Flowers vs. Devils: plants used against witchcraft in the urbanized Sonora Market, Mexico City / Flores vs Demonios: plantas usadas contra la brujería en el urbanizado Mercado de Sonora, Ciudad de México

Mexican markets embody cultural diversity and offer a wide range of products, serving as hubs for local exchange.In our study at Mexico City's Sonora Market, the country's prominent medicinal market, we explored the use of plant remedies against witchcraft in an urban environment. Through interviews with plant vendors and extensive data collection, we identified 21 plant species from 16 botanical families renowned for their effectiveness in combating sorcery, attracting good luck, and promoting success. Additionally, we documented 14 ailments associated with envy and negative emotions. These remedies involved practices and applications such as cleansings, decoctions, baths, and incense burning, aimed at alleviating afflictions and fostering positive outcomes. Notably, the Sonora Market continues to uphold the tradition of using plant remedies against witchcraft, even in the bustling setting of one of the world's largest cities. This highlights the enduring significance of these practices within Mexican society

Los mercados mexicanos encarnan diversidad cultural y ofrecen numerosos productos, sirviendo como centros de intercambio local. En nuestro estudio en el Mercado de Sonora en la Ciudad de México, el sitio de plantas medicinales más relevante del país, exploramos el uso de plantas contra la brujería en un entorno urbano. A través de entrevistas con locatarios, identificamos 21 especies de plantas pertenecientes a 16 familias botánicas usadas en la lucha contra la brujería, atrayendo buena suerte y promoviendo el éxito. Además, documentamos 14 enfermedades asociadas con la envidia y emociones negativas. Los remedios involucraban prácticas y aplicaciones como limpias, decocciones, baños, incienso, con el objetivo de aliviar dolencias y fomentar resultados positivos. En el Mercado deSonora persiste la tradición de utilizar plantas contra la brujería, incluso en el marco de una de las mayores ciudades del mundo, resaltando la importancia de estas prácticas dentro de la sociedad mexicana.

Feasibility and ethnic differences of 0.005% atropine eye drops combined with orthokeratology in controlling low myopia in adolescents / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To observe the effectiveness, safety and ethnic differences of 0.005% atropine eye drops combined with orthokeratology in controlling adolescents' low myopia between different ethnic groups.METHODS:A total of 246 Han and Hani patients(246 eyes)with low myopia treated in our hospital from January to October 2021 were selected, with 120 patients(120 eyes)treated with 0.005% atropine eye drops combined with orthokeratology in experimental group, and 126 patients(126 eyes)treated with orthokeratology in control group. The uncorrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent(SE), axial length(AL), intraocular pressure, tear film break-up time(BUT), corneal curvature and corneal thickness of the two groups before and 1 a after wearing lenses were observed, and the incidence of complications were recorded.RESULTS:At 1 a after wearing lenses, the changes of AL and SE in the experimental group(0.16±0.35 mm, -0.39±0.47 D)were lower than those in the control group(0.22±0.89 mm, -0.48±0.54 D), uncorrected visual acuity(LogMAR)was better than the control group(0.11±0.25 vs 0.14±0.19; P<0.05), there were differences in BUT, anterior chamber depth, corneal curvature and corneal thickness(P<0.05), but there were no differences in intraocular pressure of the two groups(P>0.05). In the Han and Hani groups, there were no differences in the changes of uncorrected visual acuity, AL and SE(P>0.05). During the follow-up period, no significant local or systemic adverse reactions occurred in the two groups, and there was no difference in the incidence of ocular complications between the two groups of patients(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The 0.005% atropine eye drops combined with orthokeratology can effectively delay the progression of low myopia in adolescents without significant adverse reactions and ethnic differences.

Relationship between dry eye disease and physical and mental health in primary and secondary school teachers / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To evaluate the relationship between dry eye disease(DED)and physical and mental health in teachers, and to explore its mechanism and propose intervention measures.METHODS:Cross-sectional study. A total of 183 teachers from three primary and secondary schools in the urban area of Linyi City, Shandong Province were enrolled in the study. DED symptoms were quantified using the ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaire. A compact version of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale(DASS-21)was used to evaluate psychological state. The relationship between potential influencing factors and DED was evaluated by independent sample t-test of quantitative variables and χ2test of classified variables. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis to determine the influencing factors of DED. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between OSDI score and depression, anxiety and stress.RESULTS: There were 183 teachers, including 44 males(24.0%)and 139 females(76.0%), aged from 22 to 57 years, with an average age of(34.2±8.6)years. The prevalence of DED was 60.0%(109/183; 95%CI 52.4%-66.7%). The prevalence of depression was 26.2%(48/183; 95%CI 19.8%-32.7%); anxiety prevalence was 39.3%(72/183; 95%CI 32.2%-46.5%); and stress prevalence was 23.0%(42/183; 95%CI 16.8%-29.1%). The univariate analysis showed that increased age, increased working years, increased visual display terminal(VDT)application time, longer written working hours, reduced sleep hours, less alcohol consumption, and high scores of depression, anxiety and stress were all factors affecting DED(all P<0.05). Using depression scores as the psychological index, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that years of work, VDT application time, written working hours, sleep time, alcohol consumption and depression score were the influencing factors of DED(all P<0.05); Using anxiety scores as the psychological index, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that years of work, VDT application time, written working hours and stress scores were the influencing factors of DED(all P<0.05); Using stress scores as the psychological index, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that years of work, VDT application time, written working hours and stress scores were the influencing factors of DED(all P<0.05). OSDI scores were positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress scores in the DED group(P<0.05)and across all participants(P<0.05). In the severe DED group, OSDI scores were positively related to depression, anxiety, and stress scores(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DED is high among the teachers. Alcohol consumption, reduced sleep, longer working years, longer VDT usage and longer written working hours are the influencing factors of DED. In severe DED group, DED is highly correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress. We should pay attention to teachers' DED and related physical and mental health problems, and actively prevent and make early diagnosis and treatment.

Research progress of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the treatment of dry eye / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that facilitate cellular communication by transmitting biomolecules and altering the biochemical characteristics of receptor cells. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes(MSC-Exos)are lipid bilayer vesicles secreted by mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). These exosomes have similar functions to MSCs and contain bioactive substances such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. MSC-Exos play a vital role in intercellular communication and are involved in essential physiological processes including immune regulation, tissue damage repair, and angiogenesis promotion. Consequently, they have gained significant attention in research, particularly in the treatment of immune inflammatory diseases, ischemic diseases, and other related fields. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the potential treatment mechanisms for dry eye, focusing on the pathogenesis of the condition, including inflammatory reactions, nerve regeneration, and tissue repair. The objective is to establish a foundation for the application of MSC-Exos in the treatment of dry eye, thereby offering a valuable reference for the future clinical applications.

Research progress of TRPV4 in ocular pathophysiological function / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 4(TRPV4)is a non-selective cation channel responsible for sensing changes in cell swelling, temperature, mechanical stretch, shear stress and osmotic pressure by regulating transmembrane calcium signaling and thereby influencing gene expression, cell morphology, and cytoskeletal construction. TRPV4 is widely expressed throughout the body. Intraocularly, TRPV4 is functionally expressed in the cornea, lens, ciliary body, trabecular meshwork and retina. In this article, the expression and physiopathological functions of TRPV4 in various tissues of the eye were described. With the in-depth study of TRPV4 in ocular pathophysiological functions, TRPV4 may become a potential drug target in corneal injury repair, glaucoma and retinal angiogenesis, but further in-depth study is still needed.

Risk factors and treatment of dry eye disease after minimally invasive vitrectomy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The introduction of vitrectomy has solved a difficult and intractable problem in the ophthalmology community for the treatment of fundus oculi diseases. To date, minimally invasive vitrectomy(MIV)is the main surgery for the treatment of fundus oculi diseases. Clinically, patients develop dry eye symptoms after MIV, including lacrimation, foreign body sensation, and visual disturbances. We speculates that MIV may damage the conjunctival and corneal epithelium as well as related sensory nerves, disrupting the tear film and causing a local inflammation response, thereby further affecting the ocular surface microenvironment and inducing or aggravating dry eye symptoms. At present, there are few studies on the changes of ocular surface after MIV. This article aims to analyze the effects of different factors on the microenvironment of the ocular surface before, during and after MIV, and to provide preventive and curative measures that can be taken to guide the clinic to make good preparations for the operation, to choose the appropriate surgical procedure, and to reduce the risk of dry eye in the postoperative period.

PENG Qinghua's Clinical Experience in Treating Dry Eye by the Therapeutic Method of “Maintaining with the Sweet and Restoring the Body Fluids” / 中医杂志

This paper summarized PENG Qinghua's clinical experience in treating dry eye by applying therapeutic method of maintaining with sweet medicinals and restoring the body fluids. It is believed that the spleen earth insufficiency and fluids damage transforming into dryness are the main pathogenesis of the disease， and the basic therapeutic principle is maintaining with the sweet and restoring the body fluids by mainly using sweet medicines. It is advocated to use mild-sweet herbs， such as Baibiandou （Lablab purpureus subsp. purpureus）， Fuling （Smilax glabra Roxb.）， and Yiyiren （Coix lacryma-jobi L.）， to transport spleen earth， so that qi is restored and body fluids are recovered； moderate-sweet herbs， such as Dangshen （Codonopsis pilosula ［Franch.］ Nannf.）， Taizishen （Pseudostellaria heterophylla ［Miq.］ Pax）， Shanyao （Dioscorea oppositifolia L.） and Zhigancao （Glycyrrhiza glabra L.） are suggested to cultivate earth and generate metal， so as to move qi and circulate fluid； sweet-cool herbs， such as Nanshashen （Adenophora triphylla ［Thunb.］ A.DC.）， Beishashen （Glehnia littoralis ［A.Gray］ F.Schmidt ex Miq.）， Yuzhu （Polygonatum odoratum ［Mill.］ Druce）， Tianhuafen （Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.） are suggested to nourish yin and increase body fluids， so as to promote fluid production to moisten dryness. In this way， when the source of fluid is restored and the fluid is circulated， the fluid can be produced continuously， which provides new ideas for the treatment of dry eyes with traditional Chinese medicine.

Evaluation of asymptomatic ocular surface disorders in hospitalized patients with primary pterygium before surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the preoperative ocular symptoms and the characteristics of asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities in hospitalized patients with primary pterygium.METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with primary pterygium and scheduled to receive pterygium excision surgery at the Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University from August 2022 to October 2022 were enrolled. Ocular surface disease index questionnaire(OSDI), six examinations including non-invasive tear film break-up time, Schirmer I test, tear meniscus height, lid margin abnormality, meibomian gland dropout and tear film lipid layer thickness, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)were performed and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 178 cases(178 eyes), with a mean age of 54.39±10.75 years old, were recruited, including 75 males(42.1%)and 103 females(57.9%). The average values of ocular surface parameters in these patients included OSDI: 11.47±9.69, tear film break-up time: 7.10±3.86 s; tear meniscus height: 0.16±0.07 mm, Schirmer I test values: 14.39±7.29 mm/5 min, and pterygium thickness: 504.74±175.87 μm. Totally 161 eyes(90.4%)presented with abnormal lid margin, 44 eyes(24.7%)presented with meibomian gland dropout score ≥4, 52 eyes(29.2%)presented with low lipid layer thickness. In the 6 objective examinations, abnormalities in at least 4 of these tests were found in 85.4% of eyes. Pterygium morphology was classified into four grades: 10 eyes(5.6%)of grade Ⅰ, 93 eyes(52.2%)of grade Ⅱ, 60 eyes(33.7%)of grade Ⅲ, and 15 eyes(8.4%)of grade Ⅳ. In patients with a higher grade of pterygium, the tear film break-up time was lower, and the proportion of abnormal lid margin was also significantly higher(P<0.05). The patients were further divided into two subgroups, including 121 eyes(68.0%)with normal OSDI <13 in the normal group and 57 eyes(32.0%)with OSDI ≥13 in the abnormal group. No significant difference was found in the proportion of meibomian gland dysfunction between the two groups of patients(71.9% vs. 71.9%, P=0.872). In addition, there were differences in the number of abnormal objective examinations(4.11±0.85 vs. 4.91±0.99, P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities were present preoperatively in patients hospitalized for primary pterygium. A comparable high incidence of structural or functional meibomian gland dysfunction existed in pterygium patients with or without apparent ocular discomfort. More attention should be paid to the ocular surface abnormalities in those asymptomatic patients before primary pterygium surgery.

Research progress in the diagnosis and treatment of neurotrophic keratitis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Neurotrophic keratitis(NK)is a degenerative corneal disease caused by impairment of trigeminal innervations. It can lead to spontaneous corneal epithelial defects, corneal ulceration and perforation. Early diagnosis of NK is crucial and requires accurate investigation of clinical history and thorough examination of ocular surface to determine clinical stage. Treatment for NK needs to be divided into stages according to disease severity. In addition to conventional treatments including artificial tears, blepharorrhaphy, and amniotic membrane transplantation, there are also emerging treatments such as targeted drug therapy and corneal neurotization. This article summarized the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and classification, etiology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment of NK, aiming to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of NK in the future.

Application of proteomics technology in dry eye disease and acupuncture treatment / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Dry eye disease(DED)refers to a condition characterized by reduced stability of the tear film or an imbalance in the microenvironment of the ocular surface, resulting from abnormalities in quality, quantity and kinetics of tear. This condition leads to various ocular discomforts and even visual impairment. The pathogenesis of DED is multifactorial and current treatment mainly focuses on symptom relief and preservation of visual function. Acupuncture has shown effectiveness in treating dry eye, although its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Proteomics technology offers a comprehensive and systematic approach to studying the functions, structures and interactions of proteins. Its application in DED research can provide valuable insights into the dynamic changes in protein levels associated with different etiology or the course of DED and facilitate the identification of potential biomarkers. Furthermore, proteomics can systematically explore the regulatory mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment for DED, providing a theoretical basis for acupuncture treatment research and contributing to the understanding of its effects at a fundamental level. This paper aims to explore the potential application of proteomics in both clinical and basic research on DED. Ultimately, it strives to offer scientific and effective strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of DED and advance our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying acupuncture therapy.

Eye diseases associated with developmental abnormality of neural crest / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The neural crest represents a dynamic population of embryonic stem cells, playing a pivotal role in the development of the eye. Through interactions with the surrounding neuroectoderm, superficial ectoderm and mesoderm, the neural crest contributes to the formation of numerous ocular structures, encompassing the corneal stroma and endothelium, trabecular meshwork, iris stroma, ciliary muscle, vitreous and choroidal vessels, and Müller cells. Aberrant migration and development of neural crest cells within the eye can instigate a complex series of ocular diseases. Such diseases include anterior segment like Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, Peters anomaly, aniridia, primary congenital glaucoma, and Nail-Patella syndrome. Defects that impact the posterior segment may lead to CHARGE syndrome and Branchio-oculo-facial syndrome. Further, rare neurocristopathies such as Waardenburg syndrome, Treacher-Collins syndrome, and Char syndrome can also present with ocular abnormalities. In this review, we explore the ocular diseases that arise from abnormal neural crest cell development, and delve into the related genes involved in neural crest migration and development. We further discuss how mutations and defects in these genes can precipitate ocular diseases.

Application progress of proteomics in dry eye research / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The complex pathological mechanism of dry eye involves multiple pathways, such as immunity and inflammation, and requires an integral research program to control the whole picture. Various histological techniques can elucidate the complex physio-pathological state of organisms from a holistic and global perspective, thus providing more comprehensive biological information. Mass spectrometry can sensitively detect the changes of protein content in tear samples, providing convenience for proteomics research of dry eye. At present, proteomics has demonstrated its application in the identification of dry eye types, severity grading, and therapeutic effect evaluation. In addition, proteomics combined with metabolomics and microbiomics can more comprehensively explain the pathogenesis of dry eye. In the future, proteomics is expected to provide more powerful support for the precise diagnosis and treatment of dry eye, taking an advantage in targeted therapy.

Research progress of corneal lymphangiogenesis in ocular diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Corneal lymphangiogenesis plays a crucial role in ocular diseases. Normally, the cornea lacks blood vessels and lymph vessels, which are essential for maintaining transparency and function of cornea. However, certain diseases or injuries will prompt angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cornea, thus disrupting the structure and function of cornea. Although various drugs targeting corneal angiogenesis have been applied in clinical practice, there is still a gap in medications targeting corneal lymphangiogenesis. Therefore, this review will introduce the factors related to corneal lymphangiogenesis, introduce related ocular diseases, and analyze the current treatment status, which will provide more options and possibilities for the treatment of lymphangiogenesis in ocular diseases and provide guidance for future research and drug development.

Initiation and maintenance of acquired immunity in dry eye / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Dry eye(DE)is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder arising from numerous pathologies. The pathogenesis of DE includes immune inflammation, oxidative stress, changes in tear film composition, corneal nerve abnormalities, and meibomian gland dysfunction. Among them, the immune inflammatory response is the most crucial in the pathogenesis of DE, which is regulated by both innate and acquired immune responses on the ocular surface. Multiple environmental stresses trigger the ocular surface innate immune response leading to corneal epithelial cell damage and inflammation and activate acquired immunity to participate in the ocular surface immune inflammatory response. Currently, multiple immune cells and inflammatory factors have been shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of DE. This article reviewed the immune progress and focused on the initiation and maintenance of acquired immunity in DE. Through the analysis of the latest viewpoints and research hot spots, we systematically introduced the immunomodulating mechanism underlying the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of DE and provided references for the prevention and treatment of DE.

Therapeutic Effect of Gandou Decoction on Wilson's Disease with Dampness Heat Accumulation Accompanied by Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of Gandou decoction in treating Wilson's disease （WD） with dampness heat accumulation accompanied by rapid eye movement （REM） sleep behavior disorder （RBD）. MethodFrom April 2019 to August 2023，62 patients with dampness heat accumulation type WD accompanied by RBD who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the Department of Encephalopathy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group with 31 cases each using a computer distributor. The control group received routine copper removal treatment，while the observation group received additional treatment with Gandou decoction on the basis of the control group. Eight days was one course of treatment，totaling three courses. The scores of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes，RBD screening questionnaire （RBDSQ） scores，RBD questionnaire-Hong Kong （RBDQ-HK） scores，polysomnography （PSG） parameters，24-hour urine copper （24 h U-Cu） levels，and non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper （NCC） levels between the two groups before and after treatment were compared，and adverse reactions were observed. ResultSixty trial cases were ultimately completed，with 30 cases in each group. Before treatment，there was no statistically significant difference in various indicators between the two groups， and thus they were comparable. Compared with those before treatment，the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores，RBDSQ scores and RBDQ-HK scores of the two groups were significantly reduced，the 24 h U-Cu levels were significantly increased，and the NCC levels were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the observation group showed better improvement in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores， RBDSQ scores， RBDQ-HK scores， and NCC levels （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with those before treatment，the total sleep time （TST），sleep efficiency （SE），sleep/REM latency，the proportion of N1/N2/REM stages，arousal index （ARI），and proportion of phasic electromyographic activity （P-EMG-A） were significantly improved in both groups （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment，the observation group showed more significant improvements in the proportion of TST，SE，REM stages，ARI，and P-EMG-A proportion （P<0.05）. ConclusionGandou decoction can not only improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome of WD patients with dampness heat accumulation accompanied by RBD but also alleviate their RBD symptoms.

Distributions of Visual Receptive Fields from Retinotopic to Craniotopic Coordinates in the Lateral Intraparietal Area and Frontal Eye Fields of the Macaque / 神经科学通报·英文版

Even though retinal images of objects change their locations following each eye movement, we perceive a stable and continuous world. One possible mechanism by which the brain achieves such visual stability is to construct a craniotopic coordinate by integrating retinal and extraretinal information. There have been several proposals on how this may be done, including eye-position modulation (gain fields) of retinotopic receptive fields (RFs) and craniotopic RFs. In the present study, we investigated coordinate systems used by RFs in the lateral intraparietal (LIP) cortex and frontal eye fields (FEF) and compared the two areas. We mapped the two-dimensional RFs of neurons in detail under two eye fixations and analyzed how the RF of a given neuron changes with eye position to determine its coordinate representation. The same recording and analysis procedures were applied to the two brain areas. We found that, in both areas, RFs were distributed from retinotopic to craniotopic representations. There was no significant difference between the distributions in the LIP and FEF. Only a small fraction of neurons was fully craniotopic, whereas most neurons were between the retinotopic and craniotopic representations. The distributions were strongly biased toward the retinotopic side but with significant craniotopic shifts. These results suggest that there is only weak evidence for craniotopic RFs in the LIP and FEF, and that transformation from retinotopic to craniotopic coordinates in these areas must rely on other factors such as gain fields.

Accuracy of a smartphone-assisted novel labeling method for marking target axial position in cataract surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To evaluate the convenience and accuracy of a novel smartphone-assisted “any-point two-step method” for finding the target axial position in cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens(IOL)implantation.METHODS: Prospective observational study. A total of 62 cases(62 eyes)of patients with age-related cataracts who underwent cataract phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation in our hospital from October 2021 to April 2022 were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups: 31 cases(31 eyes)in the control group were applied with the “traditional two-step method” using slit lamp to mark the target axial position of the IOL, and 31 cases(31 eyes)in the experimental group were applied with the smartphone-assisted “two-step method” to mark the target axial position of the IOL. The Callisto eye navigation system was used as a standard reference, and the deviation of the reference marking point(deviation-1), the deviation of the target axial marking point(deviation-total), and the deviation of the angle from the reference marking point to the target axial marking point(deviation-2)were calculated and recorded as the preoperative axial marking time.RESULTS:Both deviation-1 and deviation-total values were lower in the experimental group than those in the control group(1.06°±1.39° vs 2.48°±2.23°, 1.77°±1.54° vs 2.81°±1.58°, all P&#x003C;0.01), but there was no significant difference in the deviation-2 values between the two groups(1.35°±1.40° vs 1.48°±1.79°, P&#x003E;0.05). The preoperative axial marking took shorter time in the experimental group than in the control group(1.77±1.70 min vs 2.88±3.20 min, P&#x003C;0.01).CONCLUSION: The smartphone-assisted “any-point two-step method” for finding the target axial position in cataract phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation is simple, time-saving, and accurate compared with the “traditional two-step method”.

Paracentral acute middle maculopathy in the immediate postoperative of cataract surgery / Maculopatia média aguda paracentral no pós-operatório imediato de cirurgia de catarata

ABSTRACT This case report identified paracentral acute middle maculopathy as the cause of severe and irreversible vision loss after cataract surgery. Cataract surgeons should be aware of known risk factors for the development of paracentral acute middle maculopathy. In those patients, extra care regarding anesthesia, intraocular pressure, and some other aspects of cataract surgery must be taken. Paracentral acute middle maculopathy is currently understood as a clinical sign evident on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and it is probably evidence of deep ischemic insult to the retina. It should be a differential diagnosis in cases of marked low vision acuity associated with no fundus abnormalities in the immediate postoperative period, as demonstrated in the presented case.

RESUMO O presente relato de caso identificou a maculopatia média aguda paracentral como a causa de baixa de acuidade visual severa e irreversível após cirurgia de catarata. Existem fatores de risco bem estabelecidos para o desenvolvimento da maculopatia média aguda paracentral que devem ser conhecidos pelos cirurgiões de catarata. Nesse contexto cirúrgico, precauções extras no tocante a procedimentos anestésicos, pressão intraocular e alguns outros aspectos da cirurgia devem ser consideradas. A maculopatia média aguda paracentral é descrita como um sinal clínico observado no exame de tomografia de coerência óptica por domínio espectral e se trata, provavelmente, da evidência de um evento isquêmico no tecido vascular retiniano. Esse diagnóstico deve ser cogitado nos casos de perda de acuidade visual súbita no pós-operatório imediato associada com exame fundoscópico normal, como evidenciado no caso apresentado.

Firework-related ocular trauma in Pernambuco, Brazil / Trauma ocular por fogos de artifício em Pernambuco, Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of victims of fireworkrelated ocular trauma treated at the ophthalmologic emergency de partments of two reference centers in Pernambuco, Brazil, and to identify risk factors related to poor visual prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients admitted in emergency departments with a report of firework-related trauma between January 2012 and December 2018. Data collected included patient's age, sex, place of origin, month and year of the accident, ocular structures affected, characteristics of the injuries, and type of treatment that patients received. For patients who were followed for >30 days, the final visual acuity and patient's origin were analyzed. Results: Three hundred and seventy eyes from 314 patients were included, of which 248 (79.0%) were male and 160 (51.0%) were from the metropolitan region of Recife. The mean patient age was 25.6 ± 18.8 years. In 56 (17.8%) patients, the ocular trauma was bilateral. A total of 152 (48.4%) cases occurred in June. The most affected sites were the eyelids in 91 (24.6%) eyes and ocular surface in 252 (68.1%). Surgical treatment was required in 87 (23.5%) eyes. After clinical and surgical management, 37 (10.0%) eyes presented final visual acuity of <20/400. Of these, 34 (91.9%) eyes were from patients from the countryside or from another state. Patients from the countryside presented higher risk of developing blindness after a firework trauma than those from the metropolitan area (odds ratio of 5.46). Conclusions: Victims of firework-related ocular trauma were mostly male, from the metropolitan region of Pernambuco state and mainly pediatric patients or economically active. Those coming from the countryside and other states had higher risk of developing blindness

RESUMO Objetivos: Descrever as características demográficas e clínicas das vítimas de trauma ocular por fogos de artifício atendidas nas emergências oftalmológicas de dois centros de referência em Pernambuco e identificar fatores relacionados a mau prognóstico visual. Métodos: Avaliação retrospectiva dos prontuários de pacientes admitidos na emergência oftalmológica com história de trauma por fogos de artifício entre janeiro de 2012 e dezembro de 2018. A coleta de dados incluiu idade, gênero, procedência, mês e ano do acidente, estruturas oculares acometidas e características das lesões, além do tipo de tratamento a que os pacientes foram submetidos. Naqueles pacientes acompanhados por mais de 30 dias, analisou-se a acuidade visual final e a associação com sua procedência. Resultados: Foram incluídos 370 olhos de 314 pacientes. Destes, 248 (79,0%) vítimas eram do sexo masculino e 160 (51,0%) da região metropolitana do Recife, com uma média de idade de 25.6 ± 18.8 anos. Em 56 (17,8%) dos casos o trauma foi bilateral. No mês de junho ocorreu um total de 152 (48,4%) casos. Os sítios mais acometidos foram pálpebras em 91 (24,6%) olhos e superfície ocular em 252 (68,1%). O tratamento cirúrgico foi necessário em 87 (23,5%) olhos. Após manejo clínico-cirúrgico, 37 (10.0%) olhos desenvolveram visão pior do que 20/400. Destes, 34 (91,9%) olhos eram de pacientes do interior do estado de Pernambuco ou de outro estado. Os pacientes provenientes do interior do estado apresentaram maior chance de desenvolver cegueira quando comparados aos que eram provenientes da região metropolitana (Odds Ratio de 5,46). Conclusões: As vítimas de trauma ocular por fogos de artificio foram em sua maioria do sexo masculino, procedentes da região metropolitana do estado e das faixas etárias pediátrica e economicamente ativa. Aqueles provenientes do interior ou de outros estados apresentaram maior chance de desenvolver cegueira.

Tear film osmolarity variation between weeks in healthy and dry eye disease subjects / Variação semanal da osmolaridade do filme lacrimal em indivíduos saudáveis e com síndrome do olho seco

ABSTRACT Purpose: The possible variability in diagnostic test results is a statistical feature of dry eye disease patients. The clinician should consider tear film variations over time since the timing of tear film measurements is important for proper diagnosis. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the inter-week variation of osmolarity measurement in healthy and dry eye disease participants. Methods: Based on the Dry Eye Workshop II (DEWS-II) diagnostic methodology report criteria, a battery of tests (Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI] questionnaire, breakup time, and corneal staining) was administered to rule out the presence of dry eye disease. A total of 40 qualified volunteers were recruited into two groups: with only 20 healthy and 20 dry eye disease participants. The inter-week variation of osmolarity in the two groups was measured using a TearLab osmometer in two sessions one-week apart. The differences between the results were calculated. Results: There were no significant differences in osmolarity between the two sessions for either the healthy (paired t-test; p=0.085) or dry eye disease (paired t-test; p=0.093) participants. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the means and differences in either session on healthy (Pearson correlation: r=0.020; p=0.935) or dry eye disease (Pearson correlation: r=-0.022; p=0.928) participants. In session 1, there was a significant difference in osmolarity values between groups (unpaired t-test; p=0.001), but no difference was found in session 2 (unpaired t-test; p=0.292). Conclusions: The present study discovered no inter-week variation in the tear film osmolarity of healthy and dry eye disease participants classified based on the DEWS-II criteria.

RESUMO Objetivo: A possível variabilidade nos resultados de testes diagnósticos é uma característica estatística dos pacientes com síndrome do olho seco. O médico deve considerar as variações do filme lacrimal ao longo do tempo, pois o momento em que o filme lacrimal é medido pode ser crítico para o diagnóstico adequado. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a variação semanal da osmolaridade do filme lacrimal em participantes saudáveis e em outros com síndrome do olho seco. Métodos: Com base nos critérios da metodologia de diagnóstico do relatório da Dry Eye Workshop II (DEWSII), foi aplicada uma bateria de testes (questionário do índice de doença da superfície ocular [OSDI], tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal e coloração da córnea) para descartar a presença de síndrome do olho seco. Um total de 40 voluntários qualificados foi recrutado e distribuído em dois grupos de 20 participantes saudáveis e 20 participantes com síndrome do olho seco. A variação da osmolaridade entre semanas foi medida com um osmômetro TearLab em duas sessões com uma semana de intervalo nos dois grupos. As diferenças entre os resultados foram então calculadas. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas na osmolaridade entre as medidas obtidas nas duas sessões, nem no grupo de participantes saudáveis (teste de t pareado; p=0,085), nem no de participantes com síndrome do olho seco (teste de t pareado; p=0,093). Não foi detectada nenhuma correlação significativa entre as médias e diferenças entre as duas sessões entre participantes saudáveis (correlação de Pearson: r=0,020, p=0,935) e aqueles com síndrome do olho seco (correlação Pearson: r=-0,022, p=0,928). Foi encontrada uma diferença significativa nos valores de osmolaridade entre os dois grupos na primeira sessão (teste de t não pareado; p=0,001), mas nenhuma diferença foi encontrada na segunda sessão (teste de t não pareado; p=0,292). Conclusões: O presente estudo não encontrou variação entre semanas consecutivas na osmolaridade do filme lacrimal em participantes saudáveis e com síndrome do olho seco, classificados com base nos critérios do DEWSII.