Relationship Between Astigmatism and Aging in Middle-aged and Elderly Japanese

Purpose To study the effect of aging on astigmatism in adult Japanese.Methods Measurements of refractive errors and keratometry were performed on 2161 randomly selected subjects (aged 40–79 years). The relation between age and the net value in diopters (D) of astigmatism was evaluated with a trend test. The relation between age and the polar value was also examined by linear regression analysis.Results The mean (±SD) value of total and corneal astigmatism was –0.97 ± 0.72D and –0.86 ± 0.63D, respectively, and the net value of both increased with age (P trend < 0.001). The prevalence of either type of astigmatism also increased with age, according to the Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel test (P < 0.0001 for total and P < 0.01 for corneal astigmatism). The prevalence of against-the-rule astigmatism increased with age for either type of astigmatism (P < 0.0001 for total, P < 0.0001 for corneal). According to the analysis of polar values by age, the regression coefficient (±SE) for total and corneal astigmatism was –0.024 ± 0.002 (P < 0.0001) and –0.028 ± 0.002 (P < 0.0001), respectively. There was no statistical difference between these two regression coefficients.Conclusions The prevalence of astigmatism increases and the axis turns to against-the-rule with age. The result of the linear regression analysis indicates that the age-related change in astigmatism is mainly associated with changes in the cornea. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:127–133 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005     

ERCP using double-balloon endoscopes in patients with Roux-en-Y anastomosis

Introduction

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and associated procedures are difficult to perform in patients with a Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Therefore, at present, at many institutions, ERCP is not generally performed for those with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

Methods

However, double-balloon endoscopes (DBEs) have dramatically changed this situation.

Results

The use of a DBE enables an endoscopic approach into the deeply situated small intestine, which has been difficult with a conventional endoscope. Therefore, ERCP for patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis has been attempted using a DBE, and good results have been reported.

Conclusion

The development of DBEs has created the possibility of performing ERCP for patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction in whom an endoscopic approach has conventionally been believed to be difficult.     

Induction of long-term lipopolysaccharide tolerance by an agonistic monoclonal antibody to the toll-like receptor 4/MD-2 complex

We have established an agonistic monoclonal antibody, UT12, that induces stimulatory signals comparable to those induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through Toll-like receptor 4 and MD-2. UT12 activated nuclear factor kappaB and induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peritoneal exudative cells. In addition, mice injected with UT12 rapidly fell into endotoxin shock concomitant with the augmentation of serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels, followed by death within 12 h. On the other hand, when the mice were pretreated with a sublethal dose of UT12, the mice survived the subsequent lethal LPS challenges, with significant suppression of serum TNF-alpha and IL-6, indicating that UT12 induced tolerance against LPS. This effect of UT12 was maintained for at least 9 days. In contrast, the tolerance induced by LPS continued for less than 3 days. These results illuminate a novel potential therapeutic strategy for endotoxin shock by the use of monoclonal antibodies against the Toll-like receptor 4/MD-2 complex.     

Establishment of a bipotent cell line CL-1 which differentiates into chondrocytes and adipocytes from adult mouse

OBJECTIVE: Establishment of a clonal bipotent chondroprogenitor cell line from adult mouse to provide a new tool for the elucidation of chondrogenesis in adult animal. DESIGN: A clonal cell line CL-1 was established from tibia of adult mouse. Differentiation of CL-1 was characterized in monolayer culture. Effects of growth factors (TGF-beta(1), IGF-I, bFGF) and hormones (all trans retinoic acid, 1 alpha.25(OH)(2)D(3), PTH (1-34)) on the growth and differentiation of CL-1 were examined. Bipotency of CL-1 in vivo was examined by transplantation into SCID mice. RESULTS: CL-1 formed alcian blue (pH1.0) positive nodules spontaneously. The nodules were mineralized in the presence of ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate. CL-1 differentiated also into oil red O positive adipocytes spontaneously. CL-1 cells expressed specific genes of chondrocytes (collagen type II, X, aggrecan) and adipocytes (PPAR-gamma(2), aP(2)). Hyaline cartilage and adipose tissue formation was observed also in subcutaneously transplanted CL-1 cells into SCID mice. These data demonstrate that CL-1 has bipotency either in vitro or in vivo. TGF-beta(1)suppressed growth of CL-1 and induced dominant chondrogenesis accompanied with marked suppression of adipogenesis in 10% FCS. IGF-I stimulated both growth (in 3% FCS) and differentiation of CL-1 into both lineages (in 10% FCS). 1 alpha.25(OH)(2)D(3)and all trans retinoic acid acted as negative regulators on proliferation and differentiation of CL-1 in 10% FCS. CONCLUSIONS: CL-1 will be a useful tool for the understanding of chondrogenesis in adult animal. Furthermore, CL-1 can be also a powerful tool for screening of the chondrogenic agent.