Slow and Fast Oscillation Electrooculography in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Comparison between Affected Eyes and Fellow Intact Eyes

Using an automated electrooculograph, the Nidek EOG-2, slow and fast oscillations (SO and FO) of an electrooculogram (EOG) were recorded in 21 patients with unilateral, ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Patient age ranged from 49 to 81 years (average: 68 years of age). Fellow eyes in all patients were intact, and served as controls. Results showed that the L/DSO (the light peak/dark trough ratio of the SO), the RfFO [the average ratio in percentage of the maximum amplitude in the dark period (AD)/the minimum amplitude in the light period (AL) during FO measurement], the dfFO (the average difference in ?V between AD and AL), and the df/mFO [the percentage ratio of the dfFO to the average amplitude of AD + AL (m)] were significantly decreased in the affected eyes compared with the fellow eyes. These results suggest that with regard to SO and FO origin and occurrence, the outer layer of the retina, especially the basal membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium or the choroid may be involved in the etiology of CRVO. These findings correlate with the grade of microcirculatory disturbance or ischemia in the inner layer of the retina. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was detected in the correlation between each FO parameter and corrected visual acuity at the time of examination of the affected eyes. There was no significance between the SO parameter and the visual acuity. Therefore, it might be possible to presume that the FO parameters can be used as indicators for detecting the severity of macular functional disturbance and predicting the visual outcome for this entity

Blood Flow Changes in the Optic Nerve Head of Albino Rabbits Following Intravenous Administration of Brovincamine Fumarate, an Improver of Cerebral Circulation and Metabolism

Blood flow changes in the optic nerve head of normal, adult albino rabbits following intravenous administration of brovincamine fumarate (BV), an improver of cerebral circulation and metabolism, were investigated employing the hydrogen clearance method. In the BV (0.1 mg/kg)-administered group, the blood flow in the optic nerve head showed a gradual increase immediately after injection and reached a maximal value of 124.2 ± 7.3% against the value before injection at 20 min after injection, followed by a gradual decrease in blood flow. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in blood flow at 10 to 40 min after injection, compared with the value before injection in the BV (0.1 mg/kg)-administered group, but no significant changes in blood flow were observed in either the BV (0.5 mg/kg)-administered group or the control group given no BV throughout the time course. No significant changes in the mean values of the mean blood pressure in the femoral artery, pulse rate, respiratory rate or rectal temperature were observed in any group throughout the experiment. These results indicate the different efficacy of the two doses to the relaxing action of the feeding vessels around the optic nerve head

Fast and Slow Oscillation Electrooculography in Harada Disease

We assessed clinical utility of fast and slow oscillations (FO and SO) of the electrooculogram (EOG) in Harada disease. In 12 eyes of 4 female and 2 male subject patients aged 18 to 77 years (average: 41.8 years), FO and SO were recorded using an automated electrooculograph, the Nidek EOG-2, in the acute period before treatment and in the remission period under corticosteroid therapy. FO parameters, namely the RfFO [the average ratio in percentage of the maximum amplitude in the dark period (AD)/the minimum amplitude in the light period (AL) during FO measurement] and the dfFO (the average difference in ?V between AD and AL) were evaluated. The L/DSO (the light peak/dark trough ratio of the SO) was calculated as an SO parameter. The RfFO, dfFO and L/DSO showed low values in 7 (58.3%), 10 (83.3%) and 8 (66.7%) out of all 12 eyes in the acute period, respectively. In the remission period, values in the normal range were obtained in 12 (100%), 11 (91.7%) and 8 (66.7%) out of 12 eyes in the RfFO, dfFO and L/DSO, respectively. In mutual relation to each RfFO, dfFO and L/DSO in the acute and remission periods, all 12 eyes showed recovery values both in the RfFO and dfFO in the remission stage after systemic administration of corticosteroids, but 4 out of 12 eyes (33.3%) showed no recovery in the L/DSO. The FO may therefore well reflect the affected or ameliorated conditions in the outer layers of the retina and the choroid in Harada disease, in contrast to the SO. However, further observations are requested in more Harada disease patients

Verteilung der im Walzgut hervorgerufenen Spannungen beim Breitenabnahmenprozeß der Brammen

In dieser Arbeit wurde ein Modellversuch über die bei der Breitenabnahme im Walzgut entstehende Spannung anhand der Plasticine-Platten und gleichzeitig eine rechnerische Untersuchung darüber mit dem Finite-Elemente-Verfahren durchgeführt. Die berechneten Werte der Spannungen stimmten mit den gemessenen Werten im ganzen nicht nur qualitativ, sondern auch quantitativ gut überein. Daraus erklärte sich, wie die Walzbedingungen auf die Spannungsverteilung im Walzgut wirken, und gewonnene wichtige Kenntnis ist wie folgende: Beim Vertikalwalzen und auch beim nachfolgend durchgeführten Horizontalwalzen entsteht im allgemeinen eine Druckspannung, und ihre Größe ist am größten an den Breitenseiten der Bramme. Aber die Spannung in der Walzrichtung wendet sich mit Näherung zur Breitenmitte von Druckspannung zu Zugspannung. Dies bedeutet, daß die im Strangguß unerwartet in der Umgebung der Breitenmitte der Bramme erscheinenden Innenrisse durch die beim Walzen dort entstehende Zugspannung vergrößert werden können. Daher sollte die Entstehung von Innenrissen beim Stranggießverfahren völlig zurückgehalten werden

Assessment of Macular Function by Multifocal Electroretinography and Optical Coherence Tomography before and after Panretinal Photocoagulation in Diabetic Retinopathy

We evaluated macular function before and after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in diabetic retinopathy using a multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and optical coherence tomogram (OCT). In mfERGs, the 1st positive wave (P1) minus the 1st negative wave (N1) amplitude (P1 ? N1 amplitude), the P1 peak latency and the response density were measured in 7, 19, 37 and 103 hexagonal areas or elements (Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4) within a central radius of 5, 7, 10 and 20 degrees, respectively. The mean retinal thickness was estimated from 9 calculation points at the foveal region within 5 degrees; the central and each of the other 4 points at a distance of 250 ?m and 500 ?m from the central por tion on horizontal and vertical sections on OCT. The P1 peak latencies from the 4 areas were remarkably prolonged in 14 eyes of 9 patients with preproliferative or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy showing no clinically significant macular edema before PRP as compared with those in 15 normal control eyes, without a tendency of recovery throughout the course after PRP except for area 1. The P1-N1 amplitudes and the mean response density levels from the 4 areas were remarkably decreased in the diabetic eyes before PRP as compared with those in the control eyes, followed by a maximum decrease in both parameters at 3 months after PRP. However, remarkable recoveries were detected in both decreased parameters from the 4 areas at 6 months after PRP. The mean foveal retinal thickness on OCT was remarkably increased in the diabetic eyes before PRP as compared with the thickness in 16 normal control eyes. Most remarkably, a transient increase in thickness was detected in diabetic eyes 1 month after PRP, followed by a tendency of recovery 3 to 6 months after PRP. These results indicate that mfERG and OCT examinations are useful in the assessment of macular function before and after PRP in diabetic retinopathy, especially within 5 degrees of the central portion, and that the effects of PRP on macular function in this entity seem to be reversible at the foveal region, although we need to do further investigation in relation to the outcome of visual acuity

An international survey of physicians regarding clinical trials: a comparison between Kyoto University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Abstract Background International clinical trials are now rapidly expanding into Asia. However, the proportion of global trials is higher in South Korea compared to Japan despite implementation of similar governmental support in both countries. The difference in clinical trial environment might influence the respective physicians attitudes and experience towards clinical trials. Therefore, we designed a questionnaire to explore how physicians conceive the issues surrounding clinical trials in both countries. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted at Kyoto University Hospital (KUHP) and Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in 2008. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions and 2 open-ended questions on broad key issues relating to clinical trials. Results The number of responders was 301 at KUHP and 398 at SNUH. Doctors with trial experience were 196 at KUHP and 150 at SNUH. Among them, 12% (24/196) at KUHP and 41% (61/150) at SUNH had global trial experience. Most respondents at both institutions viewed clinical trials favorably and thought that conducting clinical trials contributed to medical advances, which would ultimately lead to new and better treatments. The main reason raised as a hindrance to conducting clinical trials was the lack of personnel support and time. Doctors at both university hospitals thought that more clinical research coordinators were required to conduct clinical trials more efficiently. KUHP doctors were driven mainly by pure academic interest or for their desire to find new treatments, while obtaining credits for board certification and co-authorship on manuscripts also served as motivation factors for doctors at SNUH. Conclusions Our results revealed that there might be two different approaches to increase clinical trial activity. One is a social level approach to establish clinical trial infrastructure providing sufficient clinical research professionals. The other is an individual level approach that would provide incentives to encourage doctors to participate in and conduct clinical trials

Molecular Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases and qnr Determinants in Enterobacter Species from Japan

The incidence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) has been increasing worldwide, but screening criteria for detection of ESBLs are not standardized for AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae such as Enterobacter species. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of ESBLs and/or AmpC β-lactamases in Japanese clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp. and the association of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants with ESBL producers. A total of 364 clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp. collected throughout Japan between November 2009 and January 2010 were studied. ESBL-producing strains were assessed by the CLSI confirmatory test and the boronic acid disk test. PCR and sequencing were performed to detect CTX-M, TEM, and SHV type ESBLs and PMQR determinants. For ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp., pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed using XbaI restriction enzyme. Of the 364 isolates, 22 (6.0%) were ESBL producers. Seven isolates of Enterobacter cloacae produced CTX-M-3, followed by two isolates producing SHV-12. Two isolates of Enterobacter aerogenes produced CTX-M-2. Of the 22 ESBL producers, 21 had the AmpC enzyme, and six met the criteria for ESBL production in the boronic acid test. We found a significant association of qnrS with CTX-M-3-producing E. cloacae. The 11 ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp. possessing blaCTX-M, blaSHV, or blaTEM were divided into six unique PFGE types. This is the first report about the prevalence of qnr determinants among ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp. from Japan. Our results suggest that ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp. with qnr determinants are spreading in Japan

Unique Distribution of Diacyl-, Alkylacyl-, and Alkenylacyl-Phosphatidylcholine Species Visualized in Pork Chop Tissues by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization–Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major phospholipid in meat and influences meat qualities, such as healthiness. PC is classified into three groups based on the bond at the sn-1 position: Diacyl, alkylacyl, and alkenylacyl. To investigate their composition and distribution in pork tissues, including longissimus thoracis et lumborum (loin) spinalis muscles, intermuscular fat, and transparent tissues, we performed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization&ndash;mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI&ndash;MSI). Eleven diacyl-, seven alkylacyl-, and six alkenylacyl-PCs were identified using liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem MS (MS/MS) analysis. Despite many alkylacyl- and alkenylacyl-PC species sharing identical m/z values, we were able to visualize these PC species using MALDI&ndash;MSI. Diacyl- and alkylacyl- and/or alkenylacyl-PC species showed unique distribution patterns in the tissues, suggesting that their distribution patterns were dependent on their fatty acid compositions. PCs are a major dietary source of choline in meat, and the amount was significantly higher in the muscle tissues. Consumption of choline mitigates age-related memory decline and neurodegenerative diseases; therefore, the consumption of pork muscle tissues could help to mitigate these diseases. These results support the use of MALDI&ndash;MSI analysis for assessing the association between PC species and the quality parameters of meat