Expression of VEGF and angiopoietins in subfoveal membranes from patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietins are key regulators of angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to measure mRNA levels of these factors and of their receptors in surgically excised subfoveal membranes from patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to evaluate their relevance as prognostic markers of postsurgical recurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Prospective, randomized clinical and endothelial evaluation of 2 storage times for cornea donor tissue in organ culture at 31 degrees C.

Objective: To compare the endothelial and clinical outcome of penetrating keratoplasty with corneas stored in organ culture for up to 12 days (5-12 days; group 1) or more than 21 days (21-24 days; group 2).

Methods: We conducted a controlled double-masked trial. Storage durations were randomly assigned to the paired corneas, and endothelial cell density (ECD) was measured at the start and end of organ culture.