Purpose: To investigate the aqueous humor and serum levels of selected cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diabetic patients, implicating their role in the pathogenesis of diabetic eye complications. Materials and methods: Atotal of 65 patients (27 males and 38 females) who underwent cataract surgery were recruited into the study. The study group consisted of 30 cataract patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and this group was divided into two subgroups: 14 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR group) and 16 patients without DR (NDR group). The control group consisted of 35 non-diabetic cataract subjects. Results: Patients in the DR group had significantly higher aqueous humor concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) and VEGF. Likewise, serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the DR group as compared to the controls. Aqueous humor concentrations of IL-1β, IL-8, MCP-1 and VEGF were significantly higher in the DR group as compared with the NDR group. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that chronic inflammation and a disturbance of the immune system play important roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract and DR.

Addiction is a complex psychosocial problem that has significant psychosocial effects on family members. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the burden and psychological distress suffered by caregivers of drug abusers. Ninety-nine caregivers of hard drug addicts participated in this study. The test group consisted of 50 participants and the control group had 49 participants. The participants filled out the General Demographic Questionnaire; Caregiving and the Experience of Subjective and Objective Burden; SCL-90-R; and WHOQOL-BREF. Caregivers of addicts who were preparing to join the community exhibited a significantly higher objective burden, subjective burden, subjective stress burden and greater psychological distress in comparison to caregivers of addicts in the community, and their quality of life was poorer (p < 0.001). The following showed to be risk factors for psychological distress: families with a greater number of children, marital, employment and economic status and duration of addiction. The protective factors were better quality of life, long-term marriage and higher education level of caregivers. Caring for addicts who are living with their families is a significant responsibility and burden for caregivers.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationship between general health-related quality of life (GHRQL) and sociodemographic factors in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. A prospective cross-sectional study...

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for glaucoma due to its association with intermittent hypoxia and vascular dysregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate early glaucomatous changes in the eyes of patients with OSA. Methods: This case–control study included 25 patients with OSA and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. According to the STOP-Bang Questionnaire, patients with an intermediate or severe risk of OSA underwent polysomnography. Based on the apnea-hypopnea index, only patients with severe OSA were included in the study group. All participants underwent a full ophthalmological examination, with measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Statistical comparisons revealed that intraocular pressure (IOP) was slightly elevated, while central corneal thickness (CCT) was slightly reduced in patients with OSA compared to healthy controls. OCT measurements showed an overall reduction in both RNFL and GCL thicknesses in the OSA group. Among these findings, only the differences in average and minimum GCL thickness in the left eye reached statistical significance. Conclusions: The results of our study indicate significant thinning of the GCL in patients with OSA, suggesting possible early glaucomatous changes and a potential link between OSA and glaucoma. Given the increasing prevalence of OSA, further large-scale, long-term studies are needed to better understand this relationship and its clinical implications.

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Background/Objectives: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is a particularly severe subtype of stroke, characterized by high rates of mortality and long-term disability, for which robust prognostic markers are still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the ICH score, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels with 30-day mortality in patients with sICH. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study enrolling 100 consecutive patients diagnosed with sICH based on neuroimaging findings. Demographic data, clinical parameters, neuroimaging findings, and serum hs-cTnI levels were collected on admission. Subsequently, the ICH score, its individual components, and the NIHSS score were assessed. Results: Patients who died were older and had significantly higher ICH and NIHSS scores, lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, larger hematoma volumes, more frequent intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and elevated hs-cTnI levels compared to survivors. Serum hs-cTnI concentrations were significantly correlated with ICH and NIHSS scores, lower GCS scores, larger hematoma volumes, and the presence of IVH. On univariate logistic regression, higher ICH score, NIHSS score, and hs-cTnI level were associated with mortality, whereas multivariate analysis identified the GCS score, hematoma volume, and IVH score as significant independent factors related to fatal outcome. Conclusions: Individual components of the ICH score may provide useful information on outcomes in patients with sICH. Higher serum hs-cTnI levels were associated with 30-day mortality but were not independent predictors. These markers may assist in patient monitoring and support established clinical procedures in therapeutic decision-making. Nevertheless, larger multicenter studies are needed to further clarify their clinical implications in sICH management.