Effect of SMILE-derived decellularized lenticules as an adhesion barrier in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-derived decellularized lenticules on intraocular pressure (IOP) and conjunctival scarring in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery. METHODS: Trabeculectomy was performed on both eyes of New Zealand rabbits. A decellularized lenticule was placed in the subconjunctival space in one eye of the rabbits (the decellularized lenticule group), and no adjunctive treatment was performed in the fellow eye (the control group). The filtering bleb features and IOP were evaluated 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after surgery, and histopathologic examination was performed 28 days after surgery. RESULTS: Decellularized lenticules significantly increased bleb survival and decreased IOP postoperatively in the rabbit model with no adverse side effects. The histopathologic results showed a larger subconjunctival space and less subconjunctival fibrosis in the decellularized lenticule group. CONCLUSIONS: Decellularized lenticules can prevent postoperative conjunctiva-sclera adhesion and fibrosis, and they may represent a novel antifibrotic agent for trabeculectomy.

The predictive value of total testosterone alone for clinical hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is the sole measurement of total testosterone sufficient to assess the presence of hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? DESIGN: Serum samples from 294 patients with PCOS who met the Rotterdam criteria were used for the analysis of total testosterone by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). The free androgen index (FAI) was calculated as total testosterone (TT)/sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) × 100%, and the presence/degree of hirsutism were assessed using the modified and simplified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG and sFG, respectively) scoring systems. RESULTS: The hirsute subjects presented higher LC-MS/MS-based total testosterone and FAI values than the non-hirsute subjects (all P < 0.001), including those defined based on mFG ≥5 or sFG ≥3. Total testosterone and FAI were both positively correlated with the mFG (rank correlation coefficient [RCC] 0.598 and 0.443, P < 0.001) or sFG (RCC 0.747 and 0.568, P < 0.001) score, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that both parameters could significantly predict the presence of hirsutism determined by the mFG (area under the curve [AUC] 0.797 and 0.725, P < 0.001) or sFG (AUC 0.894 and 0.817, P < 0.001) score. However, similar results were not obtained with the CLIA platform. CONCLUSIONS: In this East Asian population, total testosterone was found to be a strong predictor of the presence and degree of hyperandrogenism (i.e. assessed by the presence and degree of hirsutism), but this finding was obtained only if the total testosterone level was measured by LC-MS/MS and not by CLIA. These findings might have important implications for global epidemiologic, phenotypic and clinical studies of PCOS.

Investigation of predictability and influence factors of the achieved lenticule thickness in small incision lenticule extraction.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the differences between the predicted and achieved lenticule thickness (ΔLT) after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery and investigate relationships between ΔLT and predicted lenticule thickness in SMILE. METHODS: A total of 184 eyes from 184 consecutive patients who underwent SMILE were included in this prospective study. One eye for each patient was randomly selected and included for statistical analysis. To achieve emmetropia, nomogram adds 10% correction of spherical refractive. An ultrasound pachymetry measurement and Scheimpflug camera corneal topography were obtained before and at 3 months after SMILE. The achieved lenticule thickness was calculated by comparing the preoperative examinations with postoperative examinations using ultrasound pachymetry and Pentacam software measurements. The pupil center and corneal vertex were selected as the 2 locations for measurement calculation on Pentacam. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare mean pachymetry values using different instruments. Linear regression analyses were performed between the VisuMax readout lenticule thicknesses and the measured maximum corneal change, between ΔLT and predicted lenticule thickness. RESULTS: On average, the achieved lenticule thickness measured with ultrasound pachymetry was 13.02 ± 8.87 µm thinner than the predicted lenticule thickness. The proportion of ΔLT in predicted values is 11.9% (ultrasound) and about 15% (Pentacam). Linear regression analysis showed significant relationships between the predicted and each achieved lenticule thickness. Each ΔLT was significantly related to predicted lenticule thickness (ultrasound: R2 = 0.242; pupil center from Pentacam: R2 = 0.230). CONCLUSIONS: An overestimation of achieved lenticule thickness was evident in this study which may exclude eligible SMILE patient. Also, our results showed that 10% increase of spherical refractive correction in the nomogram is appropriate. Furthermore, clinicians should subtract 10% of the predicted lenticule thickness to calculate the residual corneal stroma bed thickness.

Comparative study of anterior segment measurements using 3 different instruments in myopic patients after ICL implantation.

BACKGROUND: To compare and correlate anterior segment measurements of myopic eyes implanted with Implantable Collamer lens (ICL V4c) by using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), Pentacam and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). METHODS: Anterior chamber depth (ACD), distance between corneal endothelium and anterior surface of ICL(C-ICL) and central vault were measured in 82 phakic myopic eyes of 82 patients who underwent ICL surgery, by using AS-OCT, Pentacam and UBM consecutively at 3 months follow up. The correlation and agreement of instruments were accessed by using Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: AS-OCT showed higher ACD, C -ICL and central vault measurements than both of Pentacam and UBM (P < 0.001), while Pentacam showed lower measurements than UBM (P < 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was 0.91 to 0.96, and ICC was 0.95 to 0.98 for all measurements between difference devices (all P < 0.001). The 95% limits of agreement of ACD, C-ICL, vault measurements were 0.13 to 0.38 mm, - 0.07 to 0.27 mm, 0.08 to 0.34 mm between AS-OCT and Pentacam, - 0.03 to 0.33 mm, - 0.16 to 0.31 mm, - 0.10 to 0.26 mm between AS-OCT and UBM, and - 0.29 to 0.07 mm, - 0.25 to 0.20 mm, - 0.31 to 0.05 mm between Pentacam and UBM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AS-OCT demonstrated significantly higher value, while Pentacam demonstrated significantly lower value than UBM for ACD, C-ICL and central vault measurements in myopic eyes after ICL surgery. Measurements with these instruments were highly correlated, but could not replace each other especially for vault. This study provided valuable information about how to judge the results of anterior segment parameters of eyes implanted with ICL V4c from different devices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-16008987 . Retrospectively registered: 08 August 2016.

Close correlation between hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome-Based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry measurements.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the correlation between hyperandrogenism (HA) and insulin resistance (IR) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by measuring serum total testosterone (TT) using a liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry assay (LC-MS/MS). METHODS: This cohort study included 332 patients with PCOS, 63 patients with IR and 276 with controls. TT levels were measured by LC-MS/MS and chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA); glucose and insulin levels were determined by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: Compared with CLIA, LC-MS/MS differentiated more cases with high TT levels among the non-PCOS subjects with IR In patients with PCOS, LC-MS/MS-based TT levels or a combination with the mFG score detected a significantly higher incidence of HA in subjects with IR identified by hyperinsulinemia (HIN), HOMA-IR or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) than in those without IR Conversely, the IR rates demonstrated by HIN, HOMA-IR, or IFG were remarkably higher in the LC-MS/MS-defined high TT subgroup than in the normal TT subgroup. However, the CLIA platform could not discern a difference in HA incidence between IR and non-IR subgroups or in IR rate between high and normal TT populations. ROC curves also proved that HIN, HOMA-IR, and IFG were positive contributors to HA as measured by LC-MS/MS CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between HA and IR has always been underestimated, partly owing to the less accurate methods previously used to measure TT. HIN, HOMA-IR, and IFG are likely to contribute to the development of HA from a clinical perspective.

Autophagy regulation revealed by SapM-induced block of autophagosome-lysosome fusion via binding RAB7.

The mechanism underlying autophagy alteration by mycobacterium tuberculosis remains unclear. Our previous study shows LpqH, a lipoprotein of mycobacterium tuberculosis, can cause autophagosomes accumulation in murine macrophages. It is well known that SapM, another virulence factor, plays an important role in blocking phagosome-endosome fusion. However, the mechanism that SapM interferes with autophagy remains poorly defined. In this study, we report that SapM suppresses the autophagy flux by blocking autophagosome fusion with lysosome. Exposure to SapM results in accumulations of autophagosomes and decreased co-localization of autophagosome with lysosome. Molecularly, Rab7, a small GTPase, is blocked by SapM through its CT domain and is prevented from involvement of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. In conclusion, our study reveals that SapM takes Rab7 as a previously unknown target to govern a distinct molecular mechanism underlying autophagosome-lysosome fusion, which may bring light to a new thought about developing potential drugs or vaccines against tuberculosis.

Small-incision lenticule extraction for myopia: results of a 12-month prospective study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the safety, efficacy, stability, and predictability of small-incision lenticule extraction to correct myopia. METHODS: Patients were evaluated preoperatively and then at 1 day, at 2 weeks, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Safety, efficacy, stability, predictability, and surgical complications were assessed. Changes in higher-order aberrations, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, dry eye signs, contrast sensitivity, and subjective glare symptoms were evaluated. RESULTS: All 52 myopic patients in the initial treatment group completed the final 12-month follow-up. At 12 months, 90.4% of eyes were within ±0.5 diopters (D) of the intended refractive target. The mean (±SD) change in manifest refraction from 1 day to 12 months was -0.06 (±0.37) D. The uncorrected visual acuity was better than or equal to 20/20 in 83% of eyes; 98% of eyes had a best-corrected visual acuity of better than or equal to 20/20. No eye lost two or more Snellen lines. There was an increase in higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, and coma postoperatively. No significant increase in intraocular pressure occurred. The tear breakup time decreased significantly after surgery and did not return to preoperative levels within 12 months. The log contrast sensitivity value with glare of 6.3, 4.0, 2.5, and 1.6 degrees of visual angle at 1 month was statistically significantly reduced but recovered to preoperative levels after 3 months. Twenty-seven percent of patients complained of mild or moderate glare postoperatively, but the symptoms disappeared during the 12-month follow-up period with no influence on daily life. No vision-threatening complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Small-incision lenticule extraction is a promising corneal refractive procedure to correct myopia.

Pupil Diameter Changes in High Myopes after Collamer Lens Implantation.

PURPOSE: To observe the changes in pupil size under photopic and scotopic conditions after Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantations in eyes with high myopia. METHODS: The ICL was implanted in 90 eyes belonging to 45 patients with high myopia. Photopic pupil diameters, scotopic pupil diameters, anterior chamber depths, and ICL vaults were examined at the preoperative, postoperative 1-month, and postoperative 3-month stages. The preoperative and postoperative photopic pupil diameters and scotopic pupil diameters were also compared with each other to note the differences between them. The correlations between preoperative and postoperative pupil diameter changes under different light conditions and presurgical refractive error were analyzed alongside patient's age and ICL vault. RESULTS: Pupil diameters at both postoperative 1-month and postoperative 3-month stages were smaller than those before operation in distinct light environments, as well as pupil constriction amplitude. Correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant correlation between pupil diameter changes under different light conditions and presurgical refractive error at 1 month and 3 months after ICL implantation; pupil diameter decreased more when presurgical refractive error powers were less myopic. Statistically significant correlations were not found, however, with patient's age and ICL vault. Postoperative 1-month and mean postoperative 3-month anterior chamber depths were decreased when compared with preoperative anterior chamber depths. Statistically significant correlations were found in change in preoperative and postoperative anterior chamber depth and ICL vault. No statistically significant difference was found between ICL vault at the postoperative 1-month and postoperative 3-month stages. CONCLUSIONS: Pupil diameter may decrease at the 1- and 3-month stages after ICL implantation under both photopic and scotopic conditions. This indicates that reduction of pupil diameter may be caused by mechanical contact between the ICL and the posterior iris surface.

Exome sequencing identifies a de novo mutation in HDAC8 associated with Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous developmental disorder. The clinical features of CdLS include growth retardation, intellectual disability, limb defects, typical facial dysmorphism and other systemic involvement. Here, we present the clinical and genetic characterization of a sporadic CdLS trio. The proband is a 7-year-old girl with typical CdLS, and both parents are apparently healthy. Whole-exome sequencing of the patient and of both her unaffected parents revealed a previously unobserved de novo mutation in exon 6 of the HDAC8 gene (chrX: 71684483, c.586 A>T; p.M196K). Thus, we have further founded that the p.M196K mutation in HDAC8 is a relevant causal mutation for CdLS.

Dry eye after small incision lenticule extraction and LASIK for myopia.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and LASIK with either femtosecond laser or mechanical microkeratome on dry eye. METHODS: A total of 176 patients (338 eyes) who underwent refractive procedures for myopia were observed in this nonrandomized, interventional, prospective study. To evaluate dry eye, the Schirmer secretion test without anesthesia, tear break-up time, and the McMonnies questionnaire were used preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In all groups, there was no significant decrease in the results from the Schirmer secretion test without anesthesia after surgery. The value in the LASIK group was significantly lower than any other group at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. In all groups, the tear break-up time decreased significantly after surgery and did not return to preoperative levels within 6 months; the SMILE group time lasted significantly longer than the LASIK group at 1 month. The McMonnies score increased significantly in all groups after surgery. The preoperative levels returned within 6 months in all groups except the LASIK group. The mean McMonnies score in the SMILE group was better than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dry eye after corneal refractive surgery usually occurs transiently. The SMILE procedure had better dry eye parameters and relatively fewer subjective symptoms than LASIK.

Comparison of the visual results after SMILE and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK for myopia.

PURPOSE: To perform a comparative clinical analysis of the safety, efficacy, and predictability of two surgical procedures (ie, small incision lenticule extraction [SMILE] and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK [FS-LASIK]) to correct myopia. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 31 patients with a mean spherical equivalent of -5.13 ± 1.75 diopters underwent myopia correction with the SMILE procedure. Fifty-one eyes of 27 patients with a mean spherical equivalent of -5.58 ± 2.41 diopters were treated with the FS-LASIK procedure. Postoperative uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, manifest refraction, and higher-order aberrations were analyzed statistically at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found at 1 and 3 months in parameters that included the percentage of eyes with an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better (P = .556, .920) and mean spherical equivalent refraction (P = .055, .335). At 1 month, 4 SMILE-treated eyes and 1 FS-LASIK-treated eye lost one or more line of visual acuity (P = .214, chi-square test). At 3 months, 2 SMILE-treated eyes lost one or more line of visual acuity, whereas all FS-LASIK-treated eyes had an unchanged or corrected distance visual acuity. Higher-order aberrations and spherical aberration were significantly lower in the SMILE group than the FS-LASIK group at 1 (P = .007, .000) and 3 (P = .006, .000) months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SMILE and FS-LASIK are safe, effective, and predictable surgical procedures to treat myopia. SMILE has a lower induction rate of higher-order aberrations and spherical aberration than the FS-LASIK procedure.

Uveal melanoma in the peripheral choroid masquerading as chronic uveitis.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of uveal melanoma in the peripheral choroid masquerading as chronic uveitis and to raise awareness about malignant masquerade syndromes. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old Chinese woman presented from an outside ophthalmologist with a 6-month history of unilateral chronic uveitis unresponsive to medical therapy in the left eye. She was found to have a uveal melanoma in the retinal periphery and underwent successful enucleation of her left eye. The histopathological diagnosis confirmed the clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: When uveal melanoma presents in an atypical way, the diagnosis is more difficult. This case highlights the uncommon presentations of malignant melanoma of the choroid. It provides valuable information on how peripheral uveal melanoma can present with clinical signs consistent with an anterior uveitis.

Penicillium marneffei infection: an emerging disease in mainland China.

Penicillium marneffei is an emerging pathogenic fungus that can cause a life-threatening systemic mycosis in immunocompromised hosts, especially in patients with AIDS. This infection is endemic in Southeast Asia. With the prevalence of AIDS in this area, the number of patients with systemic penicilliosis marneffei is found to be increasing rapidly in mainland China in recent years. We recently reviewed 668 cases of penicilliosis marneffei in mainland China from January 1984 to December 2009 in cnki, cqvip, CBMdisc and PubMed. We analyzed epidemiological and clinical features, laboratory findings, reaction to therapy and prognosis of the disease. We found that 99.4% of the cases were reported in the southern part of China; among these cases, 42.8% were from Guangxi (286 cases) and 40.6% were from Guangdong province (271 cases). Five hundred and eighty-six cases (87.7%) of penicilliosis marneffei were reported with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus, 25 cases (3.8%) with other immunocompromised diseases, and 57 cases (8.5%) without any documented underlying diseases. Fever, weight loss, anemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, respiratory signs and skin lesions were the common clinical manifestations of P. marneffei infections. The 569 cases received antifungal therapy with a mortality of 24.3% (138 cases), 99 cases who had not received antifungal therapy had a mortality of 50.6%. P. marneffei was an emerging pathogenic fungus and become a medical and public health importance in mainland China. The immunocompromised patients should pay more attention to P. marneffei infection in the endemic areas.

A refractory case of chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea monophora with improvement by photodynamic therapy.

Chromoblastomycosis is one of the most frequently encountered mycoses in tropical and temperate regions caused by the implantation of the infectious structures and one which is associated with low cure and high relapse rates. The etiologic agents play a critical role affecting clinical outcome and in southern China, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and F. monophora are the main causative agents of chromoblastomycosis. We treated, for two years, a 55-year-old male patient with chromoblastomycosis caused by F. monophora with itraconazole and terbinafine, two antifungals recommend in earlier papers in the literature but without any positive response. As a result we introduced the photodynamic therapy (PDT) employing 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) irradiation. The lesions were improved after two periods of ALA-PDT treatment, each consisting of exposures at weekly intervals for 5 weeks but new lesions developed with the cessation of ALA-PDT treatment. Thereafter, positive clinical improvement was obtained when voriconazole at 200 mg was combined with terbinafine at 250 mg in treating the patient. The in vitro susceptibility of the F. monophora isolate to terbinafine, itraconazole, and voriconazole was assessed and the fungus was found to be sensitive to all three, with the minimal inhibitory concentrations of 0.125, 1, 0.0625 µg/ml, respectively. However, the determination of in vitro susceptibility profiles may not predict clinical response.

Severe myopic anisometropia in a Chinese family.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe a Chinese four-generation family with severe myopic anisometropia and to explore the possible pathogenesis for this disease. METHODS: Eighteen individuals of a four-generation family participated in the study, including a pair of monozygotic (MZ) twins. A detailed family history and clinical data were recorded. All participants were subjected to ophthalmologic examinations including refractive error, slitlamp, and fundus examination. B-scan and A-scan ultrasonography were additionally ordered for each affected patient for further evaluation. Optical refractive correction was prescribed, and full-time occlusion therapy of 6 days weekly in right eye and 1 day weekly in left eye was prescribed for the MZ twins. RESULTS: Five individuals were affected with severe myopic anisometropia within this family, including the pair of MZ twins. In all affected individuals, the right eyes were more myopic than the left eyes, and axial length and anterior chamber depth measurements in the more myopic eyes were longer. After 6 months of therapy, the best corrected visual acuity in the amblyopic eye of the MZ twins improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The co-occurrence of severe myopic anisometropia in five individuals of the family supports a genetic basis for the disease. The successful therapeutic effect on anisometropic amblyopia highlights the importance of early detection and timely treatment.

Retinal measurements using time domain OCT imaging before and after myopic Lasik.

PURPOSE: To compare retinal measurements obtained by time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices before and after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (Lasik) and to assess the interaction of Lasik and retinal structures as measured by time domain OCT. METHODS: Fifty-three patients randomly selected participated in the study. Only the right eye of each subject was included in the study. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including refraction examination, slit lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, corneal topography, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and retinal Stratus OCT scans were acquired for each patient before myopic Lasik and 3months after surgery. RESULTS: Total macular volume (TMV) changed significantly between preoperative and postoperative measurements (p=0.003). No statistical differences were found between preoperative and postoperative disc area, rim area, cup/disk vert. ratio, or average foveal thickness (p>0.05). The variation in TMV correlated significantly with the change in spherical refraction equivalent, maximal corneal curvature, minimal corneal curvature, and corneal ablation depth. CONCLUSIONS: Most retinal OCT measurements undergo no obvious changes after myopic Lasik. The increased TMV measurements we measured after Lasik seem to be correlated with the alteration in corneal shape. The exact mechanism for this change is not clear, while we examined several possibilities including subclinical macular oedema, magnification changes, errors in OCT analysis and IOP, none of these seem to be a likely cause.

Relationship of chromatic visual-evoked potentials and the changes of foveal photoreceptor layer in central serous chorioretinopathy patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relative involvement of chromatic and achromatic visual subsystems in central serous chorioretinopathy, and to correlate the function changes with the changes of the foveal photoreceptor layer using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). METHODS: Central serous chorioretinopathy patients and control subjects were tested and compared. Equiluminant Chromatic sinusoidal gratings were presented in a pattern onset-offset mode. We measured the distance between the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and the external limiting membrane (ELM) on FD-OCT images. RESULTS: Visual evoked potential mean latency was delayed significantly in central serous chorioretinopathy patients compared to controls. The visual evoked potential delay was greater for chromatic than for achromatic stimuli. Retinal thickness from ILM to ELM was associated significantly and selectively with short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone visual evoked potential latency (r = -0.40, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with data that indicate the loss of photoreceptors in central serous chorioretinopathy resulting in a reduced thickness of the outer nuclear layer. Additionally, they are consistent with data which indicate that the photoreceptor loss is relatively greater in cones. The S-cone pathway was affected the most.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and immunolocalization of two lactate dehydrogenase homologous genes from Taenia solium.

Two novel genes encoding lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and B (LDHB) homologues, respectively, were identified from the cDNA libraries of adult Taenia solium (T. solium). The two deduced amino acid sequences both show more than 50% identity to the homologues for Danio rerio, Xenopus laevis, Schistosoma japonicum, Sus scrofa, Homo sapiens, et al. The identity of the amino acid sequence between TsLDHA and TsLDHB is 57.4%, and that of the nucleotide sequence is 61.5%. Recombinant TsLDHA homologue (rTsLDHA) and TsLDHB homologue (rTsLDHB) were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21/DE3 and purified. Though there were some differences in the sequence, the two LDH isozyme homologues show similarity in the conserved LDH domain, topological structure, primary immunological traits, localization on the tegument of T. solium adult, and partial physicochemical properties. The linear B-cell epitope analysis of TsLDHA and TsLDHB discovered a TsLDHA specific epitope. The purified rTsLDHA and rTsLDHB could be recognized by rat immuno-sera, serum from swine, or a patient infected with T. solium, respectively, but Western blot analysis showed cross-reactions, not only between these two LDH members but also with other common human tapeworms or helminths. The results suggested that the two LDH homologues are similar in the characteristics of LDH family, and they are not specific antigens for immunodiagnosis.

Isolation of Penicillium marneffei from soil and wild rodents in Guangdong, SE China.

Infection by Penicillium marneffei is an important emerging public health problem, especially among travelers and inhabitants in SE China and SE Asia infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In recent years, the number of patients with penicilliosis marneffei (PM) has increased rapidly in Guangdong province, SE China. However, the natural habitat and transmission mode of the etiologic agent remains unclear. In this study, wild rats (Microtus, focus Rattus and Rhizomys pruinosus) and soil samples were collected from rat burrows, populated and rural areas from November 2007 to December 2008 for fungus cultures. All isolates, suspected of being P. marneffei, were identified by gross and microscopic morphology and ITS analysis. Sixteen of 23 (about 70%) bamboo rats were P. marneffei positive, whereas none was recovered from hamsters, loirs or soil. This suggests that as of today the bamboo rat is the exclusive natural reservoir for P. marneffei. Definite evidence that rodents are a part of the infectious cycle is still lacking.

[Clinical evaluation of laser in situ keratomileusis operation with three different ablative patterns].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcome among three different laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ablations: Q-factor customized ablation (aberration smart ablation, ASA), wave-front guided ablation (WASCA) and ablation under wave-front guiding plus iris recognition system (IR+WASCA). METHODS: This prospective study comprised 96 eyes of 96 patients, and they were randomly divided into three groups: 30 patients in ASA group, 32 in WASCA group, and 34 in IR+WASCA group. There were no any statistical differences in spherical equivalent (SE), age, sex, pupil diameter, higher-order aberrations (HOA) among three groups preoperatively. Wave-front analysis was performed before and 1, 3 months after operation. RESULT: All patients got an uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) ≥ 0.8 1 and 3 months after operation. The residual SE was in ± 0.50D both at 1 and 3 months after surgery. There was no statistical difference in SE value, HOA, change of HOA, and coma aberration postoperatively among three groups. Horizontal coma (Z3¹) aberration took the majority of coma. HOA, total coma aberrations and spherical aberration increased postoperatively (P = 0.000), but without significant difference between 1 month and 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: That three customized LASIK are all effective, safe, accurate and stable; meanwhile WASCA may have better UCVA than the other two groups postoperatively.