Differences in sphere-forming cells from keratoconic and normal corneal tissue: Implications for keratoconus pathogenesis.

Keratoconus is primarily an anterior corneal disorder of unclear aetiology. Stem cells may play a role in the perpetuation of keratoconus, although this has yet to be definitively established. Sphere-forming cells from normal human donor corneas have previously been shown to be a heterogenous mix of epithelial, stromal, stem and progenitor cell components which have potential for treatment of corneal dystrophies.

Is Keratoconus an Inflammatory Disease? The Implication of Inflammatory Pathways.

Purpose: Keratoconus is considered a non-inflammatory condition. Recently however, increased proinflammatory cytokines have been detected in the tears of keratoconic patients and clinical and immunohistochemical observations reported infiltration of matured dendritic cells and leukocytes. Our laboratory utilized cytokine antibody arrays to elucidate the inflammatory aspects of keratoconus.

Sphere-forming corneal cells repopulate dystrophic keratoconic stroma: Implications for potential therapy.

Background: Keratoconus is a degenerative corneal disease characterised by aberrant cell behaviour and loss of matrix that can result in vision loss. Cells extracted from peripheral corneas can form stem cell-enriched spheres, which have shown the potential to repopulate the normal peripheral corneal stroma upon sphere implantation but have not been previously studied in keratoconic tissue.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic potential of stem cell-enriched spheres formed from extracted peripheral human corneal cells when introduced to keratoconic tissue.

Auckland Cataract Study IV: Practical application of NZCRS cataract risk stratification to reduce phacoemulsification complications.

Importance: Reduction of intraoperative complications in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Background: To assess practicability of a risk stratification system, the New Zealand Cataract Risk Stratification (NZCRS) system, in a major teaching hospital service, without investigator oversight, to ascertain whether benefits identified in research studies are maintained in busy clinical practice.

Design: Prospective cohort study in a major public teaching hospital.

Molecular evidence for the role of inflammation in dry eye disease.

Ocular surface inflammation is propagated by a complex series of molecular processes and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of dry eye disease (DED), either as a causal or a downstream effect of ocular surface disease. A state of hyperosmolarity elicits an acute immune response in DED, leading to subsequent activation of the adaptive immune response. This cascade incites dysregulation of the immune system, triggering a vicious cycle of events that causes damage to the ocular surface.

Carotid Dissection and Cerebral Infarction From Posterior Oropharyngeal Trauma: The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

Posterior oropharyngeal trauma commonly occurs in children and frequently presents to the emergency department (ED). Rarely, serious infectious and neurologic sequelae result. Emergency providers are tasked with the challenge of diagnosing the minority with life-threatening complications while maintaining thoughtful stewardship regarding radiation exposure.

Use of a Purpose-Built Impression Cytology Device for Gene Expression Quantification at the Ocular Surface Using Quantitative PCR and Droplet Digital PCR.

Purpose: To describe an impression cytology (IC) technique using a purpose-built, sterile, EYEPRIM IC device that can be coupled with a TRIzol reagent-based RNA extraction protocol to yield sufficient RNA for gene expression analysis.

Methods: IC samples using the EYEPRIM device were collected from the bulbar conjunctiva, with and without topical anesthesia, and evaluated for RNA yield, the absence of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors, and the ability to detect biomarkers by quantitative real-time PCR and droplet digital PCR. A technique for collecting IC samples in the clinic, while preserving RNA, and a protocol for subsequent laboratory analysis of RNA were developed.

Auckland Cataract Study III: Refining Preoperative Assessment With Cataract Risk Stratification to Reduce Intraoperative Complications.

Purpose: To assess intraoperative complications of phacoemulsification surgery in public teaching hospital settings using modified preoperative risk stratification systems.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Preoperative risk stratification of 500 consecutive cataract cases using the New Zealand Cataract Risk Stratification (NZCRS) scoring system.

The Sheep Cornea: Structural and Clinical Characteristics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses to characterize the corneas of young, healthy sheep.

Materials And Methods: Eight healthy male sheep, 10 months to 1 year of age, were included as experimental subjects. Central corneal thickness was measured using a handheld pachymeter, and an Easygraph corneal topographer provided topographic maps.

Extreme Descemet's membrane rupture with hydrops in keratoconus: Clinical and histological manifestations.

Purpose: To study the clinical and histological manifestations of an extreme Descemet's membrane rupture as a result of keratoconus.

Observations: Using Periodic acid-Schiff assay to study a keratoconic cornea with an extreme rupture showed that the ruptured Descemet's membrane had retracted and folded into scrolls and ridges. The dimensions of the rupture were estimated to be 3.

A Single RF Emitter-Based Indoor Navigation Method for Autonomous Service Robots.

Location-aware services are one of the key elements of modern intelligent applications. Numerous real-world applications such as factory automation, indoor delivery, and even search and rescue scenarios require autonomous robots to have the ability to navigate in an unknown environment and reach mobile targets with minimal or no prior infrastructure deployment. This research investigates and proposes a novel approach of dynamic target localisation using a single RF emitter, which will be used as the basis of allowing autonomous robots to navigate towards and reach a target.

Randomized double-masked trial of eyelid cleansing treatments for blepharitis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of a dedicated eyelid cleanser and diluted baby shampoo in the management of blepharitis.

Methods: Forty-three participants with clinical blepharitis signs were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-masked, paired-eye trial. A dedicated eyelid cleanser (TheraTears SteriLid) was applied to the eyelids of one eye (randomized) and diluted baby shampoo (Johnson's No More Tears) to the fellow eye, twice daily for 4 weeks.

Aberrant Patterns of Key Epithelial Basement Membrane Components in Keratoconus.

Purpose: In the cornea, the epithelial basement membrane (BM) plays an important role in maintaining corneal integrity and homeostasis. Aberrations in this vital structure are associated with several corneal pathologies including keratoconus. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of key structural components of the epithelial BM in keratoconic corneas and to identify and describe any aberrant patterns.

Implantation of Human Peripheral Corneal Spheres into Cadaveric Human Corneal Tissue.

Stem and progenitor cells isolated from human limbal tissue can be cultured as spheres. These spheres have potential for use as transplantable elements for the repopulation of corneal tissue ( Mathan , 2016 ). Herein we describe the detailed protocol for the implantation of human corneal spheres into cadaveric human corneal tissue.

The Auckland Cataract Study II: Reducing Complications by Preoperative Risk Stratification and Case Allocation in a Teaching Hospital.

Purpose: To assess the effect of preoperative risk stratification for phacoemulsification surgery on intraoperative complications in a teaching hospital.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Prospective assessment of consecutive phacoemulsification cases (N = 500) enabled calculation of a risk score (M-score of 0-8) using a risk stratification system.

Derivation of Corneal Keratocyte-Like Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Corneal diseases such as keratoconus represent a relatively common disorder in the human population. However, treatment is restricted to corneal transplantation, which only occurs in the most advanced cases. Cell based therapies may offer an alternative approach given that the eye is amenable to such treatments and corneal diseases like keratoconus have been associated specifically with the death of corneal keratocytes.

The Auckland Cataract Study: Assessing Preoperative Risk Stratification Systems for Phacoemulsification Surgery in a Teaching Hospital.

Purpose: To evaluate 2 preoperative risk stratification systems for assessing the risk of complications in phacoemulsification cataract surgery, performed by residents, fellows, and attending physicians in a public teaching hospital.

Design: Cohort study.

Methods: One observer assessed the clinical data of 500 consecutive cases, prior to phacoemulsification cataract surgery performed between April and June 2015 at Greenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand trends in corneal transplantation over the 25 years 1991-2015.

Aims: To report the 25-year longitudinal trends in indications and corneal transplantation techniques in New Zealand.

Methods: Statistical analysis of prospectively acquired New Zealand National Eye Bank (NZNEB) electronic database from 1991 to 2015 inclusive. Subjects were recipients of corneal transplants in 62 centres supplied by the NZNEB.

Keratocytes are induced to produce collagen type II: A new strategy for in vivo corneal matrix regeneration.

The stroma, the middle layer of the cornea, is a connective tissue making up most of the corneal thickness. The stromal extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of highly organised lamellae which are made up of tightly packed fibrils primarily composed of collagens type I and V. This layer is interspersed with keratocytes, mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin.

Sphere-forming cells from peripheral cornea demonstrate the ability to repopulate the ocular surface.

Background: The limbus forms the outer rim of the cornea at the corneoscleral junction and harbours a population of stem cells for corneal maintenance. Injuries to the limbus, through disease or accidents such as chemical injuries or burns, may lead to significant visual impairment due to depletion of the native stem cells of the tissue.

Methods: Sphere-forming cells were isolated from peripheral cornea for potential use as transplantable elements for limbal stem cell repopulation and limbal reconstruction.

A COL17A1 Splice-Altering Mutation Is Prevalent in Inherited Recurrent Corneal Erosions.

Purpose: Corneal dystrophies are a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders. We previously described a family with an autosomal dominant epithelial recurrent erosion dystrophy (ERED). We aimed to identify the underlying genetic cause of ERED in this family and 3 additional ERED families.

Ex vivo and In vivo Evaluation of Chitosan Coated Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Ocular Delivery of Acyclovir.

Background: Herpes keratitis is the most common infectious cause of blindness in the developed world. It may be treated by acyclovir (ACV), however this antiviral drug is poorly soluble with low ocular bioavailability requiring high and frequent dosing. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were investigated to improve the ocular bioavailability of ACV by enhancing corneal penetration as well as prolonging the exposure of infected cells to the antiviral agent.

An Immunohistochemical Study of Inflammatory Cell Changes and Matrix Remodeling With and Without Acute Hydrops in Keratoconus.

Purpose: To determine the inflammatory cell and matrix changes in advanced keratoconus, including acute hydrops, using immunohistochemical analysis.

Methods: The corneal tissue from eight subjects with keratoconus undergoing corneal transplantation (three keratoconic buttons, five buttons post acute hydrops—one of them with extensive neovascularization following hydrops) was compared with tissue from two normal corneoscleral rims (n = 10). The corneas were sectioned and analyzed with specific markers for macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and scar associated matrix molecules laminin, fibronectin, tenascin-C, and type III collagen.