Analysis of risk and protective factors associated with retinal nerve fiber layer defect in a Chinese adult population

AIM:To investigate the risk and protective factors associated with the retinal nerve fiber layer defect(RNFLD)in a Chinese adult population.METHODS:This study was a cross-sectional populationbased investigation including employees and retirees of a coal mining company in Kailuan City,Hebei Province.All the study participants underwent a comprehensive systemic and ophthalmic examination.RNFLD was diagnosed on fundus photographs.Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the risk and protective factors associated with the RNFLD.RESULTS:The community-based study included 14440 participants.There were 10473 participants in our study,including 7120 males(68.0%)and 3353 females(32.0%).The age range was 45-108y,averaging 59.56±8.66y.Totally 568 participants had RNFLD and the prevalence rate was 5.42%.A higher prevalence of RNFLD was associated with older age[P<0.001,odds ratio(OR):1.032;95%confidence interval(CI):1.018-1.046],longer axial length(P=0.010,OR:1.190;95%CI:1.042-1.359),hypertension(P=0.007,OR:0.639;95%CI:0.460-0.887),and diabetes mellitus(P=0.019,OR:0.684;95%CI:0.499-0.939).The protective factors of RNFLD were visual acuity(P=0.038,OR:0.617;95%CI:0.391-0.975),and central anterior chamber depth(P=0.046,OR:0.595;95%CI:0.358-0.990).CONCLUSION:In our cross-sectional community-based study,with an age range of 45-108y,RNFLD is associated with older age,longer axial length,hypertension,and diabetes mellitus.The protective factors of RNFLD are visual acuity and central anterior chamber depth.These can help to predict and evaluate RNFLD related diseases and identify high-risk populations early.

Combined detection of urine specific gravity and BK viruria on prediction of BK polyomavirus nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients

Background:BK polyomavirus(BKPyV)-associated nephropathy(BKPyVAN)is an important cause of dysfunction and failure of renal transplants.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of morning urine specific gravity(MUSG)in diagnosing BKPyVAN in kidney transplant recipients.Methods:A total of 87 patients,including 27 with BKPyVAN,22 with isolated BKPyV viruria,18 with T cell-mediated rejection(TCMR),and 20 with stable graft function,were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from March 2015 to February 2017.MUSG at biopsy and during a follow-up period of 24 months after biopsy was collected and analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to determine the ability of MUSG to discriminate BKPyVAN.Results:At biopsy,the MUSG of BKPyVAN group(1.008±0.003)was significantly lower than that of isolated BK viruria group(1.013±0.004,P<0.001),TCMR group(1.011±0.003,P=0.027),and control group(1.014±0.006,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in MUSG among the isolated BK viruria group,TCMR group,and control group(P=0.253).In BKPyVAN group,the timing and trend of MUSG elevate were consistent with the timing and trend of the decline of viral load in urine and plasma,reaching a statistical difference at 3 months after treatment(1.012±0.003,P<0.001)compared with values at diagnosis.ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of MUSG for diagnosis of BKPyVAN was 1.009,with an area under the ROC curve(AUC)of 0.803(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.721–0.937).For differentiating BKPyVAN and TCMR,the optimal MUSG cut-off value was 1.010,with an AUC of 0.811(95%CI:0.687–0.934).Conclusion:Combined detection of MUSG and BKPyV viruria is valuable for predicting BKPyVAN and distinguishing BKPyVAN from TCMR in renal transplant recipients.

Non-apoptotic role of caspase-3 in synapse ref inement

Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, mediate programmed cell death during early neural development and neurodegeneration, as well as following neurotoxic insults. Notably, accumulating lines of evidence have shown non-apoptotic roles of caspases in the structural and functional plasticity of neuronal circuits under physiological conditions, such as growth-cone dynamics and axonal/dendritic pruning, as well as neuronal excitability and plasticity. Here, we summarize recent progress on the roles of caspases in synaptic refinement.