Bilateral malignant glaucoma with bullous keratopathy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Malignant glaucoma, caused by aqueous misdirection, is a challenging post-surgical complication presented with normal/high intraocular pressure and shallowing of the central and peripheral anterior chambers. Its incidence is about 0.6%-4.0%. It can be secondary to filtering surgeries, laser iridotomy, and cataract surgery. Short axial length and a history of angle closure glaucoma are its main risk factors. Here, we report a bilateral malignant glaucoma with bullous keratopathy in the patient's left eye. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of bilateral malignant glaucoma. The cause of malignant glaucoma for each eye of this patient was different. Hence, the management strategy and selection of surgical methods were also different. However, the normal anterior chamber was ultimately maintained, and maximum visual function was preserved. Even though the left eye received multiple surgeries and corneal endothelial decompensation occurred, the formation of a retroendothelial fibrous membrane partially compensated for the function of the corneal endothelium. CONCLUSION: The formation of a retroendothelial fibrous membrane partially compensated for the function of the corneal endothelium.

Co-delivery of Cyclopamine and Doxorubicin Mediated by Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Reverses Doxorubicin Resistance in Breast Cancer by Down-regulating P-glycoprotein Expression.

Combination chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer by reducing the emergence of drug resistance. In this study, a novel drug delivery system based on bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) was successfully developed. Doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclopamine (CYC), a potential anti-cancer agent that inhibits the hedgehog signaling pathway were entrapped into BSA NPs through electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions, respectively. Rather than simple combination of two different chemotherapeutics, the CYC also increased the intracellular DOX accumulation by decreasing the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which could thus reverse the DOX resistance. Tumor-targeting property of nanoparticles was the prerequisite for its further application. Interestingly, retention of fluorescently-labeled particles in vivo indicated that the dual-drug-loaded BSA NPs could not only target the primary tumors, but also target the metastatic lymph nodes, which would simultaneously inhibit the tumor growth and distant metastasis. Taken together, this study provides a promising strategy for co-delivery of drugs, tumor and metastatic lymph node targeting, and DOX resistance reversing in breast cancer chemotherapy.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin + ezetimibe in a fixed-dose combination for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world and hypercholesterolemia is one of the key risk factors. Statins are the first line treatment to reduce atherogenic lipids and there is substantial and robust evidence with atorvastatin for reduction of cardiovascular events and mortality. Ezetimibe can be combined with any dose of atorvastatin for incremental lipid-lowering effects. Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarize the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy of the components and the combination of ezetimibe and atorvastatin. Clinical benefits have been seen with ezetimibe combined with simvastatin but studies of its combination with atorvastatin are generally limited to the effects on lipid parameters where the addition of ezetimibe to atorvastatin is generally more effective than titrating the atorvastatin dose. Expert opinion: Although there are no cardiovascular outcomes studies with the combination of ezetimibe and atorvastatin, the greater reduction in atherogenic lipids can be assumed to have greater benefits in reducing cardiovascular events. The ezetimibe-atorvastatin combination is very effective in this respect and well tolerated. Fixed-dose combinations improve medication adherence and this combination should be useful for patients who cannot reach their lipid targets with maximally tolerated statin doses.

Apparent Correlations Between AMPK Expression and Brain Inflammatory Response and Neurological Function Factors in Rats with Chronic Renal Failure.

To explore the correlations between AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression and brain inflammatory response and neurological function factors in rats with chronic renal failure. Chronic renal failure models in rats were established, and the healthy control group (normal group) was set. Chronic renal failure model rats were divided into model group (without any treatment), control group (intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), A-769662 group (intraperitoneal injection of AMPK specific activator), and compound C group (intraperitoneal injection of AMPK specific inhibitor). The results of HE staining showed renal tissue enlargement, and significant pathological changes. Compared with the normal group, AMPK level in peripheral blood and AMPK mRNA and protein expressions in brain tissue were significantly reduced, and AMPK pathway activation was significantly inhibited in other groups. Compared with the model group, rats in the A-769662 group had significantly decreased serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and γ-aminobutyric acid (γ-GABA) content, significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) positive expressions and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content, and decreased interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expressions (all P < 0.05), while it was just the opposite in compound C group (all P < 0.05). There is an apparent correlation between AMPK expression and brain inflammatory response in chronic renal failure rats. AMPK is expected to be an important pathway in the treatment of uremic encephalopathy.

[Efficacy of A2/O-MBR Combined Process in Wastewater Treatment and the Characteristics of Membrane Fouling].

The hydrophilic modification of PVA composite membrane was applied in the reversed A2/O-MBR process to treat wastewater, the removal efficacy of COD, NH4(+) -N, TN, TP, turbidity and performance of composite membrane were investigated. The results indicate that the average removal rates of COD, NH4(+) -N and TP were higher than 90%, 95% and 80% under different reflux ratio, respectively. The reflux ratio had large impact on TN removal rate: when the reflux ratio was 100%, the removal rate was low; when the reflux ratio increases the range from 100% to 300%, the removal rate was correspondingly increased. Under the efficient interception of membrane, water turbidity was always less than 0.05NTU, and the composite film was controlled at (12 ± 0.5) L x (m2 x h)(-1) flux, the operation was uninterrupted for 52 days without any cleaning process of the membrane, the average rate of membrane fouling is 13.22 Pa x h(-1) and the process of membrane fouling was very slow. After FTIR analysis, we confirmed that polysaccharide and protein is a main composition of organic pollutants. LB is further proved to be the main pollutants from micro acting force between the membrane and the pollutants, which is consistent with FTIR analysis.