Successful treatment of corneal wasp sting-induced panuveitis with vitrectomy

BACKGROUND: This study aims to present the management and clinical findings of a case of corneal wasp sting and to report the outcome of corneal change and panuveitis after vitrectomy. FINDINGS: Clinical findings, anterior segment photographs, corneal endothelial changes, and medical treatment of corneal wasp sting-induced panuveitis are presented. A 95-year-man was stung by a wasp on his left cornea. A severe conjunctival hyperemia, marked corneal edema, corneal epithelial defect, and uveitis developed. As soon as the patient visited our clinic, topical corticosteroid and antibiotics were given, but corneal endothelial damage and uveitis did not improve. Anterior chamber irrigation was performed with oxiglutatione solution to rinse out the wasp venom. Corneal edema and anterior uveitis improved but the endothelial cell density gradually decreased and the vitreous opacity deteriorated. Therefore, a 23-gauge vitrectomy was performed. Subsequently, the corneal edema and panuveitis improved. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy may be an effective treatment for corneal endothelial damage and endophthalmitis induced by a corneal wasp sting

多層マイクロチャネルにおける沸騰伝熱特性と促進に関する研究

要約のみTohoku University小宮敦樹課

Mechanistic regulation and nutrient modulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover: from cells to humans

Skeletal muscle plays a key role in healthy ageing. Skeletal muscle mass is controlled by net protein balance, the difference between muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown rates, which is regulated by nutrient availability and contractile activity. This thesis identifies and addresses the knowledge gaps in the literature, if filled, may advance the knowledge to regulate skeletal muscle mass. For healthy older adults, it is continuously discussed that dietary protein recommendation should be increased to counteract age-related loss of muscle mass, sarcopenia. Herein, our evidence does not support the growing hypothesis when individuals already adhere to the current internationally recommended dietary protein intake level established by WHO/FAO/UNU. To increase muscle protein synthesis, Cluster Dextrin carbohydrate was co-ingested with meat protein hydrolysate after an acute bout of a whole-body resistance exercise in moderately trained younger individuals. Co-ingestion of Cluster Dextrin activates mTORC1 signalling pathway, but it does not increase postprandial amino acid availability or myofibrillar protein synthesis rate. While muscle protein synthesis and its signaling mechanisms are well established, our knowledge of muscle protein breakdown and its regulatory molecular mechanisms remains in its infancy. The final experimental chapter in this thesis shows that muscle-specific ubiquitin E3 ligases Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 protein, makers of skeletal muscle atrophy, are regulated by different mechanisms in the rapamycin-sensitive mTOR-S6K1-dependent signalling pathway in C2C12 myotubes. Altogether, this thesis improves the understanding of mechanistic regulation and nutrient modulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover and mass

Detection of initial angiogenesis from dorsal aorta into metanephroi and elucidation of its role in kidney development

AbstractReconstruction of blood vessels is considered the most difficult part for the complicated organs, therefore, blood vessel construction is regarded as a key point for kidney regeneration in vitro. Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are the two mechanisms to form blood vessels in embryonic organs, and most studies resided in vaculogenesis. Angiogenesis resided mostly in adult diseases such as wound healing, growth of tumors, and psoriasis diseases. However, renal angiogenesis is simply attributed to the sprouting of pre-existing blood vessel from dorsal aorta into metanephroi, and its occurrence is considered to be at a late stage of metanephric development. Since no techniques are available for delicate detection, the initial angiogenesis from dorsal aorta into metanephroi as well as its role in kidney development still remained unclear. In this study, we developed a method to detect the initial angiogenesis of dorsal aorta into metanephroi, and firstly clarified that dorsal aorta angiogenesis occurred at an early stage of metanephric development. We also elucidated the role of dorsal aorta angiogenesis in promoting the early blood vessel formation, tubule formation and glomeruli maturation. It is suggested that blood flow and dynamic circulation of various factors at the early developing stage may be prerequisite to a successful construction of blood vessels in the complicated organs either in vitro or in vivo. These findings contribute to a better understanding of dorsal aorta angiogenesis during kidney development and shed light on its significant value for the application of tissue engineering to complicated organs

Humidification Performance of Heat and Moisture Exchangers for Pediatric Use

Background. While heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) have been increasingly used for humidification during mechanical ventilation, the efficacy of pediatric HMEs has not yet been fully evaluated. Methods. We tested ten pediatric HMEs when mechanically ventilating a model lung at respiratory rates of 20 and 30 breaths/min and pressure control of 10, 15, and 20 cmH2O. The expiratory gas passed through a heated humidifier. We created two rates of leakage: 3.2 L/min (small) and 5.1 L/min (large) when pressure was 10 cmH2O. We measured absolute humidity (AH) at the Y-piece. Results. Without leakage, eight of ten HMEs maintained AH at more than 30 mg/L. With the small leak, AH decreased below 30 mg/L (26.6 to 29.5 mg/L), decreasing further (19.7 to 27.3 mg/L) with the large leak. Respiratory rate and pressure control level did not affect AH values. Conclusions. Pediatric HMEs provide adequate humidification performance when leakage is absent