Living cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROSs). To protect themselves from these ROSs, the cells have developed both an antioxidant system containing superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and a redox system including peroxiredoxin2 (Prx2, thioredoxin peroxidase) and glutathione peroxidase1 (GPx1): SOD1 converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and H2O2 is then converted into harmless water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) by Prx2 and GPx1 that directly regulate the redox system. To clarify the biological significance of the interaction of the redox system (Prx2/GPx1) with SOD1 in SOD1-mutated motor neurons in vivo, we produced an affinity-purified rabbit antibody against Prx2 and investigated the immunohistochemical localization of Prx2 and GPx1 in neuronal Lewy body-like hyaline inclusions (LBHIs) in the spinal cords of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) patients with a two-base pair deletion at codon 126 and an Ala-->Val substitution at codon 4 in the SOD1 gene, as well as in transgenic rats expressing human SOD1 with H46R and G93A mutations. The LBHIs in motor neurons from the SOD1-mutated FALS patients and transgenic rats showed identical immunoreactivities for Prx2 and GPx1: the reaction product deposits with the antibodies against Prx2 and GPx1 were localized in the LBHIs. In addition, the localizations of the immunoreactivities for SOD1 and Prx2/GPx1 were similar in the inclusions: the co-aggregation of Prx2/GPx1 with SOD1 in neuronal LBHIs in mutant SOD1-related FALS patients and transgenic rats was evident. Based on the fact that Prx2/GPx1 directly regulates the redox system, such co-aggregation of Prx2/GPx1 with SOD1 in neuronal LBHIs may lead to the breakdown of the redox system itself, thereby amplifying the mutant SOD1-mediated toxicity in mutant SOD1-linked FALS patients and transgenic rats expressing human mutant SOD1.

PurposeTo elucidate Japanese trends for perioperative disinfection and antibiotic selection during cataract surgeries.MethodsPerioperative iodine use and antibiotic prophylaxis for cataract surgery were surveyed in eight regions in Japan by mail or through interviews from February 1 to March 1, 2014.ResultsWe surveyed 572 surgeons, of whom 386 (67%) responded. Most of the surgeons (94%) used iodine compounds before surgery for periocular skin disinfection (povidone–iodine [PI]: 79%; polyvinyl alcohol-iodine [PAI]: 15%) or conjunctival disinfection (85%; PI: 36%; PAI: 49%). Preoperative conjunctival iodine was primarily used as an eye wash (irrigation: 95%) and less often as an eye drop (5%). It was determined that 31% of surgeons waited 30 seconds or more between periocular disinfection and conjunctival disinfection. During surgery, 14% of surgeons used iodine several times, including immediately before intraocular lens insertion, and 7% used the Shimada technique (repeated iodine irrigation). Preoperative antibiotic eye drops were used by 99% of surgeons, and antibiotics were added to the irrigation bottle by 22%. The surgeons reported use of subconjunctival antibiotic injections (23%), antibiotic ointments (79%), and intracameral antibiotics (7%: 22 moxifloxacin; 6 levofloxacin). All surgeons prescribed postoperative eye drops, with 10% initiating the drops on the day of surgery.ConclusionIodine compounds are commonly used preoperatively, but few institutions use iodine compounds intraoperatively, particularly with repeated application. The selection of antibiotic administration and disinfection technique has to be at the surgeon’s discretion. However, intracameral antibiotic and intraoperative iodine compound use are techniques that should be widely recognized.

BackgroundHuman adenovirus type 54 (HAdV-54) is a novel type of adenovirus that belongs to species D and has thus far been detected only in Japan in patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). There was a large nationwide outbreak of HAdV-54 EKC from 2015 to 2016 in Japan. The clinical characteristics of an outbreak of HAdV-54 conjunctivitis treated in a regional ophthalmic clinic in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2016 were analyzed.Patients and methodsA consecutive series of 55 cases diagnosed clinically as EKC confirmed by HAdV-54 detection from conjunctival scrapings by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method between 17 June 2016 and 29 August 2016 were enrolled. Viral DNA copies were counted by real-time PCR method. The clinical findings were recorded at the first visit to the clinic and evaluated.ResultsIn the analysis of the relationship between mean clinical score groups and several factors, such as days after onset, sex, HAdV DNA number on a logarithmic scale, and age, most factors did not show a significant difference in clinical score between groups. However, mean clinical score of cases aged <23 years was significantly higher than that of cases aged ≥23 years (P<0.01). The correlation coefficient between DNA copies on a logarithmic scale and clinical score was 0.280, and a significant correlation was observed (P<0.05). Multiple subepithelial corneal infiltrates (MSI) were observed in 24 out of 31 cases (77%).ConclusionThese results suggested that the clinical features in the early phase of HAdV-54 keratoconjunctivitis were milder but the rate of MSI observed in the late phase was higher than those in previous epidemics of several HAdV types. The significant difference in clinical severity between age groups might be a virological characteristic of HAdV-54.

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