Analysis of risk and protective factors associated with retinal nerve fiber layer defect in a Chinese adult population.

AIM: To investigate the risk and protective factors associated with the retinal nerve fiber layer defect (RNFLD) in a Chinese adult population. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional population-based investigation including employees and retirees of a coal mining company in Kailuan City, Hebei Province. All the study participants underwent a comprehensive systemic and ophthalmic examination. RNFLD was diagnosed on fundus photographs. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the risk and protective factors associated with the RNFLD. RESULTS: The community-based study included 14 440 participants. There were 10 473 participants in our study, including 7120 males (68.0%) and 3353 females (32.0%). The age range was 45-108y, averaging 59.56±8.66y. Totally 568 participants had RNFLD and the prevalence rate was 5.42%. A higher prevalence of RNFLD was associated with older age [P<0.001, odds ratio (OR): 1.032; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.018-1.046], longer axial length (P=0.010, OR: 1.190; 95%CI: 1.042-1.359), hypertension (P=0.007, OR: 0.639; 95%CI: 0.460-0.887), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.019, OR: 0.684; 95%CI: 0.499-0.939). The protective factors of RNFLD were visual acuity (P=0.038, OR: 0.617; 95%CI: 0.391-0.975), and central anterior chamber depth (P=0.046, OR: 0.595; 95%CI: 0.358-0.990). CONCLUSION: In our cross-sectional community-based study, with an age range of 45-108y, RNFLD is associated with older age, longer axial length, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The protective factors of RNFLD are visual acuity and central anterior chamber depth. These can help to predict and evaluate RNFLD related diseases and identify high-risk populations early.

The Influence of Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia on the Onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in North China: The Kailuan Eye Study.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and to analyze the risk factors for AMD. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted involving 14,440 individuals. We assessed the prevalence of dry and wet AMD in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and analyzed the risk factors for AMD. Results: The prevalence of wet AMD in diabetic and non-diabetic patients was 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively, and the prevalence of dry AMD was 17% and 16.4%, respectively. The prevalence of wet AMD in healthy, hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, and hypertensive/hyperlipidemic populations was 0.5%, 0.3%, 0.2%, and 0.7%, respectively. The prevalence of dry AMD in healthy, hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, and hypertensive/hyperlipidemic populations was 16.6%, 16.2%, 15.2%, and 17.2%, respectively. Age, sex, body mass index, and use of hypoglycemic drugs or lowering blood pressure drugs were corrected in the risk factor analysis of AMD. Diabetes, diabetes/hypertension, diabetes/hyperlipidemia, and diabetes/hypertension/hyperlipidemia were analyzed. None of the factors analyzed in the current study increased the risk for the onset of AMD. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of wet and dry AMD among diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of wet and dry AMD among subjects with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Diabetes co-existing with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were not shown to be risk factors for the onset of dry AMD.

Corneal Biomechanical Properties After Penetrating Keratoplasty or Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Using the Ocular Response Analyzer: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties of patients who have undergone penetrating keratoplasty (PK) or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using the ocular response analyzer. METHODS: Stata 13.0 SE was used for this meta-analysis. Studies in the literature that focused on corneal hysteresis (CH) or corneal resistance factor (CRF) after PK or DALK were retrieved by searching PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane databases. We present the results as weighted mean difference (WMD) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Eight studies with a total of 750 eyes were included in the post-PK versus control group, and 4 studies with a total of 218 eyes were included in the post-DALK versus control group. The pooled results showed that CH and CRF were significantly reduced (P < 0.00001) for patients who have undergone PK (WMD = -1.16, 95% CI: -1.73 to -0.60 and WMD = -1.00, 95% CI: -1.61 to -0.40). No significant differences were found in both CH and CRF for patients who have undergone DALK (WMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.09 and WMD = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.53 to 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggested that both CH and CRF had better recovery after corneal transplantation with DALK than PK.

Endemic fluorosis in Henan province, China: ERα gene polymorphisms and reproductive hormones among women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of fluoride exposure and ERα gene polymorphisms on reproductive hormone concentrations of women in accordance with endemic fluorosis residence. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional study was conducted in Tongxu county, Henan Province, China. A total of 679 women were recruited using cluster sampling and each subject provided fasting blood and an associated urine sample. We measured the concentrations of serum gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol and urinary fluoride. RESULTS: In the defluoridation project group (DFPG), serum GnRH was lower in women carrying C/C genotype compared to in those carrying C/T and T/T genotypes of ERα gene rs3798577 (p<0.05). In the endemic fluorosis group (EFG), serum GnRH was lower in women carrying Pp genotype compared to in those carrying PP and pp genotypes of ERα PvuII (p<0.05). Serum GnRH in women from EFG who carried Pp, pp, Xx and xx genotypes in ERα gene PvuII and XbaI was lower than in those in the control group (CG) who carried same genotypes (p<0.05). Furthermore, serum GnRH in women from EFG was significantly lower than in those in CG, regardless of whether the women were carrying C/C, C/T or T/T genotypes of ERα rs3798577 (p<0.05). Serum estradiol concentrations in EFG were significantly lower than in CG when the women were carrying the Pp, Xx and T/T genotypes in ERα gene (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Interaction of ERα gene and fluoride exposure may influence women's serum reproductive hormone concentrations.

Fluoride Exposure, Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Polymorphism and Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian Axis Hormones in Chinese Women.

The effects of fluoride exposure on the functions of reproductive and endocrine systems have attracted widespread attention in academic circle nowadays. However, it is unclear whether the gene-environment interaction may modify the secretion and activity of hypothalamus-pituitary- ovarian (HPO) axis hormones. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the influence of fluoride exposure and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism on reproductive hormones in Chinese women. A cross sectional study was conducted in seven villages of Henan Province, China during 2010-2011. A total of 679 women aged 18-48 years were recruited through cluster sampling and divided into three groups, i.e. endemic fluorosis group (EFG), defluoridation project group (DFPG), and control group (CG) based on the local fluoride concentration in drinking water. The serum levels of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) were determined respectively and the FSHR polymorphism was detected by real time PCR assay. The results provided the preliminary evidence indicating the gene-environment interaction on HPO axis hormones in women.

Atypical class 1 integron coexists with class 1 and class 2 integrons in multi-drug resistant Shigella flexneri isolates from China.

The antimicrobial resistance and the character of integrons were determined in 58 Shigella flexneri strains isolated from China. All isolates were multi-drug resistant and found to carry integrons of class 1 (94.8%), class 2 (100%), or both (94.8%). No intI3 was detected. The typical class 1 integrons were found in conjugative plasmids and could be transferred to the recipient E. coli DH5α. The gene cassettes of typical class 1 integrons dfrA17-aadA5 and dfrA12-orfF-aadA2 were detected in 54 strains (93.1%) and 1 strain, respectively. Atypical class 1 integrons located on the chromosome with gene cassettes bla (oxa-30)-aadA1 were detected in 55 isolates (94.8%). All the intI2 positive isolates carried gene cassettes dfrA1-sat1-aadA1. To our knowledge, this is the first report that atypical and typical class 1 integrons coexisted with class 2 integron in multi-drug resistant S. flexneri strains.

[Research in the relation between telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in spermatogenic cells and serum levels of estradiol of fluorotic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activity expression in spermatogenic cells and serum levels of estradiol of fluorotic rats. METHODS: We randomly divided thirty SD male rats into control group, low-dose group and high-dose group, then inject sodium fluoride (0, 10, 20 mg/kg bw) into celiac of rats. We respectively observed changes of estrogen and TERT using methods of radioimmunoassay, in situ hybridization. In addition, we observed the quality of spermatozoa. RESULTS: The level of estrogen, the expression of telomerase and the number and the livability of the spermatozoon in low-dose and high-dose fluorotic rats were lower than those of control rats (P < 0.05). Therefore,the above indexes decreased with the increase of dosage. In addition, sperm aberration of each fluorotic group was higher than control group (P < 0.05). And it increased with the increase of dosage. The content of E2 in serum of different fluoride treatment groups was positively correlated with the expression of telomerase in seminiferous tubule significantly, respectively (low-dose fluoride treatment groups, r = 0.941, P < 0.01, high-dose fluoride treatment groups, r = 0.929, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: NaF possibly damaged the male reproductive system by the approach of E2/ER-TERT-spermatozoon, relation between TERT expression in spermatogenic cells and serum levels of estradiol is positive correlation.

[Investigation of algae pollution in Xiliu Lake and identification of toxic cyanobacteria by whole-cell PCR].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contaminative condition of the floating algae (especially toxic cyanobacteria) in Xiliu Lake, and establish a whole-cell PCR method for identifying the toxic cyanobacteria. METHODS: The surface water of Xiliu Lake was sampled by plastic sampler from March, 2004, and the number of algae was counted by using blood cell counter. The phycocyanin intergenic spacer region (PC-IGS) and microcystin synthetase gene B (mcyB) were identified by whole-cell PCR in water samples, and the amplified product of mcyB was inserted into T vector and sequenced. RESULTS: Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta were main algae, and cyanobacteria was the dominant algae in summer and autumn. From July 7 to September 27,2 004, PC-IGS was detected positively in 11 samples, and from July 29 to September 27, mcyB was-detieted positively in 9 samples. Compared with the reported mcyB of Microcystis aeruginosa in Genbank, the homology of gene sequence was more than 97 t he homology of amino acid sequence was more than 94%. CONCLUSION: In summer and autumn toxic cyanobacteria could be detected in Xiliu Lake. Toxic cyanobacteria could be identified successfully by whole-cell PCR.

[Study on the molecular mechanism of quinolone resistance in Shigellae spp].

OBJECTIVE: To study the resistance and its mechanism of Shigellae spp. to quinolones. METHODS: Seventy-three clinical isolates were collected. Susceptibility tests of pipemidic adcid (PI), ofloxacin (OFL), norfloxacin (NOR), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were performed in all clinical isolates and Shigella 51573. The N-terminal coding region of gyrA and parC were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respectively. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was applied to all PCR procucts of gyrA and parC, and single strand conformational polymorphism analysis (SSCP) was also applied to PCR procucts of parC. RESULTS: The resistance rates for all the Shigella spp. to PI, CIP, NOR and OFL were 79.5%, 60.3%, 41.1% and 36.9%. Sixty-seven strains (91.8%) were quinolone-reduced-sensitive isolates, in which 61 strains (91%) were found carrying mutations in gyrA with 5 strains (7.5%) found carrying mutations in parC. No mutation was found in 6 quinolone-sensitive isolates or Shigella 51573. CONCLUSION: The Shigella spp. had high resistance rates to quinolones. The target gene mutations which were mainly found in gyrA and secondarily in parC, played an important role in the quinolone-resistance in Shigella spp.