Use of white light confocal microscopy for the detection of spatial changes in the corneal nerves in cases of early-stage keratitis with radial keratoneuritis.

Purpose: Radial keratoneuritis (RK) is a common feature of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is noninvasive and provides real-time images for the diagnosis of corneal diseases by allowing the visualization of corneal structures and morphologies of living organisms at the cellular level. Images of AK with RK obtained using commercial white light IVCM devices have not been frequently evaluated.

Analysis of SmartPlug Insertion-Related Complications.

Purpose: To evaluate the complications and the treatment results of SmartPlug-related complications.

Methods: Retrospective review of all patients from a single medical hospital who received SmartPlug (Medennium, Inc., Irvine, CA) insertions from October 2007 to February 2014.

The corneal epitheliotrophic abilities of lyophilized powder form human platelet lysates.

Purpose: To evaluate whether lyophilized human platelet lysate (HPL) powder can preserve the growth factor concentrations and epitheliotrophic properties of liquid HPL, and potentially be used as a clinically-friendly treatment option.

Methods: Two commercialized liquid HPLs, UltraGRO TM (Helios, Atlanta, GA) and PLTMax (Mill Creek, Rochester, MI), were obtained and converted to lyophilized powder. After redissolution, lyophilized powder HPLs were compared with liquid HPLs, as well as human peripheral serum (HPS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) in liquid or redissolved lyophilized powder forms.

Serum components and clinical efficacies of autologous serum eye drops in dry eye patients with active and inactive Sjogren syndrome.

Purpose: Autologous serum eye drops are considered safe and efficient for the treatment of various ocular surface disorders, including dry eye diseases (DED) caused by the primary and secondary Sjogren syndrome (SS). However, the serum components in patients of SS may be different from those of normal patients and can thus lead to unpredictable therapeutic effects. This study divided the SS patients into active and inactive types based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the presence or absence of active rheumatoid arthritis.

Effect of air-lifting on the stemness, junctional protein formation, and cytokeratin expression of cultivated limbal epithelial cell sheets.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of air-lifting on the stemness, junctional protein formation, and cytokeratin expression of rabbit limbal stem cells cultivated , and to find out the proper timing of air-lifting before transplantation as limbal epithelial cell sheets for the treatment of limbal insufficiency.

Materials And Methods: Limbal epithelial cells were isolated from the limbus of New Zealand white rabbits and cultivated . After the cells became confluent, different durations of air-lifting (0, 1, 2, 4, and 7 days) were performed.

Comparison of corneal epitheliotrophic capacities among human platelet lysates and other blood derivatives.

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal epitheliotropic abilities of two commercialized human platelet lysates (HPLs) and to compare the results with other blood derivatives, including human peripheral serum (HPS) and bovine fetal serum (FBS).

Methods: In vitro, human corneal epithelial cells were incubated in various concentrations (0%, 3%, 5% and 10%) of blood derivatives. Two commercialized HPLs, including UltraGRO TM (Helios, Atlanta, GA) and PLTMax (Mill Creek, Rochester, MI), were tested and compared with HPS and FBS.