Association of candidate gene polymorphisms with diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To investigate the association between a set of six candidate genes and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in an urban community cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study. The diabetic subjects were recruited from an urban community in Beijing and categorized into groups of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), or diabetic without any retinopathy (DWR) based on the fundus photography and duration of diabetes.

The relationship between insulin resistance/β-cell dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Desheng Diabetic Eye Study.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR)/β-cell dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore further whether there were differences in the relationship among diabetic patients with higher and lower body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 1466 subjects with T2DM were recruited in a local Desheng Community of urban Beijing from November 2009 to June 2012 for the cohort of Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study.

The Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study: rationale, design, methodology and baseline data.

Aim: To present the rationale, design, methodology, and the baseline data of the Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study (BDDES), and to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and possible risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an urban community of Beijing, China.

Methods: Community-based prospective cohort study of persons diagnosed with T2DM aged 30y or older. The main variables of interest are the presence and progression of DR as determined by the standardized ETDRS grading of seven fields fundus photographs.

Predictors for attending annual eye screening for diabetic retinopathy amongst patients with diabetes in an urban community of Beijing.

Aim: To gain a better understanding of possible factors that may influence the decision of diabetes persons to participate in annual eye screening in an urban community setting of China.

Methods: A structured interview including questions on attendance of eye screening, knowledge and awareness of diabetic retinopathy was conducted. The presence and degree of retinopathy were assessed using two field non-mydriatic retinal photography.

C-reactive protein and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Community-based observational cohort study. There were 1131 participants recruited from November 2009 to September 2011 in Desheng community in urban Beijing.

Relationship of retinal vascular calibre and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Desheng Diabetic Eye Study.

Aims: To describe the relationship of retinal arteriolar and venular calibre with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and related risk factors, including glucose levels and other biomarkers in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A cross-sectional study. Patients with T2DM were recruited from a local community in urban Beijing.

Measurement of macular pigment optical density among healthy Chinese people and patients with early-stage age-related macular degeneration.

Aim: To measure the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in healthy Chinese people and patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Cross-sectional population based study. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were ascertained by questionnaire.

Use of cataract surgery in urban Beijing: a post screening follow-up of the elderly with visual impairment due to age-related cataract.

Objective: To understand the perception for the use of cataract surgical services in a population of acceptors and non-acceptors of cataract surgery in urban Beijing.

Methods: From a community-based screening program a total of 158 patients with presenting visual acuity of less than 6/18 on either eye due to age-related cataract were informed about the possibility of surgical treatment. These patients were interviewed and re-examined 36 to 46 months after initial screening.

Gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy in the detection of angle closure in patients with shallow anterior chamber.

Objective: To assess the agreement between gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in detecting angle closure in Chinese patients with shallow anterior chamber.

Methods: An observational comparative study of the two different examination methods was conducted. Patients with normal intraocular pressure and temporal peripheral anterior chamber depth less than a quarter of corneal thickness based on slit lamp examination were included in this study from December 2007 to May 2009 in the outpatient clinic of First Hospital of Tsinghua University.

Candidate gene association study for diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: To investigate whether variants in a set of eight candidate genes are associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Case-control study. Patients with T2DM were recruited from the Desheng community in urban Beijing and assigned into a DR group or diabetic without retinopathy (DWR) group, based on the duration of diabetes and grading of fundus images.

Strategies of digital fundus photography for screening diabetic retinopathy in a diabetic population in urban China.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of mydriasis and different field strategies on technical failure, probability to refer diabetic retinopathy (DR, sensitivity) and probability not to refer patients without DR (specificity) of digital photography in screening with a fundus camera.

Methods: A total of 531 patients with diabetes underwent fundus photography with cross-combinations of mydriasis/nonmydriasis and single-field/two-field strategies, followed by slit lamp biomicroscopic examination by a trained ophthalmologist. Fundus photographs were graded independently by another experienced ophthalmologist.

Association of glutathione S-transferase pi isoform single-nucleotide polymorphisms with exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Chinese population.

Purpose: To investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the pi isoform of glutathione S-transferase (GSTP1) gene and the risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Chinese case-control cohort.

Methods: A total of 131 Chinese patients with exudative AMD and 138 control individuals were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood leukocytes.

Measurement of macular pigment optical density in a healthy Chinese population sample.

Purpose: Macular pigment may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by its capacity to absorb blue light and scavenge free radicals. Current information on human macular pigment density has been largely from studies on Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to assess macular pigment density and its determinant factors in a Chinese population sample.

Polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and the risk of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: To investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene are associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 268 patients with T2DM (129 with DR and 139 without DR) were recruited and enrolled in the study. Patients with T2DM were assigned to a DR group or a diabetic-without-retinopathy group, based on the duration of diabetes and grading of fundus images.

Apolipoprotein E gene and age-related macular degeneration in a Chinese population.

Purpose: To examine the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Chinese population.

Methods: The study consisted of 712 subjects, including 201 controls, 363 cases with early AMD, and 148 cases with exudative AMD. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood leukocytes.

Serum carotenoids and risk of age-related macular degeneration in a chinese population sample.

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that the macular carotenoids protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, the association between serum concentrations of carotenoids and the presence of AMD was evaluated in a case-control sample of elderly Chinese subjects.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-three individuals aged between 50 and 88 years enrolled in the study.

R213W mutation in the retinoschisis 1 gene causes X-linked juvenile retinoschisis in a large Chinese family.

Purpose: We identified a large Chinese family with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical findings of the family and to identify the genetic mutation by screening the retinoschisis 1 (RS1) gene.

Methods: Family history was collected and all family members underwent routine ophthalmic examination.

[An epidemiological study of visual disability and visual rehabilitation in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the status of visual disability and the demands for visual rehabilitation services in Beijing.

Methods: Five hundred and fifty-five persons with visual disability in Beijing from the Second National Survey on Disability of China were involved in this study. Their visual disability and demands for rehabilitation were evaluated.

Noncoding variant in the complement factor H gene and risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Chinese population.

Purpose: To investigate whether the previously reported noncoding variant of the complement factor H (CFH) gene and two coding variants of the complement component 3 (C3) gene are associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Chinese patients.

Methods: One hundred fifty Chinese patients with exudative AMD and 161 control individuals without AMD were recruited for the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes.

Endocytosis of advanced glycation end-products in bovine choriocapillaris endothelial cells.

Objectives: Age-related changes in Bruch's membrane (BM), situated between the retina and the choroid, include the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and other modified macromolecules. An important clearance mechanism for such molecules is endocytosis via macrophages and specialized endothelial cells. This study examined the endocytic clearance of AGEs in choriocapillaris endothelial (CCE) cells, which are strategically located beneath the BM.

Association of CFH, LOC387715, and HTRA1 polymorphisms with exudative age-related macular degeneration in a northern Chinese population.

Purpose: Variants in complement factor H (CFH), the hypothetical LOC387715, and the high-temperature requirement A-1 (HTRA1) genes have been reported to be associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of reported common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CFH, LOC387715, and HTRA1 with exudative AMD in a northern Chinese population.

Methods: A cohort of 121 unrelated patients with exudative AMD and 132 control subjects were enrolled in this study.

[Discussion of several problems in ophthalmic research in China].

Based on the manuscripts received by several ophthalmologic journals, major issues regarding current ophthalmic research aspects in China were analyzed and discussed, including the selection of project, the design of research, the choice of statistical treatments and the techniques of writing research manuscripts. This article provides suggestions for Chinese ophthalmologists to improve the quality of their research work.

[A cross-sectional study on prevalance and risk factors of disabilities in aged 0-6 years children in Beijing, China].

Objective: To explore the epidemiological status of disabilities on vision impairment (VI), hearing loss (HL), mental retardation (MR), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor disorder (MD) in aged 0-6 years old children in Beijing.

Methods: A total of 28 738 children under 7 years old were recruited from permanent residents of Beijing City by 2-phase cluster sampling. The screening procedure was 2-phase, and the diagnosis criteria were developed by the experts group.