Purpose We investigate whether ocular and person-based characteristics are associated with dark adaptation (DA) measured using the AdaptRx™ device (Apeliotus Technologies, Atlanta, GA). Design Cross-sectional, single-center, observational study. Participants 116 participants >50 years with a range in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) severity. Methods Participants underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, ophthalmoscopic examination and multimodal imaging. Presence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) was assessed by masked grading of fundus images and confirmed with OCT. Eyes were also graded for AMD features (drusen, pigmentary changes, late AMD) to generate a person-based AMD severity groups. One eye was designated the study eye for DA testing using the AdaptRx™ device. Nonparametric statistical testing was performed on all comparisons. Main Outcome Measure The primary outcome of this study was the rod-intercept time (RIT) which is defined as the time for a participant's visual sensitivity to recover to a stimulus intensity of 5 × 10−3 cd/m2 (a decrease of 3 log units), or until a maximum test duration of 40 minutes was reached. Results A total of 116 study eyes in 116 participants (mean age=75.4±9.4 years, 58% female) were analyzed. Increased RIT was significantly associated with increasing age (r=0.34, p=0.0002), decreasing BCVA (r=−0.54, p<0.0001), pseudophakia (p=0.03), decreasing subfoveal choroidal thickness (r=−0.27, p=0.003). Study eyes with RPD (15/116, 13%) had a significantly greater mean RIT compared to eyes without RPD in any AMD severity group (p<0.02 for all comparisons) with 80% reaching the DA test ceiling. Conclusion Impairments in DA increase with age, worse visual acuity, presence of RPD, AMD severity and decreased subfoveal choroidal thickness. Analysis of covariance found the multivariable model that best fit our data included age, AMD group, and presence of RPD (R2=0.56) with the presence of RPD conferring the largest parameter estimate.

Our previous studies have shown that dietary pigment curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-6-heptadine-3,5-dione; C 21 H 20 O 6 ] sensitizes human prostate cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L)-induced apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear factor (NF)-B. In the present study, we demonstrate that activated (phosphorylated) Akt kinase plays a pivotal role in regulation of NF-B and sensitization of LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells to TRAIL by curcumin. Curcumin inhibited the expression of phospho-Akt (p-Akt), which was not due to activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 phosphatase activity by curcumin. Because NF-B is a downstream target of Akt, we investigated whether inhibition of NF-B by curcumin is mediated through suppression of p-Akt.

Concern exists that liver transplant center substance abuse policies may have an inappropriate and disproportionate impact on marijuana users. Our hypothesis is that patients with chronic liver disease who were marijuana users will have inferior survival. This is a retrospective (1999-2007) cohort study. The primary outcome measure is time-dependent, adjusted patient survival from the time of liver transplant evaluation. The primary exposure variable is a positive cannabinoid toxicology screen during the liver transplant evaluation period. Overall, 155 patients qualified as marijuana users while 1334 patients were marijuana non-users. Marijuana users were significantly (p < 0.05) younger (48.3 vs. 52.1), more likely to be male (78.1% vs. 63.0%), have hepatitis C (63.9% vs. 40.6%) and were less likely to receive a transplant (21.8% vs. 14.8%). Marijuana users were more likely to use tobacco, narcotics, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine or barbiturates (p < 0.05). Unadjusted survival rates were similar between cohorts. Upon multivariate analysis, MELD score, hepatitis C and transplantation were significantly associated with survival, while marijuana use was not (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.78-1.54). We conclude that patients who did and did not use marijuana had similar survival rates. Current substance abuse policies do not seen to systematically expose marijuana users to additional risk of mortality.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound highly enriched in grapes, peanuts, red wine, and a variety of food sources. Sulforaphane belongs to the family of isothiocyanates and is highly enriched in cruciferous vegetables. Our previous study showed that resveratrol, when used at high concentrations, inhibited cell proliferation, caused the cell cycle arrest and induced apoptotic cell death in glioma cells. In the current study, we tested the effect of combination treatment with resveratrol and sulforaphane, when both were used at low concentrations, on cell proliferation, migration and death in human U251 glioma cells. Our study shows that combination treatment with resveratrol and sulforaphane inhibits cell proliferation and migration, reduces cell viability, induces lactate dehydrogenase release, decreases pro-survival Akt phosphorylation and increases caspase-3 activation. The use of combination of bioactive food components, such as resveratrol and sulforaphane, may be a viable approach for the treatment of glioma.