The effects of umbrella handle shape and grip type on muscle activation and postural variability under windy conditions.

This study investigated how different shapes of umbrella handles and grip types influence muscle activation and postural variability under windy conditions. Seventeen adult participants were enrolled in this study, and different handle shapes (cylindrical, ellipsoidal, and triangular prism-shaped), grip types (four- and five-finger grip), and wind strengths were tested. Activation of the forearm and upper arm muscles was recorded using surface electromyography.

Pathogenic variants of and genes are major causes of nanophthalmos in Japanese patients.

Background: Nanophthalmos (NNO) is a rare condition with significantly shorter axial length than normal. Several genes are known to cause NNO, among them the MFRP and PRSS56 genes have been reported to cause majority of NNOs. The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic basis of Japanese patients with NNO.

Highly sensitive and non-disruptive detection of residual undifferentiated cells by measuring miRNAs in culture supernatant.

The clinical usage of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived regenerative medicine products is limited by the possibility of residual undifferentiated cells forming tumours after transplantation. Most of the existing quality control tests involve crushing of cells. As a result, the cells to be transplanted cannot be directly tested, thereby increasing the cost of transplantation.

Development of human iPSC-derived quiescent hepatic stellate cell-like cells for drug discovery and in vitro disease modeling.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in the progression of liver fibrosis by producing extracellular matrices. The development of drugs to suppress liver fibrosis has been hampered by the lack of human quiescent HSCs (qHSCs) and an appropriate in vitro model that faithfully recapitulates HSC activation. In the present study, we developed a culture system to generate qHSC-like cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that can be converted into activated HSCs in culture.

Racemose hemangioma complicated with macular macroaneurysm rupture.

Purpose: To describe a rare case of racemose hemangioma which developed spontaneous macular macroaneurysm (MA) rupture and vitreaous hemorrhage.

Observations: A 29-year-old healthy asian female visited our hospital and a racemose hemangioma was found in the left eye. At presentation, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 30/20 in her left eye.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy without preoperative pan-retinal photocoagulation is associated with higher levels of intravitreal IL-6 and postoperative inflammation.

Purpose: Intravitreal cytokine levels and differences in the severity of postoperative inflammation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were compared between subjects treated with pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) prior to undergoing vitreous surgery and those treated similarly during the surgery.

Subjects And Methods: We examined 130 eyes of PDR patients who underwent an initial surgical procedure at Hirosaki University Hospital. A total of 67 out of the 130 eyes were treated with PRP prior to surgery (preoperative group), while 63 underwent similar treatment during surgery (intraoperative group).

Intraoperative choroidal detachment occurring in a case of perforating ocular injury.

Purpose: To describe an intraoperative choroidal detachment due to balanced salt solution (BSS) leakage through the exit wound in a case with perforating ocular injury.

Observations: The patient was a 22-year-old man who suffered from a left eye injury caused by a piece of wire during work. Vitrectomy was started after closure of the scleral wound, but surgical procedure could not be continued, as BSS leakage occurred into the subretinal and supra-choroidal spaces, resulting in a narrowed vitreous cavity, as we were slow to recognize the presence of the perforating ocular injury in this patient.