Lymphatic morphology and function in chronic right heart failure due to secondary tricuspid valve regurgitation.

Background: In heart failure, the capacity of the lymphatic system dictates symptoms of circulatory congestion. This study aimed at describing structural and functional changes of the lymphatic system in patients with chronic right-sided heart failure.

Methods: Individuals with long-standing severe tricuspid valve regurgitation and symptoms of heart failure were compared with age- gender- and weight-matched controls.

Intraocular pressure-related side-effects after endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, pupillary function and diameter after phacoemulsification and lens implantation alone or combined with endothelial keratoplasty (EK).

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data from a randomized, single-masked trial, that included 72 patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy and cataract, equally allocated (1:1) to ultrathin Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty or Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty. The cataract extraction (CE) group included 40 patients undergoing cataract surgery only.

Local Adenoviral Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C Induces Lymphangiogenesis in the Conjunctiva in Rabbits.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine if conjunctival lymphangiogenesis can be induced using adenoviral delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C).

Methods: Seventeen New Zealand white rabbits received a subconjunctival injection containing 3.5 × 107 plaque-forming units of an adenoviral vector containing the gene-encoding VEGF-C (Ad-VEGF-C).

Topical dilation as first-line treatment for fibrin membrane pupillary-block glaucoma following uncomplicated cataract surgery.

Fibrin membrane pupillary-block glaucoma is an uncommon complication after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. We present a case treated successfully by pharmacological dilation of the pupil. Previous case reports have recommended the use of Nd:YAG peripheral iridotomy, Nd:YAG membranotomy and intracameral tissue plasminogen activator.

[Primary angle closure].

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness globally with a significant contribution from angle-closure glaucoma. Over the past 20 years, the terminology has been standardised with the term glaucoma being used exclusively for patients with signs of glaucomatous damage to the optic nerve. Prospective randomised clinical trials have changed treatment algorithms as summarised in this review.

Göttingen Minipig is not a Suitable Animal Model for Testing of Tissue-Engineered Corneal Endothelial Cell-Carrier Sheets and for Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Aim: To test the feasibility of implanting human anterior lens capsules (HALCs) with porcine corneal endothelial cells (pCEC) in Göttingen minipigs and at the same time test the suitability of Göttingen minipig as model for endothelial keratoplasty.

Materials And Methods: Cell-carrier constructs of decellularized HALC with cultured (pCEC) were created for implementation . Eight Göttingen minipigs (6 months old) underwent surgery with descemetorhexis or removal of endothelium by scraping and implementation of HALC without (animal 1-4) and with (animal 5-8) pCEC.

Role of the lymphatic vasculature in cardiovascular medicine.

The lymphatic vasculature has traditionally been considered important for removal of excessive fluid from the interstitial space, absorption of fat from the intestine and the immune system. Advances in molecular medicine and imaging have provided us with new tools to study the lymphatics. This has revealed that the vessels are actively involved in regulation of immune cell trafficking and inflammation.

Function of Upper Extremity Human Lymphatics Assessed by Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging.

Knowledge of functional parameters that can be used for evaluation of upper extremity lymphatic function is limited. This study aims to evaluate near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging for evaluation of lymphatic function in the human arm. Ten healthy male volunteers (age 25.

Reduced Lymphatic Function Predisposes to Calcium Channel Blocker Edema: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

The current belief is that the calcium channel blocker (CCB)-induced edema is due to a preferential arterial over venous dilatation leading to increased fluid filtration. We challenged this conviction by measuring the lymphatic removal of interstitial fluid during chronic systemic treatment with the CCB, amlodipine. Lymphatic vessels could potentially be an off-target effect of the drugs and play a role in CCB edema.

Scheimpflug Imaging of the Danish Cohort of Patients With Wilson Disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of anterior segment imaging in diagnosing Kayser-Fleischer rings in patients with Wilson disease.

Methods: In a tertiary center for Wilson disease, patients were examined with a Pentacam HR Scheimpflug-based tomography device in addition to conventional slit-lamp examination. The inferior part of the cornea was analyzed using both a built-in densitometry module and ImageJ.

Morphology and Function of the Lymphatic Vasculature in Patients With a Fontan Circulation.

Background: The Fontan procedure has revolutionized the treatment of univentricular hearts. However, it is associated with severe complications such as protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, and peripheral edema that may involve the lymphatic circulation. We aimed to assess lymphatic function and morphology in patients with a univentricular circulation.

Spontaneous and α-adrenoceptor-induced contractility in human collecting lymphatic vessels require chloride.

Human lymphatic vessels are myogenically active and respond to sympathetic stimulation. The role of various cations in this behavior has recently been investigated, but whether the anion Cl is essential is unclear. With ethical approval and informed consent, human thoracic duct and mesenteric lymphatic vessels were obtained from surgical patients.

A Validation Study of Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Lymphatic Vessels in Humans.

Background: Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging is a new imaging technique that is used to visualize lymphatic vessels in humans. It has a high spatial and temporal resolution, allowing real-time visualization of lymphatic flow.

Methods And Results: The current study investigated the intra- and inter-individual variability of the technique, and how local hypo- and hyperthermia (20°C, 40°C), as well as exercise affect lymph transport.

Spontaneous and Evoked Contractility of Human Intestinal Lymphatic Vessels.

Background: Mesenteric lymphatic vessels (MLVs) from various animal species have been intensively studied. We aimed to establish the viability and basic contractile characteristics of human MLVs maintained in vitro and to determine the reactivity of MLVs with norepinephrine (NE) and substance P (SP) and to compare with the thoracic duct (TD).

Methods And Results: Isolated human lymphatic vessels were mounted on a wire myograph under isometric conditions and tension was recorded.

Lymph vessels: the forgotten second circulation in health and disease.

The lymphatic circulation is still a somewhat forgotten part of the circulatory system. Despite this, novel insights in lymph angiogenesis in health and disease, application of immune markers for lymphatic growth and differentiation and also the introduction of new imaging techniques to visualize the lymphatic circulation have improved our understanding of lymphatic function in both health and disease, especially in the last decade. These achievements yield better understanding of the various manifestations of lymph oedemas and malformations, and also the patterns of lymphovascular spread of cancers.

Use of Fish Scale-Derived BioCornea to Seal Full-Thickness Corneal Perforations in Pig Models.

The aim of this study was to test the use of BioCornea, a fish scale-derived collagen matrix for sealing full-thickness corneal perforations in mini-pigs. Two series of experiments were carried out in 8 Lan-Yu and 3 Göttingen mini-pigs, respectively. A 2mm central full thickness corneal perforation was made with surgical scissors and 2mm trephines.

Publication rate and PhD enrolment following a medical pre-graduate research programme.

Introduction: In the 1990s, the publication and PhD recruitment rates following the Danish pre-graduate research programme (PGRP) in medicine were 54% and 33%, respectively. Updated estimates are unknown.

Methods: All medical students enrolled in the PGRP at the Faculty of Medicine, Aarhus University (Health), Denmark, during 2003-2012 were included (n = 687).

Voltage-gated sodium channels contribute to action potentials and spontaneous contractility in isolated human lymphatic vessels.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) play a key role for initiating action potentials (AP) in excitable cells. VGSC in human lymphatic vessels have not been investigated. In the present study, we report the electrical activity and APs of small human lymphatic collecting vessels, as well as mRNA expression and function of VGSC in small and large human lymphatic vessels.

Human lymphatic vessel contractile activity is inhibited in vitro but not in vivo by the calcium channel blocker nifedipine.

Calcium channel blockers (CCB) are widely prescribed anti-hypertensive agents. The commonest side-effect, peripheral oedema, is attributed to a larger arterial than venous dilatation causing increased fluid filtration. Whether CCB treatment is detrimental to human lymphatic vessel function and thereby exacerbates oedema formation is unknown.

The contribution of K(+) channels to human thoracic duct contractility.

In smooth muscle cells, K(+) permeability is high, and this highly influences the resting membrane potential. Lymph propulsion is dependent on phasic contractions generated by smooth muscle cells of lymphatic vessels, and it is likely that K(+) channels play a critical role in regulating contractility in this tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of distinct K(+) channels to human lymphatic vessel contractility.

The human thoracic duct is functionally innervated by adrenergic nerves.

Lymphatic vessels from animals have been shown to be innervated. While morphological studies have confirmed human lymphatic vessels are innervated, functional studies supporting this are lacking. The present study demonstrates a functional innervation of the human thoracic duct (TD) that is predominantly adrenergic.

Protection against high intravascular pressure in giraffe legs.

The high blood pressure in giraffe leg arteries renders giraffes vulnerable to edema. We investigated in 11 giraffes whether large and small arteries in the legs and the tight fascia protect leg capillaries. Ultrasound imaging of foreleg arteries in anesthetized giraffes and ex vivo examination revealed abrupt thickening of the arterial wall and a reduction of its internal diameter just below the elbow.