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The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the swallowing/physical/cognitive function on admission and the feeding status on discharge for dysphagia patients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward. The subjects were 163 hospitalized for cerebrovascular disease in our convalescent rehabilitation ward from June 2017 to May 2018. For these patients, we investigated background factors, cognitive functions, swallowing functions, daily living activities (ADL), etc. at admission. Two groups were compared: one that was orally available at the time of discharge and one that was tube fed. There were 128 oral intake groups at discharge and 35 non-oral intake groups at discharge. In the oral intake group, the number of days until hospitalization was longer, and the consciousness disorder remained (JCS II digit or more) more than the parenteral intake group. The parenteral group had lower nutritional status than the oral group, and fewer VE and VF were performed. SIAS showed significant differences between the two groups in visuospatial recognition, grip strength, and quadriceps strength on the healthy side. As a result of logistic regression analysis using these factors, JCS (p < 0.05, OR 6.06, 95%CI 1.39–26.4), presence/absence of VE/VF (p < 0.05, OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.05–0.88), and MNA-SF (p < 0.05, OR 1.30, 95%CI 1.02–1.71) were extracted as significant predictors of oral intake. In the convalescent rehabilitation ward, it seems possible to infer whether or not oral intake is possible at the time of discharge by performing appropriate evaluation at the time of admission for patients with dysphagia.

Splanchnic blood flow changes dramatically after meal ingestion. The present study evaluated physiologic interactions between meal ingestion and hemodynamics with respect to renal blood flow on duplex sonography, assessing the possible influence on Doppler parameters used as diagnostic criteria for renal artery stenosis. Subjects comprised 26 healthy young men (mean age: 22 ± 2 y). Sonographic measurements were made shortly after breakfast and every 1 h thereafter and were compared with values measured before the meal. Peak systolic velocity in the renal artery was elevated post-prandially, peaking at 1 h (90 ± 12 cm/s), compared with pre-prandially (73 ± 10 cm/s, p < 0.01). Similarly, acceleration time at the intra-renal segmental artery shortened to a minimum at 1 h (45 ± 5 ms) compared with baseline (51 ± 6 ms, p < 0.01). The present study indicates that renal blood flow is altered for a few hours after meal ingestion. Attention should be paid to the interpretation of data measured after meals on duplex sonography for diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the distribution and progression of glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects with binocular vision. PATIENTS AND METHODS Subjects were 167 patients (average age, 67±10.7 y) with glaucoma who received the Humphrey 24-2 VF test (SITA-Standard) for the 2 eyes. Using the Best Location Algorithm, patient's binocular integrated VF (IVF) was calculated from their Humphrey 24-2 results. Of 167, 77 subjects (average age, 68±11.0 y) also underwent monocular/binocular Humphrey Esterman tests. Patient's stage of glaucomatous VF loss was classified by the Esterman Disability Score for each test, and the distribution and progression of the defects with binocular vision was evaluated for each stage. The frequencies of the defects in the upper and lower halves of the VF were also investigated. RESULTS With the IVF, the glaucomatous VF defects were most frequently found around the Mariotte blind spots and the Bjerrum areas and extended to the periphery. With the binocular Humphrey Esterman VF, the defects were most frequently found around the bitemporal and Bjerrum areas. The IVF results showed 31%, 49%, and 20% of the patients with the earliest glaucoma having defects in the upper, lower, and both halves of the VF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Glaucomatous VF defects with binocular vision were frequently found at the Mariotte blind spots in the central VF and around the bitemporal areas in the periphery. They appeared to have distributions and progression different from those of the defects with monocular vision previously reported.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the suitable visual field (VF) test conditions (target size, test type, and eccentricity) for the macular region, we investigated the correlations between the ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness and 6 VF test results.We tested 32 eyes of patients (61.1±9.2 y) with preperimetric (6), early-stage (16), and moderate-stage (10) glaucoma. The VF tests included 3 SAP (the 10-2 HFA using SITA with target size III [HFA SITA (III)], full threshold with size III [HFA FULL (III)] and size I [HFA FULL (I)]) and 3 visual function-specific perimetry tests (the 10-2 SWAP, 10-2 flicker, and 10-2 Humphrey Matrix). The GCL and inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) thickness was measured by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) with a macular 7×7 mm cube scan (3D OCT-2000, Topcon). The coefficient of determination (r) for the correlation between visual sensitivity and the GCL+IPL thickness was calculated for each test at eccentricities 0 to 5 degrees, 5 to 7 degrees, and 7 to 10 degrees using linear and quadratic regressions.All 6 tests showed the strongest correlation with the GCL+IPL thickness at 5 to 7 degrees. The respective r (linear) and R (quadratic) for HFA SITA (III), HFA FULL (III), HFA FULL (I), SWAP, Flicker, and Matrix were (0.40, 0.50), (0.43, 0.53), (0.44, 0.46), (0.51, 0.51), (0.33, 0.34), and (0.52, 0.52).As compared with the frequently-used SAP with a size III, SAP with size I and the function-specific perimetry tests (especially the Matrix) could be more suitable for testing the macular region.

AimsTo clarify the anatomical relation between the optic disc and temporal raphe and to examine how these are related to test points in the 10-2 visual field test pattern.Subjects and methodsFor 22 eyes of volunteers with normal vision (+0.75 D spherical equivalent 7.88 D), a volume scan was used to obtain en-face images from a plane fitted to the inner limiting membrane using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The clearest en-face retinal nerve fibre (RNF) image was chosen for each subject and superimposed on fundus photographs using blood vessels for alignment. Individual landmarks (disc, fovea and visual field blind spot) were then used to superimpose the Humphrey Field Analyzer 10-2 visual field on the OCT image to compare with the RNF image.ResultsThe average disc–fovea–raphe angle was 169.4°±3.2°. Both the disc and temporal raphe were located above the horizontal midline (ie, were inferior in visual field space). For the 10-2 test pattern superimposed on the OCT image, in 54.5% of eyes, the temporal inferior test points adjacent to the horizontal midline mapped to the anatomical inferior hemifield. In 22.7% of eyes, nasal inferior test points adjacent to the horizontal midline mapped to the anatomical inferior hemifield. This mapping is opposite to typically assumed.ConclusionThe position of the disc and raphe affects the mapping between structure and function with respect to superior and inferior hemifields. Individual differences in the position of the temporal raphe should be considered when mapping between structure and function for the 10-2 test pattern.

We demonstrate a 4.8-μVrms noise microelectrode array (MEA) based on the complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor active-pixel-sensors readout technique with disaggregated differential amplifier implementation. The circuit elements of the differential amplifier are divided into a readout pixel, a reference pixel, and a column circuit. This disaggregation contributes to the small area of the readout pixel, which is less than 81 μm2. We observed neuron signals around 100 μV with 432 electrodes in a fabricated prototype chip. The implementation has technological feasibility of up to 12-μm-pitch electrode density and 6,912 readout channels for high-spatial resolution mapping of neuron network activity.

To extrapolate the optimal test point resolution for assessment of glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects including subtle functional defects, we performed high-resolution perimetry with the 0.5 degrees test point resolution.Subjects were 11 eyes of 11 normal volunteers and 16 eyes of 16 glaucomatous patients. Octopus 900 custom test was used to measure 61 points with the test point resolution of 0.5 degrees on the temporal meridian of 45 degrees within the eccentricity of 30 degrees. In the glaucoma cases, VF profiles were extracted in 17 patterns of the test point resolutions that ranged from 0.5 to 8.5 degrees and the mean defect (MD), square root of loss variance (sLV), and maximum sensitivity loss (Max loss) were calculated. The influence of the test point resolution on MD, sLV, and Max loss was examined. In addition, the test range from the fixation point to the eccentricity of 30 degrees was divided into 3 zones. Similarly, each zone was investigated if the test point resolution exerted influence on the MD, sLV, and Max loss.Our glaucoma cases did not show any significant differences in MD and sLV regardless of the resolution. Max loss showed significant difference at resolution ≥1.0 degree. MD and sLV did not show significant differences by the change of resolution in each zone. Max loss showed significant differences at resolution ≥1.5 degrees within the central 10 degrees.To detect subtle VF defects within the eccentricity of 10 degrees, high-resolution perimetry with the test point resolution of1.5 degrees is necessary.

Background/aimsCar accidents caused by drivers unaware of their visual field (VF) defects under binocular vision have become an issue. We developed a simple self-check chart (CLOCK CHART binocular edition (CCBE)) to help patients with glaucoma recognise their abnormalities in the binocular VF and evaluated its usefulness.MethodsThe chart has four targets displayed at 10°, 15°, 20° and 25° eccentricities. The examinee gradually rotates the chart 360° clockwise. At every 30°, the examinee confirms the fixation and indicates if all four targets can be seen. This study enrolled 88 eyes of 44 patients with glaucoma (mean age, 64.4±13.1 years) and 64 eyes of 32 visually normal individuals (mean age, 32.0±8.4 years). Except the CCBE test, static VF testing using the Humphrey field analyser (HFA) Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm-Standard 30-2 and binocular Esterman programmes was also performed for the subjects with glaucoma.ResultsVF abnormality was defined as two or more contiguous points with a sensitivity of ConclusionThe CCBE test enables drivers with glaucoma to notice their VF abnormalities under binocular condition. The application of this simple self-check method appears promising for occasions such as driver licensing.

A 24-μm-pitch microelectrode array (MEA) with 6912 readout channels at 12 kHz and 23.2-μVrms random noise is presented. The aim is to reduce noise in a “highly scalable” MEA with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor integration circuit (CMOS-MEA), in which a large number of readout channels and a high electrode density can be expected. Despite the small dimension and the simplicity of the in-pixel circuit for the high electrode-density and the relatively large number of readout channels of the prototype CMOS-MEA chip developed in this work, the noise within the chip is successfully reduced to less than half that reported in a previous work, for a device with similar in-pixel circuit simplicity and a large number of readout channels. Further, the action potential was clearly observed on cardiomyocytes using the CMOS-MEA. These results indicate the high-scalability of the CMOS-MEA. The highly scalable CMOS-MEA provides high-spatial-resolution mapping of cell action potentials, and the mapping can aid understanding of complex activities in cells, including neuron network activities.A 24-μm-pitch microelectrode array (MEA) with 6912 readout channels at 12 kHz and 23.2-μVrms random noise is presented. The aim is to reduce noise in a “highly scalable” MEA with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor integration circuit (CMOS-MEA), in which a large number of readout channels and a high electrode density can be expected. Despite the small dimension and the simplicity of the in-pixel circuit for the high electrode-density and the relatively large number of readout channels of the prototype CMOS-MEA chip developed in this work, the noise within the chip is successfully reduced to less than half that reported in a previous work, for a device with similar in-pixel circuit simplicity and a large number of readout channels. Further, the action potential was clearly observed on cardiomyocytes using the CMOS-MEA. These results indicate the high-scalability of the CMOS-MEA. The highly scalable CMOS-MEA provides high-spatial-resolution mapping of cell action potentials, and the mapping can aid u...

9060 Background: Various gene alterations occur during the development of squamous cell lung cancer (SqLC), but specific gene alterations for SqLC and their clinical significance remain unknown. Methods: In a nationwide genome screening project (LC-SCRUM-Japan), we have prospectively analyzed lung cancer patients for genetic alterations using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) system, Oncomine Comprehensive Assay, and have established a large-scale clinico-genomic database. Results: Since February 2013 to December 2018, a total of 6692 lung cancer patients (686 SqLCs, 5360 non-squamous non-small cell lung cancers [Non-sq] and 646 small cell lung cancers [SCLCs]) had been enrolled in the LC-SCRUM-Japan. The success rate of the NGS assay was 91%. Of 639 SqLCs analyzed, 274 (48%) had potentially targetable gene alterations, including 77 NFE2L2 (encoding NRF2) mut, 50 PIK3CA mut, 46 FGFR1 amp, 40 EGFRmut/amp, 36 PTEN mut, 23 KRAS mut, 6 AKT1 mut, 6 MET ex14skip, 5 ALK fusions, 2 FGFR3 fusions. Among the alterations detected, NFE2L2 mut and FGFR1 amp were significantly frequent in SqLC than Non-sq or SCLC (NFE2L2, 12.1% vs. 1.0% vs. 1.3%; p < 0.001, and FGFR1, 7.2% vs. 1.1% vs. 3.4%; p < 0.001). In advanced SqLC patients who received platinum-containing chemotherapies, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was significantly shorter in NFE2L2-mutated patients (NRF2-type) than NFE2L2/FGFR1-negative patients (nonNF-type) (3.8 [95%CI, 2.9-5.1] vs. 4.5 [95%CI, 3.8-5.4] months, p = 0.03), and similarly, the mPFS of FGFR1-amplified patients (FGFR1-type) (3.5 months [95%CI, 1.5-4.9]) tended to be shorter than that of nonNF-type (p = 0.07), although the response rates were equivalent among the three types. NRF2-type also showed shorter overall survival (OS) than nonNF-type (median OS, 10.4 [95%CI, 6.9-22.3] vs. 16.6 [95%CI, 13.6-21.7] months, p = 0.10). Therapeutic efficacy of nivolumab or pembrolizumab was not different among these types in the current follow-up data. Conclusions: Our large scale genome screening identified specific gene alterations for SqLC and the alterations were associated with a less efficacy of chemotherapy and worse prognosis, suggesting the need for the development of genotype-directed therapeutic strategy for SqLC patients.

9070Background: PD-L1 high expression and high tumor mutation burden (TMB) are reported to be correlated with high sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NS...

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical usefulness of flicker perimetry in glaucoma and glaucoma suspect patients using the new Octopus 311 automated perimeter. Methods: A total of 52 eyes of 52 glaucoma patients, 26 eyes of 26 glaucoma suspect patients and 61 eyes of 61 normal subjects were examined using standard automated perimetry (SAP), flicker perimetry and frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry. Flicker perimetry was performed using the Octopus 311 and its remote software package. Suprathreshold four-zone probability strategy was used to classify the critical fusion frequency probability level. The classified levels were set at 5% and 1% of probability of normality and 5 Hz. Frequency doubling technology perimetry was performed using 24-2-5, 24-2-1, N-30–5, N-30–1 screening programs using Humphrey Matrix perimetry. Standard automated perimetry was performed using the Humphrey field analyser program 24–2 full threshold. Optical coherence tomography using Stratus OCT was used for evaluating the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in all glaucoma and glaucoma suspect patients. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. In the early stage of glaucoma, the areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) were 0.96 in flicker and 0.90 in Matrix perimetry. In the moderate and advanced stages of glaucoma, the AUCs were almost 1.0 in all tests. In glaucoma suspect patients, the AUC of the 5% probability level in flicker was significantly higher than in Matrix perimetry. Conclusion: The four-zone probability strategy using the Octopus 311 is a useful method for evaluating the flicker field in early glaucoma and glaucoma suspect patients.

Purpose A newly developed head-mounted perimeter termed “imo” enables visual field (VF) testing without a fixed head position. Because the positional relationship between the subject’s head and the imo is fixed, the effects of head position changes on the test results are small compared with those obtained using a stationary perimeter. However, only ocular counter-roll (OCR) induced by head tilt might affect VF testing. To quantitatively reveal the effects of head tilt and OCR on the VF test results, we investigated the associations among the head-tilt angle, OCR amplitude and VF testing results. Subjects and methods For 20 healthy subjects, we binocularly recorded static OCR (s-OCR) while tilting the subject’s head at an arbitrary angle ranging from 0° to 60° rightward or leftward in 10° increments. By monitoring iris patterns, we evaluated the s-OCR amplitude. We also performed blind spot detection while tilting the subject’s head by an arbitrary angle ranging from 0° to 50° rightward or leftward in 10° increments to calculate the angle by which the blind spot rotates because of head tilt. Results The association between s-OCR amplitude and head-tilt angle showed a sinusoidal relationship. In blind spot detection, the blind spot rotated to the opposite direction of the head tilt, and the association between the rotation angle of the blind spot and the head-tilt angle also showed a sinusoidal relationship. The rotation angle of the blind spot was strongly correlated with the s-OCR amplitude (R2≥0.94, p

CLOCK CHART(®) is a multi-stimulus-type self-check visual field screening sheet developed by our group. The test chart is rotated during the examination, and the visual field abnormalities are pointed out by the patients themselves. In this study, we evaluated the clinical usefulness of this chart in patients with glaucoma.We studied 114 eyes of 114 glaucoma patients (average age 60.0 ± 11.1 years) and 45 eyes of 45 normal individuals (average age 45.0 ± 16.4 years) using CLOCK CHART(®). The static visual fields were obtained using the Octopus 101 G2 program and classified using the Aulhorn classification as modified by Greve (stages 0-I to IV) and by mean defect (MD; early6 dB; moderate 6 ≤ MD ≤12 dB; severe12 dB).The sensitivity and specificity of CLOCK CHART(®) for detecting visual field abnormalities were evaluated within the entire 25° field and at the 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25° eccentricity zones. The visual field agreement between the results of CLOCK CHART(®) and the static visual fields were also evaluated.In glaucomatous eyes, the sensitivity of CLOCK CHART(®) was 85, 93, and 100 % for Greve stages I, II and III-VI, respectively, and 87, 93, and 97 % for the MD value in early, moderate, and severe eyes, respectively. The agreement of the visual field defect area in CLOCK CHART(®) with the static fields was 85 and 100 % with Greve stages 0-I to I and II-VI, respectively, and 91, 96, and 96 % in early, moderate and severe glaucomatous eyes according to MD, respectively. The specificity of CLOCK CHART(®) was 89 %.CLOCK CHART(®) is a simple and reliable self-check screening chart for detecting visual field abnormalities in patients with glaucoma.

We report our recent progress on GaN-based laser diodes (LDs) which will be applied as a light source in high-density optical storage systems. Recently we achieved a lifetime of more than 500 hours under continuous-wave operation with a constant power 20 mW at 25°C using GaN-based LDs with a standard ridge structure. We also report the potential of GaN-based LDs with another structure of a buried-ridge. The far-field pattern of the LDs with a buried-ridge structure strongly depended on the Al content of the AlxGa1−xN burying layer. This dependency showed that the device characteristics change from gain-guiding to refractive index-guiding. The critical point was around x=0.30 of an Al content which corresponds to Δn=0.007 of a lateral index step. It was, therefore, found that the optical transverse mode can be controlled by adjusting the Al content of the AlxGa1−xN burying layer.

The buried-ridge structure was introduced to GaN-based laser diodes for the purpose of realizing an index-guided structure in order to control the difference of effective refractive indexes between the inside and outside of the lasing area and to stabilize the lasing mode. Low-temperature-grown Al x Ga (1− x ) N was used as the burying layer, and it was found that the refractive-index difference can be controlled by adjusting the Al content in the Al x Ga (1− x ) N burying layer independent of the ridge dimensions. As a result of fabricating LDs with different Al contents, we found that Al content should be more than 30% in order to form an index-guided structure. The optimum refractive-index difference was estimated by fitting with the calculation. The LD with a buried-ridge structure, in which Al in the burying layer was more than 30%, had desirable properties as an index-guided waveguide.

In AlGaN growth using low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition the TMA-flow-rate dependence and reactor-pressure dependence on the Al content were investigated. We found that the reduction of partial pressure of TMA is effective in preventing the reduction of the Al content. To apply AlN and AlGaN films to devices, we fabricated an insulated gate heterostructure field effect transistor (IG-HFET). The AFM image of 4 nm-thick AlN on GaN shows a rough surface composed of approximately 500 nm-size grains. The grain boundary may be the origin of the leakage current between gate and drain during the operation of the IG-HFET. Nevertheless, the device can operate with transconductance gm of 235 mS mm−1 for Lg=1.4 μm.

The well-number dependence of the optical pumping threshold power for stimulated emission of GaInN multiple quantum-well (MQW) laser structures was investigated. The pumping threshold power for a three GaInN MQW sample was found to be as low as 33 kW/cm 2 at room temperature. The room-temperature pulsed operation of a five GaInN MQW laser diode (LD), whose number of wells was determined based on the optical pumping experiment, was also demonstrated. The lowest threshold current density was 9.5 kA/cm 2 . The lasing wavelength was 417.5 nm with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) less than the spectrum resolution of 0.2 nm.

We examined the effect of HSR-81 ((-)-(R)-alpha-[(tert-butylamino)methyl]-2-chloro-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol L-tartrate), a newly developed, potent and selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, as well as ritodrine and isoproterenol, on the spontaneous rhythmic contraction in uteri isolated from late pregnant, middle pregnant and non-pregnant (dioestrous and oestrous) rats. The three agonists inhibited the spontaneous rhythmic contraction at all the stages in a concentration-dependent manner. The pD2 value for HSR-81 was greater in late pregnancy than in dioestrus and oestrus. In the uterine preparations of late pregnancy and dioestrus, ICI-118,551 (1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropyl-aminobutan-2-ol , a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist) and atenolol (a selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist) produced a parallel rightward shift of the concentration-response curves for HSR-81. The pKB values for ICI-118,551 and atenolol suggest that the inhibitory effect of HSR-81 was mediated through beta 2-adrenoceptors in the two stages. In the membranes prepared from rat uteri in late pregnancy and dioestrus, the equilibrium dissociation constant for [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding was not significantly different between the two stages. The three beta-adrenoceptor agonists and the two antagonists competed for the specific [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding and the pKi values were not significantly different between the two stages. However, the maximum number of binding sites was significantly greater in late pregnancy than in dioestrus. The configuration of the competition curves and the pKi values for the two antagonists confirmed the fact that these membranes contain predominantly beta 2-adrenoceptor subtype. These results indicate that the potent inhibition of the spontaneous rhythmic contraction by HSR-81 in the pregnant uterus may be due to the increased number of beta 2-adrenoceptors.

To quantify changes in metamorphopsia and retinal contraction in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) before and after a spontaneous separation of ERM. Among 92 eyes of 92 patients with idiopathic ERM who were followed up at our hospital, 5 eyes of 5 patients had experienced a spontaneous separation of ERM during the follow-up period. Patient’s metamorphopsia was assessed horizontally and vertically by a metamorphopsia chart developed by our group, M-CHARTS, to obtain the horizontal (MH) and vertical (MV) metamorphopsia scores. Difference in the scores before and after the membrane separation represents change in patient’s metamorphopsia. Changes in retinal contraction were also evaluated horizontally and vertically with our original software for fundus image analysis. The difference between M-CHARTS scores and distances of retinal vessel movements with before and after membrane separation were measured. All five subjects showed a decrease in the retinal contraction. Improved visual acuity was observed in three subjects, and no change was seen in the other two. Four subjects obtained better metamorphopsia scores after the membrane separation, while the other one was not detected with metamorphopsia by M-CHARTS either before or after the separation. In subjects with an improved MV, horizontal retinal movement was seen larger than the vertical movement. Similarly, the subjects with an improved MH indicated a larger vertical retinal movement than the horizontal movement. The direction of patient’s metamorphopsia closely associated with the direction of retinal contraction before and after a spontaneous separation of ERM.

Purpose To assess the correlations between a patient's subjective perception of metamorphopsia and the clinical measurements of metamorphopsia by M-CHARTS and PreView PHP (PHP). Methods The authors designed a 10-item questionnaire focusing on the symptoms of metamorphopsia and verified its validity with a Rasch analysis. M-CHARTS measured the minimum visual angle of a dotted line needed to detect metamorphopsia, and PHP used the hyperacuity function for detection. Subjects were 39 patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM), 22 patients with idiopathic macular hole (M-hole), 19 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 51 healthy controls. Results Rasch analysis suggested the elimination of one question. The nine-item questionnaire score significantly correlated to the M-CHARTS score in ERM (r = 0.59; P = 0.0004) but not in M-hole and to the PHP result in AMD (r = -0.29; P = 0.04) but not in ERM. Eighty percent of ERM patients with greater horizontal M-CHARTS score subjectively perceived horizontal metamorphopsia more often. M-CHARTS showed better sensitivities than PHP in both ERM (89% vs. 42%) and AMD (74% vs. 68%) and better specificity (100% vs. 71%) in healthy controls. Rasch analysis indicated that the present form of the questionnaire is better suited for moderate to severe cases of metamorphopsia than for mild cases. Conclusions The questionnaire appears to be a valid assessment of patient subjective perception of metamorphopsia and can be used to supplement the clinical measurements of metamorphopsia by M-CHARTS and PHP in patients with macular diseases.

We investigated Si-doped GaN epitaxial layers on a (0001)-sapphire substrate using a HCl vapor-phase etching technique, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Three kinds of distinctive etch pits correspond to three different types of threading dislocations, edge, mixed, and screw types. Photoluminescence intensity increases with the decrease in the number of etch pits corresponding to mixed and screw dislocations. The number of etch pits corresponding to edge dislocations, however, did not change. We concluded, therefore, that threading dislocations having a screw-component burgers vector act as strong nonradiative centers in GaN epitaxial layers, whereas edge dislocations, which are the majority, do not act as nonradiative centers.

Purpose To compare the detectability between glaucomatous visual field changes using standard automated perimetry (SAP), frequency doubling technology (FDT), short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), and flicker perimetry and structural changes using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Participants Fifty-nine eyes of fifty-nine patients with open-angle glaucoma, 24 eyes of 24 glaucoma suspects (GSs), and 40 eyes of 40 healthy age-matched subjects. Methods All subjects underwent Humphrey visual field analyzer II 24-2 full threshold (SAP), Swedish interactive threshold algorithm-SWAP, FDT (30-1, 30-5, 24-2-1, 24-2-5), flicker perimetry on Octopus 311 (4-zone probability 38S), and Stratus OCT [fast retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (NFLT) and fast optic disc]. To evaluate the visual field, FDT and flicker used the number of abnormal points, whereas SAP used mean deviation (MD) and SWAP used both the number of abnormal points and MD. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves [area under the curve (AUCs)] and sensitivities at fixed specificities were used to assess the detectability of glaucoma. Results The AUC for FDT 30-1, 30-5, 24-2-1, 24-2-5, flicker perimetry, SWAP (MD), and SWAP (number of abnormal points) were 0.95, 0.94, 0.88, 0.89, 0.99, 0.88, and 0.88 in the early glaucoma group and 0.67, 0.69, 0.65, 0.70, 0.80, 0.64, and 0.66 in the GS group, respectively. In the early glaucoma and GS groups, all OCT parameters had an AUC >0.81 except the disc area parameter. Especially, average NFLT had the highest AUC of 0.94 in the OCT parameters. Conclusions FDT, SWAP, flicker perimetry, and OCT are all useful methods for discriminating between healthy eyes and eyes with early glaucoma. Among all 10 OCT parameters, NFLT has the highest sensitivity for detecting early glaucomatous changes in GS patients.

GaN layers were grown on (0001) sapphire substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition with various growth conditions. Some samples were grown with pressures higher than atmospheric. The residual strain in the epitaxial layer was estimated by measuring the lattice constants using x-ray diffraction. The optical quality was evaluated in terms of the threshold power density of stimulated emission. The residual strain perpendicular to C face, ezz, ranged from 0.058% to 0.125%. The strain ratio under biaxial stress (Δc/c)/(Δa/a), is estimated to be −0.46 from the relation between the lattice constants a and c. From the photoluminescence spectra with weak excitation, δEA/δezz for undoped GaN is estimated to be 16.4 eV. The threshold power density decreased from 2.77 to 0.59 MW/cm2 as the strain increased, suggesting that the strain relaxation process is accompanied by a generation of defects which act as nonradiative recombination centers.

We report our new raised-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (RP-MOCVD) technique and the room-temperature continuous-wave (cw) operation of GaN-based laser diodes grown using this technique. We have found that both the defect density as measured by etch-pit density and optical pumping threshold-powder density decreases as the growth pressure is increased beyond 1 atm. We fabricated GaN-based laser diodes and achieved lasing under cw conditions at 20°C. The threshold current density was 3.5 kA/cm2 and the operation voltage at threshold was 16.8 V.

We achieve 10-microjoule pulse energies directly from a femtosecond laser oscillator. We underline its suitability for high field experiments at multi-megahertz repetition rate by demonstrating the first electron spectroscopy measurements driven by an oscillator.

PURPOSE Using M-CHARTS (Inami Co., Tokyo, Japan), which were developed by the authors to measure metamorphopsia, and image-analysis software, which was developed to quantify retinal contraction, the authors investigated the relationship between the degree of retinal contraction and the degree of metamorphopsia in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS This study was conducted in 29 eyes with ERM (29 patients, 20 women; mean age, 62.1 +/- 8.6 years) observed for at least 3 years (mean, 3.55 +/- 0.6 years) after diagnosis. Horizontal (MH) and vertical (MV) metamorphopsia scores were obtained with the M-CHARTS. Horizontal and vertical retinal contraction due to ERM was measured by using image-analysis software developed by the authors to calculate horizontal and vertical components of changes in the locations of retinal vessels on sequential fundus images. RESULTS There was a significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation between the degree of retinal contraction and metamorphopsia score. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between horizontal contraction of the retina and the MV score (P < 0.01) and between vertical contraction of the retina and the MH score (P < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between change in the metamorphopsia score and change in visual acuity or mean defect. CONCLUSIONS Metamorphopsia scores correlate well with measurements of retinal contraction due to idiopathic ERM. Using M-CHARTS is a simple and useful method for quantitatively monitoring metamorphopsia in patients with ERM.

Purpose To quantify the degree of metamorphopsia in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs), by use of a new metamorphopsia chart (M-CHARTS) developed by the authors. Methods These M-CHARTS had 19 dotted lines with dot intervals of between 0.2 degrees (fine) and 2.0 degrees (coarse) visual angles. As the dot intervals were changed from fine to coarse, a decrease in the severity of metamorphopsia was noted. In this study, the minimum visual angle of the dotted lines needed to cause the metamorphopsia to disappear was measured in 51 eyes of 51 patients with ERM. The metamorphopsia scores were compared with the stages of ERM classified by scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) images. Results In patients with ERM, the metamorphopsia score increased depending on the severity of membrane proliferation classified by SLO images. The scores obtained from the horizontal dotted lines were larger than those of the vertical lines in advanced stages of ERM. Conclusions M-CHARTS provide a very simple and useful method for evaluating the severity of metamorphopsia in patients with ERM.

High power GaN-based laser diodes (LDs) are very desirable for various applications such as optical storage systems. We have obtained GaN films of low dislocation density using epitaxial lateral overgrowth technique and the raised- pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique. Dislocation density of the improved GaN is about 107 cm-2. Optimized GaN-based LDs fabricated on the improved GaN films have operated up to 35 mW without any kink. The lifetime is more than 500 hours with a constant power of 20 mW at 25 degree(s)C under continuous wave conditions. Furthermore, we have introduced buried-ridge laser diode structure in order to control the optical transverse mode. The features of the far field patterns of LDs with AlGaN burying layers indicate their controllability.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The longer lifetime is desired for high power AlGaInN based violet lasers. We found that lifetime is strongly dependent on both the initial operating consumption power and the dislocation densities in the laser stripe. Pd/Pt/Au as a metal and AlGaN/GaN superlattice as a p-type cladding layer were incorporated to reduce the operating voltage. The optimization of device parameters as well as the stripe width and the RIE etching device depth led to the lower threshold current of 3.4 kA/cm 2 . We used the Pendeo epitaxy technique to get lower dislocation density approximately 10 7 cm -2 . The LDs with these technologies showed an output power as high as 35 mW under room temperature CW condition without kink. The lifetime is more than 500 hours under CW operation with a constant power of 20 mW at 25 degree(s)C.

The underlying GaN layers on which laser diodes are fabricated have been improved through two steps. In the first step, GaN single layer on sapphire was investigated. The residual strain and etch pit density were measured. We found that they reflect the optical quality. We found that the threading dislocation can be reduced to 4 × 108 cm−2. The optical quality depends on the residual strain and dislocation density. In the next step, we have utilized epitaxial lateral overgrowth ELO) technique. The optimized GaN layer on sapphire with the smallest dislocation density was used as seed layer. In the wing region of ELO-GaN, the threading dislocation density was reduced to 1 × 106 cm−2. On the other hand, in the seed region, dislocation density remained 4 × 108 cm−2. Photoluminescence intensity in the wing region was three times as large as that in the seed. The laser diodes were fabricated on the ELO-GaN layer, so that the ridge stripe was fabricated over the wing region, and its properties were compared with those of laser diodes on sapphire. It was found that the lifetime can be increased by using the ELO-GaN layer as the underlying layer.

We examined the effects of inaperisone hydrochloride (inaperisone), a new centrally acting muscle relaxant, on bladder function in anesthetized rats and isolated rat tissues. We also investigated its mechanism of action. When a balloon inserted into the bladder was expanded, rhythmic bladder contractions were observed; inaperisone (4 mg/kg i.v.) abolished these contractions, in both normal and decerebrated rats. The bladder tonus or bladder contraction induced by peripheral stimulation of the pelvic nerve was barely inhibited by inaperisone (4 mg/kg i.v.), but this dose of inaperisone abolished the efferent discharge from the pelvic nerve that accompanied the rhythmic bladder contractions. The doses of intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) and intrathecally injected inaperisone which abolished the rhythmic bladder contractions were 10 and 100 micrograms, respectively. The inhibitory effects of inaperisone (4 mg/kg i.v.) were not diminished by naloxone (1 mg/kg i.v.) or by bicuculline (0.5 mg/kg i.v.), but were diminished by phaclofen (30 mg/kg i.v. or 300 micrograms i.c.v.). The specific binding of [3H]baclofen to rat brain synaptosomal membranes was barely inhibited by inaperisone (up to 1 mM). From these results, it is speculated that, among other possible mechanisms, inaperisone inhibits the micturition reflex by acting indirectly on GABAB receptors in the brainstem.

— A high-pixel-rate, high-contrast (30,000:1) wide-color-gamut grating-light-valve laser projector is reported. A new optical engine enabling high-frame-rate (240 Hz) scan projection is employed. Panoramic wide-angle-scan projection with a 64:9 aspect ratio was also developed. Speckle noise is eliminated using a simple but highly efficient technique. The optical throughput efficiency of the grating-light-valve laser projector is reviewed.

We report a high frame rate (240Hz), high contrast (30,000:1), wide color gamut GxL (G-by-L) laser projector. Proposed application areas for GxL are also discussed.