Publications by authors named "Thamara A Cafaro"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to see if the genetic background of individuals affects the occurrence and susceptibility to climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK), a degenerative corneal disease, in the Mapuche people of Argentina.
  • Researchers analyzed mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome variation in 53 individuals, comparing 29 patients with CDK to 24 control subjects to assess genetic ancestry.
  • Findings showed almost all individuals had Native American maternal ancestry, with no significant difference in mitochondrial DNA haplogroups between groups; Y-chromosome differences were noted, but did not correlate with CDK incidence or severity, suggesting genetics may not play a major role in the disease.
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Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is a degenerative disease of the cornea with possible involvement from matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, the authors investigated histologic distribution, levels, and molecular forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as tear fluid levels of MMPs and cytokines in CDK patients. They additionally examined UV-B-irradiation effect on production of gelatinases and cytokines by human corneal epithelial (HCE) cell culture model.

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Purpose: In the visually debilitating condition of climatic droplet keratopathy, corneal transparency is progressively lost. Although the precise cause of the disease and the mechanism by which it progresses are not known, a lifetime exposure to high solar radiation and a vitamin C-deficient diet may be involved in its development. This study examines the effect of dietary ascorbate levels and ultraviolet (UV)-B exposure on corneal stromal structure.

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Purpose: To determine levels of Peptidyl arginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) and its product protein-bound citrulline in cadaver eyes that suffered from normal tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and controls.

Methods: Western analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed with human tissues.

Results: We report over expression of PAD2 and higher levels of its product protein-bound citrulline in the optic nerve of normal tension glaucoma patients (NTG).

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Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired corneal disease characterized by progressive scarring of the cornea. In several corneal diseases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated during the degradation of epithelial and stromal tissues. We investigated the levels, degree of activation and molecular forms of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8 and MMP-13 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tear fluid of patients with CDK.

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Glycoproteins are potentially important biomarkers of disease and therapeutic targets. In particular, the N-linked glycoproteins are a focus of interest as they can be found in the extracellular environment and body fluids. In this study, we have sampled the tears, the extracellular fluid of the epithelial cells covering the surface of the eye, of patients with climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) using tears of unaffected normal patients for comparison.

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Objective: To describe the functional and structural characteristics of the cornea in healthy Guinea pigs.

Animals Studied: Healthy male and female pigmented and albino Guinea pigs (Caviaporcellus) aged 3-5 months old were used.

Procedures: The animals' corneas underwent different in vivo studies including: slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein staining (FS), break-up time test (BUT), confocal microscopy and pachymetry.

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Purpose: To identify the proteins in the corneal droplets of climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK), a disease that results in the formation of droplets on the cornea. Progressive accumulation of droplets in CDK leads to visual loss.

Methods: Proteomic mass spectrometry of the CDK specimens was performed after fractionation of proteins in 4% to 20% SDS-polyacrylamide gels.

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