Clinical Outcome of Endothelium-Outward Preloaded Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Long-Term Dextran-Containing Transport Medium Preservation.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical outcome of organ-cultured endothelium-outward preloaded DMEK (pDMEK) using the RAPID cartridge.

Methods: This prospective study included 80 eyes of 80 patients who received a pDMEK. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell count (ECC), and central corneal thickness were measured preoperatively and 4 to 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.

Prevalence and Severity of Corneal Guttata After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: The postoperative occurrence of corneal guttae (CG) in patients after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) can lead to a significant reduction in visual acuity (VA) with the subsequent need for repeat DMEK. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and clinical significance of CG in transplanted corneas after DMEK.

Methods: The prevalence and progression of CG after DMEK of 1657 patients were examined using endothelial specular microscopy images.

Impact of Previous Cataract Surgery in Corneal Donors on the Outcome of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate differences between phakic, pseudophakic, and scarred stromal donor tissue for their influence on complication rates during preparation or implantation and on the postoperative outcome of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: We retrospectively compared 484 eyes undergoing DMEK, divided into 3 subgroups of donor tissue (1: phakic, 2: pseudophakic, and 3: scarred stromal). Visual acuity, central corneal thickness (CCT), and endothelial cell count were monitored preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.

Comparison of clinical outcomes after precut DMEK with or without dextran-containing medium compared to standard DMEK: a prospective pilot study.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcome and complication rate of precut Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in two different culture conditions, dextran-containing and dextran-free medium, and compare the results with the current standard DMEK procedure.

Methods: A prospective study of 32 eyes suffering from Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were scheduled for DMEK with a follow-up of one year. The eyes were divided into four subgroups.

Alginate- and Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogels as Vitreous Substitutes: An In Vitro Evaluation.

Purpose: To study alginate- and hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels in vitro as vitreous substitutes.

Methods: Biopolymeric hydrogels based on high-molecular alginate (0.5% and 1.

Cleavage plane after liquid-bubble preparation of Descemet's membrane.

Purpose: To investigate the ultrastructure of the cleavage plane of human cornea after liquid-bubble-prepared tissue for Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: Experimental study with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and block-face SEM of 18 corneal specimens. Fresh human research donor corneoscleral discs (n = 12) were prepared with liquid-bubble technique or examined as untreated controls (n = 3).

Comparison of preloaded grafts for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in a novel preloaded transport cartridge compared to conventional precut grafts.

To determine the safety and graft quality of eye bank precut and preloaded grafts for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) after storage and shipping in a novel preloaded transport cartridge compared to precut grafts in a conventional viewing chamber. In this laboratory proof-of-concept study, 29 human donor corneas that were unsuitable for transplantation with a mean endothelial cell density of 1948 ± 260 cells/mm were prepared using liquid bubble technique for producing precut lamellar grafts. The grafts were either preloaded into novel transport cartridge (n = 16) or transferred into conventional Krolman viewing chamber (control, n = 13).

Analysis of different types of anesthesia in descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and clinical results of descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in topical, peribulbar or general anesthesia.

Methods: This is a retrospective, post hoc matched study of 120 patients having received DMEK surgery with different types of anesthesia (n = 40 topical, n = 40 peribulbar, n = 40 general anesthesia). Endpoint criteria were intraoperative complications, endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness and graft rejection rate, rebubbling rate and best-corrected visual acuity after 1, 3 and 6 months.

Age-Related Loss of Human Vitreal Viscoelasticity.

Purpose: To determine the viscoelasticity of human vitreous bodies and its changes with age in order to benefit the understanding and therapy of vitreoretinal diseases.

Methods: In a postmortem study, 190 human vitreous bodies were extracted from 33- to 92-year-old donors, analyzed with regard to their viscoelastic properties via dynamic mechanical analyses, and compared with bovine and porcine vitreous. Postmortem intervals and donor-related parameters were examined as potential parameters influencing vitreous viscoelasticity.

Significant differences between specular microscopy and corneal bank endothelial cell counts - a pilot study.

Background: It was shown recently that endothelial cell count performed by cornea banks overestimates the real number of endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the internal quality of preclinical ECD in human donor corneas using two widely used methods for endothelial cell counting, transmitted light microscopy used in organ culture tissue bank and clinically used specular microscopy.

Methods: Twenty human donor corneas that could not be transplanted were included in this analysis.

Safety analysis and results of a borosilicate glass cartridge for no-touch graft loading and injection in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome after standardized DMEK using a glass injector.

Methods: A total of 254 patients undergoing DMEK surgery using a disposable DMEK borosilicate glass cartridge system were included in this retrospective study. The mean follow-up time was 13.

Precut DMEK Using Dextran-Containing Storage Medium Is Equivalent to Conventional DMEK: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcome after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) either as precut or conventional Descemet membrane graft preparation under standard European eye bank organ culture conditions.

Methods: This was a prospective pilot study of patients receiving either precut or conventional DMEK. Graft preparation was performed using the liquid bubble technique.

Impact of 10% SF Gas Compared to 100% Air Tamponade in Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes following Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with 100% air tamponade versus 10% sulfur hexafluoride (SF) tamponade.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 108 consecutive DMEK cases subdivided by anterior chamber tamponade with 54 eyes receiving 10% SF and 54 eyes receiving 100% air injection. A post-hoc matched analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups.

Clinical Comparison of Two Methods of Graft Preparation in Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has been improved over the last decade. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of the recently introduced liquid bubble method compared to the standard manual preparation.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the outcome of 200 patients after DMEK surgery using two different graft preparation techniques.

The Calcineurin-Binding, Activity-Dependent Splice Variant Dynamin1xb Is Highly Enriched in Synapses in Various Regions of the Central Nervous System.

In the present study, we generated and characterized a splice site-specific monoclonal antibody that selectively detects the calcineurin-binding dynamin1 splice variant dynamin1xb. Calcineurin is a Ca-regulated phosphatase that enhances dynamin1 activity and is an important Ca-sensing mediator of homeostatic synaptic plasticity in neurons. Using this dynamin1xb-specific antibody, we found dynamin1xb highly enriched in synapses of all analyzed brain regions.

Human NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity is regulated by and potentially targetable through Bruton tyrosine kinase.

Background: The Nod-like receptor NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) are protagonists in innate and adaptive immunity, respectively. NLRP3 senses exogenous and endogenous insults, leading to inflammasome activation, which occurs spontaneously in patients with Muckle-Wells syndrome; BTK mutations cause the genetic immunodeficiency X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). However, to date, few proteins that regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activity in human primary immune cells have been identified, and clinically promising pharmacologic targeting strategies remain elusive.

The Disease Protein Tulp1 Is Essential for Periactive Zone Endocytosis in Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapses.

Mutations in the Tulp1 gene cause severe, early-onset retinitis pigmentosa (RP14) in humans. In the retina, Tulp1 is mainly expressed in photoreceptors that use ribbon synapses to communicate with the inner retina. In the present study, we demonstrate that Tulp1 is highly enriched in the periactive zone of photoreceptor presynaptic terminals where Tulp1 colocalizes with major endocytic proteins close to the synaptic ribbon.

ArfGAP3 is a component of the photoreceptor synaptic ribbon complex and forms an NAD(H)-regulated, redox-sensitive complex with RIBEYE that is important for endocytosis.

Ribbon synapses are tonically active synapses in the retina and inner ear with intense vesicle traffic. How this traffic is organized and regulated is still unknown. Synaptic ribbons, large presynaptic structures associated with numerous synaptic vesicles, appear to be essential for this process.

A local, periactive zone endocytic machinery at photoreceptor synapses in close vicinity to synaptic ribbons.

Photoreceptor ribbon synapses are continuously active synapses with large active zones that contain synaptic ribbons. Synaptic ribbons are anchored to the active zones and are associated with large numbers of synaptic vesicles. The base of the ribbon that is located close to L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels is a hotspot of exocytosis.

Global detection of protein kinase D-dependent phosphorylation events in nocodazole-treated human cells.

Protein kinase D (PKD) is a cytosolic serine/threonine kinase implicated in regulation of several cellular processes such as response to oxidative stress, directed cell migration, invasion, differentiation, and fission of the vesicles at the trans-Golgi network. Its variety of functions must be mediated by numerous substrates; however, only a couple of PKD substrates have been identified so far. Here we perform stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture-based quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis to detect phosphorylation events dependent on PKD1 activity in human cells.

EF hand-mediated Ca- and cGMP-signaling in photoreceptor synaptic terminals.

Photoreceptors, the light-sensitive receptor neurons of the retina, receive and transmit a plethora of visual informations from the surrounding world. Photoreceptors capture light and convert this energy into electrical signals that are conveyed to the inner retina. For synaptic communication with the inner retina, photoreceptors make large active zones that are marked by synaptic ribbons.

An N-terminally truncated envelope protein encoded by a human endogenous retrovirus W locus on chromosome Xq22.3.

Background: We previously showed that the envelope (env) sequence of a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-W locus on chromosome Xq22.3 is transcribed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The env open reading frame (ORF) of this locus is interrupted by a premature stop at codon 39, but otherwise harbors a long ORF for an N-terminally truncated 475 amino acid Env protein, starting at an in-frame ATG at codon 68.

Human endogenous retrovirus family HERV-K(HML-2) RNA transcripts are selectively packaged into retroviral particles produced by the human germ cell tumor line Tera-1 and originate mainly from a provirus on chromosome 22q11.21.

The human germ cell tumor line Tera-1 produces retroviral particles which are encoded by the human endogenous retrovirus family HERV-K(HML-2). We show here, by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, that HML-2 gag and env RNA transcripts are selectively packaged into Tera-1 retroviral particles, whereas RNAs from cellular housekeeping genes and from other HERV families (HERV-H and HERV-W) are nonselectively copackaged. Assignment of cloned HML-2 gag and env cDNAs from Tera-1 retroviral particles to individual HML-2 loci in the human genome demonstrated that HML-2 RNA transcripts packaged into Tera-1 retroviral particles originate almost exclusively from an HML-2 provirus on chromosome 22q11.