Assessment of tear film parameters post-treatment with commercial eyelid cleaning wipes:a pilot study

AIM:To investigate the short-term effects of commercially available eyelid-cleaning wipes on film parameters.METHODS:This study enrolled 48 healthy participants aged 20-35y(both males and females).Clinical assessment included the Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI)questionnaire,non-invasive tear break-up time(NITBUT),tear meniscus height(TMH),and lipid layer pattern(LLP).Based on these initial results,participants were categorized as either non-dry eye or dry eye.Participants in each group were randomly allocated to either Blephaclean■or Systane■treatments.Changes in NITBUT,TMH,and LLP levels before and after lid wipe treatment were assessed.RESULTS:The dry eye group exhibited significantly higher OSDI scores and lower NITBUT and TMH levels than in the non-dry eye group(P<0.001).Following the application of eyelid wipes(Systane■wipes),dry eye subjects experienced a significant improvement in NITBUT levels(P=0.0014)compared to the non-dry eye individuals.Although the remaining participants showed a marginal increase in TMH and NITBUT levels,these changes did not achieve statistical significance(P>0.05).Similarly,the LLP levels were significantly improved with Systane■(P<0.001)post-treatment compared to individuals in the non-dry eye group.However,the dry eye subjects showed higher posttreatment LLP levels than the untreated group(P<0.02).CONCLUSION:The short-term effects of Systane®eyelid wipes on tear film parameters suggest their effectiveness in dry eye disease.Nonetheless,further exploration of their long-term impact is essential to justify their cost effectiveness and efficacy in treating both aqueous deficiency and evaporative dryness.

Effects of anatomical position on esophageal transit time:A biomagnetic diagnostic technique

AIM： To study the esophageal transit time （ETT） and compare its mean value among three anatomical inclinations of the body; and to analyze the correlation of ETT to body mass index （BMI）. METHODS： A biomagnetic technique was implemented to perform this study： （1） The transit time of a magnetic marker （MM） through the esophagus was measured using two fluxgate sensors placed over the chest of 14 healthy subjects; （2） the EIF was assessed in three anatomical positions （at upright, fowler, and supine positions; 90°, 45° and 0°, respectively）. RESULTS： ANOVA and Tuckey post-hoc tests demonstrated significant differences between E-IT mean of the different positions. The ETT means were 5.2 ± 1.1 s, 6.1 ± 1.5 s, and 23.6 ± 9.2 s for 90°, 45° and 0°, respectively. Pearson correlation results were r = -0.716 and P 〈 0.001 by subjects＇ anatomical position, and r = -0.024 and P 〉 0.05 according the subject＇s BMI. CONCLUSION： We demonstrated that using this biomagnetic technique, it is possible to measure the ETT and the effects of the anatomical position on the ETT.

Topographic tear film trend and new parameters for noninvasive break up time test

AIM:To evaluate the quantitative and qualitative results of the noninvasive tear film break-up time(NI-BUT)test and investigate the predictive ability of the new NIBUT parameter in discriminating between normal Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI;scores≤12)and abnormal OSDI(scores≥13).METHODS:A total of 341 eyes of 341 volunteers who applied for routine eye outpatient control were included in the prospective study.All participants'noninvasive first tear film break-up time(NIF-BUT),noninvasive average tear film break-up time(NIAvg-BUT)and average value of the first three break-up time(A3F-BUT)were analyzed.A3F-BUT,the new NI-BUT parameter,is calculated by adding the NIF-BUT value to the 2^(nd )break-up time value that has a difference of at most 1 second from the NIF-BUT value and to the 3^(rd) break-up time and then dividing the respective sum by 3.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and forward logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the parameter that had the best predictive ability between the OSDI groups.RESULTS:The NI-BUT values of 255 eyes of 255 volunteers included in the study were analyzed statistically.The mean NIF-BUT,NIAvg-BUT,and A3F-BUT values were calculated as 5.3±3.0,8±3.1,and 5.8±3.0 seconds,respectively.All three parameters were found to be significantly lower in the abnormal OSDI group(P=0.014,0.034,and 0.011,respectively).The area under the curve(AUC)of the A3F-BUT to predict abnormal OSDI was AUC=0.625(0.529-0.720),P=0.011 and NIF-BUT was AUC=0.599(0.502-0.696),P=0.043.The A3F-BUT parameter and NIF-BUT parameters were found to be significantly efficient in discriminating abnormal OSDI.CONCLUSION:The new parameter for the NI-BUT test has more predictive ability in the discrimination of OSDI groups.

Small-volume solution current-time behavior study for application in reverse iontophoresis-based non-invasive blood glucose monitoring

The reverse iontophoresis-based glucose monitoring circumstance is similar to the small-volume solution in which mass diffusion controls the current response of the electrochemical biosensors.In this study,the law of mass transfer in this type of solution was analyzed and a mathematic model was established to depict the current-time behavior of the fabricated planar electrode used in the non-invasive meter designed by ourselves.A small-volume glucose solution was directly constructed on the electrode to simulate the reverse iontophoresis-based sensing condition.The correctness of the model was demonstrated by chronoamperometry.Animal assay was subsequently carried out to verify the practicality of the model in determination of blood glucose.The results processed by the new method accurately traced the authentic value,confirming the advantage of the new method and the potential in clinical analysis.

Ocular surface changes in type II diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

AIM: To detect and analyze the changes on ocular surface and tear function in type II diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR), an advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy(DR), using conventional ophthalmic tests and the high-resolution laser scanning confocal microscopy.METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with type II diabetes were selected. Based on the diagnostic criteria and stage classification of DR, the patients were divided into the non-DR(NDR) group and the PDR group. Thirty-six patients with cataract but no other ocular and systemic disease were included as non-diabetic controls. All the patients were subjected to the conventional clinical tests of corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test, and corneal fluorescein staining. The non-invasive tear film break-up time(NIBUT) and tear interferometry were conducted by a Tearscope Plus. The morphology of corneal epithelia and nerve fibers was examined using the high-resolution confocal microscopy.RESULTS: The NDR group exhibited significantly declined corneal sensitivity and Schirmer I test value, as compared to the non-diabetic controls(P 【0.001). The PDR group showed significantly reduced corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test value, and NIBUT in comparison to the non-diabetic controls(P 【0.001).Corneal fluorescein staining revealed the progressively injured corneal epithelia in the PDR patients. Moreover,significant decrease in the corneal epithelial density andmorphological abnormalities in the corneal epithelia and nerve fibers were also observed in the PDR patients.CONCLUSION: Ocular surface changes, including blunted corneal sensitivity, reduced tear secretion, tear film dysfunction, progressive loss of corneal epithelia and degeneration of nerve fibers, are common in type II diabetic patients, particularly in the diabetic patients with PDR. The corneal sensitivity, fluorescein staining scores,and the density of corneal epithelial cells and nerve fibers in the diabetic patients correlate with the duration of diabetes. Therefore, ocular surface of the patients with PDR should be examined regularly by conventional approaches and confocal microscopy to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of keratopathy.

Efficacy observation of acupuncture for dry eye syndrome of lung-yin deficiency pattern

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of combining two needling manipulations,Er Long Xi Zhu(two dragons playing with a pearl)and Guo Yan Re(heat produced to reach the eyes),in treating dry eye syndrome(DES)of lung-yin deficiency pattern.Methods:Fifty-six eligible DES patients of lung-yin deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 28 cases in each group.Same acupoints were selected in the two groups:Cuanzhu(BL 2),Sizhukong(TE 23),Taiyang(EX-HN 5)and Fengchi(GB 20)were chosen as the major points and Feishu(BL 13)and Chize(LU 5)as the adjuvant.Er Long Xi Zhu and Guo Yan Re needling manipulations were applied in the observation group while twirling reinforcing manipulation was used in the control group.Treatment was conducted once per day in both groups,for two sets of 15 consecutive days at a 2-day interval.Changes in the symptom score,tear break-up time(BUT)and tear production were observed afterwards,and the clinical efficacy was also compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate was 92.8%in the observation group,higher than 71.4%in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the symptom score,tear BUT and tear production showed significant improvements in both groups(all P<0.05);the symptom score,BUT and tear production in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Given the same acupoint selection,combining Er Long Xi Zhu and Guo Yan Re needling manipulations can produce more significant clinical efficacy than twirling reinforcing manipulation in treating DES of lung-yin deficiency pattern.