Visual impairment and blindness caused by retinal diseases: A nationwide register-based study.

Background: Retinal disorders cause substantial visual burden globally. Accurate estimates of the vision loss due to retinal diseases are pivotal to inform optimal eye health care planning and allocation of medical resources. The purpose of this study is to describe the proportion of visual impairment and blindness caused by major retinal diseases in China. Methods: A nationwide register-based study of vitreoretinal disease covering all 31 provinces (51 treating centres) of mainland China. A total of 28 320 adults diagnosed with retinal diseases were included. Participants underwent standardised ocular examinations, which included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), dilated-fundus assessments, and optical coherence tomography. Visual impairment and blindness are defined using BCVA according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (visual impairment: <20/63-≥20/400; blindness: <20/400) and the United States (visual impairment: <20/40-≥20/200; blindness: <20/200) definitions. The risk factors of vision loss were explored by logistic regression analyses. Results: Based on the WHO definitions, the proportions for unilateral visual impairment and blindness were 46% and 18%, respectively, whereas those for bilateral visual impairment and blindness were 31% and 3.3%, respectively. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) accounts for the largest proportion of patients with visual impairment (unilateral visual impairment: 32%, bilateral visual impairment: 60%) and blindness (unilateral blindness: 35%; bilateral blindness: 64%). Other retinal diseases that contributed significantly to vision loss included age-related macular degeneration, myopic maculopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and other macular diseases. Women (bilateral vision loss: P = 0.011), aged patients (unilateral vision loss: 45-64 years: P < 0.001, ≥65 years: P < 0.001; bilateral vision loss: 45-64 years: P = 0.003, ≥65 years: P < 0.001 (reference: 18-44 years)) and those from Midwest China (unilateral and bilateral vision loss: both P < 0.001) were more likely to suffer from vision loss. Conclusions: Retinal disorders cause substantial visual burden among patients with retinal diseases in China. DR, the predominant retinal disease, is accountable for the most prevalent visual disabilities. Better control of diabetes and scaled-up screenings are warranted to prevent DR. Specific attention should be paid to women, aged patients, and less developed regions.

MiR-452-5p facilitates retinoblastoma cell growth and invasion via the SOCS3/JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular tumor in children. Accumulated evidence confirms that microRNAs (miRNAs) exert critical functions in RB. This research aimed to investigate the miR-452-5p function in RB. MiR-452-5p expressions in RB were tested with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MiR-452-5p functions in RB were evaluated via Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, and Transwell. MiR-452-5p mechanism in RB was assessed using bioinformatics software Starbase and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Meanwhile, miR-452-5p function in RB in vivo was examined by constructing tumor xenografts in nude mice, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot assays. MiR-452-5p was overexpressed in RB tissues and cells, and miR-452-5p expression was positively correlated with RB clinicopathology including the Largest tumor base (mm) and Differentiation. Functionally, miR-452-5p knockdown restrained RB cell proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and facilitated cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS3) knockdown restored the inhibitory effects of miR-452-5p knockdown on RB cells. Meanwhile, in vivo studies further corroborated that miR-452-5p knockdown reduced RB tumor growth, EMT, and accelerated apoptosis in vivo. Also, miR-452-5p knockdown increased SOCS3 protein levels, and decreased phosphorylated Janus kinase 2/Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in vivo. MiR-452-5p accelerated RB cell growth and invasion by SOCS3/JAK2/STAT3.

Influence of forest stand age on soil water repellency and hydraulic conductivity in the Mediterranean environment.

The hydrological response of forest soil in the Mediterranean environment is characterised by high runoff and erosion rates, mainly due to low infiltration and high repellency of soils. However, little literature exists about the effects of forest ages on soil water repellency (SWR) and hydraulic conductivity (SHC). This study evaluates these hydrological parameters in five Pinus nigra Arn ssp. Salzmannii stands of different ages in Central-Eastern Spain; one of these stands, unmanaged, was chosen as reference system. SWR (measured in terms of water drop penetration time, WDPT) and SHC as well as the main physico-chemical properties and surface characteristics of soils were surveyed in forty-five plots. Water infiltration was higher in the older stands (including the older and unmanaged forest) and lower (by over 60%) in the more recent pine forests. Four of the studied stands did not show water repellency; only the more recent plantation showed a slight SWR. The differences in SHC among the forest ages were mainly driven by the organic matter (OM) and nutrient contents of the soils as well as by the bulk density and quantity of dead wood. SWR was similar among the plots (despite significantly differences in WDPTs), although having variable OM contents. Considering these differences in soil properties, SHC and SWR were simply predicted for each forest stand using on dbRDA models and the following soil properties: (i) OM and total nitrogen contents of soil (for SHC and SWR); (ii) dead wood and bulk density (for SHC); and (iii) clay content and the percentage of bare soil (for SWR). Overall, this study has showed that, when a new forest stand is planted, decreases in water infiltration, with subsequent increases in runoff generation capacity) of the soils, can be expected. Conversely, no water repellency is likely to affect new pine plantations.

The use of check dams in watershed management projects: Examples from around the world.

Check dams are widespread and effective soil and water conservation structures throughout the world. This review paper presents an overview of the use of check dams for soil and water management and runoff control with examples from the literature based on field measurements from four continents. More than 150years of research has reported that check dams are civil engineering landmark structures used all over the world. Among all civil engineering structures, check dams are probably the most emblematic of torrent control works. They were used for centuries, and are located all around the world. Over the past several hundred years, people have increasingly realized the envisioned advantages of check dams such as land development, environmental improvement, agricultural production, enhancement of gully stabilities, and mitigation of intensive flood. The optimum size, location and type had great influences on the efficiency of check dams under watershed management. Moreover, in both the theoretical and practical realms, check dams have been proved to be a useful tool for controlling soil erosion and flooding at a catchment scale. This paper will be helpful for policy makers to extend check dam projects in the whole erosion-prone areas.

A measurement system applicable for landslide experiments in the field.

Observation of gravity erosion in the field with strong sunshine and wind poses a challenge. Here, a novel topography meter together with a movable tent addresses the challenge. With the topography meter, a 3D geometric shape of the target surface can be digitally reconstructed. Before the commencement of a test, the laser generator position and the camera sightline should be adjusted with a sight calibrator. Typically, the topography meter can measure the gravity erosion on the slope with a gradient of 30°-70°. Two methods can be used to obtain a relatively clear video, despite the extreme steepness of the slopes. One method is to rotate the laser source away from the slope to ensure that the camera sightline remains perpendicular to the laser plane. Another way is to move the camera farther away from the slope in which the measured volume of the slope needs to be corrected; this method will reduce distortion of the image. In addition, installation of tent poles with concrete columns helps to surmount the altitude difference on steep slopes. Results observed by the topography meter in real landslide experiments are rational and reliable.

Quantifying the effects of conservation practices on soil, water, and nutrients in the Loess Mesa Ravine Region of the Loess Plateau, China.

A large number of soil and water conservation programs have been implemented on the Loess Plateau of China since the 1950s. To comprehensively assess the merits and demerits of the conservation practices is of great importance in further supervising the conservation strategy for the Loess Plateau. This study calculates the impact factors of conservation practices on soil, water, and nutrients during the period 1954-2004 in the Nanxiaohegou Catchment, a representative catchment in the Loess Mesa Ravine Region of the Loess Plateau, China. Brief conclusions could be drawn as follows: (1) Soil erosion and nutrient loss had been greatly mitigated through various conservation practices. About half of the total transported water and 94.8 % of the total transported soil and nutrients, had been locally retained in the selected catchment. The soil retained from small watersheds do not only form large-scale fertile farmland but also safeguard the Yellow River against overflow. (2) Check dam was the most appropriate conservation practice on the Loess Plateau. In the selected catchment, more than 90 % of the retained soil and water were accomplished by the dam farmland, although the dam farmland occupied only 2.3 % of the total area of all conservation measures. Retention abilities of the characteristic conservation practices were in the following order: dam farmland > terrace farmland > forest land and grassland. (3) The conservation practices were more powerful in retaining sediment than in reducing runoff from the Loess Plateau, and the negative effects of the conservation practices on reducing water to the Yellow River were relatively slight.