First and second eye cataract surgery and driver self-regulation among older drivers with bilateral cataract: A prospective cohort study

Background: Driving a car is the most common form of transport among the older population. Common medical conditions such as cataract, increase with age and impact on the ability to drive. To compensate for visual decline, some cataract patients may self-regulate their driving while waiting for cataract surgery. However, little is known about the self-regulation practices of older drivers throughout the cataract surgery process. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of first and second eye cataract surgery on driver self-regulation practices, and to determine which objective measures of vision are associated with driver self-regulation. Methods: Fifty-five older drivers with bilateral cataract aged 55+ years were assessed using the self-reported Driving Habits Questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination and three objective visual measures in the month before cataract surgery, at least one to three months after first eye cataract surgery and at least one month after second eye cataract surgery. Participants' natural driving behaviour in four driving situations was also examined for one week using an in-vehicle monitoring device. Two separate Generalised Estimating Equation logistic models were undertaken to assess the impact of first and second eye cataract surgery on driver-self-regulation status and which changes in visual measures were associated with driver self-regulation status. Results: The odds of being a self-regulator in at least one driving situation significantly decreased by 70% after first eye cataract surgery (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7) and by 90% after second eye surgery (OR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.1-0.4), compared to before first eye surgery. Improvement in contrast sensitivity after cataract surgery was significantly associated with decreased odds of self-regulation (OR: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01-0.4). Conclusions: The findings provide a strong rationale for providing timely first and second eye cataract surgery for older drivers with bilateral cataract, in order to improve their mobility and independence

N-Linked Glycosylation in Archaea: a Structural, Functional, and Genetic Analysis

SUMMARY: N-glycosylation of proteins is one of the most prevalent posttranslational modifications in nature. Accordingly, a pathway with shared commonalities is found in all three domains of life. While excellent model systems have been developed for studying N-glycosylation in both Eukarya and Bacteria, an understanding of this process in Archaea was hampered until recently by a lack of effective molecular tools. However, within the last decade, impressive advances in the study of the archaeal version of this important pathway have been made for halophiles, methanogens, and thermoacidophiles, combining glycan structural information obtained by mass spectrometry with bioinformatic, genetic, biochemical, and enzymatic data. These studies reveal both features shared with the eukaryal and bacterial domains and novel archaeon-specific aspects. Unique features of N-glycosylation in Archaea include the presence of unusual dolichol lipid carriers, the use of a variety of linking sugars that connect the glycan to proteins, the presence of novel sugars as glycan constituents, the presence of two very different N-linked glycans attached to the same protein, and the ability to vary the N-glycan composition under different growth conditions. These advances are the focus of this review, with an emphasis on N-glycosylation pathways in Haloferax, Methanococcus, and Sulfolobus

Complement activation in acute coronary syndromes

The complement system is part of the host defence response. However, considerable evidence suggests that complement plays an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate complement activation in patients with all forms of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and to examine the relationship between the degree of complement activation and myocardial injury The study population included 152 subjects (26 females): 82 with ACS (35 acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 22 non-Q wave MI (NQMI), 25 unstable angina (UAP)) (Group A), 35 stable angina (SA) (Group B), and 35 healty control subjects (Group Q. Complement 3 (C3), Complement 4 (C4), C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin I (TnI) as well as creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) were evaluated. Patients' blood samples were taken on admission (day 1) and after 2, 3 and 7 days in group A. However, only one measurement was performed in the groups B and C. Plasma C3 and C4 peak levels were significantly higher in patients with AMI (141 +/- 29 and 35 +/- 11 mg/dl) and NQMI (136 +/- 13 and 35 +/- 7 mg/dl) than in patients with SA (128 +/- 14 and 27 +/- 10 mg/dl) and the control subjects (114 +/- 22 and 22 +/- 7 mg/dl) (p 0.05). However, plasma levels of C3 and C4 were significantly different between days in patients with AMI and NQMI (p < 0.0001). Plasma C3 and C4 levels in ACS showed a relationship with peak CK-MB and Tn I levels (p < 0.01). Plasma CRP level in ACS showed positive correlation with C3 (p < 0.01) and C4 (p < 0.001). In this study, we determined that plasma C3 and C4 levels were elevated in ACS and SA. Although C3 and C4 were higher in ACS and SA, the systemic levels of inflammatory markers in patients with SA and UAP were lower than those found in the AMI and NQMI groups. The relationship between C3, C4 levels and ACS further suggests that the complement activation is related to necrosis within the myocardium