Purpose To investigate the effect and the safety of intravitreal aflibercept in patients affected by choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks with a long-term follow-up. Methods Multicentre, open-label, phase IIb study (EYLEA-STRIE, EudraCT Number 2014-000986-30) involving four Italian centres (IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (Milano), Fondazione G.B. Bietti (Roma), Policlinico (Milano), Ospedale Luigi Sacco (Milano)). Patients with active choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks with foveal involvement were prospectively enrolled and followed for 18 months. All the patients received intravitreal 2 mg/0.05 mL aflibercept at the time of enrolment, followed by a pro-re-nata regimen for 48 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness were measured monthly. Adverse events were monitored at each visit. Results Twenty-three eyes of 20 patients were analysed. Mean number of injections per patient was 4.30 ± 1.2. At week 48, the best-corrected visual acuity was 0.42 ± 0.40 LogMAR (p = 0.6 from baseline) and 18 eyes (81.8%) featured stability within 15 letters. The central macular thickness significantly reduced (p = 0.03). Eleven ocular non-serious adverse events and two serious adverse events were observed (one case of endophthalmitis and one case of acute gastritis were reported). Conclusion Intravitreal aflibercept represents a valid option for the management of choroidal neovascularization complicating angioid streaks. Further studies with longer follow-up and different therapeutic regimens are warranted to ascertain the best control of the disease.Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in many biological and biomedical applications. In this regard, their surface modification is of paramount importance in order to increase their cellular uptake, delivery capability, and optimize their distribution inside the body. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of AuNPs on cytotoxicity, oxidant/antioxidant parameters, and DNA damage in HepG2 cells and investigate the potential toxic effects of different surface modifications such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethyleneimine (PEI; molecular weights of 2,000 (low molecular weight [LMW]) and 25,000 (high molecular weight [HMW]). The study groups were determined as AuNPs, PEG-coated AuNPs (AuNPs/PEG), low-molecular weight polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/PEI LMW), and high-molecular weight polyethyleneimine-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/PEI HMW). After incubating HepG2 cells with different concentrations of nanoparticles for 24 hours, half maximal inhibitory concentrations (the concentration that kills 50% of the cells) were determined as 166.77, 257.73, and 198.44 µg/mL for AuNPs, AuNPs/PEG, and AuNPs/PEI LMW groups, respectively. Later, inhibitory concentration 30 (IC30, the concentration that kills 30% of the cells) doses were calculated, and further experiments were performed on cells that were exposed to IC30 doses. Although intracellular reactive oxygen species levels significantly increased in all nanoparticles, AuNPs as well as AuNPs/PEG did not cause any changes in oxidant/antioxidant parameters. However, AuNPs/PEI HMW particularly induced oxidative stress as evidence of alterations in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. These results suggest that at IC30 doses, AuNPs do not affect oxidative stress and DNA damage significantly. Polyethylene glycol coating does not have an impact on toxicity, however PEI coating (particularly HMW) can induce oxidative stress.Objectives To elucidate the frequency and types of pre- and post-interview communication that applicants engage with programs, to garner the perceptions of both applicants and program directors (PDs), and determine if communication influences outcomes. Subjects and methods Electronic surveys were distributed to otolaryngology residency applicants, and to PDs of ACGME-accredited otolaryngology programs after the 2018 to 2019 application cycle. Results 93 of 324 applicants (28.7%) and 33 of 106 PDs (31.3%) responded. In the pre-interview period, 58.1% of applicants sent emails of interest, and 41.9% had a mentor initiate communication. In the post-interview period, the majority of applicants (82.8%) sent notes of intent to their number one choice, and 32.3% had a faculty mentor communicate this on their behalf. The majority of PDs (84.8%) were undecided or did not believe that emails of interest influence decisions to offer an interview, whereas 81.8% believed that communication initiated by an applicant’s mentor has an impact on interview offers. No PD agreed that declarations of intent from applicants have an impact on their rank lists, while only 33.3% of PDs believed that a mentor communicating this for an applicant has some impact. Our statistical findings are in agreement with these perceptions as neither applicant-initiated pre-interview (P = .54), mentor-initiated pre-interview (P = .62), applicant-initiated post-interview (P = .11) nor mentor-initiated post-interview (P = .78) communications influenced the number of interviews received or ultimate match outcome. Conclusion Pre- and post-interview communication practices vary widely among otolaryngology applicants. Applicant-initiated communication has no impact on outcomes, while mentor-initiated communication is perceived to have more benefit, despite not impacting interview or match outcomes in this study.Objective. Dyslipidemia is a major cause of early coronary heart disease (CHD). Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have all been shown to be associated with risk of CHD. selleck chemicals We aimed to compare the association of these lipid fractions with age at first myocardial infarction(MI). Design. Multicenter study of consecutive patients hospitalized with a first MI. Linear regression models were used to assess the independent association of LDL-C, remnant-C and HDL-C with age at first MI. Results. The study included 1744 patients. In univariate analyses, LDL-C, remnant-C, and HDL-C were all significantly associated with age at first MI. However, in multivariate analyses only LDL-C [-2.5 years (95%CI -3.1 to -1.8) per 1 SD increase] and to a lesser extent remnant-C [-0.9 years (95% CI -1.5 to -0.3)] continued to be associated with age of MI, while HDL-C [0.5 years (95%CI -0.2 to 1.2)] was not. Conclusions. LDL-C is the lipid fraction strongest associated with younger age of presentation of first MI.