Self-Retained Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane for the Management of Corneal Ulcers.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of self-retained cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cAM) for the treatment of corneal ulcers.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective review of consecutive patients with non-healing corneal ulcers that underwent treatment with self-retained cAM (PROKERA Slim). The primary outcome measure was time to complete corneal epithelialization.

New use of 8-0 polypropylene suture for four-point scleral fixation of secondary intraocular lenses.

We describe 4-point scleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) using 8-0 polypropylene (Prolene) sutures, without the handshake technique. First, 4 sclerotomy sites are marked 2.5 mm from the limbus, and 2 scleral grooves are created in between.

Treatment outcomes in the DRy Eye Amniotic Membrane (DREAM) study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in a large patient population.

Methods: A retrospective chart review at 10 clinical sites was done of patients with refractory DED who received CAM and completed at least 3 months of follow-up. Data collected were demographics; medical history including previous and current ocular treatment, diagnosis, clinical presentations, comorbidity, duration and frequency of treatment with CAM; and concomitant medications.

Corneal Nerve Regeneration after Self-Retained Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane in Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of self-retained cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in promoting corneal nerve regeneration and improving corneal sensitivity in dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, subjects with DED were randomized to receive CAM (study group) or conventional maximum treatment (control). Changes in signs and symptoms, corneal sensitivity, topography, and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) were evaluated at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months.

Cryopreserved human umbilical cord versus biocellulose film for prenatal spina bifida repair in a physiologic rat model.

Background: Prenatal spina bifida (SB) repair with a regenerative patch may improve neurological outcomes by decreasing inflammatory scarring.

Objective: This study aims to compare cryopreserved human umbilical cord (HUC) and biocellulose film (BCF) patches sutured over SB lesions for regeneration of native cells and inflammatory response.

Study Design: Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with retinoic acid (RA) on embryonic day 10 to induce SB.

Cryopreserved human umbilical cord patch for in-utero spina bifida repair.

Objective: To identify a patch system to repair surgically created spina bifida in a sheep model for its efficacy in healing the skin defect, protecting the underlying spinal cord and reducing the Chiari II malformation.

Methods: Spina bifida was created surgically in 16 fetuses from eight timed-pregnant sheep at gestational age of 75 days. Two fetuses did not survive the procedure.

Accelerated Restoration of Ocular Surface Health in Dry Eye Disease by Self-Retained Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of self-retained cryopreserved amniotic membrane in treating dry eye disease.

Methods: Retrospective review of 10 patients treated with self-retained cryopreserved amniotic membrane (PROKERA® Slim [PKS], Bio-Tissue, Miami, FL) for moderate-to-severe dry eye refractory to conventional maximal medical treatments. Patients' symptoms, use of medications, conjunctival inflammation, corneal staining, and visual acuity were compared before and after treatment.

Down-regulation of Pax6 is associated with abnormal differentiation of corneal epithelial cells in severe ocular surface diseases.

Pax6 is the universal master control gene for eye morphogenesis. Other than retina and lens, Pax6 also expressed in the ocular surface epithelium from early gestation until the postnatal stage, in which little is known about the function of Pax6. In this study, corneal pannus tissues from patients with ocular surface diseases such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), chemical burn, aniridia and recurrent pterygium were investigated.

How does amniotic membrane work?

Transplantation of amniotic membrane as a temporary or permanent graft promotes epithelial wound healing and exerts potent anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects on the ocular surface. These actions depend on the killing of allogeneic amniotic cells and preservation of the cytokine-containing matrix during the preparation of the amniotic membrane. This review describes how these actions inherently operate in utero and how amniotic membrane transplantation aims to recreate such a fetal environment to exert these actions by insulating the surgical site from the host environment.

Niche regulation of corneal epithelial stem cells at the limbus.

Among all adult somatic stem cells, those of the corneal epithelium are unique in their exclusive location in a defined limbal structure termed Palisades of Vogt. As a result, surgical engraftment of limbal epithelial stem cells with or without ex vivo expansion has long been practiced to restore sights in patients inflicted with limbal stem cell deficiency. Nevertheless, compared to other stem cell examples, relatively little is known about the limbal niche, which is believed to play a pivotal role in regulating self-renewal and fate decision of limbal epithelial stem cells.

Basement membrane dissolution and reassembly by limbal corneal epithelial cells expanded on amniotic membrane.

Purpose: To investigate basement membrane (BM) formation during ex vivo expansion of limbal corneal epithelial cells on intact amniotic membrane (iAM) and epithelially denuded (d)AM.

Methods: Human limbal explants were cultured on iAM and dAM. Expression of BM components, including laminin-5, type IV collagen, type VII collagen, perlecan, integrin alpha6, and epithelial cell differentiation markers such as p63, cytokeratin 3 (K3), and cytokeratin 12 (K12), were investigated by immunostaining.