Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation for the Prevention of Dry Eye Disease after Photorefractive Keratectomy: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for the prevention of dry eye after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Design: Prospective, single-center, single-blinded, parallel group, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Participants: Between February 2020 and October 2020, patients at the Samsung Medical Center scheduled to undergo PRK to correct myopia were screened and enrolled. Methods: The participants in the TES group were instructed to use the electrical stimulation device (Nu Eyne 01, Nu Eyne Co) at the periocular region after the operation, whereas those in the control group were to use the sham device. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at weeks 1, 4, and 12 using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), and the Standard Patient Evaluation for Eye Dryness II (SPEED II) questionnaire. Dry eye signs were assessed using tear break-up time (TBUT), total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS), and total conjunctival staining score according to the National Eye Institute/Industry scale. The pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes were OSDI and TBUT. Results: Twenty-four patients were enrolled and completed follow-up until the end of the study (12 patients in the TES group, 12 patients in the control group). Refractive outcomes and visual acuity were not different between the groups. No serious adverse event was reported with regard to device use. No significant difference in OSDI and SPEED II questionnaires and the DEQ-5 was observed between the groups in the 12th week after surgery. The TBUT scores 12 weeks after the surgery were 9.28 ± 6.90 seconds in the TES group and 5.98 ± 2.55 seconds in the control group with significant difference (P = 0.042). The tCFS and total conjunctival staining score were significantly lower in the TES group than in the control group at postoperative 4 weeks. Pain intensity at the first week was significantly lower in the TES group than in the control group by 65% (P = 0.011). Conclusion: The application of TES is safe and effective in improving dry eye disease after PRK. Financial Disclosures: The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Ameliorative effects of Monascus pilosus-fermented black soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) on high-fat diet-induced obesity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the antiobesity effects of Monascus pilosus-fermented black soybean (F-BS) in C57BL/6 mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. F-BS (oral, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg per body weight, twice per day) ameliorated obesity by reducing body and liver weight increases, and regulating blood glucose and cholesterol levels in C57BL/6 mice fed a control or HFD with oral administration of F-BS for 12 weeks. F-BS suppressed the growth of epididymal, retroperitoneal, and perirenal fat pads by preventing increases in the adipocyte size. Moreover, the levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, and leptin were significantly lowered by F-BS administration in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that F-BS is a beneficial food supplement for preventing obesity, controlling blood glucose, and lowering cholesterol. Future research strategies should address the mechanisms that selectively regulate obesity, including hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Immunostimulating effects of extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.

As malfunction/absence of immune cells causes a variety of immunosuppressive disorders and chemical synthetic drugs for curing these diseases have many adverse effects, vigorous studies are being conducted. The Acanthopanax family has been used as traditional medicines for gastric ulcer, diabetes, etc. and culinary materials in East-South Asia. In this study, the immunostimulating properties of A. sessiliflorus were evaluated. A. sessiliflorus increased not only the splenocyte number but also immune-related cytokines such as TNF-α. However, it could not upregulate the expressions of IFN-γ and IL-2. A. sessiliflorus increased the swimming time, and comparison of organ weights relative to body weights for immune-related organs such as the spleen and thymus after a forced swim test showed that it could recover the spleen and thymus weights. It also increased the expression of TNF-α and slightly increased the concentration of IFN-γ but not IL-2. From the results, we concluded that as A. sessiliflorus has not only a host defense effect but also a stress-ameliorating property, further study it will be a promising material of immunostimulating material.

Treatment of eggshell with casein phosphopeptide reduces the severity of ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

It has been generally accepted that calcium intake prevents bone loss, and frequent fracture resulted from osteoporosis. However, it is still elusive as to how effective sole calcium intake is in preventing or attenuating the severity of osteoporosis. Here, we demonstrate the effects of eggshell-casein phosphopeptide (ES-CPP), and compared these effects those of calcium supplement, for restoring ovariectomy-mediated bone loss. CPP, synthesized from the hydrolysis of casein (0.5%) using trypsin, was added to the grinded ES and was then administered to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat at 100 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Urine and feces from each group were collected each day, and were used to calculate the apparent calcium absorption rate in a day. After 4 weeks incubation, blood and femoral bones were isolated for the analysis of parameters representing osteoporosis. The apparent calcium absorption rate was significantly increased in the ES-CPP treated groups, in comparison to both the OVX and the commercial calcium supplement (CCS) treated group. Notably, treatment with ES-CPP markedly enhanced the calcium content in femoral bone and the relative weight of femoral bone to body weight, though calcium content in serum was barely changed by treatment with ES-CPP. Parameters of osteoporosis, such as osteocalcin in serum and bone mineral density, were rescued by treatment with ES-CPP, compared to treatment with commercial calcium supplement. This finding strongly suggests the possible use of ES-CPP in preventing or attenuating the severity of postmenopausal osteoporosis.