Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Feb 2010
Comparative StudyComparison of fresh corneal tissue versus glycerin-cryopreserved corneal tissue in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.
To compare the microstructural differences in fresh corneal tissue (FCT) with glycerin-cryopreserved corneal tissue (GCCT) used during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). ⋯ DALK using GCCT provides clinical results comparable to FCT. GCCT can be used safely and effectively for DALK and may minimize stromal rejection after surgery.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Jan 2010
ERK- and Akt-dependent neuroprotection by erythropoietin (EPO) against glyoxal-AGEs via modulation of Bcl-xL, Bax, and BAD.
To characterize the neuroprotective mechanisms of erythropoietin (EPO) against the stress of glyoxal-advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in retinal neuronal cells. ⋯ These data demonstrate that exogenous EPO significantly attenuates the retinal neuronal cell death induced by glyoxal-AGEs by promoting antiapoptotic and suppressing apoptotic proteins. EPO/EPO receptor signaling through ERK and Akt pathways is pivotal in EPO neuroprotective mechanisms.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Dec 2009
Role of formation of an ERK-FAK-paxillin complex in migration of human corneal epithelial cells during wound closure in vitro.
Migration of corneal epithelial cells is an important step in the corneal wound healing. The role of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) for the regulation of cell migration during wound closure was examined. ⋯ ERK regulates cell migration during wound healing in vitro by modulating the phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin and the consequent formation of focal adhesions. An ERK-FAK-paxillin signaling pathway may play an important role in corneal epithelial wound healing in vivo.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Nov 2009
Effects of an antagonist of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in an animal model of uveitis.
Some studies have shown the role of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on the production and release of cytokines both in animal models and in humans with inflammatory diseases, but there are no reports on the effects of GRP in ocular inflammatory disease, mainly uveitis. The authors report on the effects of the GRP receptor (GRPR) antagonist RC-3095 in a well-established model for uveitis induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), comparing its effects with those of glucocorticoids. ⋯ These findings suggest that GRP participates in the inflammatory response in an animal model of uveitis, making GRPR a target for new therapeutic options in the treatment of uveitis.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Sep 2009
Retrobulbar optic nerve diameter measured by high-speed magnetic resonance imaging as a biomarker for axonal loss in glaucomatous optic atrophy.
To assess a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for quantifying the optic nerve diameter (OND) as a measure of axonal loss in the optic nerve. ⋯ Retina- or optic nerve head-related surrogate markers for axonal content correlated closely with the OND, although only when it was measured in the orbital apex. High-resolution MRI using an ultrafast HASTE-sequence at 3 T proved useful for OND quantification and may be a valuable asset in future neuroprotection trials.