Laser-induced intrachoroidal dexamethasone drug delivery system to posterior eye segment.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of laser-induced intrachoroidal dexamethasone (DEX) delivery as a potentially useful therapy for adjusting the most effective drug level to the posterior segment eye diseases.

Methods: An implant was prepared by dissolving poly(DL-lactide) and DEX. In vitro release of DEX was evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days by ELISA.

Inhibition of ocular angiogenesis by diced small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The effects of diced small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) designed for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the expression of VEGF in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 cells in vitro and on corneal angiogenesis in vivo were examined. The exposure to diced siRNAs significantly reduced the VEGF mRNA expression in ARPE-19 cells with minimal toxicity. In suture-induced corneal angiogenesis models, diced siRNAs minimized the severity of angiogenesis.

Hyaluronan synthases, hyaluronan and its CD44 receptors in the posterior segment of rabbit eye.

To understand the possible roles of the hyaluronan synthetase (HAS)/hyaluronan (HA)/CD44 signaling system in the posterior eye segment, we investigated the expression of rabbit HAS isoforms and CD44 mRNA by RT-PCR and the level of HA by using HA assay and immunohistochemistry. HA was detectable in vitreous, retina and choroid. The expression of three HAS isoforms was clearly detected in both retina and choroids.

Inhibitory effect of triamcinolone acetonide on corneal neovascularization.

Background: Corneal neovascularization (NV) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of corneal disorders. Recently, triamcinolone acetonide (TA) has been reported as a potential treatment for ocular angiogenesis. However, there are no reports on the inhibitory effect of TA on the corneal NV.

The effect of indocyanine green on cultured retinal glial cells.

Background: Recently, indocyanine green (ICG) has been utilized to visualize inner limiting membrane in vitreous surgery. However, the safety of ICG injected into the vitreous has not been well established. The possible toxicity of ICG on Muller cells was investigated using cultured rat retinal glial cells (RGCs).