In Vitro Study of the Deturgescence Ability of Cultivated Human Corneal Endothelial Cells.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficiency of cultivated human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) to dehydrate the cornea, using models of the posterior cornea, composed of artificial collagen mass (to represent corneal stroma) and equine collagen membranes (to represent Descemet membrane).

Methods: HCECs were isolated from donor corneal rings and cultivated at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 95% humidified air. The study design included 4 different sets of models: in set 1, the HCECs were placed directly on the collagen mass complex; in set 2, HCECs were placed on a thin equine collagen membrane and laid over the collagen mass; in set 3, HCECs were placed on a thick equine collagen membrane laid over the collagen mass; and in set 4 (the control group), the hydrophilic collagen mass was left alone to interact with the nutritional medium.

The toxic effect of air on primary human retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Purpose: To investigate the toxic effect of air on primary human retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) over time.

Methods: RPE cultures were retrieved from six donor eyes and cultivated at 37 °C in 5% CO(2) and 95% humidified air. The RPE were divided in six groups with each group containing four samples.

Morphological changes and viability of primary cultured human ocular trabecular meshwork cells after exposure to air.

Purpose: To investigate the possible toxic effect of air exposure for an in vitro model of primary human ocular trabecular meshwork cells (HTM).

Methods: HTM were isolated from five donor eyes and cultivated at 37 °C. After reaching confluence the cells were seeded on two well chamber slides.

A novel mechanism of UV-A and riboflavin-mediated corneal cross-linking through induction of tissue transglutaminases.

Purpose: Collagen cross-linking using UV-A irradiation combined with the photosensitizer riboflavin is a new technique for treating progressive keratoconus. The purposes of this study were to examine whether primary human corneal keratocytes (HCKs) are capable of expressing and secreting fibronectin and tissue transglutaminase (tTgase), an enzyme cross-linking extracellular matrix protein, and to examine whether fibronectin and tTgase are increased after the treatment of HCK cells with UV-A irradiation combined with riboflavin (RFUV-A), thus providing another possible physiological mechanism of the cross-linking pathway.

Methods: Cell cultures established from HCKs were treated with 0.

Air toxicity for primary human-cultured corneal endothelial cells: an in vitro model.

Purpose: To investigate the possible toxic effect of air exposure for an in vitro model of primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs).

Methods: Primary HCECs were isolated from donor corneal rings and cultivated at 37°C in 5% CO2 and 95% humidified air. Six groups of HCEC cultures were set up, and 4 samples were enclosed in each group: group 1 consisted of samples in which HCECs were exposed to air for 30 minutes.

Time-dependent morphological alterations and viability of cultured human trabecular cells after exposure to Trypan blue.

Background: To determine the time-dependent toxicity of Trypan blue at 0.06% concentration in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells.

Methods: Human trabecular meshwork cells cultured in vitro were exposed to Trypan blue and acute toxicity was evaluated.

Descemet's membrane substrate from human donor lens anterior capsule.

Background: To study the potential use of human donor anterior lens capsule as a Descemet's membrane substrate.

Methods: Anterior lens capsules were recovered from the lenses of 30 cornea donors. Human corneal endothelial cells were recovered from the remaining corneal sclera rims of 15 donor corneas used for penetrating keratoplasty.

The role of alkylphosphocholines in retinal Müller glial cell proliferation.

Purpose: Alkylphosphocholines (APCs) are investigated for their effect on Müller glial cell proliferation and F-actin stress fiber distribution in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Müller cells were incubated with APCs (C18:1-PC and C22:1-PC) +/- fetal calf serum. Proliferation was assessed by BrdU labeling and with the tetrazolium dye-reduction assay.

Epi-LASIK using the Amadeus II microkeratome: evaluation of cut quality using light and electron microscopy.

Purpose: To investigate the cut quality and surface characteristics of the epithelial flap and underlying Bowman's membrane created by the Amadeus II (AMO) microkeratome on human corneas using light and electron microscopy.

Setting: Center for Refractive Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.

Methods: Using a 9.

Eccentric lamellar keratolimbal grafts harvested with a manually guided microkeratome. Technical report.

Background: To perform lamellar keratolimbal allograft transplantation in a one-step procedure with a single graft, we investigated the feasibility of harvesting eccentric lamellar keratolimbal grafts from conventionally processed corneoscleral buttons using a manually guided microkeratome in conjunction with an artificial anterior chamber system.

Methods: We used the Moria LSK-One microkeratome and the automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK) system (Antony, France). Ten human donor eyes were used to obtain single-piece lamellar keratolimbal grafts.

Endothelial cell density in donor corneas: a comparison of automatic software programs with manual counting.

Purpose: Several automated systems have become available to determine endothelial cell density (ECD) of donor corneas. The purpose of this study was the comparison of 2 systems, the Endothelial Analysis System EAT V1.4 (Rhinetec, Duesseldorf, Germany) and the NAVIS Cell Count Version 3.

Keratinocyte transglutaminase in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is an excessive wound-healing process and the major complication in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The present study was designed to investigate the expression of keratinocyte transglutaminase (kTgase) in PVR membranes and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and to evaluate its expression in response to growth factors known to be increased in PVR disease.

Methods: Distribution of kTgase and its relation to fibronectin have been investigated immunohistochemically.

An evaluation of novel vital dyes for intraocular surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate systematically the staining characteristics and safety of potential new dyes for intraocular surgery.

Methods: Six dyes were included in the investigation: light green SF (LGSF) yellowish, E68, bromophenol blue (BPB), Chicago blue (CB), rhodamine 6G, rhodulinblau-basic 3 (RDB-B3). All dyes were dissolved and diluted in a balanced saline saline solution.

Absence of scar formation in human donor cornea with prior laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To investigate transglutaminases (enzymes capable of cross-linking extracellular matrix proteins to proteolysis-resistant complexes during scar tissue formation) in a human donor cornea after successful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) without clinical complications and to compare with the results in a human donor cornea with corneal scarring after corneal injury.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.

Methods: A donor cornea with prior uneventful LASIK treatment and 1 with corneal scarring after penetrating injury were investigated.

Alkylphosphocholines: a new therapeutic option in glaucoma filtration surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of alkylphosphocholines (APCs) on human Tenon fibroblast (HTF) proliferation, migration, and cell-mediated collagen gel contraction.

Methods: HTFs were isolated from tissue samples of three patients obtained during surgery and cultured in DMEM and 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). HTFs (passage 3-6) were treated with one APC in different concentrations spanning the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)), as determined previously.

Detection of laser in situ keratomileusis in a postmortem eye using optical coherence tomography.

With more individuals having laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), eye banks are challenged to detect prior refractive surgery in donor tissue. We report the case of a donor who had LASIK 9 months before his death. Slitlamp biomicroscopy, corneal topography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed to evaluate the corneas.

Influence of argon laser trabeculoplasty on transforming growth factor-beta 2 concentration and bleb scarring following trabeculectomy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of previous argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) on transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) concentration of the aqueous humor and its influence on bleb scarring after trabeculectomy.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 29 patients with exfoliation (XFS) glaucoma were recruited for this prospective study before undergoing trabeculectomy. Sixty to 200 micro l of aqueous humor were analyzed for total and biologically active TGF-beta 2 concentrations (R and D Systems).

Optical coherence tomography for the detection of laser in situ keratomileusis in donor corneas.

Purpose: In 2001, more than one million laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedures were performed worldwide. Considering the increasing number of refractive procedures, eye banks will be increasingly confronted with the problem of how to identify those donors with prior refractive surgery. To date, efficient screening methods to identify LASIK surgery in donor eyes have not been established.

Toxic eosinophil granule protein deposition in corneal ulcerations and scars associated with atopic keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: Recurrent or persistent corneal erosions and ulcerations are typical complications of atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Toxic eosinophil granule proteins such as major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) may be involved in this pathogenetic process. This study was designed to demonstrate the presence of toxic eosinophil granule proteins in corneal tissue from a patient with corneal complications of atopic keratoconjunctivitis.