Herein, I comment on the article by by Wang et al., in which they investigate the utility of intraocular pressure (IOP) in predicting intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with hydrocephalus. I appreciate the authors for performing this original study and for including this large number of patients with hydrocephalus. However, I suggest some discussions hoping to provide a better understanding of the article and the issue of the possible association between IOP and ICP.Objective To investigate the effect of the addition of aerobic training to spinal mobility exercises on disease-specific outcomes and functional exercise capacity, aerobic capacity and respiratory muscle strength of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.Methods The study included 31 volunteers (mean age 44.90 ± 11.52 years) diagnosed with AS. The demographic characteristics and disease related data of all subjects were recorded, then, the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) and Bath AS Disease Function Index (BASFI), the 6-minute walk test, the Bruce Treadmill Test and spirometry were used respectively. The intervention group attended a 12-week program of aerobic exercise sessions, plus supervised spinal mobility exercises, 3 days a week. The control group performed the supervised spinal mobility exercises only, 3 times a week, for 12 weeks.Results There was a significant improvement in BASDAI (p = 0.002), BASMI (p = 0.021), 6 DYT (p = 0.036), VO2max (p = 0.000), MIP (p = 0.005) and MEP (p = 0.022) results in the intervention group after 12 weeks of training. In the comparisons of the pre-treatment and post-treatment differences, BASDAI (p = 0.032) decreased and VO2 (p = 0.001) max increased, showing significant improvements in the intervention group and these values were maintained.Conclusions It is striking that improvements in all parameters except BASFI were achieved in the aerobic training group. These results demonstrate that an aerobic exercise program should be included in an individual exercise prescription for the management of AS.Background Pupillary response reflects cognitive workload during processing speed, working memory, and arithmetic tasks in Parkinson's disease (PD). Selleck 4-Hydroxytamoxifen Abstract reasoning, a higher-order cognitive function that relates different objects, events, or thoughts in a similar manner, may also be compromised in PD. The aim of this study was to compare pupillary response as a measure of cognitive workload while completing a verbal abstract reasoning test between patients with PD and age-matched controls.Methods Nineteen non-demented individuals with PD (66.6 ± 8.9 years) and 10 healthy controls (65.3 ± 7.3 years) were recruited. A remote eye tracker recorded the pupillary response at 60 Hz, while the participants were performing the Similarities test of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV. Outcome measures included pupillary response, evaluated by the Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA), and behavioral responses of the Similarities test.Results The PD group (scaled scores = 8.9 ± 2.2) did not show impairment in behavioral performance on Similarities test compared with healthy controls (scaled scores = 8.8 ± 2.3; p = .91). However, the PD group (ICA = .32 ± .09) demonstrated significantly greater cognitive workload during the Similarities test compared to controls (ICA = .24 ± .08; p = .03).Conclusions Non-demented individuals with PD exerted greater cognitive workload to complete a verbal abstract reasoning task despite similar behavioral performance compared to healthy controls. Clinical utilities of pupillary response to detect and monitor early impairment in higher-order executive function will be the subject of further study in the PD population.Context Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Labiatae) (SMB) is applied clinically for management of diabetic osteoporosis in China, and research results has suggested its potential action on renin-angiotensin system (RAS).Objective This study screens and explores naturally occurring bioactive constituents from the root of SMB acting on renin activity and evaluates its osteoprotective efficacy in diabetic mice.Materials and methods Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, engineered to express human renin, were used as an in vitro model to identify bioactive compound, tanshinone IIA, inhibiting renin activity. The C57BL/6 mice (n = 10 in each group) with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) were intraperitoneally injected with tanshinone IIA (10 and 30 mg/kg). The mice without STZ treatment and the diabetic mice treated with aliskiren were used as non-diabetic control and positive control, respectively.Results Tanshinone IIA was found to display inhibitory effects on renin activity of HEK-293 cells; moreover, it down-regulated protein expression of ANG II in human renin-expressed HEK-293 cells. Treatment of diabetic mice with tanshinone IIA with both doses could significantly decrease ANG II level in serum (from 16.56 ± 1.70 to 10.86 ± 0.68 and 9.14 ± 1.31 pg/mL) and reduce ANG II expression in bone, consequently improving trabecular bone mineral density and micro-structure of proximal tibial end and increasing trabecular bone area of distal femoral end in diabetic mice.Conclusions This study revealed beneficial effects of tanshinone IIA on bone of diabetic mice, and potentially suggested the application of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the treatment of osteoporosis and drug development of tanshinone IIA as a renin inhibitor.Introduction A multimodal approach in operable early stage oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer has evolved in the last decade, leading to improvement in overall outcomes.Areas covered A review of the published literature and conference abstracts was undertaken on the topic of optimal adjunctive chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in early stage OG cancers. This review article focuses on the current evidence pertaining to neo-adjuvant and perioperative strategies in curable OG cancers including the evolving landscape of immunotherapy and targeted drugs in this setting.Expert commentary Adjunctive therapies in the form of pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) or chemotherapy and perioperative chemotherapy over surgery alone improves outcomes in patients with operable OG cancer. Although there are variations in practice around the world, a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care is of paramount importance. Immunotherapy and on treatment functional imaging are two examples of emerging strategies to improve outcome for early stage patients.