Characteristics of accommodation toward apparent depth.

This paper deals with characteristics of accommodation evoked by perceived depth sensation and the dynamic relationship between accommodation and vergence, applying newly developed optical measurement apparatuses. A total of five subjects looked at three different two-dimensional stimuli and two different three-dimensional stimuli; namely a real image and a stereoscopic image. With regard to the two-dimensional stimuli, a manifest accommodation without any accompanying vergence was found because of an apparent depth sensation even though the target distance was kept constant. With regard to the three-dimensional stimuli, larger accommodation and clear vergence were evoked because of binocular parallax and a stronger depth sensation. As for the stereoscopic image, a manifest overshoot (the accommodation peaked first and receded considerably) was found while the vergence remained constant. On the other hand, the overshoot of accommodation was smaller when subjects were watching the real image. These results reveal that brain depth perception has a higher effect on accommodation than expected. The relationship of accommodation and vergence toward the stereoscopic image suggests a reason why severe visual fatigue is commonly experienced by many viewers using stereoscopic displays. It has also paved the way for the numerical analysis of the oculomotor triad system.

Cultural factors in social anxiety: a comparison of social phobia symptoms and Taijin kyofusho.

The present study examined two forms of culturally-defined social anxiety: social anxiety or phobia, as defined by DSM-IV; (i.e., a concern of public scrutiny or embarrassment) and Taijin Kyofusho (TKS), a Japanese form of social anxiety centered around concern for offending others with inappropriate behavior or offensive appearance. These versions of social anxiety are also examined in relation to culturally-determined self definition as independent and interdependent. One hundred eighty-one U.S. students and 161 students enrolled in Japanese universities were administered scales to assess social anxiety and phobia and TKS symptoms and behaviors, as well as construal of self as independent or interdependent. Factor analyses of the three scales used to assess social anxiety yielded three factors, each clearly corresponding to the respective scales and defining TKS and DSM-defined social anxiety. A case analysis indicated that there was an approximate 50% co-occurrence between high scorers on the TKS and social phobia scales. Multiple regression analyses resulted in a different set of predictors of TKS and SPS for the U.S. and Japanese respondents. Results were interpreted as suggesting that cultural variables can mediate the expression of social anxiety but that both forms of social anxiety can be found in each sample.

[Three patients with Gilbert's syndrome associated with constitutional excretory defect of indocyanine green].

We routinely perform, as a preoperative liver function test, the indocyanin green (ICG) test in patients scheduled for operations under general anesthesia. Doubts have been raised, however, concerning the necessity for this test, since no abnormalities have ever been detected by it. Nonetheless, we noted a high level of ICG retention and a slight increase in indirect bilirubin in 3 patients, and further investigation led to a diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome accompanied by constitutional impairment of ICG excretion. This syndrome can be associated with perioperative jaundice in patients with malnutrition and those who received halothane, morphine, or some other agents. Although the indirect bilirubin level increased briefly after surgery, no other abnormalities occurred in the 3 patients. Since this syndrome is asymptomatic and is detected incidentally, the preoperative ICG test was considered to be useful.

Japanese and United States preschool children's responses to conflict and distress.

Japanese and U.S. preschool children's responses to hypothetical interpersonal dilemmas were examined as a function of culture, gender, and maternal child-rearing values. U.S. children showed more anger, more aggressive behavior and language, and underregulation of emotion than Japanese children, across different contexts of assessment. Children from the 2 cultures appeared more similar on prosocial and avoidant patterns, though in some contexts U.S. children also showed more prosocial themes. Girls from both cultures expressed more prosocial themes and sometimes more anger than boys. Maternal encouragement of children's emotional expressivity was correlated with anger and aggression in children. It was more characteristic of U.S. than Japanese mothers, while emphasis on psychological discipline (reasoning; guilt and anxiety induction) was more characteristic of Japanese than U.S. mothers. The relevance of a conceptual framework that focuses on differences in Eastern and Western cultures in self-construals regarding independence and interdependence is considered.

Three-dimensional visual stimulator.

We describe a newly developed three-dimensional visual stimulator (TVS) that can change independently the directions, distances, sizes, luminance, and varieties of two sets of targets for both eyes. It consists of liquid crystal projectors (LCP's) that generate the flexible images of targets, Badal otometers that change target distances without changing the visual angles, and relay-lens systems that change target directions. A special control program is developed for real-time control of six motors and two LCP's in the TVS together with a three-dimensional optometer III that simultaneously measures eye movement, accommodation, pupil diameter, and head movement. The TVS measurement ranges are as follows: distance, 0 to -20 D; direction, ±16° horizontally and ±15° vertically; size, 0-2° visual angle; and luminance, 10(-2)-10(2) cd/m(2). The target images are refreshed at 60 Hz and speeds with which the target makes a smooth change (ramp stimuli) are as follows: distance, 5 D/s; direction, 30°/s, size, 10°/s. A simple application demonstrates the performance.

[Dental management of the medically compromised patient. A study of 162 cases].

Dental management of 162 cases of medically compromised patients was reviewed. Over the past 3 years and 2 months, 130 patients with certain medical problems underwent 162 cases of dental treatment under local anesthesia. In the present study, research was done chiefly on intraoperative management of these patients. The following results were obtained: 1) In the population of 130 patients, those in their 7th decade were the most numerous. Among the subjects, essential hypertension was the most common underlying disease, and the majority of the patients had accompanying cardio-vascular diseases. 2) When the pre- and post-65-year-old patient groups were compared, the latter group had a higher frequency of multiple medical problems. 3) It is suggested that, to manage patients having hypertension or ischemic heart diseases as a complication, continuous blood pressure measurement and ECG monitoring are essential. 4) Among several local anesthetics, 3% prilocaine with 0.03 U/ml felypressin was used most frequently, especially for those with cardiovascular diseases. 5) In the management of hypertensive and ischemic heart patients, nitrous oxide inhalation sedation was effective. 6) For those who required vasodilation, administration of nifedipine or nitroglycerin was effective. 7) Although one case of syncope and another in which dental treatment procedure had to be suspended were found, no severe complications were encountered.