Effects of isosorbide dinitrate on regional cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure in cats]

The effects of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP) were examined in cats. A low dose of ISDN (2.5 micrograms/kg/min) infusion did not show any changes in cerebral hemodynamics. During high dose of ISDN (5.0 micrograms/kg/min) or NTP (5.0 micrograms/kg/min) infusion, mean blood pressure (mBP) decreased by 10 to 20% accompanied by decreased cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP: mBP-ICP), however, rCBF or ICP did not change. It is concluded that intravenous administrations of ISDN in a dose of 2.5-5.0 micrograms/kg/min that produce slight decrease in blood pressure did not influence on cerebral hemodynamics.     

Aqueous protein concentration in diabetics. Report 5. Relationship between aqueous protein concentration and pathological findings of iridial vessels]

The relationship between aqueous protein concentration (APC) and pathological changes in the iridial blood vessels was investigated in 49 eyes of 45 diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery. APC was measured with a laser flare-cell meter before surgery. The quantification analysis method (type I, multivariate analysis) revealed that the most relevant factor to APC was the existence of nephropathy followed by, in descending order, the degree of retinopathy and changes in iridial vessels as demonstrated by electron microscopy. When data were reanalyzed after exclusion of the iridial vessels were found to be strongly relevant to APC. These results suggest that breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier contributes to the APC increase in eyes with advanced diabetic retinopathy, and that changes in iridial vessels may mainly influence APC in non- and milder-retinopathy groups.     

Tracing Method in the Assessment of Retinal Capillary Blood Flow Velocity by Fluorescein Angiography with Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of a new method (the tracing method) for measuring perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity (BFV).

Methods

The BFV in the perifoveal capillaries was measured in 12 eyes of healthy subjects and 12 eyes of patients with clinically significant macular edema (CSME) by fluorescein angiography using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope by either the tracing method or the conventional method. A randomized crossover design was employed to assign the subjects to each method.

Results

The number of capillaries recognized by the tracing method in healthy subjects and in patients with CSME was significantly higher than that recognized with the conventional method (P = 0.0134 and P = 0.0108, respectively). The number of fluorescent dots detected by the tracing method in healthy subjects and in patients with CSME was also significantly higher than that detected with the conventional method (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0137, respectively). Accurate detection of the movement of fluorescent dots and analysis of BFV were possible with the tracing method. The BFV varied within each perifoveal capillary, and the mean BFV also varied according to capillary location in the macula.

Conclusion

The new tracing method is useful for analyzing the retinal capillary BFV in healthy subjects and in patients with CSME. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2006;50:25–32 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2006     

Bipolar diathermy forceps with automatic irrigation. Technical note

A method for providing a saline drip during bipolar diathermy is described. Stainless steel tubing is incorporated in both blades of standard bipolar forceps and connected to the irrigating line. Irrigation is started when the forceps are closed and is stopped when they are open.     

A case of giant leiomyoma of the esophagus

A 34-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a tumor shadow in the posterior mediastinum. Leiomyoma of the esophagus was suggested by the findings of CT, esophagography, and esophagoscopy. He underwent thoracotomy. The operative procedure was enucleation of the tumor. The histological examination confirmed it to be a leiomyoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the passage of the esophagus was good. He was discharged 36 days after the operation.