Refraction and ocular biometric parameters in 3-to 6-year-old preschool children : a large-scale population-based study in Chengdu, China.

PURPOSE: To understand the ocular biometric parameters characteristics and refractive errors in 3-to 6-year-old preschool children in Chengdu, China, and to investigate the prevalence of refractive errors. METHOD: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Chengdu from 2020 to2022 with a total of 666 kindergartens. All children were measured by non-cycloplegic autorefraction and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and ocular biometric parameters. Finally, univariate linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between ocular biometric parameters and refraction. RESULTS: A total of 108,578 preschool children aged 3-6 underwent examinations, revealing a myopia prevalence of 6.1%. The mean axial length (AL), keratometry (K), corneal radius (CR), axial length/corneal radius (AL/CR) Ratio, central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous chamber depth (VCD) were 22.35 ± 0.69 mm, 43.35 ± 1.58 D, 7.80 ± 0.28 mm, 2.87 ± 0.08, 533.31 ± 32.51 µm, 2.70 ± 0.28 mm, 3.91 ± 0.27 mm, and 15.20 ± 0.68 mm, respectively. With increasing age, AL, CR, AL/CR ratio, CCT, ACD, LT, and VCD also increased. Regardless of age, males consistently exhibited longer AL, flatter corneal curvature, shallower ACD, thicker CCT, thinner LT, and longer VCD compared to females. AL, K, CR, LT, and VCD all showed significant linear relationships with SE (all P < 0.001) in univariate linear regression analysis after adjusting for gender and age. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of myopia among preschool children aged 3-6 in Chengdu is relatively low. Ocular biometric parameters affecting refractive errors include AL, K, CR, LT, and VCD. The preschool period serves as a critical phase for myopia prevention and control.

Poly(rC)-binding protein 1 alleviates neurotoxicity in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells and modulates glial cells in neuroinflammation.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and neuroinflammation. Previous research has identified the involvement of Poly (rC)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) in certain degenerative diseases; however, its specific mechanisms in PD remain incompletely understood. METHODS: In this study, 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in the cell lines SH-SY5Y, BV-2 and HA, was used to evaluate the protective effects of PCBP1. We assessed alterations in BDNF levels in SY5Y cells, changes in GDNF expression in glial cells, as well as variations in HSP70 and NF-κB activation. Additionally, glial cells were used as the in vitro model for neuroinflammation mechanisms. RESULTS: The results indicate that the overexpression of PCBP1 significantly enhances cell growth compared to the control plasmid pEGFP/N1 group. Overexpression of PCBP1 leads to a substantial reduction in early apoptosis rates in SH-SY5Y, HA, and BV-2 cells, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the overexpression of PCBP1 in cells results in a marked increase in the expression of HSP70, GDNF, and BDNF, while reducing NF-κB expression. Additionally, in SH-SY5Y, HA, and BV-2 cells overexpressing PCBP1, there is a decrease in the inflammatory factor IL-6 compared to the control plasmid pEGFP/N1 group, while BV-2 cells exhibit a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PCBP1 plays a substantial role in promoting cell growth and modulating the balance of neuroprotective and inflammatory factors. These results offer valuable insights into the potential therapeutic utility of PCBP1 in mitigating neuroinflammation and enhancing neuronal survival in PD.

Correlation between refractive errors and ocular biometric parameters in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Refractive errors are one of the most common ocular conditions among children and adolescents, with myopia showing an increasing prevalence and early onset in this population. Recent studies have identified a correlation between refractive errors and ocular biometric parameters. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Medline from January 1, 2012, to May 1, 2023. Various ocular biometric parameters were summarized under different refractive states, including axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), corneal curvature (CC), Corneal curvature radius (CR),axial length-to-corneal radius ratio (AL/CR ratio), choroidal thickness (ChT), retinal thickness (RT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), and retinal blood density (VD). The differences in these parameters among different refractive states were analyzed using Stata software with fixed or random-effects models, taking into account the assessed heterogeneity level. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included a total of 69 studies involving 128,178 eyes, including 48,795 emmetropic eyes, 60,691 myopic eyes, 13,983 hyperopic eyes, 2,040 low myopic eyes, 1,201 moderate myopic eyes, and 1,468 high myopic eyes. The results of our study demonstrated that, compared to the control group (emmetropic group), the myopic group and low, moderate, and high myopic groups showed significant increases in AL, AL/CR ratio, and ACD, while the hyperopic group exhibited significant decreases. Compared to the control group, the myopic group had a significantly increase for CC, while CR, CCT, perifoveal RT, subfoveal ChT, foveal ChT, parafoveal ChT, perifoveal (except nasal) ChT, and pRNFL (except temporal) significantly decreased. Compared to the control group, the hyperopic group had a significantly increase for subfoveal ChT, foveal ChT, parafoveal ChT, perifoveal ChT, and nasal pRNFL. Compared to the control group, the low and moderate myopic groups had a significantly decreases for the CCT, parafoveal RT (except nasal), perifoveal RT (except nasal), and pRNFL (except superior and temporal). Compared to the control group, the high myopic group had a significantly increase for CR, while LT, perifoveal ChT (except nasal), parafoveal RT, perifoveal RT, and pRNFL (except temporal) had significant decreased. CONCLUSION: The changes of ocular biometric parameters in children and adolescents are closely related to refractive errors. Ocular biometric parameters devices, as effective non-invasive techniques, provide objective biological markers for monitoring refractive errors such as myopia.

Safe Region of Craniotomy to Access the Cerebellopontine Region by Retrosigmoid Approach: A Radiological and Anatomical Study.

Accurately positioning the sigmoid sinus (SS), transverse sinus (TS), and vertebral artery (VA) is significantly important during the retrosigmoid (RS) approach. This study aimed to use emissary vein and digastric point as landmarks in high-resolution computer topographic image to locate the SS, TS, and VA to help surgeons to avoid injuring these vascular structures during RS craniotomy. Computed topographic (CT) angiography images of 107 individuals were included, the measurement was performed on coronal, sagittal, and axis planes after the multiplanar reformation. Distance from the emissary vein and digastric point to the posterior boundary of the SS, inferior boundary of the TS were measured by CT angiography preoperatively and in the skull intraoperatively. The VA was also located by emissary vein and digastric point. No significant difference was identified between the distances measured in the CT and skull. Our findings provide anatomical information for locating the boundary of the SS, TS, and V3-VA based on the fixed bony landmarks. Verified by skull measurement, high-resolution CT scan is a cost-effective and reliable tool for identifying the location of the arteries and sinus, which could be widely used to guarantee the safety of RS approach craniectomy.

Biomedical Teleacupuncture between China and Austria Using Heart Rate Variability, Part 1: Poststroke Patients.

Background. Acupuncture has been reported to affect the human autonomic system. Within this pilot study, teleacupuncture between China and Austria is used for the first time for quantifying the effects of heart rate variability (HRV) in poststroke rehabilitation. Methods. In 29 Chinese post-stroke patients (15 f, 14 m; mean age ± SD 64.7 ± 11.3 years; range 40-80 years) electrocardiographic signals before, during, and after acupuncture at the acupoint Tongli (HT 5) were recorded in Harbin and analyzed in Graz using teleacupuncture via internet. HRV data were analyzed in the time and frequency domain, and a protocol from Austria was sent to the team in China immediately after the treatment and recording session. Results. Acupuncture does not change heart rate in the post-stroke patients; however, total HRV increased significantly (P < .05) during and 5-10 minutes after acupuncture. In addition, balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (low frequency/high frequency HRV ratio) changes markedly during treatment. Conclusions. Based on innovative HRV analysis, it could be demonstrated that teleacupuncture between China/Harbin and Austria/Graz over a distance of about 8,500 km is no longer a future vision; it has become reality.