Differential Expression of Stem Cell Markers in Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia.

Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasm (OSSN) is the neoplasia arising from the conjunctiva, cornea and limbus. OSSN ranges from mild, moderate, severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Recent findings on cancer stem cells theory indicate that population of stem-like cell as in neoplasia determines its heterogeneity and complexity leading to varying tumor development of metastatic behavior and recurrence.

Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation: Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in 125 Cases of Unilateral Chronic Ocular Surface Burns.

Purpose: This study describes the long-term clinical outcomes of autologous simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET), a relatively new technique of limbal stem cell transplantation.

Design: This was a single-center prospective interventional cases series.

Participants: This study included 125 patients, 65 adults and 60 children who developed unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) after suffering with ocular surface burns and underwent SLET between 2010 and 2014.

Recognition of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum by Toll-like receptors and up-regulation of antimicrobial peptides in human corneal epithelial cells.

Bacterial keratitis is a major cause of corneal ulcers in developing and industrialized nations. In this study, we examined the host innate immune responses to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, often overlooked as commensal, in human corneal epithelial cells. The expressions of innate immune mediators were determined by quantitative PCR from corneal ulcers of patients and immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC).

Mutations in the Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy-Associated Gene SLC4A11 Render the Cells More Vulnerable to Oxidative Insults.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of mutations in SLC4A11 on cellular localization of the protein, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis due to oxidative stress. Mutations in SLC4A11 have been associated with 2 different forms of corneal endothelial dystrophy that lead to degeneration of the corneal endothelium, causing opacity of the cornea and gradual vision loss.

Methods: HEK 293 cells were transfected with wild-type SLC4A11 or mutants, Ser213Leu, Arg233Cys, Gly418Asp, and Thr584Lys, and exposed to oxidative stress.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the management of exogenous bacterial endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the management of bacterial endophthalmitis.

Design: Interventional case series.

Methods: This pilot case series included five patients (three patients after trauma and two patients after cataract surgery) with culture proven bacterial endophthalmitis.

Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus-1 keratitis: comparison of Giemsa stain, immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction.

Purpose: To evaluate three different diagnostic tests against the gold standard of viral isolation, in the diagnosis of HSV-1 keratitis.

Methods: Corneal scrapings from 170 patients with clinically suspected HSV keratitis were tested by; 1) Giemsa staining procedure for the presence of multinucleated giant cells and lymphocytes, 2) immunofluorescence assay for HSV-1 antigen, 3) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HSV-1 DNA and 4) virus isolation by shell vial culture in SIRC (Rabbit corneal epithelial cell line). The results of the former three tests were compared among 14 cases that were culture positive and 156 cases that were culture negative for HSV-1.

Comparison of an immortalized human corneal epithelial cell line with Vero cells in the isolation of Herpes simplex virus-1 for the laboratory diagnosis of Herpes simplex keratitis.

Background: Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is a sight threatening ocular infection often requiring a specific and prompt laboratory diagnosis. Isolation of Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) in culture provides the most reliable and specific method and is considered as the "Gold Standard" in the laboratory diagnosis of HSK in spite of its low sensitivity. Using "cell lines of corneal origin" for virus isolation may be beneficial under such circumstances, since these cells have been shown to be excellent substrates for the growth of HSV-1 isolated from the cornea.