Preclinical Efficacy and Safety of VEGF-Grab, a Novel Anti-VEGF Drug, and Its Comparison to Aflibercept.

Purpose: VEGF-Grab is a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) candidate drug with higher affinity to both VEGF and placental growth factor (PlGF) compared to aflibercept. We investigated the preclinical efficacy of VEGF-Grab for ophthalmic therapy and compared it to that of aflibercept.

Methods: The in vitro anti-VEGF efficacy of VEGF-Grab was determined using VEGF-induced cell proliferation/migration and tube formation assays.

A case of melanoma-associated retinopathy with autoantibodies against TRPM1.

Purpose: To report a case of melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) with autoantibodies against the transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 1 (TRPM1) with asymmetric severe vision loss.

Methods: We evaluated a patient with heel skin melanoma showing progressive vision loss in both eyes confirmed with a baseline ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field test, and full-field electroretinogram (ERG). Immunofluorescence assays and western blot analysis revealed autoantibodies in the patient's serum.

Effect of Leukocyte-Rich and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Healing of a Horizontal Medial Meniscus Tear in a Rabbit Model.

There are limited reports on the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on meniscus healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leukocyte-rich PRP (L-PRP) on potential healing of the horizontal medial meniscus tears in a rabbit model. A horizontal medial meniscus tear was created in both knees of nine skeletally mature adult rabbits.

Optimal condition of heparin-conjugated fibrin with bone morphogenetic protein-2 for spinal fusion in a rabbit model.

Background Aims: Heparin-conjugated fibrin (HCF) is a carrier for long-term release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and has been shown to promote bone formation in animal models. We performed an experimental study to determine the optimal dose of BMP-2 with an HCF carrier that promotes bone formation comparable to that of autograft while minimizing complications in spinal fusion.

Methods: Twenty-four rabbits underwent posterolateral fusion of the L5-6 spinal segments.

Enhancement of tendon-bone healing with the use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 inserted into the suture anchor hole in a rabbit patellar tendon model.

Background Aims: Suture anchor fixation failure has been reported as a result of anchor loosening and migration during the tendon-bone repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) inserted into the suture anchor hole on bone formation and the tendon-bone healing.

Methods: Both back legs of 24 New Zealand White rabbits (n = 48) were used in this study.

Combination therapy with BMP-2 and BMSCs enhances bone healing efficacy of PCL scaffold fabricated using the 3D plotting system in a large segmental defect model.

The three-dimensional (3D) plotting system is a rapidly-developing scaffold fabrication method for bone tissue engineering. It yields a highly porous and inter-connective structure without the use of cytotoxic solvents. However, the therapeutic effects of a scaffold fabricated using the 3D plotting system in a large segmental defect model have not yet been demonstrated.

Immobilization of fibronectin onto a large area nanoimprinted polystyrene patterns.

A well known fibrous protein, fibronectin was successfully immobilized onto well-fabricated nanopatterns of polystyrene (PS) substrates. The nanopatterns with finely-defined physical dimensions were obtained by nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) using anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) molds of which the pore sizes were controlled in nanometer scale; 45 nm, 250 nm and 410 nm for the widths and 110 nm and 500 nm for the pitches. Discrete changes of the surface images before and after the protein-adsorption on the patterns were demonstrated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the effect of the patterned features on the immobilization has been investigated and discussed.