Summary As life expectancy increases worldwide, the incidence and prevalence of age-associated ca... more Summary As life expectancy increases worldwide, the incidence and prevalence of age-associated cataract do and impair the daily activities of millions. Correction is poor and surgery remains the most common solution, albeit out of reach for the vast majority of (poor) mankind. Reports on the efficacy of traditional Asian medicines (Chinese = TCM; Japanese = kampo) prompted us to evaluate a widely available/affordable TCM formula (GFDHW) in aged (≥ 60) subjects recruited from the Optometry Clinic of HKPU; 30 were enrolled and 22 completed the course. These subjects presented with mild cataract without any other significant health problem. After 90 days of GFDHW we did not observe any effect on the development and/or progression of cataract. However, a number of subjects reported improvement in areas of their “quality of life”. A pronged, placebo-controlled and comparative (e.g. Bawei Dihuang) study seems warranted. Effetto degli estratti derivati dalla Medicina Tradizionale Cinese sullo sviluppo della cataratta in anziani: uno studio pilota Riassunto Cosi come l’aspettativa di vita sta aumentando in tutto il mondo, anche l’incidenza e la prevalenza della cataratta correlata all’eta si diffonde e compromette l’attivita quotidiana di milioni di persone. La correzione e scarsa e la chirurgia resta la soluzione piu comune, anche se fuori dalla portata della stragrande maggioranza delle persone (classi piu povere). I rapporti sull’efficacia delle Medicine Tradizionali Asiatiche (Cinese = TCM; Giapponese = kampo) hanno portato a valutare una formulazione della TCM (GFDHW), ampiamente disponibile/accessibile, in soggetti di eta compresa o superiore ai 60 anni reclutati dalla Clinica Optometrica dell’Universita Politecnica di Hong Kong; dei 30 arruolati per lo studio, 22 lo hanno completato. Questi soggetti presentavano una leggera cataratta senza altri significativi problemi di salute. Dopo 90 giorni di GFDHW non e stato osservato alcun effetto sullo sviluppo e/o sulla progressione della cataratta. Tuttavia, un certo numero di soggetti ha segnalato miglioramenti nella loro “qualita della vita”. Sembra pertanto giustificato uno studio placebo-controllato e comparativo (ad esempio Bawei Dihuang).
We report that visual cortex a-tDCS influences reading performance in individuals with macular de... more We report that visual cortex a-tDCS influences reading performance in individuals with macular degeneration differently depending on the writing system employed. This finding will help to guide the international development of vision rehabilitation programs for macular degeneration that may utilize non-invasive brain stimulation.
Aims The onset of complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients cannot be predicted in... more Aims The onset of complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients cannot be predicted in individuals. Evidence suggests a link between complications and hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and antioxidants, but causality is unclear. This study investigated baseline (entry) fasting plasma ascorbic acid, lymphocytic DNA damage and glycaemic control in Type 2 DM as part of a long‐term study, the aim of which is to explore a biomarker profiling approach to identify and improve outcome in high‐risk subjects.Methods A cross‐sectional study, in which DNA damage, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and ascorbic acid (AA) were measured on fasting blood samples collected from 427 Type 2 DM subjects.Results DNA damage was significantly (P < 0.0001) and directly correlated to both FPG (r = 0.540) and HbA1c (r = 0.282), and was significantly (P < 0.0001), independently and inversely correlated to plasma AA (r = −0.449). In those subjects with both poor glycae...
Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provid... more Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provided by both ophthalmologists and optometrists. The law on the practice of optometry was passed on December 18, 2015, by the legislature; thus began a new chapter for the development of optometry. This note aims to share some information about this newly recognized eye care profession in Taiwan and share some thoughts on the future development of the profession.
Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provid... more Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provided by both ophthalmologists and optometrists. The law on the practice of optometry was passed on December 18, 2015, by the legislature; thus began a new chapter for the development of optometry. This note aims to share some information about this newly recognized eye care profession in Taiwan and share some thoughts on the future development of the profession.
Summary As life expectancy increases worldwide, the incidence and prevalence of age-associated ca... more Summary As life expectancy increases worldwide, the incidence and prevalence of age-associated cataract do and impair the daily activities of millions. Correction is poor and surgery remains the most common solution, albeit out of reach for the vast majority of (poor) mankind. Reports on the efficacy of traditional Asian medicines (Chinese = TCM; Japanese = kampo) prompted us to evaluate a widely available/affordable TCM formula (GFDHW) in aged (≥ 60) subjects recruited from the Optometry Clinic of HKPU; 30 were enrolled and 22 completed the course. These subjects presented with mild cataract without any other significant health problem. After 90 days of GFDHW we did not observe any effect on the development and/or progression of cataract. However, a number of subjects reported improvement in areas of their “quality of life”. A pronged, placebo-controlled and comparative (e.g. Bawei Dihuang) study seems warranted. Effetto degli estratti derivati dalla Medicina Tradizionale Cinese sullo sviluppo della cataratta in anziani: uno studio pilota Riassunto Cosi come l’aspettativa di vita sta aumentando in tutto il mondo, anche l’incidenza e la prevalenza della cataratta correlata all’eta si diffonde e compromette l’attivita quotidiana di milioni di persone. La correzione e scarsa e la chirurgia resta la soluzione piu comune, anche se fuori dalla portata della stragrande maggioranza delle persone (classi piu povere). I rapporti sull’efficacia delle Medicine Tradizionali Asiatiche (Cinese = TCM; Giapponese = kampo) hanno portato a valutare una formulazione della TCM (GFDHW), ampiamente disponibile/accessibile, in soggetti di eta compresa o superiore ai 60 anni reclutati dalla Clinica Optometrica dell’Universita Politecnica di Hong Kong; dei 30 arruolati per lo studio, 22 lo hanno completato. Questi soggetti presentavano una leggera cataratta senza altri significativi problemi di salute. Dopo 90 giorni di GFDHW non e stato osservato alcun effetto sullo sviluppo e/o sulla progressione della cataratta. Tuttavia, un certo numero di soggetti ha segnalato miglioramenti nella loro “qualita della vita”. Sembra pertanto giustificato uno studio placebo-controllato e comparativo (ad esempio Bawei Dihuang).
We report that visual cortex a-tDCS influences reading performance in individuals with macular de... more We report that visual cortex a-tDCS influences reading performance in individuals with macular degeneration differently depending on the writing system employed. This finding will help to guide the international development of vision rehabilitation programs for macular degeneration that may utilize non-invasive brain stimulation.
Aims The onset of complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients cannot be predicted in... more Aims The onset of complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients cannot be predicted in individuals. Evidence suggests a link between complications and hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and antioxidants, but causality is unclear. This study investigated baseline (entry) fasting plasma ascorbic acid, lymphocytic DNA damage and glycaemic control in Type 2 DM as part of a long‐term study, the aim of which is to explore a biomarker profiling approach to identify and improve outcome in high‐risk subjects.Methods A cross‐sectional study, in which DNA damage, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and ascorbic acid (AA) were measured on fasting blood samples collected from 427 Type 2 DM subjects.Results DNA damage was significantly (P < 0.0001) and directly correlated to both FPG (r = 0.540) and HbA1c (r = 0.282), and was significantly (P < 0.0001), independently and inversely correlated to plasma AA (r = −0.449). In those subjects with both poor glycae...
Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provid... more Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provided by both ophthalmologists and optometrists. The law on the practice of optometry was passed on December 18, 2015, by the legislature; thus began a new chapter for the development of optometry. This note aims to share some information about this newly recognized eye care profession in Taiwan and share some thoughts on the future development of the profession.
Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provid... more Taiwan has one of the highest myopia prevalence in the world and its eye care services are provided by both ophthalmologists and optometrists. The law on the practice of optometry was passed on December 18, 2015, by the legislature; thus began a new chapter for the development of optometry. This note aims to share some information about this newly recognized eye care profession in Taiwan and share some thoughts on the future development of the profession.
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