Methods: Six eyes with clear crystalline lenses in 5 consecutive patients with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy underwent DSEK and were followed up for 12-27 months. The pupil was

constricted preoperatively to 1.5 mm in diameter. The anterior chamber was deepened intraoperatively by injection of balanced salt solution to unfold the donor graft and to protect the crystalline lens. Best corrected visual acuity, corneal astigmatism, corneal curvature, corneal thickness, and anterior chamber depth were recorded preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Average endothelial cell density and endothelial LBH589 cell loss (ECL) were recorded at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: DSEK was successfully performed in all 6 eyes. No graft dislocation or lens injury occurred. One of the 6 eyes presented with mild cataract at 12 months after surgery but showed no sign of progressive cataract development during the follow-up. All grafts were clear during the last follow-up: best corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/50 to 20/30, average corneal astigmatism was 2.2 +/- 0.6 dpt, average corneal curvature was 46.0 +/- 2.4 dpt, and average central corneal thickness

was 583.0 +/- 21.5 mu m. At 6 and 12 months postoperatively, average endothelial cell density was 2,070.7 +/- 206.1 cells/mm(2) (28.0 +/- 7.5% of ECL) and 1,838.3 +/- 194.5 cells/mm(2) (36.1 +/- 6.2% of ECL), respectively. Conclusions: Simple DSEK might be a feasible option for Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy

in young patients with clear crystalline lenses. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“BACKGROUND: Autophagy pathway inhibitors The plasma concentration of natriuretic peptide type B (BNP) or NT-proBNP (P-BNP or P-NT-proBNP) reflects cardiac load. In intensive care unit settings and in chronic inflammation, it is also affected by non-heart-related mechanisms. It has been suggested to be a marker of hydration after severe burns and to predict outcome in critically ill patients, but results are contradictory. We therefore measured P-NT-proBNP after severe burns Z-VAD-FMK datasheet and related it to injury related variables and to organ dysfunction.\n\nMETHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with a burn size greater than 10% were studied for the first 2 weeks. P-NT-proBNP changes were analyzed in relation to burn size, age, changes in body weight, C-reactive protein in plasma, and organ function assessed as Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores\n\nRESULTS: P-NT-proBNP showed large day-to-day and between patient variations. Daily change in body weight correlated with P-NT-proBNP only on Day 2, when maximum mobilization of edema occurred. Thereafter, P-NT-proBNP correlated with C-reactive protein in plasma as well as with SOFA scores. Burn size correlated with maximal weight change, which in turn correlated with both time for and value of maximum P-NT-proBNP. Maximal P-NT-proBNP was related to mortality and correlated better with SOFA score on Day 14 compared with age and burn size.