Caffeine's protective role in dry eye disease and meibomian gland Dysfunction: Insights from clinical and Experimental models.

Purpose: Inflammation and apoptosis contribute to the development of dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of caffeine on the ocular surface and tear inflammatory cytokines through clinical, in vivo, and in vitro experiments.

Methods: In the clinical study, comprehensive ophthalmic examinations of participants in the control and the caffeine groups were compared, including ocular surface and tears inflammatory cytokines.

Progress in Transdifferentiation of Autologous Alternative Cell Sources into Corneal Epithelial Cells.

Corneal limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) play a crucial role in corneal epithelium regeneration. Severe damage to these cells can result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), characterized by repeated corneal conjunctivalization, leading to corneal turbidity and scar formation. Restoring functional LESCs and their ecological location are essential for treating LSCD.

Anterior Segment Biometry During Accommodation After Posterior Chamber Phakic Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation.

Purpose: To evaluate the dynamic changes in anterior segment parameters during accommodation following Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantation with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Methods: Under the accommodation of 0.00 diopters (D), 3.

Substrate Stiffness Modulates Stemness and Differentiation of Rabbit Corneal Endothelium Through the Paxillin-YAP Pathway.

Purpose: To explore the role of substrate stiffness and the mechanism beneath corneal endothelial cells' (CECs') stemness maintenance and differentiation.

Methods: CECs were divided into central zone (8 mm trephined boundary) and peripheral zone (8 mm trephined edge with attached limbal). Two zones were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy for anatomic structure.

Isolation and Culture of Human Meibomian Gland Ductal Cells.

Purpose: Hyperkeratinization of meibomian gland (MG) ducts is currently recognized as the primary pathologic mechanism of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This research figured out a method to isolate the MG ducts and established a novel system to culture the human meibomian gland ductal cells (HMGDCs) for investigating the process of MGD.

Methods: The MG ducts were obtained from the eyelids of recently deceased donors and subjected to enzymatic digestion.

Amniotic membrane transplantation combined with conjunctival flap covering surgery for the treatment of corneal perforations in fungal keratitis.

Purpose: To investigate the efficiency of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) combined with conjunctival flap covering surgery (CFCS) for patients with corneal perforations in fungal keratitis (FK).

Methods: In this non-comparative, retrospective case series, 16 participants of corneal perforation in FK were successfully treated by a combination of multilayer AMT and bipedicle conjunctival flap with partial tenon's capsule. Corneal healing, recurrence of FK, visual acuity, and relevant complications were reported as outcome measures.

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells.

Here we report a standard procedure for the isolation and identification of limbal niche cells (LNCs). Limbus tissue obtained from an eye bank was used for LNCs isolation. The tissue was divided into 12 pieces under aseptic conditions and digested for 18 h at 37 °C in the cell culture incubator using collagenase A to obtain cell clusters with LNCs and limbal epithelial progenitor cells.

Mitophagy and mitochondrion-related expression profiles in response to physiological and pathological hypoxia in the corneal epithelium.

To study the mitochondrial and cellular responses to physiological and pathological hypoxia, corneal epithelial cells were preconditioned under 21% O, 8% O or 1% O. The cell survival rate, mitochondrial fluorescence and mitophagy flux were quantified using flow cytometry. After RNA sequencing, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed.

Investigation of Conjunctival Goblet Cell and Tear MUC5AC Protein in Patients With Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) and tear mucin-5AC (MUC5AC) protein levels in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and their association with dry eye indicators.

Methods: A total of 99 patients with GO (54 active, 45 inactive) and 40 healthy controls were recruited. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, including the external eye, ocular surface, GCD, and tear MUC5AC ELISA, were performed.

Differential expression of antimicrobial peptides in human fungal keratitis.

Aim: To analyze a series of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in corneal tissue from individuals with fungal keratitis (FK) during the active phase of the fungus infection and after healing.

Methods: Patients undergone lamellar keratoplasty for the treatment of severe FK or corneal scar had their corneal buttons sampled. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to ascertain the gene expression of human beta-defensin (HBD)-1, -2, -3, -9, S100A7, 8, 9, and LL-37.

Conjunctival Limbal Autograft Combined with Amnion-Assisted Conjunctival Epithelial Redirection for Unilateral Total Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency after Severe Chemical Burn.

(1) Background: To evaluate the efficacy of conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) combined with the amnion-assisted conjunctival epithelial redirection (ACER) procedure for patients with unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) caused by severe chemical burn. (2) Methods: A retrospective interventional case series of unilateral total LSCD after chemical burn who underwent CLAU combined with ACER surgery between September 2021 and July 2023 was collected. Outcome measures included epithelialization of the cornea with donor limbus-derived epithelium, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications.

Botryosphaeria dothidea Mycotic Keratitis: A Novel Phytopathogen Causing Human Infection.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the first case of mycotic keratitis caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea .

Methods: A 29-year-old man developed a fungal infection after being hit with chestnut thorns in the left eye. In vivo confocal microscopy, microbial culture, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used in the diagnosis of mycotic keratitis.

Two-step strategy-conjunctival flap covering surgery combined with secondary deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for the treatment of high-risk fungal keratitis.

Aim: To investigate whether the two-step strategy [conjunctival flap covering surgery (CFCS) combined with secondary deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)] is effective for patients with high-risk fungal keratitis (FK).

Methods: In this noncomparative, retrospective case series, 10 subjects (6 males, 4 females) with a mean age of 56.5±7.

Prostaglandin F2α Regulates Adipogenesis by Modulating Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling in Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), the first-line anti-glaucoma medication, can cause the deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus due to orbital lipoatrophy. However, the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) involves the excessive adipogenesis of the orbital tissues. The present study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of PGF2α on adipocyte differentiation.

The inhibition of p38 MAPK blocked inflammation to restore the functions of rat meibomian gland epithelial cells.

Meibomian glands (MGs) are vital for ocular surface health. However, the roles of inflammation in the progression of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) are largely unknown. In this study, the roles of the inflammation factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β) via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway on rat meibomian gland epithelial cells (RMGECs) were explored.

Ductal Hyperkeratinization and Acinar Renewal Abnormality: New Concepts on Pathogenesis of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a functional and morphological disorder of the meibomian glands which results in qualitative or quantitative alteration in meibum secretion and is the major cause of evaporative dry eye (EDE). EDE is often characterized by tear film instability, increased evaporation, hyperosmolarity, inflammation, and ocular surface disorder. The precise pathogenesis of MGD remains elusive.

Characteristics of In Vitro Culture and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Patients with Fungal Keratitis in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Central China.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of in vitro culture and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in patients with fungal keratitis (FK) presented in a tertiary referral hospital in central China.

Methods: In this noncomparative retrospective study, patients with the diagnosis of FK between October 2021 and November 2022 were reviewed. An IVCM and fungal culture (corneal scraping specimens) were performed, and the characteristics were analyzed.

TAP1, a potential immune-related prognosis biomarker with functional significance in uveal melanoma.

Background: TAP1 is an immunomodulation-related protein that plays different roles in various malignancies. This study investigated the transcriptional expression profile of TAP1 in uveal melanoma (UVM), revealed its potential biological interaction network, and determined its prognostic value.

Methods: CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE bioinformatic methods were used on data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) to determine the correlation between TAP1 expression, UVM prognosis, biological characteristics, and immune infiltration.

Botulinum Neurotoxin Type a Injection Combined with Absorbable Punctal Plug Insertion: An Effective Therapy for Blepharospasm Patients with Dry Eye.

Blepharospasm patients often have dry eye manifestations. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been the main management for blepharospasm and absorbable punctal plug (APP) insertion is shown to be effective in the treatment of dry eye. However, there have been no studies investigating the combined treatment of BoNT-A and APP in blepharospasm patients with dry eye.

Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) Transplantation for Recurrent Pterygium with Restrictive Strabismus.

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 11 eyes in 11 patients diagnosed with recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus who received sandwich transplantation. The outcomes were measured by pterygium recurrence, best-corrected visual acuity, esotropia (prism diopters), and treatment complications.

Expression of extracellular matrix components in the meibomian gland.

Purpose: Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key component of the stem cell local microenvironment. Our study aims to explore the periglandular distribution of major components of ECM in the Meibomian gland (MG).

Methods: Human eyelids and mouse eyelids were collected and processed for immunofluorescence staining.

Topical Chemotherapy for Treating Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia with a Combination of Interferon α-2b and 5-Fluorouracil.

Introduction: This study evaluated the efficacy of combined interferon α-2b (IFNα2b) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as primary treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 27 eyes with OSSN followed by topical application of combined IFNα2b and 5-FU were examined. Reported outcome measures were tumor response, visual acuity, time to complete resolution, recurrence and treatment complications.

Tissue-Engineered Corneal Endothelial Sheets Using Ultrathin Acellular Porcine Corneal Stroma Substrates for Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Tissue-engineered cornea endothelial sheets (TECES), created using a biocompatible thin and transparent carrier with corneal endothelial cells, could alleviate the shortage of donor corneas and provide abundant functional endothelial cells. In our previous clinical trials, the effectiveness and safety of the acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS) applied in lamellar keratoplasty have been confirmed. In this study, we optimized the method to cut APCS into multiple 20 μm ultrathin lamellae by a cryostat microtome and investigated the feasibility of TECES by seeding rabbit corneal endothelial cells (RCECs) on ultrathin APCS.