OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen conditions (20% [high O₂], 5% [low O₂] and 5% decreased to 2% [dynamic O₂]) on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development using a novel double-channel gas supply (DCGS) incubator (CNC Biotech Inc.) to alter the oxygen concentration during in vitro culture.METHODS: The high-O₂ and low-O₂ groups were cultured from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage under 20% and 5% oxygen concentrations, respectively. In the dynamic-O₂ group, mouse embryos were cultured from the one-cell to the morula stage under 5% O₂ for 3 days, followed by culture under 2% O₂ to the blastocyst stage. To evaluate peri-implantation development, the blastocysts from the three groups were individually transferred to a fibronectin-coated dish and cultured to the outgrowth stage in droplets.RESULTS: The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The total cell number was significantly higher in the dynamic-O₂ group than in the low-O₂ and high-O₂ groups. Additionally, the apoptotic index was significantly lower in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The trophoblast outgrowth rate and spread area were significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group.CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a dynamic oxygen concentration (decreasing from 5% to 2%) had beneficial effects on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development. Optimized, dynamic changing of oxygen concentrations using the novel DCGS incubator could improve the developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos in a human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Incubators ; Mental Competency ; Mice ; Morula ; Oxygen ; Trophoblasts

Purpose: We present a case of spontaneous toric intraocular lens (IOL) rotation in the late postoperative period (after 10 months).Case summary: A 44-year-old male underwent phacoemulsification and placement of an IOL (AcrySof IQ Toric, Alcon Laboratories Inc., Fort Worth, FL, USA) in the right eye. The preoperative best corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were 0.2 in the right eye and 0.3 in the left eye, and the corneal astigmatisms -2.25 × 175° and -2.25 × 178°. Ten months later, the astigmatic IOL axis was 85° (the initial [correct] value). The BCVA after surgery was 1.0. At 11 months postoperatively, the patient presented with a sudden decrease in visual acuity in the right eye. The IOL had rotated 50° clockwise; we decided to reposition it. A capsular tension ring had been placed during surgery. The IOL was re-aligned but rotated again 1 week later. We replaced the IOL with a monofocal non-toric IOL (enVista MX60, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA). Conclusions Severe toric IOL rotation is a late postoperative complication.

Purpose: To study the short-term intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect and optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow improvement after switching from latanoprost 0.005% w/v to latanoprostene bunod 0.024% w/v. Methods: This prospective study ran from May 2022 to December 2022 and included 40 patients with open-angle glaucoma who switched from latanoprost 0.005% w/v to latanoprostene bunod 0.024% w/v. The IOP, ONH blood flow, and conjunctival hyperemia, corneal erosion, and eyelid pigmentation status were measured 3 months after switching. We recorded all possible side effects. Results: The baseline IOP significantly dropped from 17.53 ± 6.49 to 16.00 ± 8.06 mmHg at 3 months (p = 0.032). The best-corrected visual acuity did not significantly change (0.24 ± 0.19 to 0.23 ± 0.16); neither did eyelid pigmentation (1.16 ± 0.78 to 1.16 ± 0.82) nor the corneal erosion score (0.58 ± 0.85 to 0.39 ± 0.76). Conjunctival hyperemia significantly decreased from 2.00 ± 0.69 to 1.67 ± 0.63 (p = 0.010). Neither the whole-image vessel density nor the peripapillary vessel density significantly changed. However, pruritus became significantly worse after the change (p = 0.008). Conclusions In the short term, latanoprostene bunod 0.024% w/v lowered the IOP more effectively than did latanoprost 0.005% w/v. However, there was no significant change in ONH blood flow after the switch.

PURPOSE: To identify the factors associated with differential diagnosis of neonatal bacterial meningitis at the earliest opportunities possible and to evaluate the value of the bacterial meningitis score especially in neonates. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of neonates diagnosed meningitis at our hospital between January 2000 and March 2014. We compared the general characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, bacterial meningitis scores between the bacterial group and the aseptic group. RESULTS: Bacterial meningitis differs significantly from aseptic meningitis in platelet count, the cerebrospinal fluid polymorphonuclear leukocyte count, and the serum protein including also the albumin (P<0.05). Except two infants, the bacterial meningitis score over 2 accurately predict bacterial meningitis in the other 11 infants. CONCLUSION: The bacterial meningitis score appears highly useful to identify neonatal infants with bacterial meningitis. However, its diagnostic and prognostic value is just ‘adjunctive’, because low score cannot rule out bacterial meningitis.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To establish the objective method of diagnosing the myofascial pain syndrome through diagnostic ultrasound and pathology. METHOD: Hamstring muscles of 7 female house rabbits, weighing 2.5~3.0 Kg, were studied. The existence of nodule was confirmed by palpation and through diagnostic ultrasound. A horizontal length, vertical length, thickness, and an area of hyperechoic region were measured. Hyperechoic regions were biopsied and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. RESULTS: All examined rabbits had muscular nodules in the medial hamstring. Characteristic increase of echogenecity was observed in the medial hamstring muscles. Some uneven hyperechoic areas were seen in the lateral hamstring muscles. Fatty degeneration and giant round cells were observed in the medial hamstring where the echogenecity was increased. The giant round cells were observed only in the lateral hamstring. CONCLUSION: Increased echogenecity of the medial hamstring muscle is probably contributed by muscles cells with fatty degeneration and giant round cells, and some portions of hyperechogenecity of lateral hamstring requires further study.
Female ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Palpation ; Pathology ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography*