Kazuhiro Ishida

The significance of cone outer segment tips as a prognostic factor in epiretinal membrane surgery.

PURPOSE To evaluate the prognostic value of the cone outer segment tips (COST) and other features using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients undergoing epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. DESIGN Retrospective observational case series. METHODS Fifty eyes of 49 patients that underwent vitrectomy for idiopathic ERM were studied. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SD-OCT images were examined preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. The SD-OCT features evaluated included central foveal thickness (CFT) and the status and defect diameter of the external limiting membrane (ELM), the photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction, and the COST line. The associations between SD-OCT parameters and BCVA were analyzed. RESULTS There was no ELM disruption found, and thus the eyes were categorized into 3 groups: Group A, with a continuous IS/OS and COST line; Group B, with a continuous IS/OS but disrupted COST line; and Group C, with a disrupted IS/OS and COST line. At 6 months, Group A showed a significantly better BCVA than Group B (P<.005), and poorer BCVA was noted in Group C (P=.034). Defect diameters of IS/OS and COST line were also significantly correlated with BCVA postoperatively. The BCVA at 6 months was better in order of Group A, B, and C as assigned at baseline (P<.05) or 1 month (P<.001). There was no significant correlation between CFT and BCVA. CONCLUSIONS The status of the COST line, in conjunction with the IS/OS junction, is a useful prognostic factor after ERM surgery.

Association between external limiting membrane status and visual acuity in diabetic macular oedema.

Aim To evaluate the association between the foveal external limiting membrane (ELM) status and visual acuity (VA) in diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of 127 eyes from 127 patients with DMO and evaluated the correlation between the logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) VA and the statuses of the foveal ELM, inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) and cone outer segment tips (COST); foveal macular thickness (FMT); and presence or absence of hard exudates (HE), serous retinal detachment (SRD) and vitreous adhesion. The integrity of the ELM, IS/OS, and COST was classified into three categories (absent, disrupted and complete). Results There was a strong correlation between VA and the statuses of the ELM (r=0.699, p<0.001), IS/OS (r=0.716, p<0.001) and COST (r=0.471, p<0.001). There was no correlation between FMT and logMAR VA (r=−0.036, p=0.687). However, when we analysed the correlation between FMT and VA by dividing patients into those with FMT ≤250 μm and those with FMT >250 μm, there was a positive correlation between FMT and VA in eyes with FMT ≤250 μm (r=−0.601, p<0.0001) and a negative correlation in eyes with FMT>250 μm (r=0.290, p<0.01). Other factors HE, SRD and vitreous adhesion did not correlate with VA. Conclusions In DMO, the ELM status may be as closely related to VA as the IS/OS status.

MC SCF wavefunctions for the fermi-contact hyperfine structure of lithium atom

Abstract MC SCF wavefunctions which describe accurately the Fermi-contact hyperfine structure of the lithium atom in lowest P and S doublet states are obtained. The physical picture of the Fermi-contact hyperfine structure of the states is discussed on the basis of the wavefunctions.

Studies on bond dissociation in CH4, NH3, and H2O by the multiconfiguration self‐consistent‐field method

The lowest potential curve for the dissociation of an X–H bond of an XHm molecule is calculated for CH4, NH3, and H2O by the multiconfiguration self‐consistent‐field (MCSCF) method. The calculated well depth of the potential curve (in atomic units) obtained from the two configuration wavefunction constructed with MCSCF localized orbitals is 0.1707 for CH4 (0.1656 for NH3 and 0.1589 for H2O). The value is in good agreement with the experimental value of 0.1619 (0.1610 for NH3 and 0.1879 for H2O). This allows us to conclude that the potential curve of the dissociation process of any local bond in a polyatomic molecule may be satisfactorily reproduced by the use of the two configuration wavefunction constructed with MCSCF localized orbitals. This wavefunction gives very good asymptotic behavior at a dissociation limit.

Unique circumferential peripheral keratitis in relapsing polychondritis: A case report

Rationale: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare collagen disease characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilage throughout the body. The paper details the clinical course of a case of RP with unique circumferential peripheral keratitis. Patient concerns: A 54-year-old Japanese woman was referred to the hospital presenting with auricular and ocular pain. Diagnoses: Based on the auricle biopsy results and the three presenting symptoms (bilateral auricular chondritis, inflammatory arthritis and ocular inflammation), her condition was diagnosed as RP. Interventions: The three presenting symptoms gradually improved with prednisolone (PSL), methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide combination therapy, followed by PSL, methotrexate and infliximab combination therapy. However, one month after the initial visit, despite ongoing treatment, a unique circumferential peripheral keratitis suddenly occurred, in which the corneal infiltration gradually clumped together and shrank at the peripheral area. The eye and ear pain showed exacerbations and remissions on reducing the dosage of steroid drugs. The general condition was improved on altering systemic therapy to PSL, methotrexate and tocilizumab. Outcomes: Keratitis gradually disappeared within 10 months of the initial visit. Lessons: This is the first report of a case of RP causing unique circumferential peripheral keratitis. This keratitis occurred despite use of focal and systemic steroids and showed improvement with general recovery. This may indicate that stabilization of general condition is important for recovery from keratitis in RP.