Contribution of systemic factors on macular vessel density: a sex-specific population-based study.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of systemic factors on macular vessel density in quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) by sex.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 2018 adults were recruited in this study.

Randomized Control Trial of the Impact of Patient Decision Aid Developed for Chinese Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients.

Introduction: Patient decision aid (PDA) is a tool to prompt shared decision-making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a PDA on Chinese primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Methods: All subjects were randomized into control and PDA group.

Optic disc and peripapillary vessel density measured with optical coherence tomography angiography and its associations in Chinese adults: a large population-based study.

Purpose: To investigate the optic disc and peripapillary vessel density, as well as its ocular and systemic associations, in healthy eyes among adult Chinese population.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional eye survey was conducted on Chinese adults residing in Hong Kong. 1891 eyes from 1891 participants who completed 4.

Association between functional status and ocular surface disease among local elderly population in Hong Kong.

: To evaluate the correlation between ocular surface disease (OSD) and functional status among elderly population over 60 years old in Hong Kong.: Chinese subjects above 60 years old were recruited from the Ophthalmology clinic in Hong Kong West Cluster. Subjects demographic and questionnaires to evaluate the functional status were used to correlate with OSD objectively with clinical examination to assess the meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), corneal staining, Schirmer's test and tear break-up time (TBUT); and subjectively with ocular surface disease index (OSDI).

Randomized Control Trial on the Effectiveness of Collagen Cross-linking on Bullous Keratopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term effect and safety of collagen cross-linking (CXL) on patients with bullous keratopathy (BK) in a randomized control manner. It is, to our knowledge, the first randomized control study on the effect of CXL on BK.

Methods: Subjects were randomized to receive CXL as in the standard protocol for treating keratoconus or a placebo treatment.

Prevalence and associations of myopia in Hong Kong primary school students.

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of myopia in primary school children in Hong Kong, and the risk factors for myopia development.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Subjective refraction and axial length were measured in all participants.

Factors Associated with Poor Eye Drop Administration Technique and the Role of Patient Education among Hong Kong Elderly Population.

Objectives: To identify the risk factors for poor eye drop application technique in treatment-naïve subjects and to assess if patient education can benefit these subjects.

Methods: Chinese subjects above 60 years were recruited. Questionnaires, including Barthel index; Lawton's instrumental activities of daily living (ADL); Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of Weight (FRAIL) scale; and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), were used to correlate with eye drop application technique (before and after patient education) using Spearman correlation analysis.

Prospective study on a novel treatment for leaking cystic bleb: Efficacy and safety of collagen crosslinking.

Importance: Management of cystic bleb leak is difficult. It would be essential to look for a method to strengthen the original pathological conjunctiva and reverse bleb leak.

Background: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of collagen crosslinking in patients with leaking cystic bleb.

Pseudoginsenoside-F11 alleviates oligomeric β-amyloid-induced endosome-lysosome defects in microglia.

Amyloid accumulation in the brain is the major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD). Amyloid beta (Aβ) is cleared by the endosomal-autophagy-lysosomal system, which is impaired in AD pathogenesis by an unknown mechanism. Pseudoginsenoside-F11 (PF11), an ocotillol-type ginsenoside, has been demonstrated to decrease the level of Aβ in APP/PS1 mouse brain and to protect neurons by inhibiting the activation of microglia in vitro.

Physical exercise and glaucoma: a review on the roles of physical exercise on intraocular pressure control, ocular blood flow regulation, neuroprotection and glaucoma-related mental health.

The benefits of physical exercise on health and well-being have been studied in a wide range of systemic and ocular diseases, including glaucoma, a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by accelerated apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and insufficient ocular perfusion have been postulated to be the two main theories in glaucoma development and progression. The effects of exercise in these two aspects have been demonstrated by numerous researches.

Tuberculosis screening using IGRA and chest computed tomography in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and potential risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to evaluate the role of chest computed tomography (CT) in the screening of LTBI.

Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted and all IBD patients who had been screened for LTBI by T-SPOT.TB between December 2011 and January 2016 were enrolled in the study.

Collagen crosslinking in the management of leaking cystic blebs: a prospective study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of collagen crosslinking for leaking cystic blebs.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on subjects with cystic bleb leaks without indications for urgent surgical intervention. Collagen crosslinking with riboflavin 0.

Ulcerative Colitis Database: An Integrated Database and Toolkit for Gene Function and Medication Involved in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Over the last decade, a massive amount of well-annotated genomic data has been accumulated on the pathogenesis and therapies for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, a comprehensive repository is not available yet.

Methods: Ulcerative Colitis Database (UCDB) was constructed using text mining followed by manually curating on the literature to collect the reliable information of UC-related genes, drugs, and susceptibility loci.

High suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 expression impairs STAT3-dependent protective effects of interleukin-22 in ulcerative colitis in remission.

Background: High SOCS3 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in remission reflects the shorter time to relapse. We investigated whether high SOCS3 increased risk for relapse through violating STAT3-dependent protective effects of interleukin (IL)-22 during UC remission.

Methods: Expression of IL-22 and c-Myc in UC remission mucosa was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

Helicobacter pylori regulates TLR4 and TLR9 during gastric carcinogenesis.

Objective: To investigated the influence of H. pylori on TLR4 and TLR9 in gastric mucosa during gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens were taken from 148 patients and divided into five groups, including normal group (n = 10), chronic superficial gastritis group (n = 35), atrophy/intestinal metaplasia group (n = 35), dysplasia group (n = 34) and gastric carcinoma group (n = 34).

Predictive and prognostic roles of BRAF mutation in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies: a meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive and prognostic roles of BRAF mutation in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs).

Methods: Computer searches of the literature on BRAF mutation in mCRC patients were performed. Studies with objective response rate (ORR) to anti-EGFR MoAbs and/or overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with different BRAF gene expression in mCRC patients were eligible.

Safety and efficacy of calcium and magnesium infusions in the chemoprevention of oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy in gastrointestinal cancers.

Objective: To derive a more precise estimation on the safety and efficacy of calcium and magnesium (Ca and Mg) infusions in the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy.

Methods: A total of 16 studies including 1765 individuals were involved in this meta-analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Increased JNK1 signaling pathway is responsible for ABCG2-mediated multidrug resistance in human colon cancer.

Multidrug resistance remains a major obstacle to effective chemotherapy of colon cancer. ABCG2, as a half-transporter of the G subfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporter genes (ABC transporters), is known to play a crucial role in multidrug resistance. However, the molecular mechanism of controlling ABCG2 expression in drug resistance of colon cancer is unclear and scarcely reported.

MicroRNA 506 regulates expression of PPAR alpha in hydroxycamptothecin-resistant human colon cancer cells.

Chemotherapeutic drug resistance remains a major obstacle to the successful treatment of colon cancer. Here, we show that 77 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in SW1116/HCPT versus SW1116, and over-expressed miR-506 in SW1116/HCPT cells was validated. Then it was indicated that PPARα is a common target of miR-506 by using a luciferase reporter assay.

Meta-analysis: circulating adiponectin levels and risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma.

Objective: To provide a systematic review with a meta-analysis for addressing the association between circulating adiponectin levels and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma.

Methods: Multiple electronic sources including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Science Citation Index Expanded databases were searched to identify relevant studies for this systematic review. All existing observational studies that examined the relationship between circulating adiponectin and colorectal cancer or adenoma were included.

RNA interference (RNAi) of Ufd1 protein can sensitize a hydroxycamptothecin-resistant colon cancer cell line SW1116/HCPT to hydroxycamptothecin.

Objective: To investigate whether RNA interference (RNAi) of the ubiquitin fusion-degradation 1-like protein (Ufd1) could sensitize hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-resistant colon cancer cell line SW1116/HCPT to the cytotoxic effect of HCPT.

Methods: SW1116/HCPT cells were transfected with plasmids containing Ufd1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) (Ufd1 knockdown cells) and non-specific siRNA (control cells). A drug sensitivity analysis, 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazol (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay was performed on Ufd1 knockdown cells and control cells.