Masashi Nishimura

Effects of oxidative stress on the nuclear translocation of extracellular superoxide dismutase

The effect of oxidative stress on the cellular uptake and nuclear translocation of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) was investigated. EC-SOD was incorporated from conditioned medium of stable EC-SOD expressing CHO-EK cells into 3T3-L1 cells within 15 min. The uptake was clearly inhibited by the addition of heparin at a concentration of 0.4 microg/ml. Treatment of the 3T3-L1 cells with H(2)O(2) (5 mM for 5 min), followed by incubation with CHO-EK medium downregulated the uptake of EC-SOD. Nuclear translocation of the incorporated EC-SOD was clearly enhanced by H(2)O(2) treatment following incubation with the CHO-EK medium. EC-SOD is the only anti-oxidant enzyme which is known at this time to be actively transported into nuclei. The results obtained here suggest that the upregulation of the nuclear translocation of EC-SOD by oxidative stress might play a role in the mechanism by which the nucleus is protected against oxidative damage of genomic DNA.

Inhibition of gene expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor by extracellular superoxide dismutase in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Both extracellular superoxide dismsutase (EC-SOD) and heparin binding EGF like growth factor (HB-EGF) are produced in smooth muscle cells of the arterial wall, and are thought to play pathological roles in atherosclerosis with heparin binding characteristics. EC-SOD treatment clearly reduced the H2O2 induced expression of HB-EGF in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC). EC-SOD also inhibited the induction of HB-EGF by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in RASMC by 60%. Both H2O2 and TPA increased intracellular ROS levels, and EC-SOD inhibited ROS generation only for the case of H2O2 but not TPA. Treatment of the cells with heparin alone decreased HB-EGF expression by 20%, whereas EC-SOD alone and a co-incubation with EC-SOD and heparin suppressed the induction by 60 and 70%, respectively. These results suggest that EC-SOD is related to the EGF signaling in two ways, competition for HSPG with HB-EGF and as an ROS scavenger.

Giant Pituitary Adenoma Manifesting As Homonymous Hemianopia

from a very small sample of the conjunctival lesion. Until several years ago, the management of FL was basically palliative. Recently, the effi cacy of rituximab therapy for FL has been evaluated. In a few clinical trials using rituximab alone for untreated FL, response rates ranged between 61% and 80%. So far, only one case of conjunctival FL treated with rituximab alone has been reported. However, the evidence for diagnosis was not shown, and the follow-up period was only 5 months. Generally, the common side effects of rituximab are not severe, and include fever, chills, and nausea. No side effect of rituximab was observed in this case. Radiotherapy with curative intent for early-stage FL is still questionable because of the recurrence rate of approximately 50% and the treatment side effects. LD-IF-RT (2 × 2 Gy regimen) was initially applied to treat recurrences of advanced FL. Recent studies showed high response rates (>80%) in indolent lymphoma patients. We combined rituximab therapy and LD-IF-RT, since it is too early to evaluate the effi cacy of each of them independently on survival. Minimizing radiation-induced disorders of eyes, that is, cataract, was also another reason to select LD-IFRT. As it happens, this therapeutic idea is supported by a recent study showing that pretreatment with rituximab enhances the radiosensitivity of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells. In conclusion, for early stage conjunctival FL, the combination of anti-CD20 antibody therapy and LD-IF-RT may be an alternative therapy.

Acute bilateral peripheral cone system dysfunction.

PURPOSE To report electrophysiological and psychophysical findings in an unusual case with acute loss of the peripheral visual field bilaterally. METHODS A 19-year-old woman underwent fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, visual field testing, determination of full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) and multifocal ERGs (mfERGs), and rod-cone perimetry in addition to routine ophthalmologic examinations. RESULTS Findings of fundus examination and fluorescein angiography were completely normal, and best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes. However, static perimetry revealed a temporal field defect in the right eye and an arcuate scotoma in the left eye. Full-field ERG cone responses were significantly reduced, but rod responses were normal in both eyes. Psychophysical rod-cone perimetry demonstrated that the peripheral cone system was impaired whereas the rod sensitivity was completely normal. mfERGs showed that the local cone responses were well preserved in the central retina but were severely reduced in the peripheral retina in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that there is an unusual retinopathy showing acute dysfunction of the peripheral cone system bilaterally whereas the rod system is functioning normally.

S276 – Nasal Sinus Diseases Demonstrating Ophthalmologic Symptoms

Objectives This study reviewed the clinical features of paranasal sinus diseases demonstrating ophthalmologic manifestations. Methods Between April 1995 and December 2007, we performed endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in 106 patients with paranasal sinus diseases presenting with ophthalmologic symptoms. There were 57 men and 49 women, aged 56.4 years (10 − 86 years). Diagnosis was based on the pre- and intraoperative findings. Patients with symptoms due to tumors were excluded from this study. Results Of 106 patients, loss of visual acuity was most frequently observed in 40 patients (37.7%). Other symptoms were eyelid swelling (28.3%), diplopia (18.9%), constriction of the visual field (13.2%), exophthalmos (13.2%), ocular pain (12.3%), external ophthalmoplegia (3.8%), and epiphora (1.9%). The symptoms involved in paranasal sinus cysts were found in 67 patients (63.2%), those in bacterial sinusitis in 36 patients (34.0%), those in fungal sinusitis in 2 patients, and those in Wegeners granulomatosis in 1 patient. The 38 patients (35.8%) were diagnosed as rhinogenic optic neuropathy, and most of them (32/38 patients, 78.9%) initially referred to ophthalmologists. Major lesions were observed in anterior and posterior ethmoid sinus (40 patients, 37.7%). For the treatment, external approaches were required in 11 patients (10.4%). During the postoperative course, reoperation (ESS) was required in 3 patients (2.8%) because of recurrence in the sphenoid sinus, whereas the other 103 patients had an uneventful course. Conclusions Pre- and postoperative observation by not only otolaryngologists, but also ophthalmologists, is recommended in order to perform minimally invasive surgery and to avoid recurrence.

Visual Hallucinations Following Stellate Ganglion Block in a Patient with Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Successful treatment of foveal detachment and retinoschisis in an eye without a macular hole by vitrectomy and ILM peeling has been reported in patients with high myopia. In highly myopic eyes with a posterior staphyloma, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid are displaced posteriorly so that the retina must be stretched to contact the underlying structure. In this condition, the retina is under traction. Tangential traction of the retina by an epiretinal membrane (ERM) is also considered to be a cause of retinal detachment and retinoschisis in the posterior pole. Therefore, the complete removal of the ERM and/or overlying residual cortex by ILM peeling has been reported to repair the macular detachment successfully. Although our patient’s right eye was mildly myopic, there was a staphyloma in the inferior half of the fundus, and the RPE was atrophic in the macular area due to the tilted disc syndrome. These morphological abnormalities in the macular area, along with the intact posterior vitreous membrane, probably induced tangential traction on the retina and probably contributed to the development of the foveal detachment and retinoschisis without macular hole. At the initial visit, only the OCT examination disclosed the foveal retinal detachment and retinoschisis defi nitively. Thus, we recommend that OCT examinations be performed on patients with high myopia or tilted disc syndrome to search for macular changes when visual symptoms are present even when the fundus appears essentially normal.