Combined Inhibition of Fyn and c-Src Protects Hippocampal Neurons and Improves Spatial Memory via ROCK after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Our previous studies demonstrated that traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ventricular administration of thrombin caused hippocampal neuron loss and cognitive dysfunction via activation of Src family kinases (SFKs). Based on SFK localization in brain, we hypothesized SFK subtypes Fyn and c-Src, as well as SFK downstream molecule Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), contribute to cell death and cognitive dysfunction after TBI. We administered nanoparticle wrapped small interfering RNA (siRNA)-Fyn and siRNA-c-Src, or ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 to adult rats subjected to moderate lateral fluid percussion (LFP)-induced TBI. Spatial memory function was assessed from 12 to 16 days, and NeuN stained hippocampal neurons were assessed 16 days after TBI. The combination of siRNA-Fyn and siRNA-c-Src, but neither alone, prevented hippocampal neuron loss and spatial memory deficits after TBI. The ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 also prevented hippocampal neuronal loss and spatial memory deficits after TBI. The data suggest that the combined actions of three kinases (Fyn, c-Src, ROCK) mediate hippocampal neuronal cell death and spatial memory deficits produced by LFP-TBI, and that inhibiting this pathway prevents the TBI-induced cell death and memory deficits.

Treatment of paper-recycling wastewater by electrocoagulation using aluminum and iron electrodes.

Treatment of industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation (EC) is one of the most efficient methods to remove pollutants. Paper-recycling wastewater is a complex mixture containing toxic and recalcitrant substances, indicating complexity and difficulty of its treatment. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of paper-recycling wastewater treatment by EC process using aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) plate electrodes. Removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), color and ammonia from paper-recycling mill effluent was evaluated at various electrolysis times (10-60 min), voltage (4-13 V) and pH (3.5-11). The optimum process conditions for the maximum removal of COD, TSS, color and ammonia from paper-recycling industry wastewater have been found to be pH value of 7, treatment time of 60 min and voltage of 10 V. Under optimum operating conditions, the removal capacities of COD, TSS, color and ammonia were 79.5%, 83.4%, 98.5% and 85.3%, respectively. It can be concluded that EC could be considered as an effective alternative for treatment of paper-recycling wastewater.

Excisional Bleb Revision for Management of Failed Ahmed Glaucoma Valve.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of excisonal bleb revision in patients with failed Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 29 patients with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) despite of maximal tolerated medical therapy at least 6 months after AGV implantation were enrolled in this prospective interventional case series. Excision of fibrotic tissue around the reservoir with application of mitomycin C 0.02% was performed. IOP, number of glaucoma medications were evaluated at baseline and 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Complete and qualified success was defined as IOP≤21 mm Hg with or without glaucoma medications, respectively. Intraoperative and postopervative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Mean IOP was reduced from 30±4.2 mm Hg at baseline to 19.2±3.1 mm Hg at 12-month follow-up visit (P<0.001). Average number of glaucoma medications was decrease from 3.2±0.5 at baseline to 1.9±0.7 at 12-month follow-up (P<0.001). Qualified and complete success rates at 12-month follow-up were 65.5% and 6.9%, respectively. Younger age and higher number of previous glaucoma surgeries were significantly associated with the failure of excisonal bleb revision. CONCLUSION: Excisional bleb revision could be considered as a relatively effective alternative option for management of inadequate IOP control after AGV implantation.

Conjunctival bacterial flora in nasolacrimal duct obstruction and its changes after successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of conjunctival culture in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) and its changes after successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgery. METHODS: In this prospective study, 71 adult patients with NLDO and 41 age- and sex-matched controls without NLDO were evaluated. The patients were divided in 2 groups based on clinical examination; group A with purulent regurgitation and group B without purulent regurgitation. Dacryocystorhinostomy surgery was performed, and the silicon tube was inserted in patients with upper lacrimal drainage system stenosis and when the lacrimal sac or nasal mucosal flap was inadequate for suitable anastomosis. Before surgery, microbiologic specimens were taken from the conjunctiva. Postoperative conjunctival sampling was continued weekly until the culture became negative or the colony count reached to the range of the control group. RESULTS: There were 38 and 33 patients in groups A and B, respectively. Silicone tube was inserted for 17 patients (23.9%). The culture was positive for bacterial growth in all cases. The conjunctival culture in the control group was positive in 17 eyes (41.4%). The mean count of colonies in a sample unit was 5274 ± 6300, 1167 ± 1504, and 9.5 ± 1.5 for group A, group B, and controls, respectively. The mean time of normalization of specimens was 3.3 ± 1.3 weeks (range 1-7). Pathogenic bacterial growth, higher colony counts, the presence of silicone tube, and purulent regurgitation were significantly associated with longer normalization time (p = 0.007, p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, and p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that after successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgery, a waiting period of 7 weeks is enough for conjunctival bacterial cultures to become negative or reach the level of the normal eyes.

Effects of mitomycin C on corneal endothelial cell counts in pterygium surgery: role of application location.

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in corneal endothelial cell counts after pterygium surgery with application of mitomycin C (MMC) either on the perilimbal sclera or in the subconjunctival space. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized interventional study. METHODS: Fifty-six eyes of 56 patients with primary pterygium underwent excision followed by removal of subconjunctival fibrovascular tissue, 0.02% MMC application, and amniotic membrane transplantation. These were stratified randomly into 2 groups. In 1 group (n = 28), MMC was applied on the perilimbal bare sclera (sclera group), and in other group (n = 28), MMC was applied under conjunctiva, where subconjunctival fibrovascular tissue was removed (subconjunctiva group). Based on severity of pterygium fleshiness, MMC was used for 1, 3, or 5 minutes in 8, 13, and 7 eyes, respectively, in the sclera group and in 9, 13, and 6 eyes, respectively, in the subconjunctiva group. Central corneal endothelial cell counts were evaluated before and during 6 months of follow-up after surgery. RESULTS: Mean preoperative endothelial cell count was 2810 ± 278 cells/mm(2) in the sclera group and 2857 ± 332 cells/mm(2) in the subconjunctiva group. Mean endothelial cell losses in sclera and subconjunctiva groups were 9.7% and 9.0% at 1 week, 6.5% and 6.5% at 1 month, 4.0% and 5.0% at 3 months, and 3.4% and 4.8% at 6 months, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. Longer durations of MMC application were associated with significantly greater endothelial losses in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of application location, MMC use during pterygium surgery can cause a significant decrease in central endothelial cell count.