Relationship between Pentosidine and Pyridinoline Levels in Human Diabetic Cataract Lenses.

The relationship between the levels of two different crosslink compounds, pentosidine and pyridinoline, in human diabetic cataract lenses was investigated to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of diabetic cataract. Subjects were classified into diabetes mellitus (DM) group and non-DM group according to the presence or absence of DM. The levels of the crosslink compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrofluorometry after acid hydrolysis.

The role of nick formation in delayed quinacrine mustard fluorescence in the C-heterochromatin of Apodemus argenteus.

Chromosomes stained with fluorochromes, including quinacrine mustard (QM), emit the brightest fluorescence immediately after exposure to excitation light, and the fluorescence gradually fades with an increase in exposure time. However, in the QM-stained chromosomes of the small Japanese field mouse Apodemus argenteus, most C-heterochromatic regions emit weak fluorescence immediately after exposure to blue light, and they become brightly fluorescent by prolonged exposure (delayed QM fluorescence). We proposed recently that the delayed QM fluorescence is somehow related to nicks produced in C-heterochromatic DNA by blue light irradiation.

Genotoxic assessment of small mammals at an illegal dumpsite at the Aomori-Iwate prefectural boundary.

In 2003, we examined the chromosomes of grass voles at an illegal dumpsite at the Aomori-lwate prefectural boundary. In subsequent years, from 2003-2006, we surveyed the chromosomes of four species of small mammals, namely, the Japanese grass vole (Microtus montebelli), the large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus), the small Japanese field mouse (A. argenteus), and the greater Japanese shrew mole (Urotrichus talpoides).

Photoprotective effect of yellow-tinted intraocular lenses.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate changes in visible light-induced photo-oxidation and to evaluate the inhibitory effect of various acrylic tinted intraocular lenses (IOLs) on photooxidation.

Methods: Three types of nontinted (VA-60BB, HOYA; SA60AT, Alcon; AU-6, Menicon) and tinted (YA-60BB, HOYA; SN60AT, Alcon; AN-6, Menicon) IOLs were used. In the first experiment, we investigated oxidation related to ultraviolet rays by using a mixed solution of reduced glutathione, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and glutathione reductase.

Chromosomal aberrations in Japanese grass voles in and around an illegal dumpsite at the Aomori-Iwate prefectural boundary.

Bone marrow chromosomes of thirty specimens of the Japanese grass vole, Microtus montebelli (2n=30), which had been caught on and near an illegal dumpsite at the Aomori-Iwate prefectural boundary, were analyzed and compared with those of fifteen grass voles from non-polluted areas as part of an effort to assess genotoxic influences on grass voles in the dumpsite area. Fifty metaphases per specimen were examined with particular attention to numerical and structural aberrations. Two specimens from the dumpsite had 2n=31, which was confirmed by G-banding analysis to have been caused by centric fission of M6 homologs, while control specimens had no such abnormality.

[Oxidative stress in ocular disease].

The definition of oxidative stress implies increased oxidant production in animal cells characterized by the release of free radicals, resulting in cellular degeneration. The imbalance between excess free radical production and the antioxidant defense causes cellular damage resulting in lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress is involved in many ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal light damage, and cataract.

The delayed quinacrine mustard fluorescence from the C-blocks of Apodemus argenteus is due to the introduction of nicks into the DNA.

"Delayed QM-fluorescence" refers to the unusual kinetics of fluorescence from most of the C-heterochromatic regions of the chromosomes of the small Japanese field mouse Apodemus argenteus. When stained with quinacrine mustard (QM-stained), these C-heterochromatic regions emit weak fluorescence immediately after exposure to blue light (BL); they emit bright fluorescence within a few minutes; and the intensity of the fluorescence gradually decreases after maximum fluorescence has been recorded. To elucidate the mechanism of this phenomenon, we used acridine orange staining (AO-staining) and a modified version of the in situ nick-translation method.

Visual acuity prognosis after anterior chamber air replacement to prevent pseudo-anterior chamber formation after deep lamellar keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate the prognosis of patients who received anterior chamber air replacement after deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) during the study period, January 1995 to April 2000.

Methods: The records were studied of 47 patients (54 eyes) (60.6 +/- 21.

p27kip1 siRNA induces proliferation in corneal endothelial cells from young but not older donors.

Purpose: To determine whether small interfering (si)RNA downregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 overcomes G(1)-phase arrest and promotes cell-cycle progression in human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) from young (<30 years old) and older (>60 years old) donors.

Methods: Transfection of siRNA was confirmed by incubating confluent cultures of HCECs with FITC-labeled nonsilencing siRNA. Confluent cultures were transfected for 48 hours with p27kip1 siRNA (2.

Active oxygen processing for acrylic intraocular lenses to prevent posterior capsule opacification.

Purpose: To evaluate active oxygen processing on the surface of acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) to prevent secondary posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu City, Tochigi, Japan.

Methods: Acrylic IOLs were prepared, and ultraviolet (UV)/ozone (UV/O3) or argon plasma was irradiated to the surface of the IOLs.

[Effects of calcium on lens epithelial cells in rabbits].

Purpose: The action of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is important for cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract after cataract surgery. In this study, we analyzed the effects of calcium on the characteristics of LECs.

Methods: The LECs were collected using albino rabbits and incubated in minimum essential medium [MEM, Introgen Corp.

[Protective effect on the corneal endothelium and remaining effect at the anterior chamber for three different kinds of viscoelastic devices].

Purpose: The present study was performed to evaluate the corneal endothelium protection and anterior chamber stagnation abilities of three different types of viscoelastic substances (Healon, Viscoat, HealonV).

Methods: Viscoelastic substances were selected at random for 120 eyes with cataracts, and the postoperative reduction rates of the corneal endothelium cells were compared. The residual viscoelastic substances after filling of the anterior chamber of pig eyes and aspiration with a handpiece were measured by an anterior eye segment image analysis system.

The effects of drug delivery via hydrophilic acrylic (hydrogel) intraocular lens systems on the epithelial cells in culture.

Background And Objective: Secondary posterior subcapsular opacification is still among the most important complications after phacoemulsification.

Materials And Methods: This study was designed to assess the inhibitory effects of drugs delivered via hydrophilic acrylic (hydrogel) intraocular lens (IOL) systems in vitro. Lens epithelial cells were collected from albino rabbits.

[Ocular surface temperature of meibomia gland dysfunction patients and the melting point of meibomian gland secretions].

Purpose: Since meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is thought to be caused by raising of the melting point and degeneration of lipid secretions, the melting point of secretions and the temperature of the ocular surface were investigated.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-three patients with MGD [mean age 69.3 +/- 7.

p27kip1 Antisense-induced proliferative activity of rat corneal endothelial cells.

Purpose: To determine whether antisense downregulation of p27(kip1) will overcome G(1)-phase arrest and promote cell cycle progression in rat corneal endothelial cells (CECs).

Methods: Confluent cultures of rat CECs were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of p27(kip1) antisense (AS) oligonucleotides (oligoS) using nonliposomal lipid transfection. Control cultures were incubated under one of the following conditions: no oligos or lipid-containing buffer, lipid-containing buffer alone, or lipid-containing buffer plus missense (MS) p27(kip1) oligo.

Effects of calcium on human lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Purpose: To analyze the effect of calcium on human lens epithelial cells (LECs) in vitro

Methods: Human LECs were obtained from the anterior lens capsule during a cataract operation, and were cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing 12% fetal bovine serum for a week at 37 degrees C, 5% CO(2). The LECs were then isolated with trypsin and placed in culture dishes. To analyze the effects of calcium, the LECs were incubated in MEM with calcium concentrations of 0, 2, 10, or 20 mM.

Analysis of cytoskeletal proteins in posterior capsule opacification after implantation of acrylic and hydrogel intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To analyze selected lens cytoskeletal proteins in posterior capsule opacification (PCO) 2 weeks after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in rabbits.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan.

Method: Eight 10-week-old albino rabbits were prepared and anesthetized for phacoemulsification and aspiration of the crystalline lens and implantation of an acrylic or a hydrogel IOL.

Clinical evaluation of posterior capsule opacification in eyes with different small-incision intraocular lenses.

Background And Objective: To present a new method to quantify posterior capsular opacity with an anterior eye segment image analyzer (EAS 1000, NIDEK).

Patients And Methods: This study was comprised of patients who underwent phacoemulsification intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Three types of IOLS, acrylic, silicone, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were allocated to 30 eyes and clinically evaluated.

[Cytokine mRNA expression in vernal keratoconjunctivitis].

Background: Cytokines play an important role in chronic allergic eye disease.

Objectives: We examined how many kinds of cytokines are in giant papillae of vernal keratoconjunctivitis(VKC).

Methods: We resected giant papillae from 6 patients with VKC, and studied mRNA expression of cytokines in them with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).