ABSTRACT
@#Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, which is characterized by characteristic optic atrophy and visual field defects. Elevated intraocular pressure(IOP)is a primary risk factor of glaucoma, while the main cause of elevated IOP lies in the increased aqueous outflow resistance in pathological trabecular meshwork(TM), which is the conventional outflow pathway of aqueous humor. Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor(ROCKi)is the IOP-lowering drug that is directly acting on the TM. The TM cell morphology, cell movement, cytokinesis and cell contraction by alteration of cytoskeleton can be changed by ROCKi to increase aqueous humor outflow facility and decrease IOP. ROCKi is now approved for clinical use in the United States and Japan. Meanwhile, it might play a role in optic nerve protection through increasing retinal vascular perfusion and promoting optic nerve regeneration. In addition, it decreases the possibility of filtration bleb scarring. Therefore, ROCKi has become a new pharmacological option to treat glaucoma. This article reviews the Rho-Rho kinase signaling pathway, the mechanism of ROCKi and its clinical application.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the extension of the application of polymer hydrogel materials, to develop polymer hydrogel materials with better performance has become a hotspot. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylamide (PVA/PAM) composite hydrogel before and after modification by bacterial cellulose (BC), thereby providing a theoretic basis for its application in wound dressing.METHODS: BC-reinforced PVA/PAM hydrogels with different PVA/PAM contents were prepared using repeated freezing-thaw method. The BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels were characterized by infrared spectrum (IR) analysis, mechanical property test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, and thermogravimetric analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SEM and IR results showed the PVA and PAM were combined and attached onto the surface of BC, indicating a success in the preparation of BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels. Results from the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal-stability of the BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels improved significantly. The mechanical test results demonstrated that the tensile strength of the PVA/PAM hydrogels was strongly enhanced, and the elongation at break was significantly lowered after being reinforced with BC. Furthermore, the content of PVA and PAM had an obvious effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. When the PAM content was 1.0%, the tensile strength and elongation at break of BC/PVA/PAM composites were at the highest level, which were 331.79 kPa and 105.33%, respectively; when the PVA content was 3.5%, the elongation at break of the BC/PVA/PAM composites was increased to the maximum (46.25%). Moreover, the results of this work reveal that the BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels exhibit some promising characteristics as artificial biomaterials. In general, the introduction of bacterial cellulose significantly improves the mechanical properties of the PVA/PAM hydrogels, and enhances the stability of the BC/PVA/PAM.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the extension of the application of polymer hydrogel materials, to develop polymer hydrogel materials with better performance has become a hotspot. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylamide (PVA/PAM) composite hydrogel before and after modification by bacterial cellulose (BC), thereby providing a theoretic basis for its application in wound dressing.METHODS: BC-reinforced PVA/PAM hydrogels with different PVA/PAM contents were prepared using repeated freezing-thaw method. The BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels were characterized by infrared spectrum (IR) analysis, mechanical property test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, and thermogravimetric analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SEM and IR results showed the PVA and PAM were combined and attached onto the surface of BC, indicating a success in the preparation of BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels. Results from the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal-stability of the BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels improved significantly. The mechanical test results demonstrated that the tensile strength of the PVA/PAM hydrogels was strongly enhanced, and the elongation at break was significantly lowered after being reinforced with BC. Furthermore, the content of PVA and PAM had an obvious effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. When the PAM content was 1.0%, the tensile strength and elongation at break of BC/PVA/PAM composites were at the highest level, which were 331.79 kPa and 105.33%, respectively; when the PVA content was 3.5%, the elongation at break of the BC/PVA/PAM composites was increased to the maximum (46.25%). Moreover, the results of this work reveal that the BC/PVA/PAM hydrogels exhibit some promising characteristics as artificial biomaterials. In general, the introduction of bacterial cellulose significantly improves the mechanical properties of the PVA/PAM hydrogels, and enhances the stability of the BC/PVA/PAM.
ABSTRACT
Objective Understanding the prevalence of cancer among Macao residents to better carry out tertiary prevention and control program. Methods Data was gathered from annual reports of Macao Cancer Registry of Health Bureau in 2003-2007, and demographic statistics of Statistics and Census Bureau Macau SAR Government in 1997-2006. Both International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) were used to classify the diseases and causes of death. Excel 2003 was used for data input and data was analyzed with crude rate, velocity of increase of crude rate and cumulative risk. Results The average crude incidence rate of cancer was 237.2 per 100 000 among the Macao population,with age standardized incidence rate as 194.4 per 100 000; and crude mortality rate as 101.0 per 100 000. Lower gastrointestinal cancer had the highest crude incidence, with the crude incidence rate of prostate cancer rapidly increasing.Respiratory cancer and breast cancer appeared to be the highest crude incidences in both men and women, with the crude mortality rate (25.0 per 100 000) of respiratory cancer the highest. 72.9% of the tumors occurred at the age of 50 and above. However, 81.1% of the tumors occurred at 50 years old and above in men, with the occurrences of tumors of women distributed more evenly. Breast cancer and epithelial tumor commonly occurred in adolescents and young adults while respiratory cancer mostly seen in adulthood and the elderly. Residents were usually diagnosed of cancer at 61.0years of age and death occurred at 70.5 year old. The prognosis of cancer of men was worse than women' s. The worst prognosis of cancer was seen in liver and esophagus, with death occurred within 1 year after diagnosis was made. Breast cancer had the highest cumulative incidence rate, but respiratory cancer had the highest cumulative mortality rate. Both cumulative rates of incidence and mortality in women were lower than in men. Conclusion The increase of crude cancer incidence rate was fast among Macao residents, but relatively slow with crude mortality rate. Respiratory and lower gastrointestinal tumors took the majority while prostate and breast cancer were by no means unimportant, which also called for tertiary prevention. People above 50 years old and all males should be listed as target population to receive preventive program on cancer.