Long-Term Graft Survival and Decline in Endothelial Cell Density Following Penetrating Keratoplasty with Organ-Cultured Corneas.

Introduction: Endothelial cell density (ECD) changes long after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) of organ-cultured corneas have been little studied. We aim to calculate the point when ECD decline stabilises following PKP with organ culture stored corneas.

Methods: This is an observational study of first-ever PKPs and first-ever re-grafts, performed over 17 years under a single surgeon.

Recent Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: A Narrative Review.

Destruction of the limbus and depletion of limbal stem cells (LSCs), the adult progenitors of the corneal epithelium, leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). LSCD is a rare, progressive ocular surface disorder which results in conjunctivalisation and neovascularisation of the corneal surface. Many strategies have been used in the treatment of LSCD, the common goal of which is to regenerate a self-renewing, transparent, and uniform epithelium on the corneal surface.

Coculture techniques for modeling retinal development and disease, and enabling regenerative medicine.

Stem cell-derived retinal organoids offer the opportunity to cure retinal degeneration of wide-ranging etiology either through the study of in vitro models or the generation of tissue for transplantation. However, despite much work in animals and several human pilot studies, satisfactory therapies have not been developed. Two major challenges for retinal regenerative medicine are (a) physical cell-cell interactions, which are critical to graft function, are not formed and (b) the host environment does not provide suitable queues for development.

Developing a simple method to enhance the generation of cone and rod photoreceptors in pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids.

Cell replacement therapy is a promising treatment for irreversible retinal cell death in diverse diseases such as Stargardt's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. The final impact of all retinal dystrophies is the loss of photoreceptors; hence, there is a pressing need for research into replacement. Seminal work has shown that a simple three-dimensional culture system enables differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to retinal organoids containing large numbers of photoreceptors developing alongside retinal neurons and Müller glia cells in a laminated structure that resembles the native retina.

Sensitivity and Specificity of the Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis.

Objective: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency; however, its misdiagnosis resulting in negative appendicectomy is not uncommon. Novel diagnostic methods will help reduce the rate of negative appendicectomy. We hypothesise that the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) will increase upon peritoneal involvement by inflammation, as it does in severe disease.

The Role of Nerve Growth Factor in Maintaining Proliferative Capacity, Colony-Forming Efficiency, and the Limbal Stem Cell Phenotype.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has demonstrated great benefit in the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers. There is evidence for multiple modes of action in promoting corneal healing, but only indirect evidence exists for NGF's effects on limbal stem cells (LSCs). Understanding the role of NGF in LSC biology will improve our understanding of paracrine regulation of the limbal niche and the design of stem cell-based therapies for conditions such as LSC deficiency.

Defining the optimal cryoprotectant and concentration for cryopreservation of limbal stem cells.

Limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency causes progressive loss of vision but may be treated by transplant of autologous LSCs. Cryopreservation has the potential to indefinitely extend the lifespan of LSCs allowing re-transplant in case of graft failure. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal cryoprotectant and cryoprotectant concentration for LSC cultures.