Effectiveness of Community-Based Nursing Intervention for Asthmatic Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Preventive care can support and direct the nurse's efforts to deliver an asthma intervention for children as part of nursing interventions. Despite the significance, there have been few meta studies demonstrating the effectiveness of nursing interventions for the treatment of childhood asthma that includes only randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Therefore, this meta study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of nursing care interventions for the management of childhood asthma. Methods: STATA 14.2 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) was used to conduct the meta-analysis. From 1964 to July 2022, we searched Medline, the Cochrane library, EMBASE, Scopus Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Depending on the type of outcome, a meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model, pooled weight mean difference (WMD), standardised mean difference (SMD), and/or risk ratio (RR) with stated 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). PRISMA guidelines were followed for conducing this study. Results: Nine studies were analysed in total. The pooled RR for emergency visits was 0.49 (95%CI: 0.32 to 0.77), for hospitalizations was 0.64 (95%CI: 0.21 to 1.89). The pooled SMD for frequency of asthma attacks was -2.88 (95%CI: -3.22 to -2.54), quality of life was 0.49 (95%CI: 0.22 to 0.75) and asthma control was 1.25 (95%CI: -0.77 to 3.28). Conclusion: Paediatric asthma patients who received nursing interventions reported an improved quality of life and a decrease in emergencies and acute attacks due to asthma. Future RCTs should focus on uncovering the short- and long-term effects of these nursing interventions to provide optimal management and care.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic molecular actions of gedunin against lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in experimental rats.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction without effective therapeutic options. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin, is known to induce sepsis. It is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and multiple organ failure. Gedunin (GN) is a tetranortriterpenoid isolated from the Meliaceae family. Gedunin possesses numerous pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and anticancer activities. However, the molecular anti-inflammatory mechanism of GN in sepsis has not been established. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecular actions underlying the antiseptic activity of GN in an LPS-induced rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats were randomized into 4 sets: group 1 (control) was given 1 mL of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by gavage, group 2 rats were treated with LPS (100 µg/kg body weight (BW), intraperitoneally (ip.)), group 3 rats were given LPS (100 µg/kg BW, ip.)+GN (50 mg/kg BW in DMSO), and rats in the group 4 were given GN (50 mg/kg BW in DMSO) alone. We studied hepatic markers, inflammatory cytokines and antioxidants using specific biochemical kits and analyzed their statistical significance. Histopathology of liver, lungs and kidney tissues was also explored. The mRNA levels and conducted protein investigations were performed using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that GN significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited oxidative stress, lipid peroxides, toxic markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and histological changes, thereby preventing multi-organ impairment. Additionally, GN attenuated the HMGß1/NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway and prevented the degradation of Iκßα. CONCLUSIONS: Gedunin is a promising natural antiseptic agent for LPS-induced sepsis in rats.

NLRX1 increases human retinal pigment epithelial autophagy and reduces H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of impaired vision as well as some earlier effects, such as reading and face recognition. Oxidative damage and inflammation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are major causes of AMD. Additionally, autophagy in RPE cells can lead to cellular homeostasis under oxidative stress. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mysterious modulator of the immune system function which inhibits inflammatory response, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and regulates autophagy. This study attempted to explore the role of NLRX1 in oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy in AMD. METHODS: An in vitro model of AMD was built in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line 19 (ARPE-19) treated with H2O2. The cell viability, NLRX1 expressions, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GHS), and ROS, concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), expressions of NLRX1, p62, LC3-II/LC3-I, FUNDC1, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were expounded by cell counting kit-8, colorimetric, enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay. RESULTS: H2O2 treatment notably reduced the relative protein expression of NLRX1. Meanwhile, H2O2 incubation decreased cell viability, diminished SOD and GSH concentrations, accompanied with the increased level of ROS, enhanced IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations, and aggrandized the relative protein expression of p62 with reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Moreover, these results were further promoted with knockdown of NLRX1 and reversed with overexpression. Mechanically, silencing of NLRX1 further observably enhanced the relative levels of -phosphorylated FUNDC1/FUNDC1, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, while overexpression of NLRX1 exhibited inverse results in the H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION: NLRX1 suppressed H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and facilitated autophagy by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation in ARPE-19 cells.

NLRX1 increases human retinal pigment epithelial autophagy and reduces H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of impaired vision as well as some earlier effects, such as reading and face recognition. Oxidative damage and inflammation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are major causes of AMD. Additionally, autophagy in RPE cells can lead to cellular homeostasis under oxidative stress. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mysterious modulator of the immune system function which inhibits inflammatory response, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and regulates autophagy. This study attempted to explore the role of NLRX1 in oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy in AMD. Methods: An in vitro model of AMD was built in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line 19 (ARPE-19) treated with H2O2. The cell viability, NLRX1 expressions, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GHS), and ROS, concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), expressions of NLRX1, p62, LC3-II/LC3-I, FUNDC1, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were expounded by cell counting kit-8, colorimetric, enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay. Results: H2O2 treatment notably reduced the relative protein expression of NLRX1. Meanwhile, H2O2 incubation decreased cell viability, diminished SOD and GSH concentrations, accompanied with the increased level of ROS, enhanced IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations, and aggrandized the relative protein expression of p62 with reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Moreover, these results were further promoted with knockdown of NLRX1 and reversed with overexpression. Mechanically, silencing of NLRX1 further observably enhanced the relative levels of -phosphorylated FUNDC1/FUNDC1 (AU)

Exposure to famine in every stage of life and the risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Data on the association between early-life famine exposure and osteoporosis and fractures remain limited and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between famine exposure and osteoporosis and fractures. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study from 2014 to 2016. We classified 4807 Lanzhou participants into seven groups based on their birthday (non-exposed or exposed in the fetal stage, early childhood, mid-childhood, late childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood). And we combined the non-exposed and early-adulthood exposed groups as a control group, which was called "age balanced group". This age-balanced group was used as the control group to further evaluate the risk of osteoporosis and fracture. We used multiple logistic regression to estimate the association between famine exposure and the risk of osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -1.8 by QUS) and self-reported fracture. RESULTS: In women, compared to the age-balanced group, the odds ratios (95 % CI) for the risk of osteoporosis were 1.400(1.034, 1.897), 1.630(1.268, 2.095), 1.707(1.314, 2.218), 2.150(1.732.2.668) and 2.885(2.286,3.641) in the fetal stage, early childhood, mid-childhood, late childhood and adolescence famine-exposed cohorts. In men, no association between famine and osteoporosis was noted with exposed cohort compared with the age-balanced control cohort (p > 0.05). Interestingly, the association between famine exposure and fractures was slightly different from the above results: in women, the odds ratios (95 % CI) for fractures in mid-childhood famine exposure was 1.461(1.082,1.973), in late childhood famine exposure was 1.333(1.035,1.718) and in adolescence famine exposure was 1.607(1.239,2.085). However, compared to the age-balanced control cohort, men exposed to famine in early childhood (OR: 1.801, 95 % CI: 1.010,3.211) had a higher risk of fracture. CONCLUSION: Famine exposure in different life stage has adverse effects on bone health. Famine exposure in not only the period from gestation to infancy, but also childhood and adolescence was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, especially in women. Exposure to famine in childhood- (mid and late) and adolescence- life period is associated with fracture in women. But, in men early-childhood famine exposure was only associated with fracture.

Artisan iris-fixated intraocular lens implantation in combination with pupilloplasty-correction of aphakia with pathologically large pupil and insufficient capsular support.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the efficacy and safety of applying pupilloplasty in combination with Artisan iris-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the treatment for aphakia with pathologically large pupil and insufficient capsular support. DESIGN: The study was a retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six aphakic eyes with pathologically large pupil and insufficient capsular support (from 26 patients) were included in the study. METHODS: The study patients underwent pupilloplasty in combination with Artisan iris-fixated IOL implantation. Follow-up appointments were scheduled at 1 week and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean uncorrected visual acuity was significantly improved from logMAR 1.15 ± 0.29 to logMAR 0.37 ± 0.17, and the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent was significantly decreased from 12.07 ± 2.20 D to -0.69 ± 0.70 D at 6 month after surgery (p < 0.05). The pupil diameter decreased significantly, from 5.7 ± 1.1 mm preoperatively to 4.5 ± 0.8 mm at 6 months after pupilloplasty (p < 0.05). Patients experienced less photophobia postoperatively. The safety parameters, including endothelial cell count, intraocular pressure, corneal astigmatism, best-corrected visual acuity, and central corneal thickness, showed no significant differences in values before and after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The Artisan iris-fixated IOL implantation in combination with pupilloplasty can be used as an alternative way to correct aphakia with pathologically large pupil and insufficient capsular support.

Derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts prognosis for patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma following transarterial chemoembolization.

The derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) has been proposed as an easily determinable prognostic factor for cancer patients, but the prognostic significance of the dNLR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been investigated. The present study aimed to validate the prognostic power of the NLR and dNLR in HCC patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The data of 279 consecutive patients who underwent TACE for unresectable HBV-associated HCC between September 2009 and November 2011 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China) were retrieved from a prospective database. The cut-off values for the NLR and dNLR were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The association between the NLR and dNLR and the clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) rates and times of patients was analyzed. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory ability of the NLR and dNLR. The median follow-up period was 446 days, the 1, 2 and 3-year OS rates were 38.8, 18.5 and 11.1% respectively, and the median OS time was 264 days. The cut-off values were determined as 2.6 and 1.8 for the NLR and dNLR, respectively. The NLR and dNLR were each associated with patient age, presence of vascular invasion, tumor size, AST level and ALP level. Multivariate analysis showed that the NLR, dNLR, ALT level and AFP level were independent prognostic factors for OS. An elevated NLR or dNLR was associated with a poor prognosis (P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively). The prognostic power of NLR [AUC=0.539; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.423-0.656] and dNLR (AUC=0.522; 95% CI, 0.406-0.638) was similar. Elevated dNLR predicted poor prognosis for patients with HBV-associated HCC undergoing TACE, with similar prognostic power to NLR. The dNLR may be used as an alternative to the NLR, as it is easily available and inexpensive.

Inflammation scores predict survival for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after transarterial chemoembolization.

AIM: To compare the prognostic ability of inflammation scores for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Data of 224 consecutive patients who underwent TACE for unresectable HBV-related HCC from September 2009 to November 2011 were retrieved from a prospective database. The association of inflammation scores with clinicopathologic variables and overall survival (OS) were analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory ability of each inflammation score and staging system, including tumor-node-metastasis, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scores. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 390 d, the one-, two-, and three-year OS were 38.4%, 18.3%, and 11.1%, respectively, and the median OS was 390 d. The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modifed GPS, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and Prognostic Index were associated with OS. The GPS consistently had a higher AUC value at 6 mo (0.702), 12 mo (0.676), and 24 mo (0.687) in comparison with other inflammation scores. CLIP consistently had a higher AUC value at 6 mo (0.656), 12 mo (0.711), and 24 mo (0.721) in comparison with tumor-node-metastasis and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging systems. Multivariate analysis revealed that alanine aminotransferase, GPS, and CLIP were independent prognostic factors for OS. The combination of GPS and CLIP (AUC = 0.777) was superior to CLIP or GPS alone in prognostic ability for OS. CONCLUSION: The prognostic ability of GPS is superior to other inflammation scores for HCC patients undergoing TACE. Combining GPS and CLIP improved the prognostic power for OS.

Endostar inhibits hypoxia-induced cell proliferation and migration via the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor pathway in vitro.

Endostar, a recombinant human endostatin, is recognized as one of the most effective angiogenesis inhibitors. The angiogenesis inhibitory effects of Endostar suggest a possible beneficial role of Endostar in choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which is predominantly induced by hypoxia. In our previous study, it was reported that Endostar may inhibit the proliferation and migration of RF/6A choroid­retinal endothelial cells. However, the inhibitory effect of Endostar on hypoxia­induced cell proliferation and migration in RF/6A cells has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of Endostar on hypoxia­induced cell proliferation and migration in RF/6A cells and the possible mechanisms underlying this effect. Under chemical hypoxia conditions, cell viability was increased to 114.9±10.1 and 123.6±9.6% in cells treated with 100 and 200 µm CoCl2, respectively, compared with the control (P<0.01). Pretreatment with 10­100 µg/ml Endostar significantly inhibited CoCl2­induced cell proliferation (P<0.05), and pre­treatment with 10 µg/ml Endostar for 24, 48 and 96 h attenuated CoCl2­promoted cell migration by 60.5, 48.3 and 39.6%, respectively, compared with the control (P<0.001). In addition, pretreatment with 10 µg/ml Endostar reversed the cell cycle arrest at S phase and the increased expression of hypoxia­inducible factor­1α (HIF­1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in RF/6A cells treated with 200 µM CoCl2. These data indicate that Endostar inhibited CoCl2­induced hypoxic proliferation and migration, and limited cell cycle progression in vitro possibly through the HIF­1α/VEGF pathway.

Suppression of choroidal neovascularization by Endostar in rats.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is common in various retinal and choroidal diseases, and may result in severe and irreversible loss of vision. Our previous studies suggested that Endostar, a novel recombinant endostatin, is able to inhibit the proliferation and migration of choroid­retinal endothelial cells. To further evaluate the effect of Endostar on the formation of CNV in vivo, a rat model of laser­induced CNV was constructed and Endostar or phosphate­buffered saline treatment was administered intravitreally every other day. Using fluorescein angiography (FA), reduced CNV incidence and leakage grade was observed in the Endostar group. In addition, CNV area and maximal thickness were prominently reduced in the Endostar group measured by choroid flat mounts and sections. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia­inducible factor 1α and chemokine C­X­C motif ligand 1 were markedly reduced in the Endostar group as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and downregulation of VEGF was also verified by western blot analysis at the protein level. This study demonstrates that Endostar suppressed CNV in a rat model, which may be largely mediated by the downregulation of VEGF and other angiogenic molecules.

Implantable collamer lens versus iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens implantation to correct myopia: a meta-analysis.

This study is a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy, predictability, and safety of correcting myopia via implantation of two types of phakic intraocular lens (PIOLs): the implantable collamer lens (ICL) and iris-fixed PIOL. The Cochrane library, Pubmed, and EMBASE were searched. Study selection, data exclusion, and quality assessment were performed by two independent observers. The pooled relative risk (RR), pooled standardized mean difference (SMD), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare lenses. Seven studies, involving 511 eyes, were included. The pooled SMD in postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) comparing ICLs to iris-fixed PIOLs was -0.22 (95% CI, -0.58 to 0.13; P = .22). The pooled RR values of UDVA of 20/20 or better and of 20/40 or better comparing ICLs to iris-fixed PIOLs were 1.15 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.47; P = .29) and 1.01 (95% CI, 0.95 to 1.08; P = .75), respectively. The pooled RR of loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and gain in BSCVA comparing ICLs to iris-fixed PIOLs were 1.20 (95% CI, 0.24 to 6.00; P = .82) and 1.14 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.48; P = .31), respectively. The pooled RR comparing ICLs to iris-fixed PIOLs was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.29 to 2.12; P = .63) for all reported complications and 2.80 (95% CI, 1.04 to 7.52; P = .04) for severe complications. The pooled RR of achieving a result within ± 0.5 D (diopter) of the intended target comparing ICLs to iris-fixed PIOLs was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.77; P = .03). Overall, there is no significant difference in efficacy between the two types of PIOLs or in safety, except that the ICL is associated with a greater incidence of severe complications, especially anterior subcapsular cataract, primarily in the Version 2 and Version 3 groups. However, ICL has better predictability.

Fast Gaussian kernel learning for classification tasks based on specially structured global optimization.

For a practical pattern classification task solved by kernel methods, the computing time is mainly spent on kernel learning (or training). However, the current kernel learning approaches are based on local optimization techniques, and hard to have good time performances, especially for large datasets. Thus the existing algorithms cannot be easily extended to large-scale tasks. In this paper, we present a fast Gaussian kernel learning method by solving a specially structured global optimization (SSGO) problem. We optimize the Gaussian kernel function by using the formulated kernel target alignment criterion, which is a difference of increasing (d.i.) functions. Through using a power-transformation based convexification method, the objective criterion can be represented as a difference of convex (d.c.) functions with a fixed power-transformation parameter. And the objective programming problem can then be converted to a SSGO problem: globally minimizing a concave function over a convex set. The SSGO problem is classical and has good solvability. Thus, to find the global optimal solution efficiently, we can adopt the improved Hoffman's outer approximation method, which need not repeat the searching procedure with different starting points to locate the best local minimum. Also, the proposed method can be proven to converge to the global solution for any classification task. We evaluate the proposed method on twenty benchmark datasets, and compare it with four other Gaussian kernel learning methods. Experimental results show that the proposed method stably achieves both good time-efficiency performance and good classification performance.

The inflammation-based scores to predict prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

The aims of this study were to compare the prognostic ability of inflammation-based prognostic scores including the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, prognostic index, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing hepatectomy, and to propose the combination of staging systems and inflammation scores to improve the prognostic power. Data for 349 patients who underwent hepatectomy as initial treatment for HCC between 2008 and 2009 were retrieved from a prospective database. The association of inflammation scores with clinicopathological variables and overall survival (OS) was analyzed, and the concordance index (C-index) was calculated to compare the predictive ability of each inflammation scores and staging systems including Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scores. The median follow-up period was 39 months, the 1, 2, and 3 year OS was 75.4, 67.0, and 59.0 %, respectively, and the median OS was 39 months. All inflammation scores, except PNI, were associated with tumor size, major/microvascular invasion and clinical stages, and the GPS and mGPS had a higher C-index (0.608). Multivariate analysis showed that the GPS, BCLC, and CLIP were independently associated with OS. The combined GPS and CLIP (C-index = 0.705) were superior to CLIP alone (C-index = 0.686) or the GPS alone in prognostic ability. The prognostic ability of the GPS is superior to other inflammation scores for patients undergoing hepatectomy as initial treatment for HCC. Combining GPS and CLIP improved the prognostic power.

Hypoxia-induced deregulation of miR-126 and its regulative effect on VEGF and MMP-9 expression.

OBJECTIVE: miR-126, the miRNA considered to be specially expressed in endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells, is strongly associated with angiogenesis. The purpose is to evaluate the role of miR-126 in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: The expression of miR-126 was detected in hypoxia-treated RF/6A cells and diabetic retinas using real-time PCR. The miR-126 was up- or down-regulated by transfecting miR-126-mimics or inhibitors into RF/6A cells. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. The protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were assessed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: A significantly decreased expression of miR-126 was found in hypoxia-treated RF/6A cells in a time-dependent manner compared with normoxic condition. The expression of miR-126 was also reduced in the retina tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The expression of VEGF and MMP-9 proteins was increased in hypoxia-induced RF/6A cells. In the functional analysis, miR-126-mimic significantly reduced the percentage of RF/6A cells in S phases compared with the negative control under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, the VEGF and MMP-9 protein levels were sharply decreased in hypoxia-induced RF/6A cells pretreated with miR-126-mimics and increased in the cells pretreated with miR-126-inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: miR-126 is down-regulated under hypoxic condition both in vitro and in vivo and may halt the hypoxia-induce neovascularization by suspending the cell cycle progression and inhibiting the expression of VEGF and MMP-9.

Conductive keratoplasty: an approach for the correction of residual hyperopia in post-lasik pseudophakia.

Although there are many formulae for the calculation of intraocular lens power in the eyes with previous kerato-refractive surgeries, unexpected refractive bias still exists. Hyperopic bias is particularly disliked because it affects both uncorrected distance and near visual acuity. Surgical treatment of the residual hyperopia for the eyes with both laser in situ keratomileusis and cataract surgery remains to be a big problem. Conductive keratoplasty has been shown to be an effective, safe and predictable method for low and moderate hyperopia in the pseudophakic eyes or in the eyes with kerato-refractive surgeries. However, the efficacy and safety of conductive keratoplasty in the correction of residual hyperopia after both corneal and lens refractive surgeries has not been reported. Herein, we reported the surgical correction with conductive keratoplasty for cases of residual hyperopia with/without astigmatism after previous laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia and following phacoemulsification combined with posterior intraocular lens implantation for complicated cataract.

Correction of extreme hyperopia: artisan iris-fixated intraocular lens implantation for pseudophakia after clear lens extraction.

A 22-year-old patient suffering from both-side extreme hyperopia with amblyopia was corrected with an Artisan iris-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) implantation followed to clear lens extraction (CLE) with posterior chamber (PC)-IOL implantation. The preoperative refraction values were +17.75DS -1.50DC × 168° for the right eye and +17.25DS -0.75DC × 8° for the left eye. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/200 bilaterally and the spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 20/50 bilaterally. One year after Artisan iris-fixated IOL implantation, bilateral BSCVA was 20/50 with a refraction of +1.25DS -0.75DC × 13° for the right eye and +1.50DS -1.00DC × 55° for the left eye. The outcomes of an Artisan iris-fixated IOL implantation followed to CLE with PC-IOL implantation were encouraging for the correction of extreme hyperopia. Long term follow-up examinations were necessary for further determination of the efficacy and safety of this combinational procedure.

Variants in TNFRSF5 locus and association analysis with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Human TNFRSF5, a key signaling molecule expressed by antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, might have associations with autoimmune diseases and various infectious diseases. In the present study, we screened single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNFRSF5 and examined whether they are risk factors for persistent HBV infection or disease severity. We resequenced all 9 exons, the promoter and splicing regions of all introns for 186 Chinese individuals, and identified 11 SNPs. Haplotypes and their frequencies were estimated. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) pattern was also evaluated. Neutrality tests indicated that the variation pattern at TNFRSF5 locus departs from neutrality and may be maintained by positive selection or demography factors such as population growth. Three SNPs (g.53031T>C, g.54068T>C and g.64493A>G) were determined as haplotype-tag SNPs (htSNPs). Furthermore, computer analyses indicated that sequences surrounding g.53031T>C and g.53824T>C were potential binding sites for transcription factors Sp1 and H4TF-2, respectively. We then genotyped these four SNPs for 603 persistent HBV infection patients and 384 spontaneously recovered subjects by PCR direct sequencing. No statistically significant associations were observed between any of the SNPs or haplotypes and persistent HBV infection or disease severity. The information from this study of the TNFRSF5 would be useful for genetic studies of other common diseases.

Haplotype structure and evidence for positive selection at the human IL13 locus.

Interleukin-13 (IL13) is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopy and allergic asthma. To better understand genetic variation at the IL13 locus, we resequenced a 5.1-kb genomic region spanning the entire locus and identified 26 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 74 individuals from three major populations-Chinese, Caucasian, and African. Our survey suggests exceptionally high and significant geographic structure at the IL13 locus between African and outside Africa populations. This unusual pattern suggests that positive selection that acts in some local populations may have played a role on the IL13 locus. In support of this suggestion, we found a significant excess of high frequency-derived SNPs in the Chinese population and Caucasian population, respectively, as expected after a recent episode of positive selection. Further, the unusual haplotype structure indicates that different scenarios of the action of positive selection on the IL13 locus in different populations may exist. In the Caucasian population, the skewed haplotype distribution dominated by one common haplotype supports the hypothesis of simple directional selection. Whereas, in the Chinese population, the two-round hitchhiking hypothesis may explain the skewed haplotype structure with three dominant ones. These findings may provide insight into the likely relative roles of selection and population history in establishing present-day variation at the IL13 locus, and, motivate further studies of this locus as an important candidate in common diseases association studies.