Lens thinning appeared to be compensatory in nature with respect to the increased axial length of normal eye growth. Myopic eye growth induces the lens to compensate by becoming much thinner. The change in anterior chamber depth corresponded inversely with lens thickness.

Purpose The prevalence of myopia in Taiwan has been reported to be increasing in the sequential nationwide survey. The results of our studies demonstrated that the prevalence of myopia, especially high myopia increased among the freshmen in National Taiwan University. These findings may be explained by two possible reasons. First, we found the age of onset of myopia decreased from 12 years in 1983 to 8 years in 2000 in our previous nationwide survey. 1 Second, myopia is influenced

The mycobacterial diseases leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) and the leishmaniases are characterized by a wide spectrum of disease phenotypes, and by the fact that the majority of individuals exposed to the causative organisms Mycobacterium leprae, M. tuberculosis and Leishmania sp. become infected but do not present with clinical disease. In order to determine whether a human homologue to the murine macrophage resistance gene Lsh/Ity/Bcg influences susceptibility to human disease, multicase families for all three diseases have been collected, and linkage analysis performed using a panel of markers in the region of human chromosome 2q33-q37 known to be conserved with the Lsh/Ity/Bcg-containing region of murine chromosome 1. Because of the paucity of available polymorphic markers/linkage information for 2q33-q37, data from 35 multicase leprosy, TB and visceral leishmaniasis families (310 individuals) were first pooled to produce a detailed RFLP map of the region. Peak LOD scores well in excess of 3 were observed for linkage between adjacent pairs of a more proximal (2q33-q35) set of markers CRYGP1, MAP2, FN1, TNP1, VIL1 and DES, and between adjacent pairs of a more distal (2q35-q37) set COL6A3, D2S55 and D2S3. These peak LOD scores and the corresponding values for theta were used in the MAP92 program to generate a multiple two-point map with gene order/map intervals (cM) of: CRYGP1-4.65-MAP2-3.45-FN1-5.95-TNP1-3.41-VIL1-3. 01- DES-20.14-COL6A-10.91-D2S55-3.67-D2S3. Although local support for the placement of loci in this order was weak (LOD < 2, except for DES-COL6A3 where LOD = 6.02), the map is consistent with the gene order for those loci (Cryg, Fn-1, Tp-1, Vil, Des, Col6a3) previously mapped in the mouse. Data from 17 multicase leprosy families (149 individuals) were further analysed for linkage between a putative disease susceptibility locus (DSL) controlling susceptibility to leprosy per se and each of the marker loci. Assuming 100% penetrance for the susceptibility allele, no positive LOD score was obtained for linkage between the DSL and any of the marker genes. Instead, the data provide convincing evidence (LOD scores < -2) that a DSL does not fall within 10-20 cM of CRYGP1, MAP2, TNP1, VIL1, DES or D2S55, or within 5-10 cM of FN1, COL6A3 or D2S3. This effectively excludes a putative DSL controlling susceptibility to leprosy per se from the entire region 2q33-q37.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The average myopic progression in urban areas was greater than that in rural areas. Environmental factors such as urban development and academic grade level may be important contributing factors to myopic progression.

Background:The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic role of preservative-free artificial tears containing hyaluronic acid and high potassium ion concentration (HA/ high-K artificial tears) on mechanically scraped or alkali-induced corneal epithelial defects in rats. Methods: We created mechanically scraped epithelial defects on the corneas of 24 SpragueDawley (SD) rats (three groups of eight rats) and alkali-induced epithelial defects on the corneas of 27 SD rats (three groups of nine rats). Then we applied topical 0.3 per cent or 0.15 per cent HA/high-K artificial tears four times daily for 1.5 days and compared its effect with that of topical phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The fluorescein staining analysis and histological examination were performed immediately after and at 12, 24 and 36 hours after injury. Results:In the mechanical scraping model, the areas of fluorescein staining in the eyes after topical application of 0.3 per cent HA/high-K artificial tears were significantly smaller than those after PBS treatment at 12 and 24 hours after injury. At 36 hours, the staining areas of both 0.3 per cent and 0.15 per cent HA/high-K artificial tears-treated eyes were found to be significantly smaller than those of the PBS-treated eyes. In the alkali burn model, the promotion of corneal epithelial wound healing after treatment with 0.3 per cent and 0.15 per cent HA/high-K artificial tears was not significantly different compared to that after treatment with PBS. Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid and high potassium ion concentration artificial tears promoted corneal epithelial wound healing in the mechanical scraping model; however, in the alkali burn model, no significant beneficial effect of this treatment was observed.

Background Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is very common in the hospital setting. Most bleedings stop spontaneously, but rare infectious causes of LGIB may lead to rapid and serious complications if left untreated and are sometimes very difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Case presentation We described a young man with poorly controlled Type I diabetes mellitus and chronic alcohol abuse who presented with acute altered mental status. During his hospitalization for treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, acute renal failure, and sepsis, he suddenly developed massive hematochezia of 1500 mL. Colonoscopy was performed and a deep ulcer covered with mucus with peripheral elevation was noted at the transverse colon. Biopsy of the ulcer later revealed nonpigmented, wide (5–20 µm in diameter), thin-walled, ribbon-like hyphae with few septations and right-angle branching suggestive of mucormycosis demonstrated by Periodic acid–Schiff stain. He received 2 months of antifungal treatment. Follow up colonoscopy post-treatment was normal with no ulcer visualized. Conclusions Early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis infection is critical but can be challenging, especially in the setting of massive hematochezia. Therefore, clinical awareness for immunocompromised patients and prompt antifungal prophylaxis in cases with high suspicion of infection are essential.

We report a new slippage system based on p-tert-butylbenzyl-terminated imidazolium ions and di(ethylene glycol)containing macrocycles and their use as linking units for the construction of a prototypical molecular "Lock & Lock" box from a resorcinarene-based cavitand "bowl" and a porphyrin "cover". The multivalent structure with four slippage linkers provided the molecular box with high stability, yet the system dissociated into its two components upon application of suitable external stimuli.

: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of pain and debility worldwide and the most frequent reason for work-related disability. Global expenditures related to LBP are staggering and amount to billions of dollars each year in the United States alone. Yet, despite the considerable healthcare resources consumed, the care provided to patients with LBP has regularly been cited as ineffective and exorbitant. Among the myriad reasons for this suboptimal care, the current approach to evaluation and management of patients with LBP is a likely contributor and is hitherto un-investigated. Following the current methodology, over 90% of patients with LBP are provided with no specific diagnosis and are managed inconsistently, and receive no express preventative care. We believed that this approach added costs and promoted chronic unresolved pain and disability. This narrative review highlighted problems with the current methodology, proposed a novel concept for categorizing patients with LBP, and recommended strategies for improvement. Stratifying patients according to the etiology, in lieu of the prospects for morbidity, the strategy proposed in this article may have helped ascertain the cause of patient’s LBP early, consolidate treatments, permit timely preventative measures, and, as the result, improve patient outcomes.