Purpose To investigate the effect of NKR-1 antagonists in an established UVR-B-induced cataract mouse model. Furthermore, to examine the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in mouse eyes following unilateral UVR-B exposure.Methods Mice received intraperitoneally injections of Fosaprepitant and Spantide I, before and after unilateral exposure to UVR-B. After day 3 and 7 post-exposure, ocular tissues were extracted for the detection of NKR-1 protein level by ELISA.Results Pretreatment with Fosaprepitant decreases NKR-1 expression in exposed ocular tissues as well as in the unexposed lens epithelium compared to the saline group. Spantide I treatment showed a tendency of NKR-1 overexpression in ocular tissues.Conclusion The clinically approved NKR-1 receptor antagonist Fosaprepitant decreases NKR-1 protein expression effectively not only in the exposed but also in the unexposed partner eye in a UVR-B irradiation mouse model. No effect was seen on the protein concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in either eye.Background Students of medicine in India tend to follow textbooks from western authors for rural pathologies, zoonosis, and this geographical disconnect leads to gaps in familiarity with local diseases.Aim This study aims to assess knowledge, practices, and attitudes on leptospirosis among undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.Methods A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire study was performed from June 2018 to May 2019 among 778 undergraduate students from six medical colleges of Tamil Nadu and 446 postgraduate students from two postgraduate institutions.Results The survey of 1224 medical students revealed that the postgraduate medical students’ knowledge of leptospirosis was better than undergraduates; however, there were important knowledge gaps in risk factors and management of leptospiral infection.Conclusions Although the results of the study are encouraging, poor knowledge of risk factors and of diagnosis of leptospirosis can significantly affect the quality of patient care. This calls for multifaceted interventions to improve the medical curriculum.Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab (ADL) and golimumab (GLM) in patients with HLA-B-27-associated uveitis.Method We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with HLA-B-27-associated uveitis who had received subcutaneous GLM and ADL between 2014 and 2018.Results The study included 14 patients, 12 of whom received subcutaneous ADL and two patients were treated with subcutaneous GLM. Median age of the patients was 31.5 years (range 17-53 years). The most common associated systemic disease in these patients was ankylosing spondylitis (92.8%). Majority of the patients had anterior uveitis (71.4%) followed by anterior uveitis and intermediate uveitis (28.6%).Conclusion ADL/GLM is a useful therapeutic option in refractory cases of HLA-B-27-associated uveitis, especially in patients with associated systemic manifestations.Purpose To describe the changes seen on optical coherence tomography angiography [OCTA] in patients with PIC following immunosuppressive therapy.Methods We reviewed serial OCTA scans from five consecutive PIC patients (5 eyes) with at least 3 months of follow-up, who underwent imaging before and after immunosuppressive therapy. Using ImageJ, superficial and deep retinal vasculature were analyzed for vessel area and foveal avascular zone. Choriocapillaris layer was analyzed for flow signal loss.Results Five out of five patients received an orbital floor triamcinolone acetonide injection as the initial treatment for periods of activity. Mean choriocapillaris (CC) flow void area obtained after immunosuppressive therapy was significantly lower than the mean CC flow void area obtained prior to treatment (Pre-treatment 0.270 vs Post-treatment 0.144; p = .0068). In 2 out of 2 patients with longitudinal visual field testing, CC flow voids were spatially associated with visual field defects, and immunosuppressive therapy was associated with reduced CC flow void area and improved visual function.Conclusion OCTA can detect alterations in choriocapillaris flow. Longitudinal follow-up demonstrates a centripetal restoration of choriocapillaris flow in response to immunosuppressive therapy. OCTA may be a useful adjunct for monitoring and evaluating treatment of PIC.Autophagy plays critical roles in tumorigenesis, while effects of autophagy on chemoresistance of cancer cells had great disparity. This study aims to explore the impacts of autophagy on the sensitivity and resistance of gastric cancer cells to cisplatin (DDP). We firstly demonstrated there was stronger autophagy activity in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells than that in DDP-resisting SGC-7901/DDP cells. Then, we discovered inhibiting autophagy by chloroquine (CQ) significantly enhanced proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects of DDP to SGC-7901 and SGC-7901/DDP cells. Moreover, CQ could partial reverse resistance of SGC-7901/DDP cells to DDP in a concentration-dependent manner. However, autophagy inducer everolimus (RAD001) had no obvious effects on the sensitivity of gastric cells to DDP. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CQ might enhance the sensitivity of SGC-7901cells and improve the resistance of SGC-7901/DDP cells to DDP through inhibiting mTORC1 pathway, especially to SGC-7901/DDP cells. Additionally, we found interfering Beclin-1using Beclin-1-shRNA also enhanced the proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects of DDP on gastric cancer cells by inhibiting phosphorylation of Akt. Our study exposures that inhibiting autophagy could improve the chemoresistance and enhanced sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to DDP and provides a rationale that the administration of cisplatin combined with CQ for treating patients with gastric cancer.Purpose Research has yet to examine the experiences of paddle boarders, or of kayakers with disabilities other than spinal cord injuries. Kenpaullone supplier The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of kayakers and paddle boarders in two adaptive paddling programs.Method Participants were children and adults requiring physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial supports. Using an ethnographic approach, participant observations (n = 24) and semi-structured interviews (n = 11) were completed. Data were analyzed thematically.Result We identified three main themes. “Different Strokes” described the personal meaning participants ascribed to aspects of paddling, including valuing fun, exercise and relaxation. “Turning the Tide” illustrated the process of becoming a paddler, from doubting capacity to feeling competent. “Headwinds” explored paddlers’ interactions with the broader social, institutional, and economic environments, such as inadequate funding and program aversion to risk.Conclusions Programs offering a variety of adaptive paddle boarding and kayaking configurations enable paddlers to make valued choices about their participation.