Mccormickpickett4029

To evaluate the serum vitamin D levels of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

A total of 39 VKC patients (21 males and 18 females) and 32 healthy individuals (19 males and 13 females) were enrolled in this study with the mean age of 18.38 ± 8.83 and 21.6 ± 9.43, respectively. The type and the grade of VKC were identified for each patient and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels of all subjects were evaluated.

The patients affected by VKC had statistically significant lower 25(OH)D levels (27.64 ± 8.50 ng/mL) than healthy subjects group (35.96 ± 11.34 ng/mL) (

 = 0.001). A reverse correlation was found between the serum vitamin D levels and the severity of the VKC but it was not statistically significant (

 = -0.159,

 = 0.33). Besides, there were a few cases with severe and very severe VKC (2 in grade 3 and 4 in grade 4). Patients with the mixed type of the disease had lower serum vitamin D levels in comparison to tarsal and limbal forms but the difference was not statistically significant (

 = 0.38).

This study shows that the patients affected by VKC have lower vitamin D levels in comparison to healthy subjects and the screening of all patients with VKC for vitamin D levels seems rational.

This study shows that the patients affected by VKC have lower vitamin D levels in comparison to healthy subjects and the screening of all patients with VKC for vitamin D levels seems rational.Invasive fungal sinusitis is a morbid pathology that typically affects immunocompromised patients and may quickly progress to fulminant disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation of nasal debridement specimens as a rapid diagnostic tool for invasive fungal sinusitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of 22 patients undergoing nasal debridement due to suspicion for invasive fungal sinusitis over a 10-year period. Thirteen patients had touch preparation of nasal specimens followed by routine histologic processing; two of these patients underwent 2, and 1 patient had 3 separate debridements, for a total of 17 touch preparations performed. The sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation were calculated by correlating the initial results with the presence of fungal invasion on final pathologic analysis. The sensitivity of touch preparation was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.85), specificity was 100% (95% CI 0.60-1.00), positive predictive value was 100% (95% CI 0.46-1.00), and negative predictive value was 67% (95% CI 0.35-0.89). This procedure may be a useful adjunct in situations requiring rapid diagnosis of invasive fungal sinusitis but should not be used as the sole criteria for determining the need for surgical intervention.Genetic characterization of wild and cultivated plants provides valuable knowledge for conservation and agriculture. DNA sequencing technologies are improving, and costs are dropping. Yet analysis of many species is hindered because they grow in regions that lack infrastructure for advanced molecular biology. The authors developed and adapted low-cost methods that address these issues. Tissue was collected and stored in silica gel, avoiding the need for liquid nitrogen and freezers. The authors optimized low-cost, homemade DNA extraction to increase yields, reduce costs and produce DNA suitable for next-generation sequencing. The authors describe how to build a gel documentation system for DNA quantification. As a proof of principle, the authors used these methods to evaluate wild Berberis darwinii, native to Southern Chile.A novel tool for the presentation of peptides and small proteins on the surface of human cells has been developed. Our tANCHOR system utilizes tetraspanin anchors containing heterologous amino acid sequences inserted instead of the large extracellular loop. This technology allows a highly effective extracellular display of epitopes for antibody binding studies and many other potential applications.

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) with femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for the correction of low to moderate myopia.

A retrospective cohort study design was used. The study group included patients with myopia less than -6.0 D, with or without concomitant astigmatism under 2.0 D, who were treated with FS-LASIK or Trans-PRK in 2013 through 2014. Background, clinical and outcome data were collected from the patient files. A comparison between eyes treated with FS-LASIK or Trans-PRK was performed.

The Trans-PRK group was comprised of 1793 eyes and the FS-LASIK group of 666 eyes. Imidazole ketone erastin Mean ± SD spherical equivalent (SE) refraction prior to surgery was -3.43 ± 1.27 D in the Trans-PRK group and -3.18 ± 1.34 D in the FS-LASIK group (

 < 0.001). Efficacy index values were 0.95 ± 0.14 in the Trans-PRK group and 0.98 ± 0.12 in the FS-LASIK group (

 < 0.001), and corresponding safety index values were 0.96 ± 0.13 and 0.99 ± 0.12 (

 < 0.001). Distance from target refraction was 0.45 ± 0.42 D in Trans-PRK group and 0.43 ± 0.38 D in the FS-LASIK group (

 = 0.537); 71.6% and 74.2% of eyes were within ±0.5 D of attempted correction, respectively (

 = 0.193).

Both Trans-PRK and FS-LASIK demonstrated excellent results, mostly comparable with the current literature. FS-LASIK achieved better results than Trans-PRK surgery in the efficacy and safety parameters.

Both Trans-PRK and FS-LASIK demonstrated excellent results, mostly comparable with the current literature. FS-LASIK achieved better results than Trans-PRK surgery in the efficacy and safety parameters.Brahucins A (1) and B (2), the new oleanane-type triterpene lactones, have been isolated from the EtOAc-soluble fraction of Spiraea brahuica Boiss, along with betulinic acid (3), oleanolic acid (4), 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl) oleanolic acid (5), vanillic acid (6) and caffeic acid (7), reported for the first time from this species. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic studies including MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR.