Evaluation of posterior ocular changes using enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome / Avaliação das alterações oculares posteriores utilizando tomografia de coerência óptica de profundidade aprimorada em pacientes com síndrome de apneia obstrutiva do sono

ABSTRACT Purpose: Evaluation of the nerve fiber thicknesses of the macula, choroid, and retina using the apnea-hypopnea index in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) without systemic components. Methods: Prospective, controlled study. The central macular, choroidal, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were evaluated using enhanced depth imaging-spectral domain optical coherence tomography in individuals with OSAS. In people with severe OSAS who had received treatment, posterior ocular structures were examined over 3 months (4th and 12th weeks), and changes were evaluated. Only the right eyes of the participants were evaluated in the study. Results: A total of 72 people were involved in the study, with 18 in the control group and 19 with mild, 16 with moderate, and 19 with severe OSAS. No significant difference was found among the groups in terms of demographic measures. No significant differences were found among the groups in terms of the measures of central macular, central subfoveal choroidal (CSCT), temporal choroidal, nasal choroidal, and RNFL thicknesses. In severe OSAS cases in which treatment was administered, although subjective clinical recovery was observed, statistically significant thinning was detected during the 3-month follow-up period in the CSCT, general RNFL, as well as in the inferior and superior nasal quadrants, and temporal superior quadrant (p=0.005, p=0.009, p=0.039, p=0.003, and p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: In the group with severe OSAS, thinning in some posterior ocular tissues was observed. Although patients with severe OSAS may experience clinical recovery, we recommend that they would be followed up in terms of ocular ischemic injury.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliação de espessuras das fibras nervosas da mácula, coroide e da retina de acordo com os índices de apnéia e hipopnéia (AHI) em indivíduos com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (OSAS), sem componentes sistêmicos. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, controlado. As espessuras centrais maculares, da coroide e da camada de fibras nervosas da retina foram avaliadas tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral de profundidade aprimorada em indivíduos com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono. Em pessoas com OSAS grave a quem foi aplicado o tratamento, estruturas oculares posteriores foram examinados por três meses (4ª e 12ª semanas) e as alterações foram avaliadas. Apenas os olhos direitos dos participantes foram envolvidos no estudo. Resultados: 72 pessoas foram envolvidas no estudo, 18 no grupo controle e, 19 com OSAS leve, 16 com OSAS moderada e 19 com OSAS grave. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relação às medidas demográficas. Não houve diferenças significativas estavam presentes entre os grupos em termos de medidas de espessura macular central (CMT), espessura subfoveal central da coroide (CSCT), espessura da coroide temporal (TCT), espessura da coroide nasal (NCT) e, a camada de fibras nervosas da retina (RNFL). Em casos de OSAS graves onde o tratamento foi aplicado, apesar de ter sido observada recuperação clínica subjetiva, detectou-se afinamento estatisticamente significativo durante os três meses de acompanhamento, em CSCT, RNFL geral, quadrantes nasais inferior e superior, e quadrante temporal superior (p=0,005, p=0,009, p=0,039, p=0,003, p=0,02). Conclusão: No grupo com OSAS grave, foi observado afinamento em algumas áreas posteriores dos tecidos oculares. Embora os pacientes com OSAS grave possam apresentar recuperação clínica, recomendamos que eles sejam seguidos em termos de lesão isquêmica ocular.

The effects of fluconazole and cytokines on human mononuclear cells

Candida infections are common infections and fluconazole is one of the most frequently administered antifungal agents in their treatment. The resistance developed against antifungal agents has necessitated the improvement of new treatments. This study focuses on the investigation of the effect of fluconazole and cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on chemokine production and anticandidal activity of human monocytes. In the study it was observed that GM-CSF caused an increase in candidacidal activity of monocytes. Anticandidal activity of GM-CSF + IFN-gamma combination was not found to be more effective than GM-CSF or IFN-gamma alone. The presence of cytokine and fluconazole caused an increase in the levels of CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines. Accordingly, it was considered that chemokines could contribute to the efficacy of fluconazole in C. albicans infections. Besides, in order to strengthen the immune system some cytokines might be used in addition to antifungal agents for the treatment.

Evaluation of the natural killer cytotoxicity and the levels of cytokines in rats with type I diabetes mellitus

Type I diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent DM = IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by specific destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. Immune mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, and environmental factors are all implicated in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes. This study was aimed at determining the efficiency of cytokines, natural killer (NK) cells in the pathophysiology of IDDM. Therefore, we evaluated the plasma levels of cytokines by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the cytotoxicity activity of NK cells by anti-candididal index in rats with type I diabetes. We found that the cytotoxicity activity of NK cells in IDDM groups significantly decreased compared to the control groups. The levels of interferon-g (IFN-g) in IDDM groups were slightly higher than in healthy controls. These results indicate that the changes of T H1 type cytokines such as IFN-g and NK cell activity can play a role in the etiology of IDDM. The data may provide new strategies for the treatment of IDDM.