Diseases Commons^™

Why Is There An Association Between Retinal Vein Occlusion, Vision Loss, Myocardial Infarction, Stroke And Mortality: Potential Roles Of Hypomagnesaemia, Release Of Sphingolipids, And Platelet-Activating Factor, Burton M. Altura, Asefa Gebrewold, Nilank C. Shah, Aimin Zhang, Wenyan Li, Lawrence M. Resnick, Bella T. Altura

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

Although numerous hypotheses (and potential risk factors), have been offered to explain the origins and potential mechanism(s) for central retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients of diverse ages, there is no agreement. Recently, considerable epidemiological evidence has been brought forth which indicates a strong association between RVO, myocardial infarctions, heart failure, and stroke. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency (mgD) has long-been associated with glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Over the past three decades, our laboratories have found strong associations of mgD linked to morbidity/ mortality in cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarctions, cardiac failure, atherogenesis, and strokes, both experimentally and clinically. More recently, …

Are Contact Lenses An Effective Vehicle For Ocular-Disease Drug Delivery?, Chana Haimowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Due to numerous drawbacks with current modes of treatment for various ocular diseases, researchers are synthesizing drug dispensing contact lenses. The lenses will contribute to greater bioavailability of the drug, the minimization of negative side effects, and increased patient compliance. As treatment for glaucoma, in vivo studies have been conducted with latanoprost, timolol maleate, and brimonidine tartrate-eluting lenses, and have succeeded in reducing intraocular pressure to desired values (Ciolino et al., 2016), (Schultz and Mint, 2002). As treatment for fungal keratitis, in vitro studies prove that econazole and natamycin-eluting contact lenses have been successful in killing 100% of fungi for …

Human Tear Fluid Reduces Culturability Of Contact Lens-Associated Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms But Induces Expression Of The Virulence-Associated Type Iii Secretion System, Yvonne T. Wu, Connie Tam, Lucia S. Zhu, David J. Evans, Suzanne M. J. Fleiszig

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Purpose

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a significant virulence determinant for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a rodent model, we found that contact lens(CL)-related corneal infections were associated with lens surface biofilms. Here, we studied the impact of human tear fluid on CL-associated biofilm growth and T3SS expression.

Methods

P. aeruginosa biofilms were formed on contact lenses for up to 7 days with or without human tear fluid, then exposed to tear fluid for 5 or 24 h. Biofilms were imaged using confocal microscopy. Bacterial culturability was quantified by viable counts, and T3SS gene expression measured …

Stem Cell Therapy And Macular Degeneration, Brenda Stern

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans sixty years and older. Currently, it is an incurable disease. Stem cell therapy is the idea of transplanting stem cells to replace damaged cells in the body. As the demand for transplantable organs far outweighs the supply, stem cells are an encouraging alternative to replace damaged cells. Can stem cell therapy be the first cure for macular degeneration? Many experiments have been done on transplanting stem cells into the eyes of rats with macular degeneration yielding promising results. The first transplantation of retinal pigmented epithelial stem cells into humans …

The Rehabilitative Potential Of Auditory To Visual Sensory Substitution Devices For The Blind, Naomi Perl

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Living with a sensory impairment is challenging, and those who have lost the use of one sensory modality need to find ways to deal with numerous problems encountered in daily life. When vision is lost, these challenges include navigation through space, finding objects, recognizing people or surroundings, reading or even communicating without access to nonverbal signs provided by others such as eye gaze or facial expressions. Nevertheless, the blind manage to function efficiently in their environment, often to a surprisingly high degree. The key to this amazing phenomenon lies in the plasticity of the brain and the connections it makes …

Environmental Factors And Progressive Myopia: A Global Health Problem, Jeffrey Weissman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error whose prevalence has increased over the past three decades, leading to a growing concern and interest among both the public and scientific communities. For years, the only explanation and basis for myopia has been genetic factors. However, the genetic model does not explain the dramatic increase in prevalence. Current research suggests that the increase is also due to environmental factors, such as fewer hours of outdoor activities, early educational pressures requiring intense close work, as well as a lack of exposure to sunlight. One study compared the prevalence and risk factors for myopia …

Cytotoxic Clinical Isolates Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Identified During The Steroids For Corneal Ulcers Trial Show Elevated Resistance To Fluoroquinolones, Durga S. Borkar, Nisha R. Acharya, Chelsia Leong, Prajna Lalitha, Muthiah Srinivasan, Catherine E. Oldenburg, David J. Evans

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Background: To determine the relationship between type three secretion genotype and fluoroquinolone resistance for P. aeruginosa strains isolated from microbial keratitis during the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial (SCUT) and for two laboratory strains, PA103 and PAO1.

Methods: Confirmed P. aeruginosa isolates from the SCUT were divided into exoU(+) or exoU(−). The exoU(+) strains contained the gene encoding ExoU, a powerful phospholipase toxin delivered into host cells by the type three secretion system. Isolates were then assessed for susceptibility to fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin, and aminoglycoside antibiotics using disk diffusion assays. Etest was used to determine the MIC of moxifloxacin …

Excitoxicity In Retinal Ischemia And Treatment Using Non-Competitive Receptor Antagonists, Jacob Rube

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is an excerpt from the article: Ischemia is defined as an inadequacy of blood flow to tissue. Ischemia can deprive tissue of oxygen and metabolic substrates and it can also prevent the removal of waste products. If the ischemia is maintained over enough time the tissue will lose its homeostasis and eventually die causing an infarct. Retinal ischemia occurs when the blood supply to the retina does not meet the metabolic needs that are required to sustain the retina. This can lead to retinal damage and severe vision loss. Ischemia is caused by occluded blood vessels.