Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

Combined cyclectomy-trabeculectomy procedure for refractory glaucoma

A new surgical technique for cases of refractory glaucoma is described. The technique has been performed on 42 severely glaucomatous eyes. The technique consists of a partial excision of the ciliary body combined with a trabeculectomy to maintain an effective filtration by several passages. All excised material was verified as ciliary body by an ophthalmic pathologist. The follow-up period was 2 to 5 years. Intraocular pressure decreased after the operation and remained less than 20 mm Hg in 39 eyes. The visual acuity increased in 8 of 42 eyes and remained the same in 32 eyes. Complications were similar to those seen after trabeculectomy. This method is efficient for severely glaucomatous eyes that are difficult to manage with trabeculectomy alone

Combined Cyclectomy-Trabeculectomy Procedure for Refractory Glaucoma

A new surgical technique for cases of refractory glaucoma is described. The technique has been performed on 42 severely glaucomatous eyes. The technique consists of a partial excision of the ciliary body combined with a trabeculectomy to maintain an effective filtration by several passages. All excised material was verified as ciliary body by an ophthalmic pathologist. The follow-up period was 2 to 5 years. Intraocular pressure decreased after the operation and remained less than 20 mm Hg in 39 eyes. The visual acuity increased in 8 of 42 eyes and remained the same in 32 eyes. Complications were similar to those seen after trabeculectomy. This method is efficient for severely glaucomatous eyes that are difficult to manage with trabeculectomy alone

The Evaluation of Human Tenon’s Fibroblasts and Endothelial Cell Responses to Antifibrotics Alone and in Combination with α-Tocopherol

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the influence of current antifibrotic agents as well as the possible results obtained by combining these agents. This study included alpha-tocopherol, a strong antifibrotic and an efficient neuromediator of pathways used by other agents