New colorimetric method with bromocresol purple for estimating the redox state of human serum albumin.

Oxidative damage results in protein modification and is observed in many diseases, such as heart failure and renal insufficiency. Human serum albumin is an index of oxidative change and is conventionally measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Although this method is more sensitive than the colorimetric method, it is time-consuming for clinical practice and the sera must be stored at -80°C before analysis.

Head inversion technique to restore physiological conjunctival structure for surgical treatment of primary pterygium.

We describe a new surgical technique to treat primary pterygium, the head inversion technique, with its surgical outcomes. Seventy-five eyes of 75 consecutive patients with primary pterygium undergoing surgical treatment were included. The pterygium head and body were bluntly separated from the cornea and inverted onto the nasal conjunctival area.

Selective Formic Acid Production via CO2 Reduction with Visible Light Using a Hybrid of a Perovskite Tantalum Oxynitride and a Binuclear Ruthenium(II) Complex.

A hybrid material consisting of CaTaO2N (a perovskite oxynitride semiconductor having a band gap of 2.5 eV) and a binuclear Ru(II) complex photocatalytically produced HCOOH via CO2 reduction with high selectivity (>99%) under visible light (λ>400 nm). Results of photocatalytic reactions, spectroscopic measurements, and electron microscopy observations indicated that the reaction was driven according to a two-step photoexcitation of CaTaO2N and the Ru photosensitizer unit, where Ag nanoparticles loaded on CaTaO2N with optimal distribution mediated interfacial electron transfer due to reductive quenching.

Transconjunctival single-plane sclerocorneal incisions versus clear corneal incisions in cataract surgery.

Purpose: To compare a transconjunctival single-plane sclerocorneal incision with 2 tiny conjunctival cuts at both ends and a clear corneal incision (CCI) in cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Methods: Patients having routine cataract surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups based on incision type; that is, transconjunctival single-plane sclerocorneal or CCI.

Incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Japan.

Purpose: To estimate the incidence rate of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery performed by Japanese surgeons.

Methods: A sample of 20% of members of the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons was randomly selected. Each member was sent a postal survey asking for information on the number of cataract surgeries performed in 2003 and the number of postsurgery cases of endophthalmitis.