Effects of Target Size and Test Distance on Stereoacuity

Target size and test distance effects on stereoacuity were investigated in 24 subjects using a three-dimensional monitor. Examination 1: Target Size Effects. The test distance was 2.5 m for 0.1°, 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes; crossed parallax was presented in 22-second units. Average stereoacuity values for 0.1°, 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes were 59.58±14.86, 47.66±13.71, 41.25±15.95, and 39.41±15.52 seconds, respectively. Stereoacuity was significantly worse with a 0.1° target than with 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes (P=0.03, P<0.0001, and P<0.0001, resp.). Examination 2: Test Distance Effects. Test distances of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 m were investigated for a 0.5° target size; crossed parallax was presented in 22-second units. Average stereoacuity values at 2.5 m, 5.0 m, and 7.5 m test distances were 44.91±16.16, 34.83±10.84, and 24.75±7.27 seconds, respectively. Stereoacuity at a 7.5 m distance was significantly better than at distances of 2.5 m and 5.0 m (P<0.0001 and P=0.02, resp.). Stereoacuity at a 5.0 m distance was significantly better than at 2.5 m (P=0.04). Stereoacuity should be estimated by both parallax and other elements, including test distance and target size

Correlation between salivary secretion and salivary AQP5 levels in health and disease

Saliva samples are useful for noninvasive diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases. The water channel protein aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is released into human saliva. Salivary AQP5 levels show a diurnal variation with the secretion of high levels during the waking hours. An age-related decrease in salivary AQP5 levels parallels a decrease in the volume of saliva. Cevimeline, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, induces the release of AQP5. Changes in salivary AQP5 levels after cevimeline administration occur simultaneously with changes in saliva flow rate. AQP5 and lipid rafts are released separately from human salivary glands upon M3 mAChR stimulation. In patients with diabetes mellitus or Sjögren’s syndrome, a decrease in salivary secretion occurs concomitantly with low salivary AQP5 levels. Salivary AQP5 levels correlate with salivary secretion in both healthy and disease states, suggesting that changes in salivary AQP5 levels can be used as an indicator of salivary flow rate and the effect of M3 mAChR agonists on human salivary glands

Prospective study of atopic status in infants of the cohort in Tokyo, Japan

Several risk factors for the development of allergic diseases are considered including, for example, the level of IgE in cord blood or in the peripheral blood of neonates and the antigenic effect of some foods that are ingested by both babies and mothers during pregnancy and during the lactation period. However, not all infants with atopic diathesis develop allergic diseases. To clarify the risk factors and the mechanism for developing allergic diseases, particularly bronchial asthma (BA), we prospectively investigated atopic diatheses and symptoms in children in a cohort using a questionnaire method. The factors correlated to development of allergic diseases, as a whole, at the age of 5–6 years were atopic family history and any allergic symptom at 4 months of age. However, not all subjects with atopic dermatitis developed BA later on. High levels of total IgE and positive IgE antibody against egg white were not risk factors for developing BA at the age of 5–6 years

Arterial Wave Reflection and Aortic Valve Calcification in an Elderly Community-Based Cohort

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) without stenosis is common in the elderly, is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and may progress to aortic valve stenosis. Arterial stiffness and pulse wave reflection are important components of proximal aortic hemodynamics, but their relationship with AVC is not established. METHODS: To investigate the relationship of arterial wave reflection and stiffness with AVC, pulse wave analysis and AVC evaluation by echocardiography were performed in 867 participants from the Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions (CABL) study. Participants were divided into 4 categories based on the severity and extent of AVC: 1) none or mild focal AVC; 2) mild diffuse AVC; 3) moderate-severe focal AVC; and 4) moderate-severe diffuse AVC. Central blood pressures and pulse pressure, total arterial compliance, augmentation index, and time to wave reflection were assessed using applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Indicators of arterial stiffness and wave reflection were significantly associated with AVC severity, except for central systolic and diastolic pressures and time to reflection. After adjustment for pertinent covariates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, and eGFR), only augmentation pressure (P = .02) and augmentation index (P = .002) were associated with the severity of AVC. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that augmentation pressure (odds ratio per mmHg = 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.27; P = .02) and augmentation index (odds ratio per percentage point = 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.13; P = .02) were associated with an increase risk of moderate-severe diffuse AVC, even when central blood pressure value was included in the same model. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial wave reflection is associated with AVC severity, independent of blood pressure values. Increased contribution of wave reflection to central blood pressure could be involved in the process leading to AVC