角膜密度测定法及其与角膜前、后仰角的相关性

目的：评估在初治圆锥角膜患者中的角膜密度及其与前和后角膜仰角的相关性。

方法：使用Pentacam检测圆锥角膜。角膜密度测量是通过直径12 mm的区域测量, 分为环形同心区域和深度,测量更多的角膜前后仰角。根据地形圆锥角膜分类对圆锥角膜进行分类。

结果：研究包括152例患者\〖72例圆锥角膜患者(46例男性, 26例女性)和 80例健康对照受试者(50例男性, 30例女性)\〗。两组间角膜2 mm中心处和角膜环状2～6 mm直径处角膜密度测量值差异有统计学意义(K=16.40±2.18 GSU, N=15.31±1.25 GSU, P<0.0001)。当不同深度的密度测量值时,前部层呈现最高值,明显高于中央层和后层的值。当测量不同深度密度值时,前层呈现最高值(KC=23.69±3.71 GSU, N=20.91±2.52 GSU, P<0.0001),显著高于中央层和后层值(KC=14.34±1.70 GSU, N=13.61±1.21 GSU, P=0.001; KC=11.40±1.23 GSU, N=12.35±0.88, P=0.002)。各层深度(前、中、后)角膜密度测量值与后角膜高度值的相关性分析显示两者显著相关(分别为r=0.293, r=0.278 和 r=0.294)。角膜光密度测定每层深度和角膜前角抬高之间没有发现类似的相关性(分别为r=-0.211, r=-0.101, r=0.99)。在对照组受试者中,未发现每层深度角膜前/后角膜高度和角膜后向散射的显著相关性。

结论：光密度图显示前圆锥角膜中央区域的光后向散射较高。圆锥角膜患者的角膜光密度值与角膜0～2、6～10、10～12 mm环状区域前、中、后各层角膜高度相关。     

Cardiac and respiratory arrest in a 12‐year‐old girl with acute permethrin oral toxicity: A case report

Permethrin (PER) is widely employed as the most frequently used type I synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. Despite its worldwide application, reports of pediatric toxicity following permethrin administration are scarce. The present report describes the case of a 12‐year‐old girl with cardiac and respiratory arrest resulting from self‐induced oral toxicity by permethrin.     

Cirrhosis Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Disparities in receipt of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance contribute to disparities in overall survival outcomes. We aim to evaluate disparities in...     

Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of HDPE Pipes Manufactured via Orbital Friction Stir Welding

In recent decades, extensive research has been performed on the friction stir welding of flat-shaped materials while pipe welding, particularly polymer pipes, still encounters challenging issues. This work presents a feasible route for joining high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes using an orbital friction stir welding (OFSW) set-up properly designed with a retractable pin tool. Fully consolidated joints were achieved using a portable heating-assisted OFSW system suited for on-site pipeline welding. The obtained joined pipes were characterized by a high-quality weld surface and a lack of defects arising from the tool-pin hole. The samples welded with the optimum parameters presented comparable properties with the base materials and even a slight increase in the tensile strength. The highest tensile and impact strengths were 14.4 MPa and 2.45 kJ/m², respectively, which is 105% and 89% of those of the base material. XRD, FTIR, and SEM were also applied to assess the property changes in the HDPE pipes after the FSW process. The morphological analysis evidenced that the crystalline structure of the welded sample was similar to that of the base material, proving the effectiveness of the proposed technology.     

Advances and novel developments in environmental influences on the development of atopic diseases

Although genetic factors play a role in the etiology of atopic disease, the rapid increases in the prevalence of these diseases over the last few decades suggest that environmental, rather than genetic factors are the driving force behind the increasing prevalence. In modern societies, there is increased time spent indoors, use of antibiotics, and consumption of processed foods and decreased contact with farm animals and pets, which limit exposure to environmental allergens, infectious parasitic worms, and microbes. The lack of exposure to these factors is thought to prevent proper education and training of the immune system. Increased industrialization and urbanization have brought about increases in organic and inorganic pollutants. In addition, Caesarian birth, birth order, increased use of soaps and detergents, tobacco smoke exposure and psychosomatic factors are other factors that have been associated with increased rate of allergic diseases. Here, we review current knowledge on the environmental factors that have been shown to affect the development of allergic diseases and the recent developments in the field.     

Prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections and its related high-risk behaviors among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The high prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) is a significant health concern among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). This meta-analysis estimates the prevalence of SSTIs and its related risk behaviors among PWIDs.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Cochrane electronic databases independently in February 2018. After reviewing for duplication, full-text of selected articles were assessed for eligibility using certain Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes (PICO) criteria. We used fixed and random-effects meta-analysis models to estimate the pooled prevalence, pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: After a detailed assessment, a total of 20 studies containing 9,502 patients met the eligibility criteria. A pooled prevalence of 44% (95% CI, 31–56%) was estimated for SSTIs among PWIDs. Among the potential risk factors, only injecting frequency has a significant positive relationship with SSTIs among PWIDs (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.03–1.37).

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that PWIDs have a very high burden of SSTs infection, and also emphasized the potential role of higher injecting frequency on the prevalence of SSTs among PWIDs. These results suggest that more interventions to reduce of injection frequency might be useful in decreasing of SSTs burden among PWIDs.