Involvement of ER Stress in Human Primary Pterygium
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2019
Pages:
30-36
Received:
13 June 2019
Accepted:
2 July 2019
Published:
11 July 2019
Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the ER stress activation in human primary pterygium. Methods and materials: Human primary pterygium or normal Tenon's capsule tissues were obtained from patients with primary pterygium following surgical excision or from normal human fresh cadaver eyes. The tissues were processed within 2 hours. The mRNA or protein specimens were extracted from those tissues for analysis, cryosections of those tissues were prepared for immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related factors in those tissues were detected by qPCR analysis and the related proteins levels were detected by qPCR analysis and immunohistochemical staining or western blotting. Results: The ER stress-related gene transcription levels of GRP78，spliced XBP-1, ATF4 and ATF6 and the protein expression levels of GRP78, p-IRE1α, p-eIF2α and ATF6 were all increased in the human primary pterygium tissues when compared with the normal control tissues. Conclusion: The results in this study suggest that the three unfolded protein response pathways are all activated in the human primary pterygium tissues, which indicates that the ER stress is involved in the progression of pterygium, and also suggests a potential mechanism of ER stress-induced inflammation in the human primary pterygium tissues.
Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the ER stress activation in human primary pterygium. Methods and materials: Human primary pterygium or normal Tenon's capsule tissues were obtained from patients with primary pterygium following surgical excision or from normal human fresh cadaver eyes. The tissues were processed within 2 hours. The...
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Assessment of the Tear Evaporation Rate in Chronic Smokers Using Delfin VapoMeter
Saud Ahmed Alanazi,
Ali Abusharha,
Raied Fagehi,
Ali Mazyed Alsaqr,
Gamal Abdel-Rahman El-Hiti,
Raed Ali Alahmari,
Faisal Abdullah Alenazi,
Khalid Mansour Alnassar,
Ali Mohammed Masmali
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2019
Pages:
37-41
Received:
8 June 2019
Accepted:
4 July 2019
Published:
16 July 2019
Abstract: Background: Smoking cigarettes is associated with many chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart diseases, and cataract. In addition, smokers are more likely to develop dry eye symptoms compared with nonsmokers. Purpose: To assess the tear evaporation rate in chronic smokers using a VapoMeter. Materials and Method: This observational, case-control and non-randomized study included one hundred and twenty male smokers that ranged in age from 18 to 43 years (mean ± SD = 25.4±5.8 years). An age (18-43 years) matching control group (120 male subjects), with a mean age of 26.1±5.2 years participated in the study. Each participant completed the ocular surface disease index dry eye questionnaire, then a VapoMeter was used to determine the tear evaporation rate. Result: Significant (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test; p<0.05) differences were found between the average scores collected from the ocular surface disease index and the tear evaporation rate measurements within the smokers and nonsmokers groups. The average tear evaporation rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the study group [median (interquartile range; IQR) = 37.7 (59.3) g/m2h] compared with that obtained in control group [15.4 (13.1) g/m2h]. Moreover, the average score from the ocular surface disease index in smokers was significantly (p<0.05) higher [15.4 (13.1)] compared with that obtained in the control group [5.4 (5.5)]. Conclusion: Smokers have significant higher tear evaporation rates compared with nonsmokers and normal eye subjects. Clearly, VapoMeter can be used as a reliable tool to assess the eye dryness due to excessive evaporation of tears. Smoking is a risk factor for cancer, heart diseases, and cataract. In addition, smoking is a risk factor for eye dryness and contributes to evaporative dry eye disease, more likely due to the disturbance in the non-polar lipid layer within the tear film. Lipid-rich eye drops could be used to manage dry eye symptoms in smoker subjects. Moreover, smoking cessation remains the single most effective prophylactic measure to avoid dry eye symptoms.
Abstract: Background: Smoking cigarettes is associated with many chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart diseases, and cataract. In addition, smokers are more likely to develop dry eye symptoms compared with nonsmokers. Purpose: To assess the tear evaporation rate in chronic smokers using a VapoMeter. Materials and Method: This observational, case-control an...
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