Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate abundant in the form of its glucosinolate precursor in broccoli sprouts, has shown in vitro activity against Helicobacter pylori. We evaluated the effect of sulforaphane in vivo against this bacterium by using human gastric xenografts in nude mice. H. pylori was completely eradicated in 8 of the 11 sulforaphane-treated grafts. This result suggests that sulforaphane might be beneficial in the treatment of H. pylori-infected individuals.The recommended treatment of Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases today includes a combination of two or more antibiotics with an inhibitor of acid secretion. However, even with these treatments, some bacteria may persist, in a nongrowing, tolerant form or possibly intracellularly (5,7,10). This may lead to eradication failure, which is defined as the persistence of H. pylori at least 1 month after the end of antimicrobial therapy (9). Moreover, development of resistance of H. pylori strains to one or more of the antibiotics commonly used has been demonstrated previously (28). Thus, a need for new therapeutic agents that are effective against extracellular and potentially intracellular forms of H. pylori exists. We recently showed that sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate abundant in the form of its glucosinolate precursor in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, is a potent bactericidal agent against both extra-and intracellular H. pylori in vitro (11). Substantial quantities of isothiocyanates (up to 100 mg daily) and even greater quantities of their glucosinolate precursors are widely consumed by humans (12,13,29). They may act locally within the gastrointestinal tract or may distribute systemically after conversion to their cognate isothiocyanates (12,15,34). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of sulforaphane in vivo against H. pylori by using a recently developed model which uses human gastric xenografts in nude mice (22).Sulforaphane, i.e., [(Ϫ)-1-isothiocyanato-(4R)-(methylsulfinyl)butane] was kindly provided by J. W. Fahey (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.). Stock solutions were prepared in acetonitrile, and further dilutions were made in sterile water. H. pylori strain 26695, which was previously adapted for use in the gastric xenograft model (23), was used for graft inoculation. The strain was grown on Columbia agar supplemented with 10% horse blood under microaerobic conditions as previously described (22). For this isolate, the MIC of sulforaphane was 4 g/ml, as determined by using the agar dilution method (pH 7.4) as recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCLS) (30).Xenografts exhibiting human mature gastric epithelium and acidic secretion were obtained in nude mice as previously described (22) and with the approval of the French National Consultative Ethical Committee. Bacterial inoculation was performed by using a catheter that was implanted in the xenograft lumen (22). Two weeks after inoculation, each graft was microsurgically opened. Mucus was sampled for qualitative cult...

The authors report the results of a comparative experimental nerve study, using a biologic tissue glue (fibrin) and a synthetic glue (2-cyanoacrylate) in a rat model. A tension-free repair is necessary with the use of fibrin glue, or gapping may occur, thus limiting the use of the agent in promoting re-neurotization. In addition, the human origin of fibrin and thrombin allow for the possibility of viral transmission. The aim of the study was to verify if the synthetic glue is a viable alternative, or whether it causes cellular and tissue lesions. Their main finding was that the cyanoacrylate causes a foreign-body inflammatory reaction and retractile fibrosis, often reducing the nerve diameter up to two-thirds. Cyanoacrylate glue is thus not recommended for peripheral nerve repair.

Purpose: To evaluate and to compare the anatomical and functional results of phacovitrectomy and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) alone for phakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Methods: Retrospective, comparative case series of 266 phakic eyes that underwent either combined phacovitrectomy or PPV alone for primary retinal detachment. The primary anatomical success rate, the final best-corrected visual acuity, and the refractive outcomes were analyzed. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven eyes were included in the combined group and 139 in the PPV group. The primary anatomical success rate was 84.3% in the combined group and 89.2% in the PPV group (P = 0.311). One hundred and nine (78.4%) eyes of the PPV group required cataract removal for visual rehabilitation during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean final best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.185) and mean visual changes (P = 0.470). Overall, combined cataract extraction resulted in a significant myopic shift compared with delayed cataract surgery (P = 0.047). Conclusion: Combined phacoemulsification and PPV is a safe and effective procedure to treat retinal detachment. The anatomical and functional results were comparable with those obtained with PPV and delayed cataract surgery. However, the refractive outcomes were less favorable and shifted toward myopia, especially in macula-off cases.

The treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) remains controversial regarding the use of local, systemic, or combined treatments. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of intravenous high‐dose methotrexate (IV HD‐MTX) based systemic therapy in a uniformly treated population of PVRL patients. From a nationwide French database, we retrospectively selected 59 patients (median age: 70 years, median Karnofsky Performance Status: 90%) with isolated PVRL at diagnosis who received first‐line treatment with HD‐MTX between 2011 and 2018. 8/59 patients also received a local treatment. No deaths or premature discontinuations of MTX due to toxicity were reported. A complete response was obtained in 40/57 patients after chemotherapy. Before treatment, IL‐10 was elevated in the aqueous humor (AH) or in the vitreous in 89% of patients. After treatment, AH IL‐10 was undetectable in 87% of patients with a CR/uCR/PR and detectable in 92% of patients with PD/SD. After a median follow‐up of 61 months, 42/59 (71%) patients had relapsed, including 29 isolated ocular relapses as the first relapse and a total of 22 brain relapses. The median overall survival, progression‐free survival, ocular‐free survival and brain‐free survival were 75, 18, 29 and 73 months, respectively. IV HD‐MTX based systemic therapy as a first‐line treatment for isolated PVRL is feasible, with acceptable toxicity, even in an elderly population. This strategy seems efficient to prevent brain relapse with prolonged overall survival. However, the ocular relapse rate remains high. New approaches are needed to improve local control of this disease, and ocular assessment could be completed by monitoring AH IL‐10.