Binocular vision and abnormal head posture in children when watching television

AIM： To determine the association between the binocular vision and an abnormal head posture（AHP）when watching television（TV） in children 7-14 y of age.·METHODS： Fifty normal children in the normal group and 52 children with an AHP when watching TV in the AHP group were tested for spherical equivalents, far and near fusional convergence（FC） and fusional divergence（FD） amplitudes, near point of convergence, far and near heterophoria, accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio and stereoacuity. The values of these tests were compared between the two groups. The independent t test was applied at a confidence level of95%.·RESULTS： The far and near FC amplitudes and far FD amplitudes were lower in the AHP group（the far FC amplitudes： break point 13.6±5.4~△, recovery point 8.7±5.4~△.The near FC amplitudes： break point 14.5 ±7.3~△, recovery point 10. 3 ± 5. 1~△. The far FD amplitudes ： break point3.9±2.7~△, recovery point 2.6±2.3~△） compared with those in the normal group（the far FC amplitudes： break point19.1 ±6.2△, recovery point 12.4 ±4.5~△. The near FC amplitudes： break point 22.3 ±8.0~△, recovery point 16.1 ±5.7~△. The far FD amplitudes： break point 7.0 ±2.1~△,recovery point 4.6 ±1.9~△）. Other tests presented no statistically significant differences.·CONCLUSION： An association between the reduced FC and FD amplitudes and the AHP in children when watching TV is proposed in the study. This kind of AHP is considered to be an anomalous manifestation which appears in a part of puerile patients of fusional vergence dysfunction.

The involvement of proline-rich protein Mus musculus predicted gene 4736 in ocular surface functions

AIM: To research the two homologous predicted proline -rich protein genes, Mus musculus predicted gene 4736 (MP4) and proline-rich protein BstNI subfamily 1 (Prb1) which were significantly upregulated in cultured corneal organs when encountering fungal pathogen preparations. This study was to confirm the expression and potential functions of these two genes in ocular surface. METHODS: A Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis model was established in Balb/c mice. One day post infection, mRNA level of MP4 was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and MP4 protein detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or Western blot using a customized polyclonal anti -MP4 antibody preparation. Lacrimal glands from normal mice were also subjected to IHC staining for MP4. An online bioinformatics program, BioGPS, was utilized to screen public data to determine other potential locations of MP4. RESULTS: One day after keratitis induction, MP4 was upregulated in the corneas at both mRNA level as measured using real -time PCR and protein levels as measured using Western blot and IHC. BioGPS analysis of public data suggested that the MP4 gene was most abundantly expressed in the lacrimal glands, and IHC revealed that normal murine lacrimal glands were positive for MP4 staining. CONCLUSION: MP4 and Prb1 are closely related with the physiology and pathological processes of the ocular surface. Considering the significance of ocular surface abnormalities like dry eye, we propose that MP4 and Prb1 contribute to homeostasis of ocular surface, and deserve more extensive functional and disease correlation studies.

Laser confocal microscopy findings of Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis

Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis （TSPK） is a rare,chronic,inflammatory disorder,with adverse impact on the visual function and quality of life in patients.It was first described by Thygeson in 1950,1 as typically bilateral,corneal epithelial opacities without associated stromal involvement or corneal edema.Recurrent episodes of tearing,foreign body sensation,photophobia,and reduced vision are observed.To date,virus infection and immune factors have been considered as important risk factors for visual deterioration in the patients with TSPK,but the origin of the comeal opacities remains poorly understood.Keywords：Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis ; laser confocal microscopy