Three-Way-Switchable (Right/Left/OFF) Selective Reflection of Circularly Polarized Light on Solid Thin Films of Helical Polymer Blends.

Two poly(quinoxaline-2,3-diyl) copolymers bearing miscibility-enhancing 8-chlorooctyloxy and (S)-2-methylbutoxy or n-butoxy side chains were synthesized. After annealing in CHCl3 vapor, a polymer-blend film of these copolymers exhibited selective reflection of right-handed circularly polarized light (CPL) in the visible region. The handedness of the CPL reflected was completely inverted upon annealing of the film in THF vapor. Annealing in n-hexane vapor resulted in the phase separation of the polymer blend, which turned the selective reflection off. This three-way-switchable reflection, that is, reflection of right-handed or left-handed CPL, together with an OFF state, could be observed visually through right- and left-handed CPL filters.

[A Case of Corneal Injury due to Herbicide Containing Paraquat: Effectiveness of 2% Rebamipide Eye Drops].

BACKGROUND: Herbicides containing paraquat are widely used and have occasionally been causing ocular damage. The initial ocular injury caused by paraquat tends to worsen within a few days to 1 week. The toxicity of paraquat is based on the oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species. CASE: An 82-year-old woman who had been exposed to herbicide containing paraquat in her left eye presented at Koumeikan Eye Clinic 2 days after the incident. Moderate corneal erosion was diagnosed and treated with ordinary medication, but the corneal lesion worsened. After administration of topical 2% rebamipide eye drops, the corneal lesion resolved rapidly. CONCLUSION: Because of its role as a radical scavenger, rebamipide has great potential for treatment of corneal injuries caused by herbicides such as paraquat.

The effect of electroacupuncture with different frequencies on muscle oxygenation in humans.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequencies on muscle oxygenation in humans. The subjects were 8 healthy male volunteers. Muscle oxygenation was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored simultaneously. After baseline recording, EA was given for 15 min and recovery was measured for 20 minutes. The procedure of EA at 1 Hz, at 20 Hz, and at control followed in the same subjects. Tissue oxygenation index (TOI) decreased during EA at 20 Hz (P < 0.05) and increased during the recovery period. Normalized tissue hemoglobin index (nTHI) also decreased during EA at 20 Hz and increased during the recovery period (P < 0.05), whereas TOI and nTHI in the EA at 1 Hz did not change significantly throughout the experiment. The peak TOI and nTHI values at 20 Hz during the recovery period were higher than the values at 1 Hz and in the control (P < 0.05). BP and HR remained constant. These data suggest that the supply of oxygen to muscle decreased during EA at 20 Hz and increased after EA at 20 Hz, without any changes in HR and BP.