Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases in Quang Tri and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, utilizing a smartphone-based fundus imaging (SBFI) system. Methods: This cross-sectional study included nearly 10,000 patients who visited community health centers between July and August 2019. All participants underwent visual acuity testing and fundus imaging. We collected demographic data and medical histories, and fundus images were captured using the EYELIKE system. Data were compiled on an online platform, allowing clinicians from other regions to make diagnoses. Results: The study revealed significant variations in visual acuity and the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases between the two regions. Quang Tri had a higher proportion of individuals with good eyesight compared to Thai Nguyen. In Quang Tri, nearly 50% of the population had media haze, while in Thai Nguyen, about one-third of the population was affected. The prevalence of glaucomatous optic nerve and age-related macular degeneration was approximately 1% higher in Quang Tri than in Thai Nguyen. These findings provide valuable insights into the eye health status of these regions, indicating that eye health in Quang Tri was poorer than in Thai Nguyen. Conclusions The prevalence rates of ophthalmic conditions in this study were within the expected ranges compared to those in other Asian countries, though they were somewhat low. The SBFI method, being simpler and more efficient than the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness, offers a promising approach for measuring and estimating the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases.

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

Purpose: To compare refractive error measured by hand-held wavefront aberrometers with postcycloplegic autorefraction (AR) and cycloplegic refraction (CR). Methods: The medical records of patients who received refractive measurements using the wavefront aberrometer, postcycloplegic AR, and CR between January 2014 and January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean differences, 95% confidence intervals, and limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated for the refractive vector components (M, J0, and J45). Results: Fifty-one patients (9.0 ± 5.5 years, male 41.2%) were enrolled in this study, and only the right eye of each was included. Refractive errors ranged from -9.25 to +7.25 diopters (D) for spherical equivalent (median, 0.75 D). The M component was not significantly different among the three methods (p = 0.080). However, the J0 vector component was significantly different (p < 0.001). After post hoc analysis, the wavefront aberrometer obtained more positive values for J0 compared to the other methods. The J45 component was not significantly different among the three methods (p = 0.143). The mean difference between the wavefront aberrometer and postcycloplegic AR was -0.115 D (LOA, -1.578 to 1.348 D) for M, 0.239 D (LOA, -0.371 to 0.850 D) for J0, and -0.015 D (LOA, -0.768 to 0.738 D) for J45. The mean difference between the wavefront aberrometer and CR was -0.220 D (LOA, -1.790 to 1.350 D) for M, 0.300 D (LOA, -0.526 to 1.127 D) for J0, and -0.079 D (-0.662 to 0.504 D) for J45. Conclusions The wavefront aberrometer showed good agreement with postcycloplegic AR and CR in spherical equivalents, but tended to produce slightly myopic results. The wavefront aberrometer also overestimated with-the-rule astigmatism. Therefore, we recommend that the device be used for estimations of refractive error, which may be useful for patients who have postural difficulties, live in undeveloped countries, or are bedridden.

PURPOSE: Genetic variations among prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymph node dissection were evaluated to predict lymph node invasion (LNI). Exome arrays were used to develop a clinicogenetic model that combined clinical data related to PCa and individual genetic variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We genotyped 242,186 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using a custom HumanExome BeadChip v1.0 (Illumina Inc.) from the blood DNA of 341 patients with PCa. The genetic data were analyzed to calculate an odds ratio as an estimate of the relative risk of LNI. We compared the accuracies of the multivariate logistic model incorporating clinical factors between the included and excluded selected SNPs. The Cox proportional hazard models with or without genetic factors for predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) were analyzed. RESULTS: The genetic analysis indicated that five SNPs (rs75444444, rs8055236, rs2301277, rs9300039, and rs6908581) were significant for predicting LNI in patients with PCa. When a multivariate model incorporating clinical factors was devised to predict LNI, the predictive accuracy of the multivariate model was 80.7%. By adding genetic factors in the aforementioned multivariate model, the predictive accuracy increased to 93.2% (p=0.006). These genetic variations were significant factors for predicting BCR after adjustment for other variables and after adding the predictive gain to BCR. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the exome array, the selected SNPs were predictors for LNI. The addition of individualized genetic information effectively enhanced the predictive accuracy of LNI and BCR among patients with PCa who underwent RP.
Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/*genetics ; Biopsy ; DNA, Neoplasm/genetics ; Exome ; Gene Frequency ; Genome ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Genetic ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology/surgery

Schizandra chinensis Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a Schizandra chinensis Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited beta-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Asthma ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases ; Digestion ; Drug Industry ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants ; RNA, Messenger ; Schisandra ; Serum Albumin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water

To investigate conditions that cause temporal lens opacity, we tested chemical and physical factors, such as anaesthesia dose, ocular surface dryness, and infrared (IR) light exposure in anaesthetised C57BL/6 N mice. Mice were anaesthetised with a low (80%; tiletamine/zolazepam 32 mg/kg and xylazine 8 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) or high (120%; 48 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg) dose of anaesthetic and examined every 5 min from 10 to 30 min after anaesthesia was induced. Lens opacity levels were assessed and graded (1–6) using the standard classification system. Regardless of the anaesthetic dose, lens opacity grade was 1–2 in moisturised eyes with application of 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose, and 5–6 in dry ocular surface conditions. Lens opacity in mice with high-dose anaesthetic in the dry ocular surface condition was not different from that of mice with low-dose anaesthetic. Lens opacity grade 1–2 was noted in eyes in the wet ocular surface condition, regardless of IR light exposure. During IR light exposure in eyes in the dry ocular surface condition, lens opacity (grade 6) in mice with high-dose anaesthetic was not different from that (grade 6) in mice with low-dose anaesthetic. We demonstrated that ocular surface dryness might be a relevant factor for the formation and progression of lens opacity in anesthetized C57BL/6 N mice. Anaesthesia dose and IR light exposure did not strongly influence lens opacity formation. Furthermore, eyes with corneal dryness-induced lens opacity recovered to normal status without additional intervention.

To investigate conditions that cause temporal lens opacity, we tested chemical and physical factors, such as anaesthesia dose, ocular surface dryness, and infrared (IR) light exposure in anaesthetised C57BL/6 N mice. Mice were anaesthetised with a low (80%; tiletamine/zolazepam 32 mg/kg and xylazine 8 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) or high (120%; 48 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg) dose of anaesthetic and examined every 5 min from 10 to 30 min after anaesthesia was induced. Lens opacity levels were assessed and graded (1–6) using the standard classification system. Regardless of the anaesthetic dose, lens opacity grade was 1–2 in moisturised eyes with application of 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose, and 5–6 in dry ocular surface conditions. Lens opacity in mice with high-dose anaesthetic in the dry ocular surface condition was not different from that of mice with low-dose anaesthetic. Lens opacity grade 1–2 was noted in eyes in the wet ocular surface condition, regardless of IR light exposure. During IR light exposure in eyes in the dry ocular surface condition, lens opacity (grade 6) in mice with high-dose anaesthetic was not different from that (grade 6) in mice with low-dose anaesthetic. We demonstrated that ocular surface dryness might be a relevant factor for the formation and progression of lens opacity in anesthetized C57BL/6 N mice. Anaesthesia dose and IR light exposure did not strongly influence lens opacity formation. Furthermore, eyes with corneal dryness-induced lens opacity recovered to normal status without additional intervention.

PURPOSE: By comparing the results of the percutaneous tension band wiring with those of the open tension band wiring for the treatment of patellar fracture, we tried to sh6w the practical use of the percutaneous tension band wiring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed radiological and clinical results of 10 cases of isolated patellar fractures treated with the percutaneous tension band wiring and 10 cases of isolated patellar fractures treated with the open tensian band wiring. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the percutaneous tension band wiring and open tension band wiring on operation time, knee score and function score, but the percutaneous tension band wiring showed more rapid on bony union. Two cases treated with the open tension band wiring showed limitation of motion of the knee joint, and one case treated with the open tension band wiring showed patellar elongation. CONCLUSION: Comparing with the open tension band wiring, the percutaneous tension band wiring can be done without wide skin incision and can give patients more satisfaction. We concluded that the percu-taneus tension band wiring is a good method and can replace the conventional open tension band wiring.
Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Skin