13 research outputs found
LC-MS analysis to determine the biodistribution of a polymer coated ilomastat ocular implant
Ilomastat is a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPi) that has shown the potential to inhibit scarring (fibrosis) by mediating healing after injury or surgery. A long lasting ocular implantable pharmaceutical formulation of ilomastat is being developed to mediate the healing process to prevent scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery. The ilomastat implant was coated with water permeable and biocompatible phosphoryl choline polymer (PC1059) displayed extended slow release of ilomastat in vitro and in vivo. The ocular distribution of ilomastat from the implant in rabbits at day 30 post surgery was determined by the extraction of ilomastat and its internal standard marimastat from the ocular tissues, plasma, aqueous humour and vitreous fluid followed by capillary-flow liquid chromatography (cap-LC), the column effluent was directed into a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in product scan mode. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) were 0.3âŻpg/ÎŒL for ocular fluids and plasma, and 3âŻpg/mg for ocular tissues. The extraction recoveries were 90-95% for ilomastat and its internal standard from ocular tissues. Ilomastat was found in ocular fluids and tissues at day 30 after surgery. The level of ilomastat was 18 times higher in the aqueous humour than vitreous humour. The concentration ranking of ilomastat in the ocular tissues was scleraâŻ>âŻbleb conjunctivaâŻ>âŻconjunctiva (rest of the eye)âŻ>âŻcornea. Mass spectrometry analysis to confirm the presence of ilomastat in the ocular tissues and fluids at day 30 post-surgery establishes the extended release of ilomastat can be achieved in vivo, which is crucial information for optimisation of the ilomastat coated implant
Acute suprachoroidal haemorrhage post-tenecteplase thrombolysis for myocardial infarction: management considerations
We report a case of a 63-year-old man who received intravenous tenecteplase as thrombolytic therapy for an inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction. Three hours later he complained of blurred vision in the right eye and on examination had sustained a suprachoroidal haemorrhage. With conservative treatment the haemorrhage resolved, leading to a normalisation of visual acuity. To the authorsâ knowledge, no case reports exist of this rare complication following intravenous tenecteplase. We discuss implications for further thrombolysis and anticoagulation
Shorter axial length and increased astigmatic refractive error are associated with socio-economic deprivation in an adult UK cohort
Purpose: to evaluate whether socio-economic deprivation is associated with ocular axial length and refractive error in a British cohort.Methods: the study population consisted of 7,652 individuals who provided data to the prospective cataract database at Portsmouth Eye unit, UK over a 4 year period (January 2004 to June 2008). Indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) scores measuring both social and economic domains for each patientâs locality were calculated. The association of these measures of deprivation with axial length and refractive error (astigmatic and spherical) were evaluated using regression analyses after adjusting for age and sex.Results: socio-economically deprived areas (higher IMD scores) were inversely associated with axial lengths and astigmatic refraction. After controlling for age and sex, an inverse linear association was observed between axial length and IMD scores (-0.24mm in highest quintile compared to lowest; 95% confidence intervals: -0.33 to -0.15) and between astigmatic refraction and IMD scores (-0.12 dioptres in highest quintile compared to lowest; 95% confidence intervals: -0.21 to -0.03). There was no association between spherical refraction and IMD scores.Conclusions: axial length and astigmatic refraction were inversely associated with socio-economic deprivation in this population. Identification of the environmental exposures involved may identify reversible risk factors for impaired vision<br/
Characterizing Flocculated Mineral Sediments with Acoustic Backscatter, Using Solid and Hybrid Scattering Models
This study investigated the performance of an acoustic
backscatter
system (ABS) for the in situ particle characterization
of complex wastes. Two sediments were used: a fine, milled calcite
that was flocculated with anionic polyacrylamide and naturally flocculated
pond sludge. Particles were initially measured independently by light-based
techniques to gain size, the coefficient of variation (COV), and fractal
dimensions. For acoustic experiments, a bespoke, high-fidelity ABS
was employed with 1, 2.25, and 5 MHz probes and a recirculating mixing
tank. Initially, the concentration independent attenuation and backscatter
coefficients were measured for each system using a robust calibration
procedure at multiple concentrations. Comparisons of the total scattering
cross-section (Ï) and form function (f) were
made between the experimental data and two semiempirical models: a
Solid Scattering model and a Hybrid model (where the effects of bound
fluid are incorporated). Experimental data compared more closely to
the Solid Scattering model, as it was assumed scattering was dominated
by small, bound âflocculiâ rather than the macroscopic
structure. However, if the COV was used as a fit parameter, the hybrid
model could give equally accurate fits for a range of input aggregate
sizes, highlighting that important size and structure information
can be gained from the acoustic models if there is some a
priori system data. Additionally, dual-frequency inversions
were undertaken to measure concentration profiles for various frequency
pairs. Here, the lowest frequency pair gave the best performance (with
accurate measurements in the range of 2â35 g·Lâ1) as interparticle scattering was lowest
Meiotic Studies of a Human Male Carrier of the Common Translocation, t(11;22), Suggests Postzygotic Selection rather than Preferential 3:1 MI Segregation as the Cause of Liveborn Offspring with an Unbalanced Translocation
Open data from the first and second observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo
Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo are monitoring the sky and collecting gravitational-wave strain data with sufficient sensitivity to detect signals routinely. In this paper we describe the data recorded by these instruments during their first and second observing runs. The main data products are gravitational-wave strain time series sampled at 16384 Hz. The datasets that include this strain measurement can be freely accessed through the Gravitational Wave Open Science Center at http://gw-openscience.org, together with data-quality information essential for the analysis of LIGO and Virgo data, documentation, tutorials, and supporting software
Search for intermediate-mass black hole binaries in the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo
International audienceIntermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) span the approximate mass range 100â105âMâ, between black holes (BHs) that formed by stellar collapse and the supermassive BHs at the centers of galaxies. Mergers of IMBH binaries are the most energetic gravitational-wave sources accessible by the terrestrial detector network. Searches of the first two observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo did not yield any significant IMBH binary signals. In the third observing run (O3), the increased network sensitivity enabled the detection of GW190521, a signal consistent with a binary merger of mass âŒ150âMâ providing direct evidence of IMBH formation. Here, we report on a dedicated search of O3 data for further IMBH binary mergers, combining both modeled (matched filter) and model-independent search methods. We find some marginal candidates, but none are sufficiently significant to indicate detection of further IMBH mergers. We quantify the sensitivity of the individual search methods and of the combined search using a suite of IMBH binary signals obtained via numerical relativity, including the effects of spins misaligned with the binary orbital axis, and present the resulting upper limits on astrophysical merger rates. Our most stringent limit is for equal mass and aligned spin BH binary of total mass 200âMâ and effective aligned spin 0.8 at 0.056 Gpcâ3 yrâ1 (90% confidence), a factor of 3.5 more constraining than previous LIGO-Virgo limits. We also update the estimated rate of mergers similar to GW190521 to 0.08 Gpcâ3 yrâ1.Key words: gravitational waves / stars: black holes / black hole physicsCorresponding author: W. Del Pozzo, e-mail: [email protected]â Deceased, August 2020