle glaucoma with nonprogressive visual field loss and 15 patients with open-angle glaucoma and progression of visual field loss. Intraocular pressure (IOP) under topical therapy was <18 mmHg in all patients. CPA in glaucoma patients with progression of visual field loss was not significantly higher than those without visual field progression (p=0.59). In conclusion, our study shows that increased platelet aggregability is not solely responsible for progression of visual field loss in glaucoma patients, and indicates the role of IOP in the pathogenesis of visual field loss

Anticancer effects of selenium compounds on human colonic carcinoma cells

Studies performed so far on different human carcinoma cell lines, as well as numerous case-control and epidemiological studies have given proof to the protective effects of selenium against cancer. However, the anticancer properties of selenium are site-specific. The aim of this work was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of selenium against CaCo2 human colon carcinoma cells, and SW620 lymph node metastasis of colon carcinoma cell line. Three selenium compounds, seleno-DL-cystine (SeC), seleno-L-methionine (SeM) and sodium selenite were used. Initial number of cells was 210 4 and the cells were incubated for 72 h with the aforementioned Se compounds at 10, 100 and 1000 µmol Se concentrations. Cytotoxicity was measured by the MTT cell survival assay. In the present study, decreased viabilities of both CaCo2 and SW620 cells were established following the treatment with selenite, SeC, and SeM. At 10 µmol Se levels all three chemical forms exerted a more or less anticipated cytotoxic effect with viability decreases ranging from 22 to 37%. However, the other two levels of 100 and 1000 µmol Se did not exhibit an expected proportional rise in cytotoxic effect compared to 10 µmol, which warrants further research on the reasons for increased resistance of these cells. Cell morphology also indicates that investigated Se forms induced apoptotic cell death in both cell lines. The results confirm the applicability of Se in the prevention and treatment of the investigated cancer sites

Gain and time resolution of 45 μ\mum thin Low Gain Avalanche Detectors before and after irradiation up to a fluence of 101510^{15} neq_{eq}/cm2^2

Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are silicon sensors with a built-in charge multiplication layer providing a gain of typically 10 to 50. Due to the combination of high signal-to-noise ratio and short rise time, thin LGADs provide good time resolutions. LGADs with an active thickness of about 45 $\mu$m were produced at CNM Barcelona. Their gains and time resolutions were studied in beam tests for two different multiplication layer implantation doses, as well as before and after irradiation with neutrons up to $10^{15}$ n$_{eq}$/cm$^2$. The gain showed the expected decrease at a fixed voltage for a lower initial implantation dose, as well as for a higher fluence due to effective acceptor removal in the multiplication layer. Time resolutions below 30 ps were obtained at the highest applied voltages for both implantation doses before irradiation. Also after an intermediate fluence of $3\times10^{14}$ n$_{eq}$/cm$^2$, similar values were measured since a higher applicable reverse bias voltage could recover most of the pre-irradiation gain. At $10^{15}$ n$_{eq}$/cm$^2$, the time resolution at the maximum applicable voltage of 620 V during the beam test was measured to be 57 ps since the voltage stability was not good enough to compensate for the gain layer loss. The time resolutions were found to follow approximately a universal function of gain for all implantation doses and fluences.Comment: 17 page

Etiopathogenesis of abomasal displacement in cattle

Abomasal displacement presents topographic gastropathy, where this organ has changed its position, and there is simultaneous dilatation which can vary in intensity. The incidence of this disorder in herds of high-yield dairy cows varies to a great degree (1 to 18 %). Abomasal displacement was established in herds of East-Frisian cows in 1 to 3% animals, and in Holstein cow herds in 5 to 18 % animals. The most frequent abomasal displacement is to the left (88%). There is significant seasonal variation in the incidence of abomasal displacement. About two-thirds of cases of abomasal displacement are diagnosed from October until April. The disorder appears more frequently in cows with repeated lactations. It has been established that it appears after the first calving in 27.8% cases, after the second to fifth calving in 66.7% cases, and after the sixth and seventh calving in 5.5% of the cows. The response of endocrine pancreas B-cells for insulin secretion to hyperglycaemia caused by applying an excess-glucose test is reduced in cows with left abomasal displacement, and there is constant hyperglycaemia in cows with right abomasal displacement. The excess-glucose test indicates a disrupted function of the endocrine pancreas in diseased animals. It has been determined through examinations of Aml genotypes in Holstein cow herds in connection with the appearance of abomasal displacement, that the occurrence of this disorder cannot be attributed to a genetic predisposition

Brain food: how nutrition alters our mood and behaviour

Studies have been showing the food we eat affects chemical composition of our brain and alters our mood. Nutrition affects cognitive possibilities, including alertness and the production or release of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that carry information from one nerve cell to another. Foods are made up of more than one nutrient, and their interaction is going to affect the production and release of neurotransmitters. Neural impulses are largely resulting from sodium-potassium exchange, but numerous others such as complex carbohydrates, amino acids (tryptophan and tyrosine), fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, affect permeability of cell membrane, neurotransmitter metabolism and glial cells. The delicate brain chemical balance is somewhat controlled by the blood – brain barrier. Still, brain remains highly susceptible to changes in body chemistry resulting from nutrient intake and deficiency. The direct connection between nutrition, brain function and behaviour exists, without any doubt. It can be seen through brain’s capability of receiving, storing and integrating sensory information, while initiating and controlling motor responses. These functions correspond to mental activities and form the basis for our behaviour. Constant rise in number of evidence from epigenetic studies confirms that specific nutrients alter our brain development and susceptibility to diseases. Still, specific combination of foods can be extrapolated to a dietary regime, like the Mediterranean diet which has shown its positive impact on maintaining brain function and lower incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. This is of special importance since elderly population (people of 65 years and older) is on the rise all over the world, and the quality of life becomes a priority