Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Vessels between Dominant and Non-dominant Eyes in Intermittent Exotropia

Purpose@#To distinguish the dominant eye in patients with intermittent exotropia by comparing the width of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the vascular density (VD), and the choroidal thickness (CT) in both eyes. @*Methods@#A total of 34 subjects with intermittent exotropia were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed after discrimination of the dominant eye using a prism cover test (PCT). FAZ widths in the superficial capillary plexus (referred to here as superficial FAZ or SFAZ) and in the deep capillary plexus (deep FAZ or DFAZ); VDs of the 1-mm fovea and 3-mm parafovea, specifically the superficial capillary plexus density (SCPD); and CT measured by OCTA were compared between both eyes using a one-sample t-test. These abovementioned parameters were compared between dominant and non-dominant eyes through Pearson’s correlation analysis. @*Results@#The widths of SFAZ and DFAZ, the 1-mm fovea and 3-mm parafovea SCPDs, and CT of dominant eye showed positive correlations with respect to the non-dominant eye. Although there was no statistically significant difference in SFAZ and DFAZ widths, the 3-mm parafovea SCPD, or CT between eyes, the 1-mm fovea SCPD in the non-dominant eye showed a statistically significant higher density than that of the dominant eye (p = 0.039). @*Conclusions@#Our results suggest that the higher 1-mm fovea SCPD in the non-dominant eye is due to the secondary development of capillaries around the FAZ of the non-dominant eye after the retina of both eyes had developed to some extent.

Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Vessels between Dominant and Non-dominant Eyes in Intermittent Exotropia

Purpose@#To distinguish the dominant eye in patients with intermittent exotropia by comparing the width of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the vascular density (VD), and the choroidal thickness (CT) in both eyes. @*Methods@#A total of 34 subjects with intermittent exotropia were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed after discrimination of the dominant eye using a prism cover test (PCT). FAZ widths in the superficial capillary plexus (referred to here as superficial FAZ or SFAZ) and in the deep capillary plexus (deep FAZ or DFAZ); VDs of the 1-mm fovea and 3-mm parafovea, specifically the superficial capillary plexus density (SCPD); and CT measured by OCTA were compared between both eyes using a one-sample t-test. These abovementioned parameters were compared between dominant and non-dominant eyes through Pearson’s correlation analysis. @*Results@#The widths of SFAZ and DFAZ, the 1-mm fovea and 3-mm parafovea SCPDs, and CT of dominant eye showed positive correlations with respect to the non-dominant eye. Although there was no statistically significant difference in SFAZ and DFAZ widths, the 3-mm parafovea SCPD, or CT between eyes, the 1-mm fovea SCPD in the non-dominant eye showed a statistically significant higher density than that of the dominant eye (p = 0.039). @*Conclusions@#Our results suggest that the higher 1-mm fovea SCPD in the non-dominant eye is due to the secondary development of capillaries around the FAZ of the non-dominant eye after the retina of both eyes had developed to some extent.

Effect of Cell Labeling on the Function of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Cell labeling technologies are required to monitor the fate of transplanted cells in vivo and to select target cells for the observation of certain changes in vitro. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have been transplanted for the treatment of heart injuries or used in vitro for preclinical cardiac safety assessments. Cardiomyocyte (CM) labeling has been used in these processes to facilitate target cell monitoring. However, the functional effect of the labeling agent on hiPSC-CMs has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of labeling agents on CM cellular functions. 3’-Dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (DiO), quantum dots (QDs), and a DNA plasmid expressing EGFP using Lipo2K were used to label hiPSC-CMs. We conclude that the hiPSC-CM labeling with DiO and QDs does not induce arrhythmogenic effects but rather improves the mRNA expression of cardiac ion channels and Ca2＋ influx by L-type Ca2＋ channels. Thus, DiO and QD labeling agents may be useful tools to monitor transplanted CMs, and further in vivo influences of the labeling agents should be investigated in the future.

Serotonin contracts the rat mesenteric artery by inhibiting 4-aminopyridine-sensitive Kv channels via the 5-HT2A receptor and Src tyrosine kinase

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) is a neurotransmitter that regulates a variety of functions in the nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. Despite such importance, 5-HT signaling pathways are not entirely clear. We demonstrated previously that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels determine the resting membrane potential of arterial smooth muscle cells and that the Kv channels are inhibited by 5-HT, which depolarizes the membranes. Therefore, we hypothesized that 5-HT contracts arteries by inhibiting Kv channels. Here we studied 5-HT signaling and the detailed role of Kv currents in rat mesenteric arteries using patch-clamp and isometric tension measurements. Our data showed that inhibiting 4-AP-sensitive Kv channels contracted arterial rings, whereas inhibiting Ca2+-activated K+, inward rectifier K+ and ATP-sensitive K+ channels had little effect on arterial contraction, indicating a central role of Kv channels in the regulation of resting arterial tone. 5-HT-induced arterial contraction decreased significantly in the presence of high KCl or the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) inhibitor nifedipine, indicating that membrane depolarization and the consequent activation of VGCCs mediate the 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction. The effects of 5-HT on Kv currents and arterial contraction were markedly prevented by the 5-HT2A receptor antagonists ketanserin and spiperone. Consistently, alpha-methyl 5-HT, a 5-HT2 receptor agonist, mimicked the 5-HT action on Kv channels. Pretreatment with a Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor, 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, prevented both the 5-HT-mediated vasoconstriction and Kv current inhibition. Our data suggest that 4-AP-sensitive Kv channels are the primary regulator of the resting tone in rat mesenteric arteries. 5-HT constricts the arteries by inhibiting Kv channels via the 5-HT2A receptor and Src tyrosine kinase pathway.

A Case Report of Nasopharyngeal Endoscopic Biofeedback Trial Therapy for Patients with Velopharyngeal Inadequecy

PURPOSE: The authors would like to introduce two patients who presented with velopharyngeal inadequacy. We emphasize the importance of nasaopharyngeal endoscopy in evaluating the velopharyngeal function and the usefulness of biofeedback trial therapy. METHODS: Two patients visited our clinic due to velopharyngeal inadequacy. Both of the patients showed hypernasality, nasal emission and compensatory articulation such as glottal stop. During oral examination and nasopharyngeal endoscopy both showed no evidence of structural deformities. One inconsistently showed a small gap during articulation. The other showed a rather large gap during compensatory articulation. Both received a simultaneous biofeedback trial therapy using the nasopharyngeal endoscope. RESULTS: Both patients were successfully diagnosed and treated at once using biofeedback trial therapy with nasopharyngeal endoscopy. By giving direct visual feedback to the patient, they were both able to achieve complete velopharyngeal closure during production of 2~3 nonsence syllables and hypernasality was not detected in both of them. CONCLUSION: The authors were able to help patients with velopharyngeal inadequacy to have velopharyngeal closure through biofeedback trial therapy. The accurate evaluation of velopharyngeal function and the possibility of closure prevented unnecessary operations.

Acute Attack of Asthma and Pulmonary Collapse Induced by Tracheal Intubation / 대한마취과학회지

Identification of the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly patient who was scheduled for surgery is vitally important. If appropriate therapeutic and preventive measures should not be instituted, tracheal intubation of the patient should be associated with a number of complications. We experienced a case of acute attack of asthma and pulmonary collapse during endotracheal intubation. A 54-year-old male who was scheduled for an emergency of primary corneo-scleral suture have had history of bronchial asthma. On the preoperative physical examination, there was no specific finding except expiratory wheezing. After endotracheal intubation with the aid of ketamine 2 mg/kg, pancuronium bromide 0.1 mg/kg and lidocaine 2 mg/kg, iv, acute asthmatic attack was appeared. Breathing sounds on the both lung fields can not be audible during manual ventilation and SpO(2) was dropped to 70% at F(1)O(2) 1.0. To relieve asthmatic attack, epinephrine(1: 1.000) 0.5 ml, sc, aminophylline 4 mg/kg, iv and methyprednisolone 1 mg/kg, iv were injected. Erosion of tracheal mucosa, blood clots and mucous plugs were found by the fibroptic bronchoscopy. After removal of blood clots and mucus, lung compliance and SpO2 were improved. The patient was discharged 7 days later without any complications or sequelae.

Anesthetic management for repair of Tracheoesophageal fistula with proximal esophageal atresia / 대한마취과학회지

A two days old female baby was transferred to our hospital from local clinic due to respiratory difficulty. The baby was born at 38 weeks gestation through cesarian section in the clinic. At birth, the body weight of the baby was 2280 grams and the Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minute were 5 and 7. The child had frothing about the nose and mouth, and regurgitated the first feeding almost immediately. Coughing and mild cyanosis were associated with regurgitation. She was diagnosed as distal tracheo-esophageal fistula with proximal esophageal atresia and transferred to our hospital for further evaluation and corrective surgery. She had no other congenital anomaly. The most common defect consists of a blind upper esophageal pouch and a fistula between the lower esophagus and trachea. The preferred surgical approach for treatment of the newborn with this disease is ligation of the defect and primary anastomosis of the esophageal segments by an extra-pleural approach. Proper placement of the tracheal tube is critical. It should be above the carina but below the tracheoesophageal fistula. Nitrous Oxide should be used with caution in a neonate without a gastrostomy, as diffusion of this gas into the distended stomach would be undesirable. The emergency operation was done under general anesthesia. She was tolerable anesthesia and operation. Special respiratory care and continuous antibiotic administration were done. She discharged 18 days later without significant pulmonary complication or sequelae.