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AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between renal function and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement and compare the strategy of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) among the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with different renal functions.MethodsIn this study, we enrolled 933 Chinese patients with CAD from September 2020 to June 2021 admitted to the Cardiometabolic Center of Fuwai Hospital in Beijing consecutively. All individuals were divided into two groups based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The multiple logistical regression analysis was performed to identify and compare the independent factors which impacted LDL-C goal achievement in the two groups after at least 3 months of treatment.ResultsThere were 808 subjects with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 who were divided into Group 1 (G1). A total of 125 patients with eGFR 2 were divided into Group 2 (G2). The rate of LDL-C goal attainment (LDL-C P = 0.02), even though there was no significant difference in the aspect of LLT between the two groups (high-intensity LLT: 82.50% vs. 85.60% P = 0.40). Notably, in G1, the proportion of LDL-C goal achievement increased with the intensity of LLT (23.36% vs. 39.60% vs. 64.52% in the subgroup under low-/moderate-intensity LLT, or high-intensity LLT without proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor (PCSK9i), or high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i, respectively, P < 0.005). In addition, in G2, there was a trend that the rate of LDL-C goal achievement was higher in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT (26.60% in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT without PCSK9i and 25.00% in the subgroup under high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i) than that under low-/moderate-intensity LLT (15.38%, P = 0.49). Importantly, after multiple regression analysis, we found that eGFR 2 [odds ratio (OR) 1.81; 95%CI, 1.15–2.87; P = 0.01] was an independent risk factor to impact LDL-C goal achievement. However, the combination strategy of LLT was a protective factor for LDL-C goal achievement independently (statin combined with ezetimibe: OR 0.42; 95%CI 0.30–0.60; P < 0.001; statin combined with PCSK9i: OR 0.15; 95%CI 0.07–0.32; P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionImpaired renal function (eGFR 2) was an independent risk factor for LDL-C goal achievement in the patients with CAD. High-intensity LLT with PCSK9i could improve the rate of LDL-C goal achievement significantly. It should be suggested to increase the proportion of high-intensity LLT with PCSK9i for patients with CAD, especially those with impaired renal function.

AIM: To assess the relationships of final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the optic nerve structural loss in varying age-cohorts of optic neuritis (ON) patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Totally 130 ON subjects (200 eyes) without ON onset within 6mo were included, who underwent BCVA assessment, peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) and macular segmented layers evaluation by optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: For the 0-18y cohort, the final BCVA (logMAR) was significantly better and less frequent recurrences than adult cohorts (P=0.000). The final BCVA (logMAR) in all age-cohorts of the ON patients had negative and linear correlations to the pRNFL thicknesses and macular retinal ganglion cell layer (mRGCL) volumes, when the pRNFL thicknesses were reduced to the thresholds of 57.2-67.5 µm or 0.691-0.737 mm(3) in mRGCL volumes, respectively, with the strongest interdependence in the 19-40y cohort. The ON patients from varying age cohorts would be threatened by blindness when their pRNFL thicknesses dropped 36.7-48.3 µm or the mRGCL volumes dropped to 0.495-0.613 mm(3). CONCLUSION: The paediatric ON has best prognosis and young adult ON exhibits perfectly linear correlations of final vision and structural loss. The pRNFL and the mRGCL could be potential structural markers to predict the vision prognosis for varying-age ON patients.

Most quantum information tasks based on Bell tests relie on the assumption of measurement independence. However, it is difficult to ensure that the assumption of measurement independence is always met in experimental operations, so it is crucial to explore the effects of relaxing this assumption on Bell tests. In this paper, we discuss the effects of relaxing the assumption of measurement independence on 1-parameter family of Bell (1-PFB) tests. For both general and factorizable input distributions, we establish the relationship among measurement dependence, guessing probability, and the maximum value of 1-PFB correlation function that Eve can fake. The deterministic strategy when Eve fakes the maximum value is also given. We compare the unknown information rate of Chain inequality and 1-PFB inequality, and find the range of the parameter in which it is more difficult for Eve to fake the maximum quantum violation in 1-PFB inequality than in Chain inequality.

Unsharp measurements play an increasingly important role in quantum information theory. In this paper, we study a three-party prepare-transform-measure experiment with unsharp measurements based on $ 3 \rightarrow 1 $ sequential random access codes (RACs). We derive optimal trade-off between the two correlation witnesses in $ 3 \rightarrow 1 $ sequential quantum random access codes (QRACs), and use the result to complete the self-testing of quantum preparations, instruments and measurements for three sequential parties. We also give the upper and lower bounds of the sharpness parameter to complete the robustness analysis of the self-testing scheme. In addition, we find that classical correlation witness violation based on $3 \rightarrow 1 $ sequential RACs cannot be obtained by both correlation witnesses simultaneously. This means that if the second party uses strong unsharp measurements to overcome the classical upper bound, the third party cannot do so even with sharp measurements. Finally, we give the analysis and comparison of the random number generation efficiency under different sharpness parameters based on the determinant value, $2 \rightarrow 1 $ and $3 \rightarrow 1 $ QRACs separately. This letter sheds new light on generating random numbers among multi-party in semi-device independent framework., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1905.06726 by other authors

Purpose To evaluate retinal segmented layer alterations in optic neuritis (ON) in an AQP4-Ab seropositive (AQP4-Ab+/ON) cohort and in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) with ON eyes (NMO-ON) compared with an AQP4-Ab seronegative ON (AQP4-Ab−/ON) cohort using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods We recruited 109 patients with ON (161 eyes) and 47 healthy controls. All patients with ON were subdivided into three subcohorts: 37 patients (54 eyes) with AQP4-Ab+/ON, 45 patients (65 eyes) with AQP4-Ab−/ON and 27 patients (42 eyes) with NMO-ON. All subjects were evaluated for their peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) and inner macular segmented layer using OCT. Results AQP4-Ab+/patients with ON had the same structural injury patterns as patients with NMO-ON, and the injury patterns were distinct from those of AQP4-Ab−/patients with ON. NMO-ON and AQP4-Ab+/ON preferentially damaged the pRNFL (all p=0.000), the macular retinal nerve fibre layer (mRNFL; p=0.000 and 0.032, respectively), and the inner plexiform layer (IPL; p=0.000 and 0.006, respectively) without differences in the retinal ganglion cell layer (p=0.106 and 0.374, respectively) compared with AQP4-Ab−/patients with ON. The thickness of the inner nuclear layer (INL) increased in NMO-ON (p=0.043) compared with that of AQP4-Ab−/ON without a significant difference in AQP4-Ab+/ON versus AQP4-Ab−/ON (p=0.353). When the thickness of the inferior nasal quadrant (NI) of the pRNFL was reduced to ≤46.5 μm (area under the curve 0.772, sensitivity 89.2% and specificity 57.5%) 6 months after ON onset, NMO was considered. Conclusions AQP4-Ab+/ON produced similar structural injury patterns as NMO-ON. The pRNFL, mRNFL and IPL in the two types of ON and the INL in NMO-ON suffered more damage than those in AQP4-Ab−/ON, which could be associated with strong aquaporin-4 expression. The thickness of the NI of the pRNFL could be a potential clue for predicting ON progression to definite NMO.

To describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of a Chinese Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) pedigree with compound mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations of m.3635G A and m.14502T C.A total of 22 individuals (2 affected, 20 unaffected) from a five-generation Chinese family with LHON underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, visual field examination and visual evoked potentials (VEP). The complete mtDNA genome of the two patients were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, sequenced using a Bigdye terminator v3.1 cycle sequencing kit and analyzed on an ABI 3700XL Genetic Analyzer.Two LHON patients in the family presented typical features of LHON: painless and progressive deterioration of bilateral vision, bilateral optic atrophy, centrocecal scotomata in both eyes and significant prolonged P100 latency and low amplitude potential in VEP. Compound primary mtDNA mutations of m.3635G A and m.14502T C were identified in these two patients and another 12 living matrilineal members of the pedigree. Haplogroup analysis showed the patients in this LHON family belonged to the N9b1 haplogroup. Modeled mutant structure showed the mutations altered the molecular local space conformation on the surface of ND1 and ND6.Compound mtDNA mutations of m.3635G A and m.14502T C presented with low penetration, and the patients with these compound mutations exhibited mild visual impairment. The biological information analysis suggested that m.14502T C might play a protective role in LHON associated with m.3635G A. The haplogroup analysis indicated that the mtDNA haplogroup might be an important factor affecting the expression of LHON associated with m.3635G A and/or m.14502T C.

Nuclear respiratory factor‑2α (NRF‑2α) is an important transcription factor that regulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and regeneration. NRF‑2α regulates mitochondrial transcription factors (mTF)A and B, and mitochondrial DNA by indirectly regulating the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme chain subunit. In addition, NRF‑2α is involved in the mitochondrial energy metabolism. Peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‑1α), is an important transcription coactivator of NRF‑2α. Adenosine monophosphate‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) is considered an important effector in the regulation of the energy metabolism balance of nervous system microenvironments. However, the signaling mechanism underlying the energy coupling of PGC‑1α and NRF‑2α in visual cortical neurons remains to be elucidated. The present study used a primary culture system of rat visual cortical neurons in order to investigate whether AMPK is involved in the regulation of NRF‑2α and PGC‑1α expression in cortical neurons. The results of the present study indicated that KCl depolarization rapidly activated AMPK, and significantly increased the expression levels of PGC‑1α, NRF‑2α and mtTFA, as well as adenosine triphosphate production in cultured neurons. Similarly, the AMPK agonists 5‑aminoimidazole‑4‑carboxamide riboside and resveratrol significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of PGC‑1α and NRF‑2α in cultured neurons. These responses were blocked by compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In conclusion, AMPK is an important transcriptional regulator of the neuronal excitation response, and exerts its regulatory effects via the PGC‑1α/NRF‑2α signaling pathway.

Recently, Tavakoli et al. proposed a self-testing scheme in the prepare-and-measure scenario, showing that self-testing is not necessarily based on entanglement and violation of a Bell inequality [Phys. Rev. A 98 062307 (2018)]. They realized the self-testing of preparations and measurements in an N → 1 ( N ≥ 2 ) random access code (RAC), and provided robustness bounds in a 2 → 1 RAC. Since all N → 1 RACs with shared randomness are combinations of 2 → 1 and 3 → 1 RACs, the 3 → 1 RAC is just as important as the 2 → 1 RAC. In this paper, we find a set of preparations and measurements in the 3 → 1 RAC, and use them to complete the robustness self-testing analysis in the prepare-and-measure scenario. The method is robust to small but inevitable experimental errors.

Optic neuritis refers to all inflammatory diseases in the optic nerve. The most common type is demyelinating optic neuritis. Biomarkers can indicate its pathophysiological process and thus are useful in disease diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews the known biomarkers for demyelinating optic neuritis.

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between ocular manifestations and nasal pathology.Methods: A retrospective study of 19 granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients with ophthalmic and nasal manifestations.Results: Ten cases exhibited changes in orbital structure accompanied by changes in paranasal sinuses, 2 cases had chronic dacryocystisis, and 1 case had nasolacrimal canal stenosis. Among the 17 cases that were finally diagnosed by biopsy, 12 cases were diagnosed by nasal mucosa biopsy. Sixteen GPA cases were diagnosed by CT or MRI. Nasal involvement alone or with orbital involvement was detected in 14 cases. All cases were misdiagnosed for 2–36 months.Conclusions: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis with ocular and upper respiratory diseases as the first symptom is easily misdiagnosed. Patients with ocular and upper respiratory diseases should be given a laboratory ANCA test, nasal mucosa biopsy, and imaging of the orbit, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses to establish early diagnosis of GPA.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of orally administered sodium fluorescein to stain the clear vitreous before vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: Twenty-two consecutive eyes of 20 patients with PDR and five eyes of five patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were included. The average patient age was 52 years (range 46–58). Closed pars plana vitrectomy, proliferative membrane peeling and endolaser photocoagulation were performed. Vitreous and blood samples were collected to measure sodium fluorescein concentrations by high pressure liquefied chromatography. Results: The degree of staining of the clear vitreous was evaluated by colour photographs, videos and the concentration of sodium fluorescein in the vitreous and blood samples. The clear vitreous in all 22 eyes with PDR ranged from slightly to markedly green, but the clear vitreous in five eyes with PVR was not stained with sodium fluorescein. The sodium fluorescein concentration in the vitreous samples ranged from 122 to 282.0 ng/mL and from 64 to 74 ng/mL in the blood samples in patients with diabetes and PVR. No urticaria, nausea or other side-effects developed. Conclusion: The clear vitreous can be stained markedly green by sodium fluorescein administered 12–16 h before surgery. Surgeons can easily differentiate residual clear vitreous. The stained vitreous may be made more visible by photocoagulation. This method is also helpful in teaching surgical procedures, and fewer side-effects compared with intravenous and intravitreal fluorescein and intravitreal triamcinolone.

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the role of intraoperative MR imaging in temporal lobe low-grade glioma (LGG) surgery and to report the surgical outcome in our series with regard to seizures, neurological defects, and quality of life. Methods Patients with temporal lobe contrast-nonenhancing gliomas who presented with seizures in the course of their disease were enrolled in our prospective study. We non-randomly assigned patients to undergo intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI)-guided surgery or conventional surgery. Extent of resection (EOR) and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Forty-one patients were allocated in the iMRI group, and 14 were in the conventional group. Comparable EOR was achieved for the two groups (p = 0.634) although preoperative tumor volumes were significantly larger for the iMRI group. Seizure outcome tended to be better for the iMRI group (Engel class I achieved for 89.7 % (35/39) vs 75 % (9/12)) although this difference was not statistically different. Newly developed neurological deficits were observed in four patients (10.3 %) and two patients (16.7 %), respectively (p = 0.928). Free of seizures and neurological morbidity led to a return-to-work or return-to-school rate of 84.6 % (33/39) vs 75 % (9/12), respectively (p = 0.741). Conclusions Our study provided evidence that iMRI was a safe and useful tool in temporal lobe LGG surgery. Optimal extent of resection contributed to favorable seizure outcome in our series with low morbidity rate, which led to a high return-to-work rate.

Rationale: Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related hypophysitis is a type of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which is characterized by plasma cells infiltration in the pituitary causing functional changes and (or) space-occupying effect in the pituitary. IgG4-related hypophysitis is sensitive to hormone therapy in most patients, but recurrence is very likely. Patient concerns: Here, we report a 57-year-old male patient with bilateral eye redness as the initial presentation. He later presented with pituitary hypofunction that involved multiple organs, including eyes, lacrimal gland, pituitary, lung, gall bladder, and intestine. There was an elevation of C-reactive protein and blood sedimentation, but the IgG and IgG4 levels of the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid did not increase obviously following irregular glucocorticoid therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged pituitary and obviously thickened pituitary stalk. IgG4-related hypophysitis was confirmed by biopsy of the pituitary. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosis of IgG4-related hypophysitis with ophthalmopathy by pathological and molecular tests. Interventions: The patient responded to methylprednisolone pulse therapy but relapsed during the maintenance therapy using small-dose hormones combined with azathioprine. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy was given for 3 days followed by rituximab injection for 4 weeks. Outcomes: After use methylprednisolone pulse therapy with rituximab the patient achieved complete remission. Lessons: Rituximab achieved good effect for recurrent IgG4-related hypophysitis after glucocorticoid therapy combined with immunosuppressant in this case. Moreover, comparative analysis was carried out with other reported cases of IgG4-related hypophysitis in terms of clinical features, treatment, and follow-up.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of paraneoplastic retinopathy and optic neuropathy(PRON).Case series study. Eight patients were enrolled from October 2006 to March 2012 visited in ophthalmology department, the People Liberation Army General Hospital. The patients were underwent a series of examinations, including fundus photography, visual electrophysiology, fundus fluorescein angiography, optic coherent tomography,fundus autofluorescent imaging, perimetry, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, spinal tap and cerebrospinal fluid test, paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) antibody test. The patients were followed up in outpatient department and(or) by phone. The clinical manifestation,entity types, and treatment were analyzed.Of the eight patients, there were cancer associated retinopathy(CAR) 3 cases, bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) 2 cases and paraneoplastic optic neuropathy(PON) 3 cases. Five patients were detected the PNS antibodies and revealed three patients with positive results. As for the primary malignancy,four of the eight patients were lung carcinoma,others included invasive thymoma, kidney cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia and cervical cancer, each for one case. All the patients complained vision blurring or progressive visual decrease. Other complaints included dark shadow in two patients, shimmering, dazzling, double vision and eye pain, each in one patient. One patient complained progressive decreased vision in both eyes prior to the diagnosis of lung cancer. Of the 16 eyes of the eight patients, there were six patients with no light perception vision, five from light perception to 0.05, and other five with no less than 0.4 vision, in the end of the follow up. Five patients were treated with steroid with unsatisfactory efficacy.Each entity of PRON has its own clinical characteristics. PRON especially BDUMP may be a pre-metastatic disease.

Radiation retinopathy (RR) and radiation optic neuropathy (RON) are vision-threatening complications of head and/or neck irradiation therapy. Clinical features are characterized by delayed-onset, slowly progressive, occlusive vasculopathy caused by endothelial damage. Compared with the optic nerve, retinal vessels are more sensitive and harmful to radioactive injury and cause RR, which may progress to eyeball atrophy ultimately. Thorough understanding of the incidence, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical characteristics and treatment of RR is of practice significance. Ongoing basic laboratory and clinical research efforts have led to a better understanding of this disease. This article reviews the present research status of RR briefly.

Optic disc pale is a typical sign of optic atrophy and is often improperly remarked an "totally visual function damaged and without any therapeutic value". However, increasing evidences showed that there is considerable potential for vision restoration and recovery by appropriately stimulating the undamaged visual pathway through different means, medications and low vision rehabilitation techniques. Correct recognition the therapeutic value of optic atrophy is undoubtedly valuable for visual function improvement. We encourage continuously developing new way or tool to rescues or preserve the residual vision of optic atrophy.

Intracranial germinomas are malignant neoplasms of gonadal origin, which have some features in terms of age, sex, and clinical manifestations. They mainly occur in children and adolescents. Patients with intracranial germinomas mainly manifest with hypothalamic pituitary axis dysfunction and/or compression syndromes. Visual disturbance is one of the most significant clinical presentations, which is mainly caused by tumor cell infiltration into the optic pathway. In this article, we present three cases of patient with intracranial germinoma to analyze the ocular manifestations. All the three patients presented with endocrine symptoms in the early stage and with visual disturbances (including decreased visual acuity and visual field defects) later. In general, germinoma is diagnosed by its characteristic radiological appearance, supported by tumor markers and/or stereotactic biopsy. However, decisive diagnoses were established when ocular manifestations were presented. A suspicion for germinoma should be considered, when young patients manifest visual disturbances accompanied by endocrine symptoms.

Glucocorticosteroid (steroid) therapy is the major treatment for some important neuro-ophthalmological diseases. However, its efficacy, safety and abuse raise great controversy and debate for a long time, many clinical problems also remain to be solved. This paper discusses the issues relevant to the treatment of idiopathic optic neuritis by steroid and strongly advocate carrying out an evidence-based multicenter randomized clinical trial in China. It is suggested to establish a standard guideline or consensus for the treatment of neuro-ophthalmological diseases with steroid.

Optic neuritis (ON) is a common disorder of the neuro-ophthalmology, which harms patients vision seriously. However, there are a lot of controversy and confusion about its etiology. While ON has familial characteristic and the tendency of heredity to some extent. Recently, association studies have made considerable progress with the rapid development of molecular biology techniques and statistical methods. In this article, the latest progresses in genetics of ON are reviewed.

Homonymous visual field defect which is usually caused by stroke, brain tumor and trauma, is common. In spite of partial spontaneous recovery, homonymous hemianopia still causes serious disability. Visual restoration therapy (VRT) based on the residual visual capability and brain plasticity theory was reported effectively enlarged visual field caused by impairment of visual pathway. Controversy still exits on the efficacy of these procedures. However, due to the high prevalence and poor outcome of visual pathway impairment, it is important to initiate multiple disciplinary co-operative study on VRT and other procedures for visual function rehabilitation to improve life quality of patients with retro-chiasmal visual pathway impairment.

Adeno-associated virus vector plasmid carrying the expression cassette of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), pAAV-BDNF, was constructed and packaged into recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV-BDNF). The rAAV-BDNF was intravitreally injected into streptzotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague–Dawley (SD) Rats. Data showed that over-expression of BDNF could increase alive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) number and improve its function in streptzotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats, which might be a new method to treat diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy.

To study the location and size of aneurysm of internal carotid artery (AICA) with ocular manifestations and the clinical characteristic of ocular changes.Forty patients with ocular changes caused by AICA presented in Department of Ophthalmology of the General Hospital of PLA were collected and analyzed retrospectively.In 42 cases of AICA accompanied with ocular manifestations, AICA was located at paraclinoid aneurysms in 23 case and 23 cases were giant aneurysm. Visual acuity was decreased significantly in 25 cases. Oculomotor palsy was present in 21 cases. Abducens paralysis was present in 7 cases. Different degrees of visual field defects were present in 15 cases.Ocular changes in AICA include decrease of visual acuity, oculomotor palsy, abducens paralysis and various defects of visual field. Ocular changes mainly occur in paraclinoid aneurysms and giant aneurysms.

To analyze the relationship between the gene polymorphism of IL-2R (rs2104286) and IL-7R (rs6897932) and the susceptibility to idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis (IDON).A case-control study was performed in 72 IDON patients and 81 healthy individuals as the control group. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. PCR was used to amplify the aim genes; the SNP of IL-2R were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay and the SNP of IL-7R were analyzed by gene sequencing. The χ2 test was used to compare genotype and allele frequencies between the IDON and control populations. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated using the approximation of Woolf for the 95% confidence interval (CI).No significant difference of genotype (χ2=0.410, P=0.815) and allele frequency(χ2=0.413, P=0.520) of IL-2R gene existed in IDON group(AA:54/AG:15/GG:3;A:123/G:21) as compared with the control group (AA:57/AG:20/GG:4;A:134/G:28). No significant difference of genotype frequency (χ2=3.787, P=0.150) of IL-7R existed in IDON group (CC:56/CT:13/TT:3) as compared with the control group (CC:52/CT:21/TT:8). However, there was a significant difference in IL-7R allele (C/T) between IDON group (C:125/T:19) and the controls (C:125/T:37) (χ2=4.743, P=0.029), OR=1.95 (95%CI: 1.07-3.55).There is no significant difference in IL-2R rs2104286 polymorphism between IDON group and the controls; the frequencies of IL-7R rs6897932 C allele in IDON group was significantly greater than that of the controls. Polymorphism of IL-7R gene (rs6897932) may contribute to the risk of IDON.

A series of functionalized SBA-16 were synthesized and subsequently oxidized into sulfonic functionalized mesoporous silica mixing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (TMMPS), with triblock copolymers pluronic (F127) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMABr) served as the mixing template by combination of hydrothermal and co-condensation method. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen gas sorption and SEM. The results show that the resulting functional materials belong to mesoporous materials when n(TEOS): n(TMMPS) is 3-8. The removal of Chrysoidine from water reaches the highest by functionalized mesoporous material when n(TEOS): n(TMMPS) is 7. Compared with different pH values, when the pH value ranges from 4-5 the adsorption reaches the highest.

Background: Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic obliterative vasculopathy that usually affects the peripheral retina of young adults. The aim of this study is to investigate Th1/Th2 serum cytokine profiling in patients with ED. Methods: This study included 30 male patients with ED and 10 healthy controls. The ED patients were divided into two subgroups: the vitreous haemorrhage (VH) group (n = 18) and non-vitreous haemorrhage (NVH) group (n = 12). Sixteen patients (six from the VH group and 10 from the NVH group) received glucocorticoid treatment for three months and were followed for six months. Levels of six cytokines including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and four interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) in the serum samples were determined by Luminex assays. Results: Compared to controls, ED patients showed significantly higher levels of IL-10 and TNF-α, increased IFN-γ/IL-4 (Th1/Th2) ratio, and lower levels of IL-4 (p < 0.05). Glucocorticoid treatment caused a restoration in the cytokine levels and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Multivariate analysis revealed that reduced IL-4 (less than 4 pg/ml) and elevated IL-10 (greater than 4 pg/ml) levels were independent predictors of ED with odds ratios of 0.024 (95% CI, 0.002–0.255; p = 0.002) and 12.108 (95% CI, 1.045–140.233; p = 0.046), respectively. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate for the first time that there is an imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in ED patients, which can be reversed by glucocorticoid treatment. Additionally, both IL-4 and IL-10 might represent potential diagnostic markers for the disease.

To explore the changes of contrast sensitivity (CS) in patients recovered from idiopathic optic neuritis (ION).It was a case-control study. We screened 22 idiopathic optic neuritis patients who underwent treatment and obtained normal visual acuity. No nervous system abnormalities were found in MRI scan. Twenty four healthy individuals were enrolled as the control group. OPTEC 6500 contrast sensitivity tester was used to examine near- and far-distance CS values on 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12 and 18 cycles/degree (c/d), separately. T-test or u-test was used to compare the mean of CS values between these two groups. ANOVA or H-test was adopted on CS values at the different frequencies in each group. Simple linear correlation was used to analyze the correlation between CS values and age, duration and gender, separately.The maximum CS values in both far- and near-distance appeared in 6.0 c/d in these two groups were 70.27 +/- 40.44, 53.32 +/- 29.50, 78.86 +/- 36.37 and 109.39 +/- 44.98, respectively. The minimum CS values in both far- and near-distance appeared in 18 c/d in these two groups were 8.27 +/- 6.11, 12.09 +/- 8.57, 15.67 +/- 9.02 and 22.22 +/- 14.56, respectively. Far- and near-distance CS values in ION group and control group had very significant differences at these five spatial frequencies (From 1.5 to 18.0 c/d, the test values on far-distance were 4.19, 5.59, 3.06, 2.50, 3.13, P values were 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.00. The test values on near-distance were 3.54, 3.98, 2.72, 3.20, 3.39, P values were 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.00). CS values had no relation to the duration of ION. Significant difference in CS values existed on most frequencies (In far- and near-distance, H values in ION group were 52.38 and 64.96, in control group were 64.77 and 60.53, P values were both less than 0.01). The maximum H value appeared on near-distance in ION group. The maximum H value was 64.96 of near-distance in ION group. Far- and near-distance CS values in ION group itself and control group itself had very significant differences at these 5 spatial frequencies (From low to high frequencies, F values were 6.36, 0.03, 2.52, 1.53, 2.90; P values were 0.02, 0.87, 0.12, 0.22, 0.10 in ION group. In control group, F values were 5.31, 5.69, 6.06, 0.61, 3.14; P values were 0.03, 0.02, 0.02, 0.44, 0.08 respectively).CS values at different frequencies in ION patients with normal visual acuity descend significantly. Contrast sensitivity examination can be an important technique to evaluate vision quality in patients after ION.

To investigate the ocular manifestations of brainstem tumors and to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 57 brainstem tumor in-patients were collected from 1993 to 2007. The clinical manifestations and the results of related examinations were analyzed.The present series included 51 cases of brainstem germinoma, 4 cases of cavernous hemangioma, 1 case of hemangioblastoma and 1 case of metastatic tumor. In 51 cases of brainstem germinoma, there were 37 males and 14 females. The first attack age varied from 5 to 55 years old and the median age was 23 years old. The high incident ages of brainstem germinoma were 10 - 35 years. Patients were presented with diplopia, ocular motility disturbance, nystagmus, anisocoria, and facial palsy. In 57 patients, diplopia was the initial symptom in 12.3% (7/57) cases. The incidence of oculomotor nerve paralysis was 17.5% (10/57); trochlear paralysis, 1.8% (1/57); trigeminal nerve paralysis, 5.3% (3/57); abducens nerve paralysis, 35.1% (20/57); facial palsy, 14.0% (8/57); optic disc edema, 19.3% (11/57); nystagmus, 21.1% (12/57) and anisocoria, 10.5% (6/57).Ocular manifestations occur frequently in brainstem tumor. Nuclear ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus and other neuro-ophthalmic signs provide helpful clues for the diagnosis of brainstem tumor.