Microvascular autologous transplantation of partial submandibular gland for severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of microvascular autologous transplantation of partial submandibular gland (SMG) to prevent or reduce epiphora in severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).

Methods: A total of 39 patients with KCS, covering 42 eyes, were randomised to undergo transplantation of partial or total SMG from January 2006 to December 2009. Clinical data of survival rate of transplanted SMG, ophthalmologic features of best-corrected visual acuity, Schirmer test results, break-up time (BUT) of tear film, fluorescence staining, incidence of postoperative epiphora and frequency of subsequent surgery were compared between two groups.

[Transplantation of autologous labial salivary glands for severe dry eye].

Objective: Autologous labial salivary gland transplantation has been a promising alternative for the treatment of severe dry eye. In this article, we describe the results of the ocular surface changes after labial salivary gland transplantation and investigate the feasibility of this treatment.

Methods: The results of this technique in 8 patients (eyes) who suffered from severe dry eye were prospectively analyzed after surgery (follow-up of 6 months).

[Initial clinical observation of tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for treating corneal conjunctivalization caused by burn].

Objective: To study the therapeutic results of tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for corneal conjunctivalization caused by chemical and thermal burns.

Methods: Clinical case series. From December 2007 to May 2008, in Beijing Tongren Eye Center and Beijing Tongren Hospital, six patients (6 eyes) with chemical or thermal burn injury were treated by auto-transplantation of limbus stem cells cultured on fibrin gel membrane and followed up 6 to 12 months for clinical evaluation.

[Corneal stromal layer changes of senile cataract patients with phacoemulsification in vivo].

Objective: To observe and investigate corneal stromal layer's changes of healthy elderly with phacoemulsification operation.

Methods: The experimental design was prospective, one replicated measurement, one interventional method case series. Analysis of central corneal stromal layer's changes (including corneal thickness, keratocyte density of anterior and posterior corneal stromal layer and morphological changes) of 19 patients (22 eyes) just before operation and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation with CMTF and NCSM.

[Management of blood vessels in the vascularized autogenous submandibular gland transfer for severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca].

Objective: To summarize the management of blood vessels in the transfer of vascularized autogenous submandibular gland.

Methods: Sixty-eight cases of vascularized transfer of autogenous submandibular gland for severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca performed from August 1999 to April 2004 were reviewed. Data collected for each patient included general items, donor and recipient vessels, vessel crisis, salvage of the vessel thrombosis, and survival of transferred glands.

[Molecular genetic study on patients with lattice corneal dystrophy in China].

Objective: To investigate the mutations of the BIGH3 gene in patients with lattice corneal dystrophy in China.

Methods: Molecular genetic analysis was performed on DNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes from eight patients with lattice corneal dystrophy and without systemic amyloidosis in Tongren Ophthalmic Center. Exons 4, 12, 14 of the BIGH3 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and were sequenced directly.

[Study on enhanced leukocyte antigen-related tyrosine phosphatase in keratoconus].

Objective: To study the enhanced expression of leukocyte antigen-related tyrosine phosphatase (LAR) in human keratoconus cornea.

Methods: Corneal buttons of patients received keratoplasty in Eye Center of Beijing Tongren from December 2001 to March 2002 were collected. Total RNA was isolated from the buttons from keratoconus (15 eyes), normal cornea (7 eyes), bullous keratopathy (6 eyes), non-neovascular cornea scar (3 eyes) and corneal dystrophy (2 eyes).

[Morphologic characteristics of cornea in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy observed by confocal microscopy].

Objective: To analyze the image of corneas with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy using confocal microscopy in vivo.

Methods: Central corneas of 38 eyes (19 patients aged 33 approximately 76 years) were examined using scanning slit confocal microscopy in vivo after being diagnosed with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. They were divided into two groups namely symptomatic (19 eyes) and asymptomatic (19 eyes).

[Identification of BIGH3 gene mutations in the patients with two types of corneal dystrophies].

Objective: To identify the mutations of BIGH3 gene in Chinese patients with corneal dystrophies.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction in exon 4, exon 12 and direct DNA sequencing of BIGH3 gene were performed in fifteen patients with corneal dystrophies and ten normal individuals as controls.

Results: Mutations in BIGH3 gene were detected in all the patients with corneal dystrophies.

[Analysis of mutation of BIGH3 gene in Chinese patients with corneal dystrophies].

Objective: To study whether Chinese patients with various corneal dystrophy carry mutations in BIGH3 gene.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from Chinese patients with Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD, 10 cases), Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (CDRB, 2 cases), granular corneal dystrophy (GCD, 3 cases) and 5 control subjects. The exons 4 and 12 of BIGH3 gene were amplified by PCR and the product was sequenced directly.