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Abstract Background To evaluate the influence of corneal astigmatism (CA) on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic nerve head(ONH) parameters measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in high myopes patients before refractive surgery. Methods Seventy eyes of 35 consecutive refractive surgery candidates were included in this study. The mean age of the subjects was 26.42 ± 6.95 years, the average CA was −1.17 diopters (D; SD 0.64; range −0.2 to-3.3D), All subjects in this study were WTR CA. 34 eyes were in the normal CA group with a mean CA was −0.67 ± 0.28D, 36 eyes were in the high CA group with an average CA of −1.65 ± 0.49D. All subjects underwent ophthalmic examination and imaging with the Cirrus HD OCT. Results No significant difference was noted in the average cup-to-disk ratio, vertical cup-to-disk ratio and cup volume (all P values > 0.05). Compared with the normal CA group, the high CA group had a larger disc area and rim area, thinner RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant, and the superotemporal and inferotemporal peaks were farther to the temporal horizon (All P values P values > 0.05). Conclusions The degree of with-the-rule CA should be considered when interpreting ONH parameters and peripapillary RNFL thickness measured by the Cirrus HD OCT. Virtual slides The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1148475676881895

Objective: To understand the situation of the freely grazing and wild feces behaviors of residents in plateau mountain area of schistosomiasis endemic areas in Yunnan Province., Methods: Two villages of Xidian and Moguang in Heqing County, Yunnan Province were selected as the study area and the questionnaire surveys were performed to the randomly selected villagers aged 6 to 65 years with the sampling ratio of 30%. Then the respondents were tested for the infection of schistosomiasis by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA)., Results: Totally 412 residents were surveyed. In all the responds, the ratios of "captive breed", "freely grazing "unknown" and "no response" were 55.34%, 4.85%, 26.94% and 12.86% respectively; and the ratios of "no grazing", "less than 5/week" and "no less than 5/week" were 75.49%, 16.02% and 8.50% respectively; and the ratios of "no wild feces", "less than 5/week", "no less than 5/week" and "no answer" were 68.45%, 27.67%, 2.91% and 0.97% respectively., Conclusions: Freely grazing and wild feces behaviors of residents in schistosomiasis endemic area of Heqing County are widespread, could heavily affect the control of schistosomiasis in Heqing County. The further work is to strengthen the management of human and animal feces and grazing and consolidate the results of the prevention and control of schistosomiasis and finally achieve the aim of the transmission interruption.

Objective: To understand the status of water contact and labor practice of residents in plateau mountain schisto- somiasis endemic areas in Yunnan Province, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the strategy of prevention and control of schistosomiasis in the next step of work., Methods: A total of 412 residents aged 6-65 years old in 2 villages were randomly sampled and investigated with questionnaires for their water contacts and labor practices in plateau valley schistosomiasis endem- ic areas. Then the schistosome infection status of the residents was surveyed with the indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). RE- SULTS: Among the 412 residents investigated, the rate of water contact was 88.35%, and the main causes of water contact were watering, and swimming and playing. The percentages of residents who had schistosomiasis history were 1.16%, 0.00%, 30.80%, 3.85%, and 0 in them who had swimming and playing water-contacts, bathing, watering, washing hands, and others, respectively (χ2 = 38.96, P < 0.01). The positives of IHA in the above-mentioned residents were 18.60%, 0.00%, 37.60%, 23.08%, and 0, respectively (χ2 = 12.61, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The productive infested water contact is the main way of schistosome infection. Therefore, the changes of labor practices and water contact of the residents are very important for the ef- fective prevention and control of schistosomiasis transmission.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive schistosomiasis control measures based on infection source control in plateau mountain areas of Yunnan Province., Methods: From 2006 to 2004, four administrative villages were selected as test areas from plateau canyon and plateau basin endemic areas in Jindun Town, Heqing County, two villages each type, and the comprehensive control measures were implemented, including the examination and treatment of schistosomiasis, Oncomelania hupensis snail survey and control, health education, improving drinking water and lavatories, banning grazing, constructing sanitary pen of livestock, replacing cattle with machine, etc. The schistosome infection state and snail status in 2006 were treated as the baseline information, and the effect of the comprehensive measures were evaluated. Results The infection rate of human in plateau canyon areas decreased from 4.94% in 2006 to 0.06% in 2014, and that of livestock decreased from 1.11% to 0. In plateau basin areas, there was only 1 case of schistosomiasis found in Xiaolian Village in 2007, and no any other cases found in the other years, the infection rates of livestock dropped from 7.38% to 0. Compared with 2006, the snail areas in the two type areas decreased by 74.89% and 75.30%, respectively, meanwhile, the percentage of snail area, the occurrence rate of frames with snails, as well as the average density of living snails also decreased, and no infected snails were found since 2008. Xidian and Xinzhuang villages in plateau canyon area reached the criteria of schistosomiasis transmission controlled in 2009, and Xiao-lian and Kangfu villages in plateau basin reached the criteria of transmission interrupted in 2014., Conclusions: The comprehensive schistosomiasis control measures based on infection source control can effectively control the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in plateau areas of Yunnan Province. In the future, we should pay an equal attention to the infection sources control and snail control to consolidate and amplify the achievement of schistosomiasis control.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive control and management of schistosomiasis at plateaus regions in Yunnan Province., Methods: Xiaolian and Kangfu villages at plateaus regions where schistosomiasis was endemic were selected as study areas from 2006 to 2011, the schistosomiasis comprehensive control measures were conducted, and these measures included the health education, chemotherapy, stool and water management, grazing forbidden, Oncomelania snail control, etc. combined with the infrastructure of farmland water conservancy, agricultural comprehensive development, adjustment of industry structure, returning farmland to forest, ditch hardening, and aquaculture., Results: At Xiaolian Village, no schistosomiasis patient and livestock were found from 2008; and at Kangfu Village, no schistosomiasis patient was detected from 2006 and no schistosomiasis domestic animal was found from 2008. In 2011, the snail area, percent of frames with living snails, the number of snails, average concentration of living snails, and the highest concentration of living snails descended by 69.99%, 81.86%, 88.86%, 89.71%, 57.95% at Xiaolian Village, and descended by 27.65%, 1.11%, 94.71%, 92.16%, 88.00% at Kangfu Village, respectively, compared with those in 2006. The ratios of infected snail area to snail area were 68.91% in 2006 and 69.13% in 2007 at Xiaolian Village, and 61.73% in 2006 and 43.24% in 2007 at Kangfu Village. There were no infected snails from 2008 in the two villages., Conclusion: The comprehensive control and management measures can effectively control the schistosomiasis prevalence at plateaus regions.

Objective: To investigate the potential cause of an outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis in Dali City in March, 2011., Methods: A retrospective investigation was performed among 18 consumers who had meal together. The clinical documents of inpatients were analyzed and the diagnoses were checked. The outpatients were investigated through a case survey. Pomacea snails on sale were examined for the infection status of Angiostrongylus cantonensis., Results: Of 18 persons, 16 consumed Pomacea snail food and 9 were infected with an infection rate of 56.3%. The two persons who did not consumed snail food were not infected. Serum samples of seven patients were examined for antibody to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in peripheral blood and 3 were proved positive (42.9%). The snails consumed by the patients came from the market, and the surveillance data showed that the infection rate of Angiostrongylus cantonensis of Pomacea snails was 7.3%., Conclusion: According to the epidemiological survey, clinical manifestations, and laboratory examinations, the outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis is due to the consumption of Pomacea snails infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis.