Changes in ocular biomechanics after treatment for active Graves' orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in ocular biomechanical properties in active moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO) after intravenous glucocorticoids (IVGCs), and to clarify correlations between clinical findings and ocular biomechanical properties. METHODS: A prospective study. A total of 20 consecutive GO patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included. GO was diagnosed on the basis of the recommendation by the European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO), and disease activity was assessed by the clinical activity score (CAS). Patients were assigned to receive once weekly IVGCs (0.5 g, then 0.25 g, 6 weeks each). All participants received a full ophthalmic examination and biomechanical evaluation was performed with dynamic Scheimpflug analyzer (Corvis ST) at baseline and 12th weeks after therapy. RESULTS: The biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) in GO patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects. In contrast, the whole eye movement (WEM) in GO patients was significantly lower than in healthy subjects after adjusting for bIOP. The CAS, NOSPECS score, and exophthalmos were significantly positively correlated with the bIOP and negatively correlated with the WEM after adjusting for bIOP, CCT and age. The WEM significantly increased, whereas bIOP significantly decreased after IVGCs (P < 0.001, P = 0.001 respectively). The overall response rate at the 12th week was 85% (17 of 20). CONCLUSIONS: The changes of ocular biomechanical properties measured by Corvis ST were an objective indicator of inflammatory activity and severity of GO. Combining CAS and ocular biomechanical properties could better evaluate the therapeutic outcome of active moderate-to-severe GO.

Well-defined thermo-responsive polymeric nanocapsules by a one-pot method via surface-initiated atom transfer radical copolymerisation.

The well-defined thermo-responsive polymeric nanocapsules were prepared by the one-pot approach via the surface-initiated atom transfer radical copolymerisation of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) and N, N-methylenebisacylamide (MBA) from the silica nanoparticle templates after the silica templates were removed by hydrofluoric acid (HF). The diameter of the polymeric nanocapsules is in the range of 20-40 nm, characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The temperature-induced dimensional change of the thermo-responsive polymeric nanocapsules was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) in aqueous solutions. The intelligent thermo-responsive polymeric nanocapsules are expected to be used for the controlled release of sensitive molecules, such as enzymes, proteins or DNA, by changing the environmental temperature.

Preparation of degradable polymeric nanocapsules from hyperbranched poly (amine ester) grafted nanosilica templates.

A facile approach for the preparation of degradable crosslinked polymeric nanocapsules with hydroxyl functional groups was developed by polycondensation from the nanosilica templates. The hyperbranched poly (amine ester) grafted silica nanoparticles (SN-HPAE) were crosslinked with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Then the silica templates were removed by HF etching to produce the degradable polymeric nanocapsules. The inner diameter of polymeric nanocapsules is in the range of 20-100 nm, which is characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The strategy developed was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and TEM.

[Separation and determination of scandium, tin and aluminum by reversed-phase ion pair high performance liquid chromatography].

The reversed-phase ion pair high performance liquid chromatographic determination of scandium, tin and aluminum with diammonium stilbene-4,4'-bis(1-azo)-3,4-dihydroxybenzene-2,2'-disulfate as precolumn chelating reagent on Spherex C18 column has been investigated with the detection wavelength of 500 nm. Various parameters such as pH, reagent concentration, ion pair reagents, interference of foreign ions have been studied. The mobile phase was methanol-water (40:60, V/V) containing 20 mmol/L acetate buffer of pH 6.0 and 10 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfonate. Three complexes could be completely separated within 17 min. The method has been successfully used for the determination of the three metals in mineral samples, with recoveries of 98%, 101%, 103% respectively, and RSD was less than 3.6%. Beer's Law was obeyed over the concentration range 0.01 mg/L-3.80 mg/L, 0.06 mg/L-4.50 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L-3.40 mg/L respectively. The detection limits were 0.9 microgram/L, 1.0 microgram/L and 1.2 micrograms/L for scandium, tin and aluminum when the ratio of signal to noise was 3. Most of other metals did not interfere with the determination. The present method is sensitive and selective.

Retinyl acetate effects on the life span and the incidence of cryptogenic neoplasms in C3H mice.

The effect of feeding 0.02% retinyl acetate on the development of cryptogenic neoplasms and the life span of C3H/HeJ (+) mice of both sexes was studied. The survival at 105 weeks was 58% in untreated males and 28% in untreated females vs. 39% in treated males and 14% in treated females. The average weight in treated groups was also 10-15% lower. The incidence (percent) of neoplasm-bearing animals and total neoplasms was 87% and 57, respectively, in female controls vs. 93% and 55 in treated females. In male controls, these values were 57% and 39 compared with 50% and 38 in treated males. In treated animals, there was no reduction in the most common neoplasms, that is, neoplasms of the mammary gland and liver. The numbers of ovarian neoplasms and lung adenomas were slightly lower. Therefore, retinyl acetate exerted, at best, only a slight inhibitory effect on development of some types of cryptogenic neoplasms in mice.

Evaluation of the effects of cotinine and nicotine-N'-oxides on the development of tumors in rats initiated with N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide.

The effects of cotinine and nicotine-N'-oxides on tumor development in F344 rats initiated with N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide [(FANFT) CAS: 24554-26-5] were evaluated. When rats were 6 weeks old, FANFT in an agar diet was administered for a 6-week period. Subsequently, cotinine, trans-nicotine-N'-oxide, and a mixture of cis-nicotine-N'-oxide and trans-nicotine-N'-oxide in drinking water were given as promoters in concentrations of 0.1, 0.02, and 0.02%, respectively. These nicotine metabolites were offered ad libitum for 78 weeks. Control groups consisted of rats that received tap water with or without prior administration of FANFT. Cotinine, trans-nicotine-N'-oxide, and the mixture of cis- and trans-nicotine-N'-oxides were neither carcinogens nor promoters of urinary bladder tumors in rats initiated with FANFT. A reduced incidence of urinary bladder tumors was observed in FANFT-pretreated animals that also received a mixture of cis- and trans-nicotine-N'-oxides. FANFT administration increased the incidences of mesothelioma of the peritoneum and thyroid tumors. Tumor formation in the tongue and palate observed in FANFT-treated rats was not affected by administration of these nicotine metabolites. There was, however, a significant increase in the incidence of forestomach tumors in rats that were initiated with FANFT and subsequently received either trans-nicotine-N'-oxide or a mixture of cis- and trans-nicotine-N'-oxides.

The effects of catechol on the urinary bladder of rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine.

The effect of catechol on the development of urinary bladder tumors in Fischer rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) was studied. A solution of 0.05% catechol and 0.001% BBN was administered in the drinking water ad libitum for 78 weeks. The urinary bladders were then removed and examined microscopically. No statistically significant difference was observed between the experimental group receiving 0.001% BBN with 0.05% catechol and animals receiving 0.001% BBN alone with respect to the incidence of hyperplasia, papilloma, or carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Animals receiving 0.05% catechol alone in the drinking water had no macroscopic or microscopic lesions significantly different from those in control animals receiving tap water. Analyses of the urine of animals receiving catechol in their drinking water indicated that greater than 99% of the catechol present was in the form of either glucuronide or sulfate conjugates. In a second bioassay, the potential cocarcinogenicity of catechol, administered together with BBN, was explored by direct instillation into the urinary bladder. The development of calculi and possible infections of the urinary tract within all groups of treated animals suggests that this bioassay technique for cocarcinogenicity is of questionable value. These data show that catechol at the dose and mode of administration employed in this study did not affect the epithelium of the urinary bladder or enhance the carcinogenic activity of BBN.

Chemically induced rat odontomas: morphogenetic considerations.

Three complex odontomas were found in 30 castrated male rats injected with N-methyl-nitrosourea (MNU) and fed a high-fat diet. Histological studies were performed and the related literature was reviewed. The morphogenesis of the tumors is discussed in the light of the bibliographic data and personal findings.