Dose-Related Decrease of Hemidesmosomes of the Rabbit Corneal Epithelium After Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy

Currently excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is widely performed to correct refractive errors. It has been recognized that it takes several months for attachment apparatus of the basement membrane of the comeal epithelium to reconstruct their original structure after laser ablation. We investigated dose-related delay of the recovery of hemidesmosomes of the basement membrane of basal cells on the comeal epithelium after PRK in rabbits. Three months after excimer laser ablation, the percentages of hemidesmosomes occupied by basement membrane were measured. The results showed that the percentages significantly decreased as follows: PRK12D group < PRK3Dgroup < control group. Although only two doses of laser ablation were tested, these results indicated that the more laser ablation the cornea received, the more delay of reconstruction of hemidesmosomes of the basal cells on the corneal epithelium occured

Distribution of Lenticular Astigmatism in a Pre-Cataract Surgery Population

Recently custom ablation of LASIK (laserin situ keratomileusis) has rapidly evolved. It could achieve supervision temporarily, but we suspect that the vision could deteriorate due to against-the rule astigmatism decades after the operation. To clarify this concern, we evaluated distribution of the total and corneal astigmatism of 101 eyes of 65 pre-cataract surgery patients (meanage:73 years). Then we calculated the lenticular astigrlatism by vector analysis. The mean amounts of total and corneal astigmatism were 1.22±1.50D and 0.97±0.84D each. The percentages of no astigmatism: oblique: with-the-rule: against-the-rule were 32: 4: 15: 50 and 7: 28: 26: 40, respectively. The mean amount of lenticular astigrlatism measured by vector analysis was 1.6± 1.4D. The percentage of no astigmatism: oblique: with-the-rule: against-the-rule was 2: 0: 39: 59. This biased distribution of astigmatism might have contributed to the biased distribution (no and against-the-rule) of total astigmatism. These data indicate that in a pre-cataract surgery population against-the-rule astigmatism is predominant in both corneal and lenticular astigmatism. We suspect that custom correction of adolescent eyes, in which with-the-rule astigmatism is predominant, might elicit more against-the-rule astigmatism when they reach pre-cataract surgery age population, leading to a decline in quality of vision

Effects of horizontal acceleration on the superconducting gravimeter CT #036 at Ishigakijima, Japan

In the gravity sensor of a superconducting gravimeter, a superconducting sphere as a test mass is levitated in a magnetic field. Such a sensor is susceptible to applied horizontal as well as vertical acceleration, because the translational degrees of freedom of the mass are not perfectly limited to the vertical direction. In the case of the superconducting gravimeter CT #036 installed at Ishigakijima, Japan, horizontal ground acceleration excited by the movements of a nearby VLBI antenna induces systematic step noise within the gravity recordings. We investigate this effect in terms of the static and dynamic properties of the gravity sensor using data from a collocated seismometer. It is shown that this effect can be effectively modeled by the coupling between the horizontal and vertical components in the gravity sensor. It is also found that the mechanical eigenfrequency for horizontal translation of the levitating sphere is approximately 3 Hz

A homosexual japanese man with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype ae, concurrent with amebic colitis

We report herein a case with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype Ae, concurrent with amebic colitis. A 39-year-old homosexual Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. Laboratory tests showed an elevation of transaminase and positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen and IgM-type antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. The hepatitis B virus genotype was determined to be Ae. Furthermore, a mud-like stool with blood and mucous had sometimes been noted during the past 3 years, and amebic colitis was shown by colonofi berscopy during hospitalization. The patient was diagnosed with acute hepatitis B, concurrent with amebic colitis, and was successfully treated with lamivudine and metronidazole. In Japanese patients with acute hepatitis B virus genotype A infection, homosexual activity tends to be high. Furthermore, in Japanese homosexual men, amebiasis has been increasing. Thus, in Japanese patients with acute hepatitis B, a determination of genotype should be performed in order to investigate the route of transmission of hepatitis B virus, and a search for amebiasis should be performed in patients with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype A. Furthermore, education of homosexual men regarding hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B virus vaccination, and amebiasis is urgently required

Seismic Wave Interactions between the Atmosphere - Ocean - Cryosphere system and the Geosphere in Polar Regions

第2回極域科学シンポジウム　共通セッション「大気-海洋-雪氷-固体地球の相互作用」 11月15日（火） 統計数理研究所 3階セミナー室

EXPRESSION OF HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN 70 IN CORNEAS AFTER LASER IN SITU KERATOMILEUSIS (LASIK)

We investigated the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in rabbit corneas after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Pathological examination was performed immediately after LASIK and at one month after the surgery. The superficial corneal stroma was markedly stained with anti-HSP 70 antibody immediately after LASIK. At one month after the surgery the cornea was not positively stained. The clinical relevance of this experimental result is discussed

THE PREVALANCE OF HYPEROPIA AMONG PEOPLE WITH 20/20 UNCORRECTED VISUAL ACUITY

Purpose: To investigate the proportion of hyperopia among people with 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity Methods: We prospectively evaluated the percentage of hyperopia in 113 consecutive eyes of 70 patients with 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity and no ocular diseases. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the group was 55±11 (ranging 15 to 88) years old. The spherical equivalent of the subject refraction was used for the analysis. Results: The percentage of hyperopia (≧＋0.25D) in the population was 53%. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report that investigated the percentage of hyperopia in a group of people with 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity. We should recognize that eyes with 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity comprise a substantial proportion of hyperopia

INVESTIGATION OF JUNCTIONAL APPARATUS BETWEEN COLLAGEN FIBERS IN THE CILIARY BODY STROMA AND THE BASEMENT MEMBRANE OF THE CILIARY PIGMENTED EPITHELIUM IN RABBITS

We investigated the junctional apparatus between collagen fibers in the ciliary stroma and the basement membrane of pigment epithelium in the pars plana area in rabbits, in order to clarify how the power of the ciliary body stroma is transmitted to the pigment epithelium during accommodation. Six eyes of three pigmented rabbits were enucleated and immediately fixed in a half Karnovsky's solution. They were processed for transmission electron microscopic study. In the pars plana area, the basement membrane of the ciliary pigment epithelium had a connection with collagen fibers of the ciliary body in three ways : 1) by direct adhesion ; 2) by way of microfibrils ; 3) by way of cytoplasmic processes of the ciliary pigrnent epithelium that had protruded in the stroma. The unique structure described above may contribute to flexible and strong mechanical adhesion between the two adjacent structures to withstand frequent mechanical stretch and relaxation during accommodation. The association of the processes with microfibrils has not been reported in the past

A CASE OF FATAL CONJUNCTIVAI. MELANOMA FOLLOWING MULTIPLE TREATMENTS OF PAM (PRIMARY ACQUIRED MELANOSIS)

This study reports a rare Japanese case of malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva initially diagnosed as primary acquired melanosis (PAM) with atypia. A 59-year-old Japanese woman presented with black-brown lesions in the conjunctiva. The patient was initially treated with resection of the lesion and cryopexy of the adjacent areas. The pathological diagnosis was PAM with atypia. Despite treatment, the patient died of systemic metastasis after multiple local recurrences. Racial pigmentation that masks recurrences, possible existence of PAM sine pigmento, and some unknown factors, may be causes of the reported poor prognosis of Japanese patlents