[Survival analysis of people living with HIV/AIDS in Sichuan province, 1991-2017].

Objective: To analyze the survival time of people living with HIV/AIDS and related influencing factors in Sichuan province during 1991-2017. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data of 143 988 HIV/AIDS cases. The data were collected from Chinese HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Information Management System. Life table method was used to calculate the survival proportion of the cases, and Cox proportion hazard regression model was used to identify the factors related with survival time. Results: Among 143 988 HIV/AIDS cases a total of 30 420 cases died of AIDS related diseases (21.1%) and the average survival time was 11.51 years (95%CI: 11.39-11.64). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the influencing factors for the survival of HIV/AIDS cases were gender (male vs. female, HR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.32-1.40), education level (primary school or below vs. junior middle school: HR=1.15, 95%CI: 1.12-1.18), ethnic group (Han vs. other ethnic groups, HR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.41-1.52), occupation (farmer vs. other occupations: HR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.22-1.29), age (≥55 years old vs. 15-24 years old: HR=3.18, 95%CI: 3.02- 3.36), disease phase (AIDS vs. HIV infection: HR=1.44, 95%CI: 1.39-1.48), antiretroviral therapy (ART) (receiving ART vs. receiving no ART: HR=0.20, 95%CI: 0.19-0.20), and CD(4)(+)T cell counts at diagnosis (>500 cells/µl vs.<200 cells/µl: HR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.40-0.45). Conclusions: The average survival time of HIV/AIDS cases was 11.51 years in Sichuan during 1991- 2017. The risk factors for the survival of the cases were male, education level of primary school or below, Han ethnic group, farmer, old age at diagnosis, disease phase, The protective factors for the survival of HIV/AIDS cases were receiving ART and higher CD(4)(+) T cell counts at diagnosis.

The Impact of the Shallow-Trench Isolation Effect on Flicker Noise of Source Follower MOSFETs in a CMOS Image Sensor.

The flicker noise of source follower transistors is the dominant noise source in image sensors. This paper reports a systematic study of the shallow trench isolation effect in transistors with different sizes under high temperature conditions that correspond to the quantity of empty defect sites. The effects of shallow trench isolation sidewall defects on flicker noise characteristics are investigated. In addition, the low-frequency noise and subthreshold swing degrade simultaneously in accordance to the device gate width scaling. Both serious subthreshold leakage and considerable noise can be attributed to the high trap density near the STI edge. Consequently, we propose a coincidental relationship between the noise level and the subthreshold characteristic; its trend is identical to the experiments and simulation results.

Effectiveness of a Self Help Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Program for Problem Gamblers: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The study aimed to strengthen the scarce literature on self-help treatments for Problem Gambling (PG) by comparing the effectiveness of a Self-Help Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (SHCBT) program (n = 23) with a 6-week Waitlist condition (n = 32) in problem gamblers. Participants were community volunteers with gambling problems and were randomly allocated to the Waitlist and treatment conditions. Results showed significant improvements at post-treatment in gambling behaviors including frequency of gambling, average amount gambled per day and PG symptoms as well as a number of gambling correlates including psychological states (e.g., depression, anxiety and stress), gambling cognitions, gambling urges, gambling related self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, and quality of life among those who completed the SHCBT program, when compared with the waitlist condition. The effect size (partial η 2) ranged from .25 to .57 for all assessed outcomes that showed significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment. It was concluded that a self-help CBT program can be beneficial for treating community problem gamblers.

CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis promotes degradation of the ZNF322A oncoprotein to suppress lung cancer progression.

Overexpression of Cys2His2 zinc-finger 322A (ZNF322A) oncogenic transcription factor is associated with lung tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism of ZNF322A overexpression remains poorly understood. Here, we discover that protein stability of ZNF322A is regulated by coordinated phosphorylation and ubiquitination through the CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis. CK1δ and GSK3ß kinases sequentially phosphorylate ZNF322A at serine-396 and then serine-391. Moreover, the doubly phosphorylated ZNF322A protein creates a destruction motif for the ubiquitin ligase FBXW7α leading to ZNF322A protein destruction. Overexpression of FBXW7α induces ZNF322A protein degradation, thereby blocks ZNF322A transcription activity and suppresses ZNF322A-induced tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, overexpression of ZNF322A correlates with low FBXW7α or defective CK1δ/GSK3ß-mediated phosphorylation in lung cancer patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicates that patients with ZNF322A high/FBXW7 low expression profile can be used as an independent factor to predict the clinical outcome in lung cancer patients. Our results reveal a new mechanism of ZNF322A oncoprotein destruction regulated by the CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis. Deregulation of this signaling axis results in ZNF322A overexpression and promotes cancer progression.

[HIV transmission in newly reported HIV infected couples before diagnoses in five provinces, China, 2011-2014].

Objective: To understand the HIV transmission and associated factors in newly reported HIV infected couples before diagnosis. Methods: The information about newly reported HIV infected couples in Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Henan and Xinjiang provinces (autonomous region) were collected from National HIV/AIDS Information System from 2011 to 2014. The infection order of the sero-concordant couples were determined. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the HIV transmission between couples and identify the associated factors. Cochran-Armitage trend analysis was conducted to understand the annual sero-concordant couple proportion. Results: A total of 48 931 HIV cases in couples were included in this study, among whom 12 051(24.6%) were sero-concordant couples, indicating HIV transmissions occurred between them. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those who were females (OR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.89-2.08), aged >45 years (45-59 yrs: OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.23-1.42; >60 yrs: OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.58-1.86), had educational level of middle school education or below (illiteracy and primary school: OR=1.33, 95%CI: 1.23-1.44; middle school: OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28), were farmers or migrate workers (OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.17-1.30), were infected through injecting drug use or heterosexual intercourse (injecting drug use: OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.72; heterosexual intercourse: OR=3.65, 95% CI: 2.89-4.61), had CD4+T cells of <500 cells/µl (<200 cells/µl: OR=5.05, 95%CI: 4.62-5.52; 200-349 cells/µl: OR=3.58, 95%CI: 3.26-3.93; 350-500 cells/µl: OR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.94-2.36), reported unprotected sexual behaviors (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.49-1.64), were more likely to infect their couples before diagnosis. The HIV transmission proportion between couples before diagnosis decreased significantly from 28.9% (2 631/9 102) in 2011 to 25.5% (3 009/11 787) in 2014 among those infected through heterosexual intercourse. Conclusion: The proportion of HIV transmission between couples before diagnosis varied among different populations. Behavior intervention and early HIV test promoting are needed to prevent HIV transmission between couples before diagnosis in populations at high risk for HIV infection. HIV infection cases should be included in the HIV care system after diagnosis as early as possible.

A telephone interview version of the middle childhood HOME Observation Measurement of the Environment.

BACKGROUND: The Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME) is a 59-item observation and interview tool used to measure how suitable a child's home is for a child of his or her developmental age and has been used extensively in research. The HOME is usually performed in the child's home, which has cost implications. We wished to develop a telephone version of the HOME. METHODS: We developed a 54-item telephone interview version of the HOME and used it to measure the home environment in 77 children aged 6-10 years inclusive attending a child and adolescent mental health clinic, followed by a home visit and HOME assessment. The results of the telephone home assessment were then compared with the results of the original HOME. RESULTS: Our sample had a mean HOME score of 47.6, standard deviation (SD) = 5.5 and a mean telephone home score of 42.6, SD = 5.1. No difference was found in comparison of the subscale mean scores of the HOME with the telephone home assessment. The agreement of 54 items in common between the HOME and telephone home assessment ranged from 73% agreement to 100% agreement. Forty-three of 50 items had moderate to almost perfect agreement using kappa analysis (kappa = 0.41-0.99); three had 100% agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The telephone version of the HOME compares favourably with the HOME.

Tumor length assessed by miniprobe endosonography can predict the survival of the advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with stricture receiving concurrent chemoradiation.

There were tumor strictures commonly encountered in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to limit the conventional echoendoscope for exact tumor staging and size measurements. This study evaluated the role of miniprobe endosonography (EUS) to predict the survival of ESCC patients after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). This study prospectively enrolled ESCC patients to receive high-frequency miniprobe EUS for the assessments of the tumor size and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. For the patients defined with advanced stages to receive CCRT as initial therapy, the tumor size parameters assessed by EUS were analyzed for their correlation with the treatment response and the patients' survivals. Fifty-four patients, >96% with advanced TNM stage III or IV, were enrolled with a medium follow-up of 320.5 days. Almost all of the 54 cases had partial or complete stricture of the esophageal lumens due to the tumor obstructions at enrollment. The overall median survival was 18.6 months, and the 1- and the 2-year survival rates were 64.9 and 45.2%, respectively. Patients with initial tumor length <6 cm assessed by the pre-CCRT EUS had a better survival than those with length ≥6 cm (median survival: >56.5 months vs. 11.5 months, P= 0.006). The patients with initial tumor length <6 cm had a higher rate of downstage than those with tumor length ≥6 cm after the first course of CCRT (80.0% vs. 16.7%, P= 0.035). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed the initial tumor length (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.21, P= 0.034) as well as the presence of distal metastasis are both independent predictors of the survival in ESCC patients receiving CCRT. For the ESCC patients, commonly with tumor stricture, the miniprobe EUS to assess tumor length before CCRT can predict the treatment response and the survivals.

Malignant pleural effusion cells show aberrant glucose metabolism gene expression.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) accompanying lung adenocarcinoma indicates poor prognosis and early metastasis. This study aimed to identify genes related to MPE formation. Three tissue sample cohorts, seven from healthy lungs, 18 from stage I-III lung adenocarcinoma with adjacent healthy lung tissue and 13 from lung adenocarcinomas with MPE, were analysed by oligonucleotide microarray. The identified genes were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. 20 up- or down-regulated genes with a two-fold change in MPE cancer cells compared to healthy tissues were differentially expressed from early- to late-stage lung cancer. Of 13 genes related to cellular metabolism, aldolase A (ALDOA), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), transketolase (TKT), and tuberous sclerosis 1 (TSC1) were related to glucose metabolism. qRT-PCR validated their mRNA expressions in pleural metastatic samples. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed aberrant TKT, ALDOA, and TSC1 expressions in tumour cells. Immunofluorescence confirmed TKT co-localisation and co-distribution of ALDOA with thyroid transcription factor 1-positive cancer cells. TKT regulated the proliferation, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in vitro and in vivo vascular permeability of cancer cell. Glucose metabolic reprogramming by ALDOA, SORD, TKT and TSC1 is important in MPE pathogenesis.

Co-morbidities of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To study the co-morbidities of general practice patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two private general practice clinics in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All patients presenting at the two clinics were screened for osteoarthritis of the knee based on American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria. Patients with osteoarthritis then completed a semi-instructed questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 455 patients were recruited into the study. Over half (56%) had knee pain plus more than three other diagnostic criteria. Almost all (95%) of the patients with osteoarthritis had no signs of inflammation at the time of screening. Their mean age was 54 years. Overall, 78% of them had at least one musculoskeletal co-morbidity and 82% had at least one non-musculoskeletal co-morbidity. On average they had 3.2 co-morbidities, of which 1.7 were musculoskeletal and 1.5 were non-musculoskeletal. Problems related to the back, upper limbs, neck, and lower limbs were the four most common musculoskeletal co-morbidities, of which neck problems were significantly more common among younger patients (55 years or below) [odds ratio for older to younger patients was 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.9]. The four commonest non-musculoskeletal co-morbidities were cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, respiratory, and endocrine, of which cardiovascular diseases (odds ratio=8.76; 95% confidence interval, 5.6-13.7), endocrine problems (4.56; 2.8-7.4), and central nervous system diseases (12.74; 1.6-102.8) were significantly likely among older patients (more than 55 years). CONCLUSION: General practitioners should be alert to the presence of co-morbidities when managing patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Development of a Chinese version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (CHI-VFQ-25) as a tool to study patients with eye diseases in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: To develop a Chinese version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (CHI-VFQ-25) and to test its reliability and validity in a group of patients with eye diseases in Hong Kong. METHODS: The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) was translated into Chinese. Patients were recruited from Hong Kong, and their demographic data and visual acuity were documented. Psychometric properties of the CHI-VFQ-25, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, item-scale correlations and construct validity were tested. RESULTS: 250 patients were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 66.04 (SD 14.00). 46% of them were male. The non-response rate and the floor and ceiling numbers of the CHI-VFQ-25 were calculated. The internal consistency was high in most subscales (except the general health and driving subscales), with Cronbach alpha ranging from 0.72-0.90. The test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.90). Patients with worse visual acuity had significantly lower scores on the CHI-VFQ-25 supporting construct validity. CONCLUSION: The CHI-VFQ-25 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the visual functions of Chinese patients with eye diseases in Hong Kong. Some questions had high non-response rates and should be substituted by the available alternatives.

Peripheral and posterior pole retinal lesions in association with high myopia: a cross-sectional community-based study in Hong Kong.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with posterior pole and peripheral retinal lesions in Chinese subjects with high myopia. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-seven asymptomatic adults with high myopia of refractive error

Echogenic atria in a fetus.

We report a case of transmural echogenic atria diagnosed in a fetus at 22 weeks' gestation. Fetal echocardiography showed echogenicity of the right and left atrial free walls, septum secundum, and atrial appendages. Postnatal echocardiography at birth showed borderline echogenicity with absence of echogenicity on follow-up echocardiography. The differential diagnosis, possible causes, and outcome associated with transmural atrial echogenicity are discussed.

Autocrine IL-6-induced Stat3 activation contributes to the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma and malignant pleural effusion.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a poor prognostic sign for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The generation of MPE is largely regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and upregulation of VEGF by Stat3 has been observed in several types of tumor cells. In this study, we demonstrate constitutively activated Stat3 in several human lung cancer cell lines and in tumor cells infiltrated in the pleurae of patients with adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer (ADCLC) and MPE. The observations suggest that activated Stat3 plays a role in the pathogenesis of ADCLC. In PC14PE6/AS2 cells, a Stat3-positive human ADCLC cell line, autocrine IL-6 activated Stat3 via JAKs, not via Src kinase. PC14PE6/AS2 cells express higher VEGF mRNA and protein than do Stat3-negative PC14PE6/AS2/dnStat3 cells. In an animal model, PC14P6/AS2/dnStat3 cells produced no MPE and less lung metastasis than did PC14P6/AS2 cells. PC14PE6/AS2 cells also expressed higher VEGF protein, microvessel density, and vascular permeability in tumors than did PC14P6/AS2/dnStat3 cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that autocrine IL-6 activation of Stat3 in ADCLC may be involved in the formation of malignant pleural effusion by upregulating VEGF. Higher levels of IL-6 and VEGF were also found in the pleural fluids of patients with ADCLC than in patients with congestive heart failure. The autocrine IL-6/Stat3/VEGF signaling pathway may also be activated in patients with ADCLC and MPE. These findings provide novel targets for the management of MPE.

Aggressive resection of the airway invaded by thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that outcome following concomitant airway resection is superior to that after shaving of the tumour in patients with airway invasion of thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: The records of 34 patients with thyroid cancer with airway invasion were reviewed retrospectively. In addition to total thyroidectomy, airway resection was performed in 18 patients (group 1), whereas the tumour was shaved away from the airway in the other 16 patients (group 2). 131I was used as postoperative adjuvant therapy in all patients. Metastasis and recurrence of the primary lesion were determined by 131I whole-body scans, serum thyroglobulin levels, and computed tomography or ultrasonography of the neck. RESULTS: In group 1, two anastomotic dehiscences resulted in one death. Patients in group 2 had a higher rate of local recurrence (relative risk 8.0, P = 0.013) and earlier recurrence (mean(s.e.m.) 2.6(0.8) versus 7.0(1.1) years; P = 0.026) than those in group 1. Median survival was 5.8 and 4.3 years in the 18 patients of group 1 and 16 patients of group 2 (P = 0.259), and the respective 5-year survival rates were 88 and 84 per cent (P = 0.783). CONCLUSION: Aggressive airway resection can minimize local recurrence of thyroid carcinoma with airway invasion.

Chloroquine-induced bull's eye maculopathy.

We report the case of a 51-year-old woman who presented with bilateral progressive deterioration in vision after taking chloroquine for severe rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years. She was found to have a bull's eye pattern of depigmentation in the macula of both eyes. Despite cessation of chloroquine, her vision did not improve. The clinical presentation of chloroquine retinopathy is discussed, along with the importance of scheduled eye examination for individuals taking chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.

Phacoemulsification with intravitreal triamcinolone in patients with cataract and coexisting diabetic macular oedema: a 6-month prospective pilot study.

AIMS: To assess the safety and efficacy of phacoemulsification with intravitreal triamcinolone (ivTA) injection in diabetics with cataract and clinically significant macular oedema (CSMO). METHODS: A total of 19 eyes of 15 consecutive diabetic patients with cataract and CSMO were prospectively recruited. Patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with 4 mg ivTA injection at completion of surgery. Patients were followed up on day 1, then weekly for 1 month, and thereafter monthly until 6 months postoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) measured by optical coherence tomography, and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 17 eyes completed 6 months of follow-up. In all, 58.8% showed improvement in BCVA of >or=2 lines, with statistically significant improvement in mean Snellen BCVA of 2.4 lines at 6 months. The peak BCVA was achieved at 4 months. The mean CMT decreased from a baseline of 449 microm to a minimum of 321+/-148 microm (28.5% reduction) achieved at 2 months, with statistically significant reduction at all postoperative time intervals until 6 months. Of 17 eyes, 4 (23.5%) developed transiently elevated intraocular pressure that normalised by 6 months in all but one patient. No injection- or surgery-related complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification with concurrent 4 mg ivTA injection appears to be a safe option for managing diabetics with cataract and CSMO. However, large-scaled randomised controlled trials are necessary for delineating the relative contributions of cataract removal and CMT reduction to visual improvement. Moreover, the transient effect on CMT may warrant further studies to determine optimal timing and dosage of further ivTA injections.

Ocular-hypertensive response and corneal endothelial changes after intravitreal triamcinolone injections in Chinese subjects: a 6-month follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To assess the intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal endothelial changes, over a 6-month period, after a single injection of intravitreal triamcinolone (ivTA) in Chinese patients. METHODS: A total of 43 eyes of 43 consecutive Chinese patients with various macular diseases received a single bolus injection of 4 mg ivTA, of which, 14 eyes with significant cataracts underwent simultaneous phacoemulsification and primary intraocular lens implantation. IOP was measured preoperatively and weekly in the first month, and then monthly until 6 months postinjection. Specular microscopy was performed on 24 of the 29 eyes without simultaneous cataract surgery, preoperatively and at months 1, 3, and 6. RESULTS: All patients completed 6 months of follow-up. Nine out of 43 (20.9%) eyes had IOP >21 mmHg. Their mean maximum IOP was 29.2 mmHg (range 23.0-37.0), necessitating the use of 2.0 types of topical antiglaucomatous medications on average. The IOP elevation occurred at a mean of 5.2 weeks (range 1-17) postinjection. All IOPs returned to normal, without additional antiglaucomatous medications, by 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference (paired t-test, P<0.05) in the corneal endothelial cell count and other specular microscopy parameters up to 6 months after the injections. CONCLUSION: A single 4 mg bolus injection of ivTA appeared to have no harmful effects on the corneal endothelium. IvTA caused transient IOP elevations in 20.9% of Chinese patients, similar to that observed in Caucasians. As the IOP rise can occur as early as 1 week after the injection, early monitoring will help its early detection and prevent optic nerve damage.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia-1-year results of a prospective series.

PURPOSE: To study the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia. METHODS: Prospective, open label, two-centre, noncomparative, interventional case series. Consecutive patients with juxtafoveal CNV associated with pathologic myopia were recruited and treated with a standard regimen of PDT with verteporfin. Patients were being followed up every 3-monthly and retreatment was considered when there was evidence of angiographic leakage. Outcome measures included changes in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the 1-year follow-up when compared with the baseline, the proportion of patients who had stable (within 1 line) and improved visions. RESULTS: A total of 11 eyes from 11 patients with juxtafoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia were recruited and all completed the 1-year follow-up. The mean age at presentation was 44.8 years. The refractive error ranged from -6.0 to -15.0 D (+/-SD was -9.55+/-3.04 D). The logMAR BCVA improved from 0.57 to 0.39 at the 1-year follow-up (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, P=0.027). The mean improvement was 1.8 lines. Five eyes (45.4%) had BCVA improved by >or=3 lines. None of the treated patients had visual loss of >or=1 line. The mean number of treatments over the 12-month study period was 2.3 sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The results are encouraging, especially on considering the low retreatment rate, stable or improved BCVA in all treated eyes, and consistently good safety profile. Juxtafoveal myopic CNV may be an expanded indication for PDT with verteporfin.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation of pathologic myopia in Chinese eyes: a prospective series of 1 and 2 year follow up.

AIMS: To evaluate the visual and fluorescein angiographic outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) caused by pathologic myopia in the Chinese. METHODS: Prospective, non-comparative, two centre interventional study. Patients with CNV secondary to pathologic myopia of Chinese ethnicity were recruited and treated with a standard regimen of PDT with verteporfin. Results of this study in Chinese eyes with pigmented retinal pigment epithelium were compared with those from the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) Study of predominantly white eyes. RESULTS: Thirty one and 22 eyes that completed the 12 month and 24 month follow up studies respectively were analysed. The mean and median best corrected visual acuities (BCVA) could be maintained at the baseline level at the 12 month and 24 month visits. Fourteen (63.6%) eyes had stable or improved BCVA at 24 months and six (27.3%) of them had a moderate gain in vision (improved by three or more lines). Visual results were comparable with that of the VIP study, but the average accumulative PDT treatments required in one and two years were 1.7 and 2.3 respectively, which were significantly less than 3.4 and 5.1 treatments in VIP study. Mean logMAR BCVA of the younger age group (<55 years) at 24 months was 0.41 (SD 0.29), which was significantly better than the older age group (>/= = 55 years) of 0.82 (SD 0.40) (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: PDT using the predetermined treatment protocol has achieved similar visual outcomes in the Chinese population as in white people with subfoveal myopic CNV over a 2 year study period. The complete cessation of CNV leakage can be accomplished, on average, with fewer PDT retreatments than reported in the VIP study. The disparity may be due to ethnic differences in these two populations.