Influence of the blink interval on tear meniscus height in soft contact lens and nonlens wearers

Purpose: Tear meniscus height (TMH) is an indirect measurement of tear film volume. This study investigated the temporal changes in the TMH during the blink interval in the morning (8–9 am) and at the end of the day (5–6 pm) in both soft contact lens (CL) and nonlens wearers (NLW).

Methods: Fifty participants (25 CL; 25 NLW) were evaluated for their subjective symptoms, TMH, noninvasive break up time, and bulbar hyperemia at the am and pm visits on the same day. The TMH was measured at set intervals between 2 and 15 sec during the blink interval, using an optical coherence tomographer.

Results: The NLW group revealed no changes in a variety of symptoms during the day, whereas the CL group reported an increase in dryness (P=0.03) and grittiness (P=0.02) over the day. For both groups, the TMH and calculated tear meniscus volume revealed lower values immediately after the blink and increased progressively afterwards, mainly due to reflex tearing. The am tear meniscus volume values tended to be higher than the pm values for both groups, but this was not significant (NLW P=0.13; CL P=0.82). Noninvasive break up time deteriorated during the day for both groups but was only significant for the CL group (P=0.002), whereas bulbar hyperemia revealed no statistically significant change for either group.

Conclusions: Reflex tearing may play a substantial role in the TMH differences observed over the blink interval. Standardization of the time when a TMH measurement is performed will be valuable in comparing tear film clinical studies.

Multipurpose disinfecting solutions and their interactions with a silicone hydrogel lens

Purpose: To assess the compatibility of a new silicone hydrogel lens, asmofilcon A (with four multipurpose disinfecting solutions: OPTIFREE RepleniSH, ReNu MultiPlus, Solo-Care Aqua and MeniCare Soft). Ocular responses and subjective responses were monitored with each lens-care system combination.

Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective, bilateral, clinical trial with a single-masked investigator, and randomized cross-over design with four phases, (one for each care system). Each study phase comprised of two consecutive days of lens wear where the lenses were inserted on day 1 directly from the blister-packs and worn for over 8 hr, then inserted on day 2 after overnight disinfection with one of the study lens care systems. Twenty-five adapted soft contact lens wearers who were able to wear their habitual lenses comfortably for more than 12 hr were recruited.

Results: There were statistically significant differences in corneal staining found for all the lens-care systems when comparing the results of day 1 (from the blister pack) with day 2 (following care system use) (P < 0.05). ReNu MultiPlus solution had the highest grade for corneal staining at the 2-hr time point on day 2 which then decreased by 6 hr (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the lens care systems and the rating of subjective comfort over either of the two days. The rating of dryness and burning sensations were only slightly increased at 6 hr for all lens care systems except ReNu MultiPlus where burning was highest on insertion (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Corneal staining observed in this study does not seem to have been related to the presence of polyhexamethylene biguanide (0.0001% wv) that was present in three of the four care systems. Only one care system (ReNu MultiPlus) demonstrated an associated level of corneal staining that was statistically significant; however, this was not considered to be of clinical relevance. These results suggest that using this novel surface-treated silicone hydrogel lens may result in less lens and lens care-related interactions.

Clinical evaluation of long-term users of two contact lens care preservative systems

Purpose: To clinically evaluate long-term users of two different contact lens care preservative systems and to investigate whether prolonged use is associated with an increase in the prevalence of dry eye.

Methods: Eighty-nine wearers of group IV hydrogel or silicone hydrogel lenses participated in this one-visit, investigator-masked study. Subjects were required to have consistently used a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) or polyquaternium-1 (PQT) based solution for 2 years. Consistent use was defined as 80% for the past 2 years and 100% for the past year. Clinical assessments included: average and comfortable wear time; overall and end-of-day comfort; signs of dryness, discomfort, burning or stinging, grittiness or scratchiness and visual changes; non-invasive and fluorescein break-up-time; pre-ocular tear film lipids, tear meniscus height, Schirmer and fluorescein clearance tests; limbal and bulbar hyperemia; palpebral roughness; corneal and conjunctival staining; lens front surface wetting; and lens film deposits.

Results: Significantly more grittiness or scratchiness was reported by subjects using a PHMB-containing system (67% vs. 44%; P = 0.02). Palpebral roughness and hyperemia were significantly greater in the PHMB group wearing group IV lenses (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively). Corneal staining was significantly higher in the PHMB users in all four peripheral sectors (P < 0.01). Nasal and temporal conjunctival staining was also significantly higher for users of PHMB-containing systems (P < 0.05). Front surface lens wettability was significantly better for group IV PQT users compared to PHMB users (P = 0.008), with 84% vs. 72%, respectively, with lenses graded by the investigator as having good or excellent wettability. Significantly higher levels of lens front surface film deposits were noted with PHMB users (P = 0.007), with 58% of group IV lenses treated with PHMB compared with 38% of group IV lenses treated with PQT showing some lens front surface film deposition. No significant differences between the two preservative system groups were noted for the range of dry eye evaluations nor the remaining clinical assessments.

Conclusions: Differences in both ocular and lens characteristic were observed between long-term users of two preservative systems used in many contact lens multi-purpose solutions. The findings from this study did not support the hypothesis that prolonged use of PHMB-containing solutions leads to dry eye. Additional studies including a larger sample size and perhaps longer use of the systems could help to further elucidate differences in clinical performance between systems.

Comfort and adaptation to silicone hydrogel lenses for daily wear

Objectives. To investigate initial comfort and adaptation of currently successful low oxygen transmissibility soft lens wearers refitted with silicone hydrogel (SH) lenses for daily wear.

Methods. Fifty-five subjects were enrolled in a subject-masked 5-month clinical trial in which they wore 5 SH lenses in a randomized, crossover design. Comfort, burning, and dryness were rated on scales of 0 to 100 immediately on insertion and the time for lens settling was recorded. Symptoms were then rated at various times, using BlackBerry wireless communication devices (Research in Motion, Waterloo, Canada), during the day for 2 cycles of 2 weeks wear for each lens type.

Results. Comfort immediately on insertion varied between lens types (P=0.002). All lens types were reported by the subjects to have settled within 30 to 45 sec of insertion (P=0.14) and settled comfort was greater than comfort immediately on insertion (P<0.001). Comfort within the first hour of wear also varied between lens types (P=0.02). Comfort during the day decreased significantly for all lenses (P=0.001), but there was no difference between lenses (P=0.19) and no effect of lens age (P=0.15). The wearing times were greater with the SH lenses than the habitual lenses worn before study commencement (P=0.001). Overall performance of the lenses after 4 weeks was high, with no difference between lenses (P=0.45).

Conclusions. Initial comfort and adaptation to all SH lenses were good and no differences in the overall ratings were found between the 5 SH lenses investigated. Decreased comfort was noted later in the day with all lens types, but longer wearing times were reported with the SH lenses than previous hydroxyethyl methacrylate-based lenses.

Comfort response of three silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses

To evaluate subjective ocular comfort across the day with three silicone hydrogel daily disposables (SHDDs) in a group of adapted lens wearers. Masked subjects (asymptomatic or symptomatic of end-of-day (EOD) dryness with habitual lenses) wore three SHDDs: DAILIES TOTAL1 (DT1), Clariti 1day (C1D), or 1-DAY ACUVUE TRUEYE (AVTE), each for 3 days. On day 2, wearing time (WT) and comfort ratings after insertion, at 4, 8, and 12 hours, and at EOD were recorded. Because not all subjects wore lenses for 12 hours, comfort was analyzed across the day (up to 8 hours, 8 to 12 hours), and a new variable (“cumulative comfort” [CC]) was calculated for EOD. One hundred four subjects completed the study (51 asymptomatic, 53 symptomatic). The two groups had different WTs (mean WT, 14.0 and 12.7 hours, respectively; p < 0.001). Ocular comfort was rated higher in the asymptomatic group throughout the day (p < 0.001). One hundred four subjects wore all three SHDDs for at least 8 hours, whereas 74 (45 asymptomatic, 29 symptomatic) subjects wore them for 12 hours or longer. Comfort ratings were higher with DT1 (least square means [LSM] = 91.0) than with C1D (LSM = 86.5; p < 0.001) and AVTE (LSM = 87.7; p = 0.011) for the first 8 hours and lower with C1D compared with DT1 (p = 0.012) from 8 to 12 hours. Mean EOD (± SD) comfort with the C1D lens was 72 ± 21, lower than both DT1 (mean, 79 ± 17; p = 0.001) and AVTE (mean, 78 ± 21; p = 0.010). Mean CC was higher in the asymptomatic group (mean, 1261 ± 59) compared with that in the symptomatic group (mean, 1009 ± 58; p < 0.001) and higher for DT1 (mean, 1184 ± 258) than C1D (mean, 1094 ± 318; p = 0.002) and AVTE (mean, 1122 ± 297; p = 0.046). All three SHDDs had average WTs of 12 hours or longer for 1 day. Comfort during the first 12 hours was highest with DT1 (similar to AVTE between 8 and 12 hours) and lowest with C1D. End-of-day comfort was lowest with C1D, and CC was highest for DT1. Cumulative comfort may be a valuable new metric to assess ocular comfort during the day.

The impact of contemporary contact lenses on contact lens discontinuation

Discontinuation or “dropout” from contact lens (CL) wear continues to afflict the CL industry. This study was conducted to determine whether the advent of new CL materials and designs has impacted the dropout rate and the reasons for discontinuation. Current and lapsed CL wearers residing in Canada were recruited using Facebook to take part in an on line survey investigating CL wearing experiences during 2008 to 2010 and to establish the percentage of participants who temporarily and permanently discontinued CL wear during the period surveyed. Four thousand two hundred seven eligible surveys were received (64% female; median age 27 years). Forty percent had lapsed from lens wear for at least 4 months; however, 62% of the lapsed wearers (LWs) resumed wear. There were no differences between LWs and nonlapsed wearers (NLWs) with respect to gender; however, LWs were older, started lens wear when older, and had not worn lenses for as long as NLWs (all P<0.001). More NLWs than LWs wore silicone hydrogel CLs (49% vs. 38%, P<0.001) and more LWs than NLWs wore daily disposable lenses and hydrogel CLs (24% vs. 19% and 22% vs. 18%, respectively, P≤0.001). Primary reasons for discontinuation were discomfort (24%), dryness (20%), red eyes (7%), and expense (7%). Compliance with lens replacement was no different between LWs and NLWs (48% vs. 45%). About 23% of those surveyed had discontinued CL wear permanently. The primary reasons for dropping out continue to be discomfort and dryness. Dropout rates were lower in silicone hydrogel wearers.

Estudo da farmacocinética da talidomida em pacientes com tumores sólidos refratários

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros farmacocinéticos da talidomida em pacientes com tumores sólidos refratários incluídos em estudo de fase II em nossa Instituição. Foram incluídos 14 pacientes, sendo 5 com diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma de reto, 4 com adenocarcinoma de cólon, 4 com melanoma e 1 com adenocarcinoma de pâncreas. Todos os pacientes foram previamente tratados, 14 com cirurgia, 11 com quimioterapia, 5 com radioterapia e 1 com imunoterapia. Os pacientes foram inicialmente tratados com talidomida 200 mg/dia, com um aumento de dose de 200mg a cada duas semanas, até atingir a dose máxima de 800 mg/dia. Treze pacientes atingiram o nível de 400mg/dia, 9 pacientes os níveis de 600mg/dia e apenas 5 pacientes atingiram 800mg/dia. A farmacocinética foi caracterizada em oito pacientes no nível de dose de 200 mg/dia. Todos os 14 pacientes incluídos foram avaliados quanto ao perfil de toxicidade e resposta antitumoral. A talidomida foi bem tolerada, sendo os principais efeitos colaterais a sonolência, a tontura, a xerostomia e a constipação. Não foram observadas respostas tumorais objetivas. Para avaliar os parâmetros farmacocinéticos da talidomida foram coletadas amostras de sangue imediatamente antes da administração da droga, 1h, 2h, 2,5h, 3h, 3,5h, 4h, 5h, 7h e 24h após a administração da primeira dose de talidomida de 200mg. A determinação das concentrações e parâmetros farmacocinéticos da talidomida nestas amostras foi realizada por cromatografia líquida de alta performance. A curva de decaimento das concentrações plasmáticas obedeceu a um modelo farmacocinético monocompartimental. A média dos principais parâmetros farmacocinéticos estudados foi: Cmax 1,48 ± 0,56μg/ml, Tmax 4,4± 0,5h, ASC 17,7±8,4μg x h/mL e t½ 6,5±3,0 hs. O autor pode concluir que os parâmetros farmacocinéticos da talidomida estudados nestes pacientes foram semelhantes àqueles descritos anteriormente em voluntários sadios, pacientes com HIV, hanseníase ou adenocarcinoma de próstata.

A new and improved strategy combining a dispersive-solid phase extraction-based multiclass method with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography for analysis of low molecular weight polyphenols in vegetables

This paper reports on the development and optimization of a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) based extraction technique coupled with a clean-up dispersive-solid phase extraction (dSPE) as a new, reliable and powerful strategy to enhance the extraction efficiency of free low molecular-weight polyphenols in selected species of dietary vegetables. The process involves two simple steps. First, the homogenized samples are extracted and partitioned using an organic solvent and salt solution. Then, the supernatant is further extracted and cleaned using a dSPE technique. Final clear extracts of vegetables were concentrated under vacuum to near dryness and taken up into initial mobile phase (0.1% formic acid and 20% methanol). The separation and quantification of free low molecular weight polyphenols from the vegetable extracts was achieved by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) equipped with a phodiode array (PDA) detection system and a Trifunctional High Strength Silica capillary analytical column (HSS T3), specially designed for polar compounds. The performance of the method was assessed by studying the selectivity, linear dynamic range, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, trueness, and matrix effects. The validation parameters of the method showed satisfactory figures of merit. Good linearity (View the MathML sourceRvalues2>0.954; (+)-catechin in carrot samples) was achieved at the studied concentration range. Reproducibility was better than 3%. Consistent recoveries of polyphenols ranging from 78.4 to 99.9% were observed when all target vegetable samples were spiked at two concentration levels, with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 5) lower than 2.9%. The LODs and the LOQs ranged from 0.005 μg mL−1 (trans-resveratrol, carrot) to 0.62 μg mL−1 (syringic acid, garlic) and from 0.016 μg mL−1 (trans-resveratrol, carrot) to 0.87 μg mL−1 ((+)-catechin, carrot) depending on the compound. The method was applied for studying the occurrence of free low molecular weight polyphenols in eight selected dietary vegetables (broccoli, tomato, carrot, garlic, onion, red pepper, green pepper and beetroot), providing a valuable and promising tool for food quality evaluation.

O discurso religioso no processo migratório para o caldeirão do beato José Lourenço

The Caldeirão is a site located in the city of Crato, in the south of Ceará, belonged to priest Cícero Romão Batista. There, was created a religious community led by blessed José Lourenço, who marked the life of thousands of Northeast country people in 1930s, for represent to them a space of religious conviviality, work and devotion. The Caldeirão s population was about three thousand of people, originated from states of Pernambuco, Alagoas, Paraíba, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, who share the community s daily activities. The misery caused by the dryness and exploration of these country people by the landlords are indicated as the motivator elements of this migratory flux by the greater number of works published about the Caldeirão, turning the community into a primitive experience of class struggles. This present study proposes other comprehension of this migratory movement by the religious speech of salvation taken to country people by the counselor Severino Tavares. Was used as analysis camp the remaining norte-rio-grandenses that migrated to the Caldeirão, and as theoretical and methodological references the understanding model of investigation, the cultural history and the remaining memorial speech analysis. The work follows that pointing the phenomenon of Caldeirão as an campestral revolt is try to impose to this people the aspirations or wishes of others, besides of deny to them the right and the dignity of act by their believes and their own dreams.

Iatrogenic keratoconjunctivitis sicca in a dog

Anormalidades quali-quantitativas em componentes primários da lágrima podem alterar a dinâmica do filme lacrimal, comprometendo sua função. O filme lacrimal é composto por lipídios, uma fração aquosa e por mucoproteínas. A ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) é uma enfermidade freqüentemente diagnosticada em cães, caracterizada pela deficiência da fração aquosa do filme lacrimal, resultando em dessecação e inflamação da conjuntiva e córnea, dor, doença corneana progressiva e redução da visão. Devido à contribuição significativa da glândula da terceira pálpebra na produção da porção aquosa do filme lacrimal, a remoção desta glândula, quando prolapsada, constitui-se em importante causa de CCS iatrogênica. Este trabalho relata um caso clínico de ceratoconjuntivite seca iatrogênica, em um cão da raça Boston Terrier de 10 meses de idade, causada pela remoção cirúrgica da glândula lacrimal da terceira pálpebra, quando esta encontrava-se prolapsada.

Efeito da irrigação sobre o potencial fisiológico de sementes de soja em semeadura de inverno

Período seco e temperaturas amenas são condições climáticas ideais durante a maturação e colheita de sementes de soja. O objetivo foi verificar o efeito da irrigação no período pós-maturidade fisiológica, sobre o potencial fisiológico de sementes de soja semeadas no inverno. A disposição dos tratamentos seguiu esquema fatorial envolvendo três cultivares (IAC-19, Conquista e IAC 8-2) e duas épocas de interrupção da irrigação (início do estádio R7 e irrigação até 14 dias após R8). Foram feitas amostragens (colheitas) no início do estádio R7, 3, 7, 10, 14 (estádio R8) e 28 dias após o início do estádio R7. Para as avaliações utilizaram-se os testes de germinação, de envelhecimento acelerado e de condutividade elétrica e determinou-se a porcentagem de sementes manchadas e defeituosas. Nas condições em que foi realizado o experimento, concluiu-se que a irrigação após o estádio R7 não compromete e pode até melhorar o potencial fisiológico das sementes produzidas; a produção de sementes de soja em semeadura de inverno é possível em função de condições climáticas favoráveis.

Viabilidade da cultura Cnidoscolus quercifolius POHL para produção de Biodiesel no semiárido nordestino

The northeastern semiarid is a region that presents a serious picture stagnation or slowness of the economic growth, beyond the presence of social pointers below of the averages national and regional. The half-dryness conditions become the improper region for many agricultural cultures, what it affects the local populations directly, as well as the economy that is based mainly on agriculture. Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl, popularly know as favelone is a native species of the semiarid region that withholds great potential for the development of the region in virtue of its multiple uses. Being an oleaginous, its production in familiar farmings makes with that biodiesel either for the misery an important alternative eradication for the possibility of occupation of enormous contingents of people. The present study it aims at to evaluate the germination of the faveleira without thorns under conditions of water and saline stresses, main stresses which the vegetal species of the semiarid one are submitted; beyond verifying the acceptance of the species for agriculturists of a cooperative in the city of Apodi/RN. The methodology used for germination corresponds to using treatments with polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride to assess water and salt stress respectively, being held in rolo. O system approach used for the verification of acceptance of faveleira was the use of interview with farmers cooperative in the study area determined. In this direction it was verified that the faveleira is a resistant species the conditions of drought and salinity of the ground, factor of great relevance, since one is about a species with high added value, making possible the development for the semiarid region. It was verified that the agriculturists are favorable the introduction of the faveleira and reveal receptive the idea to cultivate a species with potential for production of biodiesel

Effect of green Coffea arabica L. seed oil on extracellular matrix components and water-channel expression in in vitro and ex vivo human skin models

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Actinic cheilitis: Clinical and histological features

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and histological features of actinic cheilitis (AC).Patients and Methods: A total of 29 patients with AC were clinically evaluated, and incisional biopsies were performed to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Histological features were analyzed, and dysplasia was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The chi(2) test was used for the following variables: gender, age, race, and smoking habits. The degree of dysplasia was related to these variables (Fisher's test) to test for independence between them (P <.05).Results: of the patient group, 72.41% were male, 75.86% were overage 40 years, 93.10% were white, and 72.41% were nonsmokers. Clinically, all patients presented with multifocal lesions. The following manifestations were seen: dryness, atrophy, scaly lesions, swelling of the lip, erythema, ulceration, blurred demarcation between the lip vermilion border and the skin, marked folds along the lip vermilion, white spots or plaques, crusts, blotchy areas, and areas of pallor. Keratosis, granulosis, hyperplasia, acanthosis, or atrophy and dysplasia were found in the epithelial tissue; elastosis, inflammatory infiltrate, and vasodilatation were found in the connective tissue. Dysplasia was mild in 10.34% of the patients, moderate in 27.59%, and severe in 62.07%. Absence of sample homogeneity was observed in regard to gender, age, race, and smoking habits. It was not possible to reject the hypothesis of independence between mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia and gender, age, race, and smoking habits.Conclusions: Dryness, atrophy, and scaly lesions were the most common clinical findings observed. Dysplasia, inflammatory infiltrate, and vasodilatation, as well as elastosis, were the most common histological findings observed. Gender, age, race, or smoking habits were not related to the degree of dysplasia in the sample. (c) 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Desempenho de clones de seringueira de origem amazônica no planalto do Estado de São Paulo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a adaptabilidade e expressão fenotípica de caracteres superiores de dez clones amazônicos de seringueira (Hevea spp.) no planalto do Estado de São Paulo em um período de 10 anos, obedecendo ao delineamento de blocos ao acaso com três repetições e parcelas lineares de seis plantas. O clone IAN 3156 foi o mais produtivo, com média de 65,57 g de borracha seca/árvore/sangria, no período de quatro anos, seguido pelo clone RO 45 com 52,29 g de borracha seca/árvore/sangria, enquanto o clone-testemunha, RRIM 600, produziu 41,04 g/árvore/sangria. Todos os clones apresentaram crescimento vigoroso. O perímetro do caule na abertura do painel variou de 37,01 cm (IAN 3193) a 49,41 cm (IAN 4493). A porcentagem de plantas aptas à sangria variou de 30,0% (IAN 3703) a 93,75% (IAN 6323). Exceto os clones IAN 3156 e IAN 4493 com 7,00 mm e 6,32 mm, respectivamente, todos os outros clones apresentaram espessura de casca virgem inferior ao clone RRIM 600, que apresentou 6,18 mm. O clone IAN 3193 apresentou maior incidência de quebra do ponteiro pelo vento. Todos os clones estudados apresentaram baixa incidência de secamento de painel. O bom desempenho dos clones IAN 3156, RO 45, Fx 3899 e IAN 4493 permite que possam ser experimentados em larga escala, envolvendo diferentes ambientes no Estado de São Paulo.