Therapeutic potential of valproic acid for retinitis pigmentosa

BACKGROUND/AIM

To examine the efficacy and safety of valproic acid (VPA) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

METHODS

Thirteen eyes were examined before and after brief treatment (average 4 months) with VPA. Visual fields (VF) for each eye were defined using digitised Goldmann Kinetic Perimetry tracings. VF areas were log-transformed and VF loss/gain relative to baseline was calculated. Visual acuity was measured using a Snellen chart at a distance of 20 feet (6.1 m). Values were converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) score.

RESULTS

Nine eyes had improved VF with treatment, two eyes had decreased VF and two eyes experienced no change, with an overall average increase of 11%. Assuming typical loss in VF area without treatment, this increase in VF was statistically significant (p<0.02). An average decrease (0.172) in the logMAR scores was seen in these 13 eyes, which translates to a positive change in Snellen score of approximately 20/47 to 20/32, which was significant (p<0.02) assuming no loss in acuity without treatment. Side effects were mild and well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with VPA is suggestive of a therapeutic benefit to patients with RP. A placebo-controlled clinical trial will be necessary to assess the efficacy and safety of VPA for RP rigorously.

Disordered-eating attitudes in relation to bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover in overweight adolescents

PURPOSE

To examine the relationships between cognitive eating restraint and both bone mineral density (BMD) and markers of bone turnover in overweight adolescents.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-seven overweight (BMI 39.1 +/- 6.8 kg/m(2)) African American and Caucasian adolescent (age = 14.4 +/- 1.4 years) girls (66.4%) and boys were administered the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview and Eating Inventory (EI) questionnaire and underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure total lumbar spine BMD. Markers of bone formation (serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin), bone resorption (24-hour urine N-telopeptides), and stress (urine free cortisol) were measured.

RESULTS

After accounting for the contribution of demographics, height, weight, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and depressive symptoms, adolescents' weight concern, as assessed by interview, was a significant contributor to the model of urine free cortisol (beta = .30, p < .05). Shape concern, as also assessed by interview, was significantly associated with lumbar spine bone mineral density (beta = -.15, p < .05). Dietary restraint was not a significant predictor in any of these models.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that among severely overweight adolescents, dissatisfaction with shape and weight may be salient stressors. Future research is required to illuminate the relationship between bone health and disordered-eating attitudes in overweight adolescents.