The novel pickering emulsion gels stabilized by zein hydrolysate-chitin nanocrystals coacervates: Improvement on stability and bioaccessibility for curcumin.

The aim of this paper was to explore the synergistic mechanism of the novel Pickering emulsion gels stabilized by zein hydrolysate (ZH, low DH of 5%)-chitin nanocrystals (CNCs) coacervates, and investigate their improvement on the stability and bioaccessibility of curcumin. Interestingly, the ZH with low DH of 5% exhibited aggregated precipitation at pH 5.0. The ZH was absorbed on the surface of CNCs to form ZH-CNCs coacervates by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic neutralization. Moreover, the novel Pickering emulsion gels stabilized by the appropriate ZH-CNCs coacervates showed better rheologicalproperties, emulsion stability and oxidation resistance. As new carriers for curcumin, they could effectively improve the stability and antioxidantactivity (over 90%). Further, the free fatty acid (FFA) release ratewas reduced to below 3.89% and the corresponding bioaccessibility increased to over 80% in vitro digestion. The novel delivery system was potentially designed in foods and pharmaceuticals for the purposes of enhanced stability, delayed lipolysis, or sustained nutrient release.

Effects of intensive control of blood glucose and blood pressure on microvascular complications in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of intensive control of blood glucose and blood pressure on microvascular complications in patients with type II diabetes by comparing the therapeutic effects of intensive and standard treatment in patients with type II diabetes. METHODS: A total of 107 patients with type II diabetes were randomly assigned into intensive and standard treatment groups. Patients in the intensive treatment group received preterax (perindopril/ indapamide) to control blood pressure, and gliclazide (diamicron) MR to control blood glucose. Patients in the standard treatment group received routine medications or placebo. Urinary microalbumin (UMA), urinary creatinine (UCR), the UMA/UCR ratio, and visual acuity were monitored according to the study design of the ADVANCE trial. Direct ophthalmoscopy and seven-field stereoscopic retinal photography were used to examine the fundi at baseline, and repeated after 5 years of treatment. RESULTS: The characteristics of patients in both groups were well balanced at baseline. After 5 years of treatment, visual acuity was found to be decreased in the standard group (P=0.04), but remained stable in the intensive group. The severity of diabetic retinopathy had not progressed in patients in the intensive group, but had deteriorated in the standard group (P=0.0006). The UMA/UCR ratio was not obviously changed in patients in the intensive group, whereas it was significantly increased in the standard group (P=0.00). CONCLUSION: Intensive control of blood glucose and blood pressure can decrease the incidence or slow the progression of microvascular complications in patients with type II diabetes, and maintain stable vision.

Ocular manifestations of Alport syndrome.

AIM: To analyze the clinical manifestation of Alport syndrome, especially the ocular features. METHODS: The physical, ophthalmologic and audiologic examination results of thirty-two patients with Alport syndrome were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty (93.7%) patients had some family history. All patients had renal disease: eighteen (56.3%) patients with chronic renal failure, four (12.5%) patients with renal insufficiency, and the other ten (31.3%) patients with hematuria. Twenty (62.5%) patients had sensorineural deafness. Thirteen (40.6%) patients had ocular deformity, five (15.7%) patients had typical ocular changes: three patients with anterior lenticonus, and two patients with macular flecks. CONCLUSION: Ocular anomalies are not requisite for the diagnosis of Alport syndrome. But its typical ocular features should be recognized by the ophthalmologists which supports the diagnosis.

[Anterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation in highly myopic eyes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stability, predictability and safety of angle-supported phakic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in high myopia. METHODS: Seventy-six myopic eyes of 40 patients treated with anterior chamber angle-supported phakic IOL (Phakic6H) implantation were followed. The average myopia diopter was (-15.89 +/- 3.78) D (-9.50 to -26.25 D) and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was (0.82 +/- 0.20) (0.5 to 1.0). The average follow-up time was 12 months. All the treated eyes were observed for anterior segment changes, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), BCVA, refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal endothelium preoperatively and postoperatively. All data were analyzed in statistics. RESULTS: One year after the surgery, the average UCVA was (1.00 +/- 0.35) (0.3 to 1.5) and BCVA was (1.18 +/- 0.29) (0.5 to 1.5). The average residual refraction was (-0.40 +/- 0.64) D (-2.00 to +0.50 D). In 96.1% of eyes, the average residual refraction was within +/- 1.0 diopter. The average corneal endothelial count before and one year after the surgery was (3174 +/- 248)/mm(2) and (3067 +/- 320)/mm(2) (P < 0.01) respectively. The intraocular pressure before and one year after the surgery was (16.12 +/- 2.32) mmHg and (15.29 +/- 3.38) mmHg (P < 0.05) respectively. Two patients (4 eyes) complained of halo and glare. One patient's (2 eyes) pupils were oval and another one (2 eyes) showed decentered phakic IOL. Macular hemorrhage occurred in one patient (2 eyes) after eight months of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Angle-supported phakic IOL implantation is effective for treatment of high myopia and the results are predictable. It deserves further clinical investigation. The effectiveness and safety of this kind of phakic IOL should be further observed for a long period of time.