Prompt and Sustained Suppression of Intraocular Inflammation with Adalimumab in Pediatric Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis Resistant to Traditional Managements: A 6-Month Follow-Up Research.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) on visual acuity (VA), ocular inflammation, vitreous haze and central macular thickness (CMT) in pediatric refractory non-infectious uveitis. METHODS: Thirty-one eyes of 16 pediatric patients with uveitis of various etiologies were treated with ADA. VA, intraocular active inflammatory cells, vitreous haze, and CMT were evaluated at the baseline and 2nd, 4th, 12th, and 24th weeks following ADA treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 31 eyes had active and the remaining 8 eyes had inactive uveitis (with frequent relapse) before ADA therapy. VA (LogMAR) increased at 12th week following ADA treatment (p< .001). Intraocular inflammation degrees significantly improved within 4 weeks (p< .001). Vitreous haze decreased at fourth week and stabilized at 12th week (p= .038). CMT started to decrease within weeks and stabilized at 12th week (p= .006). CONCLUSIONS: ADA was found to be safe and effective to suppress intraocular inflammation in pediatric non-infectious uveitis, which prevented sight-threatening complications.

Ingestion of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract to prevent selenite-induced oxidative stress in experimental cataract.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether dietary supplementation with IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) prevents selenite-induced cataract. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: Thirty Spraque-Dawley rat litters were put randomly into 3 groups. In group 1 (n = 10), sodium selenite (30 nmol/g body weight) was injected subcutaneously on postpartum day 10. In group 2 (n = 10), sodium selenite (30 nmol/g body weight) was injected on postpartum day 10 and oral GSPE (100 mg/kg body weight) was given for 1 week after sodium selenite injection. Only subcutaneous saline was injected in group 3 (control, n = 10). The development of cataract was assessed for 3 weeks, and its density was graded and photographed with a slitlamp. Removed rat lenses were analyzed for glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: All of the rats in group 1 had cataract between stage 6 and stage 3. In group 2, only 5 of 10 eyes had cataract between stage 3 and stage 2 and no cataract occurred in the remaining 5 rats. The difference between mean cataract stages in group 1 and group 2 was significant (P<.05). The mean GSH level in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 and controls (P<.05). The mean MDA level in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 and controls (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract effectively suppressed cataract formation in rats. Routine consumption of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in the form of food or dietary supplement may offer a prophylactic measure against onset and progression of cataract.

Doxorubicin-induced cataract formation in rats and the inhibitory effects of hazelnut, a natural antioxidant: a histopathological study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether hazelnut prevents doxorubicin-induced experimental cataract in rats. MATERIAL/METHODS: Seventy-five 4-week-old male Wistar albino rats were randomized into 5 equal groups. Beginning from 6 weeks of age, the groups were treated with intraperitoneal injections of saline solution or doxorubicin (DR) for 4 weeks. Group 1 received saline solution (0.5 ml/200 g) weekly, groups 2 and 4 a cumulative dose of 6 mg/kg (1.5 mg/kg/week) of DR, and groups 3 and 5 received a cumulative dose of 12 mg/kg (3 mg/kg/week) DR. All the rats were fed ad libitum with a 24% protein rodent chow. Groups 4 and 5 were additionally fed 5 g/day hazelnut. At the end of the tenth week the rats were sacrificed and cataract development was investigated histopathologically. The groups were statistically compared. RESULTS: All control lenses (group 1) were macroscopically clear. Cataractous changes were noted in 7 eyes (47%) in group 2 and in 10 (67%) in group 3 (p=0.01). Groups 3 and 5 had cataractous changes in 4 (27%) and 5 (33%) eyes, respectively (p=0.001). The cataract development ratio was different between groups 2 and 4 (p=0.013), while there was no such difference between groups 3 and 5 (p=0.053). Histopathological findings suggesting cataractogenesis were eosinophilic degeneration, cortical lens-fiber cell swelling, and the retention of nuclei in central fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Hazelnut prevented doxorubicin-induced cataract in low doses. Since it has no known harmful effect on healthy cells, it may be beneficial in humans.