Complex biological systems resemble a “black box,” as it is a priori unclear how interactions among individuals will affect the collective (group) behavioral performance. Network analysis is a ...suitable method to shed light on these black boxes by studying the collective behavior of highly integrated social organisms such as ants. Individual within the colony have their own personality and task allocation for sustaining the society. Individual-level data are also important for understanding network structure. To obtain individual-level data such as personality and task allocation, individual behavior was assessed using several well-established information processing methods. To detect individual personalities from the position data, trajectory patterns were used. To analyze trajectory patterns, behavioral motif detection was used. The behavioral motif is the minimum unit of the entire trajectory.
The activity and distribution of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in the nasal mucosa of patients with nasal allergy was examined and compared with those in healthy subjects. TP activity was analyzed by ...spectrophotometry and expression was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody specific to TP. The expression level of TP detected by immunoblotting showed a correlation with the activity detected by spectrophotometry. In nasal mucosa obtained from patients with nasal allergy, the level of TP was significantly higher than that from normal subjects. Eosinophils, basal cells in mucosal epithelium and fibroblasts in nasal mucosa obtained from patients with nasal allergy were stained with anti-TP monoclonal antibody. Strong staining of eosinophils present in nasal discharge was observed. The present results indicate that an increased number of TP-expressing cells, especially eosinophils in nasal mucosa, might be associated with the pathogenesis of nasal allergy.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
This study was aimed to review the etiology and the outcomes of current posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (Visian ICL, STAAR Surgical) extraction. This review comprised 770 eyes of 403 ...consecutive patients undergoing ICL extraction. We evaluated prevalence, etiology, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), predictability, and patient satisfaction. ICL extraction was required in 8 of 770 (1.0%) eyes. The most common reason was the progression of the pre-existing cataract formation in 5 eyes (63%), followed by residual refractive errors in 3 eyes (38%). Of the 7 eyes targeted for emmetropia, 7 (100%) and 6 (86%) achieved UDVAs of 20/40 and 20/20 or better, respectively. Three eyes (38%) showed no change in CDVA, 3 eyes (38%) gained 1 line, 2 eyes (25%) gained 3 or more lines. 88% and 100% were within ± 0.5 and 1.0 diopter (D), respectively, of the targeted correction. Patient satisfaction improved significantly, from 3.0 ± 1.4 preoperatively, to 8.0 ± 2.4 postoperatively. No vision-threatening complications occurred. ICL extraction was required in approximately 1% of ICL-implanted eyes. Visual and refractive outcomes were good, and patient satisfaction was overall high, even in ICL-extracted eyes.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study was aimed to determine the effect of the amount of astigmatism on distance visual acuity, and to provide a prediction formula of visual acuity according to astigmatism, in a presbyopic ...population. We comprised 318 eyes of 318 consecutive patients (158 phakic and 160 pseudophakic subjects) without any eye diseases, except for refractive errors with astigmatism of 3 diopter or less. We assessed the relationship of the spherical equivalent visual acuity (SEVA) with astigmatism, and also provided a regression formula of visual acuity according to astigmatism in such subjects. We found a significant correlation between the SEVA and the amount of astigmatism (r = 0.715, p < 0.001) in the entire study population. We obtained similar results, not only in phakic eyes (r = 0.718, p < 0.001), but also in pseudophakic eyes (r = 0.717, p < 0.001). The regression formula was expressed as follows: y = 0.017x
+ 0.125x - 0.116 (R
= 0.544), where y = logMAR SEVA, and x = astigmatism. We also found no significant differences in the SEVA for matched comparison among the with-the-rule (WTR), against-the-rule (ATR), and oblique (OBL) astigmatism subgroups (p = 0.922). These regression formulas may be clinically beneficial not only for estimating the visual prognosis after astigmatic correction, but also for determining the surgical indication of astigmatic correction.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study was aimed to assess the outcomes of simultaneous phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) and photoastigmatic keratectomy (PAK), with special attention to astigmatic correction. We comprised 70 ...eyes of 70 patients who underwent simultaneous PTK and PAK in patients having granular corneal dystrophy and band keratopathy with refractive astigmatism of 1 diopter (D) or more. Preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively, we assessed corrected uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest spherical equivalent, refractive astigmatism, corneal astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). LogMAR CDVA significantly improved, from 0.27 ± 0.27 preoperatively, to 0.13 ± 0.21 postoperatively (Paired t test, p < 0.001). LogMAR UDVA also significantly improved, from 0.70 ± 0.32 preoperatively, to 0.57 ± 0.41 postoperatively (p = 0.043). Refractive astigmatism significantly decreased, from 2.12 ± 0.95 D preoperatively, to 0.89 ± 0.81 D postoperatively (p < 0.001). Corneal astigmatism also significantly decreased, from 2.17 ± 0.90 D preoperatively, to 1.08 ± 0.71 D postoperatively (p < 0.001). Corneal HOAs did not significantly change, from 0.54 ± 0.30 µm preoperatively, to 0.48 ± 0.20 µm postoperatively (p = 0.140). No significant complications occurred in any eye. Simultaneous PTK and PAK treatment is effective not only for improving visual acuity, but also for reducing astigmatism.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose To compare the predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using the Barrett Universal II and the SRK/T formulas in eyes undergoing combined cataract surgery and ...trabeculectomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of 56 consecutive eyes undergoing cataract surgery and trabeculectomy. IOL power calculations were performed using the Barrett Universal II and SRK/T formulas. We compared the prediction error, the absolute error, and the percentages within ± 0.5 D and ±1.0 D of the targeted refraction, 3 months postoperatively, and also investigated the relationship of the prediction error with the keratometric readings and axial length, using the two formulas. Results The prediction error using the SRK/T formula was significantly more myopic than that using the Barrett Universal II formula (paired t-test, p<0.001). The absolute error using the Barrett Universal II formula was significantly smaller than that using the SRK/T formula (p = 0.039). We found significant correlations of the prediction error with the axial length (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.273, p = 0.042), and the keratometric readings (r = -0.317, p = 0.017), using SRK/T formula, but no significant correlations between them (r = 0.219, p = 0.167, and r = -0.023, p = 0.870), using the Barrett Universal II formula. Conclusions The Barrett Universal II formula provides a better predictability of IOL power calculation and is less susceptible to the effect of the axial length and the corneal shape, than the SRK/T formula. The Barrett Universal formula, rather than the SRK/T formula, may be clinically helpful for improving the refractive accuracy in such eyes.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Therapeutic drug monitoring guided by the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC-guided TDM) is recommended for vancomycin. However, validated efficient software remains elusive to ...popularize AUC-guided TDM in Japan. The aim of this study was to validate a newly developed web application, PAT, for AUC estimation.
Methods
PAT was developed on the R ver. 3.6.2 platform for use with mobile phones and personal computers. AUC estimated by PAT (AUC
PAT
) was evaluated against the reference AUC (AUC
REF
) calculated with the log-linear trapezoidal rule using eight measured concentrations, or against AUC (AUC
BM-P
) calculated using an evaluated available software with clinical data.
Results
Investigating the best sampling points with limited sampling, PAT produced the least bias using two concentrations at 1 h and 11 h after the end of infusion (slope 1.18, intercept −15.57, median AUC
PAT
/AUC
REF
0.93 range 0.81–1.24), where only one estimation (6%) was out of the predetermined acceptable range of 0.8–1.2. Employment of only a trough concentration was more biased (AUC
PAT
/AUC
REF
range 0.73–1.30 for 11 h, AUC
PAT
/AUC
REF
range 0.62–1.40 for 23 h). In comparison with the evaluated software, AUC
PAT
was not biased against the AUC
BM-P
(slope 1.04, intercept −15.80, median AUC
PAT
/AUC
BM-P
1.00 range 0.86–1.10).
Conclusions
The new application using two concentrations was appropriately validated and might be efficient in popularizing the AUC-guided TDM of vancomycin.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Purpose
To compare the predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using several corneal power measurements in eyes that underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).
Study design
...Retrospective case series.
Methods
We reviewed the clinical charts of 42 eyes of 25 consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery after PTK for granular corneal dystrophy or band keratopathy. IOL power calculations were performed using the SRK/T formula with four corneal power measurements automated keratometry (AK) measured with a partial coherence interferometer, simulated keratometry (Sim K), true net power (TNP), and total corneal refractive power (TCRP) measured with a rotating Scheimpflug camera; we determined the prediction error, absolute error, and percentage within ± 1.0 D of the targeted refraction, 1 month postoperatively.
Results
The prediction error in the TCRP group was significantly better than those in the AK, Sim K, and TNP groups. The absolute error was also significantly better than those in the AK and Sim K groups, but not significantly different from that in the TNP group. The percentages of within ± 0.5 and 1.0 D in the TCRP group were significantly higher than those in the AK and Sim K groups, but not significantly different from that in the TNP group.
Conclusions
The TCRP provides the highest predictability of IOL power calculation in post-PTK eyes. This result suggests that the use of the TCRP, rather than of conventional anterior keratometry, may be clinically helpful for improving the refractive accuracy of post-PTK eyes.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. Mice genetically deficient in 5-HTT expression have been used to study the physiological ...functions of 5-HTT in the brain and have been proposed as a potential animal model for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between the gut-brain axis and mood disorders. However, the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on gut microbiota, brain function, and behavior remain to be fully characterized. Here we investigated the effects of 5-HTT deficiency on different types of behavior, the gut microbiome, and brain c-Fos expression as a marker of neuronal activation in response to the forced swim test for assessing depression-related behavior in male 5-HTT knockout mice. Behavioral analysis using a battery of 16 different tests showed that 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited markedly reduced locomotor activity, decreased pain sensitivity, reduced motor function, increased anxiety-like and depression-related behavior, altered social behavior in novel and familiar environments, normal working memory, enhanced spatial reference memory, and impaired fear memory compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. 5-HTT+/- mice showed slightly reduced locomotor activity and impaired social behavior compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that 5-HTT-/- mice had altered gut microbiota abundances, such as a decrease in Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Turicibacter, compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice. This study also showed that after exposure to the forced swim test, the number of c-Fos-positive cells was higher in the paraventricular thalamus and lateral hypothalamus and was lower in the prefrontal cortical regions, nucleus accumbens shell, dorsolateral septal nucleus, hippocampal regions, and ventromedial hypothalamus in 5-HTT-/- mice than in 5-HTT+/+ mice. These phenotypes of 5-HTT-/- mice partially recapitulate clinical observations in humans with major depressive disorder. The present findings indicate that 5-HTT-deficient mice serve as a good and valid animal model to study anxiety and depression with altered gut microbial composition and abnormal neuronal activity in the brain, highlighting the importance of 5-HTT in brain function and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of anxiety and depression.
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