Aims: To clarify the usefulness of preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter. Methods: A total of 1,615 samples of in-use ophthalmic preparations were examined for microbial contamination. Results: Of 1,094 samples of preservative-containing ophthalmic preparations, 31 (2.8%) showed microbial contamination. Of 289 samples of preservative-free ophthalmic preparations without a filter, 6 (2.1%) were contaminated, consisting of 4 (13.8%) of 29 samples of hospital preparations and 2 (0.8%) of 260 samples of commercially available new quinolone antimicrobial agents. On the other hand, the microbial contamination rate in preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter was 0% (0 of 232 samples).The major contaminants detected in these preservative-containing ophthalmic preparations and preservative-free ophthalmic preparations without a filter were glucose-nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter spp., and P. aeruginosa, coagulase (-) staphylococci, and Candida spp. The contaminant level was 10-99 colony forming units (CFU)/mL in 37.8% (14 of 37 samples), and 10^2 - 10^6 CFU/mL in 62.2% (23 of 37 samples). Conclusions: Preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter not only have zero risk of the oculotoxic effects of preservatives, but are also safe in terms of their lack of microbial contamination.

We investigated the relationship between myocardial oxidative stress and cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) compared with acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: In 10 TC patients and 10 AMI patients, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization were conducted, and plasma catecholamines and urinary (U) 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a marker of oxidative DNA damage were taken for one week from onset. Results: On admission, the coronary sinus (CS) had significantly higher norepinephrine (NE) and 8-OHdG levels than the aortic root (Ao) and peripheral blood vessels. Circulating catecholamines in TC patients tended to be higher than those in AMI patients

Background and Aim: Image definition and complete small bowel examination rate are possible factors contributing to missed lesions during capsule endoscopy.This study aimed to determine the effect of coadministration of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dai-kenchu-to (DKT) on these factors using PEG and DKT as pretreatment before capsule endoscopy. Methods: Patients who underwent capsule endoscopy at our hospital between November 2007 and August 2012 were included in the study. Patients were divided into the following three groups: those receiving no pretreatment (control, n=133), those orally administered PEG (PEG, n=20), and those orally administered PEG and DKT (15g) (PEG + DKT, n=25). Image definition and complete small bowel examination rate were examined retrospectively between the three groups. Results: Image definition in the PEG + DKT group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05), but there was no significant differences between the PEG and control groups. The complete small bowel examination rate was significantly lower in the PEG group than in the control and PEG + DKT groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Coadministration of PEG and DKT improved image definition and prevented a reduction of the complete small bowel examination rate due to PEG in capsule endoscopy.