Population-based associations between progression of normal-tension glaucoma and Yang-deficient constitution among Chinese persons.

PURPOSE: To explore the association between constitution types as defined by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and risk for normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. METHODS: Persons were identified in a population cohort aged ≥30 years with NTG, defined as having an untreated mean intraocular pressure measurement ≤21 mm Hg over six separate occasions, with no single reading >24 mm Hg (as in the Collaborative Normal Tension Glaucoma Study). The Body Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine Questionnaire was used to assess each participant's TCM constitution types. The association between various constitutions and visual field progression according to Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial criteria was assessed using Cox regression HR models. RESULTS: Among 142 participants (245 eyes), 23 persons (17.6%) and 25 eyes (10.2%) progressed, over a mean (SD) follow-up duration of 3.49 (0.99) years. Progression rates were highest in participants with Yang-deficient constitution (n=19, 13.4%), among whom 7 (36.8%) exhibited worsening fields. After adjusting for sex, age, central corneal thickness, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and mean deviation on visual field testing, Yang-deficient constitution (HR 4.63, 95% CI 1.77 to 12.1, p=0.002) and higher mean intraocular pressure during follow-up (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.56, p=0.044) were associated with field progression. CONCLUSIONS: Yang-deficient constitution and higher intraocular pressure are risk factors for visual field progression in NTG patients. Yang deficiency is characterised by abnormal vasoregulation, and these results may be consistent with prior studies linking NTG progression to Raynaud's phenomenon and migraine.

Melatonin Alleviates Neuronal Damage After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Hyperglycemic Rats.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to investigate a novel effect of melatonin in reducing brain injury in an in vivo hyperglycemic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model and further explore the mechanisms of protection. METHODS: Hyperglycemia ICH was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozocin injection followed by autologous blood injection into the striatum. A combined approach including RNA-specific depletion, electron microscopy, magnetic resonance, Western blots, and immunohistological staining was applied to quantify the brain injuries after ICH. RESULTS: Hyperglycemia resulted in enlarged hematoma volume, deteriorated brain edema, and aggravated neuronal mitochondria damage 3 days after ICH. Post-treatment with melatonin 2 hours after ICH dose-dependently improved neurological behavioral performance lasting out to 14 days after ICH. This improved neurological function was associated with enhanced structural and functional integrity of mitochondria. Mechanistic studies revealed that melatonin alleviated mitochondria damage in neurons via activating the PPARδ/PGC-1α pathway. Promisingly, melatonin treatment delayed until 6 hours after ICH still reduced brain edema and improved neurological functions. Melatonin supplementation reduces neuronal damage after hyperglycemic ICH by alleviating mitochondria damage in a PPARδ/PGC-1α-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Melatonin may represent a therapeutic strategy with a wide therapeutic window to reduce brain damage and improve long-term recovery after ICH.

Effect of plum-blossom needling versus tropicamide eye drops on adolescent myopia: protocol for a randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVE: Myopia is the most common eye problem and affects an estimated 28.3% of the global population. Its incidence is increasing annually. Myopia treatment is limited to correcting visual acuity. Acupuncture is one of the main therapies in traditional Chinese medicine and includes plum-blossom needling, which has been widely used for both the prevention and treatment of adolescent myopia. We hypothesized that plum-blossom needling would be effective in treating myopia compared with a tropicamide eye drops control. METHODS: This is a crossover randomized controlled trial involving adolescents with myopia. Participants will be randomized 1∶1 to plum-blossom needle or tropicamide eye drops arms. Subjects in each arm will be treated for 20 d, followed by a 1-month washout period and treatment change for another 20 d. The primary outcome is uncorrected distance and cycloplegic refractive errors. The secondary outcomes comprise corneal curvature, lens thickness, axial length, ciliary body thickness, accommodation amplitude, the NRA/PRA (negative/positive relative accommodation), flexible adjustment, and near point of convergence. The outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, after the first treatment course (the first month), at the end of the washout period (the second month), after the second treatment course (the third month), and at follow-up (the sixth month). DISCUSSION: The results of the trial will help to provide evidence for the efficacy of plum-blossom needling for myopia in China.

[Hypocholesterolemic effect of total isoflavones from Pueraria lobata in ovariectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of total isoflavones from Pueraria lobata (TIP) on lipid metabolism in estrogen deficient rat. METHODS: Female SD rats were bilaterally ovariectomized under anesthesia. TIP was administrated orally for 7 months. Serum lipids were determined at 1.5, 4.0 and 7.0 months, and liver lipids were detected at 7 months. RESULTS: Compared with non-ovariectomized rats, serum TC level and the ration of TC/HDL-C in ovariectomized rats were obviously increased while HLD-C was slightly induced and TG level were changeless. In TIP-treated groups, serum TC level and the ratios of TC/HDL-C were markedly lowered than those in OVX group, while HDL-C slightly increased. TG level were much reduced in 1.5 month and changeless in 4.0 and 7.0 month. Slightly increase of cholesterol and markedly induction of triglyceride tissue were observed in liver. CONCLUSION: TIP significantly decreased concentrations of serum TC and liver TG in OVX rats.