A comparative clinical study of the visual results between three types of multifocal lenses.

Purpose: To compare the patients' visual results after bilateral implantation of the multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs): ReZoom (NXG1, Abbott Medical Optics, Abbott Park, IL, USA), Acrysof ReSTOR (SA60D3, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX, USA) and Tecnis MF (ZM900, Abbott Medical Optics).

Materials And Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial of 30 patients (60 eyes) aged 46-71 (mean age 56.3 +/- 5.

[Corneal transplantation--immunological mechanisms of rejection episode].

Organ transplantation including cornea is often only the one method of treatment in case of their irreversible destruction. The genetic difference between donor and graft recipient makes the immunological system recognizes foreign antigens and triggers off a rejection episode. This article reviews corneal graft rejection immunology and indicates possible future options for the clinical evaluation of more specific therapeutic agents that modulate the immunological mechanisms of allograft rejection.

Plasma cytokines as predictors of coronary heart disease.

Background And Objective: Growing body of evidence explicitly suggests the significant role of inflammatory processes in vascular diseases related to atherosclerosis. Monocytes, present in every phase of atherogenesis, are the principal cells accumulating in atherosclerotic plaque. Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP-1) seems to influence firm adherence of rolling monocytes and infiltration into the artery wall.

[Pleiotropic effects of micronized fenofibrate in patients with combined hyperlipidemia].

More and more recent studies demonstrate the pleiotropic effects of fibrates. Except lowering plasma lipid levels they can influence blood coagulation abnormalities and stabilise atherosclerotic lesions--a frequent result of the activation of inflammatory cells within the vascular wall. The anti-inflammatory action of fibrates includes inhibiting the release of many cytokines, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor e (TNF-alpha) by these cells.

Effects of fibrates on plasma prothrombotic activity in patients with type IIb dyslipidemia.

Objective: Increased levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are associated with an increased risk of ischemic coronary disease and its complications. Since atherogenic dyslipidemias are well-known risk factors for coronary heart disease, this study aimed to determine whether Type IIb dyslipidemia, one of the most atherogenic dyslipidemias, is accompanied by increased PAI-1 and fibrinogen synthesis. The additional aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of micronized fibrates on the levels of PAI-1 and fibrinogen in patients with Type IIb dyslipidemia.