The phenol red thread tear test: a cross-cultural study.

PURPOSE: To examine the results of the phenol red thread tear test in a cross-cultural comparison. METHODS: Two groups of 500 controlled normal subjects who do not wear contact lenses from the United States and Japan were investigated. RESULTS: The mean wet length of the thread for the United States was 23.9 mm (SD 9.5 mm). The mean for Japan was 18.8 mm (SD 8.6 mm). There was a significant difference between the two countries (P < 0.05). Males subjects had significantly longer wet lengths than females for both countries (P < 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between right and left eye results for both countries. CONCLUSIONS: The phenol red thread tear test was found to be easy to administer. Results were in line with current knowledge and theories of the lacrimal system. Results also indicated that this test may disclose subtle differences not previously found with other tear tests.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on procollagen messenger RNA levels and collagen synthesis in the healing of rat tendon laceration.

In the present study, we examined the effect of intermittent exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on experimentally induced tendon laceration in the right hind limb of 56 male Wistar rats. We compared animals treated by HBO (2 atmospheres absolute [ATA] 100% O(2) x 60 min x once per day) with control animals (without HBO) at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after wound creation. Histology, and pro-alpha1 (I) mRNA by Northern hybridization, pro-alpha1 (III) mRNA, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA by RT-PCR were studied. Our results indicate the use of HBO influences the pro-a1 (I) mRNA expression. The level of pro-alpha1 (I) mRNA was especially increased at 7 14 days after laceration by HBO. These results suggest that intermittent oxygen exposure may play a significant role in collagen synthesis and be beneficial for producing the extracellular matrices in tissue engineering.

Evidence that far-infrared radiation promotes growth of Xenopus laevis.

In most ectotherms, environmental temperature has differential effects on growth and differentiation. For example, amphibian size at maturity decreases with increasing temperature. To address how radiant heat in the form of far-infrared radiation (FIR) may affect development of the aquatic ectotherm Xenopus laevis, we continuously irradiated swimming larvae as they developed into young adults. Here we report evidence that FIR promotes growth of these organisms in an aqueous environment.

The effects of various therapeutic measures on shoulder range of motion and cross-sectional areas of rotator cuff muscles after baseball pitching.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various therapeutic measures on the shoulder range of motion (ROM) and muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) of rotator cuff muscles after baseball pitching. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a mode of therapeutic measures was classified in 4 groups; the control (CON), ice treatment (IT), light shoulder exercise (LSE) and ice treatment with LSE (ILSE) groups. Each therapeutic measure was performed after pitching. PARTICIPANTS: 7 healthy, skilled baseball pitchers. MEASURES: ROM and mCSA were measured before pitching, immediately after pitching, at the time of the therapeutic measure, and 24 hours after pitching. Shoulder ROM at 90 inverted exclamation mark of abduction included internal rotation (IROM), maximum internal rotation (IMROM), external rotation (EROM) and maximum external rotation (EMROM). RESULTS: In all groups, both IROM and IMROM were significantly decreased after pitching compared with the pre-exercise values and conversely both EROM and EMROM were significantly increased. The mCSA of all rotator cuff muscles were increased significantly after pitching. For IMROM, ILSE showed a significant recovery at the post-therapeutic measure compared with the others and at 24 hours after pitching compared with IT, respectively. For IROM, both LSE and ILSE showed significant recovery compared with CON at the post-therapeutic measure. For the mCSA of external muscles, ILSE showed a greater decrease at the post-therapeutic measure than the others, and at 24 hours after pitching than CON. CONCLUSION: This study suggested the possibility that ILSE was more effective to recover ROM and decrease mCSA than the other methods.

The effects of various therapeutic measures on shoulder strength and muscle soreness after baseball pitching.

AIM: This study was intended as an investigation of the effects of various therapeutic measures on the shoulder strength and muscle soreness after baseball pitching. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: participants threw 98 pitches in a simulated single game. The mode of the therapeutic measures after pitching were classified into 4 groups; the control group (CON), the ice treatment group (IT), the light shoulder exercise group (LSE) and the ice treatment with LSE group (ILSE). Each therapeutic measure was applied to the dominant shoulder immediately after pitching. PARTICIPANTS: 7 healthy, skilled baseball pitchers. MEASURES: both shoulder strength and muscle soreness were measured before pitching, immediately after pitching (Post-P), at the time of the therapeutic measure (Post-TM), and 24 hours after pitching (Post-24 h). RESULTS: All 4 groups showed shoulder strength losses in shoulder abduction, internal/external rotation with no shoulder abduction or with the shoulder abducted to 90 degrees immediately after pitching. ILSE had greater recovery from Post-P values at Post-TM or Post-24 h than the other methods in all 5 shoulder strengths. On the other hand, the soreness in shoulder internal rotation was increased significantly from Post-P and continued by Post-24 h. Both IT and ILSE had beneficial effects on reducing the shoulder muscle soreness at Post-TM or Post-24 h. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that ILSE was the optimal therapeutic measure against decreased shoulder strength or increased shoulder muscle soreness resulting from the repetitive baseball pitching.

[Diagnosis of orbital lymphoma by molecular genetic analysis].

Recent advances in molecular genetics have made a great contribution to the investigation of lymphoid malignancies. We diagnosed orbital malignant lymphomas by molecular genetic analysis. Molecular genetic analysis elucidates gene rearrangements within lymphocytes that are responsible for immunoglobulin produced by B-lymphocytes, or the expression of cell surface antigen recognition receptors in T-lymphocytes. The cells of most malignant tumors are considered to be genetically homogeneous because they are assumed to represent a single clone descended from one abnormal cell. The determination that a malignancy is of clonal origin has been used as a diagnostic aid to distinguish benign from malignant proliferations. Analysis of the immunoglobulin genes and the T-cell antigen receptor genes using DNA from biopsied specimens is very useful, as it can reveal the origin of tumor cells and clonality of tumor cell characteristics which cannot be distinguished by morphological analysis. Genetic analysis was found to be superior to immunophenotyping for identifying the monoclonality of tumor cells in instances when there were no definitive cell-lineage specific markers, or when there was a preponderance of normal counterparts with mixed appearance of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells in malignant lymphoma. Molecular genetic analysis is used to 1) distinguish clonal from polyclonal lymphoproliferations, 2) determine the B-cell or T-cell identity of malignancies with admixed normal cells, 3) determine the genetic lineage of neoplasms lacking definitive surface antigens, and 4) determine the developmental stage of early B-cell or T-cell precursors.

[A case of bilateral MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) type conjunctival malignant lymphoma].

A case of bilateral MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) type conjunctival malignant lymphoma is reported. The patient, a 32 year old female, was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis. We performed histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetical examination. The histopathological findings showed proliferation of CCL (centrocytelike) cells, lymphoepithelial lesion, and follicular colonization. Monoclonality of the tumor cells was revealed by molecular genetical analysis. On the basis of these detailed examinations, the patient was diagnosed as having MALT type malignant lymphoma. MALT type malignant lymphoma was first described by Isaacson in 1983. Both histological and clinical features are characteristic and quite different from other lymphomas. Some patients are affected bilaterally. Immunohistochemical and molecular genetical examinations in MALT type malignant lymphomas were found to be useful.

[A nation-wide survey on the occurrence of amoebic keratitis in Japan].

Acanthamoeba keratitis in Japan was first reported by Ishibashi in 1988. Since then, the incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis has gradually increased. We retrospectively analyzed 39 cases, 42 eyes, of amoebic keratitis reported in Japan from 1988 to September 1993. Of the 39 patients, 35 (89.7%) wore contact lenses, 32 (82.1%) soft contact lenses, and 3 (7.7%) hard contact lenses, and 4 (10.3%) did not wear contact lenses. Of the 4 patients without contact lenses, 3 had a history of trauma. Acanthamoeba keratitis is often difficult to diagnose. Twenty-four cases were misdiagnosed as herpetic keratitis. Early diagnosis and adequate therapy are important.

Evidence that far infrared radiation promotes growth of Xenopus laevis.

In most ectotherms, environmental temperature has differential effects on growth and differentiation. For example, amphibian size at maturity decreases with increasing temperature. To address how radiant heat in the form of far-infrared radiation (FIR) may affect development of the aquatic ectotherm Xenopus laevis, we continuously irradiated swimming larvae as they developed into young adults. Here we report evidence that FIR promotes growth of these organisms in an aqueous environment.

Comparative studies on the antiallergic effects of kampo medicines used for the therapy of respiratory diseases.

Eight kinds of kampo medicines mainly used for the treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases, whose comparative effects were still unproven, were selected for comparison of their antiallergic activity in the present study. 1) In an experiment on 48-hr PCA reaction in rats passively sensitized with anti egg albumin IgE antisera, inhibitory effects were observed in those groups orally administered with the tested kampo medicines. Among the drugs tested, TJ-19 showed a potent inhibitory activity as effective as that of tranilast (TL). 2) In the study of extraction method, the effects of kampo drugs varied widely according to the extraction method by which they were prepared. This suggests that the routine methods for preparing these extracts should be reconsidered to achieve the optimal efficacy. 3) In the study of histamine release from rat peritoneal cells stimulated with compound 48/80, TJ-55, TJ-19 and TL exerted a strong inhibition, but TJ-119, TJ-29 and TJ-96 had a weak inhibition. 4) TJ-96, TJ-19 and TL exerted a strong inhibitory effect on LTC, release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by calcium (Ca) ionophore A23187, but TJ-95, TJ-55 and TJ-119 exerted only a weak inhibition. To sum up of the results, any of these kampo medicines have unique pharmacological action and antiallergic effects. Besides, the method for extraction affects the efficacy of kampo medicine in vitro.