ROCK Inhibitor Enhances Resilience Against Metabolic Stress Through Increasing Bioenergetic Capacity in Corneal Endothelial Cells.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 on bioenergetic capacity and resilience of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) under metabolic stress.

Methods: Bovine CECs (BCECs) were treated with Y27632 and subjected to bioenergetic profiling using the Seahorse XFp Analyzer. The effects on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis were measured.

Comparison of One-Year Outcome of Intravitreal Aflibercept with or without Photodynamic Therapy for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

: Our study compared the visual and anatomical outcomes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients receiving intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) with or without photodynamic therapy (PDT) over 12 months. : This retrospective study was performed for 60 eyes from 60 patients with treatment-naïve PCV. Thirty eyes were treated using IVA monotherapy (IVA group), and thirty eyes were treated using a combination of IVA with PDT (IVA/PDT group).

Self-limited corneal ectasia in a post-LASIK eye after cataract surgery: A case report.

Introduction: To present a case with a history of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) developing central conic protrusion after phacoemulsification cataract surgery, which spontaneously resolved 5 months postoperatively.

Patient Concerns: A 55-year-old female who underwent myopic LASIK surgery 10 years ago presented to the clinic with bilateral cataracts and without ectasia. Following phacoemulsification cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in the right eye, the patient experienced a significant increase in spherical equivalent and corneal astigmatism.

Diffuse lamellar keratitis as a rare complication of diamond burr superficial keratectomy for recurrent corneal erosion: a case report.

Background: To present a case with a history of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) developing diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) after diamond burr superficial keratectomy (DBSK) for recurrent corneal erosion (RCE).

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old man presented with multiple episodes of RCE one year after femtosecond-assisted LASIK for myopia correction. Because conservative treatments failed to halt the repetitive attack of RCE, he underwent epithelial debridement and DBSK.

Inhibition of Rho-associated protein kinase activity enhances oxidative phosphorylation to support corneal endothelial cell migration.

Corneal endothelial cell (CEC) dysfunction causes corneal edema and severe visual impairment that require transplantation to restore vision. To address the unmet need of organ shortage, descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty has been specifically employed to treat early stage Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, which is pathophysiologically related to oxidative stress and exhibits centrally located corneal guttae. After stripping off central Descemet's membrane, rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor has been found to facilitate CEC migration, an energy-demanding task, thereby achieving wound closure.

Predictability of 6 Intraocular Lens Power Calculation Formulas in People With Very High Myopia.

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of 6 intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas in predicting refractive outcomes in extremely long eyes.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Comparison of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant and Ranibizumab in Vitrectomized Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) for pseudophakic vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) in a single institution.

Methods: Pseudophakic vitrectomized eyes with treatment-naïve center-involved DME were enrolled, with one eye in each patient. They were divided into two groups: one group receiving IDI every 3 to 4 months and another group receiving IVR using 3 monthly plus treat-and-extend injections, all with monthly follow-up for 6 months.

Characteristics of tear film lipid layer in young dry eye patients.

Background/purpose: To investigate the characteristics of subjective symptoms and objective parameters among young patients with dry eye disease (DED) and compare them with those of older patients.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 675 patients with DED who were divided into three age groups (20-41 years [younger], 41-60 years [middle], and >60 years [older]) (n = 143, 304, and 228, respectively). Subjective symptoms were evaluated using Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires.

Exploring a peptidomimetic approach of N-cadherin in modulating fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling for corneal endothelial regeneration.

Endothelial rejection and a critical shortage of corneal transplants present an unmet medical need in corneal regeneration research area. Although basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogenic factor for corneal ex vivo expansion, it is also a morphogen eliciting unfavorable endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EnMT) of corneal endothelial cells. A pharmacological reagent that retains the beneficial proliferative effect while lacking the EnMT effect of bFGF would be of great potential in corneal regeneration.

Mitomycin C modulates intracellular matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and affects corneal fibroblast migration.

Mitomycin C (MMC) is often used to prevent postoperative corneal haze and subconjunctival fibrosis in ocular surgery. It also affects the motility and viability of the residual ocular cells, including corneal stromal cells. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) contributes to the promotion of cell movement in macrophage and cancer cells, but the intracellular role of MMP-9 remained unclear.

Targeting non-muscle myosin II promotes corneal endothelial migration through regulating lamellipodial dynamics.

Corneal endothelial cell (CEC) dysfunction causes corneal edema that may lead to blindness. In addition to corneal transplantation, simple descemetorhexis has been proposed to treat centrally located disease with adequate peripheral cell reserve, but promoting the centripetal migration of CECs is pivotal to this strategy. Here, we show that targeting non-muscle myosin II (NMII) activity by Y27632, a ROCK inhibitor, or blebbistatin, a selective NMII inhibitor, promotes directional migration of CECs and accelerates in vitro wound healing.

Isotopic dilution assay development of nisin A in cream cheese, mascarpone, processed cheese and ripened cheese by LC-MS/MS method.

The current food safety concern for food integrity demands the availability of an accurate, easy and reliable analytical tool for assay development of nisin A in cheese. To address this, we report the application of isotopically labelled peptide sequence MSTKDFNLDLVSVSKKDSGASP(R) (without thioether bridges) as internal standard for determination of nisin A in cream cheese, mascarpone, processed cheese and ripened cheese without the need for matrix-matched calibration by triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Full method validation was performed according to the modified Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria and method robustness was checked on 10 random cheese samples.

Evaluation of Patent Blue as the Vital Dye in an Animal Model of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of patent blue (PB) as the vital dye in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: Bovine corneal endothelial cells were incubated with different concentrations (0.02%-2.

Infrared thermography in the evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Background/purpose: To evaluate meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) by infrared thermography.

Methods: An observational study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Participants included 89 MGD patients (30 in Grade 1, 49 in Grade 2, and 10 in Grade 3) and 65 controls.

In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study Corneal Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition.

Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) play a crucial role in maintaining corneal clarity through active pumping. A reduced CEC count may lead to corneal edema and diminished visual acuity. However, human CECs are prone to compromised proliferative potential.

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity reverses corneal endothelial-mesenchymal transition.

Ex vivo culture or regeneration of corneal endothelial cells often is subjected to gradual endothelial-mesenchymal transition and loss of function. Here, we found that during ex vivo culture, bovine corneal endothelial cells underwent endothelial-mesenchymal transition and had an up-regulated expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity in confluent bovine corneal endothelial cells decreased the level of endothelial-mesenchymal transition regulators: snail and slug.

Phenotypes of trypsin- and collagenase-prepared bovine corneal endothelial cells in the presence of a selective Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632.

Purpose: To optimize isolation of viable bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCECs), we evaluated the effectiveness of various preparation protocols. This entailed comparing the effects of collagenase A and trypsin in the presence and absence of a Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, on proliferation and tight junctional and cytoskeletal integrity during their expansion.

Methods: 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation evaluated cell proliferation.

Correlations among ocular surface temperature difference value, the tear meniscus height, Schirmer's test and fluorescein tear film break up time.

Purpose: To report the use of a thermographer for measuring ocular surface temperature, and to evaluate the correlation among the obtained temperature difference values (TDVs) and dry eye parameters (tear meniscus height (TMH); Schirmer's test results; fluorescent tear breakup time (FTBUT)).

Methods: Forty-three participants (age 40.2±14.

Dexamethasone modifies mitomycin C-triggered interleukin-8 secretion in isolated human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts.

Intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) is widely used to prevent pterygium recurrence and glaucoma filtering bleb failure, but it has been shown to induce corneal inflammation and cell death. Postoperative dexamethasone (DEX) is advocated to reduce MMC-related inflammation and cell death in corneal fibroblasts. Nevertheless, its long-term regulation mechanism in Tenon's capsule remains to be explored.

Enhanced corneal wound healing with hyaluronic acid and high-potassium artificial tears.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic role of preservative-free artificial tears containing hyaluronic acid and high potassium ion concentration (HA/high-K artificial tears) on mechanically scraped or alkali-induced corneal epithelial defects in rats.

Methods: We created mechanically scraped epithelial defects on the corneas of 24 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (three groups of eight rats) and alkali-induced epithelial defects on the corneas of 27 SD rats (three groups of nine rats). Then we applied topical 0.