Retinal Vascular Complications in Cocaine Abuse: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

This comprehensive review examines the ocular vascular complications of cocaine use, focusing on its effects on retinal vasculature and inflammation. A rare case of bilateral frosted branch angiitis (FBA) in a 48-year-old man with a history of intranasal cocaine abuse is presented as an illustrative example to stimulate discussion. The case highlights severe retinal ischemia and vascular sheathing, with no identifiable infectious or autoimmune cause, ultimately complicated by systemic vascular events.

Long-Term Functional Outcomes of Retinal Detachment Due to Acute Retinal Necrosis: A Case Series.

: To evaluate the long-term anatomical and functional prognosis of patients with retinal detachment (RD) secondary to acute retinal necrosis (ARN) treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). : This retrospective case series included 21 eyes from 21 patients with RD secondary to ARN. The study analyzed vitreous or aqueous biopsy results, the impact of antiviral therapy, time to retinal detachment, changes in visual acuity (VA), and anatomical and surgical outcomes.

Challenging corneal diseases and microRNA expression: Focus on rare diseases and new therapeutic frontiers.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression by targeting specific messenger RNA (mRNA). This interaction modulates mRNA stability or translational efficiency, ultimately impacting the level of protein production. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs act as critical regulators in corneal diseases.

Neuroprotective Effect of Antiapoptotic URG7 Protein on Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line SH-SY5Y.

Up-regulated Gene clone 7 (URG7) is a protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and overexpressed in liver cells upon hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Its activity has been related to the attenuation of ER stress resulting from HBV infection, promoting protein folding and ubiquitination and reducing cell apoptosis overall. While the antiapoptotic activity of URG7 in HBV-infected cells may have negative implications, this effect could be exploited positively in the field of proteinopathies, such as neurodegenerative diseases.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of a methanol extract from de Noé ex Coss. leaves.

de Noé ex Coss. (Lamiaceae) is a quite rare medicinal plant endemic to the Mediterranean basin. In this study, seven secondary metabolites from a methanol extract of its leaves have been isolated and identified by a combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR experiments and ESIMS analysis).

Insights into Novel Choroidal and Retinal Clinical Signs in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare inherited neurocutaneous disorder with a major impact on the skin, nervous system and eyes. The ocular diagnostic hallmarks of this disease include iris Lisch nodules, ocular and eyelid neurofibromas, eyelid café-au-lait spots and optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). In the last years, new manifestations have been identified in the ocular district in NF1 including choroidal abnormalities (CAs), hyperpigmented spots (HSs) and retinal vascular abnormalities (RVAs).

OCT biomarkers as predictors of visual improvement in diabetic macular edema eyes receiving dexamethasone implants.

Background: Several optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers have been proposed as predictors for functional and anatomical outcomes in Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). This study aims to examine the impact of these OCT features on the visual acuity improvement of patients with DME after long-acting Dexamethasone intravitreal implants (DEX-I) injection. Furthermore, the safety and impact of DEX-I on clinical parameters, including intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed.

Targeting unfolded protein response reverts ER stress and ER Ca homeostasis in cardiomyocytes expressing the pathogenic variant of Lamin A/C R321X.

Background: We previously demonstrated that an Italian family affected by a severe dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with history of sudden deaths at young age, carried a mutation in the Lmna gene encoding for a truncated variant of the Lamin A/C protein (LMNA), R321X. When expressed in heterologous systems, such variant accumulates into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), inducing the activation of the PERK-CHOP pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR), ER dysfunction and increased rate of apoptosis. The aim of this work was to analyze whether targeting the UPR can be used to revert the ER dysfunction associated with LMNA R321X expression in HL-1 cardiac cells.

Correlation between Morphological Characteristics of Macular Edema and Visual Acuity in Young Patients with Idiopathic Intermediate Uveitis.

Macular edema (ME) is a common complication of intermediate uveitis (IU). It is often responsible for a decrease in visual acuity (VA). Three distinct patterns of macular edema have been described in intermediate uveitis, namely, cystoid macular edema (CME), diffuse macular edema (DME), and serous retinal detachment (SRD).

PEGylated Liposomes Loaded with Carbamate Inhibitor ANP0903 Trigger Apoptosis by Enhancing ER Stress in HepG2 Cancer Cells.

Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the development of systemic therapies, but there is still the need for new drugs and technologies that can increase the survival and quality of life of patients. The present investigation reports the development of a liposomal formulation of a carbamate molecule, reported as ANP0903, previously tested as an inhibitor of HIV-1 protease and now evaluated for its ability to induce cytotoxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Does choroidal thickness predict persistent subretinal fluid after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair? A retrospective study with fellow eye comparison.

Purpose: To evaluate whether choroidal thickness (CT) is associated with persistent subretinal fluid (pSRF) after simple primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair.

Methods: This single-centre, retrospective, observational study included patients who underwent RRD repair with at least 12-month follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative parameters were evaluated for association with pSRF.

Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis According to Strampelli Original Technique: A Retrospective Study With Up to 30 Years of Follow-up.

Purpose: To describe clinical, anatomical, and visual outcomes obtained from a long-term follow-up of 59 patients who underwent osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) using the Strampelli original technique.

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: The study included 82 eyes of 59 patients who underwent OOKP surgery between 1969 and 2011.

Unusual Presentation of Skin Tattoo-Associated Panuveitis.

Aim: We report a case of a young male who developed bilateral panuveitis after extensive tattooing.

Design: Case report.

Methods: A 22-year-old male with a history of inflamed tattoos presented with pain in both eyes and blurred vision in the left eye.

Two Novel Precursors of the HIV-1 Protease Inhibitor Darunavir Target the UPR/Proteasome System in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2.

Several pre-clinical and clinical reports suggest that HIV-1 protease inhibitors, in addition to the antiretroviral properties, possess pleiotropic pharmacological effects including anticancer action. Therefore, we investigated the pro-apoptotic activity in tumor cells of two molecules, RDD-19 and RDD-142, which are hydroxyethylamine derivatives' precursors of darunavir and several HIV-1 protease inhibitors. : Three hepatoma cell lines and one non-pathological cell line were treated with RDD-19 and RDD-142, and cell viability was assessed.

Diabetic retinopathy, oxidative stress, and sirtuins: an in depth look in enzymatic patterns and new therapeutic horizons.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. DR represents the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, and its incidence is constantly rising. The complex interactions between inflammation, oxidative stress, and the production of free oxygen radicals caused by prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia determine the development of DR.

The Beneficial Effects of Red Sun-Dried Capsicum annuum L. Cv Senise Extract with Antioxidant Properties in Experimental Obesity are Associated with Modulation of the Intestinal Microbiota.

Scope: Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise is a sweet pepper containing health promoting compounds that can be modified by ripening and drying. This study focuses on finding the peppers with the best antioxidant properties, which are evaluated on an experimental model of obesity.

dvances in Wedd. Extract Research: In Vitro Antioxidant Activity, Antiproliferative Effects on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells and Bioactive Compound Characterization.

Wedd. (AG) is traditionally used to treat gonorrhea or kidney's problems. The antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase and in vitro antitumor activities of AG extracts were recently reported.

The Complex Relationship between Diabetic Retinopathy and High-Mobility Group Box: A Review of Molecular Pathways and Therapeutic Strategies.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a protein that is part of a larger family of non-histone nuclear proteins. HMGB1 is a ubiquitary protein with different isoforms, linked to numerous physiological and pathological pathways. HMGB1 is involved in cytokine and chemokine release, leukocyte activation and migration, tumorigenesis, neoangiogenesis, and the activation of several inflammatory pathways.

L. Extract: Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Nanoformulation.

The purpose of this study was to improve the knowledge on L., a plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family that, on the one hand, is known to be toxic, but on the other, is a source of polyphenols with health-promoting effects. Different green extraction methods were applied, varying solvent, temperature, and duration of extraction, which can influence the phytochemical profile and biological activity of plant extracts, and the extracts were fully characterized.

Phytochemical Profile of L. cv Senise, Incorporation into Liposomes, and Evaluation of Cellular Antioxidant Activity.

Overproduction of oxidants in the human body is responsible for oxidative stress, which is associated with several diseases. High intake of vegetables and fruits can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, as they are sources of bioactive compounds capable of contrasting the free radical effects involved in cancer, obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. L.

Astaxanthin anticancer effects are mediated through multiple molecular mechanisms: A systematic review.

During the latest decades, the interest on the effectiveness of natural compounds and their impact on human health constantly increased, especially on those demonstrating to be effective on cancer. Molecules coming from nature are currently used in chemotherapy like Taxol, Vincristine or Vinblastine, and several other natural substances have been showed to be active in reducing cancer cell progression and migration. Among them, astaxanthin, a xanthophyll red colored carotenoid, displayed different biological activities including, antinflammatory, antioxidant, proapoptotic, and anticancer effects.

Eye drop emulsion containing 0.1% cyclosporin (1 mg/mL) for the treatment of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis: an evidence-based review and place in therapy.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a rare, recurrent and multifactorial ocular disease, which typically flares up during spring and affects especially male children and adolescents. This condition does not usually respond to common treatments with antihistamines or mast cells stabilizers, whereas corticosteroids have effective results. Corticosteroids need to be carefully administered, to avoid adverse effects, mainly the secondary development of glaucoma, cataracts, or infections.