Clipped Topography-Guided Treatments: A Different Approach to Custom Corrections.

Purpose: To present a new approach to customized treatments that inherently saves tissue by design, especially for pathological corneas.

Methods: From the elevation of the anterior cornea and the refractive error of the eye, the target cornea can be calculated and the difference between actual and target cornea corresponds to the tissue to be removed. In this approach, it is further possible to preset the ablation depth at one (Model 1) or two (Models 2 and 3) particular locations.

Down-regulation of human long non-coding RNA LINC01187 is associated with nephropathies.

Chronic kidney diseases affect a substantial percentage of the adult population worldwide. This observation emphasizes the need for novel insights into the molecular mechanisms that control the onset and progression of renal diseases. Recent advances in genomics have uncovered a previously unanticipated link between the non-coding genome and human kidney diseases.

Calreticulin in renal fibrosis: A short review.

Fibrosis is a common denominator of several pathological conditions. Over the last decade, Calreticulin has emerged as a critical player in the fibrotic processes in many tissues and organs. Here we review the recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory roles of Calreticulin in renal fibrosis.

A Real-World, Multicenter, 6-Month Prospective Study in Greece of the Effectiveness and Safety of Ranibizumab in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Who Have Inadequately Responded to Aflibercept: The "ELEVATE" Study.

Purpose: Real-world evidence on short-term outcomes of ranibizumab in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) following inadequate response to aflibercept is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the functional and anatomic effects of switching to ranibizumab in cases of wAMD previously treated with aflibercept with inadequate response.

Patients And Methods: Prospective, observational study performed in eight ophthalmology hospital/private clinics in Greece, enrolling consented patients with active wAMD, ≥50 years-old, who had initiated ranibizumab ≥28 days and <2 months after their last aflibercept injection.

Evidence of Swim secretion and association with extracellular matrix in the embryo.

Secreted wingless-interacting protein (Swim) is the ortholog gene of the mammalian Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Antigen like 1 (TINAGL1), also known as lipocalin-7 (LCN7), or adrenocortical zonation factor 1 (AZ-1). Swim and TINAGL1 proteins share a significant homology, including the somatomedin B and the predictive inactive C1 cysteine peptidase domains. In mammals, both TINAGL1 and its closely related homolog TINAG have been identified in basement membranes, where they may function as modulators of integrin-mediated adhesion.

Epiretinal membrane-induced intraretinal neovascularization.

Purpose: To report a 71-year-old male patient diagnosed with epiretinal membrane-induced intraretinal neovascularization.

Observations: The presence of an epiretinal membrane (ERM) was confirmed by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), fluorescein and indocyanine angiography. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) revealed a neovascular membrane within the ERM.

Glomerular expression pattern of long non-coding RNAs in the type 2 diabetes mellitus BTBR mouse model.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and by association diabetic nephropathy (DN) will continuously increase in the next decades. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown and studies on the role of new actors like long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) barely exist. In the present study, the inherently insulin-resistant mouse strain "black and tan, brachyuric" (BTBR) served as T2DM model.

Detection of retinal pigment epithelium detachment from OCT images using multiscale Gaussian filtering.

Macular diseases, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD), are leading causes of irreversible blindness and visual impairment. One prominent feature of nvAMD is the detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium. The aim of this study is to implement an automated method for the segmentation of the pigment epithelial detachment (PED) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The family of 14-3-3 proteins and specifically 14-3-3σ are up-regulated during the development of renal pathologies.

Chronic kidney disease, the end result of most renal and some systemic diseases, is a common condition where renal function is compromised due to fibrosis. During renal fibrosis, calreticulin, a multifunctional chaperone of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is up-regulated in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) both in vitro and in vivo. Proteomic analysis of cultured TECs overexpressing calreticulin led to the identification of the family of 14-3-3 proteins as key proteins overexpressed as well.

Endoplasmic reticulum in health and disease: the 12th International Calreticulin Workshop, Delphi, Greece.

Starting from 1994, every 2 years, an international workshop is organized focused on calreticulin and other endoplasmic reticulum chaperones. In 2017, the workshop took place at Delphi Greece. Participants from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia presented their recent data and discussed them extensively with their colleagues.

Chloride Intracellular Channel 4 Overexpression in the Proximal Tubules of Kidneys from the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat: Insight from Proteomic Analysis.

Background: Hypertensive nephropathy, a leading cause of declining kidney function, is a multifactorial process not well understood. In order to elucidate biological processes and identify novel macromolecular components crucially involved in the process of kidney damage, the application of system biology approaches, like proteomics, is required.

Methods: Proteomic studies were performed using the renal parenchyma of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive Wistar Kyoto controls.

Vitamin D3 ameliorates podocyte injury through the nephrin signalling pathway.

Renal podocytes form the main filtration barrier possessing unique phenotype maintained by proteins including podocalyxin and nephrin, which are modulated in pathological conditions. In diabetic nephropathy (DN), podocytes become structurally and functionally compromised. Nephrin, a structural backbone protein of the slit diaphragm, acts as regulator of podocyte intracellular signalling with renoprotective role.

Subjective social status, social network and health disparities: empirical evidence from Greece.

Background: Several studies suggest that socioeconomic status affects (SES) affects self-rated health (SRH), both in Greece and internationally. However, prior research mainly uses objective measures of SES, instead of subjective evaluations of individuals' social status. Based on this, this paper aims to examine (a) the impact of the economic dowturn on SRH in Greece and (b) the relationship between subjective social status (SSS), social network and SRH.

Why do generic drugs fail to achieve an adequate market share in Greece? Empirical findings and policy suggestions.

Objectives: Since 2010, the memoranda of understanding were implemented in Greece as a measure of fiscal adjustment. Public pharmaceutical expenditure was one of the main focuses of this implementation. Numerous policies, targeted on pharma spending, reduced the pharmaceutical budget by 60.

Nuclear receptor NR5A2 is involved in the calreticulin gene regulation during renal fibrosis.

Background: Renal fibrosis is a common histological finding present in many pathologies; however, key signaling pathways and molecular determinants involved in the development of fibrosis are not fully known yet. Previous findings have established a causative role of calreticulin's up-regulation during the development of renal fibrosis while its down-regulation exhibited a protective effect against fibrosis. Therefore, the mechanism of its up-regulation needs to be explored.

Whole-transcriptome analysis of UUO mouse model of renal fibrosis reveals new molecular players in kidney diseases.

Transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq technology allows novel insights into gene expression and regulatory networks in health and disease. To better understand the molecular basis of renal fibrosis, we performed RNA-seq analysis in the Unilateral Ureteric Obstruction (UUO) mouse model. We analysed sham operated, 2- and 8-day post-ligation renal tissues.

Guidelines for the Management of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Recommendations from a Panel of Greek Experts.

Purpose: To propose guidelines for the management of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), taking into account the results of large multicenter studies and clinical experience of retina experts.

Method: A team of retina experts developed a consensus paper after three consecutive meetings. The group was focused on guidelines to help clinical decision-making around the definition of successful treatment and the definition of non-response to therapy.

Reduced expression of ERp46 under diabetic conditions in β-cells and the effect of liraglutide.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and defective insulin secretion. Insulin producing pancreatic β-cells are equipped with a highly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and thus are affected by ER stress under hyperglycemic conditions. We have previously studied the influence of high glucose on cultured β-cells in vitro.

Heterologous, Fresh, Human Donor Sclera as Patch Graft Material in Glaucoma Drainage Device Surgery.

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of fresh, human sclera allografts as a patch graft material in glaucoma drainage device (GDD) surgery.

Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional, consecutive case series.

Subjects: All GDD cases operated between 2008 and 2013 in which fresh human corneoscleral rims were used immediately after the central corneal button was used for penetrating or endothelial keratoplasty.

Nephrin, a transmembrane protein, is involved in pancreatic beta-cell survival signaling.

Nephrin, a cell surface signaling receptor, regulates podocyte function in health and disease. We study the role of nephrin in β-cell survival signaling. We report that in mouse islet β-cells and the mouse pancreatic beta-cell line (βTC-6 cells) nephrin is associated and partly co-localized with PI3-kinase.

Epithelial calreticulin up-regulation promotes profibrotic responses and tubulointerstitial fibrosis development.

Renal fibrosis is the common anatomical feature underlying the progression of chronic kidney disease, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In a previous study, we demonstrated that during development of renal fibrosis in a rat model of unilateral ureteric obstruction, calreticulin (CRT) is up-regulated in tubular epithelial cells (TECs). In the present study, we used in vitro and in vivo approaches to examine the role of CRT in TECs and its contribution to the progression of fibrosis.

Transgelin Up-Regulation in Obstructive Nephropathy.

Fibrosis is a complex and multifactorial process, affecting the structure and compromising the function of several organs. Among those, renal fibrosis is an important pathological change, eventually leading to renal failure. Proteomic analysis of the renal parenchyma in the well-established rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO model) suggested that transgelin was up-regulated during the development of fibrosis.

Vitamin D receptor activators upregulate and rescue podocalyxin expression in high glucose-treated human podocytes.

Background: Vitamin D is beneficial in human and experimental chronic kidney disease, the leading cause of which is diabetic nephropathy. Vitamin D through its receptor, VDR, provides renal protection in diabetic nephropathy, but limited data exist about its effect on podocytes. Renal podocytes form the main filtration barrier possessing a unique phenotype maintained by proteins including podocalyxin and nephrin, the expression of which is suppressed in pathological conditions.