Association between metabolic syndrome and agerelated cataract

·AIM: To determine the effect of metabolic syndrome on age-related cataract formation.·METHODS: We analyzed data for 2852 subjects [41.8%men and 58.2% women; mean(±SD) age, 52.9 ±13.9y],taken from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by criteria proposed by the Joint Interim Societies. Cataract was diagnosed by using the Lens Opacities Classification System III. The association between metabolic syndrome and cataract was determined using age-adjusted and multivariable logistic regression analyses.· RESULTS: In multivariable analyses, men with metabolic syndrome had a 64% increased risk of nuclear cataract [odds ratio(OR), 1.64; 95% confidence interval(CI), 1.12-2.39]. Women with metabolic syndrome had a56% increased risk of cortical cataract(OR, 1.56; 95% CI,1.06-2.30). Men and women with metabolic syndrome had a 46%(OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.12) and 49%(OR,1.49; 95% CI, 1.07-2.08) increased risk of any cataract,respectively. The prevalence of nuclear and any cataract significantly increased with an increasing number of disturbed metabolic components in men, and prevalence of all types of cataracts increased in women. Men using hypoglycemic medication had an increased risk of nuclear(OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.41-4.86) and any(OR, 2.27;95% CI, 1.14-4.51) cataract, and women using antidyslipidemia medication had an increased risk of cortical(OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.12-4.24) and any(OR, 2.21;95% CI, 1.14-4.26) cataract.·CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and its components,such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, andimpaired fasting glucose, are associated with age-related cataract formation in the Korean population.

Relationship between treatment types and blood–brain barrier disruption in patients with acute ischemic stroke:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Blood-brain barrier(BBB)disruption plays an important role in the development of neurological dysfunction in ischemic stroke.However,diagnostic modalities that can clearly diagnose the degree of BBB disruption in ischemic stroke are limited.Here,we describe two cases in which the usefulness of dynamic contrastenhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)in detecting BBB disruption was evaluated after treatment of acute ischemic stroke using two different methods.CASE SUMMARY The two patients of similar age and relatively similar cerebral infarction locations were treated conservatively or with thrombectomy,although their sex was different.As a result of analysis by performing DCE-MRI,it was confirmed that BBB disruption was significantly less severe in the patient who underwent thrombectomy(P=3.3×10^(-7)),whereas the average Ktrans of the contralateral hemisphere in both patients was similar(2.4×10^(-5)min^(-1) and 2.0×10^(-5)min^(-1)).If reperfusion is achieved through thrombectomy,it may indicate that the penumbra can be saved and BBB recovery can be promoted.CONCLUSION Our cases suggest that BBB disruption could be important if BBB permeability is used to guide clinical treatment.

Upconverting nanoparticle-containing erythrocyte-sized hemoglobin microgels that generate heat,oxygen and reactive oxygen species for suppressing hypoxic tumors

Inspired by erythrocytes that contain oxygen-carrying hemoglobin(Hb)and that exhibit photo-driven activity,we introduce homogenous-sized erythrocyte-like Hb microgel(μGel)systems(5-6μm)that can(i)emit heat,(ii)supply oxygen,and(iii)generate reactive oxygen species(ROS;1O2)in response to near-infrared(NIR)laser irradiation.Hb μGels consist of Hb,bovine serum albumin(BSA),chlorin e6(Ce6)and erbium@lutetium upconverting nanoparticles(UCNPs;~35 nm)that effectively convert 808 nm NIR light to 660 nm visible light.These Hb μGels are capable of releasing oxygen to help generate sufficient reactive oxygen species(^(1)O_(2))from UCNPs/Ce6 under severely hypoxic condition upon NIR stimulation for efficient photodynamic activity.Moreover,the Hb μGels emit heat and increase surface temperature due to NIR light absorption by heme(iron protoporphyrin IX)and display photothermal activity.By changing the Hb/UCNP/Ce6 ratio and controlling the amount of NIR laser irradiation,it is possible to formulate bespoke Hb μGels with either photothermal or photodynamic activity or both in the context of combined therapeutic effect.These Hb μGels effectively suppress highly hypoxic 4T1 cell spheroid growth and xenograft mice tumors in vivo.