Radio frequency (rf)-sputtered indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were characterized by studying their structure, electrical and optical properties. Before characterization the ITO films were annealed ...at different temperatures ranging from 100 to 500
°C for a constant time of 15
min in air. The ITO thin films were observed to possess a cubic structure with (1
1
0) texture, an electrical resistivity in the range (5–11.5)×10
−4
Ω
cm at different annealing temperatures. The rise in resistivity due to annealing was associated with the filling up of oxygen vacancies, and the fall in resistivity was attributed to the rearrangement and removal of defects as well as improvement in the crystalline nature of these films. The optical bandgap energy was found to be ≈4.0
eV. The ITO thin films were of comparable quality to those deposited elsewhere for use as window layers in solar cells.
Metastatic tumors to the orbit are rare, especially from a primary pancreatic carcinoma. A 59-year-old man presented with 4 weeks of right eye pain and eyelid swelling. There was right upper eyelid ...ptosis associated with a right supraduction deficit consistent with a superior divisional third cranial nerve (CN III) palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right orbital apex lesion. A right orbital exenteration was performed for intractable and severe pain. Surgical pathology demonstrated a poorly differentiated carcinoma that was ultimately felt to be derived from the pancreas. In this report, we describe the clinical and neurological imaging findings of a superior divisional CN III palsy as the presenting manifestation of a presumed metastatic pancreatic carcinoma to the orbital apex, and review the neuroanatomy of CN III with particular emphasis on the anatomical bifurcation of the nerve into a superior and inferior division.
Muslin-induced optic neuropathy is a rarely reported but important cause of delayed visual loss after repair of intracranial aneurysms. Most of the previously reported cases were published before the ...introduction of MR imaging. We describe the clinical features and MR appearance of two cases of delayed visual loss due to "muslinoma," and compare them with the 21 cases reported in the literature.
The differences in common genetic polymorphism frequencies by willingness to participate in epidemiologic studies are unexplored, but the same threats to internal validity operate as for studies with ...nongenetic information. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes, haplotypes, and short tandem repeats among control groups from three studies with different recruitment designs that included early, late, and never questionnaire responders, one or more participation incentives, and blood or buccal DNA collection. Among 2,955 individuals, we compared 108 genotypes, 8 haplotypes, and 9 to 15 short tandem repeats by respondent type. Among our main comparisons, single nucleotide polymorphism genotype frequencies differed significantly (P < 0.05) between respondent groups in six instances, with 13 expected by chance alone. When comparing the odds of carrying a variant among the various response groups, 19 odds ratios were </=0.70 or >/=1.40, levels that might be notably different. Among the various respondent group comparisons, haplotype and short tandem repeat frequencies were not significantly different by willingness to participate. We observed little evidence to suggest that genotype differences underlie response characteristics in molecular epidemiologic studies, but a greater variety of genes should be examined, including those related to behavioral traits potentially associated with willingness to participate. To the extent possible, investigators should evaluate their own genetic data for bias in response categories.
PURPOSE: To report a unique finding of metastatic tumor cells in the lumen of a superficial temporal artery biopsy specimen in a patient with severe visual loss and optic neuropathy.
METHODS: Case ...report.
RESULTS: A 69-year-old man presented with anorexia, pancranial headaches, and acute unilateral visual loss. Ophthalmic examination showed a visual acuity of no light perception and an amaurotic pupil in the left eye. Fundus examination was normal. A superficial temporal artery biopsy, performed for presumed arteritic posterior ischemic optic neuropathy, demonstrated intraluminal cells with irregular nuclei and prominent nucleoli suggestive of metastatic malignancy. Further systemic evaluation uncovered a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung with intravascular infiltration and multiple distant metastases.
CONCLUSION: Extensive systemic intravascular tumor embolization may be associated with optic neuropathy.
Mechanisms of antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of α-lipoic acid in the diabetic and nondiabetic kidney.
α-Lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant that improves renal function in diabetes by lowering ...glycemia, however, the mechanisms by which α-lipoic acid exerts its antioxidant effects are not completely understood.
Metabolic parameters, renal function, and morphology, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity and subunit expression were analyzed in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed normal rat chow (control) with or without α-lipoic acid (30 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks.
Blood glucose was increased with diabetes (nondiabetic + control 89 ± 3 mg/dL and diabetic + control 336 ± 28 mg/dL) and was similar with α-lipoic acid treatment (diabetic +α-lipoic acid 351 ± 14 mg/dL). In contrast, α-lipoic acid attenuated albuminuria (nondiabetic + control 8.9 ± 1.3 mg/day; diabetic + control 28.1 ± 4.6 mg/day; and diabetic +α-lipoic acid 17.8 ± 1.2 mg/day) associated with diabetes. Similarly, α-lipoic acid attenuated glomerulosclerosis (nondiabetic + control 0.22 ± 0.01; diabetic + control 0.55 ± 0.04; diabetic +α-lipoic acid 0.36 ± 0.03), tubulointerstitial fibrosis (nondiabetic + control 0.42 ± 0.18; diabetic + control 1.52 ± 0.05; diabetic +α-lipoic acid 1.10 ± 0.05), superoxide anion (O·−2) generation (nondiabetic +control 15.8 ± 1.7; diabetic +control 87.1 ± 3.5; diabetic +α-lipoic acid 25.5 ± 3.3 RLU/mg protein), and urine 8-isoprostane (8-iso) excretion (nondiabetic + control 7.4 ± 1.4; diabetic + control 26.0 ± 4.5; diabetic +α-lipoic acid 19.6 ± 5.6 ng/day) associated with diabetes. α-Lipoic acid also reduced kidney expression of NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox. Surprisingly, α-lipoic acid appears to cause pro-oxidant effects in nondiabetic animals, resulting in increased albuminuria (nondiabetic +α-lipoic acid 14.2 ± 1.2 mg/day), increase in plasma creatinine levels (nondiabetic + control 59 ± 6; diabetic + control 68 ± 6; nondiabetic +α-lipoic acid 86 ± 9; diabetic +α-lipoic acid 69 ± 7 μmol/L), exacerbated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, increased O·−2 generation, up-regulated p22phox and p47phox expression and increased 8-iso excretion.
We conclude that α-lipoic acid improves albuminuria and pathology in diabetes by reducing oxidative stress, while in healthy animals, α-lipoic acid may act as a pro-oxidant, contributing to renal dysfunction.
MR imaging characteristics of optic neuropathy caused by cat scratch disease have not yet been described; this lack of information may result in incorrect diagnosis and may contribute to initiation ...of inappropriate therapy. Our study was based on the hypothesis that cat scratch disease-related optic neuropathy has distinct MR imaging features compared with those of other types of optic neuropathies.
Eighty-two patients with various causes of optic neuropathy and available MR imaging examinations were included in this study. Two readers blinded to the diagnosis reviewed the MR images independently in regard to presence, location, and extent of optic nerve enhancement. The MR imaging findings were correlated with the final diagnosis.
Eleven percent (9/82) of the patients received a final diagnosis of cat scratch disease. Optic nerve enhancement in patients with cat scratch disease (5/37) was localized to a 3- to 4-mm segment at the optic nerve-globe junction. All other patients with optic neuropathy (31/37) with one exception showed enhancement away from the optic nerve-globe junction or a long-segment enhancement when the optic nerve-globe junction was also involved. Four patients with cat scratch disease did not show any optic nerve MR abnormalities.
Unilateral, short-segment enhancement localized to the optic nerve-globe junction is highly specific for cat scratch disease as the underlying cause of optic neuropathy and may help in establishing the diagnosis of this condition.
To report the development of extensive fibrovascular proliferation in association with Nocardia subretinal abscess.
Case report.
Extensive retinal neovascularization with tractional retinal ...detachment developed soon after ocular involvement in a 61-year-old patient with systemic nocardiosis. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed extensive area of capillary nonperfusion and severe leakage from the neovascular complex. The Nocardia subretinal abscess responded to systemic antibiotics, and the retinal neovascularization and tractional retinal detachment stabilized after 3 months.
Retinal ischemia and severe retinal neovascularization may complicate intraocular nocardiosis. The authors propose secondary retinal vasculitis as a contributing factor towards the development of retinal ischemia in this setting.
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