Effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation: A randomized control trial

Importance: The effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. Background: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection adjunctive to AGV implantation. Design: Prospective and randomized clinical trial. Participants: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with diagnosis of glaucoma that were candidate for AGV surgery were included. Methods: In 25 eyes, conventional AGV surgery (group 1) and in 25 eyes AGV surgery with subconjunctival Bevacizumab (group 2) was performed by block randomization Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was surgical success. Outcome measures were compared at postoperative month 3, 6 and 12. Results: Mean age of patients was 58.76 ± 12.11 and 51.36 ± 15.44 years in group 1 and 2 respectively (P = 0.06). Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline was 24.88± 7.62mmHg in group 1 and 27.52± 8.57mmHg in group 2 which decreased to15.4 ± 4.4 mmHg in group 1 and 13.42± 2.9 mmHg in group 2 (P < 0.00) at last follow up. Surgical success was defined in two level: postoperative IOP �21mmHg with at least 20 reduction in IOP (Criterion A), either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than two medications (qualified success) and criterion B with the same definition but the IOP �18mmHg The cumulative success according to criterion A and B was 77.8, 72.2 in group 1 and 89.5 in group 2, respectively, at the end of follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: Subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab adjunctive to AGV implantation leads to higher success rate compared with AGV alone in one year follow-up. © 2018 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists

The attentive focus on T cell-mediated autoimmune pathogenesis of psoriasis, lichen planus and vitiligo

T cell-mediated autoimmune skin diseases develop as a result of the aberrant immune response to the skin cells with T cells playing a central role. These chronic inflammatory skin diseases encompass various types including psoriasis, lichen planus and vitiligo. These diseases show similarities in their immune-pathophysiology. In the last decade, immunomodulating agents have been very successful in the management of these diseases thanks to a better understanding of the pathophysiology. In this review, we will discuss the immunopathogenic mechanisms and highlight the role of T lymphocytes in psoriasis, lichen planus and vitiligo. This study could provide new insights into a better understanding of targeted therapeutic pathways and biological therapies. © 2020 The Scandinavian Foundation for Immunolog

Stock assessment of zobaidy, Pampus argenteus, in the north of Persian Gulf

The project “Stock Assessment of Zobaidy, Pampus argenteus, in the North of Persian Gulf” started in April 2003 and completed by the end of April 2006 as a cooperative research project to assess the valuable stock of zobaidy shared between Kuwait and Iran in the North of Persian Gulf. The main objectives were to investigate and determine the basic biological parameters, the standing biomass, seasonal abundance, and the impact of regional fishery activities. These studies are necessary to recommend practical management policies and measures for long-term sustainability of the zobaidy stock. The sampling of fisheries data (catch, effort, fish length distributions, and biological data) was started in May 2003 and ended December 2006. Monthly length frequencies data were collected from both the drift gill net and shrimp trawl fisheries. Age determination was based on otolith sectioning, polishing, etching, and staining method. The age groups ranged from 0 to 10 yrs but the dominant age groups were 1-3 years and the estimated parameters for both sexes were L_∞ = 32.0-36.0 cm FL and K = 0.26-0.30 yr^-1, females grow faster than males. Sea survey on board of two dhow boats was carried out using swept area method. Higher abundance was always obtained in Kuwait Bay rather than the other areas surveyed in Kuwait and Khuzestan waters. The total estimated stock biomass in the surveyed areas varied from 42 t in January 2004 to 2,633 t in November 2004, while the Iranian biomass varied from as low as 19 t in October 2005 to 295 t in November 2003. The data indicated that Ras Al-Gaid, Bubiyan Island is the main nursery area in Kuwait waters, while Lifah, Busaif, and Bahrakan are important nursery areas in the Khuzestan waters. Kuwait Bay and Khor Musa are considered important spawning grounds and should be protected. Yield per recruit analysis showed that higher yield could be gained with increasing fish effort, which is not recommended under the present status of high exploitation rate. In contrast, virtual population analysis indicated that future catches will reduce if the fishery continues with present level fishing effort. A reduction of 50% would be required to maintain the present level of catches as well as to enhance the stock biomass. Formulation of a joint advisory management committee would be advisable approach to manage and monitor the zobaidy stock in the region. This will need commitment from the three countries in the region for data collection on regular basis on length frequency, statistics, and biological data. Copepods with high occurence of 64% - 88% is considered as the main item in the Pomfret fish, while jelly fish and other decapods crustaceans are considered as minor items. Observation of pre- flexion stage larvae of pampus genus among the specimens collected from Khuzestan coast water could be considered as an evidence for the spawning of this fish in this region. The occurrence of pampus larvae in Khuzestan coast during the months of June to October has been reported for several times. Examination of 101 specimens (38 from Kuwait, 63 from Iran) for molecular survey does not show any significant differences between Kuwait and Iran water stocks for this fish, so it is possible to hypothesize a unit population for zobidy stock in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea as whole

Reliability of Sonography for the Prediction of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children With Mild Hydronephrosis

Objectives: Postnatal evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) remains controversial in patients with antenatal hydronephrosis (HN). The objective of this study was to identify the significance of mild postnatal HN as a marker of VUR and its severity. Materials and Methods: Sonographic findings of 248 children (351 kidneys) with persistent postnatal HN were evaluated for the incidence and severity of primary VUR. Results: The majority of patients had mild (67.8) HN, followed by moderate (27.6) and severe (4.6) HN. VUR was identified in 14.7 of patients with mild HN, 18.5 of patients with moderate HN, and 18.7 of patients with severe HN. About 11.44 of patients with mild HN had low-grade VUR, followed by moderate (45.71 ) and severe grades (42.85). Conclusion: A large number (89) of patients with mild HN had moderate to severe VUR. In this cohort, renal sonography was not a reliable method for the prediction of VUR and its severity in patients with mild postnatal HN. However, it was reliable for high grades of VUR. These results are limited due to the study design and the inability to generalize these findings. These results should be replicated across other multiple clinics, thereby recruiting more variety of patients, to validate these study recommendations. © The Author(s) 2021

Effects of statins on myocarditis: A review of underlying molecular mechanisms

Myocarditis refers to the clinical and histological characteristics of a diverse range of inflammatory cellular pathophysiological conditions which result in cardiac dysfunction. Myocarditis is a major cause of mortality in individuals less than 40 years of age and accounts for approximately 20% of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Myocarditis contributes to dilated cardiomyopathy in 30% of patients and can progress to cardiac arrest, which has a poor prognosis of <40% survival over 10 years. Myocarditis has also been documented after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The most commonly used lipid-lowering therapies, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), decrease CVD-related morbidity and mortality. In addition to their lipid-lowering effects, increasing evidence supports the existence of several additional beneficial, ‘pleiotropic’ effects of statins. Recently, several studies have indicated that statins may attenuate myocarditis. Statins modify the lipid oxidation, inflammation, immunomodulation, and endothelial activity of the pathophysiology and have been recommended as adjuvant treatment. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of action of statins and their effects on myocarditis, SARS-CoV-2 and CVD

Effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation: A randomized control trial

Importance: The effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. Background: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection adjunctive to AGV implantation. Design: Prospective and randomized clinical trial. Participants: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with diagnosis of glaucoma that were candidate for AGV surgery were included. Methods: In 25 eyes, conventional AGV surgery (group 1) and in 25 eyes AGV surgery with subconjunctival Bevacizumab (group 2) was performed by block randomization Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was surgical success. Outcome measures were compared at postoperative month 3, 6 and 12. Results: Mean age of patients was 58.76 ± 12.11 and 51.36 ± 15.44 years in group 1 and 2 respectively (P = 0.06). Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline was 24.88± 7.62mmHg in group 1 and 27.52± 8.57mmHg in group 2 which decreased to15.4 ± 4.4 mmHg in group 1 and 13.42± 2.9 mmHg in group 2 (P < 0.00) at last follow up. Surgical success was defined in two level: postoperative IOP �21mmHg with at least 20 reduction in IOP (Criterion A), either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than two medications (qualified success) and criterion B with the same definition but the IOP �18mmHg The cumulative success according to criterion A and B was 77.8, 72.2 in group 1 and 89.5 in group 2, respectively, at the end of follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: Subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab adjunctive to AGV implantation leads to higher success rate compared with AGV alone in one year follow-up. © 2018 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists