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To identify the risk factors for a recurrence of a bleb-related infection (BRI).Retrospective cohort study.The medical records of all patients diagnosed with BRI at Gifu University Hospital between January 1989 and December 2020 were reviewed. The time when conjunctival hyperemia could not be detected and when the anterior chamber was quiet were defined as the resolution time of the BRI. The primary endpoint was a recurrence of a BRI. Kaplan-Meier estimation and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine the risk of a recurrence from the initial onset data of each eye. Bacteriological studies were performed to determine the pathogen causing the BRI.There were 108 eyes of 103 patients followed for at least 3 months after the initial BRI. A recurrent bleb infection developed in 21 (19.4%) eyes of 21 patients (13 men, 8 women). Log-rank test at the 10-year follow-up examination revealed that hypotony at the onset of the BRI (P=0.004), the prophylactic use of topical antibiotics at the onset of the BRI (P=0.046), and bleb leakage after the resolution of the BRI (P=0.021) were significantly associated with a BRI recurrence. Cox proportional hazards model showed that ocular hypotony at the onset of the BRI (unadjusted, P=0.007; adjusted for bleb leakage, P=0.015) and bleb leakage after the resolution of the BRI (unadjusted, P=0.027; adjusted for hypotony, P=0.024) were significantly associated with a BRI recurrence. Other factors were not significantly associated with the recurrence of a BRI.We recommend close observations when a bleb leakage is detected after the BRI has resolved.

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare disorder characterized by clinical findings, which includes fibrous dysplasia (FD). FD is a benign tumor that leads to increased rates of bone fracture. In some MAS cases with FD, facial deformities, severe pain, and orbital neuropathies are complicated. Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign bone tumor and rare complication of FD.A 9-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of acute visual disturbance.The patient was clinically diagnosed as ABC complicated with MAS, and he underwent surgery.After the surgery, his sight became normal. Recurrence of ABC and visual disturbance was not observed in 3 years. Genetic analysis of a tissue sample from the ABC lesion by next-generation sequencing revealed a somatic activating GNAS mutation.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of MAS causing optic neuropathy complicated with ABC. ABC complicated with MAS is extremely rare, but it should be considered as a possible diagnosis in patients with acute visual loss and facial swelling. In addition, our case had OAS, which is an uncommon syndrome and a rare complication in ABC with MAS, and rapid decompression of the ABC was effective in improving the patient's eyesight.

AimsTo compare the changes in the macular retinal nerve fibre layer (mRNFL), macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL), and circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (cpRNFL) in various stages of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.MethodsEyes with NTG (n=218) were assigned into three groups based on initial mean deviation (MD) as follows: mild (MD>−6 dB), moderate (−6 dB≥MD≥−12 dB) and severe (−12 dB>MD>−20 dB). Annual rates of change in mRNFL, mGCIPL and cpRNFL thickness were calculated by linear regression analysis.ResultsAge, gender, spherical equivalent, and average intraocular pressure during follow-up were not significantly different among the three groups. There were significant differences in the mRNFL, mGCIPL and cpRNFL among the three groups at baseline (pConclusionsChanges in the mRNFL and mGCIPL can reflect the progression of NTG even in its advanced stage. However, careful interpretation of changes in the cpRNFL in the advanced stage of glaucoma is warranted due to a potential floor effect.

The fracture toughness in a friction stir welded joint of thick plates of structural aluminium alloy type A5083-O is investigated. A joint between two 25 mm thick plates is fabricated by one sided, one pass friction stir welding. The Charpy impact energy and critical crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) in the friction stir weld are much higher than those in the base metal or heat affected zone, whereas mechanical properties such as stress–strain curve and Vickers hardness are not conspicuously different. The effects of the microstructure on crack initiation and propagation are studied in order to clarify the difference in fracture toughness between the stir zone and base metal. The analyses of the fracture resistance curves and the diameters of dimples in the fracture surface after both tensile and bending tests show that the fine grained microstructure in the stir zone helps to increase ductile crack initiation and propagation resistance. It is found that the high fracture toughness value in th...

(2001). Effects of impurity elements on solidification cracking in electron beam welding of pipeline steel. Study of all‐position electron beam welding of large diameter pipeline joints (3rd report) Welding International: Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 354-359.

Conventionally, the site welding of large diameter natural gas line pipes have been performed by using arc welding processes, including shielded metal arc welding and. gas metal arc welding. In order to achieve a drastic improvement of the productivity, authors have executed fundamental study on the application of the electron beam welding process to the site welding of line pipes.This paper, as the first report, describes the influence of the welding position to the proper electron beam welding parameters in API-5L X65 line pipe steel of 19 mm thick. As a result of welding trials in various welding positions, it was clarified that the beam focusing condition and the welding speed should be properly controlled according to the welding position to obtain satisfactory weld bead shape. In the flat position, to prevent the under-fill on the surface, the beam focus had to be located under the plate surface. On the contrary, in the over-head position, the proper weld bead was obtained by positioning the beam focus outside the plate surface. In the vertical upward position, welding speed had to be kept lower to prevent the humping bead formation.On the basis of above investigation, it has been basically confirmed that the all-position circumferential welding of large diameter line pipes can be performed with the electron beam welding process.

Plasma spraying has been used to prepare n-type polycrystalline TiO2 coatings on SUS304 steel substrates. The influence of plasma spray process on the phases (corundum type Ti2O3, monoclinic Ti3O5, triclinic magneli phases, and tetragonal rutile) formed and the relation between deoxidation and the electrical conductivity of plasma-sprayed TiO2 coatings have been studied. The amount of oxygen loss in the plasma-sprayed TiO2 coatings is influenced greatly by the addition of hydrogen in the plasma gas. Accordingly, the electrical conductivity of TiO2 coatings increases with decreasing oxygen during plasma spraying. The amount of reduced TiO2 coating increases with a drop in pressure of the plasma spray atmosphere and an increase in the quantity of hydrogen. The amounte of Ti2O3 and Ti3O5 phases formed by plasma spraying increase with the deoxidation of TiO2 coatings.

Mechanical properties and fracture toughness in friction stir welded joint of vessels of structural aluminum alloy type A5083-O are investigated. Welded joint from 25 mm-thick plate is fabricated by one-side one-pass friction stir. Charpy impact energy and critical crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) in friction stir weld are much higher than those of base metal or heat-affected zone, whereas mechanical properties such as stress-strain curve and Vickers hardness do not have a conspicuous difference. Effects of microstructure on crack initiation and propagation are studied in order to clarify the difference of fracture toughness between stir zone and base metal. Both tensile test and bending test show that the fine-grained microstructure in stir zone induces to increase ductile crack initiation and propagation resistance by analyzing fracture resistance curves and diameter of dimples in fracture surface. It is found that high fracture toughness value in stir zone is affected fine-grained microstructure by friction stirring.Copyright © 2004 by ASME