Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
Nutrition and the prevention of cataracts [Cataract surgery and lens implantation: Edited by Mark Packer, Drs Fine, Hoffman & Packer]
Fernandez, Mark M; Afshari, Natalie A
Purpose of review: Oxidative stress is a major cause of cataract development. Numerous studies have been published regarding the effects of nutritional supplementation on cataract progression.
Recent findings: Basic science research has demonstrated a protective effect of antioxidants on lens tissue, and supplementation with vitamin C and lutein/zeaxanthin has been associated with a decreased risk of cataract formation in multiple observational studies. One large interventional trial demonstrated a significant difference in participants treated with high-dose vitamin C versus placebo, but a more recent interventional study did not replicate these findings. In a review of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, the Food and Drug Administration concluded there is insufficient evidence to suggest that supplementation with these carotenoids lowers the risk of cataract formation. While high doses of multivitamins, antioxidants, or lutein and zeaxanthin are unlikely to be of significant ophthalmic benefit to the general public, these nutrients may help individuals exposed to high oxidative stress, such as heavy smokers, and those with poor nutrition.
Summary: Supplementation with vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, or a multivitamin may help certain populations, but is unlikely to affect the progression of cataracts in most patients.
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Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology
Prevention of allergic respiratory disease in infants: current aspects and future perspectives.Holt, Patrick G; Sly, Peter D
Purpose of review: Primary and secondary prevention of severe atopic disease exemplified by atopic asthma represents an increasingly prominent focus of research in paediatric allergy. We review below the rationale for this approach and recent progress in development and testing of a range of potential preventive strategies.
Recent findings: The principal areas reviewed relate to potential and currently available treatments targeting enhancement of overall immune functions, allergen-specific immunomodulation and respiratory viral infections, particularly during early childhood.
Summary: The scientific rationale for prophylaxis of atopic diseases via early intervention strategies targeting young children is increasingly supported by findings from the experimental and clinical literature and significant progress may be expected in the mid-term future.
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Current Opinion in Oncology
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Will targeted therapy hold its promise? An evidence-based review.
David Murdoch and Jason Sager
In recent years, many significant advances have been made in cancer management, and perhaps most of these have centered on the development and introduction of various molecular targeted therapies. Such therapies, which in theory target specific molecules or genetic defects in order to make malignant cells more susceptible, without increasing toxicity substantially, include the following: monoclonal antibodies (eg, bevacizumab, cetuximab, ibritumomab, tiuxetan, panitumumab, rituximab, tositumomab, trastuzumab); Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) (eg, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib, sunitinib); proteasome inhibitors (eg, bortezomib); inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (eg, temsirolimus); and inhibitors of Raf kinase (eg, sorafenib). Several of these compounds have shown marked efficacy in the management of various cancers; however, drug developers still face several challenges – such as overcoming some degree of acquired resistance to molecular targets in the cancer cell (eg, EGFR, and selecting appropriate dosage schedules, stages at which to start treatment, and relevant combination regimens with novel compounds plus chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Moreover, chance still appears to play a large part in the success of new drugs, reflecting both a weakness to identify the most important targets in cancer as well as an inability to successfully design drugs that would specifically interfere with the selected target. The ultimate goal of curing cancer and the more immediate goal of replacing, in specific indications, non-targeted chemotherapies with less toxic, targeted therapies has yet to be attained in most cancer patients.....
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