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Abstract To examine the effects of decreased CO2 and O2 partial pressure on leaf-level photosynthesis in alpine plants at high altitude, we compared the maximal carboxylation efficiency, CE, of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. var. japonica growing in a highland with one growing in a lowland. CE under the native atmospheric conditions (native CE) of the highland population was significantly lower than that of the lowland one. The O2 dependency of CE was significantly less in the highland population than in the lowland. Using theoretical analysis, we explained that O2 dependency of leaf-level photosynthesis became less as internal conductance (gi) decreased. We also showed that gi and the content of active Rubisco (E) could be estimated from the O2 dependency of leaf-level photosynthesis. By applying the analysis, a severe limitation of CO2 diffusion in the leaf was estimated in the highland population, whereas almost the same values of E were estimated in both populations. A reasonable explanation for the difference in the native CE is the smaller O2 dependency and photosynthetic capacity caused by a smaller gi in the highland population in addition to the differences in the partial pressures of CO2 and O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report a patient (Case 1) with Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) associated with previously unknown findings of crystal-like deposits on the anterior and posterior lens capsules. This patient is one of four (Cases 1-4) in whom we have found BCD associated with the same mutation in the CYP4V2 gene., Methods: We present a case report with molecular diagnosis. A 45-year-old man (Case 1) was referred to our clinic with complaints of gradual progression of visual disturbances and night blindness. His visual acuity was limited to hand movement bilaterally. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy disclosed glistening, crystal-like deposits on the anterior and posterior lens capsules, as well as on the corneal stroma near the corneoscleral limbus. No such deposit was found in the lens stroma. Fundus examination disclosed profound chorioretinal atrophy with scarce crystal deposits. Full-field electroretinography showed extinguished responses of isolated rods, isolated cones, and mixed rods and cones., Results: Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the subject had a homozygous mutation in the CYP4V2 gene (IVS6-8delTCATACAGGTCATCGCG/insGC), which is most commonly found in Japanese patients with BCD. Three other cases (Cases 2-4) of BCD associated with the same mutation did not show such crystal-like deposits on the lens surface., Conclusions: Although their exact origin remains unknown, crystal-like deposits may appear on the lens capsule of patients with BCD associated with a mutation in the CYP4V2 gene.

The aim of this study was to define short- and long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in dialysis patients. A retrospective review was carried out on 73 consecutive patients dependent on chronic dialysis who underwent CABG. In 63 isolated CABGs, 9 operations were performed under normal beating heart because of severe atherosclerotic changes in the ascending aorta or carotid arteries. The operative mortality (30 days' mortality) was 4.1%, and causes of death were closely related to cardiopulmonary bypass use. In the last 29 operations after introduction of the beating heart bypass, no hospital deaths occurred. The actual survival rates dropped to 45% at 70 months mainly for noncardiac late death. CABG for dialysis patients as undertaken with an acceptable operative risk. Extended application of beating heart bypass to these patients may produce further positive early results.