[Rehabilitation Following Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: Current Treatment Options and Future Developments].

Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a condition caused by the loss of corneal epithelial regenerative potential. The treatment of this condition is still a challenge. It results from various conditions both intrinsic as well as extrinsic.

Expression of pluripotency and multipotency factors in human ocular surface tissues.

Aim: Mechanisms that control ocular surface stem cells (SCs) are unclear. Recent studies have shown that several adult SCs express pluripotency markers. Our objective was to analyze the expression of key molecules of pluripotency in human ocular surface tissues as well as in cultivated limbal epithelium.

Midterm results of cultivated autologous and allogeneic limbal epithelial transplantation in limbal stem cell deficiency.

Background: Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) leads to growth of abnormal fibro-vascular pannus tissue onto the corneal surface as well as chronic inflammation and impaired vision. Our aim was to investigate the clinical outcome of ocular surface reconstruction in LSCD using limbal epithelial cells expanded on amniotic membrane (AM).

Methods: Forty-four eyes of 38 patients (27 male, 11 female) with total (n = 32) or partial (n = 12) LSCD were treated by transplantation of autologous (n = 30) or allogeneic (n = 14) limbal epithelial cells expanded on intact AM.

Ocular surface reconstruction with cultivated limbal epithelium in a patient with unilateral stem cell deficiency caused by Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica hallopeau-Siemens.

Purpose: To report a case of partial limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) caused by epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica mutilans Hallopeau-Siemens treated by transplantation of autologous ex vivo expanded limbal epithelium.

Methods: Review of the clinical findings of an 11.5-year-old boy with unilateral LSCD and epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica who underwent ocular surface reconstruction in the right eye with autologous on intact human amniotic membrane cultivated limbal epithelial cells.

Characterization of the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency and after transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium.

Purpose: Transplantation of in vitro-cultivated limbal epithelium (TCLE) recently was developed to treat limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). The objective of this study was to characterize changes in the cornea during LSCD and on the corneal surface after TCLE.

Design: Experimental study.

Expression of membrane-associated mucins in limbal stem cell deficiency and after transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium.

Purpose: Membrane-associated mucins are important components of the ocular tear film. Our objective was to characterize the expression of membrane-associated mucins MUC1, MUC4, and MUC16 in healthy cornea, healthy conjunctiva, fibrovascular tissue (pannus) covering the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), human limbal epithelial cells cultivated on intact amniotic membrane (HLEC-AM), and corneal epithelium after transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium (TCLE).

Methods: Total RNA was isolated from six samples of healthy human cornea, healthy conjunctiva, pannus, limbal epithelial cell cultures, and four corneal samples after TCLE.

Ocular surface reconstruction in graft-versus-host disease with HLA-identical living-related allogeneic cultivated limbal epithelium after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from the same donor.

Purpose: To report a case of HLA-identical allogeneic living-related ex vivo expanded limbal epithelium in ocular surface reconstruction for chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).

Methods: Review the clinical findings in a 58-year-old woman with bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency caused by cGVHD who underwent ocular surface reconstruction on the left eye with cultivated limbal epithelial cells (LECs) on intact human amniotic membrane combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. LECs were harvested from a small biopsy of the same HLA-identical living-related donor who already donated peripheral blood cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Correlation of cell cycle kinetics with p63 expression in human limbal epithelial cells expanded on intact human amniotic membrane.

Aim: To analyse the correlation of p63 expression and cell cycle kinetics of human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) expanded on amniotic membrane (AM) or plastic.

Methods: Primary HLECs were cultured either on cryopreserved intact AM or plastic dishes for 2 weeks. Cells were labelled with 5 microM 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) for 3 days, followed by an interval of either 7 or 14 days in BrdU-free medium.

Transplantation of amniotic membrane in murine herpes stromal keratitis modulates matrix metalloproteinases in the cornea.

Purpose: To study matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in the corneas from mice with ulcerative herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) treated with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).

Methods: The corneas from BALB/c mice were infected with HSV-1. Mice with ulcerative HSK on postinfection (PI) day 14 were used for the experiments.

Immunomodulation by topical particle-mediated administration of cytokine plasmid DNA suppresses herpetic stromal keratitis without impairment of antiviral defense.

Background: We investigated whether the course of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) in BALB/c mice could be altered by topical gene-gun-mediated administration of interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-10 plasmid DNA.

Methods: Corneas of BALB/c mice were transfected with plasmids expressing beta-galactosidase (beta-gal), IL-4, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and pCR3.1 (control) 2 days before Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1; KOS) infection.

Clinical results of anti-inflammatory therapy in Graves' ophthalmopathy and association with thyroidal autoantibodies.

Objective: Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is clinically associated with autoimmune thyroid disease, and autoantibodies to thyroidal antigens, especially to the TSH-receptor (TRAb), might be involved in the disease process. While there is mounting evidence that TRAb are associated with GO at the onset of the disease, so far no studies have looked at the association between thyroidal autoantibodies and the clinical outcome of GO therapy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether TSH binding inhibitory immunoglobulins (TBII) and thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) are still associated with the clinical activity and severity of GO after the completion of anti-inflammatory therapy.

Clorazepate dipotassium versus midazolam for premedication in clear corneal cataract surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of oral clorazepate dipotassium (Tranxilium) and intravenous midazolam (Dormicum) as premedication agents in retrobulbar anesthesia and clear corneal phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany.

Methods: In a prospective clinical trial, 97 consecutive patients (97 eyes) having phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable IOL were randomized to 2 groups.

[Indication and effect of immunosuppression in patients with scleritis].

Purpose: The value of immunosuppressive drugs for the therapy of scleritis patients is unclear. The authors investigated the indications and effects of immunosuppression in a group of patients with scleral inflammation.

Method: Retrospective study of patients treated for scleritis (n = 87) or episcleritis (n = 18).

Combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy: clear corneal versus scleral incisions: prospective randomized multicenter study.

Purpose: To compare the complications and outcomes of implantation of a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) through a clear corneal incision and implantation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOL through a scleral incision in combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy.

Setting: Departments of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Eye Hospital, Muelheim, and University of Essen, Essen, Germany.

Expression of Delta Np63 in response to phorbol ester in human limbal epithelial cells expanded on intact human amniotic membrane.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on the expression of Delta Np63 in human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) during ex vivo expansion on amniotic membrane (AM).

Methods: Primary HLECs were cultured either on AM or plastic surfaces and were treated with 1 micro g/mL PMA for 24 hours. Expression of Delta Np63 and the differentiation-associated gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43) were studied by laser scanning microscopy.

Gap junctional communication in microinjected human limbal and peripheral corneal epithelial cells cultured on intact amniotic membrane.

The aim of the study was to determine if human limbal epithelial cells (HLEC) do not form gap junctions (GJ) during ex vivo expansion on preserved and intact human amniotic membrane (AM). Thereby, we attempt to evaluate if characteristic features of the limbal epithelial progenitor cells are preserved on AM. Primary human limbal (HLEC) and peripheral corneal (HPCEC) epithelial cells from limbal and peripheral corneal explants were cultured with SHEM either on intact AM or plastic.