Publications by authors named "Lassana Samarakoon"
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to evaluate how functional and structural assessments can serve as endpoints in clinical trials for retinal degeneration linked to USH2A mutations.
- Participants with specific visual capabilities underwent various eye tests over four years, focusing on understanding changes in their vision.
- Findings indicated that certain tests were more sensitive to detecting changes, influencing the design of future clinical trials related to this condition.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess self-reported functional vision and the effects of vision loss in patients with USH2A-associated retinal degeneration using the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ).
- It involved 93 participants, with 55 having Usher Syndrome Type 2 (USH2) and 38 having autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP), all linked to USH2A gene variants.
- Results showed that MRDQ scores were sensitive to differences based on clinical diagnosis and other factors, and they correlated well with established visual function tests, highlighting the tool's effectiveness in evaluating vision-related functioning.
Purpose: To describe functional vision (FV) and investigate the relationship between FV, visual acuity (VA), and hill of vision (V) at baseline in patients with biallelic USH2A variants.
Design: Multicenter, international, cross-sectional study.
Methods: In individuals with biallelic disease-causing variants in USH2A, clinical diagnosis of Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) or autosomal recessive nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP) was based on history of hearing loss and audiology examinations.
To treat unilateral limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency, we developed cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC) using an innovative xenobiotic-free, serum-free, antibiotic-free, two-step manufacturing process for LSC isolation and expansion onto human amniotic membrane with rigorous quality control in a good manufacturing practices facility. Limbal biopsies were used to generate CALEC constructs, and final grafts were evaluated by noninvasive scanning microscopy and tested for viability and sterility. Cultivated cells maintained epithelial cell phenotype with colony-forming and proliferative capacities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To measure visual fields using two-color dark-adapted chromatic perimetry in a subset of participants in the Rate of Progression of USH2A-related Retinal Degeneration (RUSH2A), a study of USH2A-mediated syndromic (USH2) and autosomal recessive nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa, determine percentage retaining rod function, and explore relationships between dark-adapted visual fields (DAVF) and rod function from ERG and full-field stimulus thresholds (FST).
Methods: Full-field rod mean sensitivity, number of rod loci, maximum sensitivity, DAVF full-field hill of vision (DAVF VTOT), and 30° hill of vision (DAVF V30) were measured in one eye for DAVF ancillary study participants (n = 49). Loci where cyan relative to red sensitivity was more than 5 dB on dark-adapted chromatic perimetry were considered rod mediated.