Ocular surface complications after trabeculectomy: incidence, risk factors, time course and prognosis.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, time course and prognosis of ocular surface complications after trabeculectomy.

Procedures: This is a retrospective, case-control study. Data on 399 consecutive patients who underwent trabeculectomy between 1999 and 2009 were evaluated.

Increased urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)/creatinine level is associated with the progression of normal-tension glaucoma.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between systemic oxidative stress and visual field defect progression in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

Patients And Methods: The subjects were 40 consecutive patients with NTG who were admitted to Keio University Hospital for 24-h intraocular pressure (IOP) evaluation; all subjects underwent six or more visual field tests in either eye and were followed up for >5 years. Spot samples of morning urine were collected during admission from all participants to determine the levels of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) by ELISA kit.

R-spondin 2 signalling mediates susceptibility to fatal infectious diarrhoea.

Citrobacter rodentium is a natural mouse pathogen widely used as a model for enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections in humans. While C. rodentium causes self-limiting colitis in most inbred mouse strains, it induces fatal diarrhoea in susceptible strains.

Volatile anesthetics, not intravenous anesthetic propofol bind to and attenuate the activation of platelet receptor integrin αIIbβ3.

Background: In clinical reports, the usage of isoflurane and sevoflurane was associated with more surgical field bleeding in endoscopic sinus surgeries as compared to propofol. The activation of platelet receptor αIIbβ3 is a crucial event for platelet aggregation and clot stability. Here we studied the effect of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and propofol on the activation of αIIbβ3.

Suppression of hepcidin expression and iron overload mediate Salmonella susceptibility in ankyrin 1 ENU-induced mutant.

Salmonella, a ubiquitous Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is a food borne pathogen that infects a broad range of hosts. Infection with Salmonella Typhimurium in mice is a broadly recognized experimental model resembling typhoid fever in humans. Using a N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea (ENU) mutagenesis recessive screen, we report the identification of Ity16 (Immunity to Typhimurium locus 16), a locus responsible for increased susceptibility to infection.

Differences between middle cerebral artery bifurcations with normal anatomy and those with aneurysms.

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the normal anatomy of middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcations and to analyze the differences in patients with MCA aneurysms. In the present study, 62 patients underwent three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography, and no intracranial lesions were noted. The widths of M1 and the superior and inferior M2 branches, as well as their respective lateral angles, were measured.

Isoflurane inhibits neutrophil recruitment in the cutaneous Arthus reaction model.

Purpose: Neutrophil recruitment to the inflammatory sites is regulated by a variety of adhesion molecules including β2 integrins. The dependency of neutrophil recruitment on β2 integrins is variable in different tissues, but has not yet been verified in the cutaneous passive reverse Arthus reaction. We examined this question and also evaluated the impact of isoflurane on neutrophil recruitment to the skin because we previously showed in vitro that isoflurane binds and inhibits β2 integrins.

Renin-angiotensin system involvement in the oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration of cultured retinal ganglion cells.

Purpose: To analyze the influence of oxidative stress on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by using a selective culture system of rat RGCs.

Methods: Rat RGCs were purified by a two-step immunopanning procedure and cultured either with or without antioxidant (AO) compounds. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RGCs were analyzed using dihydroethidium.

Serial evaluation of left ventricular contraction and relaxation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

A 78-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of general fatigue. The electrocardiogram showed ST elevation in the I, II, aVL, and V2-V6 leads. Echocardiography showed left ventricular apical akinesis.

Genotoxicity studies of glycidol fatty acid ester (glycidol linoleate) and glycidol.

Glycidol fatty acid esters (GEs) are found in refined edible oils. Safety concerns have been alleged due to the possible release of glycidol (G), an animal carcinogen. We evaluated the genotoxic potential of glycidol linoleate (GL), a primary GE found in an edible oil (diacylglycerol oil), and G, using three established genotoxicity tests (a bacterial reverse mutation test, an in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and an in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test) under GLP conditions complying with all OECD guidelines.

Ventricular-assist device therapy in children.

Mechanical circulatory support is an important modality in the management of paediatric patients with circulatory failure. The field of ventricular assist device (VAD) is particularly evolving. We review the currently available and developing VADs in the paediatric population, and the anaesthetic management of patients presenting for VAD implantation and with VADs for non-cardiac surgery.

Isoflurane binds and stabilizes a closed conformation of the leukocyte function-associated antigen-1.

We previously demonstrated that isoflurane targets lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), a critical adhesion molecule for leukocyte arrest. However, it remains to be determined how isoflurane interacts with the full ectodomain LFA-1 and modulates its conformation and function. Isoflurane binding sites on the full ectodomain LFA-1 were probed by photolabeling using photoactivatable isoflurane (azi-isoflurane).

Isolation of 9-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid, an inhibitor of fat accumulation from Valeriana fauriei.

An EtOH extract of Valeriana fauriei was found to exhibit potent inhibition of fat accumulation against 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes. After performing several chromatographic steps, we successfully isolated the conjugated linoleic acid derivative, 9-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (9-HODE). Synthesized 9-HODE and its analogs showed inhibitory activity against fat accumulation.

A mathematical model of transitional circulation toward biventricular repair in hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background: Although the traditional surgical approach for left hypoplastic heart syndrome is to perform staged, palliative procedures as a single ventricle lesion, certain anatomical subsets of patients are candidates for a 2-ventricle repair either as a primary or as a staged procedure. The pulmonary blood flow (Q(P))/systemic blood flow (Q(S)) range necessary to optimize systemic oxygen delivery (DO(2)) and systemic venous oxygen saturation has been delineated for patients undergoing conventional interventions as a single ventricle physiology where the left ventricle is assumed to make no contribution to systemic cardiac output. However, in the transitional circulations created during staging to a 2-ventricle repair, the left ventricle does contribute to cardiac output.

Intraocular pressure elevation after Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation after Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and associated clinical findings.

Methods: Forty-eight eyes of 46 patients who underwent DSEK were studied in this single-center retrospective study. IOP elevation was defined as the presence of an increase in IOP above 21 mmHg lasting at least two months, the need to introduce topical/oral antiglaucoma medications for at least two months, and the need for surgical therapy for uncontrolled IOP.

Postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes in children.

Induction of anesthesia can be a very stressful period for a child and his family and can be associated with increased risk of psychological disturbances. These disturbances are categorized as preoperative anxiety, emergence delirium and postoperative behavioral changes. Several tools have been developed to measure these psychological manifestations as well as the baseline personality traits of these patients.

Changes in bone alkaline phosphatase and procollagen type-1 C-peptide after static and dynamic exercises.

We investigated the effects of two types of nonweight-bearing exercise on changes in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and procollagen type 1 C-peptide (PIP). BAP is a specific marker of bone synthesis, whereas P1P reflects synthesis of type 1 collagen in other organs as well as bone. Eight participants performed static and dynamic unilateral knee extensions.

The Vision Van, a mobile eye clinic, aids relief efforts in tsunami-stricken areas.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, our group at Keio University worked diligently to bring the Vision Van, a mobile eye clinic, from Miami, Florida, to disaster areas where medicines, eyeglasses, and indeed all other ophthalmological supplies and services, were nonexistent, thereby assisting many tsunami survivors suffering from eye problems. This act was encouraging not only to the patients and those working in the disaster-hit areas but also to ophthalmologists who wanted to use their medical specialty to assist those in need.

The association between primary open-angle glaucoma and fall: an observational study.

Purpose: Falls are among the most serious public health concerns for the elderly. Information conveyed via the visual sense is relevant to postural balance and movement, and proper visual function is essential to avoid falls. Here we investigated the prevalence of injurious falls among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who were more than 45 years old, compared with comparably aged healthy subjects.

Low diastolic blood pressure is associated with the progression of normal-tension glaucoma.

Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between blood pressure (BP) and visual field defect progression in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

Methods: The subjects were 35 consecutive patients with NTG who were admitted to Keio University Hospital for 24-hour intraocular pressure evaluation; all subjects underwent 6 or more visual field tests in either eye and were followed up for more than 5 years. Systolic and diastolic BPs were measured at 9.

Transpupillary thermotherapy for atypical central serous chorioretinopathy.

Background: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) has been traditionally treated with laser photocoagulation. We thought that transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) utilizing a lower temperature than that of conventional laser photocoagulation might minimize permanent retinal and choroidal damage. Studies suggest that undesirable effects on vision due to TTT are minimal even if it is applied to foveal and/or parafoveal lesions when TTT requires a larger irradiation spot.

Retrograde intubation during laryngeal cleft repair on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Retrograde intubation is part of the difficult airway algorithm in the American Society of Anesthesiologists, but its usage is rare in small pediatric patients with the advent of new intubation techniques. We present our experience of retrograde intubation for a 4-month-old patient who presented for laryngeal cleft repair on cardiopulmonary bypass. This case highlights the unique place for retrograde intubation in small patients in the current era.

Neural degeneration in the retina of the streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model.

Diabetic retinopathy, a vision-threatening disease, has been regarded as a vascular disorder. However, impaired oscillatory potentials (OPs) in the electroretinogram (ERG) and visual dysfunction are recorded before severe vascular lesions appear. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the retinal neural degeneration observed in the streptozotocin-(STZ-) induced type 1 diabetes model.