Protection against corneal hyperosmolarity with soft-contact-lens wear

Hyperosmotic tear stimulates human corneal nerve endings, activates ocular immune response, and elicits dry-eye symptoms. A soft contact lens (SCL) covers the cornea preventing it from experiencing direct tear evaporation and the resulting blink-periodic salinity increases. For the cornea to experience hyperosmolarity due to tear evaporation, salt must transport across the SCL to the post-lens tear film (PoLTF) bathing the cornea. Consequently, limited salt transport across a SCL potentially protects the ocular surface from hyperosmotic tear. In addition, despite lens-wear discomfort sharing common sensations to dry eye, no correlation is available between measured tear hyperosmolarity and SCL-wear discomfort. Lack of documentation is likely because clinical measurements of tear osmolarity during lens wear do not interrogate the tear osmolarity of the PoLTF that actually overlays the cornea. Rather, tear osmolarity is clinically measured in the tear meniscus. For the first time, we mathematically quantify tear osmolarity in the PoLTF and show that it differs significantly from the clinically measured tear-meniscus osmolarity. We show further that aqueous-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye both exacerbate the hyperosmolarity of the PoLTF. Nevertheless, depending on lens salt-transport properties (i.e., diffusivity, partition coefficient, and thickness), a SCL can indeed protect against corneal hyperosmolarity by reducing PoLTF salinity to below that of the ocular surface during no-lens wear. Importantly, PoLTF osmolarity for dry-eye patients can be reduced to that of normal eyes with no-lens wear provided that the lens exhibits a low lens-salt diffusivity. Infrequent blinking increases PoLTF osmolarity consistent with lens-wear discomfort. Judicious design of SCL material salt-transport properties can ameliorate corneal hyperosmolarity. Our results confirm the importance of PoLTF osmolarity during SCL wear and indicate a possible relation between PoLTF osmolarity and contact-lens discomfort.     

多功能套针浮刺疗法治疗神经根型颈椎病——一项随机对照观察研究＊

目的 评价多功能套针浮刺疗法对神经根型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法 选取256例神经根型颈椎病患者，按随机数字表法分为观察组与对照组各128例。观察组应用多功能套针浮刺疗法进行干预，对照组为常规针刺治疗。两组患者均治疗7天。分别于治疗前后观察两组患者的简化McGill疼痛问卷（SF-MPQ）、国际标准颈椎功能障碍指数（NDI）和田中靖久颈椎病症状20分法量表评分，并于治疗结束后3个月观察复发率。结果 两组患者治疗后的SF-MPQ量表评分、NDI量表评分及田中靖久颈椎病症状20分法评分与治疗前相比均有改善（P<0.05），且观察组优于对照组（P<0.05）；两组患者于治疗后3个月随访，SF-MPQ量表评分与治疗后相比均有改善，且观察组优于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组临床疗效总有效率为96.88%，愈显率为81.25%；对照组总有效率为78.13%，愈显率为46.88%，观察组优于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 应用多功能套针浮刺疗法治疗神经根型颈椎病临床疗效显著，见效较快，可有效降低其复发率，且作用稳定，效果持久，值得临床推广应用。     

Filiform needle acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundFiliform needle acupuncture (FNA), the most classical and widely applied acupuncture method based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, has shown a promising effect in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR).ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient preference of FNA in the treatment of AR by comparing FNA with sham acupuncture, no treatment, and conventional medication.Search strategyEight electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to October 14, 2021. Additional studies were acquired from clinical trial registration platforms and reference lists.Inclusion criteriaRandomized controlled trials were included if they compared FNA with either sham acupuncture, no treatment or conventional medication for AR.Data extraction and analysisTwo researchers extracted data independently of each other using a predesigned data acquisition form, and results were cross-checked after completion. The primary outcome was symptom score (Total Nasal Symptom Score or Visual Analogue Scale), and the secondary outcomes were the AR control questionnaire, quality of life (QoL) score (Different versions of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire), medication score (use of rescue medication), mental health score, total IgE, adverse event rate, clinical economic indicators, and patient satisfaction score. Standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval was used to calculate the effect size for continuous data, while risk ratio with 95% CI was used for dichotomous data.ResultsThirty studies were included in this review. Compared with sham acupuncture, FNA significantly reduced the symptom score (SMD: ?0.29 [?0.43, ?0.15]), AR’s impact on QoL (SMD: ?0.23 [?0.37, ?0.08]) and medication score (SMD: ?0.3 [?0.49, ?0.11]). Compared with no treatment, FNA dramatically reduced the symptom score (SMD: ?0.8 [?1.2, ?0.39]) and AR’s impact on QoL (SMD: ?0.82 [?1.13, ?0.52]). There were no increased rates of adverse events with FNA compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment. FNA increased patient satisfaction and may be cost-effective. Most pieces of evidence from the above two comparisons were of high confidence. Moreover, FNA significantly outperformed conventional medication in reducing the symptom score (SMD: ?0.48 [?0.85, ?0.1]) and displayed a lower rate of adverse events, but the quality of evidence was very low.ConclusionFNA is an effective and safe intervention for AR and can help with symptom relief, QoL improvement, reducing medication usage, and increasing patient satisfaction. Further studies are needed to verify its cost-effectiveness and superiority over conventional medication and the best therapeutic strategies.     

Topical glaucoma medications – Clinical implications for the ocular surface

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The use of topical eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure remains the mainstay treatment. These eye drops frequently contain preservatives designed to ensure sterility of the compound. A growing number of clinical and experimental studies report the detrimental effects of not only these preservatives but also the active pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface, with resultant tear film instability and dry eye disease. Herein, we critically appraise the published literature exploring the effects of preservatives and pharmaceutical compounds on the ocular surface.     

术前眼位注视训练对老年白内障超声乳化摘除术患者术中眼位及术后视力恢复的影响

目的探讨术前眼位注视训练对老年白内障超声乳化摘除术患者术中眼位及术后视力恢复的影响。方法选取2018年9月-2019年9月我院收治的105例老年白内障超声乳化摘除术患者为研究对象,按随机数字表法将其分为对照组52例和试验组53例。对照组给予常规围术期管理。观察组在对照组的基础上予以术前眼位注视训练。观察两组术中眼位情况,术后视力恢复情况及术后并发症发生率。结果试验组术中调整眼位次数>3次和眼球旋转偏移率均低于对照组(P<0.05);试验组术后视力恢复至0.5以上比例为60.38%,高于对照组的40.38%(P<0.05);试验组术后并发症发生率为15.09%,低于对照组的32.69%(P<0.05)。结论老年白内障超声乳化摘除术患者术前进行眼位注视训练,通过降低术中调整眼位次数和眼球旋转偏移率,降低术后并发症发生率,促进患者术后视力恢复。     

中医疗法结合3D打印技术治疗中重度肘管综合征

目的:观察应用3D打印技术指导下的尺神经沟扩大成形术结合尺神经原位松解,术后给予针刺促进神经康复来治疗中重度肘管综合征的临床疗效。方法:自2016年4月—2019年3月,对40例由于肘关节退行性病变引起的尺神经沟骨赘生成造成尺神经卡压的中重度肘管综合征患者,根据其术前肘关节CT平扫三维重建应用3D打印技术打印肘关节模型,根据我院骨科人员提出的"肘管指数"概念,经电脑辅助计算尺神经沟正常尺寸并制作个性化的磨骨"试模",术中原位松解尺神经沟后,将尺神经牵至后方保护,切开关节囊,根据磨骨"试模"大小应用磨钻打磨扩大加深尺神经沟,尺神经松解后重新还纳入扩大的肘管内,重建弓状韧带缝回,术后在常规预防感染,营养神经治疗的同时,应用针刺的方法进行治疗,取穴以尺神经走行手太阳小肠经穴位为主,10天为1个疗程,针刺3个疗程,每疗程结束后休息3天。结果:40例患者术后伤口均一期愈合,未见血肿形成,其中1例患者因恐惧针刺而中途放弃针灸治疗。所有患者术后得到随访,随访时间12～18个月,平均13.6个月。将术后12个月与术前的运动感觉传导速度、两点辨别觉、握力、侧方捏力(占对侧百分比)进行比较,均有明显提高,有统计学差异(P0.05)。根据中华医学会手外科分会上肢部分功能评定试用标准评价手部功能:优28例,良10例,可1例,差1例,优良率95%。结论:应用3D打印技术指导下的肘管扩大成形术+尺神经原位松解,术后结合中医针灸治疗中重度肘管综合征,有一定的临床疗效。