Association between BCL11B gene polymorphisms and age-related hearing loss in the elderly: A case-control study in Qingdao, China.

Age-related hearing loss is a complex disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and a study have conducted animal experiments to explore the association between BCL11B heterozygosity and age-related hearing loss. The present study used established genetic models to examine the association between BCL11B gene polymorphisms and age-related hearing loss. A total of 410 older adults from two communities in Qingdao, China, participated in this study. The case group comprised individuals aged ≥ 60 years with age-related hearing loss, and the control group comprised individuals without age-related hearing loss from the same communities. The groups were matched 1:1 for age and sex. The individual characteristics of the participants were analyzed descriptively using the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test. To explore the association between BCL11B gene polymorphisms and age-related hearing loss, conditional logistic regression was performed to construct genetic models for two single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs) of BCL11B, and haplotype analysis was conducted to construct their haplotype domains. Two SNP sites of the BCL11B gene, four genetic models of rs1152781 (additive, dominant, recessive, and codominant), and five genetic models of rs1152783 (additive, dominant, recessive, codominant, and over dominant) were significantly associated with age-related hearing loss in the models both unadjusted and adjusted for all covariates (P < 0.05). Additionally, a linkage disequilibrium between rs1152781 and rs1152783 was revealed through haplotype analysis. Our study revealed that BCL11B gene polymorphisms were significantly associated with age-related hearing loss.

Photofunctional Gold Nanocluster Composites for Bioapplications.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), with customized structures and diverse optical properties, are promising optical materials. Constructing composite systems by the assembly and incorporation of AuNCs can utilize their optical properties to achieve diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the biological field. Therefore, the exploration of the assembly behaviors of AuNCs and the enhancement of their performance has attracted widespread interest. In this review, we introduce multiple interactions and assembly modes that are prevalent in nanocomposites and microcomposites based on AuNCs. Then, the functions of AuNC composites for bioapplications are demonstrated in detail. These composite systems have inherited and enhanced the inherent optical performances of the AuNCs to meet diverse requirements for biological sensing and optical treatments. Finally, we discuss the prospects of AuNC composites and highlight the challenges and opportunities in biomedical applications.

Identification and Validation of eRNA as a Prognostic Indicator for Cervical Cancer.

The survival of CESC patients is closely related to the expression of enhancer RNA (eRNA). In this work, we downloaded eRNA expression, clinical, and gene expression data from the TCeA and TCGA portals. A total of 7936 differentially expressed eRNAs were discovered by limma analysis, and the relationship between these eRNAs and survival was analyzed by univariate Cox hazard analysis, LASSO regression, and multivariate Cox hazard analysis to obtain an 8-eRNA model. Risk score heat maps, KM curves, ROC analysis, robustness analysis, and nomograms further indicate that this 8-eRNA model is a novel indicator with high prognostic performance independent of clinicopathological classification. The model divided patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, compared pathway diversity between the two groups through GSEA analysis, and provided potential therapeutic agents for high-risk patients.

Early use of intravitreal triamcinolone to inhibit traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy: a randomised clinical trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection at the end of emergency surgery for open globe injury (OGI) to suppress traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy (TPVR). METHODS: A single-centre, participant-masked, prospective, randomised controlled clinical trial. A total of 68 globe rupture patients with zone III were randomised to the control group (n=34) or the TA group (n=34) in 1:1 allocation ratio. Patients were treated with 0.1 mL TA in the TA group and 0.1 mL balanced salt solution in the control group at the end of emergency surgery. The primary outcome was the assessment of TPVR during vitrectomy 10±3 days later. Secondary outcomes included visual acuity (VA), retinal attachment rate, macular attachment rate, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) recurrent rate, side effects 6 months after vitrectomy. RESULTS: During vitrectomy, the TPVR grade of the control group was significantly more severe than the TA group (p=0.028). The TPVR score was significantly better in the TA group (9.30±0.82) than in the control group (6.44±1.06) (p=0.036). The final VA improved in 23 eyes (92%) in the TA group and in 14 eyes (63.64%) in the control group (p=0.008). The retinal attachment rates were 88% and 63.64% in the TA and control group, respectively (p=0.049). The two groups showed no significant difference in macular repositioning and PVR recurrent rate (p=0.215, 0.191). Temporary intraocular pressure elevation occurred in one eye in the TA group after emergency surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Early intravitreal TA injection for OGI effectively reduces TPVR, increases surgical success and improves visual prognosis.

Pectin-rich dragon fruit peel extracts: An environmentally friendly emulsifier of natural origin.

Pectin extraction is generally an energy-intensive industrial process, while on the other hand their extraction methods vary from different sources. Starting with that perspective, pectin (WSP) containing ultra-low degree of methylation (31.08 ± 1.27%) from dragon fruit peel (DFP) was extracted by using pure water at room temperature. WSP, dominant in DFP (17.13 ± 1.01%), showed both a high molecular weight and a wide molecular weight distribution, while the yield of the rest acid-soluble pectin (HAP) from DFP residue was only 5.22 ± 0.76%. Furthermore, WSP can stabilize emulsions over a wide range of concentrations and oil phases, especially HIPE. Therefore, the hypothesis was verified that the pectin-rich extract from dragon fruit peel with excellent emulsifying properties could be simply extracted by pure water. This environmentally-friendly and energy-saving extraction method provides a new insight to increase the additional value of dragon fruit peel produced in food processing.

Transmembrane nuclease NUMEN/ENDOD1 regulates DNA repair pathway choice at the nuclear periphery.

Proper repair of DNA damage lesions is essential to maintaining genome integrity and preventing the development of human diseases, including cancer. Increasing evidence suggests the importance of the nuclear envelope in the spatial regulation of DNA repair, although the mechanisms of such regulatory processes remain poorly defined. Through a genome-wide synthetic viability screen for PARP-inhibitor resistance using an inducible CRISPR-Cas9 platform and BRCA1-deficient breast cancer cells, we identified a transmembrane nuclease (renamed NUMEN) that could facilitate compartmentalized and non-homologous end joining-dependent repair of double-stranded DNA breaks at the nuclear periphery. Collectively, our data demonstrate that NUMEN generates short 5' overhangs through its endonuclease and 3'→5' exonuclease activities, promotes the repair of DNA lesions-including heterochromatic lamina-associated domain breaks as well as deprotected telomeres-and functions as a downstream effector of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit. These findings underline the role of NUMEN as a key player in DNA repair pathway choice and genome-stability maintenance, and have implications for ongoing research into the development and treatment of genome instability disorders.

Glaucoma in rural China (the Rural Epidemiology for Glaucoma in China (REG-China)): a national cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of glaucoma with associated factors in the rural populations of 10 provinces in China. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: All participants aged 6 years or older from 10 provinces completed visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, ophthalmoscopy and non-contact tonometry. Glaucoma suspects underwent fundus photography, Goldmann applanation tonometry, visual field testing and gonioscopy. Glaucoma was determined according to the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology classification scheme. Associations of demographics and medical factors with glaucoma were assessed using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: From June 2017 to October 2018, 48 398 of 52 041 participants were included in the final analyses. The age-standardised prevalence of glaucoma was 1.7% (95% CI 1.55% to 1.78%) among the participants older than 6 years, which was 2.1% (95% CI 1.93% to 2.23%) in participants aged over 40 years. The constituent ratios of glaucoma were: 44.4% primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), 34.7% primary open-angle glaucoma, 2.6% congenital glaucoma and 18.3% other types of glaucoma. Increasing age, smoking, cerebral stroke, type 2 diabetes, higher education (college or more) and higher personal income were significant risk factors for PACG. The unilateral and bilateral blindness rates in the entire study population were 4.692% and 1.068%, respectively. A family history of glaucoma was a significant risk factor for the prevalence of glaucoma and blindness in at least one eye. CONCLUSIONS: Rural populations have a high prevalence of glaucoma, which should be included in chronic disease management programmes in China for long-term care.

c-Mpl-del, a c-Mpl alternative splicing isoform, promotes AMKL progression and chemoresistance.

Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) is a clinically heterogeneous subtype of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by unrestricted megakaryoblast proliferation and poor prognosis. Thrombopoietin receptor c-Mpl is a primary regulator of megakaryopoeisis and a potent mitogenic receptor. Aberrant c-Mpl signaling has been implicated in a myriad of myeloid proliferative disorders, some of which can lead to AMKL, however, the role of c-Mpl in AMKL progression remains largely unexplored. Here, we identified increased expression of a c-Mpl alternative splicing isoform, c-Mpl-del, in AMKL patients. We found that c-Mpl-del expression was associated with enhanced AMKL cell proliferation and chemoresistance, and decreased survival in xenografted mice, while c-Mpl-del knockdown attenuated proliferation and restored apoptosis. Interestingly, we observed that c-Mpl-del exhibits preferential utilization of phosphorylated c-Mpl-del C-terminus Y607 and biased activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, which culminated in upregulation of GATA1 and downregulation of DDIT3-related apoptotic responses conducive to AMKL chemoresistance and proliferation. Thus, this study elucidates the critical roles of c-Mpl alternative splicing in AMKL progression and drug resistance, which may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications for leukemia accelerated by c-Mpl-del overexpression.

The antidepressant effects and serum metabonomics of bifid triple viable capsule in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Background: Probiotics have shown potential antidepressant effects. This study evaluated the effect and probable mechanisms of bifid triple viable capsules (BTVCs) on a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Materials and methods: Rats were randomly divided into Normal, CUMS model, fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLX), BTVCs, and FLX+BTVCs groups. Depressive-like behaviours, pathological changes in the hippocampus, changes in serum metabolites and potential biomarkers, and metabolic pathways were detected via behavioural tests, haematoxylin-eosin staining, nissl staining, non-targetted metabolomics, and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). Results: The rats displayed depressive-like behaviours after CUMS exposure, but BTVCs ameliorated the depressive-like behaviours. In addition, the pathological results showed that the hippocampal tissue was damaged in rats after CUMS exposure and that the damage was effectively alleviated by treatment with BTVCs. A total of 20 potential biomarkers were identified. Treatment with BTVCs regulated D-phenylalanine, methoxyeugenol, (±)-myristoylcarnitine, 18:3 (6Z, 9Z, 12Z) /P-18:1 (11Z), propionyl-L-carnitine, and arachidonic acid (AA) concentrations, all compounds that are involved with biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and AA metabolism. The IPA demonstrated that endothelin-1 signalling and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) signalling in neurons may be involved in the development of depression. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that BTVCs can alleviate depressive-like behaviours, restore damage to the hippocampus in CUMS rats and regulate serum metabolism, which may be related to endothelin-1 signalling or CREB signalling in neurons.

Pectin extracted from dragon fruit Peel: An exploration as a natural emulsifier.

As a potential source of pectin, the peel of dragon fruit is a by-product of fruit processing and will bring considerable economic benefits. In this study, pectin (DFP) was extracted from dragon fruit peel by using a hot-acid method, and two commercial pectins were used as controls to correlate structural differences with physical and chemical properties through systematic evaluation. The galacturonic acid (GalA) content, degree of esterification (DM) and molecular weight (Mw) of DFP were 87.02 ± 0.89 %, 37.26 ± 1.37 % and 1181.75 ± 11.21 kDa, respectively. The FTIR and XRD analysis also confirmed that DFP is ultra-low methoxylated pectin and also contains characteristic functional groups naturally present in pectin. Compared to APA140 and LMP, DFP showed excellent emulsification at low concentrations. In particular, the extraordinary antioxidant activity of DFP may be attributed to polyphenols in free or bound form. Overall, DFP can be considered as a promising emulsifier and the results of the study provide an alternative to natural sources of emulsifiers in the food industry.

Video-rate high-precision time-frequency multiplexed 3D coherent ranging.

Frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is an emerging 3D ranging technology that offers high sensitivity and ranging precision. Due to the limited bandwidth of digitizers and the speed limitations of beam steering using mechanical scanners, meter-scale FMCW LiDAR systems typically suffer from a low 3D frame rate, which greatly restricts their applications in real-time imaging of dynamic scenes. In this work, we report a high-speed FMCW based 3D imaging system, combining a grating for beam steering with a compressed time-frequency analysis approach for depth retrieval. We thoroughly investigate the localization accuracy and precision of our system both theoretically and experimentally. Finally, we demonstrate 3D imaging results of multiple static and moving objects, including a flexing human hand. The demonstrated technique achieves submillimeter localization accuracy over a tens-of-centimeter imaging range with an overall depth voxel acquisition rate of 7.6 MHz, enabling densely sampled 3D imaging at video rate.

Construction of a microenvironment immune gene model for predicting the prognosis of endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Infiltrating immune and stromal cells are important components of the endometrial cancer (EC) microenvironment, which has a significant effect on the biological behavior of EC, suggesting that unique immune-related genes may be associated with the prognosis of EC. However, the association of immune-related genes with the prognosis of EC has not been elucidated. We attempted to identify immune-related genes with potentially prognostic value in EC using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the relationship between immune microenvironment and EC. METHODS: We analyzed 578 EC samples from TCGA database and used weighted gene co-expression network analysis to screen out immune-related genes. We constructed a protein-protein interaction network and analyzed it using STRING and Cytoscape. Immune-related genes were analyzed through conjoint Cox regression and random forest algorithm analysis were to identify a multi-gene prediction model and stratify low-risk and high-risk groups of EC patients. Based on these data, we constructed a nomogram prediction model to improve prognosis assessment. Evaluation of Immunological, gene mutations and gene enrichment analysis were applied on these groups to quantify additional differences. RESULTS: Using conjoint Cox regression and random forest algorithm, we found that TRBC2, TRAC, LPXN, and ARHGAP30 were associated with the prognosis of EC and constructed four gene risk models for overall survival and a consistent nomogram. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve for 1-, 3-, and 5-y overall survival was 0.687, 0.699, and 0.76, respectively. These results were validated using a validation cohort. Immune-related pathways were mostly enriched in the low-risk group, which had higher levels of immune infiltration and immune status. CONCLUSION: Our study provides new insights for novel biomarkers and immunotherapy targets in EC.

Anti-inflammatory and osteoprotective effects of Chikusetsusaponin â £a on rheumatoid arthritis via the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease, for which no economical and safe target drug treatment is available. Chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa (CS-IVa), an active compound in Panax japonicus C.A. Mey, has a good anti-inflammatory effect, but whether this compound can serve as a targeted drug for RA and the corresponding therapeutic mechanism remain unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and bone-protecting effects of CS-IVa on RA and the possible corresponding mechanisms of action. METHODS: Biomarkers and underlying pathological mechanisms were examined by performing a bioinformatics analysis of RA synovial gene expression data profiles, and the feasibility of CS-IVa treatment for RA was predicted using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques. Histomorphological and molecular biology techniques were used to verify the feasibility and molecular mechanism of CS-IVa treatment for RA in vivo using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. RESULTS: CS-IVa alleviated symptoms and reduced the immune organ index, arthritis index, hind paw thickness, and number of swollen joints in the foot for CIA mice. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), and the Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway played important roles in the pathogenesis of RA. The results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that CS-IVa bound effectively to IFN-γ and IL-1ß and that the combined pose has good stability and flexibility. The histomorphological results showed that CS-IVa reduced joint histopathology scores, OARSI scores, and TRAP-positive cell counts. Molecular biology analysis indicated that CS-IVa reduced the concentration of inflammatory factors in the peripheral serum of CIA mice and suppressed the mRNA expression of these factors in the spleen in a dose-dependent manner. The protein expression level of the JAK/STAT pathway was also inhibited by CS-IVa. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study demonstrate a novel inhibitory effect of CS-IVa on inflammation and bone destruction in CIA mice, and the mechanism may be related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, which provides new insights into the development of CS-IVa as a therapeutic agent for RA.

Epidemiology of Sports-Related Eye Injuries Among Athletes in Tianjin, China.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of sports-related eye injuries among athletes in Tianjin, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2018 to October 2018. In this study, the athletes from Tianjin University of Sports, Tianjin Vocational College of Sports, and Tianjin provincial sports teams were selected for general investigation. In total, 1,673 athletes were invited and 1,413 participated in the study (response rate of 84.5%). Results: In total, 1,413 athletes were enrolled; 151 had suffered from sports-related eye injuries, with an incidence of 10.7% (95% CI: 9.1-12.0%). Handball (38.5%) was the sport with the highest incidence of eye injuries, followed by water polo (36.4%) and diving (26.7%). Overall, 42.4% of the athletes were injured by ball and 22.5% of injuries came from teammates. The eye injuries usually occurred during training (64.2%) and competitions (14.6%). Adnexa wound (51.7%) was the most common type of injury. About 11.9% of the athletes with eye injuries had the impaired vision; 66.7% failed to see doctors on time. The athletes <18 years of age had a higher risk of eye injuries (odds ratio [OR] =1.60, 95% CI: 1.06-2.40). The athletes with lower family income (<1,000 RMB) were at risk population for sports-related eye injuries (OR = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.24-6.82). Training >4 h a day increased the risk of eye injuries (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.42-3.43). Conclusion: The incidence of sports-related eye injuries among athletes was 10.7% in Tianjin, China. Handball, water polo, and diving were the most common activities of injury. Age, family income, and training time were the risk factors for sports-related eye injuries.

A seven-gene prognostic signature predicts overall survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most common types in the world with a high mortality rate. Despite advances in treatment strategies, the overall survival (OS) remains short. Our study aims to establish a reliable prognostic signature closely related to the survival of LUAD patients that can better predict prognosis and possibly help with individual monitoring of LUAD patients. METHODS: Raw RNA-sequencing data were obtained from Fudan University and used as a training group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for the training group were screened. The univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate cox regression analysis were conducted to identify the candidate prognostic genes and construct the risk score model. Kaplan-Meier analysis, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the prognostic power and performance of the signature. Moreover, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-LUAD) dataset was further used to validate the predictive ability of prognostic signature. RESULTS: A prognostic signature consisting of seven prognostic-related genes was constructed using the training group. The 7-gene prognostic signature significantly grouped patients in high and low-risk groups in terms of overall survival in the training cohort [hazard ratio, HR = 8.94, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)] [2.041-39.2]; P = 0.0004), and in the validation cohort (HR = 2.41, 95% CI [1.779-3.276]; P < 0.0001). Cox regression analysis (univariate and multivariate) demonstrated that the seven-gene signature is an independent prognostic biomarker for predicting the survival of LUAD patients. ROC curves revealed that the 7-gene prognostic signature achieved a good performance in training and validation groups (AUC = 0.91, AUC = 0.7 respectively) in predicting OS for LUAD patients. Furthermore, the stratified analysis of the signature showed another classification to predict the prognosis. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested a new and reliable prognostic signature that has a significant implication in predicting overall survival for LUAD patients and may help with early diagnosis and making effective clinical decisions regarding potential individual treatment.

Candida albicans requires iron to sustain hyphal growth.

Candida albicans is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen of immunocompromised individuals. The ability to switch between yeast and hyphal growth forms is critical for its pathogenesis. Hyphal development in C. albicans requires two temporally linked regulations for initiation and maintenance. Here, we performed transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) to analyze the transcriptional consequences for the two different phases of hyphal development. Genome-wide transcription profiling reveals that the sets associated with hyphal initiation were significantly enriched in genes for hyphal cell wall, biofilm matrix and actin polarization. In addition to hypha-specific genes, numerous genes involved in iron acquisition, such as FTR1 and SEF1, are highly induced specifically during sustained hyphal development even when additional free iron is supplied in the medium. Therefore, iron uptake genes are induced by signals that can support prolonged hyphal development in an iron-independent manner. The induction of iron acquisition genes during hyphal elongation was further confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR under various hypha-inducing conditions. Remarkably, preventing C. albicans from acquiring iron blocks BRG1 activation, leading to impaired hyphal maintenance, and ectopically expressed BRG1 can sustain hyphal development bypassing the requirement of iron. Our study elucidates an underlying mechanism of how multiple virulence factors are interconnected and are induced simultaneously during infection.

Repair of unilateral combined orbital floor and medial wall fracture using two titanium mesh plates: a modified technique.

BACKGROUND: Compared to isolated orbital wall fracture, combined orbital floor and medial wall fractures are more likely to be required surgical correction due to a higher possibility of complications. However, it remains a challenge to repair concomitant orbital fracture using a one-piece implant due to the complex anatomic structures of the orbit. Aiming to reduce surgical difficulties and enhance therapeutic effects, we repaired unilateral combined orbital floor and medial wall fractures using two separated modified titanium mesh plates in this study. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 21 consecutive patients who presented with unilateral combined orbital floor and medial wall fractures in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between November 2010 and January 2016. The orbital fractures were repaired with two separated titanium mesh plates. The corner at the transition zone area between the orbital floor and the medial wall was reconstructed simultaneously through a combined transcaruncular and inferior subciliary approach with lateral canthotomy. The pre- and post-operative functions and aesthetic results were evaluated. RESULTS: Preoperatively, all patients presented with 3.5-6.5 mm enophthalmos, five patients presented with diplopia with ocular motility limitation in injured eyes, and six patients presented with hypoglobus ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 mm. Orbital floor and medial wall fractures of all patients were successfully repaired with two separated titanium mesh plates. Postoperatively, enophthalmos was improved in all patients, which was less than 2 mm on the last follow-up day. Hypoglobus was disappeared in all six patients postoperatively. Diplopia was resolved in five patients within 3 months post operation, and was reduced in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of unilateral concomitant orbital floor and medial wall fractures, two titanium mesh plates implantation is a safe and effective procedure. It is worthwhile to take the technique into account when the key points to consider when applying this method include reconstruction of the special orbital shape and the complete return reposition of prolapsed intraorbital soft tissues were intended.

Prevalence and causes of bilateral visual impairment in rural areas of Tianjin, China - The Tianjin Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence, causes and risk factors of bilateral visual impairment in rural areas of Tianjin, China. METHODS: A large population-based, cross-sectional study. A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to investigate 12 233 participants in all age groups living in rural Tianjin. Participants completed questionnaires and received professional ophthalmology examinations. RESULTS: According to World Health Organization best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) criteria, the crude prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (BCVA < 20/63), bilateral low vision (BCVA < 20/63 to ≥20/400) and bilateral blindness (BCVA < 20/400) was 2.53%, 2.40% and 0.14% (age- and gender-standardized prevalence was 1.86%, 1.76% and 0.11%). The prevalence increased with age and was higher in women than men. The most common causes of bilateral visual impairment in the total population were cataract (48.39%), refractive error/amblyopia (17.74%), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (10.00%), diabetic retinopathy (5.81%) and glaucoma (3.87%). For participants younger than 50 years, refractive error/amblyopia was the leading cause of low vision and blindness, while cataract was the major cause in the participants over 50. Female gender, older age and self-reported diabetes were associated with increased risks of visual impairment. CONCLUSION: The age- and gender-standardized prevalence of low vision, especially in the older group (50+), was higher in this study compared with previous studies in China. Refractive error/amblyopia was the leading cause of bilateral visual impairment in younger group, while cataract was the primary cause in the older group. These findings will provide useful information for planning comprehensive eye healthcare programmes in China.