A systematic review of the potential treatment effects of topical epidermal growth factor for ocular surface disorders.

Purpose: This systematic review, evaluated the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in corneal wound healing and the pathogenesis of ocular surface disorders (OSDs).

Methods: The clinical and experimental application of topical EGF therapy for OSDs was reviewed. This systematic research assessed articles published on PubMed/MEDLINE from 2000 to 2023 and summarized and discussed the findings of 38 experimental and 10 clinical studies.

Pain Management Strategies before Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to consolidate key findings regarding the efficacy of pain relief medications administered prior to pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) for diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: A comprehensive search of major databases from 1993 to 2023 was conducted. Clinical trials comparing pain relief drugs before PRP in patients diagnosed with DR requiring PRP treatment were eligible for inclusion.

The effect of Coix lachrymal L. seed extract on the expression of inflammation and fibrogenesis genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a vision-threatening condition associated with retinal-detachment (RD), primarily caused by fibrocellular scar membrane formation. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of adlay seed extract fractions in mitigating PVR-associated pathways, focusing on oxidative stress, proliferation, inflammation, and fibrogenesis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Adlay seed extract fractions (methanolic: MeOH and residual: Res) were obtained through solvent extraction and characterized for carbohydrate, protein, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity.

In-vitro safety assessment of meropenem on human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Purpose: Endophthalmitis is a severe infection accompanied by inflammation that affects the anterior and posterior parts of the eye. It is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics that cover various microorganisms. However, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are highly susceptible to damage from intravitreal injection therapy.

Application of electrostimulation and magnetic stimulation in patients with optic neuropathy: A mechanistic review.

Visual impairment caused by optic neuropathies is irreversible because retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the specialized neurons of the retina, do not have the capacity for self-renewal and self-repair. Blindness caused by optic nerve neuropathies causes extensive physical, financial, and social consequences in human societies. Recent studies on different animal models and humans have established effective strategies to prevent further RGC degeneration and replace the cells that have deteriorated.

Effect of low dose honey on the apoptosis and inflammation gene expression in corneal limbal stem cells and keratocytes and its efficacy as an ophthalmic formulation in the treatment of dry eye: and clinical study.

Background: The use of honey as an eye treatment encounters challenges due to its high osmolarity, low pH, and difficulties in sterilization. This study addresses these issues by employing a low concentration of honey, focusing on both experiments and clinical trials for treating dry eye disease in corneal cells.

Methods: In the experiment, we investigated the impact of a 1% honey-supplemented medium (HSM) on limbal stem cells (LSCs) and keratocytes using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BCL-2, BAX, and IL-1β gene expression.

Interferons in vitreoretinal diseases; a review on their clinical application, and mechanism of action.

Purpose: This review investigates the therapeutic benefits of interferons (IFNs) in vitreoretinal diseases, focusing on their regulatory roles in innate immunological reactions and angiogenesis. The study aims to categorize the clinical outcomes of IFN applications and proposes a molecular mechanism underlying their action.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to identify randomized clinical trials, case series, and case-control studies related to IFNs' impact on vitreoretinal diseases (1990-2022).

In Vitro Effect of Propofol on the Expression of Genes Involved in Inflammation and Apoptosis in Corneal Activated Keratocytes.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of propofol (0.5, 5, and 50 μM) on the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines [ IL-1β , IL-6 , transforming growth factor β ( TGF-β ), and LIF ] and apoptosis process ( BCL-2 and Bax ) in corneal activated keratocytes (CAKs).

Methods: CAKs (10 6 cells/10 cm 2 ) were exposed to propofol at a concentration of 0.

Effect of adlay seed extract on inflammation and fibrogenesis in human corneal activated keratocytes at transcriptional level.

Corneal activated keratocytes (CAKs) -representing the injured phenotype of corneal stromal cells- are associated with several corneal diseases. Inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of CAK formation subsequently leading to fibrogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of adlay seed extract on the expression of genes involved in inflammation (IL-6, IL-1b, LIF) and fibrogenesis (TGF-β) in CAK cells.

Characterization of Central and Nasal Orbital Adipose Stem Cells and their Neural Differentiation Footprints.

Background: The unique potential of stem cells to restore vision and regenerate damaged ocular cells has led to the increased attraction of researchers and ophthalmologists to ocular regenerative medicine in recent decades. In addition, advantages such as easy access to ocular tissues, non-invasive follow-up, and ocular immunologic privilege have enhanced the desire to develop ocular regenerative medicine.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize central and nasal orbital adipose stem cells (OASCs) and their neural differentiation potential.

Evaluation of Apoptosis, Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Neuroprotection Gene Expression in Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cell Treated with Interferon α-2b.

Angiogenesis, retinal neuropathy, and inflammation are the main molecular features of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and should be taken into consideration for potential treatment approaches. Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells play a major role in DR progression. This study evaluated the effect of interferon (IFN) α-2b on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis in RPE cells.

Intra-stromal injection of honey-treated keratocytes as a cell-based therapy for experimental corneal laceration.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential of honey-supplemented medium (HSM) for expanding corneal keratocytes and its transplantation in a model of corneal laceration.

Methods: Keratocytes were cultured in 1 % HSM- or 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS)-supplemented medium for 24 h. The effect of HSM on keratocyte proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay.

Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Modifies the Processes of Neuroprotection and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Retinal Pigment Epithelium at Transcriptional Level.

Background: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are potential targets for treating retinal detachment (RD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), considering the importance of neuroprotection and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of RPE in these conditions. This study investigated the effect of human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cell secretome (WJMSC-S) on the expression of genes involved in both neuroprotection and EMT in RPE cells in vitro (TRKB, MAPK, PI3K, BDNF, and NGF).

Methods: RPE cells from passages 5-7 were treated with WJMSC-S (or the vehicle culture medium as control) for 24 h at 37◦C and subsequently subjected to RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis.

A review on the effect of garlic on diabetes, BDNF, and VEGF as a potential treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Garlic is one of the favorite herbs in traditional medicine that has been reported to have many medicinal features. The aim of the current study is to review the latest documents on the effect of garlic on diabetes, VEGF, and BDNF and, finally, to review the existing studies on the effect of garlic on diabetic retinopathy.

Main Text: The therapeutic effect of garlic on diabetes has been investigated in various studies.

The efficacy of oral pain relief cocktail during pan-retinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: to evaluate the pain-relieving effect of analgesic combinations during pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).

Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with severe NPDR without previous history of PRP were included in the study.

A Review on the Application of Stem Cell Secretome in the Protection and Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells; a Clinical Prospect in the Treatment of Optic Neuropathies.

Purpose: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are one the most specialized neural tissues in the body. They transmit (and further process) chemoelectrical information originating in outer retinal layers to the central nervous system. In fact, the optic nerve is composed of RGC axons.

Evaluation of the Effect of Garlic Tablet as a Complementary Treatment for Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of garlic (Allium sativum L.) tablets as a complimentary herbal medication in diabetic macular edema.

Methods: A total of 91 diabetic participants (117 eyes) with central involved macular edema underwent a double-blind randomized trial.

Assessment of macular findings by OCT angiography in patients without clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy: radiomics features for early screening of diabetic retinopathy.

This cross-sectional study aimed to quantitatively analyze the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images using MATLAB-based software and evaluate the initial changes in macular vascular density and the distortion of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), before the clinical appearance of diabetic retinopathy. For this purpose, 21 diabetic patients without any clinical features indicating DR, and 21 healthy individuals matched with patients based on their demographic characteristics were included. Macular thickness, macular vascular density, and morphological changes of FAZ were assessed using OCTA.

RPE based gene and cell therapy for inherited retinal diseases: A review.

The Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) is the supportive layer located beneath the neural retina. Its health is essential for the proper function of photoreceptors. Indeed, any condition involving the RPE has the potential to induce an antegrade degeneration of the photoreceptors and inner retinal layers.

Glutathione S-Transferase Omega-2 and Transforming Growth Factor-1 Polymorphisms in Iranian Glaucoma Patients.

Background: To investigate the association of glutathione s-transferase omega 2 (GSTO2) (142N > D) and transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) (869T > C) gene polymorphisms on the pathogenesis of two common types of glaucoma (including primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG)) in the Iranian population.

Methods: A total of 100 glaucoma patients (60% males and 40% females with an age mean ± SD of 34.66 ± 14.

Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Ocular Cells: A Means for Improving Ocular Tissue Engineering and Treatments of Eye Diseases.

Tissue engineering is biomedical engineering that uses suitable biochemical and physicochemical factors to assemble functional constructs that restore or improve damaged tissues. Recently, cell therapies as a subset of tissue engineering have been very promising in the treatment of ocular diseases. One of the most important biophysical factors to make this happen is noninvasive electrical stimulation (ES) to target ocular cells that may preserve vision in multiple retinal and optic nerve diseases.

A Review on the Role of Stem Cells against SARS-CoV-2 in Children and Pregnant Women.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was acknowledged by the WHO on 30 January 2020, much research has been conducted to unveil various features of the responsible SARS-CoV-2 virus. Different rates of contagion in adults, children, and pregnant women may guide us to understand the underlying infection conditions of COVID-19. In this study, we first provide a review of recent reports of COVID-19 clinical outcomes in children and pregnant women.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and COVID-19: Cure, Prevention, and Vaccination.

COVID-19 disease has been a global health problem since late 2019. There are many concerns about the rapid spread of this disease, and yet, there is no approved treatment for COVID-19. Several biological interventions have been under study recently to investigate efficient treatment for this viral disease.

Effects of the secretome of human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells on the proliferation and apoptosis gene expression of the retinal pigmented epithelium.

Human retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) can undergo an uncontrolled proliferation in some disorders such as retinal detachment associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the conditioned medium secreted by human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs-CM) on the proliferation and apoptosis gene expression of the RPE. WJMSCs-CM was collected from WJMSCs after two periods of 24-h and 9-h culture in serum-free medium.