AIM: To assess the stability of the tear film and the characteristics of corneal nerves in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 72 PD patients and 50 healthy controls. Disease severity was determined using the Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y)scale, dividing patients into mild and moderate PD groups. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated via the ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaire, while tear secretion was quantified using the Schirmer I test. Ocular surface damage was assessed through staining scores, and comprehensive ocular examinations were performed utilizing the LipiView ocular surface interferometer and an ocular surface analyzer. Corneal nerve parameters were examined using corneal confocal microscopy in conjunction with automated analysis software ACCMetrics, with correlations drawn between these parameters, PD course, and severity.RESULTS: PD patients exhibited significantly elevated OSDI scores, indicative of more pronounced dry eye symptoms compared to the control group(F=70.290, P<0.01). Tear film stability was markedly compromised, with significantly shorter tear film breakup time and increased corneal fluorescein staining, both showing statistically significant differences relative to controls(all P<0.01). Tear secretion indices, including Schirmer I test results and tear meniscus height, were significantly reduced in PD patients(all P<0.01), whereas lipid secretion indices, such as lipid layer thickness and meibomian gland dropout score, did not show significant variation. Corneal nerve analysis revealed significant reductions in corneal nerve fiber density, nerve branch density, fiber length, and total branch density in PD patients compared to controls(all P<0.01). Furthermore, blink frequency was markedly prolonged(F=62.353, P<0.01). Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between alterations in tear film stability and both disease duration and H-Y scores.CONCLUSION: PD patients have obvious dry eye manifestations in the early stage of the disease, including the reduction of tear film stability and corneal nerve fiber density, and gradually aggravate with the progress of the disease. Neurodegenerative disease-related dry eye needs to be diagnosed early and actively treated.

AIM:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(Ⅱ)combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops in treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and moderate-to-severe dry eye.METHODS:A total of 120 T2DM patients(120 eyes)with moderate-to-severe dry eye, treated at the endocrinology and ophthalmology departments at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2024 to September 2024, were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: combination group [0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(Ⅱ)+ sodium hyaluronate eye drops] and control group(sodium hyaluronate eye drops alone), with 60 cases(60 eyes)in each group. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 mo post-treatment, including the ocular surface disease index(OSDI), non-contact tear meniscus height(NITMH), first non-invasive tear breakup time(NIBUTf), meibomian gland loss score, lipid layer thickness grade, conjunctival hyperemia grade, and corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score. At 3 mo after treatment, changes in tear inflammatory factors were observed, and corneal subbasal nerve plexus(SBN)morphology/density were analyzed using in vivo confocal microscopy(IVCM).RESULTS:At 1, 2, and 3 mo post-treatment, both groups showed statistically significant increases in NITMH and NIBUTf compared to baseline(all P<0.05), with greater improvement observed in the combination group(both P<0.05). OSDI and FL scores significantly decreased from baseline(all P<0.05), with more pronounced reductions in the combination group(both P<0.05). Meibomian gland loss scores showed no significant improvement in either group(all P>0.05). At 3 mo after treatment, tear levels of interleukin 6(IL-6)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)significantly decreased in both groups(all P<0.001), with a greater reduction noted in the combination group(both P<0.001). The combination group displayed increased corneal nerve branch density and nerve fiber density, along with decreased nerve tortuosity and dendritic cell(DC)density compared to baseline(all P<0.001), while the control group did not show significant changes(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The combination of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(Ⅱ)and sodium hyaluronate eye drops significantly improves clinical outcomes in T2DM patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye. This treatment effectively alleviates ocular surface inflammation, restores corneal nerve morphology and density, and demonstrates a favorable safety profile.

AIM: To explore the risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy(DR)based on ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography(UWF-SS-OCTA), and to establish a clinical prediction model.METHODS:A total of 235 patients(235 eyes)with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from July to November 2024 were selected as the research objects. According to the presence or absence of DR, they were divided into 120 cases(120 eyes)in non-DR group(NDR group)and 115 cases(115 eyes)in non-proliferative DR group(NPDR group). Data on general characteristics, laboratory tests, and OCTA results were collected for both groups. Univariate analysis was employed to identify DR-related risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze these risk factors and to establish a DR prediction model. The efficacy of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS: The duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), history of hypertension, and the choroidal vascular index(CVI)were found to be statistically significant in the model(all P<0.05). Specifically, the duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose, BUN, and history of hypertension were identified as risk factors for DR among diabetic patients, while CVI was recognized as a protective factor. The area under the curve for the model predicting the probability of DR was 0.898(0.859-0.938), with a diagnostic threshold of 0.438. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 87.8% and 78.3%, respectively, indicating that the model possesses high predictive value for the occurrence of DR.CONCLUSION: The duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose, BUN, history of hypertension, and CVI are significantly correlated with DR. The established prediction model demonstrates a substantial screening capability for DR.

AIM:To quantitatively assess the early alterations of retinal and choroidal microcirculation and microstructure in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients without coexisting retinopathy via ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography(UWF SS-OCTA).METHODS:Cross-sectional study. Totally 64 cases(64 eyes)that diagnosed as SLE without associated retinopathy at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May to October 2024 were enrolled as the study group(Randomly assign one eye to the study group). Simultaneously, age-and gender-matched healthy individuals were recruited as the control group. All participants underwent UWF SS-OCTA. The deep capillary plexus(DCP), superficial capillary plexus(SCP), total retina, choriocapillaris(CC), as well as the choroidal medium and large vessel density(VD)in both the central and peripheral retinal areas of both groups of patients were compared. Additionally, parameters such as choroidal vascularity volume(CVV), choroidal vascularity index(CVI), thickness of the inner retina, outer retina, entire retina, and choroid in both central and peripheral area. SLE patients were categorized into three subgroups based on the SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI-2K), including 20 cases(20 eyes)in mild-and no-activity group(SLEDAI-2K≤6), 20 cases(20 eyes)in moderate-activity group(7

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of intense pulsed light(IPL)therapy in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome-related dry eye(SS-DE).METHODS:In this prospective randomized trial, 82 cases(82 eyes)diagnosed with moderate-to-severe SS-DE at our hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected. If both eyes meet the criteria, one eye will be randomly selected for inclusion, and if one eye meets the inclusion criteria, the eye will be selected for enrollment. They were randomly assigned to either an experiment group receiving dextran hydroxypropyl methylcellulose eye drops and 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops plus IPL therapy, or a control group receiving dextran hydroxypropyl methylcellulose eye drops and 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops. Ocular surface disease index(OSDI)score, tear meniscus height(TMH), noninvasive tear breakup time(NITBUT), meibomian gland loss score, Schirmer I test(SⅠt), corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)score, conjunctival lissamine green staining(CLGS)score, lipid layer thickness(LLT), blink frequency, corneal Langerhans cell density(CLCD)and complications of both groups were assessed at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 wk after treatment.RESULTS:There were 6 cases lost to follow-up in the experiment group, with a missing rate of 14.6%, and 1 case was lost to follow-up in the control group, with a missing rate of 2.4%, and valid data were eventually obtained from 35 cases(35 eyes)in the experiment group and 40 cases(40 eyes)in the control group. Baseline parameters did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients(all P>0.05). At 4, 8 and 12 wk after treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in OSDI scores, CFS scores, CLGS score, blink frequency, and CLCD, while the reductions were significantly greater in the experiment group compared to the control group(all P<0.05). The experiment group also demonstrated significant increases in TMH, SⅠt, and NITBUT at 4, 8 and 12 wk after treatment, which were significantly greater than those observed in the control group(all P<0.05). No significant intergroup differences were observed in LLT, meibomian gland loss score in the experiment group at any time point(all P>0.05). Furthermore, no severe ocular or cutaneous complications were associated with IPL treatment.CONCLUSION:IPL significantly improves ocular signs and symptoms, enhances aqueous tear secretion, and reduces ocular surface inflammation in patients with SS-DE, with no significant adverse reactions observed.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.01% hypochlorous acid as a conjunctival sac disinfectant before cataract phacoemulsification and its impact on the ocular surface.METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 285 patients who were scheduled for cataract phacoemulsification surgery were randomly divided into the hypochlorous acid group and the povidone iodine group. Before and after disinfection, conjunctival sac swabs were taken, and bacterial culture and colony-forming units(CFUs)testing were performed using blood agar and chocolate agar media, respectively. All patients were evaluated for ocular symptom scores and pain severity scores 2 h, 1 d, and 1 wk after disinfection, and underwent corneal fluorescein staining, eye redness index, tear meniscus height, and noninvasive breakup time(NIBUT)examination. The incidence of endophthalmitis after surgery was recorded.RESULTS: Conjunctival sac disinfection with 0.01% hypochlorous acid significantly reduced the rate of positive bacterial cultures and colony-forming ability of the conjunctival sac, with statistically significant differences compared with the pre-disinfection period(both P<0.01), and the disinfecting ability of hypochlorous acid was comparable to that of povidone-iodine(χ2=0.811, P=0.368). The scores of ocular symptoms and pain severity in the hypochlorous acid group were significantly lower than those in the povidone-iodine group(both P<0.01). The corneal fluorescein staining and eye redness index in the hypochlorous acid group were significantly lower than those in the povidone-iodine group(all P<0.01). No endophthalmitis occurred in either group of patients. CONCLUSION: As a conjunctival sac disinfectant, 0.01% hypochlorous acid is safe and effective, with minimal discomfort and damage to the ocular surface in patients.

AIM:To establish a model of meibomian gland dysfunction in rats induced by eyeliner tattoo and investigate its potential mechanisms.METHODS:A total of 40 SD rats were selected, with 30 randomly chosen to have eyeliner tattoo applied their right eyes and designated as the eyeliner group. The remaining 10 rats were not given any treatment and served as the normal group. The corneal morphology of both groups was observed using a slit lamp at 1, 2, and 4 wk after establishment, and the tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SIt), corneal fluorescein staining score, and corneal irregularity score were calculated. The corneal Placido rings were examined using an ocular surface analyzer, and the corneal tissue structures of both groups were observed under a confocal microscope. After 4 wk and completion of clinical indicator recording, the eyeballs and upper and lower eyelid tissues were taken for pathological examination. The meibomian gland structures were observed through HE staining, the conjunctival goblet cells were observed using PAS staining, and the lipid droplets were observed with ORO staining.RESULTS:The slit lamp examination results showed that the eyeliner group rats exhibited in situ black pigmentation in the eyelids, with no eyelid deformation or scarring. The corneal epithelium was rough, with positive fluorescein staining, presenting as spotty staining that worsened over time. Compared with the normal group, the BUT was significantly shortened, tear secretion volume was significantly decreased, and the corneal fluorescein staining score and corneal irregularity score were significantly increased at 1, 2, and 4 wk after modeling in the eyeliner group(all P<0.01). The corneal confocal microscopy results showed a decrease in corneal epithelial cells in the eyeliner group, with the appearance of abnormally bright cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration visible in the stromal layer. The ORO staining results revealed a decrease in lipid droplets in the eyeliner group, showing a downward trend with increasing observation time. The HE staining results showed that pigment blocked the meibomian gland openings in the eyeliner group, and the density of meibomian gland acini showed a downward trend over time. The PAS staining results showed a decreasing trend in the number of PAS-positive cells in the eyeliner group.CONCLUSION:Eyeliner tattoo can induce meibomian gland dysfunction, and the blockage of meibomian gland openings caused by the pigment particles used may be an important cause of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Objective:To construct an evaluation indicator system for the efficiency of nursing human resources in integrated medical and elderly care institutions using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and subsequently evaluate its effectiveness.Methods:This cross-sectional survey utilized literature review and investigative methods to initially establish a library of evaluation indicators for nursing human resource efficiency. The Delphi method was employed in two rounds of consultations with 17 experts from various fields, including nursing management, elderly care institution management, integrated medical and elderly care institution management, health economics management, and public health. The reliability of the indicator system was assessed based on factors such as expert enthusiasm, authority, concentration of opinions, and coordination. Adjustments, modifications, and improvements were made to the indicators based on expert opinions to establish the final indicator system. From August to December 2022, the DEA model was applied to evaluate the efficiency of 12 integrated medical and elderly care institutions in Haikou city based on this indicator system.Results:The constructed evaluation indicator system comprised 68 items divided into three levels: 9 primary indicators, 19 secondary indicators, and 40 tertiary indicators. The positive coefficients of the two rounds of expert consultations were 100% and 94.1%, with authority coefficients of 0.88 and 0.92, Kendall harmony coefficients of 0.471 and 0.348, and mean coefficients of variation of 0.16 and 0.12 ( P<0.001). DEA evaluation results for the 12 integrated medical and elderly care institutions showed that 5 were DEA effective institutions with comprehensive efficiency (OE), technical efficiency (TE), and scale efficiency (SE) values all equal to 1.000, while 7 were non-DEA effective institutions, including 4 with SE <1.000 but TE=1.000 and 3 with both SE and TE<1.000. Conclusions:The constructed evaluation indicator system demonstrates high enthusiasm, authority coefficients, and coordination in expert consultations, indicating high acceptability and comprehensive content with distinct levels and strong specialty characteristics. The DEA model′s evaluation results objectively and effectively reflect the efficiency of nursing human resources in integrated medical and elderly care institutions, demonstrating practical utility.

Objective To systematically evaluate the risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). Methods PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed were searched to collect published literature on risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation after OPCABG from inception to September 2022. Two authors independently screened, extracted data and evaluated the quality. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and Stata 12.0 and RevMan 5.4 softwares were used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 18 researches were included, including 6 354 patients of OPCABG. The NOS scores of the included studies were 6-8 points. Meta-analysis showed that age [MD=2.56, 95%CI (1.61, 3.52), P<0.001], hypertension [OR=1.77, 95%CI (1.18, 2.66), P<0.001], EuroSCORE Ⅱ score [MD=0.70, 95%CI (0.34, 1.06), P<0.001], frequent atrial premature beats or atrial tachycardia [OR=3.77, 95%CI (2.13, 6.68), P<0.001], left atrium diameter (LAD) [MD=1.64, 95%CI (0.26, 3.03), P=0.010], left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [MD=−1.84, 95%CI (−2.85, −0.83), P<0.001], right coronary stenosis [OR=2.49, 95%CI (1.29, 4.81), P=0.006], three-vessel coronary artery lesions [OR=0.73, 95%CI (0.54, 0.97), P=0.030], not using β blockers [OR=0.81, 95%CI (0.69, 0.96), P=0.010], operation time [MD=10.13, 95%CI (8.15, 12.10), P<0.001], duration of mechanical ventilation [OR=2.85, 95%CI (1.79, 3.91), P<0.001] were risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation after OPCABG. Conclusion Advanced age, hypertension, high EuroSCOREⅡ score, frequent atrial premature beats or atrial tachycardia, increased LAD, decreased LVEF, right coronary stenosis, three-vessel coronary artery lesions, not using β blockers, prolonged operation time and mechanical ventilation are risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation after OPCABG. Due to factors such as the methodology, content and quality of the included literature, the conclusion of this study need to be supported by more high-quality studies.

Objective:To investigate regulatory effect and mechanism of protein kinase C(PKC)δ/θ-dual functional oxidase 1(Duox1)-reactive oxygen species(ROS)signaling pathway on human airway mucin(MUC)5AC,to provide a new target for treatment of high secretion of airway mucus.Methods:Human airway epithelial cells 16HBE were pretreated with PKC and its subunit PKCδ/θ inhibitor,Duox1 inhibitor or free radical scavenger DMTU,respectively,and then human neutrophil elastase(HNE)stimulation to establish an in vitro airway inflammatory cell model.Generation level of ROS in each group of cells was determined by kit,mRNA levels of Duox1 and MUC5AC were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,influence of interfering factors of each group of cells on Duox1 protein level was determined by Western blot,and protein expression of MUC5AC in each group of cells was detected by ELISA and immunofluorescence.Results:Compared with control group,ROS production in HNE group was increased significantly,expressions of Duox1 and MUC5AC mRNA and protein were also increased(P<0.05).After administration of Duox1 inhibitors,free radical scavengers or PKC inhibitors and PKCδ/θ inhibitors,ROS production was significantly inhibited,Duox1 and MUC5AC mRNA and protein expressions were decreased(P<0.05),while after giving PKCα/β,ROS generation,Duox1 and MUC5AC mRNA and pro-tein expressions were not significantly changed compared with HNE group(P>0.05).Conclusion:HNE can mediate high expression of MUC5AC through PKCδ/θ-Duox1-ROS,which plays an important role in development of high secretion of airway mucus in vitro cell model experiment.