The Effect of High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid and Latanoprost Eyedrops on Tear Functions and Ocular Surface Status in C57/BL6 Mice.

Anti-glaucoma eye drop treatment often induces ocular surface problems, including dry eyes, and may be associated with poor medication compliance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a novel high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and Latanoprost eye drop on intraocular pressure, as well as the tear function and ocular surface alterations in wild type mice, comparing the results with the mice receiving commercially available Latanoprost eye drops and mice receiving no treatment. The mice were divided into three groups: Group I, control group (no treatment group); Group II, commercial Latanoprost eye drop (LP); and Group III, Comfort Shield (CS) + Latanoprost (LP) eye drop (CS + LP).

Fluoxetine Mimics the Anorectic Action of Estrogen and Its Regulation of Circadian Feeding in Ovariectomized Female Rats.

Our previous study demonstrated that chronic estrogen replacement in ovariectomized rats reduces food intake and augments c-Fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), specifically during the light phase. Here, we hypothesized that serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), which have anorectic action and play a role in regulating circadian rhythm, mediate the light phase-specific anorectic action of estrogen, and that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) mimic the hypophagic action of estrogen. Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and treated with estradiol (E2) or cholesterol by subcutaneously implanting a silicon capsule containing E2 or cholesterol.

Isolation, Structure Determination, and Synthesis of Cyclic Tetraglutamic Acids from Box Jellyfish Species and .

Cubozoan nematocyst venoms contain known cytolytic and hemolytic proteins, but small molecule components have not been previously reported from cubozoan venom. We screened nematocyst extracts of and by LC-MS for the presence of small molecule metabolites. Three isomeric compounds, cnidarins 4A (), 4B (), and 4C (), were isolated from venom extracts and characterized by NMR and MS, which revealed their planar structure as cyclic γ-linked tetraglutamic acids.

The Effect of Rebamipide Ophthalmic Solution on Cytokine and Mucin Secretion in Culture of Conjunctival Epithelial Cells From the Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase-1 (SOD-1) Knock-Down Mouse.

Objectives: To evaluate the in vitro effects of 1-mM rebamipide ophthalmic solution on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and MUC5AC in Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) knock-down conjunctival epithelium.

Methods: Conjunctival epithelium from C57BL/6 wild-type mice was cultured and treated with rebamipide ophthalmic solution. Using cytometric bead array, we examined the levels of interleukin-(IL)-6, IL-10, IL-17, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interferon-γ (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor, and IL-12p70 in the culture supernatants.

The Role of 2% Rebamipide Eye Drops Related to Conjunctival Differentiation in Superoxide Dismutase-1 (Sod1) Knockout Mice.

Purpose: The superoxide dismutase-1 knockout (Sod1-/-) mouse is an age-related dry eye mouse model. We evaluated the role of 2% rebamipide ophthalmic solution on the conjunctiva and ocular surface alterations in Sod1-/- mice.

Methods: Rebamipide eye drops (2%) were instilled in six 50-week-old male Sod1-/- mice and six C57BL/6 strain wild-type (WT) male mice four times a day for 2 weeks.

Health science students' attitudes towards healthcare teams: A comparison between two universities.

There have been few studies comparing the attitudes towards healthcare teams between different universities. This study analysed the differences in attitudes towards healthcare teams between health science students at Gunma University, Japan, which implements a comprehensive interprofessional education (IPE) programme, and Kanazawa University, a similar national university. Study populations were first- and third-year students at the Gunma University School of Health Sciences and the Kanazawa University School of Health Sciences.

The usefulness of measuring tear periostin for the diagnosis and management of ocular allergic diseases.

Background: Chronic ocular allergic diseases such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) are accompanied by serious comorbidities; however, the underlying pathogenesis remains obscure. Furthermore, diagnosing conjunctival lesions in patients with atopic dermatitis and estimating the severity in AKC are important for the treatment of ocular allergic diseases.

Objective: We addressed whether periostin, a novel mediator and biomarker in allergic inflammation, is involved in the pathogenesis of ocular allergic diseases and whether periostin can be a biomarker for these diseases.

Effects of Oxidative Stress on the Conjunctiva in Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase-1 (Sod1)-Knockout Mice.

Purpose: A healthy conjunctiva secreting mucins is essential for maintaining the integrity of the ocular surface epithelium. We used Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase 1-deficient mice (Sod1-/- mice) and investigated the effect of oxidative stress on the tear function, conjunctival phenotype, and ocular surface mucin expression.

Methods: Fifty-week-old C57/B6 wild-type (WT) and Sod1-/- mice were used for evaluations of the tear film breakup time and periodic acid Schiff staining of the conjunctival specimens to detect goblet cell densities in the conjunctiva.

Oxidative stress induced age dependent meibomian gland dysfunction in Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod1) knockout mice.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate alterations in the meibomian gland (MG) in Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase-1 knockout (Sod1-/-) mouse.

Methods: Tear function tests [Break up time (BUT) and cotton thread] and ocular vital staining test were performed on Sod1-/- male mice (n = 24) aged 10 and 50 weeks, and age and sex matched wild-type (+/+) mice (n = 25). Tear and serum samples were collected at sacrifice for inflammatory cytokine assays.

Four cases with group 3 out-of-proportion pulmonary hypertension with a favorable response to vasodilators.

Some patients with group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH) (PH due to lung disease and/or hypoxia) exhibit disproportionately advanced or "out-of-proportion" PH. In the present case series, we document four consecutive patients with progressive out-of-proportion group 3 PH. All patients exhibited progressive dyspnea or peripheral edema and were treated by pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH)-specific vasodilator(s).

Evaluation of lipid oxidative stress status in Sjögren syndrome patients.

Purpose: We evaluated the levels of lipid oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cells from tears and conjunctiva of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) and normal subjects.

Methods: We examined 31 eyes of 16 patients (16 females) with SS and 15 eyes of 10 healthy controls (2 males and 8 females) in this prospective study. All subjects underwent a Schirmer test, measurement of tear film break-up time, vital stainings, confocal microscopy of the conjunctiva, tear collection for hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), ELISA, and conjunctival brush cytology.

Age-related dysfunction of the lacrimal gland and oxidative stress: evidence from the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod1) knockout mice.

An imbalance between free radical generation and radical scavenging antioxidant systems results in oxidative stress, which has been associated with cell injury observed in many age-related diseases. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) family is a major antioxidant system, and deficiency of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod1) in mice leads to many different phenotypes that resemble accelerated aging. In this study we examined the morphologic features and the secretory functions of the lacrimal glands in Sod1(-/-) mice.

IgE and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as markers of severity in the diagnosis of atopic keratoconjunctivitis.

Aims: To evaluate tear and serum IgE and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as severity markers for atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with AKC and 10 eyes of 10 healthy control subjects were examined in this prospective study. All subjects underwent fluorescein staining, conjunctival injection, conjunctival oedema and papillary formation grading.

Eosinophil cationic protein as a marker for assessing the efficacy of tacrolimus ophthalmic solution in the treatment of atopic keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: To examine the clinical efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects of tacrolimus eye drops; we studied the changes in clinical ocular findings and measured tear eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels of atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) patients before and after the treatment.

Methods: Nine eyes of 9 patients (8 males, 1 female; mean age: 16.9 ± 11.

Evaluation of lipid oxidative stress status and inflammation in atopic ocular surface disease.

Background: Although the oxidative stress status in atopic skin disease has been reported to be elevated, there are still no studies related to the status of oxidative stress in atopic ocular surface disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular surface lipid oxidative stress status and inflammation in atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) patients and normal subjects.

Methods: Twenty eight eyes of 14 patients (9 males, 5 females) with AKC and 18 eyes of 9 age and sex matched (4 males and 5 females) normal healthy controls were examined in this prospective study.

The role of oxidative stress and inflammation in conjunctivochalasis.

Purpose. To investigate the status of oxidative stress and histopathologic alterations in patients with conjunctivochalasis and compare the findings with those in healthy control subjects. Methods.

Tear cytokine and ocular surface alterations following brief passive cigarette smoke exposure.

Purpose: To prospectively investigate the effects of acute passive cigarette smoke exposure on the ocular surface and tear film in healthy non-smokers.

Methods: Twelve right eyes of 12 subjects without any ocular diseases were examined before, 5 min, and 24h after 5 min of passive cigarette smoke exposure in a controlled smoke chamber. Tear samples were obtained before, 5 min and 24 h after smoke exposure to detect tear hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), acrolein and inflammatory cytokine concentrations.

The impact of nasal conjunctivochalasis on tear functions and ocular surface findings.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of grade 3 nasal conjunctivochalasis (NCCh) on the tear film inflammation, ocular surface findings, and tear function findings.

Design: Prospective, observational case series.

Methods: Eleven eyes with Yokoi grade 3 NCCh in which the chalatic conjunctiva occluded the punctum and 18 eyes without NCCh but with central or temporal conjunctivochalasis, or both, and 16 eyes of healthy controls were recruited prospectively.

Ocular surface and MUC5AC alterations in atopic patients with corneal shield ulcers.

Purpose: To describe MUC5AC alterations and the ocular surface disorder in atopic patients with or without corneal ulcers.

Methods: Atopic patients' eyes were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of corneal ulceration. The subjects underwent corneal sensitivity measurements, Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining of the ocular surface and conjunctival impression cytology and brush cytology.

Atopic ocular surface disease: implications on tear function and ocular surface mucins.

Purpose: To describe tear function, mucin alterations, and ocular surface disorder in patients with atopic diseases.

Methods: Subjects underwent corneal sensitivity measurements, Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT) assay, and fluorescein and rose Bengal staining of the ocular surface. Conjunctival impression cytology and brush cytology were also conducted.