Successful toric intraocular lens implantation in a patient with induced cataract and astigmatism after posterior chamber toric phakic intraocular lens implantation: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: We report the case of a patient in whom simultaneous toric phakic intraocular lens removal and phacoemulsification with toric intraocular lens implantation were beneficial for reducing pre-existing astigmatism and acquiring good visual outcomes in eyes with implantable collamer lens-induced cataract and astigmatism. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman had undergone toric implantable collamer lens implantation three years earlier. After informed consent was obtained, we performed simultaneous toric implantable collamer lens removal and phacoemulsification with toric intraocular lens implantation. Preoperatively, the manifest refraction was 0, -0.5 × 15, with an uncorrected visual acuity of 0.7 and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 0.8. Postoperatively, the manifest refraction was improved to 0, -0.5 × 180, with an uncorrected visual acuity of 1.2 and a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 1.5. No vision-threatening complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Toric intraocular lens implantation may be a good surgical option for the correction of spherical and cylindrical errors in eyes with implantable collamer lens-induced cataract and astigmatism.

Follicle-stimulating hormone induces spermatogenesis mediated by androgen production in Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays important roles in spermatogenesis. However, the biologic activity of FSH can vary in different vertebrate classes, and the definitive function of FSH has not been established. In this study, we investigated the functions of FSH on spermatogenesis using an in vitro culture system for Japanese eel testis. The eel Fsh receptor was expressed in testis tissue during the whole process of spermatogenesis, mainly by Leydig cells that produce steroid hormones and by Sertoli cells surrounding type A spermatogonia and early type B spermatogonia. In an in vitro organ culture, recombinant eel Fsh (r-eFsh) induced complete spermatogenesis from the proliferation of spermatogonia to spermiogenesis during 36 days of culture; also, spermatozoa were observed in the testicular fragments. Spermatogenesis induced by r-eFsh was inhibited by trilostane, a specific inhibitor of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. However, trilostane did not inhibit spermatogenesis induced by 11-ketotestosterone. These results clearly show that the main function of FSH in eel is to induce spermatogenesis via stimulating androgen production.

In vitro formation of capillary networks using optical lithographic techniques.

Tissue engineering approaches have been developed for vascular grafts, but success has been limited to arterial replacements of large-caliber vessels. We have developed an innovative technique to transplant engineered capillary networks by printing techniques. Endothelial cells were cultured on a patterned substrate, in which network patterns were generated by prior optical lithography. Subsequently, the patterned cells were transferred to extracellular matrix and tissue at which point they changed their morphologies and formed tubular structures. Microinjection of dye showed that the micrometer-scale tubular structure had in vitro flow potential. When capillary-like networks engineered on amnion membranes were transplanted into mice, we found blood cells inside of the lumen of the transplanted capillary-like structure. This is the first report of the in vitro formation of capillary networks using cell transfer technique, and this novel technique may open the way for development of rapid and effective blood perfusion systems in regenerative medicine.

Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by experimental endotoxemia in horse.

Cellular activation and functional cell surface markers were evaluated during experimentally-induced endotoxemia in healthy horses. Eight healthy adult horses were infused a low dose of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli O26: B6, 30 ng/kg of body weight, IV) and five control horses were given an equivalent volume of sterile saline solution. Venous blood samples were collected for flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to measure plasma endotoxin concentrations. Clinical signs of endotoxemia were recorded at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hr after endotoxin or saline solution administration. Clinical findings characteristic of endotoxemia (tachycardia, tachypnea, increased rectal temperature, and leukopenia) occurred transiently in all horses administered endotoxin; however, plasma endotoxin concentrations were detectable in only 50% (4/8) of the endotoxin-infused horses. The percentage of CD4(+), CD5(+), and CD8(+) cells decreased while the percentage of CD14(+), IgM(+), and MHC class II(+) cells increased significantly after endotoxin infusion. Alterations in the immunophenotype of PBMCs from horses with experimentally-induced endotoxemia were associated with changes in vital signs, indicating that endotoxin altered the immuno balance.