Clinical efficacy of a new surgical technique of oral mucosal epithelial transplantation for severe ocular surface disorders.

Background: Severe ocular surface disorders are one of the major blinding diseases, and a paucity of original tissue obscures successful reconstruction. We developed a new surgical technique of direct oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (OMET) to reconstruct severely damaged ocular surfaces in 2011. This study elaborates on the clinical efficacy of OMET.

Corneal endothelial regeneration in human eyes using endothelium-free grafts.

Background: To report on corneal endothelial regeneration, graft clarity, and vision recovery when using endothelium-free grafts.

Methods: We evaluated the donor's cell viability using trypan blue staining and dual staining with calcein acetoxy methyl ester and ethidium homodimer-1. To preserve eyeball integrity, we performed therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty using cryopreserved donor tissue without endothelium on 195 consecutive patients who suffered from corneal perforation due to progressive primary corneal disease such as herpes simplex keratitis, fungal keratitis, ocular thermal burns, keratoconus, and phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis.

Anti-fibrosis potential of pirarubicin via inducing apoptotic and autophagic cell death in rabbit conjunctiva.

This study investigated the potential efficacy of pirarubicin (THP) in modulating rabbit conjunctival fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo and characterized the underlying mechanisms. Primary rabbit conjunctival fibroblasts (RCF) were cultured and treated with THP or mitomycin C (MMC) for 5 min, followed by assaying for cell viability, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic and autophagic pathways. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chemotaxis of macrophages by RCF were evaluated using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) labeling and transwell migration assay, respectively.

New histopathologic and ultrastructural findings in Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy caused by the Arg124Leu mutation of TGFBI gene.

Background: Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (RBCD) was consistently reported as a corneal dystrophy only affected Bowman's layer and superficial corneal stroma, and superficial keratectomy was a recommendation surgery for treatment in literatures. The study reported new histopathological and ultrastructural findings in RBCD caused by the Arg124Leu mutation of transforming growth factor induced (TGFBI) gene in a four-generation Chinese pedigree.

Methods: Subjects including eight patients and seven unaffected family members received slit-lamp biomicroscopy and photography.

The role of ultraviolet radiation in the pathogenesis of pterygia (Review).

Pterygium is a common ophthalmic disease affecting humans only. Extensive epidemiological data have demonstrated a causative effect of chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation on pterygia. Progress has been made in determining the origin of pterygia, their nasal predilection and wing‑shaped appearance, and the roles of UV radiation in the initiation and the development of pterygia.

Peripheral deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty using a cryopreserved donor cornea for Terrien's marginal degeneration.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of peripheral deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using a cryopreserved donor cornea for Terrien's marginal degeneration (TMD).

Methods: Thirty-one eyes of 27 patients with TMD underwent peripheral DALK using cryopreserved donor corneas. According to the distance between the inner edge of the lesion and the limbus, a ring-shaped or D-shaped DALK was performed.

Mycotic keratitis caused by concurrent infections of Exserohilum mcginnisii and Candida parapsilosis.

Background: Mycotic keratitis in human cornea has been rarely reported to be associated with a co-infection of filamentous fungi and yeast. This paper aims to report a case of mycotic keratitis concurrently infected by Exserohilum mcginnisii and Candida parapsilosis.

Case Presentation: A Chinese female presented two superposed corneal infiltrates with different size and texture on her left eye.

Long-term comparison of full-bed deep lamellar keratoplasty with penetrating keratoplasty in treating corneal leucoma caused by herpes simplex keratitis.

Purpose: To compare long-term outcomes of full-bed deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK) with penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for treating corneal leucoma caused by herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

Design: Retrospective, comparative, interventional case series.

Methods: setting: Institutional.

Low levels of hydrogen peroxide stimulate corneal epithelial cell adhesion, migration, and wound healing.

Purpose: Intracellular reactive oxygen species have been reported to associate with growth factor and integrin signalings in promoting cell adhesion in many cell types. This study is to explore if exogenous H(2)O(2) at low levels can be beneficial to cell adhesion, migration, and wound healing.

Methods: Primary rabbit corneal epithelial cells treated with 0-70 μM H(2)O(2) were tested for viability by MTT assay, adhesion by centrifugation assay, focal contacts of vinculin and F-actin by immunofluorescence, activated Src(pY416), EGF receptor (pY845), vinculin(pY1065), FAK(pY397), and FAK(pY576) by immunoblotting.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential mediators in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated corneal epithelial cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and wound healing.

EGF is an essential growth factor needed for epithelial cell proliferation and wound healing of the cornea, but the molecular mechanism is not understood. Although studies have shown that EGF in some non-phagocytic cells induces ROS generation, little is known about the role of ROS in corneal epithelial cells. Therefore, we examined the potential physiological role of ROS in corneal cell proliferation, adhesion and wound healing using rabbit or human corneal epithelial cells, and pig whole cornea organ culture as models.

Recurrence of lattice corneal dystrophy caused by incomplete removal of stroma after deep lamellar keratoplasty.

Purpose: To report clinical and histopathological characteristics of postoperative amyloidosis recurrence in a patient with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) type I.

Methods: The clinical manifestation of recurrent amyloidosis in the residual stroma was delineated in a patient with LCD type I after deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) for 6.5 years.

[Optical penetrating keratoplasty in eyes with severe keratomycosis after therapeutic keratoplasty].

Objective: To observe and evaluate secondary optical penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in the eyes with severe keratomycosis after therapeutic keratoplasty using cryopreserved donor tissue.

Method: There were 35 eyes in 35 cases for whom therapeutic PKP using cryopreserved donor tissue had been carried out to treat severe fungal keratitis. At least 6 months after the PKP, when the fungal infection had been eradicated and ocular inflammation had resolved, a secondary optical penetrating keratoplasty was further performed for visual rehabilitation.

Fungal spectrum identified by a new slide culture and in vitro drug susceptibility using Etest in fungal keratitis.

Purpose: To investigate the spectrum of fungal species causing keratitis and to test antifungal drug susceptibility to each isolate using Etest.

Methods: Microbial cultures were performed for patients who were clinically diagnosed with fungal keratitis between September 2002 and July 2004. Modified slide culture was established to identify the fungal species of the isolates.

Mitomycin C, amniotic membrane transplantation and limbal conjunctival autograft for treating multirecurrent pterygia with symblepharon and motility restriction.

Background: Treatment of eyes with multirecurrent pterygia associated with severe symblepharon and motility restriction is challenging. A combined surgical procedure of intraoperative mitomycin C, amniotic membrane transplantation and conjunctival limbal autograft was applied for treating such eyes.

Methods: Seven eyes of seven patients who had previously undergone an average of four operations for pterygial removal and who manifested recurrent pterygia associated with severe symblepharon and motility restriction were involved in this retrospective study.