The increased levels of oxidative stress markers and the decreased antioxidant capacity and antioxidant defenses in KC corneas, as well as in the post-LASIK ectatic corneas, indicate that oxidative stress might be involved in the development of this disease and may provide new insights for its prevention and treatment in the future.

We aimed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin (5 and 30 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks) on hepatic lipid metabolism in a well established model of dietary hypertriglyceridemia, the fructosefed rat. Fructose feeding (10% fructose in drinking water for 2 weeks) induced hepatic lipogenesis and reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␣ (PPAR␣) expression and fatty acid oxidation. As a result, plasma and liver triglyceride and plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels were increased. Atorvastatin, 5 and 30 mg/kg during 2 weeks, markedly reduced plasma triglyceride, but decreased apoB levels only at the highest dose tested (50%). Triglyceride biosynthetic enzymes and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein were unchanged, whereas liver PPAR␣, acyl-CoA oxidase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I mRNA levels (1.9-, 1.25-, and 3.4-fold, respectively) and hepatic fatty acid ␤-oxidation activity (1.25-fold) were increased by atorvastatin at 30 mg/kg. Furthermore, hepatic triglyceride content (45%) and plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) (49%) were reduced. These results show for the first time that liver triglyceride increase in fructose-fed rats is linked to decreased expression of PPAR␣, which is prevented by atorvastatin treatment. The increase in PPAR␣ expression caused by atorvastatin was associated with reduced liver triglyceride and plasma NEFA levels.

There was a higher incidence of anterior subcapsular cataract formation in the Adatomed group than in the Staar group. Delayed cataract development and the cataract type in patients with Artisan IOLs indicate that age and axial length may be prognostic factors. Factors such as IOL design, material, and placement probably affect cataract formation in eyes with posterior chamber IOLs for high myopia, particularly the Adatomed IOL.

Treatments with high doses of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors may induce the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-target genes, causing different effects from those attributed to the reduction of hepatic cholesterol content. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high doses of statins on the key enzymes involved in VLDL production in normolipidemic rats. To examine whether the effects caused by statin treatment are a consequence of HMG-CoA reductase inhibition, we tested the effect of atorvastatin on these enzymes in mevalonate-fed rats. Atorvastatin and simvastatin enhanced not only HMG-CoA reductase but also the expression of the SREBP-2 gene itself. As a result of the overexpression of SREBP-2 caused by the statin treatment, genes regulated basically by SREBP-1, as FA synthase and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, were also induced and their mRNA levels increased. DAG acyltransferase and microsomal TG transfer protein mRNA levels as well as phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity were increased by both statins. Simvastatin raised liver cholesterol content, ACAT mRNA levels, and CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity, whereas it reduced liver DAG and phospholipid content. Mevalonate feeding reversed all changes induced by the atorvastatin treatment. These results show that treatment with high doses of statins induces key enzymes controlling rat liver lipid synthesis and VLDL assembly, probably as a result of SREBP-2 overexpression. Despite the induction of the key enzymes involved in VLDL production, both statins markedly reduced plasma TG levels, suggesting that different mechanisms may be involved in the hypotriglyceridemic effect of statins at high or low doses.

ataract is a common, vision-altering condition that affects 36 million people in Western Europe and is projected to affect approximately 30 million people in the United States by the year 2020.1 Implantation of a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) after surgical removal of cataract via phacoemulsification is the standard of care in the Western world.2 Although monofocal IOLs result in excellent distance acuity, patients usually require corrective spectacles C ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate visual outcomes, spectacle independence, and quality of life among nonastigmatic and astigmatic patients who received AcrySof IQ ReSTOR toric or nontoric multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) compared with those who received commercially available nontoric monofocal IOLs after bilateral cataract removal. METHODS:This randomized, patient-and observertechnician-masked study was conducted at 20 sites in Europe. Patients were randomized to receive monofocal (nontoric only) or multifocal (nontoric or toric, as needed) IOLs. Primary efficacy endpoints included percentage of patients achieving binocular uncorrected distance and near acuity of 0.1 logMAR or better (20/25 Snellen), spectacle independence, and scores on the National Eye Institute Refractive Error and Quality of Life questionnaire domains. Safety endpoints included adverse events and refractive error within 0.5 and 1.0 diopters. RESULTS:In the multifocal group (n = 108) versus the monofocal group (n = 100), significantly more patients achieved uncorrected distance and near acuity of 0.1 logMAR or better (45.7% vs 2.1%; P < .0001) and spectacle independence (73.3% vs 25.3%; P < .0001) at 6 months. The percentage of patients who achieved uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/40 or better at 6 months was 92% in the multifocal group and 97% in the monofocal group. National Eye Institute Refractive Error and Quality of Life scores were significantly better for dependence on correction in the multifocal group (P < .0001) and for glare in the monofocal group (P = .0157); other domain scores were similar between groups. No significant trends in study device-related adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS:Monofocal and multifocal IOLs provided good clinical outcomes. More patients receiving multifocal IOLs attained better uncorrected visual acuity at a range of distances and spectacle independence compared with patients who received monofocal IOLs. Monofocal IOLs were associated with better patientreported scores for glare compared with multifocal IOLs; however, scores for patient satisfaction were significantly better in the multifocal group.[J Refract Surg. 2015;31(10):658-664.]