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To quantify the signal intensity of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and evaluate its association with visual function and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in diabetic macular oedema (DMO). We reviewed 103 eyes of 78 patients with DMO and 30 eyes of 22 patients without DMO. FAF images were acquired using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2, and the signal levels of FAF in the individual subfields of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid were measured. We evaluated the association between quantified FAF and the logMAR VA and OCT findings. One hundred and three eyes with DMO had lower FAF signal intensity levels in the parafoveal subfields compared with 30 eyes without DMO. The autofluorescence intensity in the parafoveal subfields was associated negatively with logMAR VA and the retinal thickness in the corresponding subfields. The autofluorescence levels in the parafoveal subfield, except the nasal subfield, were lower in eyes with autofluorescent cystoid spaces in the corresponding subfield than in those without autofluorescent cystoid spaces. The autofluorescence level in the central subfield was related to foveal cystoid spaces but not logMAR VA or retinal thickness in the corresponding area. Quantified FAF in the parafovea has diagnostic significance and is clinically relevant in DMO.

To determine the association between reflectivity levels in foveal cystoid spaces on optical coherence tomography images and the course of the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) after triamcinolone acetonide treatment for diabetic macular edema.We retrospectively reviewed 58 consecutive eyes treated with an intravitreal or sub-Tenon's injection of triamcinolone acetonide for diabetic macular edema. The foveal cystoid spaces within central 1 mm were circumscribed, followed by measurement of optical coherence tomography reflectivity. The correlation between the reflectivity and visual outcome was investigated.The optical coherence tomography reflectivity levels in foveal cystoid spaces increased at 1 month after treatment, but not at 3 months or 6 months. The preoperative reflectivity levels were correlated negatively with logMAR changes from 1 month to 6 months and from 3 months to 6 months but not with logMAR at individual time points compared with the preoperative logMAR. The changes in foveal thickness from 1 month to 6 months were correlated negatively with the baseline reflectivity and positively with logMAR changes from 1 month to 6 months and from 3 months to 6 months.Lower optical coherence tomography reflectivity in foveal cystoid spaces was associated with the rebound in macular thickening and visual deterioration after triamcinolone acetonide treatment for diabetic macular edema.

[Objective]: To study the characteristics of the reflectivity of the cystoid spaces and serous retinal detachment (SRD) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and the correlation with fluorescein findings in diabetic macular edema (DME). [Design]: Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. [Participants]: Consecutive 134 eyes of 114 patients with clinically significant macular edema for whom SD-OCT and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed on the same day. [Methods]: Fluorescein angiography using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and OCT images using Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering) were obtained. The reflectivity of the cystoid spaces and SRD on the OCT images was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively and compared with the fluorescein pooling intensity on FA images. [Main Outcome Measures]: The relationship between the fluorescein pooling and the reflectivity characteristics of the cystoid spaces on SD-OCT images. [Results]: A total of 141 cystoid spaces in 101 eyes were delineated on OCT images, and 138 spaces (97.9%) had fluorescein pooling. Fifty-five cystoid spaces (39.9%) with marked fluorescein pooling intensity had lower reflectivity on OCT images than those with modest pooling (12.1±10.4 vs. 22.0±15.4, P < 0.001). The heterogeneity of the reflectivity of the cystoid spaces on the OCT images was associated significantly (P < 0.001) with modest fluorescein pooling. The hyperreflective foci in the cystoid spaces were correlated significantly with modest fluorescein pooling and higher or heterogeneous reflectivity on OCT images (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P=0.005, respectively). In addition, the cystoid spaces with microaneurysms had higher or heterogeneous reflectivity on OCT images more frequently than those without microaneurysms (P < 0.001 and P=0.019, respectively). The reflectivity levels in the SRD were significantly (P=0.005) lower than in the cystoid spaces, and only 1 eye (3.3%) had heterogeneous reflectivity on OCT images. [Conclusions]: The results provided a novel interpretation of fluorescein pooling and OCT characteristics of cystoid spaces and SRD in DME and suggested several mechanisms by which the blood–retinal barrier is disrupted and concomitant edematous changes develop.

Objective To study the association between pathomorphology at the foveal center delineated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and vascular changes around the fovea in fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Design Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Participants Consecutive series of 86 eyes from 72 patients with clinically significant macular edema (CSME) on which SD-OCT and FA were performed on the same day. Methods Fluorescein angiography using HRA2 (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and SD-OCT images using Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering) were obtained for all patients. Microaneurysms (MAs) in the perifoveal capillary network (PCN) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in the FA images were quantified. The pathomorphology at the foveal center was evaluated in OCT images. We then investigated the association between pathologic perifoveal capillaries in FA and the neuroglial morphology in OCT. Main Outcome Measures The relationship between pathologic changes in perifoveal capillaries in FA and foveal pathomorphology in OCT. Results According to the foveal morphology in OCT images, 44 eyes presented foveal cystoid spaces (cystoid macular edema [CME]), 25 eyes had serous retinal detachment (SRD) at the foveal center, and 17 eyes had foveal thickening without cystoid spaces or retinal detachment (retinal swelling). After 3 eyes with ischemic maculopathy were excluded, the relationship was evaluated. The number of MAs in the PCN was significantly greater in eyes with CME (3.20±1.76) than in eyes with SRD (0.40±1.04; P P 0.01). In addition, the FAZ in the eyes with CME (0.553±0.323 mm 2 ) was significantly larger than that of the eyes with SRD (0.302±0.245 mm 2 ; P 2 ; P Conclusions The eyes with cystoid spaces at the foveal center delineated by OCT had more MAs in the PCN and larger FAZ in FA images. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

To study morphologic changes of serous retinal detachment (SRD) and hyperreflective dots, which have been reported to be precursors of hard exudates, detectable in SRD using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess whether or not the OCT findings are correlated with the subfoveal deposition of hard exudates in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) accompanied by SRD.Retrospective chart review.Twenty-eight eyes of 19 patients with DME accompanied by SRD.We imaged SRD and the hyperreflective dots in SRD using spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT). The number and distribution of the hyperreflective dots in SRD were evaluated before the initial treatment at our hospital for DME accompanied by SRD. Based on a difference in the SD-OCT findings, the study eyes were divided into 2 groups: eyes with a few dots and those with many dots. We studied the clinical course of these 2 groups to assess whether or not the findings of SRD and hyperreflective dots on the SD-OCT images were correlated with deposition of hard exudates in the subfoveal space during follow-up.Correlation of the SD-OCT findings of SRD and hyperreflective dots with deposition of hard exudates in the subfovea of patients with DME accompanied by SRD.Subfoveal deposition of hard exudates was seen in 11 of the 28 eyes at the final examination. Before initial treatment at our hospital, 14 eyes had a few hyperreflective dots SRD and 14 eyes had many hyperreflective dots. Whereas no deposition of hard exudates in the subfoveal space was seen in the former eyes, it was seen in 11 of the latter 14 eyes (P0.0001). In addition, using SD-OCT, we found discontinuity of the outer border of detached neurosensory retina in 9 of the 28 eyes. Of these 9 eyes, 1 was in the group with few hyperreflective dots and eight were in the group with many hyperreflective dots (P = .0046).In patients with DME accompanied by SRD, SD-OCT revealed that hyperreflective dots may be associated with the subfoveal deposition of hard exudates during follow-up.

We encountered a patient with a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC), which is an uncommon cystic lesion of the liver and hard to distinguish from malignant tumor in imaging features. Cases of CHFC are very rare, five cases were reported in the 19th century and 53 cases in the 20th century. The histogenesis of CHFC is still unclear, but most authors consider that it could arise from the embryonic foregut. A few cases of CHFC mimicking neoplasm were reported. When the diagnosis of CHFC was obtained by fine needle aspiration, close follow-up is necessary in order to find early malignant change.

To investigate macular morphology on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images after microincision vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In this retrospective case series, 69 eyes (57 consecutive patients) that underwent 23-gauge microincision vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage due to PDR were investigated. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics on SD-OCT images [central retinal thickness, external limiting membrane (ELM), and the ellipsoid zone, epiretinal membranes involving the fovea, and hyperreflective foci at the fovea] were assessed 6 months postoperatively. Their association with the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (logMAR VA) was evaluated. The ELM was disrupted in 15 and the ellipsoid zone in 27 eyes, and associated significantly (P

PURPOSE. To propose a new method to quantitatively and comprehensively evaluate photoreceptor-RPE complex alterations on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS. Spectral-domain OCT images from a consecutive series of 90 eyes in 79 patients with DME and 30 healthy eyes in 30 volunteers were analyzed retrospectively. The subfoveal area covering the photoreceptor layers was skeletonized and the orientation of the segmented lines was termed ‘‘parallelism,’’ which reflects image complexity. Photoreceptor layer status at the fovea was categorized by graders, including continuity of the external limiting membrane (ELM) line, inner segment ellipsoid line, and the presence of hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers. The relationships among parallelism, visual acuity, and photoreceptor layer status were evaluated. RESULTS. Parallelism was significantly lower in eyes with DME than in normal eyes (P < 0.0001), and correlated strongly with visual acuity in eyes with DME (R ¼� 0.592; P < 0.0001). Eyes with an intact inner segment ellipsoid line or ELM line had significantly better visual acuity (VA) and higher parallelism than eyes with a discontinuous or absent inner segment ellipsoid line or ELM line. Parallelism was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) and logMAR VA significantly better (P < 0.0001) in the group without hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers than in the group with hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS. Parallelism has the potential to reflect structural changes of the photoreceptor layers in DME.

To study retrospectively the characteristics of residual indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence after ICG-assisted vitrectomy and the association with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in diabetic macular oedema (DMO).Thirteen consecutive eyes of 12 patients for whom fundus near-infrared fluorescence and 20° retinal sectional images were obtained using HRA2 and Spectralis OCT, respectively, 5 days after vitrectomy combined with ICG-assisted inner limiting membrane peeling for DMO. The relationship between the characteristics of the ICG hyperfluorescence and the cystoid spaces in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) on SD-OCT images was evaluated.A total of 390 well-demarcated areas of ICG hyperfluorescence were delineated on 20° radial OCT scans dissecting the fovea 5 days after vitrectomy. The areas of ICG hyperfluorescence in the parafovea or perifovea were significantly smaller than those at the fovea. Most areas of hyperfluorescence were irregularly shaped in the parafovea and perifovea, whereas 18 of 38 areas of hyperfluorescence were round or oval at the fovea (P0.001). SD-OCT delineated the cystoid spaces in the OPL in 73 areas of hyperfluorescence that were round or oval and accompanied by dark spots more frequently than that without cystoid spaces on OCT images (P0.001 and P=0.002). Of the 123 cystoid spaces in the OPL on OCT images, 44 did not have ICG hyperfluorescence, had lower OCT reflectivity, and contained fewer hyperreflective foci than those with ICG hyperfluorescence (P0.001 and P=0.020).The results provided novel interpretations of the ICG hyperfluorescence and its association with OCT characteristics of the cystoid spaces in DMO.

Masayuki Hata, Kazuaki Miyamoto, Akio Oishi, Yugo Kimura, Satoko Nakagawa, Takahiro Horii, Nagahisa Yoshimura Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan Background: The retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in patients with optic disc swelling of different etiologies was compared using scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Forty-seven patients with optic disc swelling participated in the cross-sectional study. Both GDx SLP (enhanced corneal compensation) and Spectralis spectral-domain OCT measurements of RNFLT were made in 19 eyes with papilledema (PE), ten eyes with optic neuritis (ON), and 18 eyes with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) at the neuro-ophthalmology clinic at Kyoto University Hospital. Differences in SLP (SLP-RNFLT) and OCT (OCT-RNFLT) measurements among different etiologies were investigated. Results: No statistical differences in average OCT-RNFLT among PE, ON, and NAION patients were noted. Average SLP-RNFLT in NAION patients was smaller than in PE (P

症例は61歳, 男性. 平成9年7月の健診で肝内腫瘤を指摘され当院内科入院. 腹部エコー, CT, MRIで肝S5領域に直径50mmの腫瘤像がみられた. HBsAg, HCVAbは陰性, 肝機能異常もなく, 腫瘍マーカーは正常. 腹部血管造影で腫瘍血管濃染はなかった. 経皮的腫瘍生検で原発性肝癌と診断し9月肝S5部分切除術を行った. 肉眼所見は最大径80mm大, 表面は暗赤色, 割面は辺縁明瞭で不整形黄白色調の充実性腫瘍であった. 組織所見は中分化型腺癌のなかに肉腫様変化を伴った原発性肝癌と診断した. 非腫瘍部は正常肝組織であった. 術後2ヵ月後に腫瘍生検の穿刺ルート上の胸壁に転性皮下腫瘤が形成された. 腫瘍生検にて胸壁転移を来した肉腫様変化を示す肝細胞癌の1例を経験したので報告する.

Hypersonic projectiles were fired into CO-O2 and CO-O2-H2 gas mixtures. For observation of combustion phenomena around the projectiles, we employed a high-speed framing schlieren technique. When we used CO-O2 mixtures as combustible gases, no shock-induced combustion was observed. However, addition of a small amount of H2 into the CO-O2 mixtures enabled combustion. We experimentally investigated the dependence of combustion phenomena on the molar fraction of H2 in the CO-O2-H2 gas mixtures. The high-speed framing schlieren technique made it possible to observe and discuss unsteady shock-induced combustion phenomena.

Projectiles were fired at hypersonic speeds into stoichiometric H2-air mixtures. The flowfields around the projectiles were visualized using a high-speed framing schlieren technique. We comprehensively studied oblique detonation and oscillating combustion phenomena around the hypersonic projectiles, where the varied parameters were the projectile velocity, projectile-nose shape, projectile diameter and initial gas pressure. We studied, in detail, the dependence of the oscillating-combustion cycles on the projectile velocity. It has been found that the observed four oscillation modes are composed of three fundamental modes. We compared the present experimental results with the numerical results of Matsuo, Fujii and Fujiwara, and discussed a mechanism generating oscillating combustion.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between visual outcomes and preoperative hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers seen on spectral domain optical coherence tomography images in eyes that underwent vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 32 consecutive eyes that underwent vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. Ten eyes had accumulated or many hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers preoperatively; 22 eyes did not have the pathology. The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and the junction between inner and outer segments were studied in the groups. RESULTS: Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution was significantly better in eyes without hyperreflective foci than in those with hyperreflective foci at 3 months and 6 months, and the last visit (P = 0.029, 0.010, and

To study the relationship between retinal vessel diameter and qualitative and quantitative evaluations on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with diabetic macular edema.One hundred and eight consecutive eyes of 80 patients, with clinically significant macular edema underwent optical coherence tomography and color fundus photography. The authors evaluated the retinal thickness of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid and foveal pathomorphologies including cystoid macular edema and serous retinal detachment on the optical coherence tomography images. The diameters of the superotemporal or inferotemporal retinal vessels originating from the optic disk were measured using a computer-assisted technique.The mean diameters of the superotemporal and inferotemporal venules were larger in eyes with diabetic macular edema than in healthy eyes. The mean diameter of the temporal venules but not the arterioles was associated with perifoveal thickening in the inferior subfield in eyes with diabetic macular edema (P = 0.014). Although the retinal thickening in the central subfield was not correlated with the diameters of the retinal vessels, eyes with foveal serous retinal detachment had larger mean diameters of superotemporal and inferotemporal venules than those without serous retinal detachment (P0.001).The mean diameters of the superotemporal and inferotemporal venules were significantly associated with foveal serous retinal detachment in diabetic macular edema.

Objective To study the characteristics of near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) imaging and its association with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings and logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (VA) in diabetic macular edema (DME). Design Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Participants One hundred twenty-one consecutive eyes of 87 patients with center-involved DME for whom NIR-AF and SD-OCT images of sufficient quality were obtained. Methods The NIR-AF images were acquired using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), and sectional retinal images were obtained using Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering). The presence of a mosaic pattern and cystoid signs were determined qualitatively. We quantified the average fluorescence intensity in the central 1-mm subfield. The characteristics of the NIR-AF images were compared with the OCT findings and logMAR VA. Main Outcome Measures Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the NIR-AF images and their association with SD-OCT findings and logMAR VA. Results Fifty-seven eyes with a mosaic pattern in the NIR-AF macular images had worse logMAR VA (0.355±0.239 vs. 0.212±0.235; P = 0.001), a thicker central subfield (CSF) (530±143 μm vs. 438±105 μm; P 0.001), and disrupted external limiting membrane (ELM; P 0.001) compared with 64 eyes without these findings. Forty-one eyes with a cystoid sign in the NIR-AF images had worse logMAR VA (0.393±0.233 vs. 0.221±0.234; P 0.001) and a thicker CSF (557±155 μm vs. 443±100 μm; P 0.001) than those without them; there were no significant differences in the ELM status. The relative fluorescence intensity in the central subfield in the NIR-AF images was correlated negatively with the CSF thickness and logMAR VA ( R = 0.492, P 0.001 and R = 0.377, P 0.001, respectively). Eyes with foveal serous retinal detachment had lower levels of relative fluorescence intensity than those without it (0.751±0.191 vs. 0.877±0.154; P = 0.007); there was no association with the presence of foveal cystoid spaces, disrupted ELM, or hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers. Conclusions Novel qualitative and quantitative NIR-AF characteristics in the macula indicated the clinical relevance and suggested the pathogenesis in DME.

Objective To study the association between the fluorescence levels on fluorescein angiography images and the characteristics on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) images in diabetic macular edema (DME). Design Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Participants One hundred sixty-seven consecutive eyes of 116 patients with diabetic retinopathy for whom FA and SD OCT were performed on the same day. Methods Fluorescein angiography using the Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 and OCT images using Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) were obtained. The leakage of fluorescein dye in each subfield of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid was quantified and defined as fluorescence levels, which were compared with the retinal thickness and foveal pathomorphologic features evaluated by SD OCT. Main Outcome Measures The relationship between fluorescence levels and the foveal pathomorphologic features on SD OCT images. Results One hundred twelve (67%) eyes with center-involved DME had significantly higher fluorescence levels in all subfields of the ETDRS grid than 55 (33%) eyes without DME. Fluorescence levels were correlated modestly with the retinal thickness in individual subfields in eyes with center-involved DME. Thirty-seven eyes with foveal serous retinal detachment (SRD) had greater retinal thickness in all subfields and higher levels of fluorescence in most subfields, except the superior subfield of the inner ring. After adjusting for the central retinal thickness using multivariate analyses, eyes with SRD had significantly ( P = 0.0085) higher fluorescence levels in the nasal subfield of the inner ring and the superior, nasal, and inferior subfields of the outer ring ( P = 0.0117, P = 0.0020, and P = 0.0017, respectively). However, the fluorescence levels in any subfields of the inner or outer ring did not differ significantly between eyes with and without foveal cystoid spaces. Conclusions The correlation between the fluorescence levels and retinal thickness suggests that the vascular hyperpermeability in the perifovea contributes to the pathogenesis of foveal SRD in DME. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

PURPOSE To investigate the papillofoveal distance and its association with retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images after vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS In this retrospective case series, 72 eyes of 57 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy for DME were included. Retinal images dissecting the fovea horizontally were obtained using OCT before and after vitrectomy. After identification of the disc margin and the presumed foveal center, the papillofoveal distance was measured on the OCT images. The association of the distance with retinal thickness and peeling of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) was evaluated. RESULTS The papillofoveal distance was significantly shorter after vitrectomy (3956.1 ± 299.0 μm vs. 3759.6 ± 331.3 μm; P < 0.001), and the shortening was correlated negatively with the total and inner retinal thickness in the temporal subfield (r = -0.29, P = 0.012 and r = -0.34, P = 0.004, respectively). Shortening of the papillofoveal distance was greater in 54 eyes in which ILM peeling was performed compared with 18 eyes in which ILM peeling was not performed (234.7 ± 159.3 μm vs. -9.7 ± 83.5 μm; P < 0.001). No differences were seen in the papillofoveal distance and retinal thickness before and after surgery between eyes with and without preoperative epiretinal membrane or posterior vitreous detachment. The total and inner thicknesses in the temporal subfield were thinner postoperatively in eyes that underwent ILM peeling than those without ILM peeling (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The papillofoveal distance on OCT images was shortened and the retina in the temporal subfield was thinner in eyes that underwent ILM peeling to treat DME.

Projectiles were fired at hypersonic speeds into stoichiometric H2-air mixtures. The flow fields around the projectiles were visualized using a multiframe schlieren technique. We made a comprehensive study of oscillating combustion phenomena around hypersonic projectiles with the following variable parameters: projectile nose shape, velocity, and diameter and the initial gas pressure. By studying the dependence of the oscillating combustion cycle on the projectile velocity, we could categorize the combustion cells into five modes comprised of three fundamental modes (normal cell oscillation, high-frequency cell oscillation, and envelope oscillation). An envelope oscillation superimposed on each of the normal and high-frequency modes was observed. The mode in which the envelope oscillation is combined with the high-frequency cell oscillation was observed for the first time in the present experiment. Based on the results of projectile nose-shape changes and projectile diameter changes, it was concluded that the standoff distance between the front of the projectile and the bow shock wave dominates the generation and period of the oscillating combustion, although the mechanism whereby a normal or high-frequency mode is selected was not clear. The results of the initial gas pressure changes suggest that there exists a critical initial pressure for generating oscillating combustion.

To evaluate the characteristics of microaneurysms seen on color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in diabetic retinopathy.One hundred and thirty-two consecutive eyes of 92 patients with diabetic retinopathy were reviewed retrospectively. The characteristics of microaneurysms, including capsular structure (ring sign), hyperreflective spots in the lumen, the retinal layers in which they are located, and adjacent cystoid spaces, were documented on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography as sectional images. Their appearance on fundus photographs and focal fluorescein leakage were recorded. The association among these characteristics was evaluated.Eighty-eight of 118 microaneurysms (74.6%) with no capsular structure had focal fluorescein leakage, whereas 7 of 34 microaneurysms (20.6%) with complete capsular structure had leakage (P0.001). Focal leakage from the microaneurysms correlated positively with hyperreflective spots in the lumen and nearby cystoid spaces (P = 0.013 and P0.001, respectively) but not in the layers in which they were located. Multicolored microaneurysms contained hyperreflective spots in the lumens more frequently than whitish or reddish spots (P = 0.038), compared with no significant associations between the appearance and the other optical coherence tomography characteristics.Focal fluorescein leakage from microaneurysms was associated positively with the absence of a capsular structure, hyperreflective spots, and nearby cystoid spaces.

To investigate the causes of isolated fourth nerve palsy (IFNP) and the association among aetiology, prognosis and ocular deviation.A total of 126 consecutive cases of IFNP was retrospectively reviewed. According to aetiologies, all patients were classified into five groups: microvascular, congenital, decompensation of congenital, traumatic and others. We investigated the recovery rate of IFNP patients who could be followed for more than 6 months or until they recovered completely. Patients also had the magnitude of vertical and horizontal ocular deviations (prism diopter) measured in the primary eye position on the first visit.Major causes of IFNP were microvascular (47%) and decompensated (33%). The rate of recovery was significantly different between microvascular IFNP and decompensated IFNP (92% vs 55%, p0.001). There were no differences in both age of onset or mean vertical deviation between the two aetiologies (68.6±9.8 vs 65.4±13.3, 5.7±3.3 vs 7.8±7.9). However, for mean horizontal deviation, there was a significant difference between microvascular and decompensated IFNP (0.4±3.0 vs 4.9±5.6, p0.001). Although the fourth nerve abducts the eyeball, 69 of 126 cases (55%) showed exotropia. The microvascular IFNP group included more cases of exodeviation, while the decompensated IFNP group included more cases of esodeviation (p0.001).Contrary to previous thinking, the horizontal deviation of IFNP mainly showed exodeviation, and the degree of horizontal deviation is useful for making a determination between vasculopathic and decompensated IFNP. This differentiation could be critical for predicting the outcome.

PURPOSE. To measure the inner and outer retinal thicknesses on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and evaluate their association with logMAR after vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS. In this retrospective case series, there were 55 consecutive eyes with DME for which vitrectomy was performed. The total retinal thickness, the inner thickness (from the innermost of the retina to the inner nuclear layer), and the outer thickness (from the outer plexiform layer to the retinal pigment epithelium) in the parafoveal subfields were measured manually, and the association with logMAR was evaluated. RESULTS. The total retinal thicknesses in the central, nasal, and inferior subfields were significantly (r ¼ 0.37, P ¼ 0.005; r ¼ 0.29, P ¼ 0.032; r ¼ 0.33, P ¼ 0.015, respectively) associated with the baseline logMAR; no subfield thickness was correlated with the logMAR at the final visit. However, segmentational analysis showed that the outer retinal thickness of the temporal subfield was associated with disruption of the junction between the inner and outer segments at the fovea (P ¼ 0.021 and P ¼ 0.005) and negatively correlated with the logMAR (r ¼� 0.37, P ¼ 0.006 and r ¼� 0.28, P ¼ 0.042) at the 6-month and final visit. The inner thickness of the nasal subfield did not change after vitrectomy compared with the other subfields and the outer thickness of all subfields in the parafoveal area; the baseline nasal total thickness was correlated most significantly with the logMAR (r ¼ 0.40, P ¼ 0.002 and r ¼ 0.37, P ¼ 0.006) at the 6-month and final visits. CONCLUSIONS. Segmentational analysis provided useful information for considering the prognosis and pathogenesis after vitrectomy for DME. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012; 53:6668‐6674) DOI:10.1167/iovs.12-9934

In this paper, an outer feedback loop is added to the simple model matching method in order to improve response of a controlled system. We show a condition which the closed loop system added the outer loop coincides with a desired model on specified z. To vanish a steady state error for the step input and the ramp input, a selecting method of parameters of added loop is proposed and its function is proved mathematically. It is shown by numerical simulations that adjusting parameters are also useful to recover stability of the closed loop system

Intestinal parasite infections induce thymus-dependent villus atrophy, but the effector mechanisms directly responsible for the development of villus atrophy are not thoroughly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression of cytotoxic factors or ligands in athymic nude rnu/rnu rats and their littermate euthymic rnu/+ rats infected with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Morphometric analyses showed that partial villus atrophy developed 10 days after infection in euthymic but not in athymic rats, whereas crypt hyperplasia occurred in both types of animal. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of the isolated jejunal epithelial fraction showed that the development of villus atrophy in euthymic rats was positively correlated with an increase of granzyme B transcript levels but not with Fas ligand or tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression. In addition, the number of granzyme B-immunoreactive cells was increased significantly in euthymic rat villus epithelium and the propria mucosa after infection. The CD8+ cell number did not change significantly. Collectively, these findings showed that significant increases in the number of cells that express the cytotoxic factor granzyme B occur in the nematode-infected small intestine of immunocompetent hosts. The type of cells that express granzyme B and their role in the progression of enteropathy remain to be elucidated.

Allele and haplotype frequencies of seven Y-chromosome STR loci from samples of 108 unrelated Japanese males living in Aichi Prefecture.

PURPOSE To integrate parameters on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) based on the self-organizing map and objectively describe the macular morphologic patterns. METHODS A total of 336 consecutive eyes of 216 patients with DR for whom clear SD-OCT images were available were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven OCT parameters and the logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) were measured. These multidimensional data were analyzed based on the self-organizing map on which similar cases were near each other according to the degree of their similarities, followed by the objective clustering. RESULTS Self-organizing maps indicated that eyes with greater retinal thickness in the central subfield had greater thicknesses in the superior and temporal subfields. Eyes with foveal serous retinal detachment (SRD) had greater thickness in the nasal or inferior subfield. Eyes with foveal cystoid spaces were arranged to the left upper corner on the two-dimensional map; eyes with foveal SRD to the left lower corner; eyes with thickened retinal parenchyma to the lower area. The following objective clustering demonstrated the unsupervised pattern recognition of macular morphologies in diabetic macular edema (DME) as well as the higher-resolution discrimination of DME per se. Multiple regression analyses showed better association of logMAR with retinal thickness in the inferior subfield in eyes with SRD and with external limiting membrane disruption in eyes with foveal cystoid spaces or thickened retinal parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS The self-organizing map facilitates integrative understanding of the macular morphologic patterns and the structural/functional relationship in DR.

Melanocytoma is a benign tumor that is usually located over the optic nerve head, but may occur rarely in the iris, ciliary body, or choroid. 1 Because this deeply pigmented tumor may grow progressively, 2 invade the surrounding ocular tissues, 3 or cause secondary glaucoma, 4 it is sometimes difficult to clinically differentiate melanocytoma from malignant melanoma prior to histopathologic diagnosis. This report concerns a case of iridociliary melanocytoma with pulmonary mass lesion that initially simulated malignant melanoma with pulmonary metastasis.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between the cystoid spaces in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and the characteristics of the photoreceptors beneath the cystoid spaces in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS In this observational cross-sectional study, 123 eyes of 96 consecutive patients with clinically significant macular edema were retrospectively reviewed. The characteristics of the photoreceptors on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images represented by the external limiting membrane (ELM) and the junction between inner and outer segments (IS/OS), and their association with the overlying cystoid spaces were investigated. RESULTS The areas beneath the cystoid spaces in the OPL had a longer transverse length of disrupted or faint IS/OS and disrupted ELM lines than those without cystoid spaces (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.009). The IS/OS lines beneath the cystoid spaces had higher reflectivity than those in areas without cystoid spaces (P < 0.001). Enlarged cystoid spaces extending from the inner nuclear layer to the OPL were associated with disrupted IS/OS or ELM but not faint IS/OS (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.467). The transverse length of disrupted IS/OS at the fovea was correlated with the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) more than the association between foveal thickness and logMAR (r = 0.49, P < 0.001 vs. r = 0.28, P = 0.002). The ELM descended to the RPE more frequently in eyes with single-lobulated fluorescein pooling in the foveal avascular zone than those with multi-lobulated pooling (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS OCT showed that the cystoid spaces in the OPL were accompanied by photoreceptor damage beneath the cystoid spaces in DME.

Transparent conducting ZnO films are deposited by plasma-assisted deposition on glass and plastic substrates at temperatures as low as 50 °C. The effects of Ga doping and growth temperature on electrical properties are studied using Hall measurement and X-ray diffraction. Carrier density increases with Ga doping for both 50 and 300 °C growth. For low-temperature growth, the carrier mobility in undoped ZnO films is the same as that in high-temperature-grown films, but it becomes lower as the Ga doping level becomes higher. Lattice expansion in both c and a axes directions is observed for low-temperature-grown highly Ga-doped films. The relation between the mobility reduction and the lattice expansion is discussed.

Purpose To characterize microaneurysms in diabetic retinopathy (DR) depicted by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Design Retrospective, observational case series. Methods We surveyed a consecutive series of 76 eyes from 60 patients with DR (22 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy [NPDR]; 43 moderate NPDR; 9 severe NPDR; 2 proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR]) who underwent Spectralis OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), and color fundus photography on the same day. The microaneurysms on OCT were oval and well demarcated at the points where those on color fundus photographs and FA were delineated. The characteristics of microaneurysms were evaluated. Results Based on the status of the capsular structure shown in the sectional images of OCT (called ring sign), we classified 147 microaneurysms depicted by all of SD-OCT, FA, and color fundus photographs in 76 eyes: 28 with complete ring sign, 54 with incomplete one, and 65 with no structure. Microaneurysms with no ring sign had hyperreflective spots in the lumen and were accompanied by nearby cystoid spaces more frequently than other types ( P = .033 and P = .007). Thirteen of 75 microaneurysms with nearby cystoid spaces protruded into the cystoid spaces, and 11 of those 13 microaneurysms presented with no ring sign. Microaneurysms resided mainly in the inner nuclear layer (INL) (80.3%), and 65 of such microaneurysms (55.1%) were accompanied by nearby cystoid spaces. Conclusions SD-OCT delineated the capsular structure, hyperreflective spots, and location of microaneurysms, and microaneurysms with the ring sign were positively correlated with nearby cystoid spaces and protrusion into the cystoid spaces.