Meta-analysis of clinical randomized controlled trials comparing ReZOOM with ReSTOR multifocal intraocular lenses in cataract surgery

AIM: To systematic review the effectiveness of refractive multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)ReZOOM <i>vs</i> diffractive MIOL ReSTOR in the treatment of cataract.<p>METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing refractive MIOL ReZOOM with diffractive MIOL ReSTOR were identified by searching CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMbase, WANFANG MED ONLINE, CMJD, SinoMed, and CNKI. Related journals also were hand-searched. Methodological quality of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)was evaluated by simple evaluate method that recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Data extracted by two reviewers with designed extraction form. RevMan software(release 5.2)was used for data management and analysis.<p>RESULTS:A total of 7 trials(846 eyes)were included for systematic review. Subgroup analyses were used according to different model comparison of ReSTOR MIOL. The results showed a significant difference in the mean of the best distance corrected intermediate visual acuity(BDCIVA)in the ReZOOM MIOL group with WMD= -0.11, 95% <i>CI</i>(-0.16, -0.06)(<i>P</i><0.0001). It showed a significantly difference in the mean of the uncorrected near visual acuity(UCNVA), complete spectacle independent rate, halo rate and glare rate in the ReSTOR MIOL group with WMD= 0.09, 95% <i>CI</i>(0.05, 0.14)(<i>P</i><0.00001), WMD= 2.62, 95%<i>CI</i>(1.76, 3.91)(<i>P</i><0.00001), WMD=1.35, 95% <i>CI</i>(1.15, 1.60)(<i>P</i>=0.0004)and WMD= 1.29, 95% <i>CI</i>(1.09, 1.53)(<i>P</i>=0.003). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean of the uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCDVA), the uncorrected intermediate visual acuity(UCIVA), the best corrected distance visual acuity(BCDVA)and the best distance corrected near visual acuity(BDCNVA)with WMD -0.03, 95% <i>CI</i>(-0.06, 0.01)(<i>P</i>=0.15), WMD= -0.04, 95% <i>CI</i>(-0.09, 0.01)(<i>P</i>=0.10), WMD= -0.01, 95%<i>CI</i>(-0.04, 0.02)(<i>P</i>=0.55)and WMD= 0.06, 95% <i>CI</i>(-0.06, 0.17)(<i>P</i>=0.32). <p>CONCLUSION: Patients implanted with ReZOOM MIOL can provide better BDCIVA; patients implanted with ReSTOR MIOL show better UCNVA, are less likely to appear light halo, glare and other visual adverse reactions; correction in spectacles cases, patients implanted with ReZOOM or ReSTOR MIOL have considerable performances in the far and near visual acuity

Impact of drug-eluting stents with different coating strategies on stent thrombosis: A meta-analysis of 19 randomized trials

Background: Whether drug-eluting stents with biodegradable polymers (BP-DES) improve safety, especially with respect to stent thrombosis (ST) compared with permanent polymers DES (PP-DES), remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes and the ST risk in patients treated with BP-DES vs. PP-DES.Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Web of science, CENTRAL databases, and conferenceproceedings/abstracts for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BP-DES with PP-DES. The primary endpoint was to compare the risks of overall and different temporalc ategories of definite/probable ST. Other clinical outcomes were target lesion revascularization (TLR), myocardial infarction (MI), and all-cause death in short-term (≤ 1 year) and long-term follow-up. The meta-analyses were performed by computing odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model.Results: Nineteen RCTs including 20,229 patients were analyzed. Overall, BP-DES significantly decreased the risks of very late definite/probable ST (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.16–0.70), and TLR in long-term follow-up (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52–0.95) compared with PP-DES. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding MI incidence and mortality during both short and long follow-up periods. In stratified analyses, the long-term superiority of BP-DES was maintained only by using first-generation DES as the comparators.Conclusions: The present meta-analysis indicated that BP-DES were more efficacious than PP-DES at reducing the risks of very late ST and long-term TLR, but it could vary by heterogeneities in the use of PP-DES comparators. Additional rigorous RCTs with longer follow-up periods are warranted to verify these very promising long-term endpoints.

Cerebral small vessel disease burden is associated with poststroke depressive symptoms: A 15-month prospective study

Objective: All types of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers including lacune, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces were found to be associated with poststroke depressive symptoms (PDS). This study explored whether the combination of the four markers constituting an overall SVD burden was associated with PDS. Methods: A cohort of 563 patients with acute ischemic stroke were followed over a 15-month period after the index stroke. A score of _7 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was defined as clinically significant PDS. Scores of the four SVD markers ascertained on magnetic resonance imaging were summed up to represent total SVD burden. The association between SVD burden and PDS was assessed with generalized estimating equation models. Results: The study sample had a mean age of 67.0 _ 10.2 years and mild-moderate stroke [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: 3, interquartile, 1–5]. PDS were found in 18.3%, 11.6%, and 12.3% of the sample at 3, 9, and 15 months after stroke, respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, social support, stroke severity, physical and cognitive functions, and size and locations of stroke, the SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of PDS [odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = 1.07–1.58; p = 0.010]. Other significant predictors of PDS were time of assessment, female sex, smoking, number of acute infarcts, functional independence, and social support. Conclusion: SVD burden was associated with PDS examined over a 15-month follow-up in patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke

Association of Intrarenal B-Cell Infiltrates with Clinical Outcome in Lupus Nephritis: A Study of 192 Cases

Background. Lupus nephritis (LN) remains a major cause of morbidity and end-stage renal disease. Dysfunction of B lymphocytes is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of SLE/LN. Intrarenal B cells have been found in several forms of inflammatory kidney diseases although their role in LN renal is not well defined. Methods. Intrarenal B cells were analyzed in 192 renal biopsies from patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis. Immunohistochemical staining of serial sections was performed for each LN patient using CD20, CD3, and CD21 antibodies. Results. Intrarenal B cells were more likely to be associated with class IV LN and were mainly distributed in the renal interstitium, with very few in the glomerulus. The systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels were all significantly greater in the LN-B cell groups (all P<0.05). LN renal activity and chronicity indices correlated with B-cells infiltrates (all P<0.0001). Renal biopsies were classified into four distinct categories according to the organizational grade of inflammatory cell infiltrates. Germinal center- (GC-) like structures were not identified in any LN biopsies. Conclusion. It is hypothesized that intrarenal B cells enhance immunological responses and exaggerate the local immune response to persisting autoimmune damage in the tubulointerstitium

Nanocarbon-Based Flame Retardant Polymer Nanocomposites.

In recent years, nanocarbon materials have attracted the interest of researchers due to their excellent properties. Nanocarbon-based flame retardant polymer composites have enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties compared with traditional flame retardant composites. In this article, the unique structural features of nanocarbon-based materials and their use in flame retardant polymeric materials are initially introduced. Afterwards, the flame retardant mechanism of nanocarbon materials is described. The main discussions include material components such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerene (in preparing resins), elastomers, plastics, foams, fabrics, and film–matrix materials. Furthermore, the flame retardant properties of carbon nanomaterials and their modified products are summarized. Carbon nanomaterials not only play the role of a flame retardant in composites, but also play an important role in many aspects such as mechanical reinforcement. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for future development of carbon nanomaterials in flame-retardant polymeric materials are briefly discussed.post-print8100 K

Comparative study of collagen and gelatin coatings on titanium surfaces

The vast majority of studies in the bone tissue engineering field are focused on the surface modification of titanium scaffolds to obtain integration of the scaffold in the surrounding bone tissue. Our approach consisted in benefiting from the advantages of the cell-interaction capabilities of collagen and gelatin. The biopolymers were immobilised onto the Ti surface through different methods and the stability of the obtained coatings was determined. The obtained results reveal that covalent immobilisation of collagen and gelatin is required to obtain stable surface coatings