Dietary Nitrate Metabolism in Porcine Ocular Tissues Determined Using N-Labeled Sodium Nitrate Supplementation.

Nitrate (NO) obtained from the diet is converted to nitrite (NO) and subsequently to nitric oxide (NO) within the body. Previously, we showed that porcine eye components contain substantial amounts of nitrate and nitrite that are similar to those in blood. Notably, cornea and sclera exhibited the capability to reduce nitrate to nitrite.

Potential roles of nitrate and nitrite in nitric oxide metabolism in the eye.

Nitric oxide (NO) signaling has been studied in the eye, including in the pathophysiology of some eye diseases. While NO production by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes in the eye has been characterized, the more recently described pathways of NO generation by nitrate (NO) and nitrite (NO) ions reduction has received much less attention. To elucidate the potential roles of these pathways, we analyzed nitrate and nitrite levels in components of the eye and lacrimal glands, primarily in porcine samples.

Evidence for enhanced tissue factor expression in age-related macular degeneration.

Tissue factor (TF) is the primary initiator of blood coagulation. In addition to hemostasis, TF can initiate intracellular signaling and promote inflammation and angiogenesis, the key processes underlying the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD, the leading cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly, involves many genetic and environmental risk factors, including oxidative stress and inflammation.

Efficacy and safety of ketotifen fumarate 0.025% in the conjunctival antigen challenge model of ocular allergic conjunctivitis.

Purpose: To determine the duration of action of ketotifen 0.025% eye drops vs placebo taken as single or multiple doses in an allergen challenge model.

Design: Two randomized, multicenter, double-masked, contralateral placebo-controlled studies, one a single-dose and one a multiple-dose study.

Photochemical injury to the foveomacula of the monkey eye following argon blue-green panretinal photocoagulation.

Purpose: Visual loss following panretinal photocoagulation was found in the Diabetic Retinopathy and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Studies. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that light scattered in the monkey eye during a procedure designed to mimic a clinical panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) can produce a photochemical injury to the foveomacula.

Methods: Ten eyes of 5 adult cynomologous monkeys underwent a PRP using an argon blue-green laser.