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Regular physical exercise has health benefits and can prevent some of the ageing-associated muscle deteriorations. However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this exercise benefit, especially in human tissues, are not well known. To investigate, we assessed this using miRNA profiling, mRNA and protein levels of anti-oxidant and metabolic proteins in the vastus lateralis muscle of master athletes aged over 65 years and age-matched controls. Master athletes had lower levels of miR-7, while mRNA or protein levels of SIRT3, SIRT1, SOD2, and FOXO1 levels were significantly higher in the vastus lateralis muscle of master athletes compared to muscles of age-matched controls. These results suggest that regular exercise results in better cellular metabolism and antioxidant capacity via maintaining physiological state of mitochondria and efficient ATP production and decreasing ageing-related inflammation as indicated by the lower level of miR-7 in master athletes.

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Prevalence of DM was in line with findings of other RAAB+DRM surveys and slightly lower than the unpublished earlier age-matched Hungarian estimate. Prevalence of DR was slightly lower than expected. The prevalence of STDR was low in people aged 50 years and older in Hungary compared with the results of other RAAB with DRM surveys. DR screening coverage was low. To prevent severe complications of DM and possible concomitant visual loss, the coverage of ophthalmic examinations in patients with DM should be increased.

Immunologic graft rejection is the main complication after corneal transplant into pathologically prevascularized so‐called high‐risk eyes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ultraviolet (UV) light crosslinking can regress pathologic corneal blood and lymphatic vessels and thereby improve subsequent graft survival. Using the murine model of suture‐induced corneal neovascularization, we found that corneal crosslinking with UVA light and riboflavin regressed both preexisting blood and lymphatic vessels significantly via induction of apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells. In addition, macrophages and CD45+ cell counts were significantly reduced. Consistently, corneal crosslinking reduced keratocyte density and corneal thickness without affecting corneal nonvascular endothelial cells, iris, and lens depending on the crosslinking duration. Furthermore, using the murine model of corneal transplant, long‐term graft survival was significantly promoted (P < .05) and CD4+ CD25+FoxP3+ T regulatory cells were upregulated (P < .01) in high‐risk eyes preoperatively treated with crosslinking. Our results suggest UV light crosslinking as a novel method to regress both pathologic corneal blood and lymphatic vessels and to reduce CD45+ inflammatory cells. Furthermore, this study demonstrates for the first time that preoperative corneal crosslinking in prevascularized high‐risk eyes can significantly improve subsequent graft survival and may become a promising novel therapy in the clinic.

Purpose To determine herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA prevalence and mean cycle threshold of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in corneal tissue of patients with penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), with (HSK+) and without (HSK−) previous clinical herpetic keratitis history. Methods Retrospective review of recipient corneal buttons which were explanted through PKP between March 2010 and September 2018 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg/Saar, Germany. Corneal tissue samples were analysed by real‐time PCR for the presence of HSV DNA. For each subject, clinical data, including patients’ demographics and clinical diagnoses, were collected. Results In total, 2230 corneal samples (age at the time of the surgery 57.3 ± 19.2 years) of 1860 patients were analysed. HSV PCR was positive in 137 (6.1%) corneal samples, with a 30.57 ± 6.01 (range 14–39) mean cycle threshold (Ct) value. Two hundred ninety‐eight (13.4%) corneas of 266 patients were clinically HSK+, and 1932 (86.6%) corneas of 1600 patients were clinically HSK−. HSV DNA was detected significantly more frequently (p < 0.0001) in HSK+ corneal samples (108 corneal samples; 36.2%), than in HSK− corneal samples (29 corneal samples; 1.5%). Ct value was significantly lower in HSK+ than in HSK‐ corneal samples (29.8 ± 5.8 versus 32.6 ± 5.9; p = 0.008). Conclusion Our data demonstrate that a positive clinical history of HSK is related to HSV PCR positivity in about every 2.8th patient. In addition, about every 66th explanted corneal tissue is HSV PCR‐positive despite the lack of clinical suspicion. These patients may need additional local/systemic antiviral treatment to avoid newly acquired HSK following penetrating keratoplasty.

This study proved that RAAB methodology can be successfully conducted in industrialized countries, which often lack reliable epidemiologic data. The prevalence of blindness was relatively low, with AMD and other posterior segment diseases being the leading causes, and cataract is still a significant cause of visual impairment.

SUMMARYBackground: Overlapping symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia are a problem for physicians and patients. Aim: This study explored comprehension of dyspepsia symptoms and associated medical terminology among women with symptoms of dyspepsia. Methods: The US women aged ‡18 years with dyspepsia (defined by Rome II criteria) were recruited in two phases, via direct mail, the Internet, clinical investigators and/or gastroenterologists. In phase I, subjects took part in an hour-long telephonic interview comprising open-ended questions relating to symptom frequency/duration, triggers/patterns and severity. During phase II, subjects took part in a 45-min telephonic interview, which explored their understanding of dyspepsia symptoms and their predominant or most bothersome symptom.