Assessment of primary open-angle glaucoma peripapillary and macular choroidal area using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: The current study investigated differences in the peripapillary and macular choroidal areas between patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy controls because the choroid may potentially play a role in glaucoma pathophysiology. METHODS: We assessed 57 healthy controls and 42 POAG patients in a cross-sectional comparative study. We used enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and then converted the luminal and interstitial areas to binary images using the Niblack method to obtain peripapillary and macular choroidal images. The relationship between the choroidal area and demographic and ocular characteristics were determined with univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the peripapillary choroidal area, no significant differences were noted between healthy controls and POAG patients (1,836,336 ± 605,617 µm2 vs. 1,775,566 ± 477,317 µm2, respectively, P = 0.60). There were also no differences found for the macular choroidal area (controls: 347,220 ± 115,409 µm2, patients: 342,193 ± 104,356 µm2, P = 0.83). Multivariate regression analysis in the POAG patients revealed there was a significant relationship between the macular choroidal area and age (ß = -0.525, P = 0.002) and axial length (ß = -0.458, P = 0.005). In contrast, no correlation was found between peripapillary choroidal areas and various attributes in the POAG patients. CONCLUSIONS: EDI-OCT showed no differences in the peripapillary or macular choroidal area in healthy individuals compared to POAG patients.

Changes in choroidal area following trabeculectomy: Long-term effect of intraocular pressure reduction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the macula and peripapillary choroidal area at one year after trabeculectomy in order to determine the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal study examined 30 eyes of 30 patients with glaucoma that was uncontrolled by medical therapy. At 1 day before and at 1 year after the trabeculectomy surgery, macular and peripapillary choroidal images were recorded by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Luminal and interstitial areas were converted to binary images using the Niblack method. Factors influencing the macular choroidal and peripapillary area were examined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: After trabeculectomy, the mean IOP was 10.8±3.2 mmHg compared to 17.8±7.2 mmHg at baseline (P < 0.001). The total macular choroidal area after the surgery increased from 317,735±77,380 to 338,120±90,700 µm2, while the interstitial area increased from 108,598±24,502 to 119,172±31,495 µm2 (all P < 0.05). The total peripapillary choroidal area after the surgery also increased from 1,557,487±431,798 to 1,650,253±466,672 µm2, while the interstitial area increased from 689,891±149,476 to 751,816±162,457 µm2 (all P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences observed in the luminal area before and after the surgery. A decrease in the IOP was among the factors associated with the changes in the peripapillary choroidal area. CONCLUSIONS: IOP reductions after trabeculectomy led to increases in the macular and peripapillary choroidal areas for at least 1 year postoperative. Increases in the interstitial areas were the primary reason for observed changes in the choroidal area after trabeculectomy.

Peripapillary and macular choroidal area in patients with normal-tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate normal and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) eyes for differences in peripapillary and macular choroidal area measurements. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study enrolled 52 normal subjects and 35 NTG patients. Peripapillary and macular choroidal images were recorded by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), with conversion of the luminal and interstitial areas to binary images performed using the Niblack method. RESULTS: While there was a significant difference between normal subjects and NTG patients for the peripapillary choroidal area (1,853,672 ± 626,501 µm2 vs. 1,606,448 ± 418,214 µm2, P = 0.047), there were no significant differences between the normal subjects and NTG patients observed for the macular choroidal area (345,365 ± 119,248 µm2 vs. 316,442 ± 85,732 µm2, P = 0.23). In the NTG patients, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between the macular choroidal area and the axial length (ß = -0.345, P = 0.04). Furthermore, there was also a significant correlation between the peripapillary choroidal area and the age of the NTG patients (ß = -0.469, P = 0.004). In addition, there was no relationship between the glaucoma severity and the peripapillary and macular choroidal areas in the NTG patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between the peripapillary choroidal area and glaucoma severity in NTG patients, even though the area was smaller in these patients.

Changes in choroidal area after intraocular pressure reduction following trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes of the macular and peripapillary choroidal areas after trabeculectomy. METHODS: This prospective and interventional study examined 74 eyes of 74 patients with glaucoma uncontrolled by medical therapy. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) recorded macular and peripapillary choroidal images at 1 day before trabeculectomy and at 2 weeks after surgery. The Niblack method was used to covert luminal and interstitial areas to binary images. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 17.6±6.3 mmHg, while it was 6.5±2.9 mmHg after trabeculectomy (P < 0.001). Increases were observed for the macular choroidal area after the surgery, with the total area increasing from 317,853±95,728 µm2 to 368,597±104,393 µm2, while the luminal area increased from 210,355±73,650 µm2 to 249,464±77,195 µm2, and the interstitial area increased from 107,498±27,613 µm2 to 119,133±31,811 µm2 (all P < 0.001). Increases were also observed after the surgery for the peripapillary choroidal area, with the total area increasing from 1,629,440±460,429 µm2 to 1,974,289±500,496 µm2, while the luminal area increased from 920,141±328,690 µm2 to 1,179,843±357,601 µm2, and the interstitial area increased from 709,299±153,179 µm2 to 794,446±169,029 µm2 (all P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the ratio of the luminal to choroidal area in the macular area (67.2%) and in the peripapillary area (59.1%). Factors associated with the changes in the peripapillary choroidal area included decreases in the diastolic blood pressure and IOP. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the IOP after trabeculectomy led to increases in the macular and peripapillary choroidal areas. Observed changes in the choroidal area after trabeculectomy are primarily due to increases in the luminal areas.

Bovine esophageal and glossal ulceration associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Fusobacterium spp. in a 10-month-old Holstein heifer.

An underweight 10-month-old Holstein heifer presented with anorexia and ananastasia and was euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed extensive ulceration in the esophagus, tongue, and omasum. Histopathological examination revealed severe necrotic esophagitis, glossitis, and omasitis. Many Gram-negative bacilli were detected throughout the necrotic area in the digestive tract; these were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the basis of isolation tests, molecular examinations, and immunohistochemistry. Gram-negative long filamentous organisms in the superficial layers of the necrotic lesions reacted positively with antibodies against Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum. Thus, the necrotic lesions were confirmed to be associated with P. aeruginosa and Fusobacterium spp. This is the first detection of P. aeruginosa in bovine esophageal and glossal ulcers associated with Fusobacterium spp.

Necrotizing suppurative nephritis in a Japanese black feedlot steer due to Proteus mirabilis infection.

A Japanese black feedlot steer suddenly died after exhibiting astasia and cramping of the extremities. Necropsy of the animal revealed that the right kidney was enlarged and pale with severe nephrolithiasis. The urinary bladder displayed mucosal hemorrhage. Upon bacteriological investigation, Proteus mirabilis was isolated from the liver, spleen, right kidney, lungs and urine. Histopathological examination revealed necrotizing suppurative nephritis with the presence of numerous gram-negative bacilli and fibrinous suppurative cystitis with no bacilli. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the bacteria and cytoplasm of the macrophages stained positively with P. mirabilis antiserum. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous bacteria in the renal tubules. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the histopathological aspects of nephritis caused by P. mirabilis in cattle.

Breakdown plasma and vortex flow control for laser ignition using a combination of nano- and femto-second lasers.

The breakdown plasma and successive flow leading to combustion are controlled by the combination of a nano-second Nd:YAG laser and a femto-second Ti:Sapphire (TiS) laser. The behaviors are captured by an intensified charged coupled device (ICCD) camera and a high-speed schlieren optical system. The TiS laser determines the initial position of the breakdown by supplying the initial electrons in the optical axis of focusing YAG laser pulses. We show that the initial position of the breakdown can be controlled by the incident position of the TiS laser. In addition, the ignition lean limit of the flammable mixture changes depending on the TiS laser incident position, which is influenced by hot gas distribution and the flow in the flame kernel.

Occurrence of a pig respiratory disease associated with swine influenza A (H1N2) virus in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

In February 2008, a feeder pig herd of the affected farm in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, showed increasing respiratory symptoms; by April, the situation worsened with 12-16 pigs dying daily. Diagnostic tests revealed the presence of H1N2 subtype of swine influenza virus (SIV) and Pasteurella multocida from nasal swab and lung emulsion. Serological tests by hemagglutination inhibition method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA; imported from U.S.A.) indicated the spread of SIV into the pig herds of the affected farm around April 2008. The severe infection and subsequent damage were considered as a result of the combined infection of SIV (H1N2) and bacteria that may have been prevalent in the pig farm. Genetic homology search of sequences for the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of A/swine/Tochigi/1/08 showed high homology to Japanese SIVs (H1N2) isolated in the 2000s. Therefore, we considered that Japanese SIV (H1N2) has established an independent stable lineage and participated in infecting pig populations as one of the factors of the pig respiratory disease complex. Consistent surveillance would contribute to clarifying the prevalence of dominant SIVs.