Day: 09/03/2010

Specialized Nanofiber Destined For Glaucoma Treatment

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A “smart” nanomaterial recently developed at the University of Dayton Research Institute for multi-purpose use in aircraft coatings, wind turbines and other large-scale commercial applications may also lead to a significant breakthrough in glaucoma treatment. Nicknamed “fuzzy fiber” by inventor Khalid Lafdi, distinguished research engineer at UDRI, the tailored carbon material is expected to improve the lives of glaucoma sufferers by reducing the number of medical procedures needed to treat the disease.

The new technology will be used to create biocompatible, non-clogging drainage tubes to relieve excess fluid and pressure in the eye. The carbon tubes will be marketed as an alternative to silicone tubes, which must be replaced over time in most patients because they become encapsulated with naturally occurring growth cells called fibroblasts, inhibiting their ability to drain fluid. Successful animal testing will pave the way for FDA approval for clinical trials in humans; the inventors expect the new tubes to be on the market within three years.

The research was sponsored by Mobius Therapeutics in St. Louis, owned and operated by University of Dayton graduate Ed Timm. Mobius supports research and development for advances in treatment for glaucoma.

“Glaucoma is frequently called the ‘sneak thief of sight’ because damage occurs slowly, and there are no symptoms until vision starts to become lost,” Timm said. “Once damage is done, that vision loss cannot be reversed.”

Because prevention is the “absolute best treatment,” annual eye exams that include a simple test for glaucoma are critical to helping prevent blindness, Timm said. “If glaucoma is detected, typically the first line of therapy is in the form of pharmaceuticals—drugs that help maintain proper IOP. If drugs are not appropriate or are no longer working, the next line of treatment involves using a laser to create a hole in the eye for fluid drainage. But the body responds by producing fibroblasts, a kind of scar tissue that can close up the hole and cause additional problems.”

When surgical intervention is warranted, a silicone shunt is implanted in the eye to facilitate drainage. Silicone is highly biocompatible, which is also its downfall, Timm said. “Silicone is not just the wrong material to use, it is exactly the wrong material. Because the body does not see it as a foreign material, the tube immediately becomes encapsulated with fibroblasts as healing takes place around it. As scar tissue builds up over time, the tube can no longer drain fluid and must be replaced.”

Lafdi and Timm designed a drain tube using Lafdi’s “fuzzy fiber,” a scaffold of carbon—also highly biocompatible – covered with surface-treated carbon nanotubes grown in a highly controlled manner, giving the material its fuzzy appearance. Those chemically modified nanotubes prevent the formation and build-up of fibroblasts, Lafdi said. “Multiple tests demonstrated that, in the presence of tailored carbon nanotubes, there was zero cell growth. But when I coated the same carbon scaffold with silicone, there was cell proliferation. An absolute invasion.”

Timm said use of the material in glaucoma treatment is revolutionary. “There’s nothing else like it out there. Not only is the material completely biocompatible, eliminating the risk for rejection by the body, it will also serve to preserve the longevity of the implant by keeping it from becoming blocked with tissue. I believe this will completely change the thought process in the design of future ophthalmic devices.”

The patent application for the technology covers applications for ear drainage tubes in addition to ophthalmic use, said Lafdi, who is also a faculty member in the University’s School of Engineering.

black rice and antioxidant

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Inexpensive black rice contains health-promoting anthocyanin antioxidants, similar to those found in blackberries and blueberries, new research from Louisiana State University indicates.

“Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants,” Zhimin Xu, PhD, of Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, says in a news release. “If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran?”

Xu and colleagues analyzed samples of black rice bran from rice grown in the Southern U.S.

He says black rice bran would be a unique and inexpensive way to increase people’s intake of antioxidants, which promote health.

Black rice is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, substances that show promise for fighting cancer, heart disease, and other health problems, Xu says.

He adds that food manufacturers could use black rice bran or bran extracts to boost the health value of breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, cookies, and other foods.

Black Rice vs. Brown Rice

The most widely produced rice worldwide is brown. Millers of rice remove the chaff, or outer husks, from each grain to make it brown.

White rice is made when rice is milled more than is done for brown rice; the bran is also removed, Xu says.

The bran of brown rice contains high levels of one of the vitamin E compounds known as “gamma-tocotrienol” as well as “gamma-oryzanol” antioxidants.

Many studies have shown that these antioxidants can reduce blood levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol and may fight heart disease.

So black rice bran may be even healthier than brown rice, Xu says.

He and his colleagues also showed that pigments in black rice bran extracts can produce a variety of colors, from pink to black, and may be a healthier alternative to artificial food colorants that manufacturers now add to some foods and beverages.

He writes that several studies have linked some artificial colorants to cancer, behavioral problems in children, and other adverse health effects.

Currently, black rice is used mainly in Asia for food decoration, noodles, sushi, and pudding, and Xu says that he would like to see it eaten by more Americans.

Black rice bran could be used to boost the health value of foods, such as snacks, cakes, and breakfast cereals, Xu and his colleagues suggest.

This study was presented at a medical conference in Boston. The findings should be considered preliminary because they have not yet undergone the “peer review” process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.

what’s the diagnosis?

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63 years old obese,ex smoker Muslim patient residing at moyna,midnapore,west Bengal was admitted at our institute on 9th june 2009 with complaint of shortness of breath & chest pain on exertion for 2 months,abdominal distension for 3 months & difficulty in passing urine for the same duration.On detailed enquiry chest pain was precordial ,non radiating ,non progressive in nature not relieved on rest or medications.Shortness  of breath was associated for the same duration on exertion.Abdominal distension was noticed by family members during that period.Patient consulted local doctor for the difficulty in micturition for which he was catheterized & advised some investigations.No signicant history of syncope, palpitation, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea was there.Significant past history included enteric fever in childhood  &  acute arthritis 5 years back for which patient was treated conservatively.Significant family history included H/O IHD in elder brother.he was known hypertensive for last 6 years on medication.

On admission patient was clinically examined.Findings were as follows:
Pallor+, icterus–,cyanosis–,clubbing–,bilateral pedal edema++,b.p-120/80mmHg,pulse – 84/min,regular,afebrile,no local swelling,deformity,tenderness.

GI system-soft non tender,mild hepatomegaly(4 cm below costal margin).no other organomegaly,mild ascitis(fluid trill absent,fluid shift present),no herniation.

CV system-  apex in the 5th ICS in MCL,s1,s2-audible,soft diastolic murmur(2/6) with no accentuation heard at mitral area with no parasternal heave,thrill.all peripheral pulses were palpable and were equal on both sides.

Respiratory system- air entry equal on both sides,b/l vesicular sounds present,no adventitious sounds,trachea in midline.

CNS-patient was conscious.cooperative,coherent.all superficial & deep reflexes were present.bowel habit was normal.patient was admitted with no.14 folley’s catheter in situ

Questions:-
1)  What would the next investigations you carry out
2)  What is your most likely diagnosis
source: medtitans