Tear Strip Meniscometry and Its Clinical Application: Analysis of More Than 2000 Cases.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of strip meniscometry tear meniscus volume measurement with signs and symptoms related to dry eye. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 2234 consecutive outpatients and used dry eye symptomatology and related ocular surface examinations, including the Schirmer test, fluorescein tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal fluorescein vital staining and strip meniscometry. The strip meniscometry cut-off was estimated using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. The subjective symptoms consisted of six binarized items: dryness, fatigue, photophobia, pain, irritation, and blurring. The clinical signs were also binarized by the cut-off in each test. The presence of all signs and symptoms were then analyzed using Hayashi's quantification theory type III analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 59.3 ± 17.3 years. The mean values for Schirmer test, BUT, corneal fluorescein staining, and strip meniscometry were 13.6 ± 9.6 mm, 3.1 ± 2.1 seconds, 0.40 ± 0.66, and 2.4 ± 2.7 mm, respectively. The Schirmer test was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.152; P < 0.01), whereas the BUT and strip meniscometry were not. All pairs of Schirmer test, BUT, and strip meniscometry had significant correlations, but the greatest correlation was found between BUT-strip meniscometry (r = 0.238; P < 0.01). An strip meniscometry cut-off length of 2.5 mm (area under the curve = 0.618) was calculated. Hayashi's analysis found high similarity among the presence of signs by strip meniscometry, BUT. and corneal fluorescein staining, and three nonvisual symptoms (pain, irritation, and dryness) had a distinct similarity. Conclusions: Strip meniscometry results using the cut-off of 2.5 mm could be a useful clinical indicator for the initial screening of dry eye. Translational Relevance: This large-scale case-control study further confirmed tear strip meniscometry with the new cut-off is a useful tear function examination for dry eye; it is a 5-second noninvasive procedure and associated with clinical symptoms and corneal parameters.

The Application of Strip Meniscometry to the Evaluation of Tear Volume in Mice.

Purpose: Strip meniscometry quantitatively measures the volume of tears in the tear meniscus and has been reported to diagnose dry eyes in clinical settings conveniently, easily, and rapidly. In this study, we used a modified strip meniscometry to assess the applicability of measuring the tear volume in mice in experimental settings. Methods: Dry eye was induced in 11 9-week-old C57BL/6J wild-type male mice (11 right eyes) by exposing them to an air fan inside a small compartment for 5 hours for 2 consecutive days. Tear function tests, including the SMTube for mice (SMTM) for tear volume evaluation, break-up time, fluorescein staining score, and lissamine green staining score, were performed. The correlation between SMTM and other tear function parameters was assessed. Results: The mean SMTM value was 3.89 ± 0.603 mm before and 3.09 ± 0.625 mm after dry environment exposure (P = 0.0078*). The Spearman's correlation by rank test showed a strong positive correlation between SMTM and tear film break-up time and a strong linear negative correlation with fluorescein and lissamine green values. Conclusions: The SMTM was capable of rapidly measuring the minimum tear volume in mice and correlated well with tear function parameters and appears to be a promising new modality in the evaluation of dry eyes in mice.

A novel strip meniscometry method for measuring aqueous tear volume in dogs: Clinical correlations with the Schirmer tear and phenol red thread tests.

OBJECTIVES: The strip meniscometry test (SMT) is a novel method for quantitative measurement of tear volume with only five seconds. We aimed to evaluate clinical correlations of SMT with the gold standard Schirmer tear test (STT) and phenol red thread test (PRT) in dogs, including normal and tear-deficient eyes. ANIMALS STUDIED: Left eyes from 621 outpatient dogs with and without ocular disorders were evaluated. PROCEDURES: Each subject underwent SMT, PRT, and STT without topical anesthesia in the described order with five-minute intervals. The total population was divided into four groups by classifying tear deficiency severity based on STT results: "severe" (0-5 mm/min), "moderate" (6-10 mm/min), "subclinical" (11-14 mm/min), and "normal" (15 or more mm/min). RESULTS: The strongest correlation coefficient was found between SMT-STT (0.676), followed by PRT-STT (0.637) and SMT-PRT (0.600) pairs. Mean(SD) scores of SMT, PRT, and STT in total population were 9.47 (4.08) mm/5 s, 33.30 (8.52) mm/15 s, and 16.47 (7.01) mm/min. Significant differences were found among STT-classified groups, both using SMT and PRT results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves revealed that SMT better agreed with STT than PRT; agreement increased with increasing STT severity. A cutoff for SMT was identified at 10 mm/5 s to discriminate normal eyes from tear-deficient eyes, yielding high sensitivities and acceptable specificities. CONCLUSIONS: SMT could be superior to PRT for discriminating tear-deficient eyes. The high sensitivity of SMT could be useful as an initial diagnostic tool to rule out normal eyes with the short testing time.

Application of CASIA SS-1000 Optical Coherence Tomography Tear Meniscus Imaging in Testing the Efficacy of New Strip Meniscometry in Dry Eye Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the applicability of CASIA SS-1000 anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging parameters in testing the efficacy of the new strip meniscometry (SM) namely "Strip Meniscometry Tube" (SMTube) in the diagnosis of dry eyes. METHODS: Forty-three eyes of 22 patients (4 men and 18 women) with definite dry eye disease (DED) and 49 eyes of 28 normal controls (6 men and 22 women) were studied. All subjects underwent symptom questionnaires, SMTube, the Schirmer-1 test, tear film break-up time measurement, vital staining examinations, as well as tear meniscus height (TMH) and TM area (TMA) measurements using an AS-OCT system. We evaluated the cutoff values for the diagnosis of DED, looked into the correlations between TMH, TMA, and SMTube scores and checked the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters in the diagnosis of DED. RESULTS: The mean values of TMH, TMA, and SMTube scores in the patient group were 0.138±0.102 mm, 0.013±0.015 mm and 1.4±2.3 mm, whereas those for the control group were 0.27±0.10 mm, 0.033±0.025 mm and 5.8±2.8 mm, respectively. The differences between both groups were significant (P<0.001). The cutoff values of TMH, TMA, and SMTube for DED were 0.197 mm, 0.020 mm and 3.8 mm, respectively. SMTube had significant correlations with TMH (r=0.82, P<0.001) and TMA (r=0.86, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The SMTube was useful in DED diagnosis, the validity of which could be effectively evaluated by the CASIA SS-1000 AS-OCT TM parameters.

Extra adsorption and adsorbate superlattice formation in metal-organic frameworks.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a high internal surface area and widely tunable composition, which make them useful for applications involving adsorption, such as hydrogen, methane or carbon dioxide storage. The selectivity and uptake capacity of the adsorption process are determined by interactions involving the adsorbates and their porous host materials. But, although the interactions of adsorbate molecules with the internal MOF surface and also amongst themselves within individual pores have been extensively studied, adsorbate-adsorbate interactions across pore walls have not been explored. Here we show that local strain in the MOF, induced by pore filling, can give rise to collective and long-range adsorbate-adsorbate interactions and the formation of adsorbate superlattices that extend beyond an original MOF unit cell. Specifically, we use in situ small-angle X-ray scattering to track and map the distribution and ordering of adsorbate molecules in five members of the mesoporous MOF-74 series along entire adsorption-desorption isotherms. We find in all cases that the capillary condensation that fills the pores gives rise to the formation of 'extra adsorption domains'-that is, domains spanning several neighbouring pores, which have a higher adsorbate density than non-domain pores. In the case of one MOF, IRMOF-74-V-hex, these domains form a superlattice structure that is difficult to reconcile with the prevailing view of pore-filling as a stochastic process. The visualization of the adsorption process provided by our data, with clear evidence for initial adsorbate aggregation in distinct domains and ordering before an even distribution is finally reached, should help to improve our understanding of this process and may thereby improve our ability to exploit it practically.

A review of fine structures of nanoporous materials as evidenced by microscopic methods.

This paper reviews diverse capabilities offered by modern electron microscopy techniques in studying fine structures of nanoporous crystals such as zeolites, silica mesoporous crystals, metal organic frameworks and yolk-shell materials. For the case of silica mesoporous crystals, new approaches that have been developed recently to determine the three-dimensionally periodic average structure, e.g., through self-consistent analysis of electron microscope images or through consideration of accidental extinctions, are presented. Various structural deviations in nanoporous materials from their average structures including intergrowth, surface termination, incommensurate modulation, quasicrystal and defects are demonstrated. Ibidem observations of the scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope give information about the zeolite-crystal-growth mechanism, and an energy for unstitching a building-unit from a crystal surface is directly observed by an anatomic force microscope. It is argued how these observations lead to a deeper understanding of the materials.

Tailoring a fluorophosphate as a novel 4 V cathode for lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries, which have been widely used to power portable electronic devices, are on the verge of being applied to new automobile applications. To expand this emerging market, however, an electrode that combines fast charging capability, long-term cycle stability, and high energy density is needed. Herein, we report a novel layered lithium vanadium fluorophosphate, Li(1.1)Na(0.4)VPO(4.8)F(0.7), as a promising positive electrode contender. This new material has two-dimensional lithium pathways and is capable of reversibly releasing and reinserting ~1.1 Li(+) ions at an ideal 4 V (versus Li(+)/Li) to give a capacity of ~156 mAh g(-1) (energy density of 624 Wh kg(-1)). Moreover, outstanding capacity retentions of 98% and 96% after 100 cycles were achieved at 60°C and room temperature, respectively. Unexpectedly high rate capability was delivered for both charge and discharge despite the large particle size (a few microns), which promises further enhancement of power density with proper nano-engineering.

A stand-alone mesoporous crystal structure model from in situ X-ray diffraction: nitrogen adsorption on 3D cagelike mesoporous silica SBA-16.

We present a modeling scheme to analyze cagelike silica mesoporous crystals based on in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) data collected during gas adsorption-desorption (physisorption) processes. Nitrogen physisorption on a silica mesoporous crystal of SBA-16 was directly monitored by using synchrotron in situ powder XRD measurements conducted at SPring-8. SBA-16 is a well-ordered mesoporous silica in which three-dimensional interconnected cagelike primary mesopores are located at the body-centered cubic lattice points. In addition, the surrounding silica matrix contains random microporous and mesoporous intrawall porosities that are significantly influential to the diffusion properties, and thus important to be quantified for this media. The in situ XRD data exhibits seven Bragg reflections throughout the measurements, and the present method allows one to obtain the maximal and stand-alone information about the pore structure (for example, the mesopore size, the matrix density, the intrawall porosity, and pore surface roughness) together with the nitrogen film evolution in the primary mesopores and the intrawall pore-filling in the silica matrix. We furthermore observe a macroscopic amount of nitrogen adsorbed assuming the density of the fluid, and confirm that the XRD "isotherm" recalculated from the analysis result is consistent with the conventional nitrogen isotherm on a semi-quantitative level; however, these results suggest that the intrawall pores would have a greater contribution to the adsorption than considered based on the conventional isotherm analyses. The present method is readily extendable to any ordered mesopores wrapped by the wall matrix containing a certain intrawall porosity.

Dodecagonal tiling in mesoporous silica.

Recent advances in the fabrication of quasicrystals in soft matter systems have increased the length scales for quasicrystals into the mesoscale range (20 to 500 ångströms). Thus far, dendritic liquid crystals, ABC-star polymers, colloids and inorganic nanoparticles have been reported to yield quasicrystals. These quasicrystals offer larger length scales than intermetallic quasicrystals (a few ångströms), thus potentially leading to optical applications through the realization of a complete photonic bandgap induced via multiple scattering of light waves in virtually all directions. However, the materials remain far from structurally ideal, in contrast to their intermetallic counterparts, and fine control over the structure through a self-organization process has yet to be attained. Here we use the well-established self-assembly of surfactant micelles to produce a new class of mesoporous silicas, which exhibit 12-fold (dodecagonal) symmetry in both electron diffraction and morphology. Each particle reveals, in the 12-fold cross-section, an analogue of dodecagonal quasicrystals in the centre surrounded by 12 fans of crystalline domains in the peripheral part. The quasicrystallinity has been verified by selected-area electron diffraction and quantitative phason strain analyses on transmission electron microscope images obtained from the central region. We argue that the structure forms through a non-equilibrium growth process, wherein the competition between different micellar configurations has a central role in tuning the structure. A simple theoretical model successfully reproduces the observed features and thus establishes a link between the formation process and the resulting structure.

The role of curvature in silica mesoporous crystals.

Silica mesoporous crystals (SMCs) offer a unique opportunity to study micellar mesophases. Replication of non-equilibrium mesophases into porous silica structures allows the characterization of surfactant phases under a variety of chemical and physical perturbations, through methods not typically accessible to liquid crystal chemists. A poignant example is the use of electron microscopy and crystallography, as discussed herein, for the purpose of determining the fundamental role of amphiphile curvature, namely mean curvature and Gaussian curvature, which have been extensively studied in various fields such as polymer, liquid crystal, biological membrane, etc. The present work aims to highlight some current studies devoted to the interface curvature on SMCs, in which electron microscopy and electron crystallography (EC) are used to understand the geometry of silica wall surface in bicontinuous and cage-type mesostructures through the investigation of electrostatic potential maps. Additionally, we show that by altering the synthesis conditions during the preparation of SMCs, it is possible to isolate particles during micellar mesophase transformations in the cubic bicontinuous system, allowing us to view and study epitaxial relations under the specific synthesis conditions. By studying the relationship between mesoporous structure, interface curvature and micellar mesophases using electron microscopy and EC, we hope to bring new insights into the formation mechanism of these unique materials but also contribute a new way of understanding periodic liquid crystal systems.

Bicontinuous cubic mesoporous materials with biphasic structures.

The replication of amphiphilic systems within an inorganic silica matrix allows the study of the fundamental properties of mesostructural changes, that is, kinetic and structural parameters. Herein we report a detailed study of the transition between cubic bicontinuous mesostructure with space groups Ia ̅3d and Pn ̅3m symmetry, which are associated with the minimal G and D surfaces, respectively. The transition may be induced through micellar swelling of the anionic amphiphilic surfactant N-lauroyl alanine by trimethylbenzene. Rich kinetic behaviour is observed and has been exploited to prepare particles with biphasic structures. Transmission electron microscopy evidence indicates that there is epitaxial growth from one mesostructure to the other involving the [111] and [110] orientations of the Ia ̅3d and Pn ̅3m symmetry structures, respectively. From kinetic studies, we show that the formation of the Ia ̅3d mesophase is preceded by a hexagonal phase (plane group p6mm) and an epitaxial relationship has been observed involving the sixfold or ̅3 axis orientations of both structures. Our data suggests that the Pn ̅3m mesostructure is kinetically stable at low temperatures whereas the Ia ̅3d mesostructure is the more stable structure after prolonged periods of hydrothermal treatment. We present evidence from transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray diffractograms and also electron crystallography modelling of the unit cells at particular points in the structural change.

Evolution of packing parameters in the structural changes of silica mesoporous crystals: cage-type, 2D cylindrical, bicontinuous diamond and gyroid, and lamellar.

Cage-type, two-dimensional (2D) cylindrical hexagonal (C), bicontinuous diamond (D), bicontinuous gyroid (G), and one-dimensional (1D) lamellar (L) structures of silica mesoporous crystals (SMCs) were obtained by using the anionic surfactant N-stearoyl-l-glutamic acid (C(18)GluA) as a template in the presence of the nonionic surfactant C(16)(EO)(10) (Brij-56). The mesostructures were controlled by the organic/inorganic interface curvature change induced by Brij-56. A synthesis-field diagram showed that the mesostructure changed in the sequence cage-type → C → intergrowth of C and D → intergrowth of C and G → D → G → L with increase of the amount of Brij-56. Mixed micelles were formed by the anionic and nonionic surfactants, the packing parameter g of which increased with increasing the addition amount of nonionic surfactant and the reaction temperature. The local g parameter was obtained from electron crystallography reconstruction results by calculating mean curvatures and Gaussian curvatures from the equi-electrostatic potential surface. The intergrowth of C and D and two kinds of intergrowth of C and G are also discussed.

Formation of two- and three-dimensional hybrid mesostructures from branched siloxane molecules.

We report the design of a new precursor having three branching disiloxane units capable of forming 3D mesostructures with a cubic Pm-3n and its orthorhombic and tetragonal variants Cmmm and P4(2)/mnm, in addition to a conventional 2D hexagonal (p6mm) mesostructure, thus creating a novel research area of mesostructural design in silica-organic nanohybrid materials.

Analysis of numbers of repeated units in R2 region among varicella-zoster virus strains.

BACKGROUND: A variable region, R2, on the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genome contains a repeated 42-bp unit. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is the derivation of significance from tandem reiteration structure in the R2 region. METHODS: Fifty-two specimens were collected from 52 patients with herpes zoster in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. After treatment of the specimens to release viral DNA, the samples were amplified directly by polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 14 samples were collected from 7 of these zoster patients after valaciclovir or aciclovir therapy. RESULTS: Analyses of the 52 specimens revealed that the number of repeats ranged from 4 to 13. Interestingly, the numbers of repeats among various VZV strains showed a normal distribution pattern, so that 6-9 repeats were found to be predominant in both Osaka (85%) and Tokyo (72%). The pre- and post-treatment strains taken from the same individuals showed the same numbers of repeats (7-9 in 6 cases and 11 in one). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the 6-9 repetitions of the 42-bp unit, with presumed stability, may offer these virus strains an advantage in virulence to human skin.

Schnitzler's syndrome with IgG kappa gammopathy.

A seventy-year-old man with a variant type of Schnitzler's syndrome is reported. Physical examination showed pruritic urticarial lesions on the extremities, arthralgia of knee joints, and intermittent fever. Laboratory investigations revealed a high level of IgG, an increased enythrocyte sedimentation rate, urinary Bence-Jones protein, and an M-bow in serum protein electrophoresis, which was shown to be a monoclonal IgG kappa type. Histological examination showed perivascular neutrophil and lymphocytic infiltration into the upper dermis and diffuse neutrophilic infiltration in the middle dermis. One of the clinical features of typical Schnitzler's syndrome is IgM macroglobulinemia, and this is a very rare case of this syndrome with IgG gammopathy.