Valproic acid modulates collagen architecture in the postoperative conjunctival scar.

Valproic acid (VPA), widely used for the treatment of neurological disorders, has anti-fibrotic activity by reducing collagen production in the postoperative conjunctiva. In this study, we investigated the capacity of VPA to modulate the postoperative collagen architecture. Histochemical examination revealed that VPA treatment was associated with the formation of thinner collagen fibers in the postoperative days 7 and 14 scars.

Protective effects of an HTRA1 insertion-deletion variant against age-related macular degeneration in the Chinese populations.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness in most developed countries, affecting about 50 million elderly people worldwide. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell degeneration is the pathophysiological cause of AMD, leading to geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization. We and others have previously identified several polymorphisms on chromosome 10q26 (HTRA1 rs11200638 as well as LOC387715 rs10490924 and c.

Development of novel drugs for ocular diseases: possibilities for individualized therapy.

In clinical ophthalmology, new and old drug regimens are available for the treatment of major eye diseases, including potentially blinding conditions, such as glaucoma, and various macular diseases. In glaucoma, therapeutic treatment mainly deals with control of intraocular pressure at low levels but the clinical courses of patients can be very variable. Very often, specific drug combinations and dosages have to be formulated for individual glaucoma patients.