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There are very few published reports of rupture of an isolated posterior spinal artery (PSA) aneurysm, and consequently the optimal therapeutic strategy is debatable. An 84-year-old man presented with sudden onset of restlessness and disorientation. Neuroradiological imaging showed an intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with no visible intracranial vascular lesion. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected a localized subarachnoid hematoma at Th10-11. Both contrast-enhanced spinal computed tomography and enhanced MRI and magnetic resonance angiography revealed an area of enhancement within the hematoma. Superselective angiography of the left Th12 intercostal artery demonstrated a faintly enhanced spot in the venous phase. Thirteen days after the onset of symptoms, a small fusiform aneurysm situated on the radiculopial artery was resected. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and he was eventually discharged in an ambulatory condition. To our knowledge, this 84-year-old man is the oldest reported case of surgical management of a ruptured isolated PSA aneurysm. This case illustrates both the validity and efficacy of this therapeutic approach.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-optimized tafluprost (with a BAK concentration reduced from 0.01% to 0.001%) in glaucoma patients with existing superficial punctate keratitis (SPK). PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective, multicenter, open-label study was designed to compare BAK-optimized tafluprost administered over 12 weeks relative to other preserved prostaglandin analogs previously administered in Japanese glaucoma patients. Thirty patients with SPK graded at

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plants but is toxic when accumulated in excess. The plant BOR family encodes plasma membrane-localized borate exporters (BORs) that control translocation and homeostasis of B under a wide range of conditions. In this study, we examined the evolutionary divergence of BORs among terrestrial plants and showed that the lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii and angiosperms have evolved two types of BOR (clades I and II). Clade I includes AtBOR1 and homologs previously shown to be involved in efficient transport of B under conditions of limited B availability. AtBOR1 shows polar localization in the plasma membrane and high-B-induced vacuolar sorting, important features for efficient B transport under low-B conditions, and rapid down-regulation to avoid B toxicity. Clade II includes AtBOR4 and barley Bot1 involved in B exclusion for high-B tolerance. We showed, using yeast complementation and B transport assays, that three genes in S. moellendorffii, SmBOR1 in clade I and SmBOR3 and SmBOR4 in clade II, encode functional BORs. Furthermore, amino acid sequence alignments identified an acidic di-leucine motif unique in clade I BORs. Mutational analysis of AtBOR1 revealed that the acidic di-leucine motif is required for the polarity and high-B-induced vacuolar sorting of AtBOR1. Our data clearly indicated that the common ancestor of vascular plants had already acquired two types of BOR for low- and high-B tolerance, and that the BOR family evolved to establish B tolerance in each lineage by adapting to their environments.

Objectives: Radiofrequency ablation plays a key role in the treatment of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is not recommended for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to clarify the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for treating intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We examined the outcome of 65 consecutive patients who were treated with radiofrequency ablation with or without transarterial chemoembolization for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: With a median follow-up of 37 months, overall survival rates of 65 cases at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 90, 70, 51, and 36%, respectively. Multivariate analysis of clinical parameters revealed that the multicentric occurrence (MC)/intrahepatic metastasis (IM) was the only significant prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence intervals, 2.1-11.4). Tumor size and tumor number were not significant factors for survival. The overall survival rates of patients with MC (n = 33) at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 97, 90, 80, and 59%, respectively; those for patients with IM (n = 32) were 86, 55, 14, and 8%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Two cases (4.9%) had complications of hemothorax and diaphragmatic burn; however, no major complications were observed. Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective for the treatment of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, especially for patients with MC.

We report the case of a 60-year-old man who first presented with transient difficulty of word recall. Subsequent MRI revealed an invasive brain tumor in the left frontal lobe. The patient underwent open biopsy, and diffuse astrocytoma(WHO grade II)was diagnosed. However, the malignant potential of this tumor was not particularly low because of a few enhancement on preoperative evaluation, and radiation therapy was initially performed. Four months after ending irradiation, temozolomide treatment was introduced for tumor regrowth. After another 2 months, combined chemotherapy with bevacizumab was also started due to tumor enlargement, which was evaluated as malignant transformation to glioblastoma. Two focal lesions with signal hyperintensity on DWI appeared in the frontal and temporal lobes at different locations 3 months after starting bevacizumab. The left temporal lesion subsequently changed to a ring-enhanced tumor, and glioblastoma(WHO grade IV)was finally diagnosed at decompressive surgery. Another frontal lesion, however, continued to maintain a favorable course without any changes in signal despite appearing as similar signal-hyperintense lesions. The temporal hyperintense lesion may undergo malignant transformation into glioblastoma with typical radiological appearance. Recent studies on image changes following bevacizumab treatment have attracted widespread attention, and the clinical significance of such hyperintense lesions has gained attention. This present case was thought to be valuable because of the contradistinctive aspects at the same time, in which the hyperintense lesions of the frontal and temporal lobes seemed to represent antitumor activity or drug refractory effects based on bevacizumab treatment.

To report 2 cases of paclitaxel-related maculopathy manifesting as cystoid macular edema (CME) with late petaloid hyperfluorescence on indocyanine green angiography (IA). A 74-year-old man (patient 1) undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy for gastric and metastatic liver cancer and a 69-year-old man (patient 2) receiving paclitaxel for hypopharyngeal cancer presented with anorthopia in both eyes. Spectral domain–optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed macular edema in both eyes of each patient. Fluorescein angiography showed weak petaloid pooling around the fovea in the late phase. IA revealed CME with petaloid hyperfluorescence that matched the region of macular edema detected by SD-OCT. The CME was attenuated in the right eye but not in the left eye of patient 1 at 2 weeks after discontinuation of paclitaxel treatment, whereas it was no longer apparent in either eye at 3 months. The CME was no longer detected in either eye of patient 2 at 3 months after discontinuation of paclitaxel. These cases suggest that paclitaxel-induced CME may result from intraretinal accumulation of intracellular fluid and minimal impairment of the blood retinal barrier.

Summary Background The incidence of bepridil-induced pulmonary toxicity, such as interstitial pneumonia, is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of bepridil-induced pulmonary toxicity. Methods and results A total of 253 patients treated with bepridil between January 2009 and January 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. Eight out of the 222 evaluable patients (male/female: 5/3, age range: 64–97 years, average age: 80.5 years, median age: 81.0 years) showed bepridil-induced pulmonary toxicity. Conclusions The incidence of bepridil-induced pulmonary toxicity was 3.60% in our study population.

The trigeminocerebellar artery (TCA) is a branch of the basilar artery that may have an intraneural course and may cause trigeminal neuralgia. We report a case of trigeminal neuralgia with right vertebral artery aneurysm caused by an intraneural TCA that compressed the trigeminal nerve in multiple places. We performed proximal trapping for the fusiform aneurysm with extra-intracranial bypass to preserve flow of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, followed by microvascular decompression that successfully changed the course of the TCA. This procedure provided relief from the neuralgia without direct bisection of the trigeminal nerve that may cause severe nerve injury. Reshaping of the course of the artery can achieve good pain relief.

In order to identify a rice gibberellin ester β-D-glucosidase, gibberellin A4 β-D-glucosyl ester (GA4-GE) was synthesized and used to screen rice β-glucosidases. Os3BGlu6 was found to have the highest hydrolysis activity to GA4-GE among five recombinantly expressed rice glycoside hydrolase family GH1 enzymes from different phylogenic clusters. The kinetic parameters of Os3BGlu6 and its mutants E178Q, E178A, E394D, E394Q and M251N for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc) and GA4-GE confirmed the roles of the catalytic acid/base and nucleophile for hydrolysis of both substrates and suggested M251 contributes to binding hydrophobic aglycones. The activities of the Os3BGlu6 E178Q and E178A acid/base mutants were rescued by azide, which they transglucosylate to produce β-D-glucopyranosyl azide, in a pH-dependent manner, while acetate also rescued Os3BGlu6 E178A at low pH. High concentrations of sodium azide (200-400 mM) inhibited Os3BGlu6 E178Q but not Os3BGlu6 E178A. The structures of Os3BGlu6 E178Q crystallized with either GA4-GE or pNPGlc had a native α-D-glucosyl moiety covalently linked to the catalytic nucleophile, E394, which showed the hydrogen bonding to the 2-hydroxyl in the covalent intermediate. These data suggest that a GH1 β-glucosidase uses the same retaining catalytic mechanism to hydrolyze 1-O-acyl glucose ester and glucoside.

β-Glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) split β-glucosidic linkages at the non-reducing end of glucosides and oligosaccharides to release β-D-glucose. One of the important functions of plant β-glucosidase is deglucosylation of inactive glucosides of phytohormones to regulate levels of active hormones. Tuberonic acid is a jasmonate-related compound that shows tuber-inducing activity in the potato. We have identified two enzymes, OsTAGG1 and OsTAGG2, that have hydrolytic activity towards tuberonic acid β-D-glucoside in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The expression of OsTAGG2 is upregulated by wounding and by methyl jasmonate, suggesting that this isozyme is involved in responses to biotic stresses and wounding, but the physiological substrate of OsTAGG2 remains ambiguous. In this study, we produced recombinant OsTAGG2 in Pichia pastoris (rOsTAGG2P), and investigated its substrate specificity in detail. From 1 L of culture medium, 2.1 mg of purified recombinant enzyme was obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Ni-chelating column chromatography. The specific activity of rOsTAGG2P (182 U/mg) was close to that of the native enzyme (171 U/mg), unlike recombinant OsTAGG2 produced in Escherichia coli, which had approximately 3-fold lower specific activity than the native enzyme. The optimum pH and temperature for rOsTAGG2P were pH 3.4 and 60 °C. After pH and heat treatments, the enzyme retained its original activity in a pH range of 3.4-9.8 and below 55 °C. Native OsTAGG2 and rOsTAGG2P showed 4.5-4.7-fold higher activities towards salicylic acid β-D-glucoside, an inactive storage-form of salicylic acid, than towards tuberonic acid β-D-glucoside (TAG), although OsTAGG2 was originally isolated from rice based on TAG-hydrolytic activity.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard therapy for the treatment of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we tried to elucidate the possibility of using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as an alternative treatment of intermediate-stage HCC.Among 246 patients who were initially diagnosed with intermediate-stage HCC, 76 who were treated with TACE (TACE group) and 91 who were treated with RFA (RFA group) were enrolled in this study. The risk for survival was analyzed with the Cox Proportional Hazard Model, and the survival rates were compared using propensity score matching.About half (50.6%) of the intermediate-stage HCC patients in the RFA group were diagnosed with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer substage-B1 (BCLC-B1) compared with only 19.7% of the patients in the TACE group. Survival of the RFA group was longer than that of TACE group in patients with BCLC-B1 and BCLC-B2. In contrast, no difference between groups was observed in patients with BCLC-B3/4. Multivariate analysis revealed that large tumor size (30 mm, hazard ratio = 1.685, P = 0.043), high des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (100 mAU/mL, hazard ratio = 1.920, P = 0.012), and TACE group (hazard ratio = 1.896, P = 0.016) were significant risk factors for survival. Overall 3-year survival of the patients in the RFA group (69.5%) was significantly longer than that of patients in the TACE group (51.5%) after propensity score matching (P = 0.032). No significant adverse events were observed in either group.RFA was useful for the treatment of less advanced intermediate-stage HCC and could be an alternative to TACE in selected cases.

Background/Aims: An epithelial to mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells plays an important role in the formation of proliferative fibrocellular membranes in individuals with proliferative retinopathy. Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) exhibits various physiological actions including both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. We have now investigated the effect of PGE 2 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of mouse RPE cells and fibrotic reactions in a type I collagen gel. Methods: Mouse RPE cells were incubated in three dimentional type 1 collagen gel culture system with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 (1ng/ml) in the absence or presence of PGE 2 at various concentration. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, the phosphorylation of Smad2, paxillin were examined by immunoblot analysis. The release of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was examined by gelatin zymography. Results: PGE 2 inhibited the TGF-β2–induced contraction of collagen gels mediated by RPE cells in concentration dependent manner. The expression of α–smooth muscle actin and fibronectin as mesenchymal markers was inhibited. The release of MMP–2 and MMP-9 as well as the phosphorylation of Smad2 and paxillin induced by TGF-β2 in RPE cells were also attenuated by PGE 2 . Conclusion: PGE 2 may inhibit the contraction of proliferative fibrocellular membranes that can lead to retinal detachment in individuals with progressive vitreoretinal diseases.

本稿の目的は、オーケストラにおける収益性と鑑賞頻度との関係を明らかにすることにある。具体的には、鑑賞頻度が高いにもかかわらず収益性の低い楽団は、涌田(2015a)が示したクレジットカードと同様に、ディリクレモデルからの逸脱で説明できるかどうかを問う。ここでは、オーケストラの収益性はクレジットカードのそれとは異なり、鑑賞頻度だけで十分に説明されるわけでもなく、なおかつ、市場浸透度により規定された鑑賞頻度の理論値、すなわちディリクレモデルによって導かれる値からの逸脱によっても十分に説明されるわけでもないことが明らかにされる。オーケストラとクレジットカードとに現れた差がなぜ生じたのか。これを解くことがアート・マーケティング研究における問題のひとつであることを示す。

The artificial ascites technique is often used during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment because it prevents visceral damage and improves visualization by minimizing interference of the lungs and mesentery. This study determined the efficacy and safety of RFA using the artificial ascites technique in HCC patients. We examined 188 HCC patients who were treated by RFA and fulfilled the Milan criteria. Treatment outcomes (complete ablation rate, local recurrence rate, complication rate, liver function including total bilirubin level, alanine aminotransferase level, albumin level, and prothrombin time) were compared among patients divided into 3 groups based on the volume of artificial ascites injected:Group I (n = 86), no artificial ascites injected;Group II (n = 35),1,000 ml artificial ascites injected;and Group III (n = 67),1,000 ml artificial ascites injected. No significant difference was observed in complete ablation or local recurrence rates among the 3 groups, or in the extent of liver function damage after RFA. Artificial ascites disappeared within 7 days; additional diuretics were needed only in 5 (all from Group III) of 102 patients. No serious complications such as intestinal perforation or intraperitoneal bleeding were observed. Thus, we found that artificial ascites injection during RFA is effective and safe, and can be used to prevent major procedural complications.

Radiofrequency ablation is commonly used for the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it requires time to ablate sufficient areas, resulting in increased burden for the patients and operators. We introduce a novel and simple method to overcome this problem.We placed the grounding pad on the back (Back group) instead of the thigh of the patient (Thigh group). To assess the effect of this method, we randomly assigned the patients into two groups, based on the location of the grounding pad, and compared the outcomes.The ablation time until two roll-offs was shorter in the Back group than in the Thigh group (median, 2.5 min vs 3.4 min; P = 0.01). The ablated area was larger in the Back group than that in the Thigh group (P = 0.01) and pain was less in the Back group (P = 0.02). No severe side-effects were observed in either group.This new method is useful in that it achieved shorter ablation times, expansion of the ablated areas, and reduction of pain during the ablation.

OBJECTIVE. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe, where RFA is considered to be difficult. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Of a total of 810 patients treated by ultrasound-guided radiotherapy between July 2002 and May 2010, medical records of 50 consecutive patients with HCC in the caudate lobe were reviewed in this retrospective study. Twenty-two tumors were found to be in the paracaval portion and 28 in the Spiegel lobe. We retrospectively reviewed the procedures, treatment effect, and complications. RESULTS. For all paracaval tumors and eight Spiegel lobe tumors, we used the intercostal approach, and for the remaining Spiegel tumors (n = 20) we used the pass-the-left approach. We found that all tumors were successfully treated, and the local recurrence rate after 2 years was 12%. Cases of mortality or major complications after RFA were absent. CONCLUSION. RFA appears to be an effe...

Rice tuberonic acid glucoside-hydrolyzing β-glucosidase (OsTAGG) produces physiologically active tuberonic acid (TA) from its glucoside (TAG). We have previously reported the identification and some properties of OsTAGG1. Here, we describe the isolation and enzymatic properties of another OsTAGG isozyme (OsTAGG2). OsTAGG2 was purified from rice by seven purification procedures with a 2,800-fold purification. Like OsTAGG1, the purified OsTAGG2 migrated as two bands with molecular masses of 40 and 26 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Results from N-terminal sequencing and peptide mass fingerprinting of both polypeptides suggested that both bands were derived from a single polypeptide. The Km and Vmax values of OsTAGG2 toward TAG were 146 μM and 38.0 μmol/min/mg, and were 4.6-fold and 2.6-fold higher than those of OsTAGG1, respectively. OsTAGG2 as well as OsTAGG1 preferentially hydrolyzed TAG among several natural glucosides used in this study. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR analysis revealed that OsTAGG1 and OsTAGG2 are differentially expressed in response to wounding; the expression of OsTAGG1 is down-regulated, whereas that of OsTAGG2 is up-regulated by wound treatment.

As an initial stage of the creation of a new solid material for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), the behaviors of CO2 absorption and desorption were investigated in terms of Li2O–TiO2 compounds. The Li4TiO4 specimen began to absorb CO2 at 250°C with the formation of Li2TiO3 and Li2CO3 phases. The absorption rate was significantly enhanced at 710°C by the formation of the Li2CO3-based liquid phase. Decomposition of Li2CO3 was observed above 960°C in CO2 atmosphere and above 900°C in Ar-10%CO2 atmosphere. In the formation of solid Li2CO3 after Li4TiO4/CO2 reaction below 700°C, the reaction rate of CO2 absorption increased with the decreasing diameter of Li4TiO4 particles. The area ratio of the Li4TiO4 phase decreased and that of the Li2TiO3 phase increased in the Li4TiO4 sample after repeating the reaction path of CO2 absorption and desorption.

Tuberonic acid (TA) and its glucoside (TAG) have been isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) leaflets and shown to exhibit tuber-inducing properties. These compounds were reported to be biosynthesized from jasmonic acid (JA) by hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation, and to be contained in various plant species. Here we describe the in vivo hydrolytic activity of TAG in rice. In this study, the TA resulting from TAG was not converted into JA. Tuberonic acid glucoside (TAG)-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase, designated OsTAGG1, was purified from rice by six purification steps with an approximately 4300-fold purification. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band on native PAGE, but as two bands with molecular masses of 42 and 26 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Results from N-terminal sequencing and peptide mass fingerprinting of both polypeptides suggested that both bands were derived from a single polypeptide, which is a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family 1. In the native enzyme, the K(m) and V(max) values of TAG were 31.7 microM and 0.25 microkatal/mg protein, OsTAGG1 preferentially hydrolyzed TAG and methyl TAG. Here we report that OsTAGG1 is a specific beta-glucosidase hydrolyzing TAG, which releases the physiologically active TA.

The efficacy of treatment for intraventricular hematoma by neuroendoscopic surgery and extraventricular drainage was compared in 10 patients with intraventricular hematoma and hydrocephalus who underwent neuroendoscopic surgery (endoscopic group), and eight patients with intraventricular hematoma and hydrocephalus treated with extraventricular drainage (EVD group). The outcomes in each group were assessed retrospectively using the Graeb scores on the pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT), duration of extraventricular drainage, requirement for a shunt operation, and modified Rankin scale score at 12 months. The Graeb scores on the preoperative CT were not significantly different between the two groups, but the duration of catheter placement was significantly shorter (69.3%) in the endoscopic group (2.7 days) than in the EVD group (8.8 days). None of the patients in either group required a shunt procedure for communicating hydrocephalus 12 months after surgery. Neuroendoscopic removal is a safe and effective procedure for intraventricular hematoma. Advantages include rapid removal of hematoma in the ventricular systems and reliable improvement of non-communicating hydrocephalus in the acute phase. The procedure resulted in faster removal of the catheter in the postoperative period and earlier patient ambulation.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a key technology for greatly reducing CO2 emissions in the long term, and therefore a low-energy CCS process needs to be developed. This study focused on the solid absorption process using basic oxide, and thermodynamically examined the carbonation abilities of various basic oxides and compounds containing CaO, BaO or Li2O. The CO2 absorption and desorption behavior of these materials containing alkali earth metal oxides was investigated by measuring the weight change over a wide range of temperatures from room temperature to 1100°C in CO2 atmosphere. It was experimentally confirmed that the partial pressure of CO2 equilibrated with both Ba2TiO4 and BaCO3 was higher than that equilibrated with both BaO and BaCO3. The formation of compound increased the equilibrium partial pressure of CO2 and lowered the starting temperature of CO2 desorption.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) of a novel genotype (J) was recovered from an 88-year-old Japanese patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who had a history of residing in Borneo during the World War II. It was divergent from eight human (A to H) and four ape (chimpanzee, gorilla, gibbon, and orangutan) HBV genotypes, as well as from a recently proposed ninth human genotype I, by 9.9 to 16.5% of the entire genomic sequence and did not have evidence of recombination with any of the nine human genotypes and four nonhuman genotypes. Based on a comparison of the entire nucleotide sequence against 1,440 HBV isolates reported, HBV/J was nearest to the gibbon and orangutan genotypes (mean divergences of 10.9 and 10.7%, respectively). Based on a comparison of four open reading frames, HBV/J was closer to gibbon/orangutan genotypes than to human genotypes in the P and large S genes and closest to Australian aboriginal strains (HBV/C4) and orangutan-derived strains in the S gene, whereas it was closer to human than ape genotypes in the C gene. HBV/J shared a deletion of 33 nucleotides at the start of preS1 region with C4 and gibbon genotypes, had an S-gene sequence similar to that of C4, and expressed theaywsubtype. Efficient infection, replication, and antigen expression by HBV/J were experimentally established in two chimeric mice with the liver repopulated for human hepatocytes. The HBV DNA sequence recovered from infected mice was identical to that in the inoculum. Since HBV/J is positioned phylogenetically in between human and ape genotypes, it may help to trace the origin of HBV and merits further epidemiological surveys.

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of televised broadcasts of professional sports on sports fans. In particular, we focused on the influence of televised broadcasts on the attendance of sports events. Prior studies have highlighted opposing hypotheses of televised broadcasts having a promotion effect on the attendance of fans, as well as having an inhibitory effect. However, these two hypotheses have not been verified. In this paper, we attempted to verify four hypotheses using data of the Japan Professional League. The hypotheses are as follows: 1) Televised broadcasts have a promotion effect. 2) Televised broadcasts have an inhibitory effect. 3) Televised broadcasts have both effects. 4) Televised broadcasts have neither effect. The results of the verification supported only hypothesis 4. We subsequently carried out further exploratory research and clarified that televised broadcasts influence the cheering on and support by sport fans towards their preferred team.

We examined phenotypic changes during the wound healing process in the corneal epithelium of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this article, we provide an overview of our and other groups' research and describe the clinical features of diabetic keratopathy. We observed that the rate of corneal epithelial wound closure was decreased in GK rats compared with Wistar rats. Immunoreactivity for Cx43, K14, and Ki-67 was detected in the 2 layers of cells adjacent to the basement membrane in the corneal epithelium of GK rats, whereas only the single basal layer of cells was positive for these proteins in the corneal epithelium of Wistar rats. The frequency of Ki-67-positive cells was greater in GK rats than in Wistar rats in the intact corneal epithelium and during wound healing. The GK rat represents delayed corneal epithelial wound closure as well as that which is observed in human diabetic keratopathy. Furthermore, these results indicate a possibility of functional deviation in corneal epithelial cells with diabetes mellitus.