Expression Profile of Intravitreous Cytokines, Chemokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis

Purpose: To report the postoperative courses of 2 patients with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) and the concentrations of various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in vitreous fluid samples to obtain insights into pathobiochemical aspects. Subjects: The patients were a 27- and a 47-year-old woman. Phacoemulsification and aspiration, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, and pars plana vitrectomy were performed to treat their cataracts and vitreous opacities. During their early postoperative periods, inflammatory cells precipitated on the IOL and intraocular pressure was increased in both patients. Methods: At the time of surgery, undiluted vitreous fluid specimens were collected. The concentrations of multiple cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were measured by a bead array immunodetection system. Results: The levels of interleukin-1ra, -5, -6, -8, -10 and -13, interferon-inducible 10-kDa protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were significantly elevated in vitreous fluid in both patients. Conclusion: Although the postoperative course was generally favorable in patients with FHI, steroid instillation was necessary for a few months postoperatively, as precipitates easily formed on the IOL surface and elevated intraocular pressure. The profiles of intravitreal concentrations of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors may characterize postoperative inflammatory reactions

High temporal resolution chemical analysis of H72 ice core in east Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

The H72 ice core collected in east Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica has been analyzed in detail. Concentrations of Na^+ and Cl^- indicate the highest correlation coefficients, so we can say that both ions in the H72 ice core originated from sea salt. The fluctuation pattern of δ18O below the depth of 45m proves that the δ^(18)O distribution is smoothed by water vapor diffusion in the firn layer. An increasing tendency of NO_3^- and nssSO_4^(2-) concentrations in the shallow layer has not been found in the H72 ice core. The H72 ice core is dated as AD 1837 by the periodic concentration fluctuation of MSA at 73.29m depth. Volcanic signals are detected in 49 layers in the H72 ice core. In the late 19th century many volcanic eruptions were recorded, which explains why many volcanic signals are present in the H72 ice core. It is noted that a year with low temperatures in winter and a low annual minimum δ^(18)O will have high surface mass balance and more snowfall. Considerable nssSO_4^(2-) has been released into the atmosphere by human activity in the 20th century, but we cannot find traces of a recent increase in deposition of nssSO_4^(2-) at the H72 site

Clothing Contents in the Home Economics Teacher Training Curriculum at Hiroshima University

This study explored the composition of clothing contents for home economics science classes in the home economics teacher training curriculum at Hiroshima University, which was based on the results of attempts to cross-link the curriculum subjects with their contents. Thus, we aimed to obtain suggestions for constructing a home economics teacher training program model. In the new curriculum guidelines, the subject of home economics is described as teaching students a new “perspective and way of thinking about lifestyle activities.” Therefore, a comprehensive perspective on the home economics curriculum, material composition, and lessons is necessary to take advantage of this “lifestyle.” The curriculum to date includes clothing-related framework contents, such as clothing materials, production, composition, and management. Courses were named using keywords that refl ect four perspectives and lifestyles, such as “environment” and “design”; e.g., the core subject of the “Introduction to Clothing” lesson was clothing. Students were given the information necessary to solve the problems experienced during the performance of practical training exercises. The results were used to conceive a lesson plan for students to acquire the ability to consider their lifestyle from the four perspectives of “cooperation and collaboration,” “health, comfort, and safety,” “successful creation of living culture,” and “building a sustainable society.

Applying Surface Plasmon Resonance to Monitor the IgE-Mediated Activation of Human Basophils

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe histamine releasing test which detects histamine released from basophils in vitro is safe, sensitive and widely used for clinical examination in the field of allergy. However, basophils of certain individuals do not release histamine, because of dysfunctions in their intracellular signal transduction (non-responder). To overcome potential shortcomings of the histamine releasing test, we applied surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to detect the activation of basophils.MethodsBasophils of patients with allergy, and those of non-allergic volunteers were isolated from peripheral blood. A batch of basophils obtained from a healthy volunteer was treated with lactic acid and IgE of a patient with atopic dermatitis in order to replace their endogenous IgE. They were fixed on the sensor chip of the SPR apparatus, pretreated with or without various inhibitors for intracellular signal transduction, and exposed to the antigens or anti-IgE antibody.ResultsWhen basophils were sensitized with antigen specific IgE, they immediately caused the increase of resonance angle (AR) in response to either anti-IgE antibody or corresponding antigens, even when they did not release histamine. Moreover, the dose dependent reactions of basophils were reflected by the increase of AR as well as the release of histamine. The increase of AR in response to anti-IgE antibody was reduced by pre-treatment of basophils with inhibitors for intracellular signal transduction, but not more than the level for his- tamine release.ConclusionsSPR biosensors may be superior to the histamine release test for studying functions of human basophils including those not releasing histamine