Lower Carboniferous Brachiopods from the Odaira Formation in the Southern Kitakami Mountains

Three species of brachiopods, Schizophoria resupinata, Rhipidomella sp. and Dimegelasma sp. are described from the middle part of the Odaira Formation at its type locality, Otsubo-sawa, Yokota-cho, Southern Kitakami Mountains. These species taken together with associated Pustula sp. and a rugose coral Sugiyamaella carbonarium suggest late Tournaisian to early Visean age

Demand for weekend outpatient chemotherapy among patients with cancer in Japan

Background Advanced cancer therapeutics have improved patient survival, leading to an increase in the number of patients who require long-term outpatient chemotherapy. However, the available schedule options for chemotherapy are generally limited to traditional business hours. Method In 2017, we surveyed 721 patients with cancer in Okayama, Japan, regarding their preferences for evening and weekend (Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday) chemotherapy appointments. Results A preference for evening and weekend appointment options was indicated by 37% of the respondents. Patients who requested weekend chemotherapy were younger, female, with no spouse or partner, living alone, employed, and currently receiving treatment. Among these factors, age and employment status were significantly associated with a preference for weekend chemotherapy, according to multivariate analysis. Conclusion Our findings reveal a demand for evening and weekend outpatient chemotherapy, especially among young, employed patients

Retinoblastoma Masquerading as Uveitis

The clinical and pathologic findings of a 11-year-old boy with retinoblastoma masqueraded as atypical intraocular inflammation are presented. This clinical diagnosis is difficult. Aqueous aspiration for cytological study is useful and should be evaluated carefully

Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis and Histoplasmin Skin Test

Ocular histoplasmosis has been reported to be rare in Japan. This was demonstrated in a 48-year-old man with a peripapillary scar, a disseminated small atrophic spot and a macular lesion. Histoplasmin skin tests were carried out on 24 outpatients with uveoretinal disease and 31 patients with other ocular diseases. Nine of the 24 patients with uveoretinal disease and 3 of the 31 patients with other ocular diseases showed a positive skin reaction. It is to postulated that histoplasmosis may be a factor for producing some ocular diseases, such as exudative maculopathy and uveoretinitis

Predictive Factors of Rectal Toxicity After Permanent iodine-125 Seed Implantation: Prospective Cohort Study in 2339 Patients

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and the associated factors of rectal toxicity in patients with prostate cancer undergoing permanent seed implantation (PI) with or without external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in a nationwide prospective cohort study in Japan (J-POPS) during the first 2 years. Methods and materials: A total of 2,339 subjects were available for the analyses. Rectal toxicity was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results: The 3-year cumulative incidence for grade ≥2 rectal toxicity was 2.88%, 1.76%, and 6.53% in all subjects, PI group and EBRT combination therapy group, respectively. On multivariate analysis, among all subjects, grade ≥2 rectal toxicity was associated with rectal volumes receiving 100% of the prescribed dose (R100; p Conclusions: Rectal toxicity was relatively rare in this study compared with previous reports. For Japanese prostate cancer patients, R100 < 1 mL in both PI and EBRT combination therapy groups and interactive planning in EBRT combination therapy group may be effective in decreasing the incidence of rectal toxicity

Changes in the Corneal Endothelium of Aphakic Patients Following Extended Soft Contact Lens Wear

The contact lenses used for visual correction of aphakia are mostly soft contact lenses for extended wear because most aphakic patients are elderly. The effects of extended wear of such contact lenses on corneal endothelial cells have been recently reported. In this study, two groups, an extended wear SCL group and a spectacles group, were compared with respect to various parameters by means of specular microscopy following surgery for cataract. The SCL group consisted of 16 subjects and 16 eyes. The average age at operation was 67.8 years and the wearing period was 1 to 5 years after operation. The spectacles group consisted of 14 subjects and 16 eyes; the average age at operation was 70.1 years, and the wearing period was 1 to 5 years after surgery. Using a wide field specular microscope (mode1 SP-1), endothelial cells in the central part of the cornea were observed and photographed. The endothelial cell picture was then enlarged to a final magnification of 450 times, and the image was analyzed using the KC-8VA cell analyzer system. There was no significant difference in the mean cell area (μm2) and mean cell density (cell counts/mm2) between the two groups, but the coefficient of variation (CV) was significantly elevated in the SCL group after operation. The percentage of hexagonal cells was also significantly lower in the SCL group after operation. Therefore extended wear of soft contact lenses appears to make corneal endothelial cells unstable and accelerates changes in cornet endothelial cells due to aging

A Case Report of Thelaziasis Callipaeda

This is the second case of thelaziasis callipaeda (human parasitosis with Thelazia nematodes) reported in Okayama Prefecture. In this patient, the nematode was discovered by chance in the upper palpebral conjunctival sac during tests prior to a cataract operation and was removed. There was no sensation of any physical disorder. The nematode was a male, and it was assumed from the degree of curvature of the tip of the tail that the course parasitism was only a month or so long. Both of the cases in Okayama occurred in Mitsu-gun, which could be of importance in determining the spread of thelaziasis callipaeda in the future

Harada\u27s Disease (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome; VKH Syndrome)

We studied the course and outcome of 44 patients with Harada\u27s disease (17 males and 27 females) who were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of Kawasaki Hospital, an affiliated hospital of Kawasaki Medical School, between April 1980 and March 1990. The age at onset ranged from 14 to 77 years with the mean age±SD being 46.5 ± 15.6 years. Thus the disease was frequent among the elderly. The posterior and optic types of the disease were most frequently found in our patients. As extraocular symptoms, perceptive deafness and an increase in the cell count of the cerebrospinal fluid were frequently observed, and these were important factors in the diagnosis of the disease. Systemic administration of steroids was the main treatment, with immunosuppressive agents being administereted to patiens with the delayed type of the disease. As for the visual prognosis, the final corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in 79% of the patients. As eye complications, cataracts and glaucoma were frequently noted, and various other lesions of the fundus were also observed with increasing age. Patients with the delayed type of the disease accounted for 34.1% of the patients studied

Glucose Metabolism in Cataractous Lens

Since the sorbitol pathway in the lens of a diabetic rat was discovered, the relation between cataract formation and aldose reductase has been studied. We measured glucose, sorbitol and fructose in the human cataractous lens by the gaschromatography. Additionally, we measured sugar and polyols in bovine, pig and rabbit lens. The ratio of sorbitol/glucose is high in rabbit, pig and bovine lens in order. In the human cataractous lens, glucose is increased in accordance with development of cataract. On the other hand, sorbitol content is high in the diabetic lens and low in the senile cataractous lens. The aldose reductase inhibitor may have beneficial effects in the prevention of diabetic cataract formation, but have not the therapeutic effect in the senile cataract