Utility of CLOCK CHART binocular edition for self-checking the binocular visual field in patients with glaucoma.

Background/aims: Car accidents caused by drivers unaware of their visual field (VF) defects under binocular vision have become an issue. We developed a simple self-check chart (CLOCK CHART binocular edition (CCBE)) to help patients with glaucoma recognise their abnormalities in the binocular VF and evaluated its usefulness.

Methods: The chart has four targets displayed at 10°, 15°, 20° and 25° eccentricities.

Distribution and Progression of Visual Field Defects With Binocular Vision in Glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the distribution and progression of glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects with binocular vision.

Patients And Methods: Subjects were 167 patients (average age, 67±10.7 y) with glaucoma who received the Humphrey 24-2 VF test (SITA-Standard) for the 2 eyes.

Test Conditions in Macular Visual Field Testing in Glaucoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the suitable visual field (VF) test conditions (target size, test type, and eccentricity) for the macular region, we investigated the correlations between the ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness and 6 VF test results.

Methods: We tested 32 eyes of patients (61.1±9.

Effects of head tilt on visual field testing with a head-mounted perimeter imo.

Purpose: A newly developed head-mounted perimeter termed "imo" enables visual field (VF) testing without a fixed head position. Because the positional relationship between the subject's head and the imo is fixed, the effects of head position changes on the test results are small compared with those obtained using a stationary perimeter. However, only ocular counter-roll (OCR) induced by head tilt might affect VF testing.

Evaluation of kinetic programs in various automated perimeters.

Purpose: Kinetic programs in four automated perimeters were evaluated and compared for their clinical usefulness using four simulated visual field (VF) patterns.

Methods: Using the results of conventional Goldmann manual kinetic perimetry (MKP), simulated fields with concentric contraction, a temporal residual island only, a small central island with a temporal island, and a ring scotoma were created. Four kinetic programs, Humphrey 750i Kinetic Test (Humphrey), OCULUS Twinfield 2 Kinetic Perimetry (OCULUS), OCTOPUS 900 Goldmann Kinetic Perimetry (OCTOPUS GKP), and Kowa AP-7000 Isopter (Kowa) were tested by the 4 simulated defect patterns using stimuli of V/4e, I/4e, I/3e, I/2e, and I/1e at speeds of 3 and 5°/s.

CLOCK CHART(®): a novel multi-stimulus self-check visual field screener.

Purpose: CLOCK CHART(®) is a multi-stimulus-type self-check visual field screening sheet developed by our group. The test chart is rotated during the examination, and the visual field abnormalities are pointed out by the patients themselves. In this study, we evaluated the clinical usefulness of this chart in patients with glaucoma.

[Clinical significance of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in major salivary gland tumors].

We compared preoperative evaluations of 93 fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of major salivary gland tumors done over a 5 year period with pathologic diagnoses of surgically resected specimens. The overall accuracy was 88.5%.

[Cancer immunotherapy in head and neck region].

There is no one common immunotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer (H&N cancer). A streptococcal agent, OK-432, which is classified as a biological response modifier (BRM), is occasionally used by means of local administration for recurrent H&N cancer, and the response rate is approximately 18%. In regard to specific immunotherapy, a murine monoclonal antibody (named mAb 225) against the epidermal growth factor receptor (FGFR) that is frequently overexpressed in H&N cancer has been produced in the U.

Clinical significance of p53 functional loss in squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

We examined the frequency of p53 mutations in 38 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), using both a yeast functional assay and a conventional immunohistochemical staining method (IHC) to detect p53 mutations. We also explored the clinical importance of p53 mutations in oropharyngeal SCC. An accumulation of p53 protein was detected in 17 of the 38 (45%) tumors by IHC, whereas the yeast-based assay detected 6 additional p53 mutations, for a total of 23 tumors (61%) with p53 mutations.

Dynamic helical CT of T1 and T2 glottic carcinomas: predictive value for local control with radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Tumor volume and cartilage invasion have been suggested as prognostic factors of glottic carcinomas following definitive radiation therapy. Radiologic examinations provide additional information regarding the deep extension of tumor. We determined whether dynamic helical CT can predict local control of early (T1 and T2 stage) glottic carcinomas treated with definitive radiation therapy.

Analysis of individual specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for two MAGE-3-derived epitopes presented by HLA-A24.

Background: The human MAGE-3 gene encodes tumor-specific antigens that are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and expressed in a high percentage of various malignant tumors. Of the five MAGE-3-derived CTL epitopes identified to date, two nonapeptides (TFPDLESEF and IMPKAGLLI, designated MAGE-3.A24a and MAGE-3.

A wild-type sequence p53 peptide presented by HLA-A24 induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognize squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Evidence has accumulated indicating that HLA-A2-restricted CTLs specific for human wild-type sequence p53 epitopes lyse tumor cells expressing mutant p53. To explore the possibility that wild-type sequence p53 peptides could also be used in vaccines for patients expressing HLA-A24 antigen, another frequent HLA class I allele, we investigated the induction of HLA-A24-restricted p53-specific CTLs from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal donors. Of six p53-derived peptides possessing an HLA-A24 binding motif, the p53 peptide 125-134 (p53(125-134)) was found to have a high binding capacity and induced peptide-specific CTLs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells and subsequent cultivation with cytokines interleukin 2 and interleukin 7.

Frequency of HLA-A alleles in Japanese patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Association between certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types such as HLA-A1 and -A3 and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has been demonstrated in the Caucasian population. HLA typings in these studies were performed by conventional serological methods. However, recent comparison studies between serological and molecular typings have revealed that the former are often inaccurate.

Early glottic squamous cell carcinoma. Predictive value of MR imaging for the rate of 5-year local control with radiation therapy.

Purpose: To evaluate MR findings in early (T1 and T2 stages) glottic carcinomas and the predictive value of MR imaging for the rate of 5-year local control with radiation therapy.

Material And Methods: Eighty-three patients with early glottic carcinomas were prospectively examined with MR at 1.5 T.

Effects of PAF on histamine H1 receptor mRNA expression in rat trigeminal ganglia.

The application of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to the nasal mucosa of humans has been shown to increase histamine-induced hyper-reactivity. To test the hypothesis that PAF acts by increasing the reactivity of sensory nerve endings in the nasal mucosa to histamine, we examined PAF-stimulated rat trigeminal nerve ganglion cells. We found that relatively low concentrations of PAF (10(-12)-10(-9) M) induced increased histamine H1 receptor mRNA expression.

Neurologic and otologic findings in Fisher's syndrome.

We performed neurologic and otologic examinations in 14 patients with Fisher's syndrome to determine whether its manifestations inducing acute ophthaloplegia, ataxia and areflexia may involve the auditory and vestibular systems. Tests included pure tone audiometry, auditory brainstem response, observations of nystagmus, smooth pursuit test, saccade test, optokinetic nystagmus test, and the caloric test. One patient showed downbeat nystagmus and lateral gaze nystagmus without restriction of eye movement, two patients showed dysmetria on saccades without restriction of eye movement, and three patients showed superimposed saccadic eye movement on smooth pursuit without lateral gaze nystagmus.

A newly identified MAGE-3-derived epitope recognized by HLA-A24-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Five MAGE-3-derived peptides carrying an HLA-A24-binding motif were synthesized. Binding capacity of these peptides was analyzed by an HLA-class-I stabilization assay. Two of the 5 peptides bound to HLA-A*2402 molecule with high affinity, and 3 peptides with low affinity.

PAF- and histamine-receptor antagonists lessen allergen-induced hearing impairment in guinea pigs.

We have demonstrated degranulation of mast cells in the endolymphatic sac as well as an increase in audiological threshold shift in the experimental animal models following antigen provocation. Mast cells, however, release such chemical mediators as histamine, platelet activating factor (PAF), and leukotriene due to an antigen-antibody reaction on the cell surface. The aim of this study was to clarify the major chemical mediators responsible for hearing impairment in the animal models following antigen provocation.

Human eotaxin induces eosinophil-derived neurotoxin release from normal human eosinophils.

Background: Eosinophil granule proteins deposition at the site of allergic inflammation contributes to the late-phase reaction of hypersensitivity diseases. In the present communication, we describe the effect of human eotaxin on normal human eosinophil exocytosis measured as degranulation of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN).

Methods: Purified eosinophils were obtained from normal healthy volunteers with the CD16-negative procedure.

Modulation of normal human eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro by herbimycin A, erbstatin and pervanadate.

Background: The mediators involved in eosinophil accumulation in diseases such as allergy continue to be an area of interest, even though little is known regarding the signaling involved in the human cell type recruitment. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel modulatory role of tyrosine kinase and tyrosine phosphatase activities on normal human eosinophil chemotaxis induced by different groups of chemoattractant.

Methods: Purified eosinophils were obtained from normal healthy volunteers with the CD16-negative procedure.

Preferential infiltration by activated eosinophils in allergic sinusitis.

Although Type I allergy is a trigger for provoking chronic inflammation, whether allergic sinusitis (AS) can be distinguished from sinusitis due to chronic infection is still debated. This study was performed to characterize inflammatory cells in AS and to determine whether patients with AS differ from patients with chronic suppurative sinusitis (CSS). 5 patients with AS and 10 patients with CSS were investigated.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy-like T-cell lymphoma. A case report and immunologic study.

Background: Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) is rare in the head and neck and its definition remains controversial.

Method: A case of AILD with an ulcer of the lateral pharyngeal wall was studied for viral infection, immunohistologic findings and T-cell receptor (TCR) V beta rearrangement.

Results: We observed elevation of antibodies against herpes simplex virus and herpes zoster virus as well as Epstein-Barr virus considered closely associated with AILD.

Detection of MAGE-4 protein in sera of patients with head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma.

The MAGE-4 gene, a member of the MAGE gene family, is expressed in various cancers, including head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HN-SCC), but is not expressed in any normal tissues except for the testis and placenta. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum MAGE-4 protein is a useful tumor marker for detection of HN-SCC. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum level of MAGE-4 protein.

Inhibition of human eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro by the anti-allergic agent emedastine difumarate.

Emedastine difumarate (emedastine), an anti-allergic agent with anti-histaminic properties, was studied for its effect on human eosinophil chemotaxis induced by platelet activating factor (PAF). Peripheral blood eosinophils (98% purity) were obtained from healthy donors and chemotaxis assay were performed in microchemotaxis chambers. Emedastine showed a significant inhibitory effect on 10(-6) M PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis, in dose dependent fashion, at concentrations from 10(-6) to 10(-8) M.