TNFα and IL-8 vitreous concentrations variations with two antidiabetic therapies in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Antidiabetic therapies are effective, but could indirectly modify the inflammatory response in the ocular microenvironment; therefore, a study was developed to evaluate the inflammatory cytokine profile in the vitreous humor of diabetic patients with retinopathy under treatment with antidiabetic drugs. METHODS: Observational, comparative, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Interleukins 1ß, 6, 8, 10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) were evaluated in the vitreous humor obtained from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and concomitant retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage, and who were already on antidiabetic treatment with insulin or metformin + glibenclamide. The quantification analysis of each cytokine was performed by the cytometric bead array (CBA) technique; medians and interquartile ranges were obtained, and the results were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test, where a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Thirty-eight samples; quantification of TNFα concentrations was higher in the group of patients administered insulin, while interleukin-8 was lower; in the metformin + glibenclamide combination therapy group, it occurred inversely. In the stratified analysis, the highest concentrations of interleukin-8 and TNFα occurred in patients with vitreous hemorrhage; however, the only statistical difference existed in patients with retinal detachment, whose TNFα concentration in the combined therapy group was the lowest value found (53.50 (33.03-86.66), p = 0.03). Interleukins 1ß, 6, and 10 were not detected. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-8 and TNFα concentrations are opposite between treatment groups; this change is more accentuated in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage, where the highest concentrations of both cytokines are found, although only TNFα have statistical difference.

Pleobot: a modular robotic solution for metachronal swimming.

Metachronal propulsion is widespread in aquatic swarming organisms to achieve performance and maneuverability at intermediate Reynolds numbers. Studying only live organisms limits our understanding of the mechanisms driving these abilities. Thus, we present the design, manufacture, and validation of the Pleobot-a unique krill-inspired robotic swimming appendage constituting the first platform to study metachronal propulsion comprehensively. We combine a multi-link 3D printed mechanism with active and passive actuation of the joints to generate natural kinematics. Using force and fluid flow measurements in parallel with biological data, we show the link between the flow around the appendage and thrust. Further, we provide the first account of a leading-edge suction effect contributing to lift during the power stroke. The repeatability and modularity of the Pleobot enable the independent manipulation of particular motions and traits to test hypotheses central to understanding the relationship between form and function. Lastly, we outline future directions for the Pleobot, including adapting morphological features. We foresee a broad appeal to a wide array of scientific disciplines, from fundamental studies in ecology, biology, and engineering, to developing new bio-inspired platforms for studying oceans across the solar system.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori and undifferentiated non-granulomatous anterior uveitis.

PURPOSE: The relationship of Helicobacter pylori infection with ocular diseases, including anterior uveitis, has been reported. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in patients with idiopathic non-granulomatous anterior uveitis and compare the results with a control group. METHODS: A prospective, comparative, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients with idiopathic granulomatous anterior uveitis and a group of control subjects were included. The presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was determined. The chi-square test was performed for comparative analysis with GraphPad Prism V5.0 software. RESULTS: Thirty patients with idiopathic non-granulomatous anterior uveitis and 35 control subjects were included. In the determination of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies, 24 (80%) patients and 19 (54%) control subjects were positive. A significant difference (p = 0.0263) was found between the groups and an odds ratio (OR) of 3.37. CONCLUSIONS: A direct relationship was found between the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies and idiopathic non-granulomatous anterior uveitis. An association can be established between idiopathic non-granulomatous anterior uveitis and H. pylori infection, without this being a causal or physiopathogenic relationship.

Anxiety, depression, and stress in response to the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the state of anxiety, depression, and stress present in the society during the development of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: Mixed methods study; a three-section questionnaire was developed which included sociodemographic, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors related to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, and two emotional assessment psychometric tests. The proportions and confidence intervals of the variables were calculated and compared using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: More than 40% of the subjects presented some degree of anxiety and 41.3% depression; the proportion of stress was < 30%. Of the subjects who experienced anxiety, 18.6% also had moderate-to-very severe depression or stress. CONCLUSION: There are emotional indicators derived from the 2019 coronavirus pandemic in almost half of the study population. The identification and timely treatment of these states could lessen the psychological impact due to 2019 coronavirus.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el estado de ansiedad, depresión y estrés en la sociedad durante el desarrollo de la pandemia de COVID-19. MÉTODO: Estudio de métodos mixtos. Se desarrolló un cuestionario de tres secciones que incluía aspectos sociodemográficos, percepciones, emociones y comportamientos relacionados con la pandemia de COVID-19, y dos pruebas psicométricas de evaluación emocional. Las proporciones y los intervalos de confianza de las variables se calcularon y compararon mediante la prueba de ji al cuadrado. RESULTADOS: Más del 40% de los sujetos presentaron algún grado de ansiedad y el 41,3% de depresión; la proporción de estrés fue inferior al 30%. De los sujetos que experimentaron ansiedad, el 18.6% también tenía depresión o estrés moderado a muy intenso. CONCLUSIÓN: Existen indicadores emocionales derivados de la pandemia de COVID-19 en casi la mitad de la población del estudio. La identificación y el tratamiento oportuno de estos estados podrían disminuir el impacto psicológico debido al COVID-19.