The Association between Party Horn Use and Respiratory Function in Patients with Dementia: An Experimental Study.

Background and Objectives: Respiratory diseases account for 55.5% and 33.1% of all mortality rates in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, respectively.

Low threshold to Vestibular and Oral Sensory stimuli might affect quality of sleep among children with autism spectrum disorder.

Aims: The current study aimed to validate the relationship between sensory characteristics and sleep dynamics among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using an actigraph, which is an objective assessment device used for sleep monitoring.

Methods: A total of 40 children (age range, 3-6 years) participated in this study (n = 20, with ASD and n = 20, age-matched children with typical development [TD]). We examined sleep dynamics using actigraph for 7 consecutive days, and the relationship between sleep parameters and sensory characteristics was analyzed using the Japanese Version of Sensory Profile (SP-J).

Correlation between metamorphopsia and disorganization of the retinal inner layers in eyes with diabetic macular edema.

Purpose: To investigate factors associated with the severity of metamorphopsia secondary to diabetic macular edema (ME) by evaluating optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters including disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 37 eyes of 37 consecutive patients with diabetic ME or resolved diabetic ME, who underwent spectral-domain OCT examination and metamorphopsia assessment with M-CHARTS on the same day between November 2017 and March 2018. Age, sex, visual acuity, lens status, treatment history, and factors analyzed on OCT examination including DRIL length were evaluated in association with M-CHARTS scores.

Disorganization of the Retinal Inner Layers after Anti-VEGF Treatment for Macular Edema due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) and visual acuity (VA) after anti-VEGF treatment for macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 patients were retrospectively investigated. Baseline characteristics and factors analyzed on optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination at the final visit were evaluated in association with VA at the final visit.

Floating flap of internal limiting membrane in myopic macular hole surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical results of macular hole (MH) in patients with high myopia treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) leaving the internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap floating in vitreous fluid at the edge of the MH.

Methods: Nine highly myopic eyes with MH of nine consecutive patients who underwent PPV were retrospectively evaluated. Three eyes were accompanied by retinal detachment (RD).

A comparison of patient pain and visual outcome using topical anesthesia versus regional anesthesia during cataract surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the level of patient pain during the phacoemulsification and implantation of foldable intraocular lenses while under topical, intracameral, or sub-Tenon lidocaine.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study. Three hundred and one eyes subjected to cataract surgery were included in this study.

Outcome of primary vitrectomy in phakic patients aged younger than 50 years with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcome, primary anatomic success, and cataract progression of phakic eyes of patients aged younger than 50 years treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. The data from 53 RRD patients undergoing PPV were analyzed.

Alternaria extract activates autophagy that induces IL-18 release from airway epithelial cells.

Alternaria alternata is a major outdoor allergen that causes allergic airway diseases. Alternaria extract (ALT-E) has been shown to induce airway epithelial cells to release IL-18 and thereby initiate Th2-type responses. We investigated the underlying mechanisms involved in IL-18 release from ALT-E-stimulated airway epithelial cells.

Posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection as a primary treatment in eyes with acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Background/aims: To investigate the effectiveness of isolated subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection (STI) as a primary treatment in eyes with acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Design: Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study.

Methods: The data from 27 eyes in 14 patients with acute VKH treated with STI therapy were analysed retrospectively.

[Assessment of brain perfusion by arterial spin-labeling MR imaging in qusai-moyamoya disease associated with Graves' disease].

We report a case of 12-year-old girl with Graves' disease who had presented with deterioration in physical and scholastic performances since 10 years of age. She had an episode of atonic seizure and difficulty in speech. Brain MRI revealed formation of moyamoya vessels and a lesion suggestive of ischemic changes in the left frontal lobe.

Foveal microstructure in macular holes surgically closed by inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique.

Purpose: To evaluate reconstructive foveal anatomical change in surgically closed macular hole (MH) by pars plana vitrectomy with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique.

Methods: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used to evaluate foveal microstructures in 20 eyes of 19 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique to achieve MH closure. Eyes had idiopathic large MH with a diameter >500 μm (n = 7), MH in high myopia (axial length >26.

IL-33 enhanced the proliferation and constitutive production of IL-13 and IL-5 by fibrocytes.

Interleukin-33 appears to play important roles in the induction of allergic airway inflammation. However, whether IL-33 is involved in airway remodeling remains unclear. Because fibrocytes contribute to tissue remodeling in the setting of chronic inflammation, we examined the effects of IL-33 on fibrocyte functions.

Biotin and carnitine deficiency due to hypoallergenic formula nutrition in infants with milk allergy.

Amino acid formulas and hydrolyzed formulas given to infants in Japan with milk allergies theoretically contain little, if any, biotin and carnitine. We assessed biotin and carnitine insufficiency in six infants with milk allergy who were fed amino acid formulas and/or hydrolyzed formulas, by measuring urine 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid (3-HIA) and serum free carnitine (C0), respectively. All patients presented with elevated urine 3-HIA and lowered serum C0 compared with post-menstrual age-matched infants who were fed breast milk or standard infant formulas.

Rice protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome with transient specific IgE to boiled rice but not to retort-processed rice.

Described herein is the case of an 8-month-old girl with atypical food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome due to rice. She presented with vomiting and poor general activity 2 h after ingestion of boiled rice. Oral food challenge test using high-pressure retort-processed rice was negative, but re-exposure to boiled rice elicited gastrointestinal symptoms.

Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria caused by an IgM-class Donath-Landsteiner antibody.

We report on a 4-year-old boy who developed paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) following the first dose of a seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. He was admitted because of dark urine after exposure to cold air. Laboratory tests indicated anemia, increased serum indirect bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased serum haptoglobin.

[Case of atopic dermatitis in infant treated with Chinese herbal medicines and nsaids ointment, which induced weight loss, electrolyte disturbance and hypoproteinemia].

We report here a 4-month-old girl with atopic dermatitis accompanied by weight loss, electrolyte disturbance, hypoproteinemia and hypogammaglobulinemia. She has suffered from eczema since one-month of age. Although she was treated with Chinese herbal medicines, including Syosaikotokakikyosekko, Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto and Jumihaidokuto and ibuprofen ointment since three-month of age, she was referred to our hospital due to deteriorated eczema, severe diarrhea and failure to thrive.

Efficacy of inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique for the treatment of macular hole in high myopia.

Purpose: To determine the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique for macular hole with or without retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes.

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with macular hole with (4 eyes) or without (6 eyes) retinal detachment in high myopia (axial length more than 26.

IL-17A/F modulates fibrocyte functions in cooperation with CD40-mediated signaling.

T helper 17 (Th17) cells that produce interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F have been found to participate in the development of bronchial asthma and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, whether they play a causative role in the airway remodeling observed in these respiratory diseases remains unclear. Because fibrocytes are involved in tissue repair and fibrosis and are presumably precursors of lung fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, we examined the effects of IL-17A/F on fibrocyte functions.

Biotin and carnitine profiles in preterm infants in Japan.

Background: Biotin plays an important role as a covalently bound coenzyme for carboxylases. Carnitine is essential in β-oxidation to transport long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The present study was conducted to assess the risk of biotin and carnitine deficiencies in preterm infants who received enteral feeding with maternal milk and/or standard infant formula made in Japan.

Association of ARMS2 genotype with bilateral involvement of exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To study the association of ARMS2 A69S genotype with the development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the unaffected fellow eye and to estimate the duration until the development of AMD in the second eye.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 326 patients who had exudative AMD in at least 1 eye, genotyping of ARMS2 A69S, and a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Significance of C2/CFB variants in age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in a Japanese population.

Purpose: To determine whether genetic variants in the complement component 2 and factor B gene (C2/CFB) locus are associated with the risk for typical age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a Japanese population.

Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped across the C2/CFB locus of patients with typical AMD (n = 455) or PCV (n = 581) and of 865 controls. Differences in the observed genotypic distribution between the case and control groups were tested by logistic regression analysis for age and sex adjustments.

Association between the SERPING1 gene and age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Japanese.

Purpose: Recently, a complement component 1 inhibitor (SERPING1) gene polymorphism was identified as a novel risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasians. We aimed to investigate whether variations in SERPING1 are associated with typical AMD or with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a Japanese population.

Methods: We performed a case-control study in a group of Japanese patients with typical AMD (n = 401) or PCV (n = 510) and in 2 independent control groups--336 cataract patients without age-related maculopathy and 1,194 healthy Japanese individuals.

Association of lesion size and visual prognosis to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the progression of vascular lesions of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) as viewed with indocyanine green angiography and the visual prognosis of these eyes.

Design: Retrospective case study.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 88 consecutive patients (88 eyes) with PCV who had been examined with indocyanine green angiography for more than 2 years.

Genetic variants in pigment epithelium-derived factor influence response of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy to photodynamic therapy.

Purpose: To investigate whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) outcomes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) are related to baseline clinical characteristics, smoking history, or genetic factors by analyzing the retreatment-free period after the first PDT.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Participants: The study consisted of 167 patients with PCV who underwent PDT as their first treatment.

Association of 15q14 and 15q25 with high myopia in Japanese.

Purpose: To investigate whether there are associations of genetic variations in chromosome 15q14 and 15q25, recently shown to confer risk of refractive error and myopia in Caucasians, with high myopia in Japanese.

Methods: A total of 1125 unrelated Japanese patients with high myopia and two independent control groups were evaluated (366 cataract patients without high myopia and 929 healthy Japanese patients). The four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs634990 and rs524952 at 15q14 and rs8027411 and rs17175798 at 15q25 were genotyped.