Efficacy of recombinant human epidermal growth factor plus sodium hyaluronate eye drops in diabetic dry eye post-cataract surgery

BACKGROUND Dry eye syndrome(DES)after diabetic cataract surgery can seriously affect the patient’s quality of life.Therefore,effective alleviation of symptoms in patients with this disease has important clinical significance.AIM To explore the clinical effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor(rhEGF)plus sodium hyaluronate(SH)eye drops on DES after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 82 patients with diabetes who experienced DES after cataract surgery at Tianjin Beichen Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University between April 2021 and April 2023.They were classified into an observation group(42 cases,rhEGF+SH eye drops)and a control group(40 cases,SH eye drops alone),depending on the different treatment schemes.The therapeutic efficacy,dry eye symptom score,tear film breakup time(TFBUT),basic tear secretion score[assessed using Schirmer I test(SIt)],corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score,tear inflammatory markers,adverse reactions during treat-ment,and treatment satisfaction were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Therapeutic efficacy was higher in the observation group compared with the control group.Both groups showed improved TFBUT and dry eye,as well as improved SIt and FL scores after treatment,with a more pronounced improvement in the observation group.Although no marked differences in adverse reactions were observed between the two groups,treatment satisfaction was higher in the observation group.CONCLUSION rhEGF+SH eye drops rendered clinical benefits to patients by effectively ameliorating dry eye and visual impairment with favorable efficacy,fewer adverse reactions,and high safety levels.Thus,this treatment should be promoted in clinical practice.

The serum anion gap is associated with disease severity and all-cause mortality in coronary artery disease

Objective To evaluate the associations between the serum anion gap （AG） with the severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease （CAD）. Methods We measured serum electrolytes in 18,115 CAD patients indicated by coronary angiography. The serum AG was calculated according to the equation： AG = Na^＋ [（mmol/L） ＋ K^＋ （mmol/L）] - [Cl^- （mmol/L） ＋ HCO3^- （mmol/L）]. Results A total of 4510 （24.9%） participants had their AG levels greater than 16 mmol/L. The serum AG was independently associated with measures of CAD severity, including more severe clinical types of CAD （P 〈 0.001） and worse cardiac function （P = 0.004）. Patients in the 4th quartile of serum AG （≥ 15.92 mmol/L） had a 5.171-fold increased risk of 30 days all-cause death （P 〈 0.001）. This association was robust, even after adjustment for age, sex, evaluated glomerular filtration rate [hazard ratio （HR）： 4.861, 95% confidence interval （CI）： 2.150–10.993, P 〈 0.001], clinical diagnosis, severity of coronary artery stenosis, cardiac function grades, and other confounders （HR： 3.318, 95% CI： 1.76–2.27, P = 0.009）. Conclusion In this large population-based study, our findings reveal a high percentage of increased serum AG in CAD. Higher AG is associated with more severe clinical types of CAD and worse cardiac function. Furthermore, the increased serum AG is an independent, significant, and strong predictor of all-cause mortality. These findings support a role for the serum AG in the risk-stratification of CAD.

Effects and mechanisms of glucose-insulin-potassium on post-procedural myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective To evaluate the effects and mechanisms of glucose-insulin-potassium(GIK)on post-procedural myocardial injury(PMI)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 200 non-diabetic patients with documented coronary heart disease(CHD)were divided into the Group GIK and Group G,with 100 patients in each group.Patients in Group G were given intravenous infusion of glucose solution 2 hours before PCI.As compared,patients in Group GIK were given GIK.Results Both post-procedural creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB;62.1±47.8 vs.48.8±52.6 U/L,P=0.007)and cTnI(0.68±0.83 vs.0.19±0.24 ng/mL,P<0.001)in Group GIK were significantly higher than those in Group G.In Group G,9.0%and 4.0%of patients had post-procedural increases in CK-MB 1-3 times and>3 times,which were significantly lower than those in Group GIK(14.0%and 7.0%,respectively;all P values<0.01);13.0%and 7.0%of patients had post-procedural increases in cTnI 1-3 times and>3 times,which were also significantly lower than those in Group GIK(21.0%and 13.0%,respectively;all P<0.001).Pre-procedural(10.2±4.5 vs.5.1±6.3,P<0.001)and post-procedural rapid blood glucose(RBG)levels(8.9±3.9 vs.5.3±5.6,P<0.001)in Group G were higher than those in Group GIK.In adjusted logistic models,usage of GIK(compared with glucose solution)remained significantly and independently associated with higher risk of post-procedural increases in both CK-MB and cTnI levels>3 times.Furthermore,pre-procedural RBG levels<5.0mmol/L were significantly associated with higher risk of post-procedural increases in both CK-MB and cTnI levels.Conclusions In non-diabetic patients with CHD,the administration of GIK may increase the risk of PMI due to hypoglycemia induced by GIK.