Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASC) transplantation into the lacrimal gland for treating aqueous-deficient dry eye disease (DED) associated with Sjögren syndrome. Methods: Patients with Sjögren syndrome–related DED underwent autologous adipose tissue harvest via liposuction. ASCs were isolated, cultured, and injected into the lacrimal gland (volume ≤50% of estimated gland volume). Clinical evaluations— including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear osmolarity, tear film breakup time (TBUT), Oxford corneal staining, and Schirmer test I—were conducted at 1-, 4-, 16-, and 24-weeks after injection. Visual quality assessments included contrast sensitivity and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). Results: Six patients (mean age 56.1 ± 7.2 years) completed the study. Mean OSDI scores significantly decreased from 48.6 ± 8.4 to 28 ± 2.1. TBUT improved in both eyes (right, 3.3 ± 1.0 to 5.6 ± 1.2 seconds; left, 3.6 ± 1.0 to 6.1 ± 1.6 seconds). Schirmer test I values increased (right, 4.1 ± 0.7 to 7.8 ± 0.7 mm; left, 4.0 ± 0.6 to 7.6 ± 0.5 mm). Oxford staining scores decreased (right, 1.6 ± 0.5 to 0.67 ± 0.2; left, 1.3 ± 0.5 to 0.67 ± 0.2). Tear osmolarity also improved (right, 311.6 ± 6.1 to 299.1 ± 5.8 mOsm/L; left, 309 ± 7.6 to 298.3 ± 7 mOsm/L). HOAs were reduced in one eye. No significant change in contrast sensitivity or visual acuity was observed. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions Autologous ASC transplantation into the lacrimal gland appears to be a safe and promising therapeutic option for aqueous-deficient DED in Sjögren syndrome, offering significant improvement in both objective measures and patient-reported symptoms over a 6-month period.

war ; Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Atomic Energy ; Radiation ; Nuclear Weapons

Although tinted glasses are part of the fashion and beauty world, these glasses have various therapeutic applications in normal people or people with eye and neurological problems in some cases have been ignored. Tinted spectacles produce their effects by reducing visible light transmission and filtering by removing a certain part of the spectrum and can reduce discomfort and annoyance and improve the quality of life. The therapeutic effects of these glasses are related to controlling photophobia, preventing glare and increasing contrast. These glasses are used in normal people as sunglasses, to improve sports activities, comfortable driving at night and to increase sleep quality. Colored glasses have also been widely used in people with low vision related to congenital and acquired retinal diseases and neurological diseases such as migraine, acquired brain injury, and photosensitive epilepsy. So far, numerous studies have been conducted on the beneficial and therapeutic effects of colored glasses, which sometimes report contradictory effects. In this article, we explore the therapeutic uses of colored glasses in more detail.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a frequent challenge following the injection of contrast media and its subsequent oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effects of coenzyme Q10 (Q10), as a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant in CI-AKI in diabetic patients, who account for a large proportion of angiographic cases. A total of 118 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to receive 120 mg of oral coenzyme Q10 (Q10 group) or placebo (Placebo group) for four days, starting 24 hours before contrast media injection. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum and urinary creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary malondialdehyde (UMDA), urinary total antioxidant capacity (UTAC), and urinary mitochondrial to nuclearDNA ratios (mtDNADNA ratio) were evaluated before and after the treatment period. Urine sediments were also evaluated to report the urine microscopy score (UMS).The levels of BUN, serum and urine creatinine, and UMS were similar in the Q10 and placebo groups. EGFR was lower in the Q10 group before the treatment (p=0.013) but not after. The urinary mtDNADNA ratio was 3.05±1.68 and 3.69±2.58 in placebo and Q10 groups, but UTAC was found to be lower in Q10 both before (p=0.006) and after the treatment (p＜0.001). The incidence of CI-AKI was 14.40% and the mtDNANDA ratio was similar between CI-AKI and non-CI-AKI patients. In conclusion, Q10 treatment shows no favorable effect on prevention of CI-AKI or a urinary mtDNADNA ratio among diabetic patients.

Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders, and health professionals to recognise that climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis and must be tackled together to preserve health and avoid catastrophe. This overall environmental crisis is now so severe as to be a global health emergency.
Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiation ; Climate Change ; Global Warming

In January, 2023, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward to 90’s before midnight, reflecting the growing risk of nuclear war.1 In August, 2022, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is now in “a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War.2 The danger has been underlined by growing tensions between many nuclear armed states.1,3 As editors of health and medical journals worldwide, we call on health professionals to alert the public and our leaders to this major danger to public health and the essential life support systems of the planet—and urge action to prevent it.
Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiation

PROPOSE: In this study, we re-assessed the criteria defined by the radiological society of North America (RSNA) to determine novel radiological findings helping the physicians differentiating COVID-19 from pulmonary contusion. METHODS: All trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma and subsequent pulmonary contusion, COVID-19-related signs and symptoms before the trauma were enrolled in this retrospective study from February to May 2020. Included patients (Group P) were then classified into two groups based on polymerase chain reaction tests (Group Pa for positive patients and Pb for negative ones). Moreover, 44 patients from the pre-pandemic period (Group PP) were enrolled. They were matched to Group P regarding age, sex, and trauma-related scores. Two radiologists blindly reviewed the CT images of all enrolled patients according to criteria defined by the RSNA criteria. The radiological findings were compared between Group P and Group PP; statistically significant ones were re-evaluated between Group Pa and Group Pb thereafter. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each significant findings were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the radiological findings between Group P and Group PP. RESULTS: In the Group PP, 73.7% of all ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and 80% of all multiple bilateral GGOs were detected (p < 0.001 and p = 0.25, respectively). Single bilateral GGOs were only seen among the Group PP. The Chi-square tests showed that the prevalence of diffused GGOs, multiple unilateral GGOs, multiple consolidations, and multiple bilateral consolidations were significantly higher in the Group P (p = 0.001, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). However, GGOs with irregular borders and single consolidations were more significant among the Group PP (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively). Of note, reticular distortions and subpleural spares were exclusively detected in the Group PP. CONCLUSION We concluded that the criteria set by RSNA for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are not appropriate in trauma patients. The clinical signs and symptoms are not always useful either. The presence of multiple unilateral GGOs, diffused GGOs, and multiple bilateral consolidations favor COVID-19 with 88%, 97.62%, and 77.7% diagnostic accuracy.
COVID-19 ; Contusions/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Lead ; Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Lung Injury/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

Objective: The present study assessed the biological characteristics of human spermatozoa at different time intervals (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 hours) after incubation at 37°C. Methods: Twenty-five normozoospermic semen samples were incubated at 37°C. Incubation was performed at four time intervals of 0 (after liquefaction), 1, 1.5, and 2 hours. The samples were evaluated for sperm parameters at each time interval. Results: The rate of sperm progressive motility decreased at 1.5 hours compared to 0 hours as well as 2 hours compared to 1 hour and 0 hours. The rate of non-motile spermatozoa also decreased after 2 hours compared to after 0 hours. No significant changes were observed in sperm viability (p=0.98) and non- progressive motility (p=0.48) at any time intervals. Abnormal sperm morphology increased at 1.5 hours of incubation time (p<0.001). No significant changes were observed in DNA fragmentation at 1 hour compared to 0 hours (median [interquartile range]: 19.5 [4] vs. 19 [4]), as well as at 1.5 hours compared to 1 hour (20 [5]). However, a significant increase in DNA fragmentation was observed at 1.5 hours compared to 0 hours. The mitochondrial membrane potential decreased remarkably after 1 hour of incubation time. No significant differences were observed in the acrosome reaction or malonaldehyde levels at any time point (p=0.34 and p=0.98, respectively). Conclusion The incubation of normozoospermic samples before use in assisted reproductive technology should be less than 1.5 hours to minimize the destructive effects of prolonged incubation time on general and specific sperm parameters.

PURPOSE: Traumatic hemorrhagic shock is a life-threatening event worldwide. Severe brain trauma accompanying femoral fractures can trigger inflammatory responses in the body and increase pre-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1. The primary treatment in these cases is hydration with crystalloids, which has both benefits and complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fluid therapy on the hemodynamics, coagulation profiles, and blood gases in such patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients were divided into two groups: femoral fracture group and non-femoral group. The hemodynamic status, coagulation profile, and blood gases of patients in both groups were evaluated upon arrival at the hospital and again 2 h later. Data were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA with repeated data and paired samples t-test. RESULTS: A total of 681 trauma patients (605 men and 76 women) participated in this study, including 69 (86.3%) men and 11 (13.8%) women in femoral fracture group and 536 men (89.2%) and 65 women (10.8%) in non-femoral group. The laboratory parameters were evaluated in response to the equal amount of crystalloid fluid given upon arrival and 2 h later. Blood gases decreased in the fracture group despite fluid therapy (p < 0.003), and the coagulation profile worsened although the change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION The treatment of multiple-trauma patients with femoral bone fractures should be more concerned with the need for the infusion of vasopressors such as norepinephrine. If there is evidence of clinical shock, excessive crystalloid infusion (limited to 1 L) should be avoided, and blood and blood products should be started as soon as possible.