Prognosis-determinant candidate genes identified by whole genome scanning in eyes with pterygia.

Purpose: To identify the genes that can differentiate primary from recurrent pterygia.

Methods: The transcriptional differences of primary and recurrent pterygia were first determined by microarray analyses. Computational analyses were used to extract the biological significance of the genes accurately, and a significant functional classification of the genes was made by unsupervised methodologies.

Roles of chemokines in ocular allergy and possible therapeutic strategies.

The mechanism of ocular surface allergy in the forms of atopic conjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis has been highlighted by specific functions of chemokines. In the context of late-phase allergic responses, these molecules have key roles in recruitment and activation of leukocytes. Their interaction with ligands is redundantly regulated; however, results from strategies to block subsets of chemokines have revealed unexpected or highly organized roles of these mediators.