Background: Dietary fiber is a functional substance with strong antioxidant activity that plays an important role in human health. Dietary fiber has been shown to reduce the risks of many types of cancers, but whether it can reduce the risk of death in cancer survivors remains undetermined. Methods: This study included the dietary data of cancer survivors who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2001 to 2018. Firstly, the relationship between fiber intake and composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) was explored by weighted multiple regression and smooth curve. Subsequently, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the effects of dietary fiber intake and CDAI level on the risks of all-cause, tumor, and cardiovascular death among cancer survivors. Results: A total of 2077 participants were included in the study, representing approximately 11,854,509 cancer survivors in the United States. The dietary fiber intake of tumor survivors had a nonlinear positive relationship with CDAI levels (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08–0.40, p = 0.004). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that high dietary fiber intake and CDAI levels were associated with reduced risks of all-cause and tumor death in tumor survivors, but were not associated with the risk of cardiovascular death. Conclusion: An increased dietary fiber intake can enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity. A higher dietary fiber intake and CDAI level may reduce the risk of all-cause and tumor death in tumor survivors.

The emergence of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is currently a global concern. In this study, our goal was to explore the changing expression levels of acute-phase reaction proteins (APRPs) in the serum of COVID-19 patients and to elucidate the immunological characteristics of COVID-19. In the study design, we recruited 72 COVID-19 patients, including 22 cases of mild degree, 38 cases of moderate degree and 12 cases of severe degree. We also recruited 20 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 20 normal control subjects as a comparison. Fasting venous blood was taken to detect the content of complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and prealbumin (PA). When compared the COVID-19 group with the CAP and normal control groups, respectively, the mean value of CRP and SAA in the COVID-19 group (including mild, moderate and severe patients) had increased significantly (P < 0.01), whereas the mean values of C3, C4 and PA decreased (P < 0.01). For the asymptomatic or mild symptomatic patients with COVID-19, the actual aggravation of disease may be more advanced than the clinical appearances. Meanwhile, the statistical analyses indicated that the development of COVID-19 brought about a significant increase in the content of CRP and SAA (P < 0.01), and a decline in the content of C3, C4 and PA (P < 0.01). These findings suggested that the changes in the level of APRPs could be used as indicators to identify the degree and progression of COVID-19, and the significant changes might demonstrate the aggravation of disease. This study provided a new approach to improve the clinical management plan and prognosis of COVID-19.

Background: Autoimmunity and inflammation are the main characteristics of rheumatic diseases and have both been found to be related to glaucoma. However, it remains unclear whether rheumatic diseases increase the risk of glaucoma. Here, we performed a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal effects of six common rheumatic diseases on glaucoma.Methods: Six rheumatic diseases were included: ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sicca syndrome/Sjögren’s sydrome (SS), dermatomyositis (DM), and gout. Glaucoma included primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Genetic variants associated with these rheumatic diseases and glaucoma were extracted from the genome-wide association studies and FinnGen8 database, respectively. First, a two-sample MR was used to investigate the potential causal association. Then, a multivariable MR was conducted to further verify the results. Inverse-variance weighted MR analysis was used as the main method, together with several sensitivity analyses.Results: Two-sample MR suggests that AS is related to a higher risk of both POAG [odds ratio (OR): 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.44; p = 1.1 × 10⁻⁴] and PACG (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.09–2.09, p = 1.4 × 10⁻²). Multivariable MR shows a similar trend of the effect of AS on POAG (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.22–1.90, p = 1.9 × 10⁻⁴) and PACG (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.06–3.95, p = 3.2 × 10⁻²). No significant association was observed between the other five rheumatic diseases and glaucoma.Conclusions: AS is related to an increased risk of POAG and PACG. We stress the importance of glaucoma screening for AS patients.

Currently, a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) indicators and cataract risk is lacking. Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) is the latest concept proposed by the American Heart Association to comprehensively reflect CVH status. LE8 includes four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, smoking, and sleep) and four health factors (blood lipid, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body mass index). This study tried to evaluate the association between LE8 and cataract using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008, a continuous research program which aims to monitor and evaluate the health and nutrition status of the US population. A cross-sectional study of 2720 non-cataract participants and 602 cataract participants. All participants were assigned to the poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH status groups based on LE8 score. Weighted multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the correlation between the LE8 score and cataract, as well as the correlation between each of the eight subitems and cataract, with potential confounding variables being adjusted. Then, restricted cubic spline analysis was used to further explore whether there was a nonlinear relationship between LE8 score and cataract. The proportion of cataract participants was 14.1%, 18.2%, and 20.6% in the ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH groups, respectively (P < 0.05). LE8 score was inversely associated with cataract risk, with each 10-point increase in LE8 score associated with a 14% reduction in cataract risk [odds ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79–0.93, P < 0.01]. Among all the LE8 subitems, physical activity, sleep, and blood glucose were significantly associated with cataract risk (all P < 0.05). Better CVH, defined by a higher LE8 score, is associated with a lower cataract risk. Efforts to improve LE8 score (especially when it comes to physical activity, sleep, and blood glucose) may serve as a novel strategy to help reduce the risk of cataract.

Introduction: The inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique was initially developed for the closure of large macular holes (MHs). However, its efficacy in treating small holes has been a matter of debate. This study aimed to compare the anatomical and visual outcomes of vitrectomy (PPV) combined with the inverted ILM flap and ILM peeling in cases of small and medium-sized MHs. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted by searching the relevant literature in databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The search included articles published from the inception of the databases up until January 2023. The inclusion criteria limited the studies to only experimental-based research. The heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were performed to ensure the statistical power and reliability of the analysis. Results: Five studies, including two non-randomized concurrent control trials and three non-randomized concurrent control trials, comprising a total of 269 eyes, were analysed. The results showed no significant difference in the MH closure rate between the two groups (odds ratio (OR) = 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.04–1.96, p = 0.33). Furthermore, there were no significant differences observed in visual acuity, external limiting membrane (ELM), and ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity at 3 months (ELM OR = 0.88, EZ OR = 0.85) or 12 months (ELM OR = 0.96, EZ OR = 1.39) post-operation between the two groups. Conclusion: The surgical repair of MHs smaller than 400 μm with ILM flap seems to be similar in visual acuity improvement and anatomical recovery compared to the traditional technique.

Introduction: Retinopathy is a multifactorial disease influenced by metabolism, immunity, inflammation, and other factors. The C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a novel immunonutritional score that has shown promise in various health contexts. This study aims to investigate the association between the CALLY index and retinopathy risk, and to compare its predictive performance with other established inflammatory markers.Methods: Data from 5,439 participants in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized. Multivariable-weighted logistic regression was employed to assess the association between the CALLY index and retinopathy risk. Additionally, the predictive performance of the CALLY index was compared with other inflammatory markers. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore potential mediating factors in the association between the CALLY index and retinopathy.Results: Multivariable-weighted logistic regression revealed a significant inverse association between the CALLY index and retinopathy risk (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94–0.98, P = 0.002). Participants in the highest CALLY index quartile exhibited a markedly lower risk of retinopathy (P < 0.001). The CALLY index demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to other inflammatory markers, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.672 (95% CI = 0.643–0.701). Mediation analysis indicated that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels partially mediated the association between the CALLY index and retinopathy.Discussion: These findings highlight the CALLY index as a reliable, independent biomarker for retinopathy risk assessment, outperforming traditional inflammatory markers and oering potential clinical value for early identification of retinopathy in individuals with chronic diseases.