Gifu University of Medical Science

About: Gifu University of Medical Science is a education organization based out in Gifu City, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Imaging phantom & Motion sickness. The organization has 89 authors who have published 202 publications receiving 1350 citations.

Effect of accommodation training by stereoscopic movie presentation on myopic youth

Abstract: The abnormal contraction of ciliary muscles due to the performance of a near visual task for several hours causes various vision problems such as asthenopia and visual loss. However, these problems can be resolved by activating the muscles by alternately repeating negative and positive accommodation. In this study, we have verified the effect of accommodation training that uses the strategy of presenting a stereoscopic movie to myopic youth and measuring the uncorrected distant visual acuity, spherical diopter (SPH), and subjective index of asthenopia obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS). Stereoscopic movies are prepared by using the POWER 3D method (Olympus Visual Communications Co., Ltd.), which reduces the inconsistency between the experienced and the actual senses. Thirty two myopic students aged 20 ± 1 years (16 males and 16 females) were chosen as the subjects. One group performed the accommodation training for 6 min, and the other group underwent a near visual task during the same period as the control group. We concluded the following from each item of verification: (a) The accommodation training using a stereoscopic movie had temporarily improved visual acuity. (b) This training led to a decrease in asthenopia. (c) The training improved the near-point accommodation function.

Relationship Between Eye Movements and Individual Differences in Motion Sickness Susceptibility While Viewing Stereoscopic Movies Under Controlled Consciousness

Abstract: In our previous study, we found it is possible to affect subjective feelings of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) by controlling visually evoked postural responses (VEPRs) by changing conditions of consciousness of body sway. Thus, in this study, we verified the relationship between eye movements, body sway, and the susceptibility to motion sickness. Controlling consciousness of body sway while participants viewed stereoscopic movies revealed the involvement of three related theories for VIMS or motion sickness: sensory conflict theory, postural instability theory, and eye movement theory. Participants filled in a motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire short form (MSSQ-short). Thereafter, in the demonstration experiment, participants watched a three-dimensional movie consisting of several colored balls that moved sinusoidally at 0.25 Hz in the horizontal direction for 3 min after pre-instruction. Pre-instructions included “uncontrolled consciousness”, “keep a static, upright posture”, and “sway body in the same/opposite direction”. This study recorded both body sway and electrooculography (EOG) data. Recorded EOG data were converted to eye movement velocity. The main result showed that susceptible participants exhibited a decreased frequency of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) under conditions prone to the occurrence of OKN from correlated analysis for eye movements. Hence, we concluded that sensory conflict induced by decreases in the frequency of OKN is the primary cause of VIMS as OKN has a role in postural maintenance. This is a different hypothesis than the traditional eye movement theory.

Introduction to Sympathetic Microneurography

Abstract: Sympathetic microneurography is an electrophysiological method to record directly from human peripheral nerves’ sympathetic neural traffic leading to the muscle and skin called muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA). In this chapter, the author explains (1) what is microneurography, (2) the recording technique of microneurography, (3) how to identify MSNA and SSNA, and (4) applications of sympathetic microneurography. Sympathetic microneurography is very useful to analyze sympathetic neural functions in humans by observing directly neural traffic in postganglionic multiple and single sympathetic efferent fibers innervating the muscle and skin under physiological and pathological conditions. MSNA which regulates peripheral vascular resistance in skeletal muscles is particularly important for controlling blood pressure homeostasis, while SSNA which regulates mainly sweat glands and skin blood vessels plays important roles in thermoregulation. Recordings of MSNA and SSNA have been widely applied to analyze sympathetic mechanisms in various disease conditions, as well as stressful situations when the human body is exposed to various environmental conditions.

MYH9 disorder: Identification and a novel mutation in patients with macrothrombocytopenia.

Abstract: The diagnosis of MYH9 disorder is guided by recognizing granulocyte Dohle body-like inclusion bodies and large/giant platelets in the peripheral blood smear. Immunofluorescence study of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA is a sensitive screening method for diagnosis of MYH9 disorder. The diagnosis can then be confirmed by genetic analysis. A total of 67 patients with macrothrombocytopenia were included, of which 11 patients (16%), aged 4 months to 22 years, were ultimately diagnosed with MYH9 disorder. One novel mutation in exon 30 at c.4338T>C (p.F1446A) was detected. This mutation was associated with nonhematologic manifestations presenting in late adolescence with cataracts, hearing loss, and hematuria.

Dynamics Analysis of Electrogastrography using Double-Wayland Algorithm

Abstract: The electrogastrography (EGG) is an abdominal surface measurement of the electric activity of the stomach. It is great clinical importance to record and analyze multi-channel EGGs, which provide more information on the propagation and co-ordination of gastric contractions. The aim of the study is to estimate the dynamics that generate electrogastrography Double-Wayland algorithm was applied to the analysis. As a result, all the components of multi-channel EGGs can be generated from a chaos process. We found 5 or 6 independent essential components from EGGs.