Environmental pollution with toxic heavy metals can lead to the possible contamination of the rice. Selected metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and their accumulation in rice collected from Zhejiang, China were analyzed to evaluate the potential health risk to the local adults and children. The mean levels found in rice were as follows: As, 0.080 mg/kg; Cd, 0.037 mg/kg; Hg, 0.005 mg/kg; Pb, 0.060 mg/kg. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) were calculated in combination of the rice consumption data. The mean intakes of As, Cd, Hg and Pb through rice were estimated to be 0.49, 0.23, 0.03 and 0.37 µg/kg bw/day for adults, and 0.34, 0.29, 0.04 and 0.47 µg/kg bw/day for children. The 97.5th percentile (P97.5) daily intakes of As, Cd, Hg and Pb were 1.02, 0.64, 0.37 and 1.26 µg/kg bw/day for adults, and 0.63, 0.83, 0.47 and 1.63 µg/kg bw/day for children. The risk assessment in mean levels showed that health risk associated with these elements through consumption of rice was absent. However, estimates in P97.5 level of Cd and Pb for children, and Hg for adults have exceeded the respective safe limits.
This randomized, single-blind, clinical trial compared the effectiveness of multifocal soft contact lenses (MFSCLs), orthokeratology contact lenses (Ortho-kCLs), and single vision spectacles (SVSs) for myopia control.Sixty-six eligible Chinese subjects, aged 7 to 15 years old with cycloplegic refraction measurements between -1.00 and -8.00 diopters (D), astigmatism not more than 1.00 D, and no history of myopia control treatment, were randomly assigned to wear MFSCLs, Ortho-kCLs, or SVSs for 1 year. For all three groups, baseline measurements of cycloplegic refraction, axial length (AL), and corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) were made. At the 6- and 12-month follow-up visits, changes in cycloplegic refraction, AL, and CECD were measured in the MFSCL and SVS groups. For the Ortho-kCL group, only changes in the AL were measured at 6 and 12 months, and CECD was measured at the 12-month follow-up visit.After 1 year of lens wear, myopia progression of the SVS group, -0.938±0.117 D, was greater than that of the MFSCLs group, -0.591±0.106 D (P=0.032). Thus, MFSCLs reduced the rate of myopia progression by 37.0% compared with the SVSs. The AL elongations after 1 year were 0.30±0.03 mm for MFSCLs (P=0.027 vs SVSs), 0.31±0.04 mm for Ortho-kCLs (P=0.049 vs SVSs), and 0.41±0.04 mm for SVSs. Compared with the SVS group, the reduction in AL elongation was 26.8% and 24.4% in the MFSCL and Ortho-kCL groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in CECD among the three groups (P>0.05).Compared with SVSs, wearing MFSCLs and Ortho-kCLs significantly delayed myopia progression. MFSCLs and Ortho-kCLs are safe and promising methods of myopia control (chictr.org number, ChiCTR2100048452).
Several factors influence axial length in children with myopia treated using overnight orthokeratology. To identify these factors, this retrospective study collected axial length and corneal aberration data on 78 eyes before and 1-year after orthokeratology. Patients were divided according to axial elongation (cut-off, 0.25 mm/year). Baseline characteristics included age, sex, spherical equivalent refraction, pupil diameter, axial length, and orthokeratology lens type. Corneal shape effects were compared through tangential difference maps. Group differences in higher-order aberrations of a 4 mm zone were compared at baseline and 1-year following therapy. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables determined for axial elongation. Significant differences between both groups included the initial age of wearing orthokeratology lenses, type of orthokeratology lens, size of central flattening area, corneal total surface C12 (1-year), corneal total surface C8 (1-year), corneal total surface spherical aberration (SA) (1-year root mean square [RMS] values), change in total corneal surface C12, and change in front and total corneal surface SA (RMS values). The age when wearing an orthokeratology lens was the most important factor influencing axial length in children with orthokeratology-treated myopia, followed by lens type and change in the C12 of the total corneal surface.
This study aims at evaluating the heavy metals pollution in soil collected from Penglai Fairyland Park in Guiyang , and predicting the harm of heavy metals to human health. Based on the background value of soil in Guizhou and the Soil Environment Quality Standard (GB15618-1995) ,by using the geoaccumulation index method and Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment method, we research pollution characteristics and ecological risk of heavy metals in soil from the study area。The results show that from the index of geoaccumulation, the pollution level of heavy metals in agricultural soils from Penglai Fairyland Park is in the order of Ni >Cu>Hg>Cd> As>Zn>Cr> Pb. From the potential ecological harm index evaluation, soil is at slight ecological risk level in the park and the potential ecological hazard degree is in the order of Hg>Cd>Ni>As>Cu>Cr>Pb>Zn. The soil ecological environment in research area is only mildly damaged. Thus, the soil in research area is at the level of security, and it is suitable for cultivation of crops and less harmful to human health.
The concentration of methylmercury (MMC) and total mercury (TMC) in marine fishes (five species) frequently consumed in the coastal areas of Zhejiang province, China, was determined. The method of high-performance liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-AFS) with the microwave-assisted extraction was used for the MMC determination. TMC was analysed by a direct mercury analyser. MMC and TMC concentrations in five fish species ranged from 53 to 158 µg kg⁻¹ and 60 to 172 µg kg⁻¹, respectively. The proportion of MMC levels in TMC was greater than 80%. The highest MMC and TMC levels were found in Hairtail.
Abstract Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment in young people worldwide. It sometimes increases the risk of blindness and reduces life quality. Previous reports have revealed the treatment effects of defocus-incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) and topical atropine (ATP) on myopia control. However, no study has evaluated these two interventions together. In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine whether the combination of DIMS lenses and 0.01% ATP can slow the progression of myopia compared with DIMS lenses or single vision (SV) lenses alone. We included 107 children with myopia who were treated with DIMS and 0.01% ATP combination (DIMS + ATP group), DIMS monotherapy (DIMS group), or a control group (SV group). We compared treatment effects among three groups in axial length and myopia progression. After a 1-year follow-up, the DIMS + ATP group showed a smaller change in axial length and myopia progression than the DIMS and SV groups (P < 0.05). Hence, combination treatment with DIMS and 0.01% ATP might be a better choice for children with myopia.
Myopia is one of the main causes of visual impairment worldwide. Preventing myopia and providing myopia-related interventions are of paramount importance. Based on a thorough review of the available literature, we conclude that red light irradiation can produce hyperopia, resulting in myopia prevention and control. Further, we suggest that red light irradiation may be a powerful tool for myopia prevention and control in the future. At the same time, red light has a protective effect on the cornea and retina at the cellular level, suggesting that red light irradiation may be a safe and effective modality for delaying myopia. Therefore, this form of irradiation is expected to play an important role in the prevention and control of myopia. However, more studies are needed to enhance the current state of knowledge and inform medical guidelines more comprehensively.
The original version of this Article contained an error in the Results section, under the subheading 'Factors associated with AL and SER changes' , where SER was incorrectly written as AL."The results showed no effect on AL change among sex, baseline SER, and baseline AL (P = 0.949, 0.671, and 0.800, respectively), whereas age at intervention had a significant effect on AL change (P = 0.022).Among the treatment modalities, DIMS + ATP and DIMS had a significant effect on AL change compared to SV (DIMS + ATP, β = -0.612,P < 0.001, DIMS, β = -0.321,P = 0.020)." now reads: "The results showed no effect on SER change among sex, baseline SER, and baseline AL (P = 0.949, 0.671, and 0.800, respectively), whereas age at intervention had a significant effect on SER change (P = 0.022).Among the treatment modalities, DIMS + ATP and DIMS had a significant effect on SER change compared to SV (DIMS + ATP, β = -0.612,P < 0.001, DIMS, β = -0.321,P = 0.020)."