Evaluation value of subjective visual quality examination on surgical indications of the early cataracts based on objective scatter index values

AimTo evaluate the subjective visual functions of early cataracts patients and assess their surgical indications.MethodsEyes were separated into a control group (Group A without cataract) and two early cataracts groups (Group B with 2.0 ≤ OSI < 3.0 and Group C with 3.0 ≤ OSI < 4.0). The objective scatter index (OSI), modulation transfer function cut-off frequency (MTF cut-off), and Strehl ratio (SR) values were applied to measure objective visual functions. The contrast sensitivity (CS) and scores of the questionnaires (QOL and VF-14) characterized subjective visual functions. Above visual functions were compared among three groups. Postoperative visual functions in Group B and C were analyzed to assess the outcome of surgery.ResultsNinety two subjects (126 eyes) were included in the study. All objective visual function in Group B were significantly better than Group C (all P < 0.01), but worse than Group A (all P < 0.01). Except for 1.5 c/d CS, subjective visual function in Group A were significantly better than Group B and C (all P < 0.05), but there was no significant differences between Group B and C. As for eyes that underwent surgery in Group B and C, all visual functions significantly improved after surgery (P < 0.05), except for 1.5 c/d CS in Group C. There were no significant differences among the three groups after surgery.ConclusionThe subjective visual function can be impaired in early cataracts patients with OSI < 3.0, whose objective visual functions were statistically better than patients with OSI ≥ 3.0. These patients can benefit equally from surgery as patients with OSI ≥ 3.0. Subjective visual functions can be used as surgical indications for these patients

Using Capacitance Sensor to Extract Characteristic Signals of Dozing from Skin Surface

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and a physiological structure that is directly exposed to the environment. From a theoretical perspective, numerous physiological and psychological signals use the skin as a medium for input and output with the outside world. Therefore, the skin is considered an optimal signal interception point when developing noninvasive, direct, and rapid signal exploration devices. To date, skin signal interceptions are predominantly performed by measuring skin impedance. However, this method is prone to interference such as sweat secretion, salt accumulation on the skin, and muscle contractions, which may result in a substantial amount of interference and erroneous results. The present study proposes novel and effective methods for skin signal interception, such as using a nested probe as a sensor to measure capacitance to be further processed as physiological and psychological signals. The experimental results indicate that the capacitance curve for the transition between wakefulness and dozing exhibits significant changes. This change in the curve can be analyzed by computer programs to clearly and rapidly determine whether the subject has entered the initial phases of sleep

Identification of a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in EYS in a Chinese family with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Retinitis pigmentosa is the most important hereditary retinal degenerative disease, which has a high degree of clinical and genetic heterogeneity. More than half of all cases of retinitis pigmentosa are autosomal recessive (arRP), but the gene(s) causing arRP in most families has yet to be identified. The purpose of this study is to identify the genetic basis of severe arRP in a consanguineous Chinese family.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Linkage and haplotype analyses were used to define the chromosomal location of the pathogenic gene in the Chinese arRP family. Direct DNA sequence analysis of the entire coding region and exon-intron boundaries of <it>EYS </it>was used to determine the disease-causing mutation, and to demonstrate that the mutation co-segregates with the disease in the family.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A single nucleotide substitution of G to T at nucleotide 5506 of EYS was identified in the Chinese arRP family. This change caused a substitution of a glutamic acid residue at codon 1,836 by a stop codon TAA (p.E1836X), and resulted in a premature truncated EYS protein with 1,835 amino acids. Three affected siblings in the family were homozygous for the p.E1836X mutation, while the other unaffected family members carried one mutant allele and one normal EYS allele. The nonsense mutation p.E1836X was not detected in 200 unrelated normal controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The <it>EYS </it>gene is a recently identified disease-causing gene for retinitis pigmentosa, and encodes the orthologue of <it>Drosophila </it>spacemaker. To date, there are only eight mutations in <it>EYS </it>that have been identified to cause arRP. Here we report one novel homozygous nonsense mutation of <it>EYS </it>in a consanguineous Chinese arRP family. Our study represents the first independent confirmation that mutations in <it>EYS </it>cause arRP. Additionally, this is the first <it>EYS </it>mutation identified in the Chinese population.</p