A hybrid material consisting of CaTaO2N (a perovskite oxynitride semiconductor having a band gap of 2.5 eV) and a binuclear Ru(II) complex photocatalytically produced HCOOH via CO2 reduction with high selectivity (>99%) under visible light (λ>400 nm). Results of photocatalytic reactions, spectroscopic measurements, and electron microscopy observations indicated that the reaction was driven according to a two-step photoexcitation of CaTaO2N and the Ru photosensitizer unit, where Ag nanoparticles loaded on CaTaO2N with optimal distribution mediated interfacial electron transfer due to reductive quenching.

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Smaller incision cataract surgery led to early recovery of visual function in the short term and less induced astigmatism in the long term.

. Purpose:  To estimate the incidence rate of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery performed by Japanese surgeons. Methods:  A sample of 20% of members of the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons was randomly selected. Each member was sent a postal survey asking for information on the number of cataract surgeries performed in 2003 and the number of postsurgery cases of endophthalmitis. Results:  Replies were received from 78.7% (513/652) of survey recipients. The total number of cataract surgeries was 100 539, among which 52 cases of endophthalmitis occurred, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.052%. Incidence rates were 0.049% (38/78 170) for scleral incision phacoemulsification and 0.043% (9/20 894) for clear corneal incision phacoemulsification, with no significant difference between groups. The average annual volumes of surgery were 210 and 280 cases for surgeons who preferred scleral incision and clear corneal incision, respectively. There was a significant difference between volumes (Student's t‐test, p < 0.01). The incidence of endophthalmitis was significantly lower with high‐volume (> 300 cases/year) surgeons than with low‐volume (≤ 300 cases/year) surgeons (0.040% versus 0.066%, chi‐square test, p < 0.05). Conclusions:  The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in Japan as estimated by a postal survey was low (0.052%) and consistent with rates reported previously. Surgeons who preferred clear corneal incision performed significantly more surgeries annually, but the incidence of endophthalmitis was similar between scleral and clear corneal incision phacoemulsification surgery.

Human anterior subcapsular cataracts were examined by immunocytochemistry to investigate which types of collagen constitutes the subcapsular fibrous matrix. Types I, III, and IV collagen were shown to be immunologically positive by both light and electron microscopy. In light microscopy, types I and III collagen were stained diffusely whereas type IV collagen was stained in a streaky pattern in the opacities. The lens capsules were stained with antibody to type IV collagen, although the staining patterns were not homogeneous; the inner layers of the capsules were labeled more strongly than the outer layers. Neither type I nor III collagen was detected in the capsules. In electron microscopy, collagen fibrils were labeled with the antibodies to both type I and type III collagen. The lens capsules and multilamellae of the basement membranes in the opacities were labeled with the antibody to type IV collagen.