Measurement of lacrimal gland tissue stiffness for the diagnosis of visual display terminal-associated dry eye disease using shear wave elastography.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether lacrimal gland tissue stiffness can aid in diagnosing dry eye disease (DED) using shear wave elastography (SWE). We also aimed to assess the correlation between the subjective symptoms of ocular strain, SWE values, and other ocular examination findings (Schirmer's test and tear film breakup time [TBUT]) contributing to the diagnosis of DED.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 300 participants who were engaged in video display terminal (VDT) work and had been diagnosed with DED by an ophthalmologist for more than one year, and 100 healthy participants without DED symptoms, from August 2020 to December 2021.

The disparate effects of omega-3 PUFAs on intestinal microbial homeostasis in experimental rodents under physiological condition.

The health benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs), primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are linked to their regulatory effects on the composition of the gut microbiota. However, there is a lack of direct evidence on whether omega-3 PUFAs regulate the gut microbial homeostasis under physiological conditions. This study investigated the impact of equivalent doses of EPA, DHA, and fish oil (FO) with a DHA to EPA ratio of approximately 1:1 on the bacterial and fungal composition of normal young mice.