The effect of various media and probe angles on the power output of the Cyclo G6 Glaucoma Laser System.

To evaluate the effect of various media and Iridex MicroPulse P3 (MP3) probe angles on the power output from the Cyclo G6 Glaucoma Laser (G6) System. A laser power meter was used to measure the power output (milliwatts, mW) of the Cyclo G6 System. Each of the ten trials consisted of measurements in six different media: no substrate, balanced salt solution (BSS), artificial tears (AT), tetracaine eye drop, lubricating ointment, and lidocaine gel.

Nailfold Capillary Hemorrhages: Microvascular Risk Factors for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Background: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is associated with systemic microvascular dysfunction including hemorrhages and other abnormalities of the nailfold capillary bed. This study aimed to verify the specificity of nailfold capillary hemorrhages and other abnormalities as risk factors for POAG.

Methods: Nailfold video capillaroscopy was performed using a JH-1004 capillaroscope on the fourth and fifth digits of the nondominant hand in control ( = 277), POAG ( = 206), OHT ( = 57), and SG ( = 29) subjects.

Nailfold Capillary Morphology in Alzheimer's Disease Dementia.

Background: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is highly comorbid with Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet its role is not entirely understood. Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) is a noninvasive method of live imaging the capillaries near the fingernail's cuticle and may help to describe further vascular contributions to AD.

Objective: To examine finger nailfold capillary morphology using NVC in subjects with AD dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal cognition (NC).

Resting nailfold capillary blood flow in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Background/aims: An altered haemodynamic profile for various ocular posterior segment capillary beds has been documented in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). POAG may also involve abnormal non-ocular blood flow, and the nailfold capillaries, which are not affected by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), are readily assessable.

Methods: We measured resting nailfold capillary blood flow in 67 POAG and 63 control subjects using video capillaroscopy.

Consensus recommendations for trabecular meshwork cell isolation, characterization and culture.

Cultured trabecular meshwork (TM) cells are a valuable model system to study the cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of conventional outflow resistance and thus intraocular pressure; and their dysfunction resulting in ocular hypertension. In this review, we describe the standard procedures used for the isolation of TM cells from several animal species including humans, and the methods used to validate their identity. Having a set of standard practices for TM cells will increase the scientific rigor when used as a model, and enable other researchers to replicate and build upon previous findings.

Nailfold Capillary Abnormalities in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Multisite Study.

Purpose: There is considerable evidence for systemic vascular dysfunction in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We performed nailfold capillary video microscopy to observe directly the nature of nonocular microvasculature abnormalities in POAG.

Methods: We enrolled 199 POAG patients and 124 control subjects from four sites.

ABCB1 transporter and Toll-like receptor 4 in trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: The aqueous humor nourishes the avascular tissues of the anterior segment, and the trabecular meshwork (TM) plays a role in the efflux of endogenous substances and xenobiotics from the aqueous humor. ATP (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily members respond to stressors such as hypoxia, cytokine signaling, and aging. The innate immune system within the TM, particularly Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its ligands, e.

sCD44 overexpression increases intraocular pressure and aqueous outflow resistance.

Purpose: CD44 plays major roles in multiple physiologic processes. The ectodomain concentration of the CD44 receptor, soluble CD44 (sCD44), is significantly increased in the aqueous humor of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The purpose of this study was to determine if adenoviral constructs of CD44 and isolated 32-kDa sCD44 change intraocular pressure (IOP) in vivo and aqueous outflow resistance in vitro.

sCD44 internalization in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: To determine whether soluble CD44 (sCD44), a likely biomarker of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is internalized in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and trafficked to mitochondria.

Methods: In vitro, 32-kD sCD44 was isolated from human sera, biotinylated, and dephosphorylated. TM cells were incubated for 1 hour at 4°C with biotinylated albumin (b-albumin), biotin-labeled sCD44 (b-sCD44), or hypophosphorylated biotin-labeled sCD44 (-p b-sCD44) in the presence or absence of unlabeled sCD44, hyaluronic acid (HA), and a selected 10-mer HA binding peptide.

Biomarkers of primary open-angle glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a primary neuronal disease of the optic nerve without a definable cause, and is often associated with increased intraocular pressure. Worldwide, POAG is the second leading cause of blindness; there are 45 million people today with POAG and bilateral blindness is present in 4.5 million of these.

Effect of chondroitin sulfate on intraocular pressure in rats.

Purpose: To study the effect of intracameral injections of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal function, and histology in rats.

Methods: Acute or chronic injections of CS were performed unilaterally in the rat anterior chamber, whereas the contralateral eye was injected with vehicle. IOP was daily or weekly assessed by a tonometer.

Aqueous humor sCD44 concentration and visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To correlate aqueous humor soluble CD44 (sCD44) concentration, visual field loss, and glaucoma risk factors in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Methods: Aqueous samples were obtained by paracentesis from normal and glaucoma patients who were undergoing elective surgery and analyzed for sCD44 concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: In normal aqueous (n=124) the sCD44 concentration was 5.

Lactate treatment causes NF-kappaB activation and CD44 shedding in cultured trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: To challenge human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells using lactate to mimic cell stress and observe the effects on cell viability, NF-kappaB, and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) expression and the ectodomain shedding of soluble (s)CD44.

Methods: Human TM cells grown in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) were incubated in 0.1% FCS with 1, 10, or 40 mM lactate or PBS for 5 and 30 minutes and 1, 3, and 6 hours.

Hypophosphorylation of aqueous humor sCD44 and primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: The ectodomain of CD44, the principal receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), is shed as a 32-kDa fragment-soluble CD44 (sCD44)-which is cytotoxic to trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in culture. The purpose of this study was to characterize sCD44 further by determining the phosphorylation of aqueous humor sCD44 in normal and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: Aqueous humor samples of patients were subjected to CD44 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and two-dimensional (2-D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by Western blot analysis with anti-CD44, anti-serine/threonine, and anti-tyrosine phosphospecific antibodies, to determine sCD44 concentration, isoelectric point (pI), and phosphorylation, respectively.

Reconstitution of trabecular meshwork GAGs: influence of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate on flow rates.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine whether the concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) and of chondroitin sulfate (CS) occurring in the normal and the primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) trabecular meshwork (TM) influences flow rates in vitro as a function of pressure.

Methods: We tested 100, 500, and 4000 kDa molecular weight HA, CS, reconstituted normal and POAG TM HA-CS and juxtacanalicular connective tissue (JCT) HA-CS in a micro test chamber to determine initial and steady-state flow rates. The resistance and permeability (Ko) were calculated; Linear Newtonian mechanics were used to determine the possible contributions of the hydrophobic interactions of HA.

Soluble CD44 is cytotoxic to trabecular meshwork and retinal ganglion cells in vitro.

Purpose: Current glaucoma research targets neuroprotective therapies for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 32-kDa ectodomain fragment of CD44-soluble CD44 (sCD44)-which is increased in the aqueous of patients with POAG, affects RGC and trabecular meshwork (TM) cell survival in vitro.

Methods: sCD44 was isolated from human or fetal calf serum (FCS) by urea solubilization and immunoprecipitation.

Aqueous humor in primary open-angle glaucoma contains an increased level of CD44S.

Purpose: To determine whether the cell adhesion molecule CD44, the principal receptor of hyaluronan, is altered in the aqueous humor and the anterior segment of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: The trabecular meshwork (TM), iris, ciliary body, and sclera of POAG and age-matched control eyes preserved in ethanol were microdissected and subjected to 1% Triton X-100 solubilization at 4 degrees C. Western blot analysis was performed using monoclonal antibodies that recognize either CD44H (hematopoietic; extracellular domain) or CD44S (soluble ectodomain).