Inflammatory biomarker changes in healthy adults secondary to electronic cigarette use: A scoping review.

CONTEXT: There has been a global increase in the use of electronic cigarettes (EC). However, to our knowledge, no review has summarized or categorized changes in inflammatory biomarkers after EC use in the extant literature. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in general, cardiopulmonary, and oxidative stress-related inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults who use ECs. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework. PubMed and MEDLINE (Ovid) databases were used for our search. After initial pilot searches and discussions, we performed a final search with medical subject headings and plain language terms related to inflammation, biomarkers, ECs, and adult humans. All full-text articles, gray literature, and primary studies dating from the inception of the searched databases to the present were included. Studies of human participants with known confounding medical histories were excluded. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. After short-term (<1 month) use, ECs containing nicotine moderately increased cardiovascular (CV) and oxidative stress markers of inflammation. Of all reported results, 50% of CV biomarkers were increased, and 64% of oxidative stress markers were increased. After long-term (>1 month) use, ECs containing nicotine produced mixed results. Two commonly measured biomarkers in this group, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were elevated in 75% and 60% of measured instances, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of studies evaluated in our scoping review suggested that short-term use of nicotine-containing ECs may result in increased CV and oxidative stress inflammation, contributing to potential CV or neurologic disease development. The results of studies evaluated in our scoping review also suggested that long-term use of nicotine-containing ECs resulted in no significant changes in general inflammatory biomarker levels. A rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to corroborate our findings and to determine the effect of long-term EC use on MMP-9 and IL-6 levels.

Monson small-incision lenticule extraction fixation device.

Small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a stromal based, flapless, minimally invasive form of laser vision correction for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. SMILE surgery is a more technical procedure compared with other refractive surgeries and generally has a longer skill mastery acquisition period. Thus far, no new stabilization devices or techniques have been proposed. To rectify this, a new distal corneal countertraction device for SMILE surgery, the Monson SMILE Fixation Device, is introduced. This device provides reliable corneal and globe stabilization during delamination and lenticular dissection. It may minimize tissue distortion and manipulation, simplify lenticule dissection, and may decrease operation times and improve cosmesis. Countertraction can also easily be adjusted throughout the procedure.

Consequences of in utero exposure to Zika virus in offspring of AG129 mice.

Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause various diseases in offspring after congenital infection. The purpose of this study was to identify disease phenotypes in pups exposed to ZIKV in utero. Female interferon-α/ß, -γ receptor knockout mice (AG129) were infected intraperitoneally with ZIKV 7.5 days' post coitus (dpc). Viral RNA, antigen and infectious virus were detected in some, but not all, maternal and fetal tissues at various times during gestation. Fetuses of infected dams had significant intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which was more pronounced as females neared parturition. Pups born to infected dams were significantly smaller and had significantly shortened skull lengths, as determined by measurement with a caliper and by micro-CT analysis, as compared with age-matched controls. Growth rates of exposed pups after birth, however, was similar to sham-exposed offspring. Viral RNA was detected in pups of infected dams after birth. A lower survival rate was observed in neonates exposed to ZIKV in utero. A mortality rate of over 50%, attributed to consequences of ZIKV infection, occurred after birth in pups born to infected dams. A transient hearing loss was observed in some animals exposed to virus in utero. No motor deficits or cognitive deficits were detected using running wheel or viral paresis scoring assays. Abnormalities in offspring included smaller size, shorter skull length and increased neonatal mortality, while the only functional deficit we could detect was a low incidence of transient hearing loss.