Effect of anti-inflammatory agents on corneal wound-healing process after surface excimer laser keratectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of anti-inflammatory agents on conjunctival inflammation and corneal haze formation after excimer laser keratectomy.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Methods: After excimer laser keratectomy was performed in 21 rabbits (42 eyes), saline, betamethasone 0.

Functional correlation of GABA(A) receptor alpha subunits expression with the properties of IPSCs in the developing thalamus.

GABA(A) receptor alpha1 and alpha2 subunits are expressed differentially with ontogenic period in the brain, but their functional roles are not known. We have recorded GABA(A) receptor-mediated IPSCs from laterodorsal (LD) thalamic relay neurons in slices of rat brain at various postnatal ages and found that decay times of evoked IPSCs and spontaneous miniature IPSCs undergo progressive shortening during the first postnatal month. With a similar time course, expression of transcripts and proteins of GABA(A) receptor alpha2 subunit in LD thalamic region declined, being replaced by those of alpha1 subunit.

Developmental changes in calcium channel types mediating central synaptic transmission.

Multiple types of high-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels trigger neurotransmitter release at the mammalian central synapse. Among them, the omega-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive N-type channels and the omega-Aga-IVA-sensitive P/Q-type channels mediate fast synaptic transmission. However, at most central synapses, it is not known whether the contributions of different Ca(2+) channel types to synaptic transmission remain stable throughout postnatal development.

Presynaptic mechanism for phorbol ester-induced synaptic potentiation.

Phorbol ester facilitates transmitter release at a variety of synapses, and the phorbol ester-induced synaptic potentiation (PESP) is a model for presynaptic facilitation. To address the mechanism underlying PESP, we have made paired whole-cell recordings from the giant presynaptic terminal, the calyx of Held, and its postsynaptic target in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in rat brainstem slices. Phorbol ester potentiated EPSCs without affecting either presynaptic calcium currents or potassium currents.

Study on Chlamydia trachomatis infection among students and pregnant women in Japan: a step toward developing a reliable method for sexual behavior study.

2450 sera from students and 5215 sera from pregnant women were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) antibody. CT antibody positive rates were less than 5% with the students and 24.5% with the pregnant women suggesting the latter is significantly higher than former.

[Dorsal root identification using spinal endoscopy and electro-physiology].

We aimed to develop a method of accurately identifying the dorsal root for the corresponding peripheral afferent nerve under endoscopic observation. We developed an endoscope with an external diameter of 1.8 mm.

Attenuation of focal ischemic brain injury in mice deficient in the epsilon1 (NR2A) subunit of NMDA receptor.

The role of glutamate neurotoxicity in cerebral ischemia has long been advocated but still remains controversial, because various glutamate receptor (GluR) antagonists showed inconsistent protective efficacy in brain ischemia models. To address this central issue of ischemic brain damage more directly, we used mutant mice deficient in the GluRepsilon1 (NR2A) subunit of NMDA receptor with or without additional heterozygous mutation in the GluRepsilon2 (NR2B) subunit. Those mutant mice, as well as their littermates, were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by introducing a 6-0 nylon suture from left common carotid artery.

Feasibility of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy with a wider scope of lymphadenectomy.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility and safety of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) accompanied by complete suprapyloric and infrapyloric lymph node dissection.

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: A university hospital in Japan.

Developmental changes in calcium channel types mediating synaptic transmission in rat auditory brainstem.

1. Calcium channel blockers were tested on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) at the synapse formed by the calyx of Held on the principal cells in the medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB) in brainstem slices of 4- to 14-day-old rats. 2.

G-Protein-coupled modulation of presynaptic calcium currents and transmitter release by a GABAB receptor.

Presynaptic GABAB receptors play a regulatory role in central synaptic transmission. To elucidate their underlying mechanism of action, we have made whole-cell recordings of calcium and potassium currents from a giant presynaptic terminal, the calyx of Held, and EPSCs from its postsynaptic target in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body of rat brainstem slices. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen suppressed EPSCs and presynaptic calcium currents but had no effect on voltage-dependent potassium currents.

[Which laryngoscope is the most stressful in laryngoscopy; Macintosh, Miller, or McCoy?].

Stress responses during laryngoscopy were compared among the situations using three different laryngoscopes, Macintosh (curved standard blade), Miller (straight blade), or McCoy (levering). Blood pressure, heart rate (in 58 patients) and plasma concentration of catecholamines (in 29 patients) were measured before, during and after laryngoscopy without tracheal intubation. Systolic blood pressure after laryngoscopy was significantly higher in the Miller group than in other two groups.

Specific immunosuppression of corneal allograft rejection by combination of anti-VLA-4 and anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies in mice.

It has been reported that allograft rejection is mediated by a variety of adhesion molecules. Using a corneal allograft model in mice, we studied the role of very late antigen (VLA)-4 and leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 adhesion molecules in corneal allograft rejection and the effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to them in suppressing corneal rejection. C3H/He donor corneas were transplanted into BALB/c corneal beds.

[Perioperative management of a patient with bilateral renal cell cancer and large vena caval tumor thrombosis].

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a kind of rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized with many kinds of tumor or cystic lesion. In this 30 year old woman, vena caval tumor thrombi from retroperitoneal malignancies caused by renal cell cancer extended into the right atrium. She was scheduled to undergo bilateral radical nephrectomy and removal of vena caval thrombi under continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and extracorporeal circulation.

Kidney, salt, and hypertension: how and why.

A hypothesis is proposed that the aberrant response of the tubuloglomerular feedback to salt load is the abnormality in the kidney in the genesis of essential hypertension. This thesis is based upon the following facts on the kidney, salt and hypertension. To effectively achieve the primary function of the kidney, that is, to maintain the milieu interieur or the extracellular fluids, the kidney must maintain a high glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and almost a complete tubular reabsorption in the face of limited salt intake or low ECF volume and in the face of changes in systemic blood pressure.

How is plasma calcium held constant? Milieu interieur of calcium.

Extracellular or plasma calcium ion concentration is held constant at 5 mg/dl through the actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and calcitonin, on their target organs, kidney and bone. The thresholds of renal tubular calcium reabsorption and bone resorption and formation are both set at 5 mg/dl. The set point of PTH secretion is also set at 5 mg/dl plasma calcium ion.

Treatment of focal cerebral ischemia with synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to lectin domain of selectin.

Background And Purpose: Synthetic oligopeptides with amino acid sequences of the lectin domain of selectin block selectin-mediated cell adhesion in vitro, which may be applied to a therapeutic intervention to attenuate acute inflammatory reactions. To evaluate the efficacy of such treatment against ischemic brain injury, the effects of administering a selectin oligopeptide that selectively blocks selectin-mediated cell adhesion on histological outcome and on cerebral blood flow (CBF) were studied in models of rodent focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats were anesthetized with halothane.

Effect of folding on the optical quality of soft acrylic intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To assess the effect of folding procedures on modulation transfer function (MTF) and resolving power (RP) in soft acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Setting: Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Methods: Folding procedures and other manipulations were performed on +18.

Role of the kidney in the genesis of hypertension: aberrant renal response to excess salt intake.

1. The kidney maintains the milieu intérieur of the body. To effectively achieve this function, the kidney must maintain a high glomerular filtration rate and high reabsorption in the face of limited salt intake or low extracellular volume and in the face of changes in systemic blood pressure.

[Usefulness and radiopacity of the two radiopaque epidural catheters].

We evaluated the radiopacity and usefulness of the two radiopaque epidural catheters, one by Portex CO. Ltd., and the other Flex Tip Plus with a stainless coil by Arrow Japan Co.

A polymorphism at codon 160 of human O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene in young patients with adult type cancers and functional assay.

O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) plays an important role in repair of alkylating agent-induced DNA damage. Among the alkylation products of DNA, O6-methylguanine is one of the most critical lesions leading to the induction of mutations. The enzyme MGMT transfers the methyl group from O6-methylguanine of DNA to its own cysteine residue.

Desensitization of endothelin-1 binding by vasopressin via a cAMP-mediated pathway in rat CCD.

In renal collecting ducts, endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibits Na+ reabsorption and antagonizes the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP). Whether AVP may affect ET-1 action in the collecting ducts that mainly express the ETB receptor subtype, however, remains unknown. Since ETB, but not ETA, possesses a consensus amino acid sequence for possible phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA), we hypothesized that AVP may influence ET-1 binding to the ETB receptor via PKA.

Regulation of mouse UBF gene by multiple growth-related control elements.

Transcription of the mouse Upstream Binding Factor (mUBF) gene, that encodes one of the essential transcription factors for ribosomal DNA transcription, starts from several nucleotides. Neither typical TATA-box nor CCAAT-box is found upstream of the transcription initiation site. In the promoter region, there are eight GC-boxes, eight AP-2 binding consensus sequences, four cAMP response elements, and several serum response element equivalent sequences.

[Future perspectives of Japanese Society of Nephrology].

The Japanese Society of Nephrology is established in 1958 by Drs Oshima, Yoshitoshi and Ueda and since then has grown to the current membership over 6,000. The Society has recently been incorporated and is expected to play a more leadership role in clinical practice, research, education and training of professionals in nephrology and in dissemination of new knowledge to the public domain. The strength and growth of the Society have been clearly seen in the quality and the number of publications by its membership to such prestigious journals as Kidney International and American Journal of Physiology, and submission of abstracts to the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology.