Influence of tilt and decentration of scleral-sutured intraocular lens on ocular higher-order wavefront aberration

AIM

To investigate the influence of tilt and decentration of scleral-sutured intraocular lenses (IOLs) on ocular higher-order wavefront aberrations.

METHODS

In 45 eyes of 36 patients who had undergone scleral suture fixation of posterior chamber IOL, tilt and decentration of IOLs were determined by Scheimpflug videophotography, and higher-order aberration for a 4-mm pupil was measured using the Hartmann-Shack aberrometer. In another 100 eyes of 100 patients after standard cataract surgery with posterior chamber IOL implantation, ocular higher-order aberration was measured.

RESULTS

In eyes with scleral-sutured IOL, the mean (SD) tilt angle and decentration were 4.43 degrees (3.02 degrees ) and 0.279 (0.162) mm, respectively. Ocular coma-like aberration in the sutured IOL group was 0.324 (0.170) microm, which was significantly greater than that of the standard cataract surgery group (0.169 (0.061) microm, p<0.001, Student's t test). No significant difference was found in ocular spherical-like aberration between the sutured IOL group (0.142 (0.065) microm) and standard surgery group (0.126 (0.033) microm; p = 0.254). In the sutured IOL group, IOL tilt significantly correlated with ocular coma-like aberration (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.628, p<0.001), but no significant correlation was found between IOL tilt and ocular spherical-like aberration (r = 0.222, p = 0.175). The IOL tilt did not correlate with corneal coma-like (r = 0.289, p = 0.171) and spherical-like (r = 0.150, p = 0.356) aberrations. The IOL decentration did not correlate with any higher-order aberrations.

CONCLUSION

In eyes with scleral-sutured posterior chamber IOL, tilting of the lens induces considerable amount of ocular coma-like aberrations.

Focal area of ground-glass opacity and ground-glass opacity predominance on thin-section CT: Discrimination between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions

AIM

To reveal differences in thin-section computed tomography (CT) findings between lung neoplastic lesions and non-neoplastic lesions, which showed a focal area of ground-glass opacity or ground-glass opacity predominance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 82 focal areas of ground-glass opacity and ground-glass opacity predominance, consisting of 38 neoplastic and 44 non-neoplastic lesions, were assessed retrospectively regarding their thin-section CT findings.

RESULTS

The frequency of wholly well-defined margin (p=0.001), spiculation (p=0.019), pleural indentation (p=0.016), air bronchograms (p=0.027), air-containing space (p=0.004) was significantly higher in neoplastic lesions than in non-neoplastic lesions. Thirty-four of 38 (89%) neoplastic lesions were well-defined in more than 50% of the circumference, of which nine had an air-containing space other than air bronchogram, whereas only one non-neoplastic lesion had these features.

CONCLUSION

A focal area of ground-glass opacity or ground-glass opacity predominance with a well-defined margin and air-containing space is more likely to be a neoplasm.

A randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial of the aldose reductase inhibitor CT-112 as management of corneal epithelial disorders in diabetic patients

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of topical aldose reductase inhibitor CT-112 (5-[3-ethoxy-4-pentyloxyphenyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione) on corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomised, double masked placebo controlled study. 34 eyes of 34 diabetic patients were randomly assigned treatment with 0.25% eye drops of CT-112 (n = 22) or a placebo (n = 12) four times a day for 8 weeks. Corneal fluorescein staining and corneal sensation were examined before treatment as well as 4 and 8 weeks after administration. Corneal epithelial permeability to fluorescence was measured with an anterior fluorophotometer.

RESULTS

Average scores of superficial punctate keratopathy and corneal sensitivity did not differ significantly between the two groups at any time. Whereas average fluorescein concentrations did not differ significantly for the CT-112 and placebo groups before treatment, they did differ significantly 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (4 weeks, p = 0.0327; 8 weeks, p = 0.0143).

CONCLUSION

The topical aldose reductase inhibitor, CT-112 improves the corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.

Rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in elementary school children

OBJECTIVE

Three critical periods have been suggested for the development of obesity during childhood: fetal, ages 4-6 y, and adolescence. The prevalence of obesity in elementary school children is increasing in Japan, and the present study examines whether this rising prevalence occurs during the elementary school period (age 6-11 y) or is occurring prior to entry into elementary school.

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional sampling of cohorts of children for the prevalence of obesity.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The data from 81 264 first grade and 87 849 seventh grade children (94 and 87% of the total populations, respectively) between 1989 and 2002 in Kagoshima City were analyzed. Data were also obtained from nationwide surveys published by the Ministry of Japan between 1989 and 2001.

MEASUREMENTS

Obesity was defined by the body mass index for an age- and sex-specific 95th percentile cutoff point in Japanese children. Trends in obesity and odds ratios of the prevalence of obesity were also determined.

RESULTS

The period 1989-2001/2 showed significant increases in the prevalence of obesity for both genders, in both first and seventh grades, and in both Kagoshima City and nationwide. The odds ratios for the prevalence of obesity of 12-y-old children calculated against the prevalence of obesity within the same cohort at 6 y old revealed that a significant risk for development of obesity during the elementary school years applied only to boys from around 1993 onward in Kagoshima City and applied throughout the study period in nationwide Japan.

CONCLUSION

Obesity prevalence increases for boys during elementary school years but does not significantly increase for girls. A rising trend for becoming obese before starting elementary school was present for both boys and girls over the period 1989-2001. Educational programs to improve nutrition and physical activity, especially for boys, are becoming increasingly necessary.

A prospective, randomised comparison of single and three piece acrylic foldable intraocular lenses

AIMS

To compare the postoperative performance of single and three piece acrylic foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs).

METHODS

20 patients underwent bilateral cataract surgery with a single piece SA30AL IOL in one eye and a three piece MA30BA IOL in the other eye. The eyes were randomly assigned to either a single or three piece lens. The amount of IOL decentration and tilt, area of anterior capsule opening, and degree of posterior capsule opacification were measured using the Scheimpflug anterior segment analysis system (Nidek EAS-1000). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were examined. Measurements were performed by masked examiners before and 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 18 months after surgery.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05, paired t test) in the amount of IOL decentration, IOL tilt, area of anterior capsule opening, degree of posterior capsule opacification, best corrected visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity throughout the 18 month follow up period.

CONCLUSION

The single and three piece acrylic foldable IOLs are equally stable in the eye after surgery.

Comparison of corneal thickness measurements using Orbscan II, non-contact specular microscopy, and ultrasonic pachymetry in eyes after laser in situ keratomileusis

AIMS

To compare central corneal thickness measurements of three pachymetry devices in eyes after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

METHODS

Central corneal thickness was measured in 203 eyes after myopic LASIK. Orbscan II scanning slit topography (Bausch & Lomb), SP-2000P non-contact specular microscopy (Topcon), and ultrasonic pachymetry (Tomey) were used in this sequence.

RESULTS

Three devices gave significantly different corneal thickness readings (p<0.0001, repeated measure analysis of variance). The measurements of Orbscan II (445.6 (SD 60.0) microm) were significantly smaller than those of noncontact specular microscopy (467.9 (SD 40.2) micro m; p<0.0001, Tukey multiple comparison) and ultrasonic pachymetry (478.8 (SD 41.9) microm; p<0.0001). The value obtained with SP-2000P non-contact specular microscopy was significantly smaller than that taken with ultrasonic pachymetry (p<0.001). There were significant linear correlations between scanning slit topography and non-contact specular microscopy (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.912, p<0.0001), non-contact specular microscopy and ultrasonic pachymetry (r = 0.968, p<0.0001), and ultrasonic pachymetry and scanning slit topography (r = 0.933, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In post-LASIK eyes, Orbscan II scanning slit topography significantly underestimated corneal thickness. Non-contact specular microscopy gave smaller thickness readings than ultrasonic pachymetry, but these two units showed an excellent linear correlation.

[Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma; report of two cases]

Primary pulmonary malignant lymphoma is a rare disease that is thought to belong to a category of malignant lymphomas arising from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). We presented 2 cases of MALT lymphoma. Case 1: In a 39-year-old woman, an abnormal shadow was detected in chest radiography in the left S3. The diagnosis was organizing pneumonia in consequence of the further examination. One year after an growing abnormal shadow was detected again, we performed the tumor resection with the thoracoscopy in the possibility of malignancy. The pathological diagnosis was MALT lymphoma. Case 2: In a 70-year-old man, middle lobe syndrome was detected in chest radiography. As a result of the bronchial biopsy, the lesion was suspected of MALT lymphoma. Right middle lobectomy was performed, and the tumor was diagnosed as a MALT lymphoma histologically. He underwent an effective postoperative radiotherapy and has had no evidence of recurrence.

Persistence of systolic coronary flow reversal predicts irreversible dysfunction after reperfused anterior myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate serial assessments of systolic coronary flow reversal in the infarct related artery for predicting poor left ventricular functional recovery after reperfused acute myocardial infarction.

SETTING

Regional hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

49 patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction had transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to record coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery immediately after successful primary coronary angioplasty (day 0), and at 48 hours, one week, and three weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Coronary flow velocity at each time point; regional wall motion score index (RWMSI) at day 0 and at three weeks. Irreversible dysfunction was defined as a decrease in RWMSI to < 0.22.

RESULTS

Measurements of coronary flow velocity could be made in 45 patients. Patients were divided into three groups: no systolic flow reversal (group 1, n = 27), systolic flow reversal observed only on day 0 (group 2, n = 8), and systolic flow reversal persisting until 48 hours (group 3, n = 10). Although baseline RWMSI was similar among the three groups, the value at three weeks was significantly higher in group 3 than in the other two groups. In predicting irreversible dysfunction, the persistence of systolic flow reversal up to 48 hours had a higher positive predictive value (100%) than the presence of systolic flow reversal on day 0 (67%, p < 0.04). The negative predictive value of systolic flow reversal at 48 hours (83%) was comparable in accuracy to the presence of systolic flow reversal on day 0 (85%, NS).

CONCLUSIONS

In reperfused anterior acute myocardial infarction, serial assessment of coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery is feasible using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and the persistence of systolic flow reversal at 48 hours is a more specific marker of irreversible dysfunction than peak creatine kinase or diastolic deceleration time.

Horner's syndrome caused by a thoracic dumbbell-shaped schwannoma: sympathetic chain reconstruction after a one-stage removal of the tumor

STUDY DESIGN

A case of Horner's syndrome caused by a thoracic dumbbell-shaped schwannoma is reported.

OBJECTIVES

To report a rare case of a mediastinal dumbbell-shaped schwannoma as a cause of Horner's syndrome and to show the result of intercostal nerve grafting for sympathetic chain reconstruction after resection of the sympathetic nerve.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

It has been reported that approximately 10% of neurogenic mediastinal tumors extend through the neural foramen into the spinal canal, creating a dumbbell shape. Although the most frequent causes of Horner's syndrome are tumors, a dumbbell-shaped schwannoma has rarely been described as a cause of the syndrome. Moreover, there have been no previous reports that primary sympathetic chain reconstruction has been performed with an intercostal nerve graft after resection of the sympathetic nerve with the tumor.

METHODS

A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a mediastinal tumor by routine chest radiography. The patient had right-sided Horner's syndrome, the signs of which she had not noticed. Surgical resection of the dumbbell-shaped tumor was performed in a one-stage combined resection of both the intraspinal and the mediastinal component of the tumor. Primary sympathetic chain reconstruction was also performed with an intercostal nerve graft.

RESULTS

The tumor was resected completely, and no recurrence of the tumor was observed 1 year after the operation. Blepharoptosis and anhidrosis on the right side of her face and upper limb gradually improved after surgery, and compensatory oversweating on the left side eventually improved. In bright illumination, the right pupil diameter was 3.5 mm and the left was 5 mm after surgery; the right pupil measured 4 mm and the left measured 5 mm 1 year after the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

A mediastinal dumbbell-shaped schwannoma has rarely been described as a cause of Horner's syndrome. Primary sympathetic nerve reconstruction with an intercostal nerve was shown to be useful after resection of the sympathetic nerve involved in the tumor.

Who is becoming overweight during the elementary school years?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk of becoming overweight for every first grader during the elementary school years and to determine whether the overall risk of becoming overweight for first graders is increasing.

STUDY DESIGN

A descriptive study using school-based surveys of 12,588 boys and 12,264 girls who entered elementary school between 1989 and 1994. Six years later, the follow-up survey was conducted. Overweight was defined using the BMI percentile cut-off points.

MEASUREMENTS

For every 5th percentile rank of first graders, the odds ratio for becoming overweight at seventh grade was calculated. A hockey stick regression analysis and the yearly trend of the risk for becoming overweight at 7th grade were also investigated.

RESULTS

For overweight children in first grade, the odds ratio for staying at the same level was extremely high in both boys (35.0) and girls (63.9). The threshold effects of the BMI percentile value at first grade for becoming overweight were the 81st and 87th percentiles for boys and girls, respectively, according to the hockey stick model. The overall risk for becoming overweight significantly increased in boys during the study period (P=0.009).

CONCLUSION

The present study determined the exact level of the risk for becoming overweight for every first grader at a different BMI percentile rank. The risk of overweight children in first grade who stayed at the same level at seventh grade was higher in girls than in boys. On the other hand, the trend of the entire population for becoming overweight presents only in boys. The different pattern of the trend of population for becoming overweight by sex during elementary school period may provide evidence to understand and predict overweight in adolescents and adults.

A simple method for evaluating abnormal lengthening of the QT interval during the face immersion test

The slope of the relation between the unadjusted QT interval and heart rate during the face immersion test has been reported to be useful as an index for predicting an abnormal lengthening of the QT interval for children with nonfamilial long QT syndrome. Our goals were to determine whether we can replace the slope of the QT/heart rate relation calculated from all data with that calculated from fewer data and to determine whether we can replace the slope with the corrected QT value by heart rate (QTc value) at the minimum heart rate. We studied 19 children with a prolonged QT interval and 54 control children by using statistical analysis. The slope calculated from the selected data points (at least four) was in agreement with the slope calculated from all data, and the relationship between the slope and the QTc value at the minimum heart rate showed a high correlation. It was determined that we can replace the slope calculated from all data with that calculated from at least four data points and replace the slope with the QTc value at the minimum heart rate as an index for predicting an abnormal lengthening of the QT interval.

[Activities of thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in patients with colorectal cancer]

Between 1998 and 2001, 82 colorectal cancers were resected in our hospital. The activities of TS and DPD were evaluated. TS activities in tumor tissues were significantly higher than in normal tissue, but the DPD activities had no significant difference between them. TS and DPD showed a correlation between normal and tumor tissues in stage III or IV patients. The TS value of patients with recurrence tended to be higher than that of patients with no recurrence. Especially in stage I or II patients with recurrence, who were administered 5-FU before recurrence, the TS value was significantly higher than in non-treated patients. In stage III or IV patients, it was considered that DPD prevention was important for 5-FU to effectively prevent TS. The TS value might be a new prospective risk factor for recurrence. Moreover, TS and DPD would be the index of biological malignancy.

Mechanical detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane from the posterior lens capsule

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of spontaneous detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane from the posterior lens capsule and to explore the possibility of surgical separation of the anterior hyaloid membrane.

DESIGN

Prospective nonrandomized interventional comparative trial and comparative human tissue study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-eight eyes of 32 patients undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation and 3 eye bank eyes for histopathologic examination.

METHODS

The anterior hyaloid membrane and posterior lens capsule were observed with a fiberoptic endoscope. Surgical separation of the anterior hyaloid membrane was attempted by either the hydrodissection method before cataract extraction (18 eyes) or the direct suction method after cataract extraction (20 eyes). In eye bank eyes, histopathologic examination was performed with (one eye) and without (two eyes) surgical separation of the anterior hyaloid membrane.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of spontaneous detachment and success rate of surgical detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane.

RESULTS

No eye displayed spontaneous detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane. Using the hydrodissection method, complete detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane was achieved in 10 eyes (55.6%), partial detachment was attained in 2 eyes (11.1%), and detachment was not induced at all in 6 eyes (33.3%). With the direct suction method, the anterior hyaloid membrane was completely separated from the posterior lens capsule in 10 eyes (50%), partially detached in 10 eyes (50%), and not detached at all in any eye. The direct suction method had a significantly higher success rate than the hydrodissection method (P < 0.001, chi-square test). In eye bank eyes, the surgical manipulation induced complete separation of the anterior hyaloid membrane from the lens capsule.

CONCLUSIONS

Spontaneous detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane from the posterior lens capsule is very rare. Under endoscopic observation, surgical detachment of the anterior hyaloid membrane was possible in half of the patients.

Corneal irregular astigmatism and contrast sensitivity after photorefractive keratectomy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relation between contrast sensitivity and corneal irregular astigmatism in eyes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

DESIGN

Prospective observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS

Seventy-nine eyes without corneal haze 6 months or more after PRK and 30 normal control eyes.

METHODS

Videokeratography was taken with TMS-1 (Computed Anatomy Inc. New York, NY), and contrast sensitivity for day and night vision was measured using a Multivision Contrast Tester 8000 (Vistech Consultants, Inc., Dayton, OH).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Regular and irregular astigmatism (asymmetry and higher order irregularity components) were computed using Fourier series harmonic analysis of the videokeratography data. Area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated from the contrast sensitivity data taken at five spatial frequencies.

RESULTS

After PRK, AULCSFs were significantly smaller for day vision (P = 0.007, unpaired t test) and night vision (P = 0.020) compared with normal controls. AULCSFs for day vision were significantly negatively correlated with asymmetry (Pearson's correlation coefficient, R = -0.23, P = 0.049) and higher order irregularity (R = -0.33, P = 0.004) components but not with the regular astigmatism component (P > 0.3). AULCSF for night vision correlated significantly with asymmetry (R = -0.31, P = 0.013) and higher order irregularity (R = -0.30, P = 0.016) components but not with the regular astigmatism component (P > 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal irregular astigmatism after PRK significantly influences contrast sensitivity.

A novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, YM-31636, increases gastrointestinal motility without increasing abdominal pain

We examined the effects of YM-31636 (2-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazole monofumarate), a novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, on gastrointestinal functions including visceral pain reflex in rats. Injection of YM-31636 increased the number of fecal pellets. This effect was completely inhibited by ramosetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. YM-31636 also increased the intracolonic pressure measured in both conscious and anesthetized rats. In isolated distal colon, YM-31636 increased the short-circuit current response. This effect was abolished by ramosetron. Both the maximal response and the potency of YM-31636 were weaker than those of other 5-HT3 receptor agonists. In two visceral pain reflex models, YM-31636 neither changed the magnitude of pressor response to colonic distension in anesthetized rats nor affected the visceromotor threshold to colorectal distension in conscious rats. In conclusion, YM-31636 facilitated defecation without increasing visceral pain. Consequently, 5-HT3 receptor agonists like YM-31636 would be promising in the treatment of chronic constipation.

Involvement of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/TrkB pathway in neuroprotecive effect of cyclosporin A in forebrain ischemia

Recent studies have shown that cyclosporin A, a specific antagonist of calcineurin, a phosphatase, ameliorates neuronal cell death in the CA1 sector of the hippocampus after forebrain ischemia in animal models. The mechanism of this neuroprotective effect, however, has not yet been established. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophins, is one of the potent survival and developmental factors whose expression is regulated by cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB). Activation of CREB is dependent on its phosphorylation at Ser(133), and calcineurin has been reported to dephosphorylate CREB via protein phosphatase 1. Based on these observations, we attempted to investigate how cyclosporin A treatment would affect the changes of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), BDNF and its receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) after forebrain ischemia in rats. Phosphorylation of CREB was kept augmented throughout the time course examined in cyclosporin A-treated animals, while it ceased without cyclosporin A. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed prolonged maintenance of BDNF mRNA expression in the CA1 sector of cyclosporin A-treated animals. The protein expression of BDNF and TrkB appeared to be up-regulated in cyclosporin A-treated animals, whereas it was transiently up-regulated but decreased to the marginal level of expression without cyclosporin A.From these results we suggest that cyclosporin A induces pCREB by an inhibition of calcineurin, resulting in the induction of BDNF. The mechanisms by which cyclosporin A protects the CA1 region from neuronal cell death in forebrain ischemia may involve the interaction of pCREB, BDNF and TrkB.