Micro-machining is a widespread finishing process for fabricating accurate parts as biomedical devices. The continuous effort in reducing the gap between the micro- and macro-domains is connected to the transition from conventional to micro-scale machining. This process generates several undesired issues, which complicate the process's optimization, and tool run-out is one of the most difficult phenomena to experimentally investigate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe reviewed the literature concerning the innate response from nasal and oral epithelial cells and their reaction to hydrogen peroxide (HO). Hydrogen peroxide is produced physiologically by oral bacteria and plays a significant role in the balance of oral microecology since it is an important antimicrobial agent. In the epithelial cells, the enzyme superoxide dismutase catalyzes a reaction leading from hydrogen peroxide to the ion superoxide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To measure corneal epithelial thickness (CET) in patients with glaucoma using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography and to evaluate CET changes in relation to corneal epithelial microvilli analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Methods: Twenty-two eyes (16 patients) being treated with preservative-containing topical medications and 12 normal eyes underwent anterior-segment optical coherence tomography imaging using RTVue-100. The CET maps generated corresponded to a 6-mm diameter area of cornea that was divided into 17 sectors.
Background. We report a case of bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs) in a 24-year-old man with an allergic conjunctivitis history caused by a long-term therapy with glucocorticoids. Case Presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To determine the cross-linking effect of a riboflavin ultraviolet-A (UV-A) corneal cross-linking treatment that is both shorter and has lower energy than the Dresden protocol.
Methods: In a first experiment, 12 human corneas were presoaked with riboflavin and then irradiated with UV-A at 3 mW/cm after clearing the surface of riboflavin, with no added riboflavin during irradiation. Percent UV-A transmission through the corneas was measured at intervals up to 30 minutes.
We present a study on the protective effects against UV radiation of a gel formulation containing a new recombinant form of manganese superoxide dismutase on the conjunctiva and corneal epithelia of rabbit eyes. The integrity of the microvilli of both ocular tissues has been considered as an indicator of the health of the tissues. Samples, collected by impression cytology technique, were added of 80 µL of a gel formulation containing superoxide dismutase (2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCorneal accumulation of riboflavin-5'-phosphate (riboflavin) is an essential step in the so called corneal cross-linking (CXL), an elective therapy for the treatment of progressive keratoconus, corneal ectasia and irregular astigmatism. CXL is usually performed after surgical debridement of corneal epithelium, since it impedes the stromal penetration of riboflavin in a relatively short time. d-Alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (VE-TPGS) is an effective permeation enhancer used to increase adsorption of drugs trough different biological barriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess differences in corneal epithelium features between soft contact lens (CL) wearers and non-CL wear control.
Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, the corneal epithelium removed before photorefractive keratectomy in 10 soft CL wearers (10 eyes) and in 10 non-CL wearers (10 eyes) was evaluated with SEM. The aim of the study was to assess ultrastructural differences in corneal epithelium between the 2 groups.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a large series the incidence of latent infection during chronic allergic conjunctivitis.
Methods: In a 5-year follow-up prospective, nonrandomized trial, we evaluated 236 patients (472 eyes) with a history of allergic conjunctivitis but without evidence of infection. Conjunctival scrapings were examined cytologically, and antibiograms and antimicrograms were assessed.
Background: Antihistamines (histamine H(1) receptor antagonists) are effective and convenient drugs for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Because of the short duration of action generally observed for drugs administered topically to the eye, the oral route is often preferred. However, the presence of a selective barrier between blood and ocular tissues, the so-called blood-ocular barrier, does not allow a priori assessment of the most suitable dosage for ocular therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To assess the efficacy and side effects of 0.005% latanoprost once daily during 3 years of treatment in glaucomatous patients in whom intraocular pressure (IOP) was not adequately controlled by beta-blockers twice daily.
Methods: An unmasked prospective study was performed on 76 glaucomatous patients (145 eyes) treated with 0.