Natural compounds efficacy in Ophthalmic Diseases: A new twist impacting ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis, a distinct form of cell death, is characterized by the iron-mediated oxidation of lipids and is finely controlled by multiple cellular metabolic pathways. These pathways encompass redox balance, iron regulation, mitochondrial function, as well as amino acid, lipid, and sugar metabolism. Additionally, various disease-related signaling pathways also play a role in the regulation of ferroptosis. In recent years, with the introduction of the concept of ferroptosis and the deepening of research on its mechanism, ferroptosis is closely related to various biological conditions of eye diseases, including eye organ development, aging, immunity, and cancer. This article reviews the development of the concept of ferroptosis, the mechanism of ferroptosis, and its latest research progress in ophthalmic diseases and reviews the research on ferroptosis in ocular diseases within the framework of metabolism, active oxygen biology, and iron biology. Key regulators and mechanisms of ferroptosis in ocular diseases introduce important concepts and major open questions in the field of ferroptosis and related natural compounds. It is hoped that in future research, further breakthroughs will be made in the regulation mechanism of ferroptosis and the use of ferroptosis to promote the treatment of eye diseases. At the same time, natural compounds may be the direction of new drug development for the potential treatment of ferroptosis in the future. Open up a new way for clinical ophthalmologists to research and prevent diseases.

Refractive Changes After Horizontal Strabismus Surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in refractive status after surgery in patients with horizontal strabismus and high refractive error. METHODS: This was a prospective study of patients with horizontal strabismus and high refractive error. The patients were divided into a horizontal rectus recession group (group 1) and a horizontal rectus recession combined with horizontal rectus resection group (group 2). The postoperative follow-up duration was 3 months. The refractive status of the patients was evaluated at each postoperative examination, and the refractive changes in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The spherical equivalent in group 1 changed by -0.26 D at 3 months postoperatively relative to the preoperative value (p = 0.078), indicating gradual progression toward myopia over time, but the difference was not significant; however, the postoperative cylinder in group 1 significantly increased by 0.34 D at 3 months postoperatively relative to the preoperative value (p = 0.03). The spherical equivalent in group 2 also indicated progression toward myopia; compared with the preoperative value, the spherical equivalent significantly decreased by -0.28 D (p = 0.019) at 1 month postoperatively and decreased by -0.21 D at 3 months postoperatively. The regression line drawn among the points also indicated a progression in the spherical equivalent toward myopia. In group 2, the cylinder increased by 0.30 D (p = 0.004) from the preoperative level at 1 month postoperatively, peaked, then decreased by 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high refractive error who undergo horizontal strabismus correction will experience myopic shift. Patients who undergo rectus recession surgery should be fully informed of the possibility of changes in astigmatism preoperatively. For patients who undergo horizontal rectus recession combined with horizontal rectus resection, it is not recommended that glasses be changed within 1 month after surgery.

Occurrence of Dry Eye Disease in Patients With Concomitant Strabismus: A Preliminary Cross-sectional Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of strabismus on dry eye parameters. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the preliminary assessment of ocular parameters related to dry eye disease was performed in patients with untreated concomitant strabismus. In total, 204 patients with concomitant strabismus and 125 volunteers without strabismus (4 to 30 years old, 170 male and 159 female) were enrolled. The Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered, and ocular surface was examined using the Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH) to collect data on tear film break-up time (TBUT), ocular redness index (based on bulbar conjunctival blood vessel engorgement), and meibomian gland atrophy. Subgroup analysis was performed based on strabismus type (concomitant exotropia, concomitant esotropia, and non-strabismus); age (juvenile versus adults age > 18 years); and 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course, according to an age of 12 years. RESULTS: Concomitant exotropia and esotropia were reported in 134 and 70 patients, respectively. A total of 125 healthy volunteers were recruited. The three groups showed significant differences in the ocular redness index (right eye: P = .012, left eye: P = .018). In contrast, other parameters were not significantly different. Similarly, no statistical differences in ocular surface indicators were observed when patients were divided by age (P > .05 for all) and the 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course. The meibomian gland showed varying degrees of atrophy in both the strabismus and non-strabismus groups. CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus does not affect tear film stability with age in this cohort with constant strabismus up to 30 years, indicating that strabismus may not increase the risk of dry eye disease. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(1):30-37.].

A giant teratoma in the anterior mediastinum found prenatally: A case report.

Prenatal anterior mediastinal teratomas are rare. Anterior mediastinal teratomas can cause edema during the perinatal period. Color Doppler ultrasonography and chest computed tomography (CT) are of great value in diagnosing neonatal anterior mediastinal teratomas. Here, we report a case of prenatally diagnosed neonatal anterior mediastinal teratoma. After birth, transthoracic echocardiography and chest enhanced CT showed a large solid mass in the pericardial cavity. Owing to compression of the heart, the tumor was completely removed 1 day after birth, and cardiopulmonary bypass was performed. Pathology results indicated an immature teratoma (Grade I). At 9-month follow-up, the patient remained in good overall condition without observed recurrences.

Intense Pulsed Light Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Objective: To assess the effects of intense pulsed light (IPL) on oxidative stress (OS) in perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Background: IPL treatment has been proven effective for dry eye disease (DED). However, we have observed that, after IPL treatment, some patients with DED combined with allergic conjunctivitis (AC), an immune response condition in which excessive OS causes and exacerbates inflammatory damage, not only show an improvement in eye dryness, but also their AC-related eye itching is relieved. The mechanism by which IPL inhibits allergic reactions is not clear. Methods: Five patients with moderate-to-severe PAC were given two IPL treatments on the periorbital skin with a 2-week interval. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and signs of AC, including eye redness and conjunctival follicles, were assessed before the first treatment (day 1) and 2 weeks after the second treatment (day 30). Tears were also collected at the same time, and lipid oxidation (LPO) metabolite analysis was performed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the effects of IPL on OS response. Results: The average VAS score significantly decreased with treatment (30.2 for day 1, 10.6 for day 30; p < 0.001). The general signs of PAC showed no difference (p > 0.05). LPO metabolite analysis revealed that 17,18-diHETE, which is an oxidation product of eicosapentaenoic acid, and 13-OXoODE, which is an oxidation product of linoleic acid, are significantly downregulated after IPL treatment. Conclusions: The photothermal effect of IPL attenuates OS in PAC, and this seems to be one of the mechanisms by which IPL treatment improves PAC. Clinical Trial Registration number: ChiCTR1900022202.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy to Inhibit Meibomian Gland Inflammation: Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Meibomian Gland Secretions.

Objective: To assess the inhibitory effects of intense pulsed light (IPL) on meibomian gland (MG) inflammation. Background: IPL treatment is effective for dry eye disease (DED) caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). However, the anti-inflammatory and regeneration stimulating effects of IPL on MGD remain unclear. Moreover, studies on inflammatory metabolites in MG secretions are lacking. Methods: Six patients with DED were administered two IPL treatments. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaires were used to assess DED, MGD signs, including degree of obstruction, secretion, and atrophy of the MG, tear film break-up time (TBUT) was assessed before and after treatments. To determine IPL treatment-induced changes in metabolites, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze MG secretions. Results: Data were gathered before the first treatment (time A) and 2 weeks after the second treatment (time B). Average OSDI score showed a significant decrease (time A and B measurements were 44.07 and 16.65, respectively). Besides, statistically significant differences were observed in MG signs before and after treatments: degree of obstruction improved and secretions became thinner. TBUT was significantly increased to the normal range. LC-MS/MS led to the identification of 53 differential metabolites: 23 were upregulated (e.g., estradiol, coenzyme Q, and azelaic acid) and 30 were downregulated (e.g., prostaglandins, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and arachidonic acid). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that most differential metabolites were involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. Conclusions: Periorbital IPL treatment can improve chronic inflammation of the MG and promote its normal secretion. The steroid hormone biosynthetic pathways may be activated to participate in this anti-inflammatory effect.

A retrospective study of strabismus surgery in a tertiary eye hospital in the Chaoshan area in China from 2014 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the distribution pattern of strabismus surgery at an eye center in southern China. METHODS: The data of all patients who underwent strabismus surgery at the Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University /Chinese University of Hong Kong from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The type of strabismus and its relationship with age and sex were analyzed, and the trend in the number of strabismus surgeries was observed. RESULTS: The data of 4640 patients included a total of 5,282 surgeries. Exotropia surgery was the most common, accounting for 54.0% of all strabismus surgeries, which tended to increase over time, but not significantly (P = 0.109). Constant exotropia was the most common exotropia, but its proportion decreased year by year. The next most common was intermittent exotropia. The percentage of surgeries for intermittent exotropia increased from 2016 to 2020. Surgery for esotropia accounted for 22.1% of all strabismus surgeries and became significantly less common from 2016 to 2020 (P < 0.01). Among patients with intermittent or constant exotropia, the proportion of patients younger than 12 years who underwent surgical intervention increased yearly, while this proportion amoung patients older 12 years old with constant exotropia decreased yearly. CONCLUSION: Among exotropia surgeries, surgery for constant exotropia was the most common but decreased in prevalence annually. Children under 12 years old were the most affected population.

Ultrasonic characteristics and influencing factors of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to observe the characteristics of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients by ultrasound and analyze the factors influencing the development of atherosclerosis in these patients. METHODS: Ninety diabetic patients treated in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and carotid ultrasound were used to determine the presence of intracranial (stenosis) and extracranial (plaque) atherosclerosis. The differences in characteristics of different lesions and risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis were compared. RESULTS: Ultrasound examination of the 90 enrolled patients showed that 5 (5.56%) had only intracranial artery stenosis, 30 (33.33%) had only extracranial atherosclerosis, 20 (22.22%) had intracranial artery stenosis combined with extracranial atherosclerosis, and 35 (38.89%) had no lesions. The intracranial stenosis rate (27.78%) was significantly higher than that of extracranial carotid stenosis or occlusion (2.22%) (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the duration of diabetes mellitus and concomitant hypertension were independent risk factors for intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the study group showed reduced carotid plaque, decreased inflammatory response, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients have a higher incidence of atherosclerosis, which is related to the duration of the diabetes mellitus and concomitant hypertension, so the monitoring of these patients needs to be strengthened. In addition, the administration of atorvastatin can better improve hyperlipidemia and slow down the development of atherosclerosis.

Corrigendum to "Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Biological Strategy-Based Research".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/5544518.].

Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Biological Strategy-Based Research.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pharmacological mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LDD) for diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: The potential targets of LDD were predicted by PharmMapper. GeneCards and other databases were used to collect DR genes. Cytoscape was used to construct and analyze network DR and LDD's network, and DAVID was used for Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, animal experiments were carried out to verify the results of systematic pharmacology. RESULTS: Five networks were constructed and analyzed: (1) diabetic retinopathy genes' PPI network; (2) compound-compound target network of LDD; (3) LDD-DR PPI network; (4) compound-known target network of LDD; (5) LDD known target-DR PPI network. Several DR and treatment-related targets, clusters, signaling pathways, and biological processes were found. Animal experiments found that LDD can improve the histopathological changes of the retina. LDD can also increase erythrocyte filtration rate and decrease the platelet adhesion rate (P < 0.05) and decrease MDA and TXB2 (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the retinal VEGF and HIF-1α expression in the LDD group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of LDD on DR may be achieved by interfering with the biological processes (such as response to insulin, glucose homeostasis, and regulation of angiogenesis) and signaling pathways (such as insulin, VEGF, HIF-1, and ErbB signaling pathway) related to the development of DR that was found in this research.

A study of the clinical application value of ultrasound and electrocardiogram in the differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical application values of electrocardiogram (ECG) combined with ultrasound cardiogram (UCG) in the differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with cardiomyopathy who were admitted to our hospital were randomly divided into the dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) group (60 cases) and the ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) group (60 cases). Both groups were examined using ECG combined with UCG. The ultrasonic values (aorta, LADI, LVDd, LVESD, RVID, SV, LVEF, LVET, EPSS, E/A, RV6, RV6/RMAX), morphological changes (thin and round left ventricular apex, spherical left ventricle, arch-shaped left ventricle, segmental wall-motion abnormalities (SWMAs), diffuse wall motion abnormalities (DWMAs), paradoxical ventricular wall motion) and heart valve regurgitation (aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve) were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The degree of chamber enlargement in the DCM group was remarkably higher than that in the ICM group, but the degree of LVEF and aortic enlargement were significantly lower than those in the ICM group (P<0.05). The detection rates of spherical left ventricle and DWMAs in the DCM group were 60.00% and 100.00% respectively, which was significantly higher than those (6.66% and 40.00%) of the ICM group (P<0.05), but the detection rates of thin and round left ventricular apex, arch-shaped left ventricle, SWMAs, and paradoxical ventricular wall motion were 53.33%, 66.66%, 46.66% and 20.00% respectively in the ICM group, which were markedly higher than those in the DCM group. The incidence rates of aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve in the DCM group were 66.66%, 100.00%, 46.66% and 76.66%, which were notably higher than those (36.66%, 93.33%, 26.66% and 40.00%) in the ICM group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ECG combined with UCG examination can effectively improve the judgment rate and diagnosis accuracy of cardiomyopathy. Due to its high safety, ECG combined with UCG examination is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Detection of Referable Horizontal Strabismus in Children's Primary Gaze Photographs Using Deep Learning.

Purpose: This study implements and demonstrates a deep learning (DL) approach for screening referable horizontal strabismus based on primary gaze photographs using clinical assessments as a reference. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate deep learning algorithms that screen referable horizontal strabismus in children's primary gaze photographs. Methods: DL algorithms were developed and trained using primary gaze photographs from two tertiary hospitals of children with primary horizontal strabismus who underwent surgery as well as orthotropic children who underwent routine refractive tests. A total of 7026 images (3829 non-strabismus from 3021 orthoptics [healthy] subjects and 3197 strabismus images from 2772 subjects) were used to develop the DL algorithms. The DL model was evaluated by 5-fold cross-validation and tested on an independent validation data set of 277 images. The diagnostic performance of the DL algorithm was assessed by calculating the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Using 5-fold cross-validation during training, the average AUCs of the DL models were approximately 0.99. In the external validation data set, the DL algorithm achieved an AUC of 0.99 with a sensitivity of 94.0% and a specificity of 99.3%. The DL algorithm's performance (with an accuracy of 0.95) in diagnosing referable horizontal strabismus was better than that of the resident ophthalmologists (with accuracy ranging from 0.81 to 0.85). Conclusions: We developed and evaluated a DL model to automatically identify referable horizontal strabismus using primary gaze photographs. The diagnostic performance of the DL model is comparable to or better than that of ophthalmologists. Translational Relevance: DL methods that automate the detection of referable horizontal strabismus can facilitate clinical assessment and screening for children at risk of strabismus.

Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for Itch Associated with Allergic Keratoconjunctivitis: A Retrospective Study of 35 Cases.

Objective: To conduct a preliminary assessment of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for allergic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC)-associated ocular itch. Background: Current control measures for AKC rely primarily on drugs. IPL is effective for dry eye disease (DED). Furthermore, phototherapy is effective for managing skin inflammation and pruritus, suggesting that eye itching could decrease in some patients having AKC complicated with DED following IPL treatment to control dry eye symptoms. Methods: Thirty-five patients having DED complicated with mid-to-severe AKC were administered three IPL treatments to the periorbital skin. The eye scores of subjective symptoms and signs of AKC and tear film breakup time (TBUT) were retrospectively assessed before and after each treatment. Results: The scores for AKC-related symptoms and signs were determined four times: on Day 1 (time 0), Day 15 (time 1), Day 45 (time 2), and Day 75 (time 3) before each treatment. The average symptom score significantly decreased with treatments (time 0: 30.97, time 1: 15.03, time 3: 10). The average sign score for both eyes decreased after the first IPL treatment (left eye: 7.97 vs. 11.38; right eye: 8.1 vs. 11.1). There were no further improvements in the signs after the last treatment. The TBUT value in the right eye increased from times 0 to 3 (2.31 vs. 4.66 vs. 7.71 vs. 7.74). The TBUT value in the left eye increased from times 0 to 3 (2.50 vs. 6.97 vs. 7.57 vs. 8.24). Conclusions: Symptoms and signs improved after IPL treatment in patients with AKC. Eye itching was gradually controlled and rarely recurred. IPL may be effective for AKC treatment.

Inter-eye Differences in Ocular Biometric Parameters of Concomitant Exotropia.

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular biometric parameters in patients with constant and intermittent exotropia by the measurement of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) optical biometer OA-2000 and comparing it with the normal control subjects. Design: Cross-sectional case-control study. Participants: Fifty-five constant and 24 intermittent patients with exotropia with central fixation and 77 orthotropic normal control participants aged 4-18 years old. Methods: Non-contact and high-resolution optical biometric OA-2000 measurements were conducted under uniform ambient light conditions. The statistical analysis included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plot, and independent t-tests. Main Outcome Measures: Spherical equivalent (SE), ocular biological parameters such as pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and axial lengths (AL). The absolute values of inter-eye differences for SE, PD, ACD, LT, and AL were recorded as AnisoSE, AnisoPD, AnisoACD, AnisoLT, and AnisoAL, respectively. Results: AnisoSE (0.878 vs. 0.577, P = 0.019), AnisoAL (0.395 vs. 0.208, P = 0.001), AnisoACD (0.060 vs. 0.032, P < 0.001), AnisoLT (0.060 vs. 0.031, P = 0.002), and AnisoPD (0.557 vs. 0.340, P = 0.002) were significantly larger in concomitant patients with exotropia. The SE, AL, ACD, LT, and PD showed excellent binocular correlation with ICC values that ranged from 0.943 to 0.987 in control participants and from 0.767 to 0.955 in concomitant exotropia patients. Bland-Altman plots showed the wider range of agreement in patients with concomitant exotropia than the control participants (SE: 5.0288 vs. 3.3258; AL: 2.2146 vs. 1.3172; ACD:0.3243 vs. 0.1682; PD: 2.4691 vs. 1.9241; and LT:0.3723 vs 0.1858). Conclusion: Patients with concomitant exotropia showed larger inter-eye differences in SE, ACD, LT, PD, and AL. Advice should be given to suspicious children to avoid or delay the development of concomitant exotropia.

Preliminary Assessment of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment on the Upper Eyelids for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Objective: To conduct a preliminary assessment of the intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment on the upper eyelid. Background: IPL therapy is an effective therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The normal treatment region includes the skin below the lower eyelids and both temporal parts, but not the upper eyelid. Methods: Thirty patients with mid-to-severe dry eye disease caused by MGD were selected and randomly divided into two groups. Fifteen controls in group A received normal IPL treatment. Fifteen patients in Group B underwent additional IPL treatment on the upper eyelid. The change in noninvasive tear breakup time (BUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, patient satisfaction, and adverse events were measured and recorded at each visit, before each treatment. Results: The dry eye symptoms of the patients in both groups improved. The patients in group B had better recovery than those in group A: BUT (right eye: 11.6 ± 3.67 sec vs. 7.73 ± 1.99 sec; left eye: 12.73 ± 4.19 sec vs. 7.73 ± 1.40 sec), OSDI (8.87 ± 4.31 vs. 14.93 ± 3.47); patient satisfaction in group B remained good, but decreased in group A with prolonged treatment duration. No serious skin and eye complications were found in any patient. Conclusions: This study showed the patients who received IPL treatment on the upper eyelid experienced improved symptoms of MGD. A further long-term study should be conducted to increase our understanding of the effect of expanded IPL treatment.

Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Skin Types III/IV.

Background and objective: Several cases of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), particularly the moderate to severe ones, are considered intractable by traditional therapy. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy has emerged as a new choice for management of MGD in recent years, given that use of lasers and optical treatments is typically challenging in patients with darker skin types. Methods: IPL treatment for MGD is administered in the periorbital area with the thinnest skin in our body, which has an inherent risk of skin side effects. We evaluated the effects and safety of this therapy in Chinese patients with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV. Forty MGD patients were randomly administered IPL treatment with two types of parameters in the left and the right eye. Results: Results revealed that both parameter settings of IPL treatment could gradually and effectively raise the tear breakup time (BUT) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score. However, younger patients showed better improvement in BUT (F = 19.54, p < 0.01) and OSDI (F = 9.93, p < 0.01) compared with older patients. Conclusions: Overall, results showed that IPL treatment is safe and effective in MGD patients with skin types III-IV.

CO2 Laser Treatment of Xanthelasma Palpebrarum in Skin Types III-IV: Efficacy and Complications After 9-Month Follow-Up.

Objective: Ultrapulse CO2 laser has been used for several decades for removal of xanthelasma lesions. However, most studies to date have focused on Caucasian patients (skin types I-II). We sought to assess the efficacy and complications of CO2 laser therapy for xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) in Chinese patients (skin types III-IV). Methods: Data of 38 patients with xanthelasma who received CO2 laser treatment between December 2013 and January 2016 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were followed up for 9 months. Results: Recurrence occurred in 19/38 (50%) patients. Recurrence was significantly more common in patients with multiple lesions (15/24; 62.5%) than in patients with single lesions (4/14; 28.6%). At 3 months after treatment, the complication rate was 63.16%. The complications included hypopigmentation (23/24; 95.8%) and scarring (1/24; 4.2%). In all patients, the hypopigmentation had disappeared by end of the 9-month follow-up. Conclusions: Ultrapulse CO2 laser appears to be capable of completely removing XP in patients with medium skin type III-IV. The most common complication is hypopigmentation, but this resolves with time.

Complications and posttreatment care following invasive laser skin resurfacing: A review.

OBJECTIVE: Laser skin resurfacing (LSR) has been used for facial rejuvenation for the last 20 years. Posttreatment care after LSR is essential to decrease the risk of complications. Currently, no unified standards or criteria exist for invasive LSR posttreatment care. We aimed to identify the optimal wound care timing and choice of specific local, systemic, and general medical measures required to decrease complications. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE electronic databases and included only articles written and published in the English language, with no restrictions on the publication time (year). RESULTS: The search yielded 316 potentially relevant articles, 133 of which met our review criteria. Most of the studies on this topic have focused on wound care during the early stage, typically the first 2 weeks. Closed dressings may offer a more ideal, moist wound environment. The use of medications must be judicious. The ongoing emergence of new methods and products warrants evaluation in future large clinical trials. SUMMARY: Familiarity with the complications following invasive LSR and the provision of optimal, effective, and timely posttreatment care may substantially decrease the risks associated with the treatment modality.

Intense Pulsed Light: From the Past to the Future.

BACKGROUND: For 20 years, intense pulsed light (IPL) technology has been used to treat various medical problems. IPL has since developed rapidly, becoming popular among patients worldwide. Recently, IPL has been used mainly for cosmetic purposes. Researchers are constantly seeking new applications of IPL to meet the increasing needs of patients. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the development of IPL devices, discusses the current literature on the clinical application of IPL to increase our understanding of IPL, and provides guidance for broadening its clinical applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search of electronic databases, including MEDLINE and PubMed and the authors experience on IPL to divide IPL development into three stages: germination, growth, and relative maturity. RESULTS: Studies established the classical indications of IPL, including vascular lesions, pigmented lesions, hair growth, and photo rejuvenation. However, trials showed IPL has limited effects for complicated skin problems. Many studies explored rational combination therapies by IPL and laser or other cosmetic technologies. CONCLUSIONS: Based on previous research and the new generation of IPL devices, in the future, we predict wider and more effective clinical applications of IPL through the further improvement of IPL devices and their combined treatment.

Alcohol use and positive screening results for depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among Chinese children with strabismus.

PURPOSE: To study associations between strabismus and alcohol use, anxiety, and depression among 10- to 17-year-old children in Guangdong, southern China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, population-based study. METHODS: Among 7537 children aged 6-17 years from 9 randomly selected primary and middle schools, ocular alignment was assessed with the Hirschberg light reflex, cover-uncover testing, and alternate cover testing at distance (6 m) and near (40 cm). Additionally, 4000 children (53.1%) aged 10+ years received self-administered questionnaires containing screening questions on alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS: Examinations were completed on 7464 of 7537 subjects (99.0%), including 3928 boys (52.6%), with a mean age of 11.1 ± 1.8 years. The prevalence of any strabismus, including exotropia (2.7%), esotropia (0.2%), and intermittent exotropia (3.9%), was 6.8%. Strabismus was more prevalent in urban students (7.3%) and female subjects (7.4%) compared to rural students (6.0%) and male subjects (6.2%) (all P < .05). In multivariate regression models, any strabismus was associated with older age and rural vs urban residence. Among 3903 children (97.6%) answering questionnaires, history of alcohol use (62.3% vs 36.3%) and positive screening responses for depression (26.0% vs 11.6%) and anxiety (10.3% vs 4.9%) were significantly (P < .01 for all) more common among children with strabismus. CONCLUSION: These Chinese children with strabismus had a significantly higher prevalence of alcohol use and possible markers of emotional problems than children without strabismus. Further research should focus on the appropriateness of classifying surgical treatment for strabismus as "cosmetic" (ineligible for reimbursement) under China's rural health insurance.