Websites offering peer-based healthcare potentially offer valuable new sources of health information and advice, but how do we decide which peer-to-peer sites to trust? We explore those sites offering different forms of peer-based patient experience (PEx) via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire revealed a paradox: patients like PEx and are drawn to sites containing PEx, but are then less...

PURPOSE The aim of the study reported in this article was to determine the presence and quantitative differences of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in the aqueous humor and serum samples of patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. METHODS Aqueous humor and serum samples were collected from 32 patients with...

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is sensitive to mismatches between primer and template, and mismatches can lead to inefficient amplification of targeted regions of DNA template. In PCRs in which a degenerate primer pool is employed, each primer can behave differently. Therefore, inefficiencies due to different primer melting temperatures within a degenerate primer pool, in addition to misma...

PURPOSE To compare the cyto- and chemokine profiles in the aqueous humor of PEXS eyes in the absence or presence of secondary glaucoma with or without luxation of the intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS Samples of aqueous humor were collected intraoperatively from 20 healthy controls and from 73 eyes with PEX-syndrome, which was manifested in the absence of any other local or systemic desease. Th...

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis. We previously reported that extracellular matrix degradation by MT1-MMP regulates cell migration via modulating sustained integrin-mediated signals. In this study, MT1-MMP-expressing cells were plated onto fibronectin-coated plates and monitored for cell-matrix adhesion formation and fibrone...

objective: pseudoexfoliation syndrome (pex) leads to some problems in the eye surgery specially cataract surgery. as the prevalence of eye problems is high in diabetic patients, we meant to assess the prevalence of pex in diabetic patients. materials and methods: in this cross-sectional study, 400 type 2 diabetic patients aged 50 or above who referred to yazd diabetes research center were selec...

to di altri trattamenti meglio definiti, piuttosto che come una terapia di prima linea (" generally accepted "). Categoria III: malattie per le quali vi è l'impres-sione che il PEx sia di beneficio, tuttavia non sup-portata da evidenze sufficienti a stabilirne l'effica-cia o a chiarirne il rapporto costo/beneficio. Il PEx, in questi casi, può essere utilizzato nei pazienti in cui le terapie con...

The exact cause of PEX is not known, but the primary theory centers around unbalanced overgrowth in the costochondral regions. One study showed that asymmetric PEX patients had shorter ribs on the more severely depressed side of the deformity. Up to 43% of PEX patients have a family history of the disease. It is thought to be a disease of multifactorial inheritance, and the exact genes implicat...

PURPOSE To quantify the morphological alterations in corneal nerve fibers and cells in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and their relationship with the presence of hyperreflective endothelial deposits observed using in vivo confocal microscopy. METHODS One eye each of 37 patients with PEX and 20 age-matched healthy control subjects was evaluated by in vivo corneal confocal micro...