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Meng C, Wei Q, Gu C, He S, Cai C, Lai D, Qiu Q. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ocular Demodex at Ultra-High Altitude and Sea Level: A Cross-Sectional Study of Shigatse and Shanghai. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2024. [PMID: 38963788 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2024.0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Demodex infestation is a risk factor for several ocular surface diseases. However, the prevalence of ocular Demodex infection in the ultra-high altitude population is not clear. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and factors associated with Demodex in populations residing in ultra-high altitude region and sea level areas. Methods: Consecutive patients who visited Shigatse People's Hospital (> 4,000 m) and Shanghai Tongren Hospital (sea level) for eye complaints between January 2023 and January 2024 were included. Subjects were divided into ultra-high altitude and sea level groups. All subjects underwent eyelash epilation for ocular Demodex identification and counting. Demographic and lifestyle information was also collected. Results: A total of 517 subjects were eligible, including 255 subjects in the ultra-high-altitude group and 262 subjects in the sea level group. In the overall analysis, the prevalence of ocular Demodex infection was significantly different between the ultra-high-altitude and sea level groups (15.7% vs. 33.2%, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that age, time spent outdoors, and makeup were associated with ocular Demodex infection in both groups. In addition, in the ultra-high-altitude group, people who wear sun hats outdoors were more likely to be infected with Demodex. Conclusion: The infection rate of ocular Demodex in the residents of ultra-high altitude area was significantly lower than that in the residents of sea level area, which may be related to lower ambient temperature, lower humidity, and higher solar radiation. Additionally, age, time spent outdoors, and makeup may be associated with ocular Demodex infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunren Meng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qingquan Wei
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Chufeng Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shuai He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Chunyang Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Dongwei Lai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qinghua Qiu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shigatse People's Hospital, Shigatse, China
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Bitton E, Wittich W. Double-Blind Comparison of Eyelash Epilation Techniques for the Purpose of Demodex folliculorum Mite Retrieval. Eye Contact Lens 2024; 50:152-157. [PMID: 38345025 DOI: 10.1097/icl.0000000000001070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Demodex folliculorum blepharitis is typically confirmed with lash epilation and microscopic identification of mites. However, mite counts may vary with the epilation technique. As there is no gold standard to epilating lashes for the purposes of mite counts, the aim of this study was to compare three epilation techniques. METHOD A prospective randomized double-blind study compared three epilation techniques on lashes with cylindrical dandruff. Techniques included (A) direct pulling of the lash; (B) rotating the lash before epilation; and (C) sliding the cylindrical dandruff away, lash rotation, and epilation. Mean mite counts were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Forty (n=40) participants (20 M: 20 F, mean age of 62.3±17.1 years) revealed similar mite counts between right (1.43±1.74) and left (1.35±1.59) eyes ( P =0.63). A significant difference ( P =0.03) in mite count was noted (technique A: 1.05 ± 1.60; technique B 1.76 ± 1.80; and technique C 1.36 ± 1.54) with technique B yielding the highest mite count ( P =0.04). CONCLUSION Demodex mite count is a key parameter in establishing infestation or to determine treatment efficacy. This study revealed that rotating the lash before epilation yielded the highest mite count. Future studies should report the epilation technique used to allow for study comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etty Bitton
- École D'optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Metin Z, Akca HM, Ozkoca D, Imren IG, Durmaz K, Kara KT, Metin MS, Temiz SA, Caf N, Ozyurt K. Demodex prevalence in mine, textile and food factory workers with dermatosis: a cross-sectional, multicenter study. Arch Dermatol Res 2023; 315:2099-2105. [PMID: 36947195 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-023-02607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Demodex, a type of mite, lives in human hair follicles. They can multiply very quickly in some conditions and then start to irritate the skin by causing skin disorders. This study aims to investigate if working environment conditions affect the prevalence of Demodex. A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted with three different occupational groups: mine, textile and food factory workers (n = 102). Determined industry workers who applied to our outpatient dermatology clinics with the complaint of dermatosis in three different cities were included in the study. Demodex positivity was checked by dermoscopy. Differences between categorical variables examined with Chi-square analysis and T test was used to compare continuous variables between groups. 50% Demodex positivity was found in mine workers, 45.3% in food factory workers and 66.7% in textile manufacturing workers. A high rate of Demodex positivity was observed in all three occupational groups. Although the highest positivity rate was observed in textile manufacturing workers, no significant difference was found between the groups (p = 0.320). The overall prevalence of Demodex in female workers was statistically significantly higher than in male workers (p = 0.029). Exposure of workers to a wide variety of factors in work environments such as textile factories and the fact that women are more sensitive to external factors may have caused the prevalence of Demodex to be higher in these groups. So, a change in the work environment or the use of suitable protective equipment may benefit the treatment of diseases caused by Demodex. But, further studies are needed with larger and various industry groups to make more certain views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuhal Metin
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey.
| | - Hanife Merve Akca
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey University, Karaman, Turkey
| | - Defne Ozkoca
- Department of Dermatology, Zonguldak Ataturk State Hospital, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Isıl Gogem Imren
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
| | - Koray Durmaz
- Department of Dermatology, Private Bilgi Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kevser Tuncer Kara
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Mahmut Sami Metin
- Department of Dermatology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey
| | - Selami Aykut Temiz
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Nazli Caf
- Department of Dermatology, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kemal Ozyurt
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey
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