Quality of life and tomography indices in patients with keratoconus.

OBJECTIVE: Keratoconus is a corneal ectasia that leads to thinning and steepening of the corneal surface. We aimed to assess the relationship between quality of life and corneal tomography indices, irrespective of visual acuity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using a translated and validated Keratoconus Outcomes Research Questionnaire (KORQ) in Arabic language. We screened patients with keratoconus using the Belin/Ambrósio D-Index. We included the best-seeing eye in each patient with keratoconus, with a best corrected visual acuity better than 0.5. We collected variables including KORQ scores, flattest meridian keratometry, steepest meridian keratometry, mean keratometry front, maximum simulated keratometry, astigmatism front, Q value front, and thickness at the thinnest location. We performed linear regression analysis to identify predictors of the visual function score and symptom score. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were included in this study, 43 (62.3%) male and 26 (37.7%) female patients, with a mean age 34.0 ± 11.50 years. The only predictor for visual function score was sex (ß = 11.64, 95% confidence interval: 3.50-19.78). None of the topographic indices were related to quality of life. CONCLUSION: In this study, quality of life in patients with keratoconus was not related to specific tomography indices and might be related to visual acuity itself.

Interaction between zinc and selenium bio-fortification and toxic metals (loid) accumulation in food crops.

Biofortification is the supply of micronutrients required for humans and livestock by various methods in the field, which include both farming and breeding methods and are referred to as short-term and long-term solutions, respectively. The presence of essential and non-essential elements in the atmosphere, soil, and water in large quantities can cause serious problems for living organisms. Knowledge about plant interactions with toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb), is not only important for a healthy environment, but also for reducing the risks of metals entering the food chain. Biofortification of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) is very significant in reducing the effects of toxic metals, especially on major food chain products such as wheat and rice. The findings show that Zn- biofortification by transgenic technique has reduced the accumulation of Cd in shoots and grains of rice, and also increased Se levels lead to the formation of insoluble complexes with Hg and Cd. We have highlighted the role of Se and Zn in the reaction to toxic metals and the importance of modifying their levels in improving dietary micronutrients. In addition, cultivar selection is an essential step that should be considered not only to maintain but also to improve the efficiency of Zn and Se use, which should be considered more climate, soil type, organic matter content, and inherent soil fertility. Also, in this review, the role of medicinal plants in the accumulation of heavy metals has been mentioned, and these plants can be considered in line with programs to improve biological enrichment, on the other hand, metallothioneins genes can be used in the program biofortification as grantors of resistance to heavy metals.