ABSTRACT
AIM: To design, optimize and validate a rapid, internally controlled real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis. METHODS: Tears alone or together with corneal epithelium scrapings from 30 patients (30 eyes) suspected of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis were tested for HSV DNA by RT-PCR. The samples were collected during the first visit and then on the subsequent 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56d. The symptoms of the patients were scored before treatment to determine the correlation between HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores. RESULTS: The positive rate (46.4%) in the corneal epithelium group before the therapy was significantly higher than that (13.3%) in the tears group (P=0.006). There were 13 positive HSV patients before the therapy, the concentration of HSV DNA in corneal epithelium scrapings group was significantly higher than that in the tears group (paired t-test, P=0.0397). Multilevel mixed-effects model analysis showed that the difference between the corneal epithelium scrapings group and the tears group was statistically significant (P=0.0049). The Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores before the treatment (r=0.844, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: RT-PCR appears to be a powerful molecular tool for the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This study was designed to determine the effect of exenatide on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients who were suboptimally controlled with metformin and/or sulfonylurea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with T2DM with inadequate glucose control were randomly divided into two groups: exenatide group (E group) (12 patients, 5 µg b.d. × 4 weeks followed by 10 µg b.d. × 12 weeks) and placebo group (P group) (11 patients). Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), the seven-point glucose profile, daily mean glucose, and glycemic excursion were determined. The effects of exenatide on 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were investigated. RESULTS: Exenatide treatment reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI) and improved HbA1c, the seven-point glucose profile, and daily mean glucose compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Limited glycemic excursion was found in the E group compared with the P group (P < 0.05), including a smaller SD and postprandial glucose excursion. In addition, the oxidative stress maker PGF2α was significantly reduced by exenatide treatment (P < 0.05). The inflammatory markers hs-CRP and MCP-1 were also significantly reduced in the E group compared with the P group (P < 0.05). PGF2α was significantly correlated with glycemic excursion (P < 0.05), whereas MCP-1 was significantly correlated with body weight, BMI, glycemic excursion, and HbA1c (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Exenatide treatment reduced patient body weight and BMI, improved HbA1c and the seven-point glucose profile, reduced daily mean glucose, limited glycemic excursion, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients of T2DM having inadequate glucose control.
