Novel Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods in Ocular Surface and Corneal Diseases

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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

Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

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Regulation of cAMP and GSK3 signaling pathways contributes to the neuronal conversion of glioma

Glioma is the most malignant type of primary central nervous system tumors, and has an extremely poor prognosis. One potential therapeutic approach is to induce the terminal differentiation of glioma through the forced expression of pro-neural factors. Our goal is to show the proof of concept of the neuronal conversion of C6 glioma through the combined action of small molecules. We investigated the various changes in gene expression, cell-specific marker expression, signaling pathways, physiological characteristics, and morphology in glioma after combination treatment with two small molecules (CHIR99021, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 [GSK3] inhibitor and forskolin, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] activator). Here, we show that the combined action of CHIR99021 and forskolin converted malignant glioma into fully differentiated neurons with no malignant characteristics; inhibited the proliferation of malignant glioma; and significantly down-regulated gene ontology and gene expression profiles related to cell division, gliogenesis, and angiogenesis in small molecule-induced neurons. In vivo, the combined action of CHIR99021 and forskolin markedly delayed neurological deficits and significantly reduced the tumor volume. We suggest that reprogramming technology may be a potential treatment strategy replacing the therapeutic paradigm of traditional treatment of malignant glioma, and a combination molecule comprising a GSK3 inhibitor and a cAMP inducer could be the next generation of anticancer drugs

Metals in Calamagrostis epigejos and Solidago sp. from reclaimed post-industrial wastelands

Na zrekultywowanych biologicznie nieużytkach poprzemysłowych powstałych ze zwałowisk odpadów po górnictwie węgla lub osadników po flotacji rud cynkowo-ołowiowych, utworzyły się zbiorowiska roślinne z głównym udziałem Calamagrostis Epigejos oraz Solidago Sp. Rośliny te stanowią potencjalną biomasę energetyczną. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań zawartości metali ciężkich Fe, Pb, Zn, Hg, metali alkalicznych Na, K, Ca w wyżej wymienionych roślinach pobranych ze zwałowiska odpadów górniczych oraz osadnika poflotacyjnego rud Zn-Pb. Składniki te mają zasadniczy wpływ na zachowanie się substancji mineralnej przy współspalaniu biomasy w kotłach fluidalnych.Phytocoenosis with main participation of Calamagrostis Epigejos and Solidago Sp. were created on the biological reclaimed post-industrial wastelands formed from coal wastes dump or Zn-Pb ores postflotation settlings. This plants are potential energetic biomass.The paper presents results of analysies of Fe, Pb, Zn, Hg, Na, K, Ca concentration in plants taken from coal wastes dump and Zn-Pb ores postflotation settlings. This elements have basic influence on mineral matter behaviour during biomass co-burning in fluidized beds