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Objective: To determine the antioxidant supplementation effect on accommodation among VDT users. Design: A double blind randomized placebo controlled study. Registered under Clinical Trials.gov Identifier No. NCT00877201. Participants and Controls: Fourty right eyes of 40 healthy VDT users (30 females, 10 males, mean age: 43.8±2.8 years, range: 40–49 years). 20 subjects (15 females, 5 males; mean age: 44.0±2.7 years, range: 40–49 years). Methods: Subjects were required to take an antioxidant supplement, 20 age and sex matched subjects (15 females, 5 males; mean age: 43.6±3.1 years, range: 40–49 years) were required to take placebo medication for 4 weeks. Results: The mean of the change in accommodation power was significantly higher in the group receiving antioxidant supplements (0.20±0.50 Diopter(D)) compared to the placebo group (−0.12±0.48(D)) (p<0.05). Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation was observed to improve accommodation in Japanese Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocular surface is a frequent target tissue of mucosal chronic GVHD (cGVHD). We investigated the histopathological features of the conjunctival microvilli in patients with cGVHD. Conjunctival tissue specimens from patients with cGVHD or Sjögren's syndrome (SS) or from healthy individuals were examined by light microscopy and EM, impression cytology, and immunohistochemistry. The cGVHD conjunctivae showed significantly more metaplasia and fewer goblet cells than the SS and normal conjunctivae. Abundant CD8+ T cells infiltrated the basal epithelia in the cGVHD conjunctiva. The microvilli per standard epithelial unit and the secretory vesicles were counted by analyzing electron micrographs. The mean number of mucosal microvilli was significantly lower in the cGVHD than that in the SS or normal specimens, and the microvilli were significantly shorter, with a smaller height-width ratio. The mean number of secretory vesicles was also significantly lower, and the membrane-spanning mucin thinner, in the cGVHD compared with the SS and normal specimens. Thus, the conjunctival mucosal microvilli of cGVHD patients were significantly different in number and morphology from those of SS and normal subjects. These may be important factors affecting the stability of the tear-film layer and its contribution to cGVHD-related dry eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to investigate differences in circadian autonomic changes in patients suffering from hyperlipidemia with and without erectile dysfunction and compared results to control cases. Materials and methods: A total of 77 patients (age range: 24-74, mean age: 45.3 ± 9.3) with uncontrolled hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol >200 mg/dL and/or LDL >160 mg/dL despite a regular diet) were enrolled into the study. These patients were divided into two groups according to their International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) scores as having erectile dysfunction (IIEF-EF < 26) (Group 1) or as having normal erectile function (IIEF-EF ≥ 26) (Group 2). In addition, the control group comprised 44 healthy men (age range: 20-57, mean age: 44.0 ± 10.8) (Group 3). Heart rate variability parameters obtained by 24-h Holter monitoring were utilized for the indirect evaluation of autonomic function. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to daytime and nocturnal autonomic activity ( p < 0.005). Moreover, Group 1 had lower nocturnal parasympathetic and higher nocturnal sympathetic activity compared to the other groups (for nocturnal HFn p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p > 0.05; for nocturnal LFn p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p > 0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that hyperlipidemia results in deterioration of autonomic circadian rhythm. Hyperlipidemic patients with erectile dysfunction had diminished nocturnal parasympathetic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated ocular surface alterations in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients with or without chronic GVHD-related dry eye in a prospective study. Fifty eyes of 25 post-HSCT patients and 28 eyes of 14 age-matched healthy controls were included. Meibomian gland (MG) obstruction, tear evaporation rate, corneal sensitivity (CS), Schirmer test-I, tear break-up time (BUT) and ocular surface vital staining were examined. Conjunctival impression and brush cytology specimens were collected to evaluate the goblet cell density (GCD) and the inflammatory cell numbers. Obvious MG obstruction, decreased CS and enhanced tear evaporation rate were found in post-HSCT patients compared with normal controls. In addition, decreased conjunctival GCD, increased conjunctival squamous metaplasia and inflammatory cells were noted in cGVHD-related dry eyes compared with normal controls and post-HSCT without dry eye subjects. Furthermore, the conjunctival inflammatory cells were significantly higher in severe dry eyes compared with mild dry eyes (P=0.03). We found comprehensive ocular surface alteration in post-HSCT patients, regardless of whether they had cGVHD-related dry eye or not. The results suggest that the extent of inflammatory process seems to have a pivotal role in the outcome of the cGVHD-related dry eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrosis and excessive extracellular matrix production are characteristic features of lacrimal gland chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Tranilast (n-[3,4-anthoranilic acid]), used for fibrotic skin disease, inhibits transforming growth factor-β-induced matrix production. We conducted a non-randomized study comparing 8 patients (five men, three women; median age, 47 years) given topical tranilast with 10 patients (three men, seven women; median age, 37 years) receiving therapy with topical artificial tears, sodium hyaluronate and vitamin A for mild ocular cGVHD. The tranilast group instilled topical tranilast and artificial tears q.i.d., beginning the day of dry eye diagnosis. The ocular surface and tear dynamics of each patient were evaluated before hematopoietic stem cell transplant, at the onset of dry eye and after 3 months of treatment. At 3 months, the scores of the Rose Bengal test and Schirmer test with nasal stimulation had significantly improved in the tranilast group compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, although five control patients (50%) developed severe dry eye within the treatment period, only one tranilast-treated patient (12.5%) did; the rest still had mild dry eye (P<0.05). These results suggest the hypothesis that topical tranilast may effectively retard the progression of mild dry eye associated with cGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo investigate the changes in the tear film lipid layer in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with dry eye (DE) associated with chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) and compare with HSCT recipients without DE.MethodsWe performed a prospective study in 10 HSCT patients with DE associated with cGVHD and 11 HSCT recipients without DE. We performed Schirmer's test, tear film break up time examinations, ocular surface dye staining and meibum expressibility test and DR-1 tear film lipid layer interferometry. DR-1 interferometry images of the tear film surface were assigned a ‘DR-1 grade’ according to the Yokoi severity grading system. The DR-1 grades were analysed according to the presence or absence of DE, conjunctival fibrosis and systemic cGVHD.ResultsThe mean DR-1 severity grade in patients with DE related to cGVHD (DE/cGVHD group; 3.9±0.9) was significantly higher than in patients without DE after HSCT (non-DE/non-cGVHD group; 1.3±0.6; P<0.05). The DR-1 grade for HSCT recipients with conjunctival fibrosis was significantly higher than in patients without conjunctival fibrosis (P<0.05). When DE severity was graded according to the recommendation of the 2007 Dry Eye Workshop Report, our results showed a correlation between the severity of DE and DR-1 grades (r=0.8812, P<0.0001).ConclusionDR-1 interferometry may be applicable to diagnosing DE and evaluating its progression subsequent to HSCT.Eye (2009) 23, 202–208; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.340; published online 14 November 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of chronic smoking on ocular surface and tear functions. Methods: Fifteen right eyes of 15 healthy chronic smokers (9 men, 6 women; age range: 36–47 years) who smoked 20 cigarettes per day for 20 years and 20 eyes of 20 control non-smokers (12 men, 8 women; age range: 38–43 years) were included in this prospective study. All subjects underwent measurements of breath and haemoglobin CO concentration, tear lipid layer interferometry, evaporimetry, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer's I test, corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival impression, and brush cytology. Results: The mean Hb CO level was significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. TBUT was also significantly shorter in smokers. Tear lipid layer showed significant slowing in spread over the tear film with a concomitant significant increase in tear evaporation rate. Conjunctival impression cytology revealed significant loss of goblet cells and squamous metaplasia in smokers. Brush cytology showed significant conjunctival neutrophil infiltration in smoker subjects. Conclusion: Chronic smoking induced distinctive quantitative and qualitative disturbances on the ocular surface health. Eye (2008) 22, 961–968; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.78; published online 18 April 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of 0.05% topical cyclosporine (Cys) on the ocular surface and tear functions in dry eye patients with chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in a prospective comparative study. Thirty eyes of 15 patients refractory to baseline treatment were recruited and the patients assigned for topical Cys treatment group (14 eyes of 7 patients) and control group (12 eyes of 6 patients) respectively. Two patients dropped out because of intolerable irritation while using topical Cys eye drops. Visual analog scale symptom scores, corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test value, tear film break-up time (TBUT), tear evaporation rate and ocular surface vital staining scores were recorded at baseline and at the end of the following one month. Conjunctival impression and brush cytology were performed before and after the treatment. After topical Cys treatment, significant improvements were found in symptom scores, corneal sensitivity, tear evaporation rate, TBUT, vital staining scores, goblet cells density, conjunctival squamous metaplasia grade, inflammatory cell numbers and the MUC5AC expression. Our study suggests that 0.05% topical Cys may be an effective treatment for dry eye patients with cGVHD. The improvements in the ocular surface and tear functions resulted presumably from the decreased inflammation, increased goblet cell density and MUC5AC mRNA expression.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2008) 41, 293–302; doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705900; published online 5 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye (2003) 17, 139-148. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6700346 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross-alpha and gross-beta activities of fourteen taps and wells, four lakes and three drinking water supplies in Elazi (Turkey) were determined. The results obtained indicate that although the natural radioactivity of six tap, two drinking, four lake and three well water samples does not exceed the requirements of the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, however, most of them do exceed those of the Institution of Turkish Standards (ITS). Concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.17 Bq.l-1 and from 0.01 to 0.29 Bq.l-1 for gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity, respectively, were observed in all samples. For most of the samples, there were no regular correspondence between gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]