Introduction: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been considered to play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between RAS gene polymorphisms and essential hypertension (EH) in the Chinese Yi ethnic group. Materials and methods: A total of 244 EH subjects and 185 normotensive individuals from the Chinese Yi ethnic group were genotyped for AGT M235T (rs699), AT1R A1166C (rs5186), ACE I/D (rs4340) and ACE G2350A (rs4343) polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Results: Significant differences in the allele and genotype frequency of ACE G2350A were observed between the EH cases and controls (p=0.001, 0.002). After being grouped by gender, significant differences in the allele and genotype frequency of ACE G2350A and AT1R A1166C were observed between females of the EH cases and controls (ACE G2350A: p=0.000, 0.002; AT1R A1166C: p=0.008, 0.011). After excluding the influence of multifactorial interactions, the ACE G2350A polymorphism is significantly associated with the pathogenesis of EH in the Chinese Yi ethnic group (odds ratio (OR)=1.656, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.807–2.524, p=0.019). Conclusions: The RAS-related ACE G2350A polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of EH in the Chinese Yi ethnic group.

Background: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy with optimal pulse technology (OPT) on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) with and without ocular Demodex infestation. Methods: This prospective study included 150 patients with MGD who were divided into Demodex-infested (DI) and non-infested (control) groups according to Demodex counts determined by epilating eyelashes to evaluate. Each patient underwent three OPT treatment sessions at 3-week intervals. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Demodex counts, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, conjunctival congestion, tear meniscus height (TMH), tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining scores, meibomian gland (MG) macrostructure, lid margin abnormality, MG expressibility, and meibum quality were assessed before the first treatment as baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 months (M1, M2 and M3, respectively) after treatment.Results: The incidence of Demodex infestation was 59.15% (84/142) at baseline and the final Demodex eradication rate at M3 was 83.3% (70/84). Corneal staining and conjunctival congestion showed slower improvement in the DI group than in the control group at M1 and M2 (P<0.05), but was significantly improved at M3 than that at with baseline (P<0.01). Both the groups showed significant improvement in OSDI, conjunctival congestion, TBUT, corneal and conjunctival staining, MG dropout, lid margin abnormality, MG expressibility, and meibum quality at M3 (P<0.05). No differences were observed for BCVA, IOP, SIT, and TMH before and after treatment in both the groups (P>0.05).Conclusions: This new-generation IPL with OPT treatment results in greater improvement in MG expressibility and meibum quality in MGD patients with Demodex infestation than in those without, but not for corneal staining.

Background Phthirus pubis is an obligate parasite of human beings. Demodex spp. is a much more common parasite of human beings. However, P. pubis infestation accompanied by Demodex mite infestation in eye has not been reported. Case presentation We report the first case of Phthirus pubis and Demodex co-infestation on a 48-years-old woman. She presented to the hospital with itching and burning at her right eye for 2 weeks. Slit lamp examination revealed multiple nits and adults of P. pubis anchored to both upper and lower eyelashes. Eyelashes were trimmed, moxifloxacin eye ointment and fluorometholone eye drops were initiated daily. However, itching didn’t improve after 2 weeks of treatment. Light microscopy examination of eyelashes revealed infestation with Demodex. The patient was treated with lid scrubs with 25% tea tree oil daily for 4 weeks and was completely cured. Conclusion Our report shows the importance of an early and comprehensive diagnosis, because both phthiriasis palpebrarum and demodicosis can be confused with blepharitis.