Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-346X/1410005
Etiology of Fourth and Sixth Nerve Palsies: a Single Ophthalmology Clinic's Perspective
Hande Taylan Sekeroglu, FEBO, Kadriye Erkan Turan, Umut Arslan, Emin Cumhur Sener and Ali Sefi Sanac
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 29, 2014
Purpose: To ascertain the etiology of fourth (CN4) and sixth nerve palsies (CN6) in an ophthalmology clinic. Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 176 patients with fourth and sixth nerve palsies in a strabismus clinic. Demographic features and etiology were recorded. Results: One hundred and three patients with fourth nerve palsy and 73 patients with sixth nerve palsy were enrolled in the study. The median follow up was 2 (1-4) years....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-346X/1410004
Eye-Fixation Behavior in Major Depressive Disorder and the Influence of Pharmacological Therapy: A Microperimetric Study
Enzo Maria Vingolo, Serena Fragiotta, Alessandro Cutini, Pier Luigi Grenga and Giuseppe Bersani
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 29, 2014
Background: To evaluate retinal function and fixation stability in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the influence of antidepressant therapy, using the MP-1 microperimeter. Methods: 25 patients with MDD (57 +/- 13.73 years) and 25 healthy subjects (HS) (56.41 +/- 15.73 years) were enrolled. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV), single (296.2) or recurrent episode (296.3) of MDD was included. Retinal sensitivity, fixation stability, and biv...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-570X/1410003
Functionalized Nanoscaffolds to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation in Adipose Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Venu Polineni, Chi-Shuo Chen, Wei-Chun Chin and Anand Gadre
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 15, 2014
Biocompatible polymers have been successfully implemented to generate nanofibers for bone tissue engineering. This work focused on generating and functionalizing Poly-l-Lactic-coGlycolic Acid (PLGA) nanofiber scaffolds in the range of 700 nm using the electrospinning technique. Our specific objective is to design synthetic biodegradable scaffolds comprising electrospun nanofibers that will not only be osteoconductive but also contain porosity for bone cell ingrowth enhanced with Adipose derived ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-570X/1410002
Impact of New Genome Editing Tools on iPS Cell Based Therapies
Jianbo Wu and Radbod Darabi
Article Type: Review Article | First Published: December 14, 2014
Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) have unique differentiation and self- renewal potential which makes them a potential candidate for cell therapy in degenerative disorders. However, the limitation of deriving ES cells from embryos and their immune-incompatibility hinder their clinical applications. Fortunately, by introduction of somatic cell reprogramming technology into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), the limitations of ES cells have been circumvented. Therefore iPS cells have been c...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-2951/1410017
Patients Treated with Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation have Long-Term Renal Function Similar to Patients without Atrial Fibrillation
David L. Johnson, John D. Day, Brian G. Crandall, J. Peter Weiss, Heidi T. May, Tami L. Bair, Jeffrey S. Osborn, Jeffrey L. Anderson, Joseph B. Muhlestein, Donald L. Lappe and T. Jared Bunch
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 29, 2014
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported to worsen renal function over time. Renal dysfunction in the setting of AF decreases response to rhythm control approaches and increases risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Aggressive rhythm control approaches, such as catheter ablation, may interrupt this cycle and impact renal function favorably over time. Methods: Patients were enrolled from the large ongoing prospective Intermountain Cardiovascular Health Study....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-2951/1410016
Use of Statins in an Australian Elderly Population
Svetla Gadzhanova, Elizabeth Roughead and Jenni Ilomaki
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 28, 2014
Background: Statins are the fist drug choice for lowering high cholesterol and are one of the most widely used classes of medicines in Australia. Although well tolerated, some adverse effects are dose and potency dependent to which older people are particularly susceptible. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the use of statins in elderly Australians, and how usage had changed over time with respect to dose and potency of statin prescribed....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-2951/1410015
Necrotizing Pancreatitis Causing Acute Focal Pericarditis
William F McIntyre, Andres Enriquez, Kevin Michael and Adrian Baranchuk
Article Type: Case Report | First Published: December 15, 2014
We describe the case of a 39-year old man with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. A twelve-lead electrocardiogram (A) showed signs of pericarditis and a computed tomography of the abdomen showed focal pericardial effusion, confirming the diagnosis....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-2951/1410014
A Case Report of Immediate Extubation Post Primary PCI in STEMI
Sharan Rufus Ponniah, Pradeepto Ghosh, Nagapradeep Nagajothi, Srinivasa Satti, Kavitha Nidamanuri and Baskar Rajala
Article Type: Case Report | First Published: December 16, 2014
We report a case of immediate extubation following primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The optimal timing of extubation following revascularization in STEMI is unclear. Early extubation in this scenario, if feasible has a mortality benefit. Duration of mechanical ventilation following STEMI is a strong predictor of mortality. In this case, we report a scenario of immediate extubation following revascularization, which we believe contributed to ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3672/1410002
Cockroach Allergy, Respiratory Allergic Diseases and Its Immunotherapy
Oner Ozdemir
Article Type: Review Article | First Published: December 31, 2014
Cockroach allergen-derived proteases play a direct role on airway epithelial as well as dendritic cells thru activation of the protease activated receptor (PAR)-2. Cockroach-derived proteases lead to an increased penetration of cockroach allergen thru disturbing airway epithelial integrity, which can activate innate immune cells (e.g., dendritic cells) via binding to Toll-like receptor or C-type lectin receptors. The activated dendritic cells promote the adaptive immune system cells to a Th2 cel...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3672/1410001
Polarization of Human THP-1 Macrophages: Link between Adenosine Receptors, Inflammation and Lipid Accumulation
Michael J. Littlefild, Isaac Teboul, Iryna Voloshyna and Allison B. Reiss
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 08, 2014
Rationale: Macrophages are key players in inflammation and atherosclerosis. They express surface receptors of different subtypes for the endogenous autocoid adenosine. Macrophages within atherosclerotic lesions attain two clear-cut functional phenotypes M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (immunosuppressive). This study examines the relative expression of adenosine receptors and proteins involved in cholesterol transport in THP-1 human macrophages upon differentiation into M1 and M2 subtypes....