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

Effects of Metoclopramide Hydrochloride, a D2-Selective Dopamine Receptor Antagonist, on the Fast Oscillation of the Electrooculogram

Fast oscillation (FO) of an electrooculogram (EOG) was recorded in both eyes of 10 healthy volunteers before and after administration of metoclopramide hydrochloride (MTCL), a D2-selective dopamine receptor antagonist, paying particular attention to sex concerning sensitivity to dopamine in young subjects. Healthy volunteers were divided into male and female groups; 5 males (10 eyes) aged 21 to 23 years (average, 21.8 years) and 5 females (10 eyes) aged 19 to 25 years (average, 21.8 years). As an FO parameter, the dfFO (the averaged difference in ?V between maximum amplitude in the dark period and minimum amplitude in the light period during FO measurement) was evaluated. The mean level of dfFO significantly increased between phase A (the initial 10 min before intravenous injection of 10 mg of MTCL) and phase B (10 min after the injection) in the male and female groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.025) and between phase A and phase C (the additional 10 min after the injection) in both groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The mean level of dfFO in the female group was significantly higher than that of the male group in phase B (P < 0.05). As a control, the experimental procedure was performed with physiological saline administration, and no changes were observed. The data suggest that there exists some difference between young males and females generation concerning sensitivity to dopamine and that young females may show a higher-than-male sensitivity to dopamine in the occurrence of FO potential

Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids improve endothelial function with altering microbial flora

Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFAs) with a carbon chain length longer than 18 units ameliorate cardiovascular risk in mice. In this study, we investigated whether LCMUFAs could improve endothelial functions in mice and humans. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center study, healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either an LCMUFA oil (saury oil) or a control oil (olive and tuna oils) group. Sixty subjects were enrolled and administrated each oil for 4 weeks. For the animal study, ApoE−/− mice were fed a Western diet supplemented with 3% of either gadoleic acid (C20:1) or cetoleic acid (C22:1) for 12 weeks. Participants from the LCMUFA group showed improvements in endothelial function and a lower trimethylamine-N-oxide level, which is a predictor of coronary artery disease. C20:1 and C22:1 oils significantly improved atherosclerotic lesions and plasma levels of several inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α. These beneficial effects were consistent with an improvement in the gut microbiota environment, as evident from the decreased ratio of Firmicutes and/ or Bacteroidetes, increase in the abundance of Akkermansia, and upregulation of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression and serum GLP-1 level. These data suggest that LCMUFAs alter the microbiota environment that stimulate the production of SCFAs, resulting in the induction of GLP-1 secretion. Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids might thus help to protect against cardiovascular disease

Sarcopenia effect on convalescent rehabilitation outcomes

Sarcopenia is widely believed to be linked to poorer outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation. This study aimed to assess the impact of sarcopenia on functional outcomes and dietary intake during hospitalization in adults undergoing convalescent rehabilitation. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis at a single rehabilitation institution. The Asian Working Group Consensus Criteria for Sarcopenia was used to diagnose. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score was used at hospital discharge to measure the primary functional outcome. Energy and protein intakes during hospitalization were calculated as part of the nutritional assessment. There were 126 patients in the research (median age, 73 yr; 54% women). Stroke (n = 73; 53.4% sarcopenia) and musculoskeletal disorders (n = 53; 56.6% sarcopenia) were among the admission diagnoses. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the FIM total score at discharge was modestly associated with sarcopenia only in stroke patients (β = −0.1872, P = 0.09), as well as significantly and independently associated with protein intake during admission only in stroke patients (β = 0.3217, P < 0.05). In hospitalized stroke patients undergoing convalescent therapy, sarcopenia is related to lower functional results. Early identification of sarcopenia and treatment with rehabilitation nutrition should be implemented in this population