[Assessment of visual function and satisfaction in pseudophakic monovision]

PURPOSE

To investigate the visual function and acceptability of pseudophakic monovision in relation to age.

METHODS

We examined 82 cases (age: 49-87 years) with pseudophakic monovision. All cases were undergone monovision using monofocal intraocular lens (IOLs). The cases were classified into three groups based on their age (A, less than 60 years; B, between 60 to 70 years ; and C, more than 70 years). Refractive error, visual acuity at various distances, contrast sensitivity, and near stereopsis were measured. Using a questionnaire, patient satisfaction before and after cataract surgery was evaluated.

RESULT

The mean difference in spherical equivalent refractive error between both eyes was 2.27 D (A, 2.39D; B, 2.30D; and C, 2.20 D). Most cases had a binocular uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 or better at all distances. For contrast sensitivity, binocular summation was observed at 1.5 to 6 cycles/ degree. Near stereopsis was in the normal range, which was less than or equal to 100 seconds of arc. Moreover, it was found that 82% of the patients were satisfied with the results (A, 68%; B, 86%; and C, 93%).

CONCLUSION

Pseudophakic monovision may be an effective approach for managing loss of accommodation after cataract surgery especially in patients over 60 years of age. However, careful selection of patients should be carried out.

Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics of curatively resected pancreatic head and body/tail ductal cancers

Few studies exist comparing the clinicopathological features between resectable pancreatic head (Ph) and body/tail ductal cancer (Pbt). Eighty consecutive patients with resectable tumors (Ph-56, Pbt-24) were analyzed. Tumor size was the only significant difference in clinicopathological factors between Ph and Pbt (Ph<Pbt). Although the MSTs between Ph and Pbt were not significant different, the 1-year survival rate of Ph was significantly greater than that of Pbt (67.9% versus 41.7%; p = 0.028). There were no significantly differences of recurrent rates between Ph and Pbt for individual recurrent sites. In Ph, highly metastasized LN stations were No.13 (on the posterior aspect of the head of the pancreas) at 48.2%, No.17 (on the anterior surface of the head of the pancreas) at 21.4%, No.12 (in the hepatoduodenal ligament) at 10.7%, and No.14 (along the superior mesenteric artery) at 8.9%. In Pbt, No.11 LN station (along the splenic artery) was frequently metastasized (41.7%). Although the metastasized LN stations were different between Ph and Pbt by anatomical reason, biological malignant behaviors such as the LN metastasis rate, the overall survival, and the recurrent pattern were similar.

Synthetic nucleosides and nucleotides. 43. Inhibition of vertebrate telomerases by carbocyclic oxetanocin g (C.OXT-G) triphosphate analogues and influence of C.OXT-G treatment on telomere length in human HL60 cells

Telomerase, responsible for telomere synthesis, is expressed in approximately 90% of human tumor cells but seldom in normal somatic cells. In this study, inhibition by carbocyclic oxetanocin G triphosphate (C. OXT-GTP) and its analogues was investigated in order to clarify the susceptibility of telomerase to various nucleotide analogues. C. OXT-GTP competitively inhibited telomerase activity with respect to dGTP However, C. OXT-GTP had a potent inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase alpha. It was examined whether the nucleoside (C. OXT-G) was able to alter telomere length in cultured human HL60 cells. Contrary to expectation, long-term treatment with 10 microM C. OXT-G was found to cause telomere lengthening.

Telomerase-inhibitory effects of sugar-modified nucleotide analogs

Telomerase is an endogenous reverse transcriptase that uses its internal RNA moiety as a template for the synthesis of telomere repeats, thus maintaining telomere length. To study the susceptibility of telomerase to sugar-modified nucleotide analogs, inhibition by arabinofuranosylguanine 5'-triphosphate (araGTP), 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (AZdGTP), 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-fluoroarabino-furanosylguanine 5'-triphosphate (FaraGTP), and their thymine counterparts was investigated. Among these compounds, all dGTP analogs showed potent inhibitory activity against human telomerase. Conversely, dTTP analogs showed moderate or weak inhibition. Partially purified telomerase from cherry salmon testis utilized ddGTP and AZdGTP as substrates into the 3'-terminus of DNA.

Inhibition of vertebrate telomerases by the triphosphate derivatives of carbocyclic oxetanocin analogs

Telomerase is a cellular endogenous reverse transcriptase that uses its internal RNA as a template for extension of the telomere repeat, thus maintaining telomere length. In order to clarify the susceptibility of telomerase to triphosphate derivatives of carbocyclic oxetanocins, inhibition by 9-[trans-trans-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclobutyl]guanine triphosphate (C.OXT-GTP) and its methylene analog, 9-(cis-3-hydroxymethyl-2-methylenecyclobutyl)guanine triphosphate (m-C.OXT-GTP) was investigated. Both compounds showed potent inhibitory activity. Lineweaver-Burk plot analyses showed that the inhibition mode of these compounds was competitive with dGTP, the Ki values for C.OXT-GTP and m-C.OXT-GTP being 2.0 microM and 4.9 microM, respectively, and thus smaller than the Km of dGTP (11 microM).

Late-onset diffuse lamellar keratitis

BACKGROUND

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is marked by the presence of diffuse or multifocal infiltrates confined to the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) interface. These infiltrates are culture-negative, and the etiology is thought to be noninfectious. Most cases of DLK occur within the first week or 2 following surgery.

CASES

We described 2 cases of DLK that occurred 3 months after LASIK. These patients were treated with intensive topical corticosteroids.

RESULTS

Treatment with topical corticosteroid was instituted, with rapid improvement in patient symptoms, visual acuity, and slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings.

CONCLUSION

DLK may occur as late as 3 months after LASIK.

[Late onset diffuse lamellar keratitis]

BACKGROUND

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is marked by the presence of diffuse or multifocal infiltrates confined to the laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) interface. These infiltrates are culture-negative, and the etiology is thought to be noninfectious. Most cases of DLK occur within the first week or two following surgery.

CASE

We describe two cases of diffuse lamellar keratitis that occurred 3 months after LASIK. These patients were treated with intensive topical corticosteroids.

RESULTS

We treated the patients with topical corticosteroids, with rapid improvement in patient symptoms, visual acuity, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy.

CONCLUSION

DLK may occur three months after LASIK.

Inhibitory effect of histamine on axonal transport in cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons

Histamine is important in mediating peripheral sensory information such as inflammation, allergic hypersensitivity, and itch. In the present study, using video-enhanced microscopy, we investigated the effect of histamine on axonal transport in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of the mouse. Application of histamine (100 microM) reversibly reduced the number of particles transported within neurites in both anterograde and retrograde directions. The histamine H(1)-receptor agonist 2-thiazolylethylamine (100 microM) and the H(3)-receptor agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine (100 microM) also reduced anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, whereas the histamine H(2)-receptor agonist dimaprit (100-1000 microM) had no effect. The effect of histamine was partially blocked by pretreatment with H(1)-receptor antagonist pyrilamine (1 microM) or the H(3)-receptor antagonist thioperamide (1 microM). Pretreatment with a combination of pyrilamine (1 microM) and thioperamide (1 microM) completely blocked the response to histamine. The H(2)-receptor antagonist cimetidine (1 microM) was ineffective. These results suggest that histamine inhibits axonal transport of cultured mouse DRG neurons via the activation of H(1)- and H(3)-receptors.

Unique behavior of rubidium in mice under low oxygen atmosphere. Simultaneous tracing of Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Y, and Zr using off radioactive multitracer technique

Relative tissue distributions of Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Y, and Zr tracers were studied in young mice housed under four different O2 atmospheres (10 percent, 20 percent, 80 percent, and 100 percent O2) using the radioactive multitracer technique developed at The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN). At 48 hr after injection of the multitracer, the tissue uptake rates were examined for 10 tissues (brain, cardiac muscle, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, skeletal muscle, bone, and blood) and expressed as the radioactivity percentage of the injected dose per gram of wet tissue (percent dose/g). Rubidium uptake rates for all soft tissues of mice housed under a 10 percent O2 atmosphere were found to be higher than those of the tissues of mice housed under the other three O2 atmospheres (20 percent, 80 percent, and 100 percent), but no difference was observed for the other elements (Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Se, etc.) under any of the O2 atmospheres.

Biodistribution of trace elements in normal, aluminum-overloaded and cadmium-overloaded mice. An application of the radioactive multitracer technique

The radioactive multitracer technique was applied to simultaneous evaluation of biobehavior of many trace elements in normal, Al-overloaded and Cd-overloaded mice. The tissue and subcellular distributions of Be, Sc, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ru, and Rh were examined by using a multitracer solution, prepared from an Ag target irradiated with heavy ions, in 9 organs (brain, cardiac muscle, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, skeletal muscle, and bone) and blood. Their tissue and subcellular distributions were evaluated by gamma-ray spectrometry in terms of tissue uptake rate (the radioactivity percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue, percent of dose/g) and fractionation percentage (the radioactivity percentage of nuclear fraction, mitochondrial fraction, microsomal fraction or supernatant fraction, percent), respectively. Comparative biobehavior of these elements in brain and liver is reported. Aluminium- and Cd-induced synergistic interactions were observed among these trace elements in their liver uptake behavior.

Bone uptake of vanadium in mice: simultaneous tracing of V, Se, Sr, Y, Zr, Ru and Rh using a radioactive multitracer

The radioactive multitracer technique, which enables simultaneous tracing of a number of elements in a variety of bio-systems and an accurate comparison of their biobehavior, was employed in a study on uptake behavior of trace elements in various mice tissues, focusing on uptake of V by bone. We found that the bone uptake behavior of trace V closely resembles that of trace Sr and Y. It is suggested that V is a bone-seeking element which probably plays an important role in bone formation. The multitracer technique was thus shown to be useful for comparative studies of behavior of trace elements in living organisms.

Monozygotic twin patients with congenital ichthyosis, microcephalus, spastic quadriplegia, myoclonus, and EEG abnormalities

A pair of monozygotic twins manifested widespread ichthyosis on the trunk and extremities, mainly on the extensor surface of the lower legs. Both patients had severe developmental retardation, microcephalus, spastic quadriplegia, myoclonus, and hearing impairment. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse cortical atrophy. Electroencephalography documented diffuse slow wave dysrhythmia and marked epileptic discharges, namely bilateral occipital dominant, and low-voltage multifocal spikes which appeared asynchronously as a burst, mainly during sleep. Skin biopsy revealed hyperkeratosis with parakeratosis. Granular cell layer was not thickened and diminished. Papillomatosis was absent. Electron microscopy did not reveal any distinctive abnormalities. Sjögren-Larsson syndrome and other known ichthyosis syndromes were excluded because of the difference in localization of skin lesions, skin manifestations, lack of papillomatosis, the nature and severity of neurologic symptoms and marked electroencephalographic abnormalities.

Myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers: a clinical and electrophysiologic follow-up study on two sibling cases

We performed a 5-year clinical and electrophysiologic follow-up study on two sibling cases with myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers. Both had myoclonus, intention tremor, slight muscle weakness, slight mental disturbance, hearing impairment, and optic atrophy. Neither had epileptic attacks or truncal or gait ataxia. Biochemical activity of cytochrome c oxidase was at the lower limit of the normal range of values, and an adenine to guanine transition mutation at nucleotide 8344 in the transfer RNA specific for lysine of mitochondrial DNA was detected in both cases. The electroencephalograms showed slowing of basic patterns, diffuse spike-and-wave complexes, occipital dominant wave-and-spike phantoms, 6- and 14-Hz positive spikes, and photosensitivity. No definite deterioration of basic patterns was seen, and diffuse spike-and-wave complexes and photosensitivity gradually disappeared during the slowly progressive clinical course. P2 latencies of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials throughout the clinical course and III through V interpeak latencies of auditory brainstem responses at follow-up were prolonged without giant sensory evoked potentials in both cases.