Antioxidants and Retinal Diseases.

The retina is a thin membrane derived from the neuroectoderm, it is the physical morphological substrate in which the transformation of light energy into electrical impulses, that later will be led to the cerebral cortex, is performed [...

miR302a and 122 are deregulated in small extracellular vesicles from ARPE-19 cells cultured with HO.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common retina-related disease leading to blindness. Little is known on the origin of the disease, but it is well documented that oxidative stress generated in the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid neovascularization are closely involved. The study of circulating miRNAs is opening new possibilities in terms of diagnosis and therapeutics.

Nitrosative Stress in Retinal Pathologies: Review.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas molecule with diverse physiological and cellular functions. In the eye, NO is used to maintain normal visual function as it is involved in photoreceptor light transduction. In addition, NO acts as a rapid vascular endothelial relaxant, is involved in the control of retinal blood flow under basal conditions and mediates the vasodilator responses of different substances such as acetylcholine, bradykinin, histamine, substance P or insulin.

Spectral Analysis of the QT Interval Increases the Prediction Accuracy of Clinical Variables in Brugada Syndrome.

(1) Background: The clinical management of Brugada Syndrome (BrS) remains suboptimal. (2) Objective: To explore the role of standard electrocardiogram (ECG) spectral analysis in diagnosis and risk stratification. (3) Methods: We analyzed 337 patients-43 with a spontaneous type I ECG pattern (Spont-BrS), 112 drug induced (Induct-BrS), and 182 with a negative response to the drug challenge (negative responders (NR)).

Is There A Role for Abscisic Acid, A Proven Anti-Inflammatory Agent, in the Treatment of Ischemic Retinopathies?

Ischemic retinopathies (IRs) are the main cause of severe visual impairment and sight loss, and are characterized by loss of blood vessels, accompanied by hypoxia, and neovascularization. Actual therapies, based on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) strategies, antioxidants or anti-inflammatory therapies are only partially effective or show some adverse side effects. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone present in vegetables and fruits that can be naturally supplied by the dietary intake and has been previously studied for its benefits to human health.

A randomized multicenter study comparing seawater washes and carmellose artificial tears eyedrops in the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of sterile isotonic seawater washes vs standard treatment with carmellose artificial tears in dry eye syndrome (DES).

Patients And Methods: This is a randomized multicenter prospective study with 12 weeks of follow-up. A group of patients with DES (N=60) were treated with seawater spray (Quinton) five times daily, and another similar group (N=60) were treated with carmellose artificial tears eyedrops (Viscofresh 0.

ARPE-19-derived VEGF-containing exosomes promote neovascularization in HUVEC: the role of the melanocortin receptor 5.

ARPE-19 retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured in a medium containing 35 mM D-glucose led to an augmented ROS formation and release of vascular endothelial factor (VEGF)-containing exosomes compared to ARPE-19 cells cultured in a medium containing 5 mM D-glucose (standard medium). Exposing these cells to the melanocortin 5 receptor agonist (MCR) PG-901 (10M), for 9 d reduced ROS generation, the number of exosomes released and their VEGF content. In contrast, incubating the cells with the melanocortin receptor MCR agonist BMS-470539 (10 M) or with the mixed MCR agonist MTII (0.

Alterations in glutamate cysteine ligase content in the retina of two retinitis pigmentosa animal models.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of rare genetic retinal disorders in which one of several different mutations induces photoreceptor death. Oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) alterations may be related to the pathogenesis of RP. GSH has been shown to be present in high concentrations in the retina.

Avalanche correlations in the martensitic transition of a Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloy: analysis of acoustic emission and calorimetry.

The existence of temporal correlations during the intermittent dynamics of a thermally driven structural phase transition is studied in a Cu-Zn-Al alloy. The sequence of avalanches is observed by means of two techniques: acoustic emission and high sensitivity calorimetry. Both methods reveal the existence of event clustering in a way that is equivalent to the Omori correlations between aftershocks in earthquakes as are commonly used in seismology.

Naltrexone reverses ethanol-induced rat hippocampal and serum oxidative damage.

Naltrexone, an antagonist of μ-opioid receptors, is clinically used as adjuvant therapy of alcohol dishabituation. The aim of the present work was to test the effect of 1 mg/kg body weight of naltrexone to revert oxidative stress-related biochemical alterations, in the hippocampus and serum of chronic alcoholic adult rats. Malondialdehyde concentration was increased and glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased in hippocampus and serum of alcohol-treated rats.

Lipid peroxidation is increased in tears from the elderly.

We describe a procedure in which tears, obtained from Schirmer strips, are used to measure a marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA). We also compared the levels of proteins and MDA in tears from two groups of people: young adults (18-30 years old) and elderly adults (65-85 years old), because the data related to total protein concentration of human tears vary widely and because the majority of people over the age of 65 experience some symptoms of dry eyes and this condition has been recognized as an oxidative stress-induced disease. Our results show a significant difference in the protein concentration of the tears taken from the two age categories, younger adults (18-30 years old) and older adults (65-85 years old).

Oxidative stress gradient in a medium during human corneal organ culture.

Purpose: Lipid peroxidation content was measured in an organ culture medium after one-week storage of human donor corneas. Moreover, the effects of the medium on oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and the proliferation of cultured human corneal cells were studied.

Methods: The medium was sampled from the upper and lower halves of storage vials and from controls (n=42).

The effects of acute ethanol exposure and ageing on rat brain glutathione metabolism.

Binge alcohol consumption in adolescents is increasing, and it has been proposed that immature brain deals poorly with oxidative stress. The aim of our work was to study the effect of an acute dose of ethanol on glutathione (GSH) metabolism in frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum of juvenile and adult rats. We have observed no change in levels of glutathione produced by acute alcohol in the three brain areas studied of juvenile and adult rats.

Malondialdehyde in early phase of acute pancreatitis.

Aims: to assess oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis, its evolution over time and its relationship with the severity of the disease.

Methods: during a two-year period, patients with acute pancreatitis with less than 24 hours of pain were evaluated. Serum was obtained the first, second and fourth day from admittance, if complications were detected, and after recovery.

Oxidative stress in keratoconus?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the alterations of oxidative stress-related markers in keratoconus (KC) corneas.

Methods: A total of 6 healthy and 11 ectatic corneas (7 KC and 4 post-LASIK) were studied. Different oxidative stress-related markers were determined to assess their implication in the KC pathophysiology.

Comparison of the acute effects of anti-TNF-alpha drugs on a uveitis experimental model.

Purpose: To compare histopathological and biochemical effects of the anti-TNF-alpha drugs adalimumab and infliximab in a uveitis experimental model.

Methods: Histopathological evaluation was performed 24 h after endotoxin (200 microg into the footpad) and drug administration, as well as biochemical analysis of oxidative stress-related markers in the aqueous humor.

Results: Severe inflammation was found in rat anterior chamber of the eye 24 h after endotoxin.

IL-2 and IFN-gamma in the retina of diabetic rats.

Background: The pathophysiology of the early events leading to diabetic retinopathy is not fully understood. It has been suggested that Inflammatory processes are involved in the development of the disease; however, the concentrations of tissue retinal inflammatory mediators and their possible alteration in diabetic retinopathy have not been described. The aim of this work was to study T-helper cell cytokine and chemokine profiles, and tyrosine nitration in retinal tissue of diabetic rats.

Intravitreal plasmin without associated vitrectomy as a treatment for refractory diabetic macular edema.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a low-dose intravitreal injection of autologous plasmin enzyme (APE), without the performance of a vitrectomy, as a treatment for refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema (DDME).

Design: Prospective, comparative, interventional case series.

Patients: Sixteen patients with bilateral DDME who had not responded to prior laser photocoagulation.

Photoreceptor cell death mechanisms in inherited retinal degeneration.

Photoreceptor cell death is the major hallmark of a group of human inherited retinal degenerations commonly referred to as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Although the causative genetic mutations are often known, the mechanisms leading to photoreceptor degeneration remain poorly defined. Previous research work has focused on apoptosis, but recent evidence suggests that photoreceptor cell death may result primarily from non-apoptotic mechanisms independently of AP1 or p53 transcription factor activity, Bcl proteins, caspases, or cytochrome c release.

Transient bevacizumab (avastin)-induced alterations in rat eyes.

Aims: To study the histopathological, biochemical and functional effects of intravitreal bevacizumab on the rat eye, with special emphasis on its immediate pro-inflammatory features eventually associated with cellular oxidative burden.

Methods: Histopathological evaluation was performed 24 h, 1 and 4 weeks after bevacizumab (75 microg/rat eye) or saline intravitreal injection, as well as biochemical analysis of oxidative stress-related markers and electroretinograms.

Results: Bevacizumab induces a transient inflammatory reaction together with a modification of the b-wave amplitude and latency of the electroretinogram.

Early lipoic acid intake protects retina of diabetic mice.

The aim of this study was to test the effect of lipoic acid treatment on the retina after a short diabetic insult. Diabetes was induced by alloxan and mice were divided into sub-groups; control, diabetic, diabetic+insulin and all groups received+/-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg body weight) for 3 weeks. GSH content, MDA concentration, GPx activity were measured and electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded.

Antioxidant capacity of human milk: effect of thermal conditions for the pasteurization.

Aim: Pasteurization is the thermal treatment usually applied in milk banks to eliminate the risk of transmission of infectious agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heat processing upon the antioxidant properties of human milk.

Methods: Milk samples collected from 31 healthy women were subjected to two different pasteurization techniques: Holder pasteurization (63 degrees C for 30 min) and high pasteurization (75 degrees C for 15 sec) and oxidative stress markers (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity) were determined in comparison to fresh milk.