Monitoring of inhaler use at home with a smartphone video application in a pilot study.

Inhalation therapy is the basis of the pharmacological management of asthma and COPD. Most patients are trained on the correct use of inhalers by health professionals but after that do patients continue to take them correctly at home remains largely unknown. Video recording of the inhalation technique using a smartphone can be used to evaluate the inhaler technique at home.

Chromosomal abnormalities & oxidative stress in women with premature ovarian failure (POF).

Background & Objectives: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as the cessation of ovarian function under the age of 40 yr and is characterized by amenorrhoea, hypoestrogenism and elevated serum gonadotrophin levels. The cause of POF remains undetermined in majority of the cases. This study was aimed to investigate the type and frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with idiopathic POF and also to study the role of oxidative stress in such cases.

Mitochondrial complex 1 gene analysis in keratoconus.

Purpose: Keratoconus is characterized by the thinning of corneal stroma, resulting in reduced vision. The exact etiology of keratoconus (KC) is still unknown. The involvement of oxidative stress (OS) in this disease has been reported.

VSX1 gene analysis in keratoconus.

Purpose: To screen the visual system homeobox 1 (VSX1) gene in keratoconus patients.

Methods: The enntire coding region of VSX1, including intron-exon boundaries were amplified in keratoconus cases (n=50) and controls (n=50). All sequences were analyzed against the ensemble sequence (ENSG00000100987) for VXS1.

Nucleotide variations in mitochondrial DNA and supra-physiological ROS levels in cytogenetically normal cases of premature ovarian insufficiency.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as the cessation of ovarian function under the age of 40 years and is characterized by amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and elevated serum gonadotrophin concentration (FSH). It is a heterogeneous disorder with a multicausal pathogenesis; however, majority of cases are idiopathic. In idiopathic POI, involvement of unknown mechanisms may increase rate of oocyte apoptosis.