Non-destructive imaging of buried electronic interfaces using a decelerated scanning electron beam.

Recent progress in nanotechnology enables the production of atomically abrupt interfaces in multilayered junctions, allowing for an increase in the number of transistors in a processor. However, uniform electron transport has not yet been achieved across the entire interfacial area in junctions due to the existence of local defects, causing local heating and reduction in transport efficiency. To date, junction uniformity has been predominantly assessed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, which requires slicing and milling processes that can potentially introduce additional damage and deformation. It is therefore essential to develop an alternative non-destructive method. Here we show a non-destructive technique using scanning electron microscopy to map buried junction properties. By controlling the electron-beam energy, we demonstrate the contrast imaging of local junction resistances at a controlled depth. This technique can be applied to any buried junctions, from conventional semiconductor and metal devices to organic devices.

Involvement of Eyelid Pressure in Lid-Wiper Epitheliopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether eyelid pressure is involved in the development of lid-wiper epitheliopathy (LWE). METHODS: Study 1: The eyelid pressure was measured with a blepharo-tensiometer, and the degree of LWE was assessed in 79 eyes of 43 non-contact lens (CL) wearers. Study 2: The movements of the eyelids and displacement of the eyes during spontaneous blinking were photographed with a high-speed camera. The eyelid pressure was also measured in 34 normal eyes of 19 non-CL wearers who were not part of Study 1. RESULTS: Study 1: Upper-LWE was detected in 24 of 79 eyes (30.4%), and no significant difference was detected in the eyelid pressure between any grade of upper-LWE. Lower-LWE was detected in 41 of 79 eyes (51.9%), and the eyelid pressure (27.9 ± 2.8 mmHg) in eyes with grade 3 LWE was significantly higher than that with grade 0 LWE (19.7 ± 1.3 mmHg; p < 0.05). Study 2: The lower eyelid pressure was significantly correlated with the length of the horizontal movement of the lower eyelids (p < 0.05) and also with the degree of posterior movement of the eye globe (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The higher pressure from the eyelid may be one of the causes for the development of lower-LWE.

Correlation Between Recurrent Subconjunctival Hemorrhages and Conjunctivochalasis by Clinical Profile and Successful Surgical Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical profile of patients with recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages (SCHs) and evaluate the effect of conjunctivochalasis (CCh) surgery on disease recurrences. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-two patients with SCHs (mean age, 56.4±16.0 years) were enrolled in this multicenter epidemiologic study. The severity of CCh, lifestyle at the time of SCH onset, and the frequency of previous SCHs were compared. Thirty-eight patients with 2 or more episodes of SCHs (mean age, 68.2±8.9 years) underwent surgery for CCh. The effectiveness of surgery was evaluated by comparing the frequency of SCH preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Patients with three or more recurrent SCHs showed a significantly (P=0.003) higher grade of CCh and tended to be engaged in activities that require visual concentration, such as watching a visual display terminal, knitting, reading, and driving. More than 80% of eyes that underwent surgery to CCh showed no recurrence of the hemorrhages, and the frequency of SCH significantly (P<0.0001) decreased postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate or severe CCh and activities that may cause dry eye can be considered to be risk factors for recurrent SCHs. Surgery to treat CCh is a useful option for patients with frequent recurrences of SCHs.

Fungal keratitis caused by Beauveria bassiana: drug and temperature sensitivity profiles: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus and is a rare cause of keratitis. We present a case of fungal keratitis caused by B. bassiana that was diagnosed by in vivo confocal microscopy and in vitro corneal cultures. In addition, we determined the temperature- and drug-sensitivities of the isolated strain of B. bassiana. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old Japanese man with a 2-month history of keratitis was examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, and histology and cultures of corneal scrapings. The corneal scrapings were used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations of different antifungal drugs and also to determine the temperature-sensitivity. In vivo confocal microscopy and histological examinations showed filamentous fungal keratitis. The characteristics of the fungal growth indicated that the keratitis was caused by B. bassiana. The keratitis responded poorly to systemic and topical voriconazole and to natamycin ointment. However, it was resolved after changing the natamycin to micafungin combined with surgical debridement. The isolated strain was sensitive to itraconazole, miconazole, micafungin, voriconazole, and resistant to flucytosine and fluconazole. It was moderately sensitive to amphotericin B, and natamycin. After 7 days in culture, the isolate grew small white colonies at 25 °C, very small colonies at 35 °C and 37 °C. CONCLUSION: The drug-sensitivity and temperature-sensitivity profiles of B. bassiana should be helpful in the treatment of B. bassiana keratitis. Therapeutic surgery may be helpful for mycotic keratitis poorly responsive to medical therapy alone.

New method for viewing Krehbiel flow by polymethylmethacrylate particles suspended in fluorescein solution.

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in the tear flow velocities caused by ageing. METHODS: Ninety-nine subjects (41 men, mean age 48.3 ± 20.7 years) were recruited from the Department of Ophthalmology of the Ehime University Hospital. None of the subjects had serious abnormalities of the external surface of the eye. The Krehbiel flow of tears was determined by 40-µm polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads suspended in a fluorescein sodium solution (PPF). The movement of the beads was video recorded through a slit-lamp during normal blinking. The flow of the beads was determined with a Motion ANALYZER(®) software (KEYENCE Co., Osaka, Japan). The velocity of the beads in young age, 20-40 years, middle age, 41-60 years and old age, ≥61 years, groups was determined. RESULTS: The equation describing the velocity (mm/second) of the PMMA particles as a function of age in the lower tear meniscus measured in the direction of the lacrimal punctum was Y = 2.49-0.04X, where Y = velocity and X = age (r(2) = 0.214; p < 0.0001). For the upper meniscus, the equation was Y = 4.83-0.05X (r(2) = 0.195, p < 0.0001). The average velocity was 0.70 ± 1.66 mm/second in the lower and 2.16 ± 1.93 mm/second in the upper tear meniscus (p < 0.0001). The particle velocity decreased significantly with increasing age, but no significant difference between the male and female groups except for the lower tear meniscus when all subjects were analysed. CONCLUSION: The PPF technique is a simple method of examining Krehbiel flow of tears and may be used for evaluating functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction quantitatively.

Indoxyl sulfate down-regulates SLCO4C1 transporter through up-regulation of GATA3.

The accumulated uremic toxins inhibit the expression of various renal transporters and this inhibition may further reduce renal function and subsequently cause the accumulation of uremic toxins. However, the precise mechanism of the nephrotoxicity of uremic toxins on renal transport has been poorly understood. Here we report that indoxyl sulfate, one of the potent uremic toxins, directly suppresses the renal-specific organic anion transporter SLCO4C1 expression through a transcription factor GATA3. The promoter region of SLCO4C1 gene has several GATA motifs, and indoxyl sulfate up-regulated GATA3 mRNA and subsequently down-regulated SLCO4C1 mRNA. Overexpression of GATA3 significantly reduced SLCO4C1 expression, and silencing of GATA3 increased SLCO4C1 expression vice versa. Administration of indoxyl sulfate in rats reduced renal expression of slco4c1 and under this condition, plasma level of guanidinosuccinate, one of the preferable substrates of slco4c1, was significantly increased without changing plasma creatinine. Furthermore, in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, treatment with oral adsorbent AST-120 significantly decreased plasma indoxyl sulfate level and conversely increased the expression of slco4c1, following the reduction of plasma level of guanidinosuccinate. These data suggest that the removal of indoxyl sulfate and blocking its signal pathway may help to restore the SLCO4C1-mediated renal excretion of uremic toxins in CKD.

A metabolomic approach to clarifying the effect of AST-120 on 5/6 nephrectomized rats by capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry (CE-MS).

The oral adsorbent AST-120 is composed of spherical carbon particles and has an adsorption ability for certain small-molecular-weight compounds that accumulate in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). So far, very few compounds are known to be adsorbed by AST-120 in vivo. To examine the effect of AST-120 in vivo, we comprehensively evaluated the plasma concentrations of 146 compounds (61 anions and 85 cations) in CKD model rats, with or without four weeks of treatment with AST-120. By capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry, we identified 6 anions and 17 cations that were significantly decreased by AST-120 treatment. In contrast, we also identified 2 cations that were significantly increased by AST-120. Among them, 4 anions, apart from indoxyl sulfate and hippurate, and 19 cations were newly identified in this study. The plasma levels of N-acetyl-neuraminate, 4-pyridoxate, 4-oxopentanoate, glycine, γ-guanidinobutyrate, N-γ-ethylglutamine, allantoin, cytosine, 5-methylcytosine and imidazole-4-acetate were significantly increased in the CKD model compared with the sham-operated group, and were significantly decreased by AST-120 treatment. Therefore, these 10 compounds could be added as uremic compounds that indicate the effect of AST-120 treatment. This study provides useful information not only for identifying the indicators of AST-120, but also for clarifying changes in the metabolic profile by AST-120 treatment in the clinical setting.

Clinical characteristics of keratitis due to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics of the keratitis due to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. METHODS: The medical records of 3 cases of fungal keratitis caused by C. gloeosporioides were reviewed to determine the clinical characteristics. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of different antifungal drugs for all 3 isolates were determined. All 3 isolates were grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 25°C, 35°C, and 37°C to determine the temperature-sensitive growth. RESULTS: All 3 patients lived in the southwestern part of Japan and had an ocular trauma involving organic materials. The infectious foci were localized in the anterior stroma, and they did not extend deep into the stroma in all cases. The keratitis was treated with antifungal medications including topical voriconazole and natamycin eye ointment, and was resolved in 2-3 weeks. All of the isolated strains grew well at 25°C but poorly at 35°C and 37°C. All isolated strains had similar drug-sensitivity profiles; they were sensitive to amphotericin B, itraconazole, miconazole, micafungin, and voriconazole, and relatively resistant to flucytosine, fluconazole, and natamycin. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 cases of C. gloeosporioides keratitis had similar clinical features. The similarities in the drug-sensitivity profiles should be helpful in treating C. gloeosporioides keratitis.

Effect of anterior chamber depth on shear stress exerted on corneal endothelial cells by altered aqueous flow after laser iridotomy.

Purpose. The study hypothesis was that shear stress caused by abnormal aqueous flow is one of the causes of corneal endothelial cell loss after laser iridotomy (LI). The shear stress exerted on the corneal endothelial cells (CECs) in anterior chambers (ACs) of different depths was calculated by a computational fluid dynamics program. The effect of shear stress was also examined on human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) grown on microscope slides. Methods. Three-dimensional models of the AC were constructed, with and without an LI window, and AC depths of 2.8, 1.8, 1.5, and 1.0 mm. The speed of aqueous streaming through the LI window was obtained from animal studies and used to calculate the shear stress exerted on the CECs. Cultured HCECs attached to glass slides were subjected to different magnitudes of shear stress by exposing the cells to different flow rates of the culture solution. The number of cells remaining attached to the slide under each condition was determined. Results. The shear stresses were 0.14, 0.31, 0.48, and 0.70 dyn/cm(2) for models with AC depths of 2.8, 1.8, 1.5, and 1.0 mm, respectively. When cultured HCECs were subjected to shear stress within the range calculated by the three-dimensional models, the number of cells remaining attached to the glass slide decreased as the magnitude and duration of the shear stress increased. Conclusions. Shear stress exerted on CECs after LI may reach a magnitude high enough to cause cell damage and loss in eyes, especially in those with shallow anterior chambers.

[Lid-wiper epitheliopathy in patients with dry eye symptoms].

PURPOSE: Lid-wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) is characterized by one part of the marginal conjunctiva of the upper eyelid being affected and is correlated with dry eye symptoms. This is a study of the clinical features of LWE. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-four eyes of 182 patients with dry eye symptoms were studied. In all subjects the presence of LWE was determined by lissamine green staining followed by tests for dry eye. RESULTS: LWE was detected in 48 of 364 eyes (13.2%). One hundred thirty-four eyes were diagnosed with dry eye and LWE was detected in 25 of 134 eyes (18.7%). This rate was higher than that of non-dry eyes with LWE (23 of 230 eyes, 10.0%). Since LWE was detected at a high rate in contact lens (CL) wearers (22 of 37 eyes, 59.4%), LWE background factors in CL wearers and non-CL wearers were compared. Significantly higher fluorescein staining scores were detected in the LWE positive CL wearers compared to LWE negative CL wearers, whereas no significant differences were detected between the LWE positive and negative groups in any other dry eye examination. LWE-like lissamine green staining was detected on the lower eyelids in 122 eyes (33.0%). CONCLUSION: LWE was detected in more than 10% of patients with dry eye symptoms. Although LWE was detected in dry eye patients, no clear relationship was recognized between LWE and the presence of dry eye.

Demonstration of aqueous streaming through a laser iridotomy window against the corneal endothelium.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pathogenesis of the bullous keratopathy that is frequently observed in patients after argon laser iridotomy (ALI) by comparing the changes in aqueous flow after ALI with those that follow peripheral iridectomy in rabbit eyes. METHODS: Silicone particles were injected into the anterior chamber of rabbit eyes as tracers to monitor aqueous flow. Particle tracking velocimetry with image analysis was used to determine the direction and speed of aqueous flow in 5 pigmented rabbits that underwent ALI and 5 that underwent peripheral iridectomy. RESULTS: In the ALI group, silicone particles were found to stream through the iridotomy window against the corneal endothelium immediately after the pupil was constricted by a light stimulus. The mean +/- SD speed of the particles was 2.97 +/- 1.51 mm/s. In contrast, the mean +/- SD flow rate through the iridectomy window in the peripheral iridectomy group was significantly slower at 0.36 +/- 0.30 mm/s (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Constriction of the pupil elicited marked aqueous streaming through the ALI window against the corneal endothelium. Clinical Relevance The mechanical stress to the corneal endothelium by the abnormal aqueous stream may be partially responsible for the corneal decompensation that follows ALI.

Effects of antioxidant treatment in oligozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sairei-to, an herbal medicine, as an antioxidant in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia (nonnormozoospermia). STUDY DESIGN: Forty-seven nonnormozoospermic and 16 normozoospermic men were the subjects of this prospective clinical study. After sairei-to (9.0 g/d) was administered daily to the 2 groups for 3 months, sperm parameters, serum hormones and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the serum and the seminal plasma was analyzed. The testicular artery was also assessed. RESULTS: After therapy, serum hormones and SOD activity did not change significantly in either group. Although men with normozoospermia did not undergo a significant change in sperm conditions or testicular artery flow, total sperm concentration (17.1 +/- 20.0 versus 28.7 +/- 35.5 x 10(6)/mL, P = .02) and sperm motility (30.1% +/- 21.6 versus 45.8% +/- 24.4, P < .0001) were significantly increased, and the pulsatility index of the testicular artery (2.03 +/- 0.84 versus 1.64 +/- 0.48, P = .04) was significantly decreased in nonnormozoospermia. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the herbal antioxidant sairei-to improves sperm condition and testicular artery flow in nonnormozoospermia.

Elevated serum CA125 and CA19-9 due to the spontaneous rupture of ovarian endometrioma.

A 23-year-old woman was suffered from ruptured ovarian endometrioma with an elevated CA125 and CA19-9 concentration; 9537 and 15,653IU/ml, respectively. Rapid decrease in serum CA125 and CA19-9 was recognized before surgery. Such high levels of both antigens have not been reported in a patient with endometriosis.