Gaze modulation of visual aftereffects

Physiological studies of non-human primates have suggested that the direction of gaze can modulate the gain of neuronal responses to visual stimuli in many cortical areas including V1. The neural gaze modulation is suggested to subserve the conversion from gaze-independent (eye-centered) to dependent (e.g., head-centered) representations. However, it has not been established whether the gaze modulation has significant influences on human visual perception. Here we show that gaze direction modestly but significantly modulates the magnitudes of the motion aftereffect, the tilt aftereffect and the size aftereffect. These aftereffects were stronger when the adaptation and test patterns were presented in the same gaze direction, than when they were presented in different gaze directions, even though the patterns always stimulated the same retinal location. The gaze modulation effect was not statistically significant for the post-adaptation elevation of contrast detection thresholds. The gaze modulation of visual aftereffects provides a useful psychophysical tool to analyze human cortical processes for coordinate transformations of visual space.     

Sustained deviation of gaze direction can affect "inverted vection" induced by the foreground motion

A slowly moving foreground with an orthogonally moving background can induce self-motion perception in the same direction as the foreground motion (inverted vection; [Vision Research 40 (2000) 2915]). In the present study, we investigate the effect of sustained gaze deviation on inverted vection. We hypothesized that gaze deviation affects eye-movement information registered in the perceptual system, which might be a primary factor for causing inverted vection. The experiment revealed that strength of inverted vection decreases with observer's gaze deviation in the same direction as the foreground motion, while it increases with the deviation in the opposite direction to the foreground. These results support our hypothesis and suggest that inverted vection is affected by eye-movement information.     

Anesthetic management for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a patient with primary aldosteronism

A 68-year-old male with primary aldosteronism who was scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We used propofol and suxamethonium to induce anesthesia, and measured plasma levels of aldosterone to evaluate the influence of ECT during anesthesia. Although plasma levels of aldosterone increased gradually after ECT, there were no complications including severe hypertension or arrhythmia perioperatively.     

A case of retroperitoneal abscess caused by Salmonella Oranienburg

The authors report a case of retroperitoneal abscess caused by Salmonella Oranienburg in an 8-year-old girl. This was one case in an epidemic of food poisoning from Salmonella Oranienburg or Salmonella Chester transmitted by many kinds of contaminated dried squid products. This is the first reported case of a retroperitoneal abscess by Salmonella Oranienburg.     

Importance of neuropsychological evaluation after surgery in patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms

BACKGROUND: We evaluated neuropsychological function before and after surgery in patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: Neuropsychological functions in 43 patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms were evaluated before and 1 month after surgery. The neuropsychological examination included the Mini-Mental State examination, "Kana-hiroi" test, Kohs Block Design test, and Miyake's Memory test. Then, if scores of even a single test were decreased 1 month after surgery, the tests were performed again 5 months later. In 24 of the 43 subjects, cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured before and 1 month after surgery by single-photon emission tomography. RESULTS: The outcome in all patients was evaluated as good according to the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). In 17 (40%) of the 43 patients, neuropsychological function had deteriorated 1 month after surgery. The most sensitive test applied was the Miyake's Memory test. Of 14 patients with neuropsychological deterioration 1 month after surgery, 6 showed complete recovery, 5 showed partial recovery, and 3 still showed cognitive deterioration 6 months after surgery. Patients over 65 years old, those with anterior communicating artery aneurysms, those operated by interhemispheric approach, or those with systemic diseases showed a greater tendency toward a decline in postoperative neuropsychological function than the other patients. The postoperative CBF and vascular response in the frontal lobe of affected-side was decreased in cases showing cognitive deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the neuropsychological outcomes after surgery for unruptured cerebral aneurysms were not satisfactory.     

Profiles of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, organochlorine pesticides, and butyltins in southern sea otters and their prey

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and butyltins were measured in sea otters and selected prey species (invertebrates) collected from the California (USA) coast. Polychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs (sum of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [p,p'-DDE], p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [p,p'-DDD], and p,p'-DDT), and butyltins were the major contaminants found in sea otters and their prey. Lipid-normalized concentrations of PCBs and DDT in sea otter livers were 60- and 240-fold greater than those found in the prey. Great biomagnification of PCBs and DDT in sea otters is suggested to result from their high per-capita intake of diet compared with those of other marine mammals. Profiles of PCB congeners in sea otters and prey species suggest a great capacity of sea otters to biotransform lower-chlorinated congeners. Sea otters seem to possess a greater ability than cetaceans to metabolize PCBs. The 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents of non- and mono-ortho PCBs in sea otters and certain prey species were at or above the theoretical threshold for toxic effects.     

Endoscopic features of impacted ureteral stones

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated endoscopic findings in 165 patients with impacted ureteral stones to determine the incidence of associated ureteral lesions and predisposing factors for such lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1993 to March 2003 we performed retrograde endoscopic treatment in 165 patients with ureteral stones that had been impacted for more than 2 months. Average maximum stone diameter was 15.0 mm and the mean duration of impaction was 17.6 months. Treatment was done with small caliber ureteroscopes and a laser lithotriptor. We analyzed the endoscopic findings and determined the outcome by reviewing the clinical records and radiographic studies. RESULTS: Endoscopic observation revealed inflammatory ureteral polyps associated with calculi in 51 patients (30.9%). Endoscopic biopsy of 5 polyps was performed. Histological examination showed no malignancy and only chronic granulomatous inflammation of the ureter. Endoscopic observation also detected ureteral stricture in 28 patients (17.0%). Patients with polyps and strictures had long-term impaction (median 12 and 24 months, respectively), which was significantly longer than in patients without ureteral lesions (4 months). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic observation revealed that long-term impacted stones were frequently associated with ureteral polyps and strictures. Although concurrent ureteral lesions can make it more difficult to approach the calculus in patients with impacted stones, we found that a small caliber flexible endoscope was effective and laser fragmentation could be achieved easily.     

Recalibration of audiovisual simultaneity

To perceive the auditory and visual aspects of a physical event as occurring simultaneously, the brain must adjust for differences between the two modalities in both physical transmission time and sensory processing time. One possible strategy to overcome this difficulty is to adaptively recalibrate the simultaneity point from daily experience of audiovisual events. Here we report that after exposure to a fixed audiovisual time lag for several minutes, human participants showed shifts in their subjective simultaneity responses toward that particular lag. This 'lag adaptation' also altered the temporal tuning of an auditory-induced visual illusion, suggesting that adaptation occurred via changes in sensory processing, rather than as a result of a cognitive shift while making task responses. Our findings suggest that the brain attempts to adjust subjective simultaneity across different modalities by detecting and reducing time lags between inputs that likely arise from the same physical events.     

Proper arrangement of the lines and cables in the setup of the laparoscopic surgery: development of new device "Line-Hanger"

Recently, with the rapid progress and introduction of new machineries and instruments for endoscopic surgery, the connecting lines and cables connecting machineries around the operating field are becoming more and more complicated. The lines and cables are often very troublesome, especially when the operator and assistant change their positions, and sometimes they are not only annoying but also potentially dangerous during the operative procedure. We feel there is a pressing need to develop a device to regulate the lines and cables. We developed a device for regulating the lines and cables in cooperation with Olympus Optical Co, Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) and named it "Line-Hanger." We have used it in more than 30 cases of various kinds of endoscopic surgery. In this study, we compare the usefulness of the "Line-Hanger" with the conventional method: fixation of lines and cables to the drapes with Velcro(R). The girth of the operative personnel are freed from a jumble of cables, and they become ergonomically comfortable. Especially when operator and assistant are changing their position, it becomes very smooth. "Line-Hanger" is extremely useful for endoscopic surgery.     

Defucosylated anti CC chemokine receptor 4 monoclonal antibody combined with immunomodulatory cytokines: a novel immunotherapy for aggressive/refractory Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome.

PURPOSE: Sézary syndrome (SS) and Mycosis fungoides (MF) in the advanced stage have dismal prognoses. Because CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) has an important role in the skin-homing capacity of MF/SS cells, we postulated that anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) could represent a novel therapeutic agent against aggressive/refractory MF/SS. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The defucosylated next-generation therapeutic mAb KM2760 induces enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Here, we assessed the therapeutic potential of this antibody against aggressive MF/SS tumor cells in vitro and in animal models in vivo. RESULTS: KM2760 induced robust ADCC by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from healthy controls against a MF/SS cell line as well as against primary tumor cells from patients with aggressive MF/SS. KM2760 also showed significant antitumor activity in disseminated and nondisseminated MF/SS mouse models. In addition, approximately 30% of autologous MF/SS tumor cells were killed in in vitro assays of KM2760-induced ADCC mediated by patients' PBMC after only 4 h, despite the low numbers of natural killer cells present in these PBMCs. It is also shown that ADCC induced by defucosylated therapeutic mAb can be greatly augmented by the immunomodulatory cytokines interleukin-12, IFN-alpha-2b, and IFN-gamma. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has encouraged us in the conducting of a phase I clinical trial of a completely defucosylated anti-CCR4 mAb in patients with CCR4-positive T-cell lymphomas, including aggressive MF/SS (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00355472). In the near future, the efficacy not only of defucosylated anti-CCR4 mAb single-agent treatment but also of combination therapy with immunomodulatory cytokines will be clinically established to target aggressive/refractory MF/SS.