Research progress of medication treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is one of the leading causes of irreversible visual impairment worldwide, and the number of patients is increasing with the aging of the population, with dry ARMD accounting for about 90% of cases. Effective treatments for dry ARMD are currently lacking, making it a prominent area of research. Pharmacotherapy, targeting pathogenic factors such as oxidative damage, inflammation, and vascular issues contributing to ARMD, is one of the main treatments and some drugs have been shown to slow the progression of ARMD. This article reviews drug treatments for dry ARMD, including antioxidant drugs, complement biological agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants, vasodilators, neurotrophic drugs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. It summarizes their mechanisms and recent clinical research to contribute valuable insights for the treatment of dry ARMD and the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Correlación entre el grado de hipertensión arterial y el índice de estrés oxidativo. Estudio de cohorte en una población de pacientes hipertensos sistémicos en República Dominicana / Correlation between the arterial hypertension degree and oxidative stress index. Cohort study in a population of systemic hypertensive patients in Dominican Republic

Introducción: la hipertensión arterial (HTA) es una de las mayores cargas de enfermedad y riesgo para infarto cardíaco, la insuficiencia cardíaca y el fallo renal. Se reconoce que el estrés oxidativo (EO) es un determinante en el desarrollo de complicaciones y el progreso de la HTA. Se determinó el índice de EO (IEO) en individuos con HTA y en un grupo sano control, para evaluar su posible correlación. Materiales y métodos: se midió IEO en una población de 112 individuos con HTA de distintos grados entre 50 y 70 años escogidos al azar y se comparó con los valores de un grupo control de voluntarios sanos, con la intención de definir el grado de correlación entre los niveles del IEO y la severidad de HTA, mediante la medición de biomarcadores para el EO en lisado de eritrocitos. Resultados: a pesar de que los beneficios de la terapia antioxidante (TAO) no han sido definitivamente probadas, en gran parte porque las enfermedades complejas no dependen de un solo componente fisiopatogénico, el EO sigue siendo una piedra angular en el desarrollo de complicaciones y el empeoramiento de los cuadros clínicos de muchos padecimientos. La demostración de biomarcardores específicos mejora la posibilidad de una TAO dirigida. El presente ensayo demostró que la edad, el género y la etnia no influyen en el IEO y que el EO fue severo en los casos de HTA iii, moderado en HTA ii y estuvo ausente en el subgrupo con HTA grado i. Conclusiones: estos resultados sugieren una relación entre los niveles de EO y severidad de HTA y sustenta evidencias para diseñar nuevos ensayos clínicos que evalúen la eficacia de una TAO adyuvante en el manejo de la HTA

Introduction: Arterial hypertension (AHT) is one of the major burdens of disease and risk for cardiac infarction, heart failure and renal failure. It is recognized that the oxidative stress (OS) is a determining factor in the development of complications and the progress of the AHT. OS Index (OSI) in individuals with AHT and a healthy control group, was determined to assess their possible correlation. Methods: OSI was measured in a population of 112 individuals with AHT of different levels between 50 and 70 years old, chosen at random and compared with the values of healthy volunteers control group with the aim of defining the degree of correlation between the levels of the OSI and the AHT severity, by measuring biomarkers for OS in a red cell lysate. Discussion: Despite the benefits of an antioxidant therapy (AOT) have not been definitely proven, largely because the complex diseases do not depend on a single pathophysiological component, OS remains as a cornerstone in the development of complications and the worsening of the clinical pictures of many ailments. The demonstration of specific biomarkers improve the possibility of an addressed AOT. This trial showed th at the age, gender and ethnicity do not influence the OSI and that OS was severe in HTA iii cases, moderate in HTA ii cases and was absent in the subgroup with HTA i. Conclusions: These results suggest a relationship between levels of EO and severity of hypertension and support evidence to design new clinical trials assessing the efficacy of an adjuvant AOT in the management of HTA

An update on the role of medical treatment including antioxidant therapy in varicocele / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Varicocele-associated male infertility has classically been managed using surgery or assisted reproductive techniques. With increasing evidence of oxidative stress as a pathophysiological factor in varicocele-associated infertility, medical therapy especially antioxidants might become a treatment option with lower risks. We reviewed the existing literature on the role of various medical agents in the management of male infertility attributed to varicoceles. Medical therapy is typically evaluated in three different situations such as (a) comparison of two drugs or one drug with placebo, (b) comparison of drugs versus surgery, and (c) comparison of drugs as adjuvant therapy with surgery versus drug therapy alone. Due to heterogeneity of data and lack of well-conducted studies, there is insufficient data to recommend routine use of medical therapy for men with varicocele-associated infertility and surgery remains the treatment of choice. Pregnancy and live birth rates are usually not reported in most studies and mere improvement in sperm parameters or antioxidant capacity is insufficient to support its routine use. Antioxidant therapy is a potential option due to its theoretical benefit, data from preclinical studies, and lack of major side effects.

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Its Prevention by Nrf2: Current Status

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), as one of the major cardiac complications in diabetic patients, is known to related with oxidative stress that is due to a severe imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation and their clearance by antioxidant defense systems. Transcription factor nuclear factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays an important role in maintaining the oxidative homeostasis by regulating multiple downstream antioxidants. Diabetes may up-regulate several antioxidants in the heart as a compensative mechanism at early stage, but at late stage, diabetes not only generates extra ROS and/or RNS but also impairs antioxidant capacity in the heart, including Nrf2. In an early study, we have established that Nrf2 protect the cardiac cells and heart from high level of glucose in vitro and hyperglycemia in vivo, and in the following study demonstrated the significant down-regulation of cardiac Nrf2 expression in diabetic animals and patients. Using Nrf2-KO mice or Nrf2 inducers, blooming evidence has indicated the important protection by Nrf2 from cardiac pathogenesis in the diabetes. Therefore, this brief review summarizes the status of studies on Nrf2's role in preventing DCM and even other complications, the need for new and safe Nrf2 inducer screening and the precaution for the undesirable side of Nrf2 under certain conditions.

Eficacia y seguridad de la terapia tópica antioxidante versus placebo en el tratamiento del vitiligo generalizado de reciente inicio / Efficacia and security of topical antioxidant therapy versus placebo in the treatment of vitiligo of recent onset

Objetivo: Determinar la eficacia de la terapia tópica antioxidante en el tratamiento del vitíligo generalizado de inicio reciente. Material y métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, doble ciego, controlado con placebo. Los pacientes con vitíligo generalizado de inicio reciente fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en dos grupos. Grupo de estudio: recibió terapia tópica reciente fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en dos grupos. Grupo de estudio: recibió terapia tópica antioxidante aplicada en las lesiones cada 12 horas por 30 días. Grupo placebo: recibió terapia tópica con una sustancia carente de actividad farmacológica. La terapia tópica antioxidante estuvo compuesta fundamentalmente por pseudocatalasa activada por luz solar, luego de la aplicación se indicó a los pacientes exposición solar diaria por un período de 30 minutos. Al cabo de 10 semanas de tratamiento se evaluó si hubo re pigmentación, y se comparó los niveles pre y pos tratamiento de malonildialdehido (indicador de per oxidación lipídica) en lesiones cutáneas. Resultados: Al término del tratamiento los valores de MDA en lesiones del grupo que recibió terapia tópica antioxidante mostraron un incremento significativo del 24.5 por ciento con respecto a los valores basales (p=0.035); los valores del grupo placebo también mostraron un incremento significativo del 21.6 por ciento en los valores de MDA con respecto a la medición basal (p menor que 0.001). La evolución clínica mostró re pigmentación parcial de la lesiones en 16.6 por ciento de pacientes que recibieron terapia tópica antioxidante y en 6.6 por ciento de pacientes que recibieron placebo para lo cual no existió diferencia significativa (p = 0.206). En ningún paciente de ambos grupos se observó re pigmentación total de las lesiones. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos en la muestra estudiada demuestran que la terapia tópica antioxidante no es eficaz en el tratamiento del vitíligo generalizado de inicio reciente y no reduce el estrés oxidativo.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of topical antioxidant therapy in the treatment of generalized vitiligo of recent onset. Material and methods: Randomized trial, double-blind, controlled with placebo. Patients with generalized vitiligo of recent onset were randomly distributed in two groups. Study group: They received topical antioxidant therapy applied in lesions each 12 hours for 30 days. Placebo group: They received topical therapy with a substance devoid of pharmacological activity. The topical antioxidant therapy was consisted primarily by pseudocatalasa activated by solar light, after the application, daily solar exposure was indicated to patients by a period of 30 minutes. After 10 weeks of treatment, repigmentation was evaluated whether there and pre and and post treatments of malonyldialdheyde (MDA) levels were compared in cutaneous lesion. Results: At the end of the treatment, values of MDA in lesions of group that receives topical antioxidant therapy showed a significant increase of 24.5 per cent with respect of basal values (p = 0.035); values of placebo group also showed a significant increase of 21.6 per cent in values of MDA with respect to basal measure (p minor that 0.001). Clinical evolution showed partial repigmentation of lesion in 16.6 per cent of patients that received topical antioxidant therapy and in 6.6 per cent of patients that received placebo for which there was no significant difference (p = 0.206). In no one patient of both groups we saw total repigmentation of lesion. Conclusions: Our findings in the sample studied showed that topical antioxidant therapy is not efficacy in the treatment of generalized vitiligo of recent onset and do not reduce the oxidative stress in cutaneous lesions.

Experiencias de la terapia antioxidante con Vimang en la atención primaria de salud en Cuba / Experience of antioxidant therapy with Vimang in primary health care in Cuba

La terapia antioxidante con Vimang en la atención primaria de salud constituye una posible alternativa para el tratamiento eficaz, adyuvante o no, de enfermedades relacionadas con el estrés oxidativo o componentes de dolor e inflamación. Se muestra los resultados de estudios clínicos con Vimang en la atención al adulto mayor, el tratamiento de la displasia de mamas, leve o moderada, y el tratamiento de dermatopatías, a partir de experiencias etnomédicas publicadas con anterioridad. En la atención al adulto mayor (n = 31, tabletas Vimang, 300 mg) mejoró, en ocho de nueve indicadores evaluados de la calidad de vida (Cuestionario de Salud SF-36), la autopercepción del estado de salud de los ancianos; el indicador más significativo fue el dolor corporal. En la terapia de la displasia de mamas (n = 100, tabletas Vimang, 300 mg) se demostró una eficacia mayor al 85 por ciento, con resultados similares o superiores a la vitamina E. En el tratamiento de enfermedades de la piel (n = 590, crema Vimang, 1,2 por ciento), se observó mejoría en 86,8 y 96,7 por ciento de los pacientes tratados por inflamación y dolor, respectivamente, y más del 90 por ciento fueron curados de forma total o parcial. Los resultados más relevantes se obtuvieron en la recuperación del color de la piel en melasma del embarazo y pitiriasis versicolor, (52 pacientes), procesos infecciosos (53 pacientes), micosis (169 pacientes). No se observaron reacciones adversas ni signos de toxicidad durante el tratamiento.

Antioxidant therapy with Vimang in primary health care is a possible alternative for the effective treatment, either adjuvant or not, of diseases related to oxidative stress, pain and inflammation. The results of clinical studies with Vimang on the elderly, breast dysplasia (mild or moderate) and skin diseases were shown taking into account previously reported ethnomedical experience. On elderly subjects (n=31 , 300mg Vimang tablets), the self perception of their health status improved in 8 of 9 evaluated parameters of life quality, being body pain the most significant (health questionnaire SF-36). In the treatment of breast dysplasia (n=100, 300mg Vimang tablets), the efficacy was over 85 percent, with similar or higher results than vitamin E. In treating skin diseases (n=590, 1.2 percent Vimang cream), 86.8 percent and 96.7 percent of patients treated because of inflammation and pain improved their condition whereas over 90 percent of patients completely or partially recovered. The most relevant results were seen in the recovery of skin pigmentation in pregnancy melasme and pitiriasis versicolor (52 patients), infectious processes (53 patients), and mycosis (169 patients). Neither adverse reactions nor toxic signs were observed in the treatment.

Neuropatía óptica isquémica / Ischemic optic neuropathy

Se realizó una revisión sobre distintos aspectos actualizados relacionados con la neuropatía óptica isquémica. Esta constituye una devastadora entidad que en muchos casos da al traste de manera permanente con la visión de los pacientes. Se divide en dos grandes grupos de acuerdo con el sitio donde ocurre (anterior o posterior) y un tanto así por la relación con su causa (arterítica o no arterítica). La neuropatía óptica isquémica se relaciona con un gran número de factores de riesgo como la hipertensión arterial, cardiopatía isquémica, apnea del sueño entre otras. Al constituir una enfermedad multifactorial su tratamiento se enmarca de una manera individualizada y el ánimo de cubrir todas las posibles causas haciendo principal énfasis en la terapia antioxidante.

A review was made on the different aspects updated in relation to ischemic optic neuropathy. This is a devastating entity that in many cases causes a permanent damage to the patients' vision. It is divided into 2 large groups, according to the site where it occurs (anterior or posterior) and to the connection with its cause (arteritic or non-arteritic). Ischemic optic neuropathy is related to a great number of risk factors, such as arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease and sleep apnea, among others. As it is a multifactorial disease, its treatment is individualized aimed at determining all the possible causes, making special emphasis on the antioxidant therapy.

Antioxidant Therapy of the Paraquat Intoxication

BACKGROUND: Paraquat causes severe tissue toxicity when ingested, but has no effective treatment modality. We have shown that high dose vitamin C has effective antioxidant activities against the paraquat intoxication in a previous animal experiment. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of antioxidant therapy with high dose vitamin C and vitamin E in human cases of paraquat intoxication. METHODS: From August 1999 to August 2001, 19 paraquat intoxication patients who visited the emergency department of the Seoul National University Hospital and the Kyounghee University Hospital were enrolled to this study. They were devided into two groups, a control group(9 patients) and a study group(10 patients). The control group received only conservative managements including gastro-intestinal decontaminati-on. The study group received conservative managements plus the antioxidant therapy which was composed of vitamin C 24 gm/day intravenously and 20 gm/day orally, and vitamin E 1.6 gm/day orally. RESULTS: In the study group, 5 of 10 patients(50%) survived, but all patients of the control group died(p=0.003). There were no significant differences in age, sex, and usage of gastric lavage and activated charcoal between the two groups. Difference in ingested amount of paraquat between the two groups could not be analyzed due to the inexact and subjective measuring methods based on patients'histories. CONCLUSION: Antioxidant therapy with high dose vitamin C and vitamin E is effective in improving survival rate in paraquat intoxicated patients.