Endometriosis as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Investigate the association between endometriosis and the incidence of age-related macular degeneration.

Material And Methods: This study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2018) to examine the link between endometriosis and age-related macular degeneration. The endometriosis cohort included women diagnosed with the condition, with the index date set as their first diagnosis.

Radish Seed Exerts Anti-Diabetic and Obesity-Reducing Effects in Mice by Promoting the Activation of Uncoupling Protein 1 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Coactivator 1-α.

Obesity is primarily due to excessive energy intake and lipid accumulation, leading to type 2 diabetes. Studies showed radish seed extract (RSE) can impede weight gain in mice, but the mechanism was unclear. We hypothesized that RSE inhibits obesity by stimulating adipocyte browning.

Vulnerable parafoveal microcirculation quadrant in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss among adults. This study evaluates Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) vessel density (VD) as a marker for DR in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. An observational study was conducted with 47 type 2 DM patients and 21 healthy controls.

Association between Semaglutide and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Multinational Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To investigate whether semaglutide increases the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in the general population.

Design: This retrospective cohort study used a deidentified global electronic medical records database. The enrollment period was extended from January 2017 to August 2023, with observations concluding in August 2024.

Acupuncture as Adjuvant Therapy for Glaucoma: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy that necessitates lifelong treatment to reduce the decline of the optic nerve. Due to the extended and continuous treatments required for patients, complementary therapies are often considered alongside conventional treatments to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Acupuncture has demonstrated the potential to lower intraocular pressure in previous clinical trials, making it a promising glaucoma intervention.

The association between antiglaucomatous agents and Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: To estimate the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with long-term use of topical glaucoma medications among middle-aged and older glaucoma patients, and compare the AD risk among various glaucoma subtypes.

Methods: This nationwide population-based cohort study utilized insurance claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 2008 and 2019. Participants were adults aged 45 years or older either with a diagnosis of glaucoma or without.

Developing a Polygenic Risk Score with Age and Sex to Identify High-Risk Myopia in Taiwan.

Myopia is the leading cause of impaired vision, and its prevalence is increasing among Asian populations. This study aimed to develop a polygenic risk score (PRS) followed by replication to predict myopia in the Taiwanese population. In total, 23,688 participants with cycloplegic autorefraction-measured mean spherical equivalent (SE), genetic, and demographic data were included.

The impact of light properties on ocular growth and myopia development.

The objective of this article is to comprehensively review the effect of environmental lighting on ocular growth and refractive status in both animal and clinical studies, with an emphasis on the underlying mechanisms. This review was performed by searching research articles and reviews utilizing the terms "myopia," "light therapy," "axial length," "refractive error," and "emmetropization" in PubMed datasets. The review was finalized in December 2023.

Complement decay-accelerating factor inhibits inflammation-induced myopia development.

Myopia is regarded as a worldwide epidemic ocular disease, has been proved related to inflammation. CD55, also known as decay-accelerating factor (DAF) can modulate the activation of complement through inhibiting the formation of complement 3 convertase and its dysregulation is involved in various inflammatory diseases. To investigate the association between CD55 and myopia, and to test whether CD55 can inhibit myopia development by suppressing inflammation in the eye, we use three different animal models including monocular form-deprivation myopia, myopia induced by TNF-α administration and allergic conjunctivitis animal model to reveal the CD55 in myopia development.

Identification of Genetic Variants for Risk Prediction and Early Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Taiwanese Population.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. The prevalence and phenotypes of AMD differ among populations, including between people in Taiwan and other regions. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants and to develop genetic models to predict the risk of AMD development and progression in the Taiwanese population.

The role of transforming growth factor beta in myopia development.

Myopia is widely recognized as an epidemic. Studies have found a link between Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) and myopia, but the specific molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, a monocular model in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) was established to verify the molecular mechanism of TGF-β in myopia.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Management of Postoperative Complications in Horizontal Strabismus Surgery.

Objective: To report the incidence, risk factors and management of postoperative complications after horizontal strabismus surgery.

Design: Retrospective Cohort study.

Participants: The study assessed 1,273 patients with 1,035 cases of exotropia and 238 cases of esotropia, with a minimum 18-month follow-up.

Immune responses and safety of COVID-19 vaccination in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome patients in Taiwan.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a rare, life-threatening disorder which can be triggered by COVID 19 infection and COVID 19 vaccination then induce multiple organ failure. Our study is the first to evaluate immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination and safety in a cohort of patients in a local single-center study in Taiwan..

Increased risk of glaucoma development in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy: results of a 11-year population-based cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) have increased risk of developing glaucoma.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with CSC between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2018 were included in this study using data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The CSC cohort was matched with a non-CSC cohort using the propensity score matching method, based on sex, age (in 10-year intervals), index date year, comorbidities, and steroid use, resulting in equal numbers of patients in both cohorts.

Acupuncture modulates development of myopia by reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the dopamine-D1R signaling pathway.

Background: Dopamine has been suggested to be a stop signal for eye growth and affects the development of myopia. Acupuncture is known to increase dopamine secretion and is widely used to treat myopia clinically.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if acupuncture inhibits myopia progression in form deprived Syrian hamsters by inducing rises in dopamine content that in turn suppress inflammasome activation.

Diosgenin, a Natural Steroidal Sapogenin, Alleviates the Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetic Mice.

Background/aim: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and a major cause of blindness in working-age adults. Diosgenin (DG), a natural steroidal sapogenin extracted from fenugreek seeds and wild yam roots, has hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Given its pharmacological effects, we speculated that DG may be a promising treatment for DR.

Multiple branch retinal artery occlusions following the new facial cosmetic filler (Poly-D, L-lactic Acid) injection a case report.

Background: Poly-D, L-lactic acid is (PDLLA) a new cosmetic filler. We reported the first case of PDLLA-related devastating complication of multiple branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).

Case Presentation: A 23-year-old female had sudden blindness after injection of PDLLA at the glabella.

Fallopia Japonica and Prunella vulgaris inhibit myopia progression by suppressing AKT and NFκB mediated inflammatory reactions.

Background: The increased global incidence of myopia requires the establishment of therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Fallopia Japonica (FJ) and Prunella vulgaris (PV) extract on myopia caused by monocular form deprivation (MFD).

Methods: We used human retinal pigment epithelial cell to study the molecular mechanisms on how FJ extract (FJE) and PV extract (PVE) lowering the inflammation of the eye.

Teaching and learning in interprofessional ethics education: Tutors' perspectives.

Background: Ethical dilemmas that arise in the clinical setting often require the collaboration of multiple disciplines to be resolved. However, medical and nursing curricula do not prioritize communication among disciplines regarding this issue. A common teaching strategy, problem-based learning, could be used to enhance communication among disciplines.

Myopia Development in Tree Shrew Is Associated with Chronic Inflammatory Reactions.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether chronic retinal inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of form-deprivation myopia (FDM) using tree shrews as an animal model. Twenty-one tree shrews were randomly divided into 7-day/14-day FDM (FDM7/FDM14) groups and their corresponding 7-day/14-day control groups. Refraction and axial length were measured.

In vivo and in vitro evidence for growth hormone-like bioactivity of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae extract.

Certain herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine may produce a growth-enhancing effect by promoting the secretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland or mimicking the function of GH. In this study, we aimed to identify herbs that could serve as GH alternatives. A reporter gene assay for GH was developed, and 100 different herbal extracts were assayed.

Increased Risk of Refractive Errors and Amblyopia among Children with Ptosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk of refractive errors (astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia) and amblyopia in children with ptosis and association between age at diagnosis of ptosis and subsequent risks of vision problems. Methods: Retrospective claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) were analyzed. We identified 1799 children aged 0−18 years who were newly diagnosed with ptosis between 2000 and 2012 and 7187 individuals without the disease.

The Immunogenicity and Safety of Three Types of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Adult Patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) were seldom enrolled in the studies of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and real-world data regarding the immunogenicity of different types of vaccines is limited. We aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of three types of vaccines (AZD1222, mRNA-1273, and BNT162b2) in 253 patients with IMID and 30 healthcare workers (HCWs). Plasma levels of IgG-antibody against SARS-CoV-2 targeting the receptor-binding domain of spike protein (anti-S/RBD-IgG) were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay 3-4 weeks after the first-dose and second-dose vaccination.