Ultrahigh field MR imaging of a subconjunctival anti-glaucoma drug delivery system in a rabbit model.

Local drug delivery systems (DDS) have become a favourable approach for the treatment of numerous diseases. Biomedical imaging techniques such as ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF-MRI) offer unique insight into DDS biodegradation in vivo. We describe the establishment of a 7 Tesla MRI routine for longitudinal in vivo examinations of a subconjunctival DDS for the treatment of glaucoma in a rabbit model.

Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent.

Within this paper we analyzed the technical feasibility of a novel microstent for glaucoma therapy. For lowering of intraocular pressure, the flexible polyurethane (PUR) implant is designed to drain aqueous humour from the anterior chamber of the eye into subconjunctival, or alternatively suprachoroidal, space. The microstent includes a biodegradable, flow resisting polymer membrane serving as temporary flow resistance for the prevention of early postoperative hypotony.

Focused Tortuosity Definitions Based on Expert Clinical Assessment of Corneal Subbasal Nerves.

Purpose: We examined agreement among experts in the assessment of corneal subbasal nerve tortuosity.

Methods: Images of corneal subbasal nerves were obtained from investigators at seven sites (Auckland, Boston, Linköping, Manchester, Oslo, Rostock, and Sydney) using laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy. A set of 30 images was assembled and ordered by increasing tortuosity by 10 expert graders from the seven sites.

Development of a novel injectable drug delivery system for subconjunctival glaucoma treatment.

In this study we present the development of an injectable polymeric drug delivery system for subconjunctival treatment of primary open angle glaucoma. The system consists of hyaluronic acid sodium salt (HA), which is commonly used in ophthalmology in anterior segment surgery, and an isocyanate-functionalized 1,2-ethylene glycol bis(dilactic acid) (ELA-NCO). The polymer mixtures with different ratios of HA to ELA-NCO (1/1, 1/4, and 1/10 (v/v)) were investigated for biocompatibility, degradation behavior and applicability as a sustained release system.

Anatomic and pathological characterization of choroidal melanoma using multimodal imaging: what is practical, what is needed?

Choroidal melanoma is the most frequently occurring intraocular tumor in adults. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of state-of-the art in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging modalities for the characterization of choroidal melanoma. Multimodal imaging of a choroidal melanoma was performed in a 53-year-old male patient.

Genome-wide prediction methods for detecting genetic effects of donor chromosome segments in introgression populations.

Background: Introgression populations are used to make the genetic variation of unadapted germplasm or wild relatives of crops available for plant breeding. They consist of introgression lines that carry small chromosome segments from an exotic donor in the genetic background of an elite line. The goal of our study was to investigate the detection of favorable donor chromosome segments in introgression lines with statistical methods developed for genome-wide prediction.

Morphological analysis of quiescent and activated keratocytes: a review of ex vivo and in vivo findings.

Keratocytes are specialized, neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells occupying approximately 3% of the corneal stromal volume. They reside between the collagen lamellae and are responsible for the secretion of extracellular matrix macromolecules, thus contributing to the corneal transparency and integrity. During the regeneration process after infection, traumata and refractive surgery, the keratocytes undergo transition into divergent phenotypes, which are referred to as "activated keratocytes".

Ophthalmic magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T using a 6-channel transceiver radiofrequency coil array in healthy subjects and patients with intraocular masses.

Objectives: This study was designed to examine the feasibility of ophthalmic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 T using a local 6-channel transmit/receive radiofrequency (RF) coil array in healthy volunteers and patients with intraocular masses.

Materials And Methods: A novel 6-element transceiver RF coil array that makes uses of loop elements and that is customized for eye imaging at 7 T is proposed. Considerations influencing the RF coil design and the characteristics of the proposed RF coil array are presented.

Selection strategies for the development of maize introgression populations.

Introgression libraries are valuable resources for QTL detection and breeding, but their development is costly and time-consuming. Selection strategies for the development of introgression populations with a limited number of individuals and high-throughput (HT) marker assays are required. The objectives of our simulation study were to design and compare selection strategies for the development of maize introgression populations of 100 lines with population sizes of 360-720 individuals per generation for different DH and S2 crossing schemes.

Experimental differentiation of intraocular masses using ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging--a case series.

Purpose: The case reports presented here were compiled to demonstrate the potential for improved diagnosis and monitoring of disease progress of intraocular lesions using ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) at 7.1 Tesla.

Methods: High-resolution ex vivo ocular magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired on an ultrahigh-field MR system (7.

MR Microscopy of the human eye at 7.1 T and correlation with histopathology-proof of principle.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla with small surface coils is a well-established procedure in the diagnosis of masses of the eye and orbital cavity.

Evidence of endothelial cell migration after descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that adult corneal endothelial cells can migrate after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Methods: Five patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were examined 1 year after uneventful DMEK.

Selection strategies for the development of rye introgression libraries.

Computer simulations can be employed to find optimal procedures for developing introgression libraries in rye with marker-assisted backcrossing. Our objectives were to investigate the effects of the employed (1) breeding scheme, (2) selection strategy, and (3) population sizes on the donor genome coverage of the library, the number of introgression lines carrying additional donor chromosome segments outside the target regions, and the number of required marker data points. With respect to these target criteria, a BC(3)S(2) breeding scheme and increasing population sizes from early to advanced generations were superior to a BC(2)S(3) breeding scheme and constant population sizes.

The microstructure of cornea verticillata in Fabry disease and amiodarone-induced keratopathy: a confocal laser-scanning microscopy study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe cornea verticillata in Fabry disease and in amiodarone-induced keratopathy and to compare the corneal microstructure of both types.

Patients And Methods: Ten eyes from ten normal subjects, 28 eyes from 22 patients with Fabry disease confirmed by molecular genetic studies, and 16 eyes from 11 patients receiving amiodarone were examined by slit-lamp microscopy and in-vivo confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) with following three-dimensional reconstruction of the individual corneal layers. Five patients with Fabry disease were monitored during the course of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).