Geometric morphometric analysis of Japanese female facial shape in relation to psychological impression space.

Facial appearance has essential consequences in various social interactions. Previous studies have shown that although people can perceive a variety of impressions from a face, these impressions may form from a relatively small number of core dimensions in the psychological impression space (e.g., valence and dominance). However, few studies have thus far examined which facial shape features contribute to perceptions of the core trait impression dimensions for Asian female faces. This study aimed to identify the commonalities between various facial impressions of Japanese female faces and determine the facial shape components associated with such impressions by applying geometric morphometric (GMM) analysis. In Experiment 1 (Modeling study), Japanese female faces were evaluated in terms of 18 trait adjectives that are frequently used to describe facial appearance in daily life. We found that Japanese female facial appearance is indeed evaluated mainly on the valence and dominance dimensions. In Experiment 2 (Validation study), we confirmed that all the trait impressions were quantitatively manipulated by transforming the facial shape features associated with valence and dominance. Our results provide evidence that various facial impressions derived from these two underlying dimensions can be quantitatively manipulated by transforming facial shape using the GMM techniques.

HMGB1 and its membrane receptors as therapeutic targets in an intravesical substance P-induced bladder pain syndrome mouse model.

HMGB1, a nuclear protein, once released to the extracellular space, promotes somatic and visceral pain signals. We thus analyzed the role of HMGB1 in an intravesical substance P-induced bladder pain syndrome (BPS) mouse model. Intravesical administration of substance P caused referred hyperalgesia/allodynia in the lower abdomen and hindpaw without producing severe urothelial damage, which was prevented by an anti-HMGB1-neutralizing antibody, thrombomodulin α capable of inactivating HMGB1 and antagonists of RAGE or CXCR4. The HMGB1 inactivation or RAGE blockade also reversed the established bladder pain symptoms. HMGB1 and RAGE are thus considered to serve as therapeutic targets for BPS.

Efficacy and safety of ab interno trabeculectomy in juvenile open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of ab interno trabeculectomy with Trabectome in juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Evaluation of the 12-month results of 2 patient groups receiving ab interno trabeculectomy: group 1, eyes with no prior incisional surgery; group 2, eyes that had prior incisional cataract or glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: Group 1, 40 eyes (average age 31 ± 7 years), had a significant reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) of 10.6 mm Hg at 12 months from a baseline of 27.4 mm Hg (p = 0.01), and the number of glaucoma medications reduced by 0.4 (p = 0.80). Four eyes (10%) within the study period required a secondary glaucoma surgery. Group 2, 20 eyes (average age 27 ± 8 years), had a significant reduction in IOP of 8.8 mm Hg from a baseline of 27.1 mm Hg (p = 0.06), and the number of glaucoma medications reduced by 1.4 (p = 0.36). Five eyes (25%) from this group underwent a secondary glaucoma surgery within 12 months. CONCLUSION: After 1 year of follow-up, ab interno trabeculectomy appears to be an effective and safe intervention for patients with JOAG; however, a reduction in use of topical medications may not be observed in those receiving ab interno trabeculectomy as a primary procedure.

Involvement of the cystathionine-γ-lyase/Cav3.2 pathway in substance P-induced bladder pain in the mouse, a model for nonulcerative bladder pain syndrome.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) formed by cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) enhances the activity of Cav3.2 T-type Ca2+ channels, contributing to the bladder pain accompanying hemorrhagic cystitis caused by systemic administration of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in mice. Given clinical and fundamental evidence for the involvement of the substance P/NK1 receptor systems in bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC), we created an intravesical substance P-induced bladder pain model in mice and analyzed the possible involvement of the CSE/Cav3.2 pathway. Bladder pain/cystitis was induced by i.p. CPA or intravesical substance P in female mice. Bladder pain was evaluated by counting nociceptive behavior and by detecting referred hyperalgesia in the lower abdomen and hindpaw. The isolated bladder tissue was weighed to estimate bladder swelling and subjected to histological observation and Western blotting. Intravesical substance P caused profound referred hyperalgesia accompanied by little bladder swelling or edema 6-24 h after the administration, in contrast to i.p. CPA-induced nociceptive behavior/referred hyperalgesia with remarkable bladder swelling/edema and urothelial damage. The bladder pain and/or cystitis symptoms caused by substance P or CPA were prevented by the NK1 receptor antagonist. CSE in the bladder was upregulated by substance P or CPA, and the NK1 antagonist prevented the CPA-induced CSE upregulation. A CSE inhibitor, a T-type Ca2+ channel blocker and gene silencing of Cav3.2 abolished the intravesical substance P-induced referred hyperalgesia. The intravesical substance P-induced pain in mice is useful as a model for nonulcerative BPS, and involves the activation of the NK1 receptor/CSE/H2S/Cav3.2 cascade.

A Novel Antihypertensive Peptide Identified in Thermolysin-Digested Rice Bran.

SCOPE: Hypertension is a risk factor for arteriosclerosis. In this study, we investigate the antihypertensive effect of protease-digested rice bran in a spontaneously hypertension rat (SHR) model. We also purify a novel antihypertensive peptide from the digest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thermolysin-digested rice bran (TRB) is administered to SHRs for 4 weeks, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly using the tail-cuff method. TRB shows an antihypertensive effect in a dose-dependent manner. TRB also reduces angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in lung tissue and serum troponin I levels. TRB is fractionated by HPLC and ACE-inhibitory activity in the HPLC fractions is measured. Peptides LRA and YY are identified from the two fractions with the strongest ACE-inhibitory activity. Amino acid sequence of these peptides are found in a vicilin-like seed storage protein, and identified in rice bran protein using the peptide mass fingerprint method. We confirm that LRA and YY are cleaved by thermolysin digestion of a model synthetic peptide. Orally administered LRA (0.25 mg kg-1 ) or YY (0.5 mg kg-1 ) lowers the SBP of SHRs at 4 h after administration. CONCLUSION: We identify a novel, orally active antihypertensive peptide, LRA from the digest of rice bran protein.

Influence of timing of initial surgery for infantile esotropia on the severity of dissociated vertical deviation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the timing of initial surgery for infantile esotropia contributes to better sensory outcomes and to the severity of dissociated vertical deviation (DVD). METHODS: This retrospective study examined 55 children, aged 8 years and younger, who underwent esotropia surgery. Based on age at the time of the surgery, patients were divided into the very early surgery group (birth to 8 months, N = 14), early surgery group (9-24 months, N = 23) and late surgery group (25 months and older, N = 18). Sensory and motor outcomes of the three groups were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: No significant differences in the incidences of DVD were noted among the three groups at the final visit. However, all DVDs of the very early surgery group were latent, whereas 38.9% of the DVDs for both near and distance of the late surgery group were manifest. Significant differences were found among the three groups for the proportion of patients with manifest DVD, latent DVD and without DVD, and for the incidence of additional surgery for manifest DVD (p < 0.05, G-test). CONCLUSION: Early surgery for infantile esotropia decreases the severity of DVD and lowers the need for an additional operation for DVD.

Human trial of liposomal lactoferrin supplementation for periodontal disease.

New approaches to periodontal health have been in strong demand in addition to conventional local plaque control. In this study, liposomal bovine lactoferrin (L-bLF) was orally administered to subjects with periodontal disease to investigate whether it could be a useful treatment. L-bLF composed of soy phosphatidylcholine was given as a supplement for four weeks in tablet form (180 mg bLF/d) to twelve subjects with multiple sites of more than 3 mm probing depth (PD). PD, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in GCF were evaluated for 51 sites with more than 4 mm PD in five subjects. Blood samples of all subjects were collected 0, 2 and 4 weeks after supplementation. Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were incubated for 24 h with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng/ml) from Porphyromonas gingivalis, and TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and MCP-1 in the culture media were measured. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 mRNA expressions of isolated PBMCs were also quantitatively analyzed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PD was significantly reduced by L-bLF supplementation, but the BOP and GCF volume were not significantly changed. The MCP-1 level in GCF was significantly reduced, while levels of other cytokines were not changed. Four-week L-bLF supplementation also showed significant decreases of LPS-induced cytokine production from PBMCs. Relative gene expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 did not change. These results suggest that L-bLF supplementation can be effective in the treatment of periodontal disease, although prospective controlled large-scale studies are required.

Effects of vertical offsets of the horizontal rectus muscles in V-pattern exotropia without oblique dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of vertical offsets of the horizontal rectus muscle in V-pattern exotropia without oblique dysfunction. METHODS: A computerized patient database was searched for patients treated with full tendon offsets for V-pattern strabismus from 2002 to 2007. Patients with clinically significant inferior oblique overaction were excluded. Surgery included upward transposition of lateral rectus muscles and/or downward transposition of medial rectus muscles. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for alignment in the primary position, 30 degrees upgaze, and 30 degrees downgaze before and 3 months after surgery. The main outcome measure was the change in V pattern after surgery. RESULTS: The search identified 11 patients who met inclusion criteria. Of these, 6 underwent bilateral lateral rectus recessions, 1 had 3-muscle surgery, and 4 had monocular recession-resection surgery. The preoperative V-pattern (horizontal) deviation between upgaze and downgaze was 22.2(Delta)+/-5.0(Delta). Postoperative deviation at 3 months was 3.5(Delta)+/-3.9(Delta), a decrease of 18.9(Delta)+/-7.5(Delta). Postoperatively, no patient had an A-pattern deviation or subjective torsional disturbance. The amount of V-pattern correction was closely correlated with the size of the preoperative V pattern (r=0.84). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with V-pattern exotropia without inferior oblique dysfunction, vertical offsets of the horizontal rectus muscles effectively corrected the pattern deviation. The amount of correction was closely correlated with the size of the preoperative V pattern.

Modified method for assessment of the binocular fusional field in patients with suppression.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of a new system using a modified Goldmann perimeter and Bagolini striated glasses for quantitative assessment of the binocular fusional field (BFF) in patients with suppression. METHODS: The BFF was assessed quantitatively in ten normal patients aged 10 to 15 years by using a modified Goldmann perimeter equipped with a xenon light source. Subjective perception was elicited with the use of a crossed or single oblique streak through Bagolini striated glasses. The BFF in 15 strabismic patients with suppression were analyzed at their initial visit and at their last visit after therapy. RESULTS: In normal patients, extent points of the BFF on every 15 degrees meridian ranged from 48 degrees to 56 degrees . The normal BFF drawn from these average points was approximately equal to the previously published normal format of binocular single vision for strabismic patients with diplopia. Additionally, this scoring system for BFF provided quantitatively objective information during the course of their extraocular disorder in 15 strabismic patients with suppression. CONCLUSION: This new method of assessing BFF in patients with suppression can be helpful for evaluation of quantitative effects in the course of treatment for an extraocular disorder and compensatory abnormal head position.