Inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) regulate intestinal immunity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) inflammation.

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family members, notably cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP, are critical and universal regulators of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediated survival, inflammatory, and death signaling pathways. Furthermore, IAPs mediate the signaling of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1/NOD2 and other intracellular NOD-like receptors in response to bacterial pathogens. These pathways are important to the pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IL-33 promotes GATA-3 polarization of gut-derived T cells in experimental and ulcerative colitis.

Background: In the respiratory mucosa, interleukin (IL)-33, has been shown to enhance T helper 2 (TH2)-type responses through the master regulatory gene GATA-3. IL-33 is upregulated in ulcerative colitis (UC), and the aim was to assess if IL-33 holds a similar key position in the shaping of the immune response in experimental colitis (piroxicam-accelerated colitis (PAC) in IL-10 (-/-) mice, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model) and UC.

Methods: Colonic IL-33 expression was determined in UC (8 active UC, 8 quiescent UC, and 7 controls) and experimental colitis.

Effects of different surface treatments on the bond strength of acrylic denture teeth to polymethylmethacrylate denture base material.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various surface pretreatments in the ridge lap area of acrylic resin denture teeth on the shear bond strength to heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin.

Background Data: Tooth debonding of the denture is a major problem for patients with removable prostheses.

Methods: A total of 84 central incisor denture teeth were used in this study.

The role and advances of immunomodulator therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

Immune modulating drugs such as thiopurines (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) and methotrexate has been a mainstay for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for decades. However, despite widely used in IBD, questions still remain concerning the most rational treatment regimens of these agents. Results from a range of recent studies necessitate increased awareness on how to best use these potent drugs in the clinic.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers thickness in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To assess the thickness of the retinal nerve fibril layer (RNFL) in cases with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: The study included 40 AS patients who had no history of acute and/or previous uveitis and 50 healthy controls. After detailed ocular examination, the thickness of the peripapillary RNFL, the macula, and the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers (GCIPL) were measured by spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Identification of TNF-α-responsive promoters and enhancers in the intestinal epithelial cell model Caco-2.

The Caco-2 cell line is one of the most important in vitro models for enterocytes, and is used to study drug absorption and disease, including inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. In order to use the model optimally, it is necessary to map its functional entities. In this study, we have generated genome-wide maps of active transcription start sites (TSSs), and active enhancers in Caco-2 cells with or without tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation to mimic an inflammatory state.

Assessment of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an indicator of inflammation in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Patients were evaluated by a review of records. The study included 81 patients with dry AMD (group 1), 84 patients with wet AMD (group 2), and 80 healthy age- and sex-matched controls (group 3).

Oxidative stress and paraoxonase 1 activity predict contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). We investigated the relationship between CIN with paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) activity and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant status [TAS], total oxidant status [TOS], and oxidative stress index [OSI]) in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention; 289 consecutive patients with STEMI were prospectively included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: CIN (n = 69) and non-CIN (n = 220).

The role of CDX2 in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are present in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and have a crucial role in the dysfunction of mucosal homeostasis. Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) is an essential regulator of intestinal epithelium homeostasis. When expressed, CDX2 modulates a diverse set of processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation, and cell adhesion and migration.

The injection of air/oxygen bubble into the anterior chamber of rabbits as a treatment for hyphema in patients with sickle cell disease.

Purpose. To investigate the changes of partial oxygen pressure (PaO2) in aqueous humour after injecting air or oxygen bubble into the anterior chamber in sickle cell hyphema. Methods.

Effects of sub-Tenon's anaesthesia on ocular hemodynamics.

Objective: To research the effects of sub-Tenon's anaesthesia (STA) on ocular hemodynamics in patients with cataract using colour Doppler imaging (CDI).

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Participants: Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients with age-related cataract.

Effects of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Purpose: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is used in inflammatory diseases but the use of immunoglobulin as a treatment for acute lung injury (ALI) has not been previously studied. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of of ALI. Therefore we examined the levels of TGF-β and lung inflammation scores in IVIG treated ALI models.

Orbital compression syndrome complicated by epidural hematoma and wide cephalohematoma in a patient with sickle cell disease.

Orbital wall infarctions resulting in orbital and epidural hematomas are rare manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD). We report orbital compression syndrome associated with an epidural hematoma and wide cephalohematoma in a 15-year-old boy with SCD. An infarcted orbital bone was observed on magnetic resonance imaging and three-phase bone scintigraphy with Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate.

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on triamcinolone acetonide-induced lens damage in rats.

Objective: To examine the relationship of cataract forming effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection with oxidative status and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on these alterations.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six Wistar-Albino rats were included in the study. Rats were assigned into four groups as follows: intravitreal saline injection group (controls); IVTA injection group; IVTA + intraperitoneal NAC injection group (IVTA + NAC); and intraperitoneal NAC injection group (NAC).

Dual approach using vitrectorhexis combined with anterior vitrectomy in pediatric cataract surgery.

Purpose. To evaluate efficacy and safety of vitrectorhexis method for both anterior and posterior capsules combined with anterior vitrectomy in children with cataract. Methods.

Involvement of CDX2 in the cross talk between TNF-α and Wnt signaling pathway in the colon cancer cell line Caco-2.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is highly upregulated in inflammation and reduces the expression of the intestinal transcription factor, Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2). Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for intestinal cell proliferation, but a decreased CDX2 expression has influence on the Wnt signaling-related genes and progression of colorectal cancer. Although several inflammatory signaling pathways, including TNF-α, have been reported to promote Wnt/β-catenin activity and development of cancer, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Axon count and sympathetic skin responses in lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Background And Purpose: Electrodiagnostic studies can be used to confirm the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathies, but more sensitive diagnostic methods are often needed to measure the ensuing motor neuronal loss and sympathetic failure.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with lumbar radiculopathy and 30 controls were investigated using nerve conduction studies, motor unit number estimation (MUNE), testing of the sympathetic skin response (SSR), quantitative electromyography (QEMG), and magnetic resonance myelography (MRM).

Results: Using QEMG as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of MUNE for the abductor hallucis longus muscle were 71.

Inflammatory pathways of importance for management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Their etiologies are unknown, but they are characterised by an imbalanced production of pro-inflammatory mediators, e.g.

A novel capsulorhexis technique in white cataract surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of novel capsulorhexis technique in white cataract surgery using the irrigation-aspiration system of a phaco device.

Materials And Methods: 53 eyes of 50 patients were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups.