Journal of Cells

The Effect of Phacoemulsification Surgery on Corneal Endothelium

Khalid Alarfaj MD — 2017-06-13

Introduction: Around half of world blindness and fifth of visual impairment are caused by cataract. Treatment of cataract and refractive errors correction improve 73.6% of blindness. Preservation of the Anterior chamber and corneal endothelium are very important aims during cataract surgery. Methodology: This prospective, observational study was done at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFUH), Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. After getting the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the study was initiated at KFUH between April 2016 and August 2016. After getting the patients' informed consents, a thorough assessment was done to each patient prior to surgery. All eyes enrolled in the study have undergone phacoemulsification surgery procedure. For each patient, one month after the phacoemulsification surgery , specular microscopy was performed. The phacodynamic parameters and surgery time were compared with the degree of endothelial cells loss, hexagonality and central corneal thickness. Results: The phacodynamic parameters used during phacoemulsification, namely, power (AVG %), ultrasound time, and elliptical motion showed a strong correlation with the change of endothelial cell density (all P< .001). The length of surgery also showed a positive correlation with the amount of endothelial cell loss ( P < .001). All of these parameters did not significantly affect corneal endothelial hexagonality except elliptical motion. Change in central corneal thickness was very minimal. Conclusion: Endothelial loss was significantly associated with phacoemulsification power, ultrasound time, elliptical motion and length of surgery.

Gender as Determinant of the Effect of Yeast Selenium on CD4 T Cells Count Among HIV 1 Positive Children

Samwel Boaz Otieno — 2017-07-27

Background Sex steroid estrogens (E2) have been observed to have synergistic effect on activity of GSH-px on pre-menopausal females taking selenium. GSH-px activity is correlated to CD4 T cell count in HIV positive patients. However no study has been done to determine gender differentiated effect of yeast selenium intake on CD4 T cell count of pre-puberty male and female children. Methods In the study 25 girls and 25 boys HIV-1 positive on WHO stage three and below were given 50μg yeast selenium and blood samples taken at zero, three and six months intervals in EDTA vacuutainers. The blood samples were analyzed for CD4 T cell count by ELISA. Results: No significant CD4 T cell count change in the test group = -2.943,p< 0.05 compared to the matched controls t = -1.258 p> 0.05. CD4 T cell count increased among all age groups on test 3-5years (+ 267.1),5-8 years( +200.3) 9-15 years (+71.2) cells/mm3 and while in matched controls there was a decrease in all age groups 3-5 years(-71),5-8 years (-125) and 9-13years(-10.1)cells/mm3 . No significant difference was observed in CD4 T cell count between boys and Girls {F (df 5, 81) = 1.379 p=0.241} between girls {F ( df 2,32) = 1.531, p= 0.232} and between boys { F ( df 2, 49) = 1.040, p= 0.361} on selenium and between boys and girls {F (df 5, 86) = 1.168, p= 0.332} on control at six months. Conclusion It can be concluded that there was significant increase in CD4 T cell count among the children on selenium, but no significant difference in the effect of selenium on CD4 T cell count between pre-menopausal females and male.