ABSTRACT
@#AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of tea tree oil eye patch combined with eyelid margin deep cleaning device in treating demodex blepharitis.<p>METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized and self-controlled study. Thirty-two patients(sixty-four eyes)diagnosed in demodex blepharitis were enrolled in the study. We randomly assigned one eye of the participants to the study group, which received tea tree oil eye patch once a day combined with monthly eyelid margin deep cleaning, and the other eye to the control group, which received tea tree oil eye patch therapy only. OSDI score of each subject, demodex mite counts, eyelid margin cleanness degree, eyelid margin abnormal score, non-invasive tear break-up time-first, tear meniscus height, redness, meibography score and Schirmer I test of each eye were evaluated before, and three months after the treatment. <p>RESULTS: Three months after treatment, demodex mite counts in both groups were significantly decreased(<i>P</i><0.05), the counts were lower in the study group(<i>P</i><0.05). Significant improvements were observed in the eyelid margin cleanness degree of the two groups(<i>P</i><0.05), and the degree was lower in the study group(<i>P</i><0.05). The OSDI score decreased significantly after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05). The NITBUT-first, redness and FL of the study group were significantly improved after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05), and the redness and FL of the control group were significantly improved after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05), NITBUT-first was longer after treatment but there was no statistical difference. The tear film parameters were no significant differences between the two groups. No significant changes were found in tear meniscus height, Schirmer I test and meibomian gland loss score after treatment. No obvious complications were observed in the study.<p>CONCLUSION: Tea tree oil eye patch therapy is effective in treating demodex blepharitis. With eyelid margin deep cleaning device combining, can further strengthen the efficacy of tea tree oil in eliminating mites and cylindrical cuffs, maintain the eyelid margin cleanness, and improve the abnormality of eyelid margin, which is a convenient,effective and safe treatment for demodex blepharitis.
ABSTRACT
As the most important nuclear transcription factors in the cells, NF-κB is involved in many intracellular signaling pathways and transcription and regulation of genetic information. The signal transduction pathways mainly include the activation of IκB kinase, degradation of IκB protein and the nuclear translocation of p65. p65 trans-nuclear binding with DNA is the key for NF-κB to play a role. Abnormal activation of NF-κB is a major factor in the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, cancer and so on. Therefore, maintaining the balance of NF-κB activity and regulating the nuclear translocation of p65 have great significance for further research on related subjects. In this paper, the regulation effects of the main active substances of medicinal plants (such as polyphenols, saponins, and alkaloids) on p65 nuclear translocation and the upstream pathway of NF-κB were discussed, expecting to provide reference for the development of natural active substances for functional food.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Dry eye patients suffer from all kinds of symptoms. Sometimes, the clinical signs evaluation does not disclose any obvious difference in routine examination; in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a powerful tool for ocular surface disease. This study aimed to clarify meibomian gland (MG) alterations in dry eye patients with different symptoms and to compare the findings using IVCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of sixty patients were recruited, all subjected to Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Salisbury Eye Evaluation Questionnaire (SEEQ), and questionnaires for the assessment of dry eye symptoms before clinical sign examinations were given to the patients. Finally, IVCM was applied to observe MG's structure. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation analysis. The differences were statistically significant when P< 0.05.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the severe symptom group, OSDI and SEEQ scores were significantly higher (P< 0.05) compared with the mild symptoms group. All other clinical sign examinations had no statistical difference in the two groups (P> 0.05). However, all the IVCM-observed data showed that patients with severe symptoms had more significant fibrosis in MG (acinar unit area 691.87 ± 182.01 μm2 for the severe, 992.17 ± 170.84 μm2 for the mild; P< 0.05) and severer decrease in the size of MG acinar units than those observed in patients with mild symptoms (MG acinar unit density [MGAUD] 70.08 ± 18.78 glands/mm2, MG acinar unit longest diameter [MGALD] 51.50 ± 15.51 μm, MG acinar unit shortest diameter [MGASD] 20.30 ± 11.85 μm for the severe, MGAUD 89.53 ± 39.88 glands/mm2, MGALD 81.57 ± 21.14 μm, MGASD 42.37 ± 14.55 μm for the mild;P< 0.05). Dry eye symptoms were negatively correlated with MG confocal microscopic parameters and positively correlated with conjunctival inflammatory cells and Langerhans cells (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IVCM application provides a strong support to differentiate dry eye patients with different symptoms: meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) plays a pivotal role in dry eye aggravation, and using IVCM to observe MG fibrosis, changes in size and density of MG as well as status of inflammation cells can help not only correctly diagnose the type and severity of dry eye, but also possibly prognosticate in routine eye examination in the occurrence of MGD.</p>