The "Ant-farm"-like Appearance of Restricted Lower Limb Vasculitis on Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron Emission Tomography.

Restricted lower limb vasculitis is a type of localized muscle vasculitis limited to the lower limbs. The usefulness of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for the diagnosis of this entity has not yet been reported. We herein report three patients with a fever and persistent lower limb pain. FDG-PET revealed linear and patchy FDG uptakes in their lower limbs. Combined with magnetic resonance imaging and histological findings, they were diagnosed with lower limb vasculitis. Linear and patchy FDG uptakes are considered to reflect the presence of muscle vasculitis. The characteristic "ant-farm"-like FDG-PET images can be a diagnostic clue for the currently overlooked vasculitis.

Bone morphogenetic protein-4 and bone morphogenetic protein receptors expressions in the adult rat eye.

We investigated the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) and its receptors, bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA (BMPRIA), bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPRIB) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor II (BMPRII) in the adult rat eye. Interesting differences in expression profile were observed between BMPRIA and BMPRIB in the retina. BMPRIA-like immunoreactivity (IR) was very intensely seen in the photoreceptor layer, while BMPRIB-IR was mainly observed in the other layers. In the cornea, BMP4, BMPRIA, BMPRIB and BMPRII-IRs were abundantly seen in the cell body of basal cells in the corneal epithelium, and endothelium. In the lens, BMP4, BMPRIA, BMPRIB and BMPRII-IRs were observed in epithelial cells, lens cortical fiber cells, however they were not seen in the capsule and the central region of the lens. In the iris and ciliary body, strong BMP4 and BMPRIB-IRs were observed in nonpigmented epithelium. These results suggest that different kinds of BMP signaling should be needed in different areas in the adult eye to keep the shapes, differentiation levels, and functions of various cells.

Central corneal thickness in Japanese children.

PURPOSE: To determine the central corneal thickness (CCT) in Japanese children and to investigate the changes in CCT with increasing age. METHODS: Pachymetry was performed on 338 eyes of 169 patients undergoing eye muscle surgery under general anesthesia, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured on 312 eyes of 156 of those same patients. Patients with abnormalities other than refractive errors and strabismus were excluded. Patients were divided into four groups: group 1, < or =1 year of age; group 2, 2-4; group 3, 5-9; and group 4, 10-18 years of age. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the significance of the changes in CCT. RESULTS: The average CCT of the right eye was 544.3 +/- 36.9 microm. The CCT was thinner in group 1 than in groups 3 and 4 (ANOVA, P = 0.02). There was a positive but weak correlation between IOP and CCT (IOP = 6.253 + 0.014 x CCT; r (2) = 0.047, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: CCT reaches the adult thickness in Japanese children by age 5 years. The average CCT is thinner in Japanese children than in Caucasians but thicker than in African American children.

Superior oblique palsy with class III tendon anomaly.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical findings and surgical results of superior oblique palsy with class III tendon anomaly. DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: One hundred and forty-one cases of congenital and idiopathic superior oblique palsy were operated on by one surgeon (M.S.) between September 1, 1995 and August 31, 2007. The superior oblique tendons were explored in 26 cases. Among these, five cases were found to have the distal end of the tendon inserted into the Tenon capsule. Preoperative eye alignment, visual acuity, stereopsis measured with Titmus stereo acuity tests (Stereo Fly SO-001; Stereo Optical Co, Chicago, Illinois, USA), and magnetic resonance imaging findings were collected from the patients' records. Main outcome measures included preoperative eye position, surgical results, and stereoscopic acuity. Stereopsis and the amount of vertical deviation were compared in cases with class I, II, and IV tendon anomalies. RESULTS: A total of eight surgeries were performed on five patients with class III superior oblique tendon anomaly. Three muscles were operated on for each patient. The amount of vertical deviation was not significantly different from other types of tendon anomaly. Patients with class I to III tendon anomalies obtained good stereopsis after strabismus surgery, whereas cases with class IV anomaly achieved only limited stereopsis. The number of surgeries performed was significantly higher in cases with class IV anomaly. CONCLUSIONS: Without careful search of the Tenon capsule, the condition can be misdiagnosed as an absent tendon. Strengthening the superior oblique tendon in the Tenon capsule can improve the alignment significantly.