Keratoconus,allergy, itch,eye‐rubbing and hand‐dominance

Background: One hypothesis for the pathogenesis of keratoconus includes teenage allergy, ocular itch and associated eye‐rubbing. Methods: This study examined the prevalence of these factors for teenage and adult patients. The results for a sample of 53 subjects with bilateral keratoconus were compared with those for a control sample of non‐keratoconus subjects, who also routinely wore RGP contact lenses. The strongest dominant hand and the eye with more advanced keratoconus were also determined, to examine for a relationship between them. Results: The keratoconic sample reported significantly higher levels of allergy, itch and rubbing as teenagers and as adults. However, all distributions were bimodal, consistent with the hypothesis that allergy, itch and rubbing are relevant in the pathogenesis of keratoconus only when the highest levels of these factors are present. For example, a significant relationship between the stronger dominant hand and the more advanced eye was evident only in subjects who reported the most severe rubbing. Conclusions: This finding adds weight to the circumstantial evidence that rubbing contributes to the pathogenesis of keratoconus. Low levels of teenage rubbing by some keratoconic subjects suggest a non‐rubbing pathogenesis and that emphasis on rubbing management is not warranted in these cases. However, high levels of adult rubbing reported by many keratoconic subjects indicate that the standard advice to avoid vigorous and prolonged rubbing is often not effective, even when repeated. There appears to be an indication for the need to improve the management of eye‐rubbing for some patients with keratoconus or at risk of developing this disease.     

Eye rubbing-induced changes in intraocular pressure and corneal thickness measured at five locations, in subjects with ocular allergy

AIM: To assess the effects of eye rubbing on corneal thickness (CT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained 0-30min after habitual eye rubbing in symptomatic patients. METHODS: Measurements of IOP and CT were obtained at five locations (central, temporal, superior, nasal and inferior) before, and every 5min for 30min interval after 30s of eye rubbing, for 25 randomly selected eyes of 14 subjects with ocular allergy and 11 age-matched normals. Differences in measurements were calculated in each group [Baseline measurements minus measurements recorded at each time interval after eye rubbing (for IOP), and for each corneal location (for CT)] and comparison were then made between groups (allergic versus control) for differences in any observed effects. RESULTS: Within groups, baseline mean IOPs in the allergic patient-group (14.2±3.0 mm Hg) and in the control group (13.1±1.9 mm Hg) were similar at all times, after eye rubbing (P >0.05, for all). The maximum reduction in IOP was 0.8 mm Hg in the control subjects and the maximum increase was also 0.8 mm Hg in the allergic subjects. Between groups (allergic versus control), the changes in IOP remained under 1 mm Hg at all times (P=0.2) after 30min of eye rubbing. Between 0 and 30min of CT measurements after eye rubbing, the mean central CT (CCT), inferior CT (ICT), superior CT (SCT), temporal CT (TCT) and nasal CT (NCT) did not vary significantly from baseline values in the control and allergic-subject groups (P>0.05, for both). Between both groups, changes in CT were similar at all locations (P>0.05) except for the TC which was minimally thinner by about 4.4 μm (P=0.001) in the allergic subjects than in the control subjects, 30min following 30s of eye rubbing. CONCLUSION: IOP measured in allergic subjects after 30s of habitual eye rubbing was comparable with that obtained in normal subjects at all times between 0 and 30min. Although, CT in the allergic subjects were similar to those of the control subjects at all times, it varied between +10 and -7.5 μm following eye rubbing, with the temporal cornea showing consistent reductions in thickness in the subjects with allergy. However, this reduction was minimal and was considered to not be clinically relevant.     

Approach of Pavement Surface Layer Degradation Caused by Tire Contact Using Semi-Analytical Model

New methods of degradations on the pavement’s surface, such as top-down cracking and delamination, caused by the repeated passage of heavy vehicles led to questions about the impact of the contact between the tire and the pavement. In fact, to increase the service life of the structures, future road design methods must have a precise knowledge of the consequences of the contact parameters on the state of stress and deformation in the pavement. In this paper, tractive rolling contact under the effect of friction is modeled by Kalker’s theory using a semi-analytical method (SAM). A tire profile is performed thanks to a digitization by fringes or a photogrammetry technique. The effect of rolling on the main surface extension deformations is then highlighted to study top cracking. At the end of the SAM calculation, contact areas are closed to 200 μdef, exceeding the allowable micro-deformation limit for the initiation of cracking. In addition, results on the main strain directions also give information on the direction of cracking (initiation of longitudinal or transverse cracks). The cracking then becomes evident, leading to a reduced service life.     

21例交叉擦腿综合征患儿临床特征与实验室指标分析

【目的】探讨小儿交叉擦腿综合征患儿临床特征与实验室指标的变化。了解该类患儿是否存在性早熟倾向以及性激素水平改变。【方法】2003年6月至2005年6月,在本院神经内科门诊以及住院的部分交叉擦腿综合征患儿共21例,均行录像监测脑电图。监测到患儿临床发作,排除癫痫发作,明确诊断交叉擦腿综合征。同时给这些患儿清晨7：00采血行性轴水平测定。并随机选择同年龄非交叉擦腿综合征患儿作为对照组进行性激素水平测定。包括垂体泌乳素（PRL）,促卵泡刺激素（FSH）、促黄体生成素（HLH）、雌二醇（E2）,检测方法采用核医学发光免疫法。并对其中一部分有明显B增高的患儿做进一步的性激素水平激发试验（LHRH激发试验）。按以上方法检测患儿基础性激素水平后给患儿静脉注射戈娜瑞林2～3mg／kg,分别于注射后30min、60min、90min抽血测FSH、HLH。【结果】病人组21例及对照组10例患儿PRL、FSH、HLH、E2均有不同程度的增高,但差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。21例患儿均无第二性征出现。其中2例患儿激发试验,结果以FSH增高为主,无性早熟的激素水平改变。【结论】本研究显示交叉擦腿综合征患儿的性轴水平与对照组比较差异无显著性,该综合征可能与性激素水平无关。     

新砭石疗法治疗肩关节周围炎的临床疗效研究与评价

目的研究新砭石疗法的临床疗效。方法根据随机分组、平行对照、单盲(研究者、操作者、统计者三分离)的临床试验原则,试验组40例,采用新砭石疗法;对照组40例,采用电针疗法,对比两组的临床疗效。结果镇痛疗效方面,试验组总有效率为85%,对照组总有效率为75%,两组总有效率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);肩部功能活动改善方面,试验组总有效率为57.5%,对照组总有效率为42.5%,两组总有效率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);两组治疗即刻镇痛效果均明显。结论新砭石疗法治疗肩关节周围炎疗效显著,镇痛效果迅速,其疗效与针灸疗法无显著差异。     

圆锥角膜发病的力学因素及其机制

圆锥角膜是一种以角膜进行性变薄前突为特征的角膜扩张性疾病。其发病机制尚不清楚。体外实验表明力学刺激可能通过升高氧化应激水平和炎症因子浓度而损伤角膜基质细胞,造成角膜细胞外基质降解等一系列变化。大量临床研究证实揉眼、由睡姿引起的眼球压迫等力学因素可能在圆锥角膜发生发展的过程中起重要作用。它们可能通过增加泪液炎症因子水平、造成眼压变化、改变角膜生物力学性能以及机械摩擦直接损伤角膜组织、升高角膜上皮温度等机制对角膜造成影响。本文就力学因素对角膜基质细胞、角膜组织的影响及其在圆锥角膜发病机制中可能的作用进行阐述,以期为预防和管理圆锥角膜提供参考。     

可摘局部义齿铸造支架组织面研磨与口腔卫生

目的:探讨可摘局部义齿铸造支架组织面研磨状况与口腔组织健康之间的关系。方法:分别于戴义齿前、戴入支架组织面未磨光与细磨抛光义齿后,检查基牙菌斑指数、龈炎指数,并观察支架组织面菌斑附着情况。 结果:支架组织面光洁度好则该部位菌斑附着少,基牙菌斑指数及龈炎指数低。 结论:铸造支架组织面粗糙,局部菌斑聚集较多,可能对天然牙及牙周组织有损害,细磨抛光有利于口腔软硬组织健康。     

膏摩治疗配合等速训练治疗肩周炎的疗效观察

目的:观察膏摩结合等速训练治疗肩周炎的临床疗效。方法:将60名肩周炎患者随机分为观察组和对照组各30例,2组均采用膏摩治疗,观察组加用等速肌力训练。观察2组患者治疗前后肩关节前屈、后伸,外展角度、力矩峰值及VAS评分变化。结果:治疗3周后,2组患者肩关节前屈、后伸、外展角度及力矩峰值均较治疗前明显提高(P0.05),且观察组更优于对照组(P0.05);2组VAS评分均较治疗前明显下降(P0.05),且观察组更低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:膏摩治疗配合等速训练能够更好的减轻肩周炎患者的疼痛,增加肩关节活动度,增加肌力,并藉此改善患者上肢运动功能。     

陈元膏膏摩对膝骨性关节炎大鼠血清NO和PGE2及下肢功能的影响

目的:观察陈元膏膏摩对膝骨性关节炎大鼠血清中一氧化氮(NO)和前列腺素E₂(PGE₂)及下肢功能恢复的影响,探讨陈元膏膏摩对膝骨性关节炎是否具有抗炎作用。方法:将52只SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、陈元膏膏摩组(2 g/只)、和手法对照组(凡士林,2 g/只),每组13只,除正常组外,其余各组采用石膏固定法建立膝骨性关节炎动物模型,8周后,正常组、模型组不作干预,对陈元膏膏摩组、手法对照组大鼠分别给予陈元膏结合手法和凡士林结合手法治疗,每日1次,持续8周后,HE染色对各组关节软骨病理改变进行Mankin评分,并检测各组血清中NO和PGE₂的浓度水平。结果:与正常组比较,模型 组软骨病理改变进行Mankin评分和血清NO,PGE₂的浓度水平明显升高(P<0.01),其大腿周长和膝关节活动度均有明显降低(P<0.01);陈元膏膏摩组、手法对照组Mankin评分和血清NO,PGE₂的浓度水平均低于模型组(P<0.01),其中陈元膏膏摩组的血清NO,PGE₂浓度水平较低(P<0.05),陈元膏膏摩组、手法对照组的大鼠在治疗后,其大腿周长和膝关节活动度均有明显提高(P<0.01),其中陈元膏膏摩组提高的幅度较大(P<0.05)。结论:陈元膏膏摩疗法可降低KOA大鼠血清中NO和PGE₂的浓度水平,更好地促进大鼠大腿肌力和膝关节活动度的改善,对减轻膝骨性关节炎症状具有一定的作用。     

The Youngest Patient with Bilateral Keratoconus Secondary to Chronic Persistent Eye Rubbing

Abstract

We present the case of a four-year-old girl with bilateral keratoconus secondary to chronic persistent eye rubbing. She was referred to our clinic with intractable ocular itching and low vision. According to her family, she was generally rubbing her eyes. On slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, bilateral papillary reactions were seen on the upper tarsal conjunctiva. Clinical examination and corneal topography were compatible with keratoconus. The patient's visual acuity was not evaluated because of cooperation difficulties. Systemic examination was normal. In fact, trauma may be the common underlying factor in eye rubbing and may cause development of keratoconus, even in the early years. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest patient with bilateral keratoconus secondary to chronic persistent eye rubbing in the literature. Keratoconus should be kept in mind in patients with severe ocular itching, even in small children.