This cross-sectional study determined the phenolic composition of an over-the-counter cranberry juice (CBJ) with high-performance liquid chromatography and examined the effects of low- and normal-calorie CBJ formulations on the postprandial glycemic response in healthy humans. The CBJ used in this study contained seven phenolic acids, with 3- and 5-caffeoylquinic acid being the primary components, and 15 flavonol glycosides, with myricetin-3-galactoside and quercetin-3-galactoside being the most prevalent. CBJ proanthocyanidins consisted of three different tetramers and a heptamer, which were confirmed with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry analysis. Participants received one of the following six treatments: nothing (no water/beverage), water (480 mL), unsweetened low-calorie CBJ (38 Cal/480 mL), normal-calorie CBJ (280 Cal/480 mL), isocaloric normal calorie (high fructose corn syrup [HFCS]), or isocaloric low-calorie beverages. No significant differences in postprandial blood glucose or insulin were observed in the groups receiving nothing, water, or low-calorie treatments. In contrast, the ingestion of normal-calorie CBJ and normal-calorie control beverage resulted in significantly higher blood glucose concentrations 30 minutes postprandially, although the differences were no longer significant after 180 minutes. Plasma insulin of normal-calorie CBJ and control (HFCS) recipients was significantly higher 60 minutes postprandially, but not significantly different 120 minutes postprandially. CBJ ingestion did not affect heart rate or blood pressure. This study suggests that the consumption of a low-calorie CBJ rich in previously uncharacterized trimer and heptamer proanthocyanidins is associated with a favorable glycemic response and may be beneficial for persons with impaired glucose tolerance.

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The degradation of the small-angle domain of the point-spread function after DSEK suggests that aberrations contribute to decreased visual acuity after DSEK. The poorer optical properties of the eye with older recipient age after DSEK can be attributed to the retained host cornea.

Purpose To compare subbasal nerve densities estimated from images recorded by the Tandem Scanning and the ConfoScan 4 confocal microscopes. Methods Confocal microscopy was used to estimate subbasal nerve density in 62 corneas of 40 subjects (18 corneas of 18 normal subjects and 44 corneas of 22 patients between 1 and 12 months after LASIK) At each examination, corneas were scanned first by using Tandem Scanning and then by using a ConfoScan 4 confocal microscope. Subbasal nerves from 2 to 4 scans per cornea were traced by using a semi-automated nerve analysis program. Nerve density was expressed as total nerve length divided by the sample area (µm/mm2). Differences in nerve density between instruments were examined by using paired tests. Results In normal corneas, subbasal nerve density was 10,658 ± 5,581 µm/mm2 (mean ± SD) with the ConfoScan 4 and 5,534 ± 1,850 µm/mm2 with the Tandem Scanning microscope (P<0.0001). One to 12 months after LASIK, mean subbasal nerve density was 2,477 ± 3,514 µm/mm2 estimated with the ConfoScan 4 and 844 ± 983 µm/mm2 estimated with the Tandem Scanning (P=0.0003). Estimates of nerve density were correlated between instruments (r=0.71, P<0.0001), although the mean difference between instruments was 2,308 ± 3,885 µm/mm2 (P<0.0001). Conclusions Mean subbasal nerve density estimated with the ConfoScan 4 was 2 to 3 times higher than density estimated with the Tandem Scanning confocal microscope. These differences must be considered when comparing subbasal nerve densities between studies that use different confocal microscopes.