Oxaliplatin-induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Symptoms, Distress and Quality of Life among Korean Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the level of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN), symptoms, distress, and quality of life (QoL) in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients and to identify the factors influencing QoL.METHODS: A total of 123 patients were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Surveys used were the Therapy-Induced Neuropathy Assessment Scale (TNAS) for OIPN, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-GI) for general symptoms associated with gastrointestinal cancer and its treatment, a distress thermometer, and the Euro Quality of Life Questionnaire 5-Dimensional Classification (EQ-5D) for QoL.RESULTS: The patients were classified into three groups based on their treatment completion time (current, completed less than one year ago, completed more than one year ago). The scores of MDASI-GI and distress were significantly lower in patients who had completed chemotherapy compared to those who were undergoing treatment (p=.04 and .02 respectively). However, TNAS score was significantly higher in patients who completed chemotherapy less than one year ago than the other two groups (p=.001). In multivariate regression models, the OIPN and distress or general symptoms were identified as factors associated with QoL.CONCLUSION: In this study, we identified the symptoms that are factors related to the QoL in patients with GI cancer. In particular, the symptoms of OIPN are reported at significantly increased levels for patients who have finished chemotherapy less than one year ago, so efforts to prevent and manage the symptoms of OIPN are needed in this timeframe. To improve QoL of patients with GI cancer, continuous attention and care are required not only during the treatment of cancer but also after the completion of treatment.

Minimal Requirement of Limbal Epithelium for Successful Limbal Cell Transplantation in Rabbit Corneas

PURPOSE: To investigate the minimal requirements of the limbal epithelium for successful limbal stem cell transplantation and the healing process. METHODS: Nine rabbits were divided into 4, 6, and 8 clock-hour transplantation groups. Limbal autografts from the healthy fellow eye were transplanted to the iatrogenic damaged eye. The amniotic membrane served as a stem cell niche. Experimental corneas were evaluated by slit lamp examination and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the over 9 hours transplantation group, the healing process of the epithelium from the limbal stem cell was revealed and cornea-specific keratin k3, transcription factor p63, and connexin 43 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The normal corneal epithelium was regenerated after 60 days postoperatively in the fellow donor eye. CONCLUSIONS: Limbal cell transplantation of over 9 hours seems to be a safe and effective method in the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders. In addition, the donation of limbal epithelium for up to 8 hours did not affect the normal corneal regenerating capability.

A Study of Patients with Spasm of the Near Reflex

PURPOSE: To determine changes in the degree of pseudomyopia and convergence in patients with spasm of the near reflex. METHODS: In 5 patients with spasm of the near reflex, we checked following: UCVA/BCVA, the degree of pseudomyopia revealed through manifest and cycloplegic refraction tests, pupil size, limitation of EOM, the amount of convergence defined by the alternate prism cover test, and slit lamp and funduscopic exams. RESULTS: Of the 5 patients with spasm of near reflex, 3 had accommodative spasm alone and 2 had accommodative spasm, convergence spasm and miosis. The patients' degrees of pseudomyopia and convergence were -8.0D and 14PD on the average. which disappeared after an average of 10.8 months but recurred in 1 of the 3 patients with accommodative spasm. As for spasm of the near reflex, 1 patient showed improvement in convergence but worsening pseudomyopia during the follow-up period, and another patient showed recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The most common clinical feature of spasm of the near reflex is accommodative spasm. Patients with accommodative spasm alone showed better prognosis among all patients with spasm of the near reflex in terms of recurrence and the disease course.

The Effects of Glucose Concentrations on Reactive Oxygen production and Cellular Activity in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of glucose concentrations on formation of reactive oxygen products and cellular activity in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial cells were cultured with high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) and normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml). The amounts of reactive oxygen products were assayed with dihydroethidium (DHE). Paraquat-induced cellular activity was determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. RESULTS: Reactive oxygen products of human retinal pigment epithelial cells were increased 120%, 250% and 390% in high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) media compared to those of normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml) media. Paraquat-induced cell toxicity was increased by high glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: High glucose increased formation of reactive oxygen products in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. These results suggest that high glucose can make human retinal pigment epithelial cells more sensitive to oxidative cellular injury.

The Effects of Glucose Concentrations on Reactive Oxygen products in Human Lens Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of glucose concentrations on the formation of reactive oxygen products and cellular injury in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. METHODS: Human lens epithelial (HLE) cells were cultured with high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) and normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml) contained Modified Egle's Medium (MEM). The amounts of reactive oxygen products were assayed by dihydroethidium (DHE). Paraquat-induced cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 -diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. RESULTS Reactive oxygen products of human lens epithelial cells increased 110%, 250% and 630% in the high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) media compared to the normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml) media. The paraquat-induced cells toxicity was increased by the high glucose. CONCLUSIONS: High glucose increased the formation of reactive oxygen products in human lens epithelial cells. These results suggest that high glucose can induce cataract formation in diabetic patients.

The Effects of Glucose Concentrations on Reactive Oxygen products in Human Lens Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of glucose concentrations on the formation of reactive oxygen products and cellular injury in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. METHODS: Human lens epithelial (HLE) cells were cultured with high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) and normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml) contained Modified Egle's Medium (MEM). The amounts of reactive oxygen products were assayed by dihydroethidium (DHE). Paraquat-induced cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 -diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. RESULTS Reactive oxygen products of human lens epithelial cells increased 110%, 250% and 630% in the high glucose (200 mg/100 ml, 300 mg/100 ml, 400 mg/100 ml) media compared to the normal glucose (100 mg/100 ml) media. The paraquat-induced cells toxicity was increased by the high glucose. CONCLUSIONS: High glucose increased the formation of reactive oxygen products in human lens epithelial cells. These results suggest that high glucose can induce cataract formation in diabetic patients.