Inflammation

PARIS — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, John A. Hovanesian, MD, speaks about the advantages of using sustained-release Dextenza (Ocular Therapeutix) to treat pain and inflammation after cataract surgery. Dextenza is designed to go in the lower lid punctum and slowly release dexamethasone in the tear film over 1 month, thus eliminating compliance issues for patients who would otherwise use steroid eye drops postoperatively. Data from three FDA clinical trials are now available.

Evaluation of the association between cardiac biomarkers of myocardial injury, stretch, fibrosis or inflammation and the risk for atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Beyond Celiac – a leading nonprofit supporting research in celiac disease – announced the award of two long-term grants funding an established researcher as well as a new pilot study.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — and its more severe stage, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, in particular — is increasing in developed countries. The condition has surpassed alcoholism as a cause of cirrhosis and will soon be the primary cause of liver transplantation in the United States, exceeding hepatitis C, according to Kenneth Cusi, MD, FACP, FACE, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at University of Florida.

Around two-thirds of patients in a 5-year, multisite study who survived hospitalization for sepsis demonstrated persistent elevated levels of inflammation and immunosuppression biomarkers for up to 1 year, placing them at risk for worse long-term outcomes, including death or readmission, researchers found.