Correlation of SD-OCT findings and visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To describe the morphological macular changes detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and to analyze their correlation with the visual function.

Methods: Twenty-two patients (44 eyes) patients affected by RP were recruited. The following structures were evaluated on SD-OCT: outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), external limiting membrane (ELM), photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction, photoreceptor outer segment/retinal pigmented epithelium (OS/RPE) junction, inner limiting membrane thickening (ILMT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and cystoid macular edema (CME).

Novel hydrogel system from scleroglucan: synthesis and characterization.

New hydrogels obtained by a crosslinking reaction between the polycarboxylated derivative of scleroglucan (sclerox) and 1, 6-hexanedibromide have been prepared and characterized. Different ratios between the alkane dihalide and sclerox yielded products with appreciably different properties. Water uptake by the hydrogel with a low degree of crosslinking was remarkably affected by ionic strength.

A novel co-crosslinked polysaccharide: studies for a controlled delivery matrix.

The formulation of a new controlled delivery system, based on a novel type of matrix obtained by the chemical reaction carried out in an aqueous medium on a mixed physical gel of gellan and scleroglucan, is described in this paper. The preparation yielded a new co-crosslinked polysaccharide (CCP) hydrogel, bearing carboxylic groups, that showed a sustained release behaviour that can be modulated by means of calcium ions. For the characterization of CCP, diffusion experiments through the swelled hydrogel were carried out in different environmental conditions and the release from tablets prepared with CCP and a model drug was evaluated.

Gellan in sustained release formulations: preparation of gel capsules and release studies.

The ability of gellan to form gels in the presence of calcium ions enabled us to prepare capsules by gelation of this polysaccharide around a core containing starch, calcium chloride and a model drug. Release from the dried capsules was studied in vitro by means of the rotating basket technique (USP) in different environmental conditions (distilled water, pH = 2.0, pH = 6.

Effect of surfactants on diffusion of calcium in mucin: a possible mechanism affecting enamel remineralization.

By means of in vitro experiments, performed with a three compartment diffusion cell, we show how the presence of surfactants, often present in the formulation of dentifrices and mouthrinses, may affect the availability of calcium and its permeation rate through the proteic layer covering dental enamel (acquired pellicle). Mucin was the protein used to simulate the pellicle. Experiments were performed at different surfactant concentrations (i.