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Objective To analyze the rates of blindness with the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with primary angle-closure disease (PACD) to provide a comprehensive epidemiologic reference in China. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in the Chinese Glaucoma Study Consortium database, which is a national multicenter glaucoma research alliance of 111 hospitals participating between December 21, 2015 and September 9, 2018. The diagnosis of PACD was made by qualified physicians through examination. Comparison of sex, age, family history, subtypes of PACD, and blindness were analyzed. Results A total of 5762 glaucoma patients were included, of which 4588 (79.6%) had PACD. Of PACD patients, 72.1% were female with the sex ratio (F/M) of 2.6, and the average age of patients was 63.8±9.3 years with the majority between 60 and 70 years. Additionally, 30% of these patients had low vision in one eye, 8.8% had low vision in both eyes, 1.7% had blindness in one eye, and 0.3% had blindness in both eyes. There were statistical differences with regards to age between male and female patients with PACD, with male patients being older on average. Primary angle-closure glaucoma was more commonly diagnosed in males (60%) compared to females (35.9%), whereas acute primary angle closure (APAC) was more commonly diagnosed in females (54.3%) compared to males (37.7%). The visual acuity in APAC patients was lower and the rate of low vision and blindness was higher than other subtypes. Conclusion PACD was the major type of glaucoma in Chinese hospitals. There were more female patients with PACD, mostly between 60 and 70 years old, with higher rates of APAC in women. APAC resulted in the worst visual outcomes of all PACD subtypes.

Purpose To investigate the effect of Gypenosides (Gyps) on the inflammation and fibrosis in orbital fibroblasts (OFs) in Graves ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods Bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify the enriched genes and signaling pathways related to Gyps function. For ex vivo experiments, OFs were cultured from orbital connective tissues from patients with GO. OF proliferation was estimated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Effects of Gyps treatment on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammation and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced fibrosis were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blotting. OFs were treated with IL-1β or TGF-β1 in the absence or presence of Gyps pretreatment, and the levels of related mRNA or proteins were evaluated by RT-qPCR or ELISA. Results Eight inflammation-related target genes and nine fibrosis-related target genes were screened out. These genes were mainly enriched in pathways corresponding to inflammation and fibrosis, respectively. IL-1β-induced upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and TGF-β-induced upregulation of fibrotic mediators in OFs were downregulated by Gyps. Moreover, Gyps reduced the activation of Toll like receptors 4/nuclear factor-κ B signaling and TGF-β1/SMAD2/SMAD4 signaling in GO OFs. Conclusions Gyps could protect GO-derived OFs against IL-1β-induced inflammation and TGF-β1-induced fibrosis. Thus Gyps might have therapeutic potential on inflammation and fibrosis in GO.

Purpose: Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is the most severe condition in thyroid eye disease (TED); however, no study has been conducted to assess quality of life in these patients to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate vision-related quality of life in TED patients with DON using a Chinese version of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (CHI-VFQ-25). Methods: The CHI-VFQ-25 scores were compared for 23 TED patients with DON and 13 TED patients without DON. The correlations between the clinical characteristics and subscale scores on the CHI-VFQ-25 and the floor and ceiling effects of the CHI-VFQ-25 were also assessed. Results: Patients with DON scored significantly lower than patients without DON on the CHI-VFQ-25 (composite score: 54 versus 77, respectively, p = 0.001). Many subscales were significantly correlated with the severity and activity of the disease (p50.05). In patients with DON, no floor effects were found, and ceiling effects were only observed for Color vision, Peripheral vision and Social function. Role limitations and Mental health were the lowest scores in all the subscales. Conclusions: The current study showed that vision-related quality of life tended to be more severely impaired in TED patients with DON than in patients without DON. The CHI-VFQ-25 may be a promising tool to estimate the benefits of interventions in patients with DON.

Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is a strong analgesic used in the treatment of urinary tract infections. The aim of the present study was to develop a procedure based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the analysis of phenazopyridine in rat plasma. The method was set up and adapted for the analysis of small biological samples taken from rats. Biological samples were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction. The extraction agent was ethyl acetate. The samples were separated by GC on a DB-5MS analytical column and determined by a quadrupole mass spectrometer detector operated under selected ion monitoring mode. Excellent linearity was found between 0.01 and 1.00 µg/ml (r = 0.9991, n = 9) for plasma samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.3 ng/ml. Within-day and between-day precisions expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) for the method were 1.83–4.91% and 2.12–4.76%, respectively. The recoveries for all samples were >90%. The main pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were Tmax = (0.35±0.01) h, Cmax = (0.396±0.079) µg/ml, AUC = (0.373±0.065) h µg/ml and CL = (94.2±5.9) ml/g/h. The results presented here clearly indicate that this proposed method could be applicable to investigate the pharmacokinetic of phenazopyridine in rats after administration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To report an unusual case of IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease associated with thyroiditis.We describe a 25-year-old Chinese man who presented with bilateral, painless swellings of the lachrymal glands, parotid glands, and thyroid nodules. The patient underwent left-sided dacryoadenectomy and the diagnosis of IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease was pathologically confirmed. The size of the right-sided lachrymal gland and parotid glands recovered fundamentally after one month of glucocorticoid therapy.IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease associated with thyroiditis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bilateral swellings of lachrymal glands, salivary glands, and thyroid nodules. Surgical excision is recommended in order to treat the tumor and to ensure the pathological diagnosis. Glucocorticoid therapy should be considered in association with surgery after removal.

Bilateral acute optic neuritis (AON) is rare in adults in Western countries, but is relatively common in Asian populations. We aimed to document clinical features in Chinese patients with bilateral AON, and to identify factors that are predictive of visual acuity outcome. We reviewed 41 patients (23 males, 18 females; age 18-74 years) diagnosed with bilateral AON from three centers between 2003 and 2009. Demographic and clinical data were compared to a group of patients with unilateral AON. Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression were used to identify prognostic factors. We found that the median visual acuity (expressed as the logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [LogMAR] scores) in our patients was 1.55 at presentation and 0.72 at discharge (p

EDITOR: We read with great interest the article by Hsu and colleagues2013 describing a 28‐year‐old Chinese man with gradual bilateral visual loss treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The ...

In this instruction, we tell student exactly what we felt and saw during the process of getting closer to the patient to locate the retinal blood vessel. We applied our strategy in 394 junior medical students with informed consent. About 30 students in each small class had 2 hours to practice direct ophthalmoscopy. At first, the students were instructed in the traditional way. In the middle of the class, the number of the students who saw the retinal blood vessel was recorded. Then the students were instructed to follow our precise description steps. At the end of the class, the total number of the students who saw the retinal blood vessel was recorded. Of the 394 students, only 32 (8.1%) students could see the retinal blood vessel in the middle of the class after following the traditional instruction, whereas 350 (88.9%) students could see the retinal blood vessel at the end of the class after following our precise description steps. Once the students could see the retinal blood vessel, they were willing to spend more time to locate the optic disc and macula. Our precise description strategy tremendously improved the students’ confidence and interest in the practice of direct ophthalmoscopy.

To report a case of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy combined with fibrous boney dysplasia.Case report.A 16-year-old boy presented with painless vision loss in both eyes. He had a history of a right humerus fracture and right femoral fracture surgery after an uncomplicated fall. On examination in our clinic, his visual acuity was counting fingers at 20 cm OD and counting fingers at 40 cm OS. Both pupils reacted sluggishly to light. The findings on slit-lamp examination and funduscopy after pupillary dilation were all unremarkable. Computed tomography scans demonstrated fibrous dysplasia involving the right frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital bones but no stenosis of either optic canal. His serum alkaline phosphatase was 522 U/L (reference range: 40-150 U/L). His vision showed no improvement after intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Finally, a 11778 mitochondrial DNA mutation was detected. He still had no visual recovery after treatment with oral coenzyme Q10, vitamin B1, and citicoline.Fibrous dysplasia of bone may be associated with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, possibly due to the fact that it increases local oxygen consumption.

Centrosomes and microtubules play crucial roles during cell division and differentiation. Spermatogenesis is a useful system for studying centrosomal function since it involves both mitosis and meiosis, and also transformation of the centriole into the sperm basal body. Centrosomin is a protein localized to the mitotic centrosomes in Drosophila melanogaster. We have found a novel isoform of centrosomin expressed during spermatogenesis. Additionally, an anticentrosomin antibody labels both the mitotic and meiotic centrosomes as well as the basal body. Mutational analysis shows that centrosomin is required for spindle organization during meiosis and for organization of the sperm axoneme. These results suggest that centrosomin is a necessary component of the meiotic centrosomes and the spermatid basal body.

Purpose Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) has been reported to induce the instability of the tear film. The tear protein and the lipid layer play important roles in maintaining the tear film. The aim of this study was to quantify the alteration of the major tear protein components and a lipid related protein secretory type IIa phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIa) in tears of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC) patients. Methods Twenty-one SAC and PAC patients and thirteen normal controls completed a symptom questionnaire and underwent regular ocular examination. SAC and PAC patients were diagnosed based on the clinical presentation and elevated serum IgE levels. Schirmer test paper was used to collect tear samples from SAC and PAC patients and normal controls. Soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) was used as an internal standard to analyze tear samples in 15% SDS–PAGE gel. Total tear protein and its major components from the SAC and PAC patients and normal controls were quantified by band densitometry. The major tear protein bands were determined by MALDI-TOF/TOF spectrum analysis. Western blot was used to detect the content of sPLA2-IIa in tears of allergic conjunctivitis patients and normal controls. Results Schirmer test scores were more than 10 mm in all the SAC and PAC patients and control subjects. The tear film breakup time of SAC and PAC patients was much shorter than that of the normal controls. We obtained 15 bands of tear protein by one dimensional SDS–PAGE, in which 14 bands were determined by mass-spectrum analysis. The band densitometry analysis revealed that the total tear protein concentration was much higher in SAC and PAC patients than in normal controls (p

A sensitive, selective, and simple gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method is developed for quantitation of phenazopyridine (PAP) in human plasma using internal standard (diazepam). PAP and IS are extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed on a DB-5MS column with mass selective detector. Excellent linearity is found between 5-500 ng/mL (r = 0.9992, n = 7) for PAP in human plasma. The limit of detection is 0.3 ng/mL. Intra- and Inter-day precisions expressed as the relative standard deviation for the method are 1.37-6.69% and 1.24-6.01%, respectively. Extraction efficiency is more than 90%, and recoveries are in the range of 92.65-96.21%. This method is successfully applied for the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 formulations of PAP in 18 healthy male volunteers who received a single 200 mg dose of each formulation.

Centrosomin is a 150 kDa centrosomal protein of Drosophila melanogaster. To study the function of Centrosomin in the centrosome, we have recovered mutations that are viable but male and female sterile (cnnmfs). We have shown that these alleles (1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and hk21) induce a maternal effect on early embryogenesis and result in the accumulation of low or undetectable levels of Centrosomin in the centrosomes of cleavage stage embryos. Hemizygous cnn females produce embryos that show dramatic defects in chromosome segregation and spindle organization during the syncytial cleavage divisions. In these embryos the syncytial divisions proceed as far as the twelfth cycle, and embryos fail to cellularize. Aberrant divisions and nuclear fusions occur in the early cycles of the nuclear divisions, and become more prominent at later stages. Giant nuclei are seen in late stage embryos. The spindles that form in mutant embryos exhibit multiple anomalies. There is a high occurrence of apparently linked spindles that share poles, indicating that Centrosomin is required for the proper spacing and separation of mitotic spindles within the syncytium. Spindle poles in the mutants contain little or no detectable amounts of the centrosomal proteins CP60, CP190 and γ-tubulin and late stage embryos often do not have astral microtubules at their spindle poles. Spindle morphology and centrosomal composition suggest that the primary cause of these division defects in mutant embryos is centrosomal malfunction. These results suggest that Centrosomin is required for the assembly and function of centrosomes during the syncytial cleavage divisions.

The three dominant TomajD and their eleven revertant (TomajR) alleles have been localized to the alpha Tubulin67C gene of Drosophila melanogaster. Although the meiotic divisions are normally completed in eggs laid by TomajD/+, TomajD/-, TomajR/- females, embryogenesis arrests prior to the gonomeric division. The arrest is caused by: (1) the failure of prominent sperm aster formation; and (2) a consequent lack of female pronuclear migration towards the male pronucleus. Concomitant with the sperm aster defect, the four female meiotic products fuse (tetra-fusion), similar to what is seen in eggs of wild-type virgin females. In eggs of females heterozygous for weaker TomajR alleles, embryogenesis comes to a cessation before or shortly after cortical migration of cleavage nuclei. The apparent source of embryonic defect is the cleavage spindle apparatus. One of the three TomajD alleles is cold-sensitive and its cold-sensitive period coincides with the completion of female meiosis and pronuclear migration. Disorganized central and peripheral nervous systems are also characteristic of embryos derived from the temperature-sensitive TomajD/+ females. The Tomaj mutant phenotypes indicate an involvement of the normal alpha Tubulin67C gene product in: (1) the formation of the sperm aster; (2) cleavage spindle apparatus formation/function; and (3) the differentiation of the embryonic nervous system. The TomajD alleles encode a normal-sized alpha Tubulin67C isotype. Sequence analyses of the TomajD alleles revealed the replacement in different positions of a single negatively charged or neutral amino acid with a positively charged one. These residues presumably identify important functional sites.

The centrosomin (cnn) gene encodes a protein associated with mitotic centrosomes in Drosophila melanogaster and is a target of homeotic gene regulation. Here we report that CNN is an essential component of the centrosome. Loss of zygotic cnn expression disrupts the development of the second midgut constriction, the gastric caeca, and the nervous system. Embryos that lack maternal as well as zygotic cnn expression display defects in nuclear division, chromosome alignment, and microtubule organization, while adult flies that are mosaic for cnn − cells exhibit defects indicative of a block in cell proliferation. We propose that cnn provides an example of homeotic genes directly regulating the accumulation of essential cellular proteins to carry out segment-specific morphogenetic functions.

PURPOSE To investigate the tear proteome profiles of human, cow, sheep, and camel comparatively and to explore the difference of tear protein profiles among different species. METHODS Tears were collected from both eyes of 25 clinically healthy volunteers, 50 cows, 25 sheep, and 50 camels. Pooled tear protein samples were separated by SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Protein spots of differential expression were excised and subjected to in-gel digestion and identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrum analysis. Because of the incomplete genomic data of cow, sheep, and camel, a combined strategy of de novo sequencing and BLAST (Best Local Alignment Search Tool) homology searching was also used for protein identification. The differentially expressed proteins were validated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS On comparison with human tears (182 ± 6 spots), 223 ± 8, 217 ± 11, and 241 ± 3 well-resolved protein spots were detected in triphenylmethane dye-stained gels of cow, sheep, and camel tears, respectively. Similar high-abundant proteins (lactoferrin, lysozyme, etc.) were found in all tear fluids. Tear lipocalins have been identified in cow and sheep tears. BLAST searching revealed a 21-kDa protein, identical with human vitelline membrane outer layer protein 1 (VMO1) homolog, in camel tears. The Western blot confirmed that VMO1 homolog was present in both camel and sheep tears but not in human and cow tears. CONCLUSIONS The comparative proteomic analyses of tears from healthy humans, cows, sheep, and camels were first reported. Differential protein expression existed in the tear among species, offering useful information for further study on tear proteins and the related ocular diseases.