PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of curcumin, known to inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor-1, on retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS: OIR was induced by exposing C57BL/6 mice on postnatal day 7 (P7) to 75% hyperoxia for 5 days, followed by 5 days in a room with normal oxygen level. Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 5 days from P12 or intravitreally once on P13. Mice retinas on P17 were analyzed for retinal neovascularization, which was compared between curcumin-treated and control mice. RESULTS: After intraperitoneal and intravitreal administration of curcumin, qualitative assessment of retinal neovascularization of flat-mounted retina showed no significant difference compared to control retinas. Quantitative assessment of retinal neovascularization also showed no significant difference between curcumin-treated and control mice. CONCLUSIONS: Both intraperitoneal and intravitreal administration of curcumin did not reduce retinal neovascularization in an OIR mouse model. Further investigation including development of new formulations is required for the use of curcumin as an anti-angiogenic agent for retinal neovascularization.
Animals ; Curcumin* ; Hyperoxia ; Mice* ; Oxygen ; Retina ; Retinal Neovascularization ; Retinopathy of Prematurity

Neuroinflammation is associated with the pathophysiologies of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Evaluating neuroinflammation using positron emission tomography (PET) plays an important role in the early diagnosis and determination of proper treatment of brain diseases. To quantify neuroinflammatory responses in vivo, many PET tracers have been developed using translocator proteins, imidazole-2 binding site, cyclooxygenase, monoamine oxidase-B, adenosine, cannabinoid, purinergic P2X7, and CSF-1 receptors as biomarkers. In this review, we introduce the latest developments in PET tracers that can image neuroinflammation, focusing on clinical trials, and further consider their current implications.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphism (PvuII and XbaI) with outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in- vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: The PvuII and XbaI in the estrogen receptor gene was analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 189 infertile women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Comparisons were done between the three PvuII or XbaI genotypes, concerning the numbers of follicles and oocytes, the ratio of oocytes to follicles, serum estradiol concentrations, total dose of gonadotropins, number of transferred embryos, implantation rate and pregnancy rate. RESULTS: In this study, there was no statistically significant difference in outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, except total dose of gonadotropins used among three genotypes of PvuII or XbaI polymorphism. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor gene are not associated with the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET in Korean infertile women.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Fertilization* ; Genotype ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate

We report an anesthetic experience in a clinically euthyroid patient with hyperthyroxinemia (elevated free thyroxine, fT4 and normal 3, 5, 3'-L-triiodothyronine, T3) and suspected impairment of conversion from T4 to T3. Despite marked hyperthyroxinemia, this patient's perioperative hemodynamic profile was suspected to be the result of hypothyroidism, in reference to the presence of T4 to T3 conversion disorder. We suspected that pretreatment with antithyroid medication before surgery, surgical stress and anesthesia may have contributed to the decreased T3 level after surgery. She was treated with liothyronine sodium (T3) after surgery which restored her hemodynamic profile to normal. Anesthesiologists may be aware of potential risk and caveats of inducing hypothyroidism in patients with euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia and T4 to T3 conversion impairment.
Anesthesia ; Conversion Disorder ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperthyroxinemia* ; Hypothyroidism ; Sodium ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine

Testicular regression syndrome is representative of a clinical range of 46,XY agonadal persons, in which the testes of the victim's are irreparably damaged at a critical stage in fetal development. The critical stage of testicular regression syndrome is represented by a range of abnormalities of genital development. Recently, we experienced a case of early fetal testicular regression syndrome with no definite gonad and a cloacal anomaly associated with imperforate anus, so we present it with brief review of literature.
Anus, Imperforate ; Fetal Development ; Gonads ; Humans ; Testis