[A multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of compound wild chrysanthemum eye masks for mild and moderate dry eye].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of compound wild chrysanthemum eye masks for mild and moderate dry eye. Methods: In this double-masked, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, middle-aged and elderly patients with mild and moderate dry eye were enrolled from six hospitals (Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hebei Eye Hospital). The patients were assigned to the compound wild chrysanthemum eye mask group and the eye mask simulator group based on the random number table. Subjective symptoms of dry eye, visual acuity, break-up time (BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test, and corneal fluorescent staining were evaluated in all patients before treatment and at 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. All adverse reactions during the treatment and follow-up were recorded. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled. Among them, 112 subjects were included for statistical analyses after the exclusion of 8 subjects who were lost for follow-up or had an adverse event, with an age of (54.26±7.44) years. All the indicators were equally comparable between the two groups. Before treatment and at 1 and 2 weeks after treatment, the median (lower quartile, upper quartile) of total score of questionnaires in the eye mask group was 14.50 (10.00, 19.00), 9.00 (5.00, 14.00) and 7.00 (4.00, 10.00), respectively, and that in the control group was 14.00 (9.00, 22.50), 12.00 (6.00, 20.00) and 10.00 (3.50, 17.00), respectively. The score decreased significantly in both groups after 1 week (t=9.1604, S=398.00; P<0.01) and 2 weeks (S=681.00, 575.50; P<0.05) of treatment. The total score of questionnaires in the eye mask group was significantly lower than that in the control group (Z=3.27, 2.81; P<0.05) after treatment. After 1 week of treatment, the average BUT of the eye mask group was (5.71±2.31) s, which was significantly longer than that before treatment (5.06±2.00) s (S =208.50, P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in the control group (S=150.00, P>0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, there was statistically significant difference in BUT between the two groups (S=407.00, t=3.07; P<0.01). After 1 week of the treatment, the amount of tear secretion in the eye mask group [(6.88±4.78) mm] was significantly larger than that before treatment (S=196.50, P<0.05), while the control group [(6.80±5.85) mm] showed no significant difference (S=55.00, P<0.05). After 2 weeks of the treatment, the amount increased significantly to (7.43±4.86) mm and (7.29±4.56) mm, respectively, in both groups (t=-3.29, -2.26; P<0.05). The difference in the average BUT, Schirmer Ⅰ test result and corneal fluorescent staining between both groups was not statistically significant at each time point. Five mild adverse events occurred, including 2 adverse events (2 times, 3.51%) in the eye mask group and 3 adverse events (4 times, 5.36%) in the control group. Conclusions: Compound wild chrysanthemum eye masks can effectively improve the symptoms and physical signs of mild and moderate dry eye and can be used as an auxiliary treatment. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 601-607).

Short communication: A decrease in diameter of milk fat globules accompanies milk fat depression induced by conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in lactating dairy cows.

Milk fat is secreted from the mammary gland in the form of milk fat globules (MFG). Although milk fat depression has been studied since the beginning of the last century, the extent to which this phenomenon alters MFG synthesis is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the size and distribution of MFG during milk fat depression in dairy cows. Twelve Holstein cows in mid lactation (145 ± 31 d in milk, 583 ± 34.6 kg of body weight, and 27.2 ± 2.4 kg of milk/d) were randomly assigned to a control diet or control plus Ca-protected CLA at 15 g/kg of dry matter for a 6-d period. The average diameter and particle size distribution of MFG were measured using a Mastersizer 3000 laser particle size analyzer (Malvern Instruments Ltd., Malvern, UK). Feeding CLA did not affect dry matter intake (16.2 ± 0.4 kg/d), milk production (28.4 ± 0.4 kg/d), milk protein, or lactose, but it decreased milk fat content (3.46 vs. 2.52%). In addition, surface area-related mean diameter of fat globules in cows fed CLA was lower compared with controls (3.02 vs. 3.45 µm). The percentage of large fat globules decreased and that of small fat globules increased in response to CLA. Overall, the data suggest that the milk fat depression induced by CLA is accompanied by a decrease in average diameter of MFG.

Elasticity, unexpected contractility and the identification of actin and myosin in lobster arteries.

Lobster arteries, which exhibit non-uniform elasticity when stretched, have a trilaminar organization. The inner layer is an elastic connective tissue and the outer layer is a collagenous connective tissue; the middle layer of an artery is an aggregation of cells containing microfilaments. Arterial cells possess actin, myosin and tropomyosin. Except for the dorsal abdominal artery, striated muscle cells are not evident in the walls of any of the vessels. The neurotransmitter glutamic acid and the neurohormone proctolin elicit slow circumferential contractions in all of the arteries leaving the lobster heart. Only the dorsal abdominal artery contracts when stimulated electrically. Longitudinal strips of the arteries do not respond to either drugs or electrical stimulation. Arterial contraction will have profound effects on resistance to blood flow and may be an important component of the control mechanisms regulating blood distribution.

New taxanes from the seeds of Taxus mairei.

Two new taxoid metabolites were isolated from the methanol extract of the Taxus mairei seeds. Their structures were established as 2alpha-hydroxy-9alpha,10beta,13alpha-triacetoxy-5alpha-cinnamoyloxytaxa-11-en-4beta,20-epoxide (1) and 2'-acetyl taxol (2) on the basis of spectral analysis.

Effect on infant mortality of iodination of irrigation water in a severely iodine-deficient area of China.

BACKGROUND: Hotien county in Xinjiang province, China, is an area of severe iodine deficiency and has a high infantmortality rate. We investigated whether iodine replacement through iodination of the irrigation water would decrease infant mortality. METHODS: We added potassium iodate to irrigation water over a 2 to 4 week period beginning in 1992 in certain areas of three townships (Tusala, Long Ru, and Bakechi). Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the odds ratios for infant and neonatal mortality in treated and intreated areas. FINDINGS: The median urinary iodine concentration significantly increased in women of child-bearing age from < 10 micrograms/L to 55 micrograms/L. Infant-mortality rates decreased in the treated areas of Long Ru (mean [SD] 58.2 [4.4] per 1000 births to 28.7 [7.1] per 1000 births), Tusala (47.4 [12.4] per 1000 births to 19.1 [1.5] per 1000 births), and Bakechi (106.2 [9.5] per 1000 births to 57.3 [7.3] per 1000 births). Similar results were also seen for neonatal mortality. On regression analysis iodine treatment and time were significant independent predictors of infant mortality. INTERPRETATION: Iodine supplementation of irrigation water in areas of severe iodine deficiency decreases neonatal and infant mortality. Iodine replacement has probably been an important factor in the national decrease in infant mortality in China.

PIP: Hotien county in Xinjiang province is an area of severe iodine deficiency which also has a high infant mortality rate (IMR). The authors investigated whether iodine replacement through iodination of irrigation water would decrease the level of infant mortality. Potassium iodine was added to irrigation water over a 2-4 week period beginning in 1992 in certain areas of Long Ru, Tusala, and Bakechi. The median urinary iodine concentration significantly increased in women of child-bearing age from less than 10 mg/l to 55 mg/l, while IMR decreased in Long Ru from a mean of 58.2/1000 births to 28.7/1000, in Tusala from 47.4/1000 to 19.1/1000, and in Bakechi from 106.2/1000 to 57.3/1000. Similar results were also observed for neonatal mortality. Iodine treatment and time were significant independent predictors of infant mortality.

Dynamics of environmental supplementation of iodine: four years' experience of iodination of irrigation water in Hotien, Xinjiang, China.

Hotien prefecture, Xinjiang Province, China, in the Taklamakan Desert, is an area of severe iodine deficiency. Because usual methods of iodine supplementation failed here, we began supplementation in 1992 with potassium iodate, which was added to irrigation water (Lancet 1994; 334:107-110). We report 4 y experience with this method in 3 townships that contained a total treated population of 37,000. Potassium iodate was dripped into irrigation water (to a concentration 10-80 microg/l) during a 2- to 4-wk period. During the 3 y that followed, no further supplementation was made, and iodine concentrations increased several fold in crops and plants, sheep and chicken thyroid glands, and meat and in urine of children 2-6 y of age and of women who were of childbearing age. Infant mortality decreased 50%, and sheep production increased 43%. Iodine repletion of soil through irrigation water is an effective and cost-efficient way of providing iodine in appropriate situations.

Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tablet huperzine-A (Hup) in patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Using multicenter, prospective, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled and randomized method, 50 patients were administered orally 0.2 mg (4 tablets) Hup and 53 patients were given po 4 tablets of placebo bid for 8 wk. All patients were evaluated with Wechsler memory scale, Hasegawa dementia scale, mini-mental state examination scale, activity of daily living scale, treatment emergency symptom scale, and measured with BP, HR, ECG, EEG, ALT, AKP, BUN, Cr, Hb, WBC, and urine routine. RESULTS: About 58% (29/50) of patients treated with Hup showed improvements in their memory (P < 0.01), cognitive (P < 0.01), and behavioral (P < 0.01 functions. The efficacy of Hup was better than placebo (36%, 19/53) (P < 0.05). No severe side effect was found. CONCLUSION: Hup is a promising drug for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Iodination of irrigation water as a method of supplying iodine to a severely iodine-deficient population in Xinjiang, China.

Severe iodine deficiency still occurs in many countries, and causes cretinism and mental impairment. In southern Xinjiang province, China, after usual methods of iodine supplementation had failed, we iodinated irrigation water to increase iodine in soil, crops, animals, and human beings. 5% potassium iodate solution, dripped into an irrigation canal for 12 or 24 days, increased soil iodine 3-fold, and crop and animal iodine 2-fold. Median urinary iodine excretion in children increased from 18 to 49 micrograms/L (two groups of similar age). The cost for iodine was US $0.05 per person per year. Soil iodine remained stable over one winter, and dripping of iodine during the second year (US $0.12 per person per year) resulted in a further 4-fold increase in soil iodine and a 1.8-fold increase in iodine in crops. We conclude that iodination of irrigation water is an advantageous and cost-effective method of supplying iodine in southern Xinjiang, and may be useful in other areas dependent on irrigation.