Aqueous humor’s biochemical composition in ocular pathologies

Department of Ophthalmology, Nicolae Testemitsanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, the Republic of MoldovaBackground: Being analogous to a blood surrogate, the aqueous humor has an important role in the regulation of the homeostasis of the ocular tissues. It has many functions: provides nutrition, removes excretory products, transports neurotransmitters, stabilizes the ocular structures, influences the intraocular pressure, and participates in the immune response against invading pathogens and inflammation. Aqueous humor’s unique composition (electrolytes, proteins, biologically active substances, and organic solutes) is required to maintain adequate functionality of the ocular system. Its secretion is a complex biochemical reaction that gives specific properties and makes the difference from other human fluids. Different factors (traumatic, physical, chemical, pharmacological) and eye pathologies influence its composition, modifying its physiological properties, and cause pathological conditions in the anterior segment. In the last decade, it was made massive progress in the characterization of the composition of aqueous humor in different pathologies (glaucoma, myopia, keratoconus, age-related macular degeneration, branch retinal vein occlusion, etc.). It determined the biomarkers for eye’s pathologies and identified the progression of the disease. Conclusions: The detailed knowledge of biochemical and physiological properties of aqueous humor is necessary in understanding the pathophysiology of eye’s diseases. The significant variations in the differentially abundant changes in human aqueous humor may be relevant for future diseases treatment in order to get favorable outcomes in patients. Specific markers for pathologies represent nowadays an important field of research. These markers are necessary for early diagnosis and selecting the proper treatment for each individual case by stopping the clinical disease progression

Latino Population Trends and Child Welfare Services: Reflections on Policy, Practice, and Research from the Latino Consortium Roundtable Discussions

This paper presents findings from the Illinois Hispanic Family Profile and from Latino Consortium Round Table discussions regarding the unique linguistic, cultural and transnational issues present in child welfare practice with Latino families. To provide a knowledge base for program planning and casework with Latino families, this paper describes the Latino population as a whole, the characteristics of Latino children and families involved with the child welfare system, and innovative Latino child welfare initiatives in Illinois. Policy, practice, and research implications and recommendations are presented

Determination of Agrin and Related Proteins Levels as a Function of Age in Human Hearts

BACKGROUND: Mature cardiomyocytes are unable to proliferate, preventing the injured adult heart from repairing itself. Studies in rodents have suggested that the extracellular matrix protein agrin promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation in the developing heart and that agrin expression is downregulated shortly after birth, resulting in the cessation of proliferation. Agrin based therapies have proven successful at inducing repair in animal models of cardiac injury, however whether similar pathways exist in the human heart is unknown. METHODS: Right ventricular (RV) biopsies were collected from 40 patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease and the expression of agrin and associated proteins was investigated. RESULTS: Agrin transcripts were found in all samples and their levels were significantly negatively correlated to age (p = 0.026), as were laminin transcripts (p = 0.023), whereas no such correlation was found for the other proteins analyzed. No significant correlations for any of the proteins were found when grouping patients by their gender or pathology. Immunohistochemistry and western blots to detect and localize agrin and the other proteins under analysis in RV tissue, confirmed their presence in patients of all ages. CONCLUSIONS: We show that agrin is progressively downregulated with age in human RV tissue but not as dramatically as has been demonstrated in mice; highlighting both similarities and differences to findings in rodents. Our results lay the groundwork for future studies exploring the potential of agrin-based therapies in the repair of damaged human hearts

Surgical treatment in induced ocular hypertension in rabbit

Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, The 8th International Medical Congress for Students and Young Doctors, September 24-26, 2020Background. Nowadays, glaucoma imposes a major issue for public health, representing the second worldwide leading cause of blindness (WHO Resnikoff 2002). It is a group of complex and heterogeneous ocular diseases, characterized by progressive optical atrophy (Almasieh 2012; Yanoff, 2014; Salmon, 2020). Glaucomatous damage is irreversible; therefore understanding its pathology and selection of optimal management minimizes the risk of progression and development of visual loss. That is why the researches continue. We report a case of filtration surgery treatment in experimentally induced ocular hypertension. Case report. Since for reliable tonometry in awake rabbits, it is advisable to keep the animals as quiet and unfrightened as possible, avoiding excessive manipulation and stimulation, we thought of using Tono-PenXL© Reichert at New Zealand rabbit and to take the measurement of normal IOP (intraocular pressure) after surface anesthesia. An ocular hypertension model in rabbit was induced by using a model proposed by Hester (1987), Melena (1997), just because using other proposed methods found in literature can block the filtering device. The hypertension was obtained by a local subconjunctival injection of 0,7ml betamethasone suspension in one eye. The procedure was repeated for 3 weeks. The injections were done in aseptic conditions under local anesthesia. It was observed the elevated IOP after the last injection with corticosteroid. After obtained ocular hypertension, it was performed the filtration surgery by implantation of a new design model of antiglaucoma shunt and it was monitoring the IOP postoperative and the ocular status. Conclusions. We aim to highlight the possibility of using a new device for glaucoma filtration surgery, its influence on IOP and ocular surface. Good results in the experimental implementation of this way of glaucoma surgery seem to be the most important step in treating this pathology except the classic trabeculectomy, which has also limitations

Case report: Paralytic shellfish poisoning in Sabah, Malaysia

During the months of January–February and May–June 2013 coinciding with the red tide occurrence in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, six episodes involving 58 cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) or saxitoxin (STX) poisoning and resulting in four deaths were reported. Many of them were intoxicated from consuming shellfish purchased from the markets, whereas others were intoxicated from eating shellfish collected from the beach. Levels of STX in shellfish collected from the affected areas were high (mean 2,920 ± 780 and 360 ± 140 mg STX equivalents/100 g shellfish meat respectively for the two periods). The count of toxic dinoflagellates (Pyrodinium bahamense var compressum) of the sea water sampled around the coast was also high (mean 34,200 ± 10,300 cells/L). Species of shellfish containing high levels of STX were Atrina fragilis, Perna viridis, and Crassostrea belcheri. The age of victims varied from 9 to 67 years. Symptoms presented were typical of PSP, such as dizziness, numbness, vomiting, and difficulty in breathing. Recommended steps to prevent or reduce PSP in future red tide season include better monitoring of red tide occurrence, regular sampling of shellfish for determination of STX level, wider dissemination of information on the danger of eating contaminated shellfish among the communities, fishermen, and fishmongers

Metodă experimentală de chirurgie filtrantă pentru glaucomul indus

Background. Glaucoma is characterized by progressive and irreversible changes in optic nerve structure and function [Salmon,2020]. It was estimated that by 2020, 11,1mln people will be blind from glaucoma [Quigley,2006]. The imperative problem remains understanding its pathology and selection of optimal management. Objective of the study. To evaluate the function of a new method of filtration surgery treatment in experimentally induced ocular hypertension in rabbit. Material and Methods. This preclinical study included the evaluation of the function of the new design model of antiglaucoma shunt on intraocular pressure (IOP) and the ocular status in New Zealand rabbit. After obtained ocular hypertension, it was performed the filtration surgery by implantation of the antiglaucoma shunt with three months postoperative examination. Results. The induced hypertension was 30 mmHg measured with Tono-PenXL© Reichert. It was used the model for induced glaucoma proposed by Hester [1987], Melena [1997], just because using other proposed methods found in literature can block the filtering device. The hypertension was obtained by a local injection of less than 1ml betamethasone suspension in one eye. The proposed device for glaucoma filtration surgery has good results on intraocular pressure by obtaining its physiological levels of 14 mmHg. The shunt caused no pathological changes in the anterior chamber of the eye in the postoperative period. Conclusion. Good results in the experimental implementation of this way of glaucoma surgery open a new possibility of treatment. Introducere. Glaucomul este caracterizat prin modificări progresive și ireversibile în structura și funcția nervului optic [Somon,2020]. S-a estimat că până în 2020, 11,1 mln de oameni vor fi afectați de glaucom [Quigley,2006]. Problema imperativă rămâne înțelegerea patologiei și selectarea managementului optim. Scopul lucrării. Evaluarea funcției unei noi metode de tratament chirurgical filtrant în hipertensiunea oculară indusă la iepure. Material și Metode. Acest studiu preclinic a inclus evaluarea funcției noului model de șunt antiglaucomatos asupra presiunii intraoculare (PIO) și a statusului ocular la iepurele neozeelandez. După obținerea hipertensiunii oculare, s-a efectuat operația de filtrare cu implantarea șuntului antiglaucomatos cu o evaluare pe o perioadă de trei luni postoperator. Rezultate. Hipertensiunea oculară indusă a fost de 30 mmHg măsurată cu Tono-PenXL © Reichert. A fost utilizat modelul pentru inducerea glaucomului propus de Hester [1987], Melena [1997], doar pentru că folosind alte metode propuse în literatură se poate solda cu blocarea dispozitivul de filtrare. Hipertensiunea oculară a fost obținută printr-o injecție locală cu mai puțin de 1 ml suspensie betametazonă la un ochi. Dispozitivul propus pentru operația de filtrare a glaucomului are rezultate bune asupra presiunii intraoculare prin obținerea nivelurilor fiziologice de 14 mmHg. Șuntul nu a provocat careva modificări patologice în camera anterioară a ochiului. Concluzii. Rezultate bune în implementarea experimentală a acestui tip de chirurgie a glaucomului deschide o nouă posibilitate de tratament

Avian Influenza (H7N9) Virus Infection in Chinese Tourist in Malaysia, 2014

Of the ≈400 cases of avian influenza (H7N9) diagnosed in China since 2003, the only travel-related cases have been in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Detection of a case in a Chinese tourist in Sabah, Malaysia, highlights the ease with which emerging viral respiratory infections can travel globally

Nineteen Years of Japanese Encephalitis Surveillance in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in Malaysia. Although JE vaccination is practiced in the neighboring state of Sarawak for a long time, little is known about JE in Sabah state in Borneo. As a result, informed policy formulation for JE in Sabah has not been accomplished. In the present study, we have analyzed JE cases that have been reported to the Sabah State Health Department from 2000 to 2018. A total of 92 JE cases were reported during 19 years, and three-fourths of the cases were attributed to children. The estimated mean incidence for JE cases is 0.161/100,000 population. Japanese encephalitis was predominant in Sabah during June, July, and August, peaking in July. In most cases, pigs were absent within a 400-m radius of the place of residence. We could not establish any relationship between the mapping of JE cases and the number of piggeries in each district. We could not establish a relationship between average rainfall and JE cases, either. We propose the cases reported are possibly showing the tip of an iceberg and continuous surveillance is needed, as JE is a public health challenge in Sabah