Objective To determine the clinical efficacy of probucol in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and elevated serum lipids after focal/grid laser photocoagulation. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study included 48 type 2 diabetic patients with DME and dyslipidemia which were randomly divided into three groups. For patients with bilateral disease only the more severe eye was included. All patients were subjected to strict metabolic and blood pressure control during enrollment. All cases received macular laser photocoagulation. Besides, sixteen patients in group A were treated with probucol, 16 members in group B with atorvastatin and 16 members in group C were not treated with any lipid-lowering therapy for about three months. The outcome measurements were status of macular edema and hard exudates, visual acuity, foveal thickness, serum lipids and urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) during the three months. Results The study included 20 men and 28 women with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus who could achieve good metabolic and blood pressure control within three months of inclusion in the study. Thirteen of 16 patients in group A, twelve of 16 patients in group B and five of 16 patients in group C showed reduction in hard exudates. Regression of macular edema was seen in twelve patients in group A, 11 in group B and eight in group C (χ2=2.368,P＞0.05). The difference of foveal thickness in group A, B and C was statistically significant (t=4.929, 4.669; P=0.000). Nine patients in group A, eight in group B and six in group C showed improving of visual acuity (χ2=1.169,P＞0.05). Three months after treatment, triglycerides (TG) (t=7.954, 6.832; P＜0.05), total cholesterol (TC) (t=6.643, 5.368; P＜0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) (t=3.279, 3.835; P＜0.05) decreased in group A and group B but not in group C, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed no significant difference in the three groups. 8-OHdG decreased gradually during the first and third month in group A and group B but not in group C. In the first month post treatment, 8-OHdG showed no difference between group A and group B. In the third month, the 8-OHdG was lower in group A than group B, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.947,P＜0.05). ConclusionsIn type 2 diabetes patients with DME and dyslipidemia, oral probucol can reduce the severity of hard exudates and macular edema, improve the visual acuity, and inhibit the levels of TG, TC, LDLC and 5-OHdG. The effect of probucol was similar to atorvastatin. Probucol could be an adjunct treatment of those patients.
Objective To elucidate the clinical features and treatment of parapneumonic effusions ( PPE) . Methods Ninety-seven patients were analyzed retrospectively in Guangzhou First Municipal People’s Hospital fromJanuary 2004 to July 2008. The data of 54 patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion ( CPPE) and 9 cases with empyema were compared with 49 patients with tuberculosis pleural effusions. Results Of 97 cases, 34 patients with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion ( UPPE) were treated with antibiotics only, whose hospitalization time was ( 14. 8 ±7. 6) days, and 27 cases were cured ( 79. 4% ) . Of 54 CPPE patients, 42 were treated with antibiotics and pleural space drainage with central venous catheter, whose hospitalization time was ( 21. 7 ±13. 0) days, and 32 were cured ( 76. 2% ) . Another12 CPPE patients were treated with interapleural urokinase and drainage from the chest tube, whose hospitalization time was ( 22. 5 ±9. 3) days, and 8 were cured ( 66. 7% ) . Nine cases with empyema were rinsed the pleural with metronidazole solution, whose hospitalization time was ( 25. 7 ±17. 4) days, and 8 were cured( 89. 0% ) . Compared with the tuberculous pleurisy patients, most CPPE and empyema occurred in middle and old aged patients with an average age of ( 63. 3 ±19. 3) years. Polykaryocyte and lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly. Adenosine deaminase ( ADA) was lt; 45 U/L in most UPPE and empyema patients, but was gt; 45 U/L in 7 cases ( 11% ) . Conclusions UPPE is simple and preferably treated with antibiotics alone. While CPPE and empyema should be drainaged as early as possible, and the low-dose urokinase may be helpful. The level of ADA can not absolutely distinguish parapneumonic effusion from tuberculous pleural effusion.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical curative effect of posterior scleral reinforcement for macular retinoschisis in pathological myopic patients. MethodsA prospective study was conducted, in which 36 pathological myopia patients(36 eyes)with myopic foveoschisis were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the treatments: 24 patients (24 eyes) voluntarily underwent posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR, operation group) and 12 patients (12 eyes) didn't receive operation (control group). There are no statistical differences (P>0.05) in age, gender, length of axis oculi, spherical equivalent between the 2 groups. All patients were examined by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular retinoschisis types, central foveal thickness (CFT), maximum foveal thickness (MxFT). Patients in operation group were scheduled to a follow-up 3rd, 6th, and 9th month after surgery respectively. Patients in control group all were followed up once every three months. A contrast observation was made on the changes of BCVA, CFT, MxFT, findings of the foveoschisis and the complications of the surgery between groups. ResultsCompared with the preoperation after 9 month follow-up: in the operation group, the BCVA was significantly increased postoperatively (Z=-3.43, P=0.01), the mean CFT was significantly decreased postoperatively (Z=-2.71, P=0.007), while the MxFT which was not significantly decreased postoperatively (Z=-0.67, P=0.503). In the control group, there was no significant change in BCVA (Z=-1.840, P>0.05), the CFT and the MxFT were signi? cant increased respectively (Z=-2.803, -2.04; P<0.05). In the operation group, there were 6 (25.0%) of the 24 eyes get complete resolution of the foveoschisis; 16 (66.7%) of them is not completely attached however the retinoschisis was significantly decreased; only 2 eyes developed to macular hole the other getting worse and the foveal thickness was increased. In the control group no one get complete resolution of the myopic foveoschisis, and 2 eyes developed to retinal detachment in 6 and 8 month respectively. There was no complications such as post-operative intra-ocular pressure increased, subretinal hemorrhage, macular epiretinal membrane, endophthalmitis, vortex vein circumfluence obstacle and anterior ocular ischemia syndrome occurred after surgery. ConclusionsPosterior scleral reinforcement surgery was found effective in improving the visual acuity, reducing the CFT. No obvious complications were found during and after the surgery.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of metformin for metabolic syndrome. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, China Biological Medicine Database, VIP, and CMAC up to the year of 2007. Handsearches and additional searches were also conducted. Randomized controlled trials of metformin for metabolic syndrome were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data from eligible studies and evaluated the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed for the results of homogeneous studies by The Cochrane Collaboration’s software RevMan 4.2.9. Results Six trials involving a total of 2442 patients with metabolic syndrome were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the apparent heterogeneity. Metformin, compared with placebo, exhibited more favorable effects in reducing the proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.60), the proportion of patients with low HDL-c (RR 1.61, 95%CI 1.16 to 2.23), wide waist circumference (RR 1.64, 95%CI 1.06 to 2.55), and high FPG (RR 1.55, 95%CI 1.17 to 2.05). Metformin was also more effective in improving FPG and insulin sensitivity. The addition of metformin to atenolol plus nitrendipine was superior to atenolol plus nitrendipine alone in reducing the proportion of patients with high TG (RR 5.57, 95%CI 1.56 to 19.84), abdominal obesity (RR 14.47, 95%CI 3.34 to 62.61), and IGT (RR 16.51, 95%CI 6.06 to 45.0). Compared with low-fat diet therapy, metformin was superior in improving FPG, 2-hour postload plasma glucose, and insulin sensitivity. No differences were observed between metformin and acarbose in the reduction of TG and FPG, but metformin was less effective than acarbose in improving 2-hour postload plasma glucose. No adverse drug reactions were reported. Conclusion Metformin has beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of high FPG, IGT, and abdominal obesity. It also proved beneficial in reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and increasing insulin sensitivity. The therapeutic effects of metformin on blood pressure, obesity, and lipid profile are uncertain. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of metformin in the treatment of metabolic syndrome due to low methodological quality, small sample size, and limited number of trials. More high quality, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required.
Objective To detect the prognosis of visual acuity, operation timing and medical management of peri-operation in patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy for uveitis associated with tractive retinal detachment. Methods The clinical data of 15 eyes (13 patients) with tractive retinal detachment associated with uveitis who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy from our Department were retrospectively analyzed. The patients, 6 males and 7 females, aged from 19.0 to 70.0 years, with the average of 42.8 years. The duration of the disease history was 3-15 years with the average of 7 years. In the 15 affected eyes, the visual acuity was le;hand moving before the eye in 7 eyes, 0.01-0.1 in 7, and 0.2 in 1. Vitreous opacity, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and tractive retinal detachment were found in all of the affected eyes. All the patients had been treated with oral and topical steroid. In addition, 3 of them received oral azathioprine meanwhile. Eye drops of 1% prednisolone acetate, 1% atropine, and tropicamide were used. The inactive duration of inflammation of uveitis was 0.5-4.5 months with the average of 2.0 months. After the inflammation became inactive, pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling, intraocular photocoagulati,filling with C3F8 or silicon oil were performed, including 7 eyes underwent lens excision. Glucocorticoid was given to the patients orally before the operation, and systemic and ocular medication of glucocorticoid were given continuously after the operation, in whom 3 were treated with oral azathioprine meanwhile. The postoperative follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 146 months with the average of 26 months. Results No recrudescence of uveitis, inflammation of ocular anterior segment, or vitreous inflammation was fund in the 15 eyes. The retina reattached successfully and the visual acuity improvement in 13 eyes (86.7%), inluding 2 eyes achieved the visual acuity increased from 0.2 to 0.8 and 0.03 to 0.6, 1 eye had unchanged visual acuity (6.7%)，and 1 eye decreased from hand moving to light perception (6.7%). In the follow-up duration, 4 eyes had cataract formation and underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, and the visual acuity improved after the operation. Iris neovascularization and secondary hyphema were found in 1 eye. Organization membrane on the surface of rtina and tractive retinal detachment recurred in another eye. Conclusion Pars plana vitrectomy is effective on uveitis associated with tractive retinal detachment. Operation timing and perioperational reasonable glucocorticoid application are essential for surgery success. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 108-111)
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of form deprivation myopia on optic nerve head and retinal morphology in guinea pigs using optical coherence tomography (OCT). MethodsTwenty guinea pigs aged from 4 to 5 weeks were chosen and randomly divided into the experimental group and control group, with 10 guinea pigs in each group. Form deprivation myopia was established for the right eyes of guinea pigs in experimental group for 4 weeks. The guinea pigs of control group were not intervened. Before and 4 weeks after form deprivation, refraction was measured by retinoscopy after cycloplegia; the axial length was measured by A-scan ultrasound; retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, optic nerve head and retinal morphology of guinea pigs were analyzed using OCT. ResultsBefore form deprivation, there were no statistically significant differences in spherical equivalent, axial length, RNFL thickness, disc edge area, optic disc area, average cup disc ratio, vertical cup disc ratio, cup volume, retinal thickness, or retinal volume between the experimental group and control group of guinea pig (P > 0.05). After 4 weeks of form deprivation, RNFL thickness of (64.9±17.7) μm in guinea pigs in experimental group was thinner compared to (97.9±25.1) μm in control group (t=-2.845, P=0.015). Retinal thickness of (142.7±3.4) μm in guinea pigs in experimental group was thicker compared to (138.4±3.5) μm in control group (t=2.338, P=0.038). There were no significant differences in disc edge area, optic disc area, average cup disc ratio, vertical cup disc ratio, cup volume or retinal volume between groups (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in spherical equivalent, axial length, RNFL thickness, vertical cup to disc ratio cup volume, and retinal thickness between after and before form deprivation in the right eye of guinea pigs in the experimental groups (t=46.001, -50.119, 5.385, 3.447, -2.814, -8.911; P < 0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences in disc edge area, optic disc area, average cup disc ratio, or retinal volume (P > 0.05). ConclusionForm deprivation myopia has an effect on RNFL and retinal thickness.
Objective To investigate the safety of thoracic surgery for high-altitude patients in local medical center. MethodsWe retrospectively collected 258 high-altitude patients who received thoracic surgery in West China Hospital, Sichuan University (plain medical center, 54 patients) and People's Hospital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (high-altitude medical center, 204 patients) from January 2013 to July 2019. There were 175 males and 83 females with an average age of 43.0±16.8 years. Perioperative indicators, postoperative complications and related risk factors of patients were analyzed. ResultsThe rate of minimally invasive surgery in the high-altitude medical center was statistically lower than that in the plain medical center (11.8% vs. 55.6%, P<0.001). The surgical proportions of tuberculous empyema (41.2% vs. 1.9%, P<0.001) and pulmonary hydatid (15.2% vs. 0.0%, P=0.002) in the high-altitude medical center were statistically higher than those in the plain medical center. There was no statistical difference in perioperative mortality (0.5% vs. 1.9%, P=0.379) or complication rate within 30 days after operation (7.4% vs. 11.1%, P=0.402) between the high-altitude center and the plain medical center. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that body mass index≥25 kg/m2 (OR=8.647, P<0.001) and esophageal rupture/perforation were independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative complications (OR=15.720, P<0.001). ConclusionThoracic surgery in the high-altitude medical center is safe and feasible.
Objective To evaluate the safety of Rongbisu capsule used for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods A total of 218 patients (average age 63.73±7.50 years old) with phase Ⅰor Ⅱ benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with oral Rongbisu capsule at a dose of 3 granules twice daily. The therapeutic course was 6 weeks and hepatic function was determined every 2 weeks. Results The median value of ALT in 218 patients rose significantly after the patients took Rongbishu capsule for 6 weeks (P=0.001 7). There were 17 patients whose ALT level rose from normal to abnormal, the incidence was 7.80%. There were 3 patients whose hepatic function was seriously impaired (ALT＞200 IU/L). Conclusions The essential component of Rongbishu capsule is edible tulip which has been recorded in the medical literature as being toxic. Airpotato yam of which the alias is also edible tulip is easily mistaken for edible tulip. Airpotato yam is the tuber of dioscorea bulbifera L. (family dioscoreaceae) which has confirmed hepatotoxcity. Our study result indicates that in order to insure the safety of Chinese crude drug, the origin of Chinese crude drug should be defined in the formulation according to the standard of Chinese drugs preparation. Pharmaceutical enterprises should strictly abide by the standards to identify the origin of Chinese crude drugs when approving the raw materials, especially for species which are poisonous and easily mistaken.
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on myopic traction maculopathy (MTM).Methods The clinical data of 31 eyes of 29 patients with MTM diagnosed by timedomain optical coherence tomography (TDOCT) and slitlamp ophthalmoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were divided into 2 groups according to the stage of MTM: 12 eyes of 10 patients at the early stage of MTM were in group 1; 19 eyes of patients at the most Advanced stage of MTM were in group 2. All of these eyes had undergone PPV with 10％15％ inert gas filling. The patients were followed postoperatively for 6 to 12 months with the average of 8 months, and the best corrected visual acuity, reattachment of macular and retina was examined. Results The improvement rate of visual acuity after surgery for 6 months was 100% in group 1, and 63.2% in group 2 had (12/19); the visual acuity in group 1 was apparently better than that in group 2 (Z=-5477, P=0000). The macular hole disappeared without exposure of the pigment epithelium in all eyes of Group 1, but only 3 eyes in Group 2. For Group 2 patients, 3 eyes had reattached retina with macular holes, and 3 eyes had detached retina with macular holes. The recovery of macular configuration in Group 1 was obviously better than that in Group 2 (Z=-4318, P=0000). Conclusion The surgical intervention of MTM before the formation of macular hole and retinal detachment may prevent the formation of macular holes.