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Ken Ogino,1 Maho Oishi,1 Akio Oishi,1 Satoshi Morooka,1 Masako Sugahara,1 Norimoto Gotoh,1,2 Masafumi Kurimoto,3 Nagahisa Yoshimura1 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 2Center for Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University, 3Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Kyoto, JapanPurpose: To describe the peripheral autofluorescence images and clinical features of patients with retinal dystrophy who showed radial fundus autofluorescence (FAF) at the posterior pole.Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed pooled wide-field FAF images of 711 patients with retinal dystrophy and 56 family members.Results: Eleven eyes of seven women exhibited radial FAF at the posterior pole. Wide-field FAF showed extension of the radial pattern to the periphery in all eyes except one. One woman showed radial hyper-FAF only in the periphery, not at the posterior pole. These eight individuals were X-linked retinitis pigmentosa patients or carriers. The tapetal-like reflex was not observed in their color fundus photographs. The peripheral visual field showed wedge-shaped restriction in some individuals.Conclusion: Wide-field FAF imaging can depict radial FAF not only at the posterior pole but also in the periphery in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa carriers. The authors therefore agree with previous reports that radial FAF may be a hallmark of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Keywords: X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, radial pattern, wide-field fundus autofluorescence, RPGR gene

Satoko Nakagawa, Akio Oishi, Ken Ogino, Yukiko Makiyama, Masafumi Kurimoto, Nagahisa Yoshimura Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan Purpose: To investigate the association between visual changes and retinal vessel attenuation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).Design: A retrospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study.Methods: We analyzed 45 eyes from 45 subjects who were followed-up for ≥3 years at our clinic. Using the computer-based Interactive Vessel Analysis program, central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) were determined. Age- and sex-matched controls from normal subjects were selected from our archived fundus photograph library. Visual acuity, visual field area (Goldmann perimetry, V4e white test light), mean deviation (Humphrey perimetry, central 10-2 program), and central macular thickness (optical coherence tomography) were analyzed for correlations with CRAE and CRVE.Results: Both CRAE and CRVE were significantly decreased in RP eyes (94.9±13.5 µm and 155.6±20.0 µm, respectively) compared with control eyes (138.1±14.7 µm and 215.0±20.4 µm, respectively, both P

OBJECTIVE: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG), a water-soluble dietary fiber produced by the controlled partial enzymatic hydrolysis of guar gum beans, has various physiological roles. PHGG is expected to influence the immune function and prevent infections. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of continuous ingestion of PHGG for 12 weeks on the development of cold-like symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized, parallel-group comparative study was conducted. 96 healthy Japanese adults received 5.2 g PHGG or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Cold-like symptoms were assessed based on patient diary, and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stool and blood immune markers at baseline and at weeks 6 and 12. RESULTS: The cumulative number of "no symptoms" days for all symptoms was significantly larger in the PHGG than in the placebo group. The result of the analysis by severity of cold-like symptoms also showed significant differences, with the PHGG group having a lower severity of cold-like symptoms. Propionic acid at weeks 6 and 12 and n-butyric acid and total SCFAs at week 12 were significantly higher in the PHGG than in the placebo group. The Interferon-γ level was significantly lower at week 6 in the PHGG than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: PHGG intake may affect immune function and suppress cold-like symptoms through the production of SCFAs in healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research was conducted to examine the temperature dependence and the Faraday rotation (FR) spectra in Rh4+-substituted magnetic garnets based on a molecular field approximation. Single crystalline films of (Y, Ca2+)3(Fe, Rh4+)5O12 grown by a liquid phase epitaxy method onto (111)-oriented gadolinium galium garnet substrates were used as samples. Results indicate that the FR spectra is strongly reliant on temperature and it decreases as temperature increases.