Terson-Like Syndrome Associated with Familial Retinal Arteriolar Tortuosity (fRAT) and a Spontaneous Spinal Hemorrhage

Background: Familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (fRAT) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is characterized by tortuosity of the second and third order retinal arterioles in the macular and peripapillary areas. The genetics of fRAT are incompletely understood but have been associated with a missense mutation in the COL4A1 gene in some cases. fRAT is not typically associated with visual loss and prognosis is good. However, the tortuous arterioles can bleed, causing intraretinal, preretinal, and/or subretinal hemorrhages. Objective: To describe a case of Terson-like syndrome associated with familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (fRAT) in the setting of spontaneous spinal hemorrhage. Results: A 63yo woman presented with blurred vision in both eyes at the time of developing a spontaneous spinal hemorrhage. Ophthalmic exam demonstrated large subhyaloid hemorrhages with intraretinal and subretinal hemorrhages in both eyes in addition to having tortuous retinal arterioles of the second and third order. Visual Acuity at presentation was 20/400 right eye, CF left eye. She was diagnosed with Terson-like syndrome associated with familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (fRAT) in the setting of a spontaneous spinal hemorrhage, and her vision improved over the year with observation alone. Conclusions: This is the first documented case of fRAT with hemorrhages associated with a spontaneous spinal hemorrhage

A Philosophical Survey Of The Influence Of The Mdeia On Violence Among Youths

The media are like a two-edged sword; it could built, it could also destroy. It has the capacity to increase the virtue level of a society; it also has an equal capacity to increase the vices of the society. From surveys it appears to these writers that, the media at present is wielding its vicious powers more. An increase in cases of homicides, terrorism, crime, violence and other social ills in the world is a clear testimony to this assertion. Since the state or the government exists to produce virtues in the citizens, it is imperative that the government takes serious steps to curb the dysfunctional effects of the media on the citizens and the society at large. The government should not be left alone to do this, the religious leaders, physicians, psychologists, philosophers, parents and the media practitioners themselves need to contribute their quota to evolve a media of our dreams – a media that would yield positive and beneficial fruits to the society. The media should be an instrument aimed at shaping the lives of the youth and the society. As an educative, instructive, didactic and healing therapeutic facility, the negatives associated with the media should be avoided by aspiring to embrace the positive effects of their relevance

Retinal Vasculitis: A Case Study

Purpose: To describe a case of idiopathic retinal vasculitis. Methods: Case report and literature review. Case: A healthy 25-year-old female presented with a one-week history of a large floater in her right eye. Patient’s subjective complaint of floaters, including the scotoma on VF and the FA findings were most consistent with retinal vasculitis displaying predominant venous involvement. However, findings for acute macular neuroretinopathy and multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) were present as well. Autoimmune and infectious disease panels were negative. Neuro consult and brain MRI showed nonspecific, non contributory findings. Several weeks later, following Medrol dose pack, patient reported significantly improved visual field and this was consistent with improved clinical and diagnostic findings. Conclusion: Although cases of retinal vasculitis have been linked to infectious, neoplastic, systemic and autoimmune diseases, idiopathic cases can present concurrently with other retinopathies

Frequency-dependent ultrasound-induced transformation in E. coli

Ultrasound-enhanced gene transfer (UEGT) is continuing to gain interest across many disciplines; however, very few studies investigate UEGT efficiency across a range of frequencies. Using a variable frequency generator, UEGT was tested in E. coli at six ultrasonic frequencies. Results indicate frequency can significantly influence UEGT efficiency positively and negatively. A frequency of 61 kHz improved UEGT efficiency by ~70 % higher, but 99 kHz impeded UEGT to an extent worse than no ultrasound exposure. The other four frequencies (26, 133, 174, and 190 kHz) enhanced transformation compared to no ultrasound, but efficiencies did not vary. The influence of frequency on UEGT efficiency was observed across a range of operating frequencies. It is plausible that frequency-dependent dynamics of mechanical and chemical energies released during cavitational-bubble collapse (CBC) are responsible for observed UEGT efficiencies

Sustainable Energy Systems and the Urban Poor: Nigeria, Brazil, and the Philippines

This chapter reviews the available literature which is dedicated to urban livelihoods and energy. The documentary and empirical evidence here is considerably thinner than for rural livelihoods and energy. The patterns of urban fuel use are dynamic and complex. As in rural households, urban household energy provision is primarily the responsibility of women. Households use a mix of fuels and there are signs that even poor households use modern fuels. All income groups still use considerable amounts of woodfuels. All fuel types can be purchased, but this is not always the case. For urban households energy costs can form a significant part of household budgets, although the amount paid is in part influenced by the cash flow patterns of poor people. The factors that influence switching to modern energy are extra- and intra-household. Extra-household factors include the size of the urban area influencing biomass fuel availability. Legal issues such as tenure of the property can affect the possibility for an electricity connection or LPG delivery. Questions of supply reliability prevent a complete transition from wood or charcoal to modern fuels, as does the availability of appropriate and affordable conversion equipment. The intra-household factors can be divided into two: the preference for one energy form over another and gender issues. Energy preferences are complex. Modern energy carriers are advocated for a number of reasons to displace traditional woodfuels. However, it appears that only in large cities or where there are enforced environmental policies to prevent deforestation, woodfuels are being displaced by other energy carriers. The challenge is not to displace woodfuels but to make their production more sustainable. The key here is to work with producers to develop a sustainable supply system to develop mechanisms that provide win-win situations. © 200

Metabolic profile of mesenchymal stromal cells and macrophages in the presence of polyethylene particles in a 3D model

Abstract Background Continuous cross talk between MSCs and macrophages is integral to acute and chronic inflammation resulting from contaminated polyethylene particles (cPE); however, the effect of this inflammatory microenvironment on mitochondrial metabolism has not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that (a) exposure to cPE leads to impaired mitochondrial metabolism and glycolytic reprogramming and (b) macrophages play a key role in this pathway. Methods We cultured MSCs with/without uncommitted M0 macrophages, with/without cPE in 3-dimensional gelatin methacrylate (3D GelMA) constructs/scaffolds. We evaluated mitochondrial function (membrane potential and reactive oxygen species—ROS production), metabolic pathways for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation) and response to stress mechanisms. We also studied macrophage polarization toward the pro-inflammatory M1 or the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Results Exposure to cPE impaired mitochondrial metabolism of MSCs; addition of M0 macrophages restored healthy mitochondrial function. Macrophages exposed to cPE-induced glycolytic reprogramming, but also initiated a response to this stress to restore mitochondrial biogenesis and homeostatic oxidative phosphorylation. Uncommitted M0 macrophages in coculture with MSC polarized to both M1 and M2 phenotypes. Osteogenesis was comparable among groups after 21 days. Conclusion This work confirmed that cPE exposure triggers impaired mitochondrial metabolism and glycolytic reprogramming in a 3D coculture model of MSCs and macrophages and demonstrated that macrophages cocultured with MSCs undergo metabolic changes to maintain energy production and restore homeostatic metabolism