LRG1: an emerging player in disease pathogenesis.

The secreted glycoprotein leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) was first described as a key player in pathogenic ocular neovascularization almost a decade ago. Since then, an increasing number of publications have reported the involvement of LRG1 in multiple human conditions including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and inflammatory disorders. The purpose of this review is to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of the LRG1 literature considering its role in health and disease.

CCL4 induces inflammatory signalling and barrier disruption in the neurovascular endothelium.

Background: During neuroinflammation many chemokines alter the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that regulates the entry of macromolecules and immune cells into the brain. As the milieu of the brain is altered, biochemical and structural changes contribute to the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and may impact on neurogenesis. The chemokine CCL4, previously known as MIP-1β, is upregulated in a wide variety of central nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis, where it is thought to play a key role in the neuroinflammatory process.

Somatic mutations in kinetochore gene KNSTRN are associated with basal proliferating actinic keratoses and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Mutations in kinetochore gene KNSTRN accelerate the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and may correlate with different histological classifications of actinic keratosis (AKs).

Objective: To determine KNSTRN gene mutation frequency in healthy skin (HS), actinically damaged skin (ADS), in AKs with different histomorphological gradings and invasive SCCs.

Methods: All samples were histologically evaluated.

Epidermal penetration and protoporphyrin IX formation of two different 5-aminolevulinic acid formulations in ex vivo human skin.

Background: Photosensitizer formation and epidermal penetration depth represent basic predictors of drug efficacy in dermatological Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Different drug formulations and application standards are used to perform PDT in clinical practice.

Methods: Thus, we developed a human ex vivo model suitable to explore drug permeation in human skin and compared in 10 patients the penetration of nanoemulsion formulation (BF-200 ALA) with that of a 20% ALA cream formulation frequently used in clinical practice.

Factors affecting laser power in retinal Navilas laser treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of patient-associated factors on the minimum laser power needed for a mild visible burn in focal laser treatments using the 532 nm Navilas laser system.

Methods: We conducted a monocentric prospective pilot study of 58 eyes of 40 patients with diabetic macular edema. The following parameters were analysed: axial length, refraction, iris pigmentation, lens status, lens grading and densitometry, retinal and choroidal thickness and focus setting during treatment.