Quantitative videographic analysis of blink patterns of newscasters.

Background: To determine the blink patterns of newscasters.

Methods: The blink patterns of 39 professional newscasters (24 Japanese and 19 non-Japanese, 19 men and 20 women, mean age: 34.5 +/- 6.

Function and regulation of taurine transport at the inner blood-retinal barrier.

In the retina, taurine exerts a number of neuroprotective functions as an osmolyte and antioxidant. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the taurine transport system(s) at the inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB). [(3)H]Taurine transport at the inner BRB was characterized using in vivo integration plot analysis and a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells).

Blinking and superficial punctate keratopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To evaluate blinking patterns in patients with diabetes mellitus and whether blinking contributes to the formation of superficial punctate keratopathy in diabetic patients.

Methods: We examined 163 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 76 without diabetes. Blinks were recorded, analysed using six parameters, and compared between patients with and without diabetes.

Abnormal blinking of newscasters.

When compared with a control group, blink rates of Japanese TV newscasters were increased, suggesting a possible reaction to reading the news under stressful studio conditions. Frequent blinking may be distractive to the viewing audience.

Efficacy and safety of infrared warming of the eyelids.

Purpose: To evaluate our newly developed infrared heater (IRH) and compare it to a broad-spectrum heater (BSH) for warming the eyelids.

Materials And Methods: Ten normal subjects were enrolled in this study. All measurements were recorded in a room with temperature 23 degrees C, 40% humidity, and no wind.

Quantitative videographic analysis of blinking in normal subjects and patients with dry eye.

Objective: To study patterns of eye blinking in normal subjects and patients with dry eye.

Methods: We developed an automated, noninvasive blink monitor that permits quantitative analysis of 6 parameters of blinking. We used this method under normal conditions and then examined the effects on the patterns of blinking in patients with dry eye; several steps in this method were designed to exacerbate or ameliorate ocular surface desiccation.

[Treatment of a refractory chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw].

Two cases of refractory chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw were presented, the first in a patient with pycnodysostosis, the second that had been receiving radiotherapy. Both cases were primary chronic osteomyelitis with a markedly protracted course of recovery, in spite of the antibiotic and local irrigation therapy. However the lesion was cured by the removal of sequesters and granulation tissues without radical treatment such as a decorticotomy.

Novel formation of alpha-amino acids from alpha-oxo acids and ammonia in an aqueous medium.

In the course of a study of possible mechanisms for chemical evolution in the primeval sea, we found the novel formation of alpha-amino acids and N-acylamino acids from alpha-oxo acids and ammonia in an aqueous medium. Glyoxylic acid reacted with ammonia to form N-oxalylglycine, which gave glycine in a 5-39% yield after hydrolysis with 6N HC1. Pyruvic acid and ammonia reacted to give N-acetylalanine, which formed alanine in a 3-7% overall yield upon hydrolysis.

A novel way for the formation of alpha-amino acids and their derivatives in an aqueous medium.

In the course of a study of possible mechanism for chemical evolution in the primeval sea, we observed the formation of alpha-amino acids and N-acylamino acids from alpha-oxo acids and ammonia in an aqueous medium. Glyoxylic acid reacted with ammonia to form N-oxalylglycine, which gave glycine in a 5-39% yield after hydrolysis with 6N HCl. Similarly when glyoxylic acid was treated with methylamine it yielded N-oxalylsarcosine, which could be hydrolyzed to sarcosine with 17-25% overall yield upon hydrolysis.

Novel formation of alpha-amino acids and their derivatives from oxo acids and ammonia in an aqueous medium.

In the course of a study of chemical evolution of the primeval sea, a novel reaction of carbonyl compounds with ammonia was found. Glyoxylic acid reacted with ammonia to afford N-oxalylglycine, which gave glycine in a 3-20% yield after 6 N HCl hydrolysis. Similarly, glyoxylic acid was treated with methylamine to give N-oxalylsarcosine, which afforded sarcosine in a 9-12% yield upon hydrolysis.

DNase A, a poly(dA) and poly(dT)-specific deoxyribonuclease from Achatina fulica. Further investigation on the specificity.

The degradation of heat-denatured and native calf thymus DNAs, poly(dA-dT), poly(dA-dC) . poly(dG-dT), and poly(dG-dC) by DNase A has been investigated with the main aim of providing background information for studying the specificity of the enzyme. The specificity of the DNase A was studied by determining the base compositions of 5'- and 3'-terminal nucleotides of oligonucleotides released by the enzyme.

DNase A, a poly(dA) and poly(dT)-specific deoxyribonuclease from Achatina fulica. Purification and characterization.

DNases A1 and A2 have been purified to homogeneity from the hepatopancreas of Achatina fulica by a series of steps: acetate buffer extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography on hydroxylapatite, phosphocellulose, Blue-Sepharose, and poly(A)-Sepharose. The purified enzymes are free of acidic phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, and RNase activities. They are slightly acidic glycoproteins with identical isoelectric point (6.

3',5'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity of the sulphatase A of ox liver.

The sulphatase A (aryl-sulphate sulphohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.

Genesis of amino acids in the primeval sea. Formation of amino acids from sugars and ammonia in a modified sea medium.

Sugars such as glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, erythrose, ribose, and glucose were heated with ammonia in a modified sea medium. Amino acids such as glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid were obtained from the reaction mixture. This provides the basis for a model of the genesis of amino acids in the primeval sea.

Polymers produced by heating an amino acid mixture in sea water enriched with transition elements.

A mixture of eighteen protein amino acids was heated in sea water medium enriched with transition metal ions. Small granules were obtained as precipitates. Both dialyzable polymers and undialyzable polymers were obtained from the supernatant.

Formation of molecules of biological interest from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a modified sea medium.

As reported previously, glycine, serine, aspartic acid, and beta-alanine are the predominant amino acids produced from equimolecular formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a modified sea medium enriched with essential transition metal ions. The time course of formation of the amino acids, and related substances was studied. Among the amino acids, glycine was produced earlier.

Selective formation of certain amino acids from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a modified sea medium enriched with molybdate.

Amino acids produced from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in modified sea mediums with different concentrations of molybdate were analyzed. The modified sea mediums contained lower concentration of sodium chloride and higher concentrations of transition metal ions (Zn2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Mn2+ each 10(-4)m, and Mo O4(2-)10(-6), 10(-4), or 10(-2)m) than sea water. The concentration of molybdate had apparently no remarkable effect on the total yields of primary amino groups, but a remarkable effect on the nature of amino acids produced.