Publications by authors named "Tonk R"

Neurodisease, caused by undesired substances, can lead to mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and neurocognitive problems like dementia. These substances can be referred to as contaminants that can cause damage, corruption, and infection or reduce brain functionality. Contaminants, whether conceptual or physical, have the ability to disrupt many processes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) approaches are essential in the drug discovery and development process. Both academic institutions and pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporations utilize them to enhance the efficacy of bioactive compounds.

Objective: This study aims to entice researchers by investigating the benefits of Computer-Aided Drug and Design (CADD) and its fundamental principles.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To describe the Shammas-Cooke formula, an updated no-history (NH) formula for IOL calculation in eyes with prior myopic laser vision correction (M-LVC), and to compare the results with the Shammas PL, Haigis-L, and Barrett True-K NH formulas.

Setting: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI), The Lennar Foundation Medical Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Dean A. McGee Eye Institute (DMEI), University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and private practice, Lynwood, California, and St Joseph, Michigan.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess how common chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis (CCC) is in patients with chronic ocular graft-vs-host disease (coGVHD) after stem cell transplants, while identifying risk factors associated with it.
  • Researchers conducted a review of medical records from patients diagnosed with coGVHD at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from 2010 to 2021, analyzing various factors over time to determine CCC incidence using statistical methods.
  • Among 167 participants, about 39% developed signs of CCC 5 years after transplant, with younger patients (under 50) being at a higher risk of developing the condition.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Successful pregnancy relies on a coordinated interplay between endocrine, immune, and metabolic processes to sustain fetal growth and development. The orchestration of these processes involves multiple signaling pathways driving cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and immune regulation necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Among the molecules supporting placental development and maternal tolerance, the families of pregnancy-specific glycoproteins and galectins are of great interest in reproductive biology.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Acrylamide (AA) is a carcinogenic compound that affects people due to its frequent use in laboratories and industry as well as the high-temperature cooking of foods with high hydrocarbon content. AA is known to cause severe reproductive abnormalities. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of rutin (RU), a phytoactive compound, against AA-induced reproductive toxicity in female rats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a growing global health concern. In recent decades, natural and synthetic chromenone have emerged as promising drug candidates due to their multi-target potential. Natural chromenone, quercetin, scopoletin, esculetin, coumestrol, umbelliferone, bergapten, and methoxsalen (xanthotoxin), and synthetic chromenone hybrids comprising structures like acridine, 4-aminophenyl, 3-arylcoumarins, quinoline, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-triazole, and tacrine, have been explored for their potential to combat AD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that severely impacts the whole body and is a leading cause of disability, influenced by genetics and environmental factors.
  • - The presence of abnormal B cells and specific autoantibodies plays a significant role in the progression of RA, leading to increased interest in drug therapies that target B cell receptors (BCRs).
  • - Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a key enzyme in B cell regulation; recent studies show that BTK inhibitors can effectively treat RA, paving the way for future research on their mechanisms and clinical applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Wnt/β-Catenin pathway (Wnt/β-CatP) is implicated in accelerating carcinogenesis and cancer progression, contributing to increased morbidity and treatment resistance. Even though it holds promise as a focus for cancer treatment, its intricate nature and diverse physiological effects pose significant challenges. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in this domain, with numerous natural products demonstrating promising preclinical anti-tumor effects and identified as inhibitors of the Wnt/β-CatP through various upstream and downstream mechanisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report clinical characteristics and outcomes of surgical repair for patients with traumatic dehiscence of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) grafts.

Methods: Retrospective, consecutive chart review of patients evaluated at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 2015 and 2020 with traumatic dehiscence of penetrating keratoplasty grafts.

Results: The study cohort consisted of 65 eyes of 65 patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To compare the refractive accuracy of legacy and new no-history formulas in eyes with previous myopic laser vision correction (M-LVC).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Setting: Two academic centers Study Population: 576 eyes (400 patients) with previous M-LVC that underwent cataract surgery between 2019-2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The human gut microbiota (GM), which consists of a complex and diverse ecosystem of bacteria, plays a vital role in overall wellness. However, the delicate balance of this intricate system is being compromised by the widespread presence of environmental toxins. The intricate connection between contaminants in the environment and human well-being has garnered significant attention in recent times.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction is a promising target for small molecule inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy, but targeting this interface has been challenging. While efforts have been made to identify compounds that target the orthosteric sites, no reports have explored the potential of small molecules to target the allosteric region of PD-1. Therefore, our study aims to establish a pipeline to identify small molecules that can effectively bind to either the orthosteric or allosteric pockets of PD-1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that controls cellular metabolism, catabolism, immune responses, autophagy, survival, proliferation, and migration, to maintain cellular homeostasis. The mTOR signaling cascade consists of two distinct multi-subunit complexes named mTOR complex 1/2 (mTORC1/2). mTOR catalyzes the phosphorylation of several critical proteins like AKT, protein kinase C, insulin growth factor receptor (IGF-1R), 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), transcription factor EB (TFEB), sterol-responsive element-binding proteins (SREBPs), Lipin-1, and Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, microbiological profile, and therapeutic outcomes of corneal ulcers in individuals with chronic ocular graft-vs-host disease (coGVHD).

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Review of individuals diagnosed with coGVHD following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) who were seen at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between May 2010 and November 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To compare the utility of keratometry vs total keratometry (TK) for intraocular lens power calculations in eyes with keratoconus (KCN) using KCN and non-KCN formulae.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: This study was conducted at 2 academic centers and included 87 eyes in 67 patients who underwent cataract surgery between 2019 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cancer is a disease associated with complex pathology and one of the most prevalent and leading reasons for mortality in the world. Current chemotherapy has challenges with cytotoxicity, selectivity, multidrug resistance, and the formation of stemlike cells. Nanomaterials (NMs) have unique properties that make them useful for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cancer research.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose Of Review: There is a rising interest in the impact of diet on the pathogenesis of common ophthalmic conditions. The purpose of this review is to summarize the potential preventive and therapeutic power of dietary interventions described in recent basic science and epidemiological literature.

Recent Findings: Basic science investigations have elucidated a variety of mechanisms by which diet may impact ophthalmic disease, particularly through its action on chronic oxidative stress, inflammation and macular pigmentation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Iron is essential for the normal functioning of thyroid peroxidase and iron deficiency is very commonly encountered during pregnancy. Thyroid disorders and iron deficiency are associated with obstetrical and fetal complications. The aim of the study was to find out the relationship between iron deficiency and thyroid function in pregnant females during first trimester.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The primary goal of this research is to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of Sumatriptan succinate by incorporating it in the mucoadhesive film for the treatment of migraine. Mucoadhesive film offers an excellent substitute to deliver the drug in the systemic circulation and eliminate the chance of first-pass metabolism.

Method: Using central composite design (CCD), various formulations were created by incorporating polymer, plasticizer, and water, and an optimized preparation was created using statistical screening.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Olaparib is an orally active poly (ADP-ribose) PARP (polymerases) inhibitor known to destroy cancer cells with BRCA1 or BRCA2 deficiency. An authentic, fast, distinct, and reliable reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and promptly validated in tablet formulations for olaparib estimation.

Materials And Methods: The proposed method focuses on the separation of olaparib in reverse phase mode using a Waters symmetry C18 (150 x 4.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the successful management and outcomes in a series of 6 cases of culture-positive nontuberculous mycobacterial keratitis after clear corneal incision phacoemulsification surgery.

Methods: This is a case series of 6 consecutive eyes that presented at the Cornea Division at an academic institution, diagnosed with culture-positive nontuberculous mycobacterial keratitis after phacoemulsification surgery.

Results: Six eyes of 5 patients were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The quinoline scaffolds are privileged for their numerous biological activities in the pharmaceutical field. This moiety constitutes a well-known space in several marketed preparations. The quinoline scaffolds gained attention in modern days being an important chemical moiety in the identification, designing, and synthesis of novel potent derivatives.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF