No abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese schoolchildren over the past few decades and to analyze the risk factors for myopia.Design: Analysis of 8 consecutive population-based myopia surveys conducted from 1983 through 2017.Participants: An average of 8917 (5019e11 656) schoolchildren 3 to 18 years of age were selected using stratified systematic cluster sampling or by probability proportional to size sampling.Methods: All participants underwent complete ophthalmic evaluations. Three drops of 0.5% tropicamide were used to obtain the cycloplegic refractive status of each participant. Questionnaires were used to acquire participant data from the 1995, 2005, 2010, and 2016 surveys.Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalence of À0.25 diopter [D]) and high myopia ( À6.0 D) was assessed. Multivariate analyses of risk factors were conducted.Results: The prevalence of myopia among all age groups increased steadily. From 1983 through 2017, the weighted prevalence increased from 5.37% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.50%e7.23%) to 25.41% (95% CI, 21.27%e29.55%) for 7-year-olds (P ¼ 0.001 for trend) and from 30.66% (95% CI, 26.89%e34.43%) to 76.67% (95% CI, 72.94%e80.40%) for 12-year-olds (P ¼ 0.001 for trend). The prevalence of high myopia also increased from 1.39% (95% CI, 0.43%e2.35%) to 4.26% (95% CI, 3.35%e5.17%) for 12-year-olds (P ¼ 0.008 for trend) and from 4.37% (95% CI, 2.91%e5.82%) to 15.36% (95% CI, 13.78%e16.94%) for 15-year-olds (P ¼ 0.039 for trend). In both the 2005 and 2016 survey samples, children who spent less than 180 minutes daily on near-work activities showed significantly lower risks for myopia developing (<60 minutes: odds ratio [OR], 0.48 and 0.56; 60e180 minutes: OR, 0.69 and 0.67). In the 2016 survey, spending more than 60 minutes daily on electronic devices was associated significantly with both myopia and high myopia (OR, 2.43 and 2.31).Conclusions: The prevalence of myopia among schoolchildren increased rapidly from 1983 through 2017 in Taiwan. The major risk factors are older age and time spent on near-work activities. Use of electronic devices increased the amount of time spent on near-work and may increase the risk of developing myopia.

The ROS1 fusion gene can be successfully detected in East Asian patients with lung adenocarcinoma using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These patients tend to be younger and have characteristic histologic subtypes. Due to the small number of ROS1 fusion patients, the prognostic value of ROS1 fusion need further studies to confirm.

A randomized controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of a fixed triple combination (fluocinolone acetonide 0AE01%, hydroquinone 4%, tretinoin 0AE05%) compared with hydroquinone 4% cream in Asian patients with moderate to severe melasma R. Chan, K.C. Park,* M.H. Lee, E-S. Lee SummaryBackground Melasma is an acquired, chronic hypermelanosis for which therapy remains a challenge. Objectives To compare the efficacy and safety of a triple combination [TC: fluocinolone acetonide 0AE01%, hydroquinone (HQ) 4%, tretinoin 0AE05%] vs. HQ 4% after 8 weeks of treatment of moderate to severe facial melasma in Asian patients. Methods This was a multicentre, randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded, parallel comparison study. East and South-East Asian patients aged 18 years or older, with a clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe melasma, were enrolled in this study. Patients were enrolled at baseline and treated daily for 8 weeks with TC cream (one application at bedtime) or HQ cream (twice daily). There were four study visits: at baseline and weeks 2, 4 and 8. The primary efficacy variable was the melasma global severity score (GSS). Other outcome measures included Melasma Area and Severity Index, global improvement and patient satisfaction. Safety was assessed through the reporting of adverse events. Results TC had superior efficacy to HQ for the primary variable: 77 ⁄120 patients (64AE2%) on TC had GSS 'none' or 'mild' at week 8 vs. 48 ⁄122 patients (39AE4%) on HQ (P < 0AE001). The secondary efficacy variables confirmed these results. Patient satisfaction was in favour of TC (90 ⁄127, 70AE8%, vs. 64 ⁄129, 49AE6%; P = 0AE005). More patients had related adverse events on TC (63 ⁄129, 48AE8%) than on HQ (18 ⁄131, 13AE7%) but most were mild and none was severe. Conclusions Efficacy in Asians and patient satisfaction were superior with the fixed TC than with HQ 4%.