scholarly journals Relationship between Ocular Surface Alterations and Concentrations of Aerial Particulate Matter

Author(s):  
María A Gutiérrez ◽  
Daniela Giuliani ◽  
Atilio A Porta ◽  
Darío Andrinolo

Purpose: To evaluate ocular surface alterations in two populations at different exposure levels to particulate matter (PM) in their living and work environments. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 78 volunteers from Argentina who lived and worked under different pollution levels in an urban (U; n = 44) or industrial zone (I; n = 34). Mean exposure level to PM was evaluated. Responses to the Ocular Symptom Disease Index and McMonnies questionnaire were obtained from all subjects. Subsequently, an assessment through the Schirmer I test (ST), slit lamp microscopy, vital staining, and tear breakup time was conducted. Statistical analyses with Chi-square and Bartlett’s tests, as well as Student’s t-tests and principal component analysis (PCA), were performed. Results: Particles of size < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) level was significantly higher in the I group than the U group (P = 0.04). Ocular surface parameters including bulbar redness, eyelid redness, and the degree of vital staining with fluorescein (SF) and lissamine green (SLG) exhibited difference between the groups. With regards to the tear film, statistically significant differences in the ST value and meibomian gland dysfunction between the groups were detected (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Conjunctival SF and SLG, and ST values were identified as factors which could distinguish groups exposed to different PM levels. Conclusion: Subjects exposed to higher levels of PM in the outdoor air presented greater ocular surface alterations. Thus, ST, SF, and SLG values could be used as convenient indicators of adverse health effects due to exposure to air pollution.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxin Xiao ◽  
Muhammed Yasin Adil ◽  
Jonatan Olafsson ◽  
Xiangjun Chen ◽  
Øygunn A. Utheim ◽  
...  

AbstractMeibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of dry eye and proposed treatments are based on disease severity. Our purpose was to establish reliable morphologic measurements of meibomian glands for evaluating MGD severity. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 100 MGD patients and 20 controls. The patients were classified into dry eye severity level (DESL) 1–4 based on symptoms and clinical parameters including tear-film breakup time, ocular staining and Schirmer I. The gland loss, length, thickness, density and distortion were analyzed. We compared the morphology between patients and controls; examined their correlations to meibum expressibility, quality, and DESL. Relative to controls, the gland thickness, density and distortion were elevated in patients (p < 0.001 for all tests). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96–1.0) for gland loss, and 0.96 (CI 0.91–1.0) for gland distortion, with a cutoff value of six distorted glands yielding a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 97% for MGD diagnosis. The gland distortion was negatively correlated to the meibum expressibility (r = −0.53; p < 0.001) and DESL (r = −0.22, p = 0.018). In conclusion, evaluation of meibomian gland loss and distortion are valuable complementary clinical parameters to assess MGD status.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gabriela Matias de PINHO ◽  
Fernando ADAMI ◽  
Jucemar BENEDET ◽  
Francisco de Assis Guedes de VASCONCELOS

ABSTRACT Objective The association between screen time and dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among adolescents was analysed in this study. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 963 Brazilian adolescents, aged between 11 and 14 years were evaluated. Body mass index was used to assess overweight/obesity. Dietary patterns and screen time were assessed using qualitative questionnaires. Principal component analysis was used to obtain dietary patterns. Confounder variables were: type of school (public or private), sexual maturation, mother’s weight and mother’s education. The Chi-square test was used for the crude analysis; for the adjusted analysis was used Poisson regression with sample weighting. Results Overweight/obesity prevalence was 29.8% and statistically higher among boys (34.7%). Higher screen time prevalence was 39.1%. The dietary patterns obtained were: obesogenic; coffee and dairy products; traditional Brazilian meal; fruit and vegetables; bread and chocolate milk. The dietary pattern that more closely represented student food consumption was the obesogenic pattern. Screen time was not significantly associated with overweight/obesity. The obesogenic pattern (in both sexes), the coffee and dairy products pattern, and the bread and chocolate milk pattern (only in girls), were inversely associated with overweight/obesity. In this study, dietary patterns influenced overweight/obesity, although in some cases, in an inverse way from what expected. Conclusion A high prevalence of overweight/obesity and a high proportion of screen time activities among the adolescents were observed. Our results indicate a high consumption of unhealthy dietary pattern among adolescents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Munir Amjad Baig ◽  
Rabeeya Munir

Pterygium is a common external eye disease in general population which progresses slow but has a little effect on vision.   Purpose: To know the tear film and ocular surface changes with pterygium.   Study Design:A descriptive cross sectional study     Place and duration of study: Federal Government Services Hospital Islamabad during Jun.2013 to Dec.   Material and methods:Dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-6) was administered by a trained researcher and DE tests were performed in all 256 willing subjects (136 with pterygium+120control) age 30-76years,by a single surgeon under same physical conditions after taking the consent and approval from Hospital Ethical committee.  Diagnosis was made on presence of both symptoms and tear film parameters. Statistical analysis was by simple percentages.   Results:DE was found in 73(53.7%) of the pterygium cases and 28(23.5%) of the normal patients. In this study, 55(40.5%) were symptomatic, defined as reporting 1 or more DE symptoms often or all of the time. 53(39%) showed corneal fluorescein staining CFS and 69(51%) showed lid plugging/mucous threads in both groups Of 136 eyes with pterygium, [male 91 (67%) female 45(33%)], 50(37.5%) showed normal tear film and 86(62.5%) showed deranged functions whereas among 120 control eyes,[Male 73(61%) female 47(39%)],86(72.3%) were normal and 34(27.7%)had abnormal functions.These values were reduced indicating changed tear film in these patients. Conclusion:Pterygium disturbs tear functions causing dry eye like symptoms. Key-words: Dry eye, pterygium, tear film instability, ocular surface     


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Munir Baig Rabeeya Munir

Purpose: To find the changes in tear film and ocular surface in patients with pterygium. Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Federal Government Services Hospital Islamabad during June 2013 to December 2014. Material and Methods: Dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-6) was administered by a trained researcher and DE tests were performed in all 256 willing subjects (136 with pterygium+120 control) age 30-76 years, by a single surgeon under same physical conditions after taking the consent and approval from Hospital Ethical committee. Diagnosis was made on presence of both symptoms and tear film parameters. Statistical analysis by simple percentages. Results: Dry eyes (DE) were found in 73 (53.7%) of the pterygium cases and 28 (23.5%) of the normal patients. In this study, 55 (40.5%) patients were symptomatic, defined as reporting 1 or more DE symptoms often or all the time. There were 53 (39%) patients that showed corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and 69 (51%) showed plugging/mucous threads in both groups. Of 136 eyes with pterygium there were 91 (67%) males and 45 (33%) females. Out of these 50 (36.7%) patients showed normal tear film and 86 (63.2%) showed deranged functions. Moreover, among the 120 control eyes there were 73 (61%) males and 47 (39%)] females. Out of these 86 (72.3%) patients were normal and 34 (27.7%) had abnormal functions. These values were reduced indicating altered tear film in these patients. Conclusion: Pterygium disturbs tear functions causing dry eye like symptoms. Key Words: Dry eye, pterygium, tear film instability, ocular surface.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-417
Author(s):  
Radhika Hedaoo ◽  
SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu

Background: The mounting trends of beauty perceptions have contributed to distorted body image among adolescents. This demands understanding about current pointers of body image satisfaction to prevent eating disorders associated with mismanagement of weight in adolescents. Aim & Objective: The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to apprehend body image perception and dissatisfaction among adolescents (12-14years) across the genders and associate it with their actual BMI along with identifying the factors influencing body image perception. Settings and Design: A structured questionnaire was developed and administered on randomly selected 112 adolescents (68% boys & 34% girls, 12-14 years), mean age=12.8 ±0.45 from urban coeducational school of western India. Anthropometric measurements were taken with standardized tools and BMI z-scores were calculated. The actual and perceived weight was compared using paired t-test and descriptive statistics. Association between body image indicators, gender, and BMI were assessed using Chi-square test and One-way ANOVA. Factor analysis was done by Principal component analysis. Results: There was a significant difference in the perceived (M=2.31, SD=0.93) and actual BMI (M=1.96, SD=0.69), p=0.002. A significant association between gender and the influence of media idols, discrimination due to physical appearance and BMI was observed (p≤.0.005).   Self-perception and judgements of others, behaviors related with self-fixation, social influence and inappropriate dietary practices and comparison with models and actors were the emerging factors identified. Conclusion: The body image perception was distorted among adolescents of both sexes, with higher body image discontent shown by girls. The perceived body image, when compared with their BMI was found to be incongruent across sexes.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2167
Author(s):  
Nabin Paudel ◽  
Sanjeev Adhikari ◽  
Sarina Manandhar ◽  
Ashesh Acharya ◽  
Ajit Thakur ◽  
...  

Background: The ocular surface is separated by a thin layer of tear film from outdoor air pollutants making individuals exposed to outdoor air pollution prone to various ocular surface disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of ocular surface disorders symptoms among traffic police officers of Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: Two hundred traffic police officers working at different traffic police office branches of Kathmandu, Nepal were invited to the police headquarters for eye and vision examination. Among them, 91 individuals (95% males) completed the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire and underwent Schirmer’s I tear test. Results: Symptoms of ocular surface disorders were reported by over 80% of the individuals. Approximately two fifths of the individuals (38%) reported severe symptoms.  Only 17% of the individuals’ tear secretion was found to be below normal using the Schirmer’s tear test.  There was no association between the OSDI score and Schirmer’s tear test scores (r = 0.008, p = 0.94). A weak but significant relationship was observed between the OSDI score and job duration (r=0.21,p = 0.04). Individual exposed to outdoor air pollution for more than 10 years had higher odds of reporting ocular surface complaints as compared to those who were exposed for less than 10 years (OR = 3.94, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Ocular surface disorder symptoms are common among traffic police officers of Kathmandu, Nepal. The duration of exposure appears to significantly contribute to the increased symptoms in this vulnerable population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erlend Christoffer Sommer Landsend ◽  
Hilde Røgeberg Pedersen ◽  
Øygunn Aass Utheim ◽  
Jiaxin Xiao ◽  
Muhammed Yasin Adil ◽  
...  

AimsTo investigate the aetiology and characteristics of dry eye disease (DED) in a Nordic cohort of patients with congenital aniridia.MethodsThirty-four Norwegian and one Danish subject with congenital aniridia and 21 healthy controls were examined. All subjects underwent an extensive dry eye examination, including evaluation of meibomian glands (MGs) by meibography, measurement of tear production and tear film osmolarity and grading of vital staining of the ocular surface. Moreover, slit-lamp biomicroscopy was undertaken, including grading of aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK).ResultsMean tear film osmolarity was significantly higher (314±11 mOsmol/L) in patients with aniridia compared with the healthy control group (303±11 mOsmol/L, p=0.002). Vital staining score was higher in the aniridia group (4.3±3.0) compared with healthy controls (2.4±1.6, p=0.02). The degree of staining correlated positively with the stage of AAK (r=0.44, p=0.008) and negatively with corneal sensitivity (r=−0.45, p=0.012). Number of expressible MGs was lower in aniridia subjects (2.9±1.6) than in controls (4.0±1.3, p=0.007). MG loss, staged from 0 to 3, was higher in the aniridia group than in the control group, both in upper eyelid (0.86±0.89 vs 0.10±0.31, p=0.001) and lower eyelid (0.94±0.73 vs 0.30±0.47, p=0.003). Computerised analyses showed thinning (p=0.004) and lower density (p<0.001) of the MGs compared with the healthy population.ConclusionsPatients with congenital aniridia demonstrate increased tear film osmolarity, ocular surface staining, loss of MGs and lower MG expressibility. We conclude that meibomian gland dysfunction and keratopathy are related to development of DED in aniridia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 2016-2026
Author(s):  
Tamara R. Almeida ◽  
Clayton H. Rocha ◽  
Camila M. Rabelo ◽  
Raquel F. Gomes ◽  
Ivone F. Neves-Lobo ◽  
...  

Purpose The aims of this study were to characterize hearing symptoms, habits, and sound pressure levels (SPLs) of personal audio system (PAS) used by young adults; estimate the risk of developing hearing loss and assess whether instructions given to users led to behavioral changes; and propose recommendations for PAS users. Method A cross-sectional study was performed in 50 subjects with normal hearing. Procedures included questionnaire and measurement of PAS SPLs (real ear and manikin) through the users' own headphones and devices while they listened to four songs. After 1 year, 30 subjects answered questions about their usage habits. For the statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test, Lin and Spearman coefficients, the chi-square test, and logistic regression were used. Results Most subjects listened to music every day, usually in noisy environments. Sixty percent of the subjects reported hearing symptoms after using a PAS. Substantial variability in the equivalent music listening level (Leq) was noted ( M = 84.7 dBA; min = 65.1 dBA, max = 97.5 dBA). A significant difference was found only in the 4-kHz band when comparing the real-ear and manikin techniques. Based on the Leq, 38% of the individuals exceeded the maximum daily time allowance. Comparison of the subjects according to the maximum allowed daily exposure time revealed a higher number of hearing complaints from people with greater exposure. After 1 year, 43% of the subjects reduced their usage time, and 70% reduced the volume. A volume not exceeding 80% was recommended, and at this volume, the maximum usage time should be 160 min. Conclusions The habit of listening to music at high intensities on a daily basis seems to cause hearing symptoms, even in individuals with normal hearing. The real-ear and manikin techniques produced similar results. Providing instructions on this topic combined with measuring PAS SPLs may be an appropriate strategy for raising the awareness of people who are at risk. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12431435


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Dini Yuliansari

The well is one of the source water used for bathing, washing, and drinking by the citizens in Jiken Hamlet, Rarang Village, Terara Sub-District. Poor dug well construction conditions can affect the amount of coliform bacteria contained in the dug well water. The purpose of this study is to identify the construction of dug wells and the content of coliform bacteria in dug well water and determine the relationship between dug well construction and the content of coliform bacteria. This research is analytic with a cross sectional study design. The results were obtained from 11 samples of dug wells which were observed in construction and the coliform content was known that all samples did not requirements as good dug well construction. Coliform content test results showed that as many as 5 dug well water samples did not pass the clean water quality standards. The results of data analysis with the chi-square test variable construction of dug wells with coliform content variable  showed 0,172 > 0,05, then the concluded is the dug well not suitable to use by people in that area as a source of water for daily needs.


GIS Business ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-370
Author(s):  
Dr. Ravi S. Dalawai

Indian population is in growing trend from 942.2 million in 1994 to 1.36 billion in 2019.Among this six per cent of India's population was of the age 65 and above (UNFPA, 2019). Today the work culture is totally changed. Both husband and wife are forced to work in the current scenario and unable to take care of their parents. The changing structure created increased problems for old age people leads to loneliness, psychological, physical health and financial insecurity. The study paper provides insight into the social and demographic factor and health related sickness of the oldest people. This research explained the cross-sectional study included a representative sample (n=116) of adults aged ≥60 years. The sample was chosen using a four-stage stratified random-cluster survey sampling method .The Chi Square test and ANOVA test was analyzed using SPSS20.


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