AIM: To investigate the long term(≥5 y) efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness(CCT) 〈500 μm]. METHODS: A total of 33...AIM: To investigate the long term(≥5 y) efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness(CCT) 〈500 μm]. METHODS: A total of 339 patients met the criteria of this study. Finally, 175 eyes of 89 patients who had thin corneas and underwent LASIK≥5 y ago returned to our clinic and included in this study. Preoperative parameters recorded included uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA), manifest refraction, CCT and corneal topography. At returning visits, in addition to visual acuity and manifest refraction, ultrasound CCT and corneal topography were performed. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CCT, LASIK flap thickness, and residual stromal bed thickness(RSBT). Safety index, efficacy index, percentage of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D of refraction, percent tissue altered(PTA), and percentage stromal bed thickness(PSBT) were calculated. RESULTS: The safety index was 1.09 and efficacy index was 0.99. The percentages of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D were 71.2% and 87.7%, respectively. The mean PTA was 40%±6%(range 20% to 55%); 76 eyes(43.4%) had PTA 〈40% and 99 eyes(56.6%) had PTA≥40%. The mean RSBT was 303±27 μm(range 240 to 390 μm), and 2 eyes had RSBT〈250 μm. The mean PSBT was 61%±9%(range 51% to 85%). No eyes developed ectasia. CONCLUSION: In this cohort with the PSBT of 50% or more, LASIK is safe with follow-up for at least 5 y.展开更多
Once-daily tadalafil administration has been well established; however, studies about tadalafil once-daily treatment in the Chinese population are lacking. In this phase 4, postmarketing study, we ascertained the long...Once-daily tadalafil administration has been well established; however, studies about tadalafil once-daily treatment in the Chinese population are lacking. In this phase 4, postmarketing study, we ascertained the long-term safety and effectiveness of tadalafil 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg once daily in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction (n = 635). The primary endpoint of the study was safety at 12 months as assessed by the proportion of patients experiencing at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (serious or nonserious). The secondary endpoints included safety and effectiveness, measured by the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain scores. Similar adverse events to the known safety profile of tadalafil, such as nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and dizziness, were detected. No new cardiovascular safety concerns were observed. After 3 months of treatment, significant increases in IIEF-EF domain scores were detected for both 2.5-mg (least squares [LS] mean change: 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.4-7.1; P 〈 0.001) and 5.0-mg (LS mean change: 7.4; 95% CI: 6.8-7.9; P 〈 0.001) tadalafil doses, and significance was maintained up to 12 months. In addition, approximately 40% of patients regained normal erectile function (IIEF-EF 〉26) following 1 year of tadalafil once-daily treatment. The findings in this study provide evidence for the extended effectiveness and tolerability of tadalafil, demonstrating no new safety concerns, in a Chinese population and make once-daily tadalafil administration a viable option for improving sexual performance and satisfaction in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction.展开更多
The impact of CO2 sequestration on the host formation is an issue occurring over geologic time. Laboratory tests can provide important results to investigate this matter but have limitations due to a relatively short ...The impact of CO2 sequestration on the host formation is an issue occurring over geologic time. Laboratory tests can provide important results to investigate this matter but have limitations due to a relatively short timeline. Based on literature review and core sample observation, naturally occurred geological phenomena, stylolites are studied in this paper for understanding CO2 sequestration in deep carbonate formations. Stylolites are distinctive and pervasive structures in carbonates that are related to water-assisted pressure solution. Pressure solution involving stylolitization is thought to be the main mechanism of compaction and cementation for many carbonates. In parallel, CO2 sequestration in carbonate formation involves extensive chemical reactions among water, CO2 and rock matrix, favoring chemical compaction as a consequence. An analogue between stylolites and CO2 sequestration induced formation heterogeneity exists in the sense of chemical compaction, as both pressure solution in stylolites and CO2 enriched solution in CO2 sequestration in carbonate formations may all introduce abnormal porous regions. The shear and/or tension fractures associated with stylolites zones may develop vertically or sub-vertically; all these give us alert for long-term safety of CO2 sequestration. Thus a study of stylolites will help to understand the CO2 sequestration in deep carbonate formation in the long run.展开更多
Background Though drug-eluting stent (DES) almost solved a problem of restenosis, safety issues related to stent thrombosis are still the major concern of DES. We hypothesized that hybrid stent implantation may decr...Background Though drug-eluting stent (DES) almost solved a problem of restenosis, safety issues related to stent thrombosis are still the major concern of DES. We hypothesized that hybrid stent implantation may decrease the use of DES, probably improving the long-term safety but not affecting efficacy adversely when treating multilesion coronary artery disease in the DES era. Methods From April 2004 to October 2006, 848 patients with multilesion disease underwent hybrid stent implantation. During the same period 5647 patients with multilesion coronary heart disease were treated by exclusive DES implantation in Fu Wai Hospital. According to propensity score matching, we chose 823 pairs of patients with multileison coronary artery disease for inclusion into our study. We obtained the 24-month clinical outcome including death, myocardial infarction (MI), thrombosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, the composite of death, MI, and TVR). We used Cox's proportional-hazard models to assess relative risks of all the outcome measures after propensity match. Results At 24 months, patients in the hybrid stent implantation group showed a significantly higher risk of TLR (8.39% vs. 3.28%, HR2.38, 95% Cl. 1.50-3.70), TVR (11.07% vs. 6.32%,/-/R 1.61, 95% Cl. 1.15-2.27) and MACE (13.75% vs. 8.75%, FIR 1.37, 95% Cl. 1.02-1.85). No significant difference was apparent in terms of mortality (1.22% vs. 1.70%, HR 0.55, 95% Cl. 0.24-1.25), MI (1.95% vs. 2.31%, HR0.73, 95% Cl. 0.37-1.42), or thrombosis (definite+probable) (0.73% vs. 1.58%, HR0.40, 95% Cl. 0.15-1.05). Conclusions In patients with multilesion coronary artery disease, the exclusive DES implantation was associated with significantly lower risks of TLR, TVR and MACE, and the hybrid stent implantation did not result in any significant improvements regarding safety issues. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.展开更多
基金Supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11402161)the Programs for Science and Technique Development of Shanxi Province,China(No.20120313025-3)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Research Projects of the Shanxi Provincial Health Department,China(No.201201018)an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness,New York,NY,USA
文摘AIM: To investigate the long term(≥5 y) efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness(CCT) 〈500 μm]. METHODS: A total of 339 patients met the criteria of this study. Finally, 175 eyes of 89 patients who had thin corneas and underwent LASIK≥5 y ago returned to our clinic and included in this study. Preoperative parameters recorded included uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA), manifest refraction, CCT and corneal topography. At returning visits, in addition to visual acuity and manifest refraction, ultrasound CCT and corneal topography were performed. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CCT, LASIK flap thickness, and residual stromal bed thickness(RSBT). Safety index, efficacy index, percentage of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D of refraction, percent tissue altered(PTA), and percentage stromal bed thickness(PSBT) were calculated. RESULTS: The safety index was 1.09 and efficacy index was 0.99. The percentages of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D were 71.2% and 87.7%, respectively. The mean PTA was 40%±6%(range 20% to 55%); 76 eyes(43.4%) had PTA 〈40% and 99 eyes(56.6%) had PTA≥40%. The mean RSBT was 303±27 μm(range 240 to 390 μm), and 2 eyes had RSBT〈250 μm. The mean PSBT was 61%±9%(range 51% to 85%). No eyes developed ectasia. CONCLUSION: In this cohort with the PSBT of 50% or more, LASIK is safe with follow-up for at least 5 y.
文摘Once-daily tadalafil administration has been well established; however, studies about tadalafil once-daily treatment in the Chinese population are lacking. In this phase 4, postmarketing study, we ascertained the long-term safety and effectiveness of tadalafil 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg once daily in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction (n = 635). The primary endpoint of the study was safety at 12 months as assessed by the proportion of patients experiencing at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (serious or nonserious). The secondary endpoints included safety and effectiveness, measured by the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain scores. Similar adverse events to the known safety profile of tadalafil, such as nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and dizziness, were detected. No new cardiovascular safety concerns were observed. After 3 months of treatment, significant increases in IIEF-EF domain scores were detected for both 2.5-mg (least squares [LS] mean change: 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.4-7.1; P 〈 0.001) and 5.0-mg (LS mean change: 7.4; 95% CI: 6.8-7.9; P 〈 0.001) tadalafil doses, and significance was maintained up to 12 months. In addition, approximately 40% of patients regained normal erectile function (IIEF-EF 〉26) following 1 year of tadalafil once-daily treatment. The findings in this study provide evidence for the extended effectiveness and tolerability of tadalafil, demonstrating no new safety concerns, in a Chinese population and make once-daily tadalafil administration a viable option for improving sexual performance and satisfaction in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction.
基金funded by US Department of Energy through contracts of DE-FC26- 05NT42592 (CO2 sequestration) and DE-FC26- 08NT0005643 (Bakken Geomechanics)by North Dakota Industry Commission together with five industrial sponsors (Denbury Resources Inc., Hess Corporation, Marathon Oil Company, St. Mary Land & Exploration Company, and Whiting Petroleum Corporation) under contract NDIC-G015-031by North Dakota Department of Commerce through UND’s Petroleum Research, Education and Entrepreneurship Center of Excellence (PREEC)
文摘The impact of CO2 sequestration on the host formation is an issue occurring over geologic time. Laboratory tests can provide important results to investigate this matter but have limitations due to a relatively short timeline. Based on literature review and core sample observation, naturally occurred geological phenomena, stylolites are studied in this paper for understanding CO2 sequestration in deep carbonate formations. Stylolites are distinctive and pervasive structures in carbonates that are related to water-assisted pressure solution. Pressure solution involving stylolitization is thought to be the main mechanism of compaction and cementation for many carbonates. In parallel, CO2 sequestration in carbonate formation involves extensive chemical reactions among water, CO2 and rock matrix, favoring chemical compaction as a consequence. An analogue between stylolites and CO2 sequestration induced formation heterogeneity exists in the sense of chemical compaction, as both pressure solution in stylolites and CO2 enriched solution in CO2 sequestration in carbonate formations may all introduce abnormal porous regions. The shear and/or tension fractures associated with stylolites zones may develop vertically or sub-vertically; all these give us alert for long-term safety of CO2 sequestration. Thus a study of stylolites will help to understand the CO2 sequestration in deep carbonate formation in the long run.
文摘Background Though drug-eluting stent (DES) almost solved a problem of restenosis, safety issues related to stent thrombosis are still the major concern of DES. We hypothesized that hybrid stent implantation may decrease the use of DES, probably improving the long-term safety but not affecting efficacy adversely when treating multilesion coronary artery disease in the DES era. Methods From April 2004 to October 2006, 848 patients with multilesion disease underwent hybrid stent implantation. During the same period 5647 patients with multilesion coronary heart disease were treated by exclusive DES implantation in Fu Wai Hospital. According to propensity score matching, we chose 823 pairs of patients with multileison coronary artery disease for inclusion into our study. We obtained the 24-month clinical outcome including death, myocardial infarction (MI), thrombosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, the composite of death, MI, and TVR). We used Cox's proportional-hazard models to assess relative risks of all the outcome measures after propensity match. Results At 24 months, patients in the hybrid stent implantation group showed a significantly higher risk of TLR (8.39% vs. 3.28%, HR2.38, 95% Cl. 1.50-3.70), TVR (11.07% vs. 6.32%,/-/R 1.61, 95% Cl. 1.15-2.27) and MACE (13.75% vs. 8.75%, FIR 1.37, 95% Cl. 1.02-1.85). No significant difference was apparent in terms of mortality (1.22% vs. 1.70%, HR 0.55, 95% Cl. 0.24-1.25), MI (1.95% vs. 2.31%, HR0.73, 95% Cl. 0.37-1.42), or thrombosis (definite+probable) (0.73% vs. 1.58%, HR0.40, 95% Cl. 0.15-1.05). Conclusions In patients with multilesion coronary artery disease, the exclusive DES implantation was associated with significantly lower risks of TLR, TVR and MACE, and the hybrid stent implantation did not result in any significant improvements regarding safety issues. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.