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Purpose: To compare the therapeutic effects of human derivatives in a mouse alkali burn model. Methods: The right eyes of mice were injured using NaOH. After alkali injury, one of the following agents was topically administered for 7 d: human amniotic membrane (hAM) suspension, human umbilical cord serum (hUCS), and human peripheral blood serum (hPBS), or saline. The epithelial defect areas on days 1, 2, and 3 degrees of opacity on days 2, 3, and 7, and corneal neovascularization (NV) areas on day 7 were evaluated. Histologic examination and mRNA expression levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were also evaluated on day 7. Results: The epithelial defect areas in the hUCS group were smaller than those in the control and hPBS groups on day 3 (p <.05, respectively). The epithelial defect areas in the hAM suspension group showed smaller than those in the control and hPBS groups on days 1 and 2 (p <.05, respectively). The degrees of opacity were lower in all treatment groups than that of the saline control group on day 7 (p <.05, respectively). Corneal NV areas were not different among groups on day 7 (p = 0.20). The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-8, and MMP-9 mRNA and the infiltration of the inflammatory cells in all treatment groups were lesser than those in the control group on day 7 (p<.05, respectively). Conclusions: All treatments reduced inflammatory reactions and corneal opacity development. Corneal reepithelialization was faster in the hUCS group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess influence of the location of visual field (VF) loss on vision‐related quality of life (VRQOL) in patients with glaucoma. Methods: We included 826 patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) enrolled in the prospectively designed Life Quality of Glaucoma Patients Who Underwent Treatment (LIGHT) study organized by the Korean Glaucoma Society. We divided the integrated binocular visual field (IVF) into four regions and evaluated the associations between Rasch‐analysed 25‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ‐25) and location of the IVF using univariate and hierarchical multivariable linear regression. Results: Mean deviation (MD) of the IVF at superior centre showed the lowest value among the four regions. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed significant correlation of the composite score and all subscales of the NEI VFQ‐25 except ocular pain and near activities at each of four IVF regions. Mean deviation at superior centre showed significant correlation with composite score (R2 = 0.181), near activities (R2 = 0.175), and social functioning (R2 = 0.166); MD at superior periphery showed highest correlation with role difficulties (R2 = 0.137); MD at inferior centre showed highest correlation with driving (R2 = 0.145); and MD at inferior periphery showed significant correlation with distance activities (R2 = 0.214) and dependency (R2 = 0.119). Conclusion: Four different regions of the IVF had a similarly important impact on subscales of the NEI VFQ‐25 in glaucoma patients. Preservation of the superior field should be considered as much as that of the inferior field for maintaining a good VRQOL in patients with glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify factors influencing vision‐related quality of life (VRQOL) according to glaucoma severity. Methods: A total of 901 patients with varying stages of glaucoma were recruited from the prospectively designed LIGHT (Life Quality of Glaucoma Patients Who Underwent Treatment) study organized by the Korean Glaucoma Society. Participants completed a basic questionnaire collecting socioeconomic status and clinical information, in addition to the 25‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ‐25). Subjects were classified by mean deviation (MD) of integrated binocular visual field (IVF) into mild, moderate and severe damage groups. Factors were evaluated for their influence on VRQOL according to glaucoma severity using univariate and multivariable regression models between Rasch‐analysed NEI VFQ‐25 subscale scores and different variables. Results: The mild, moderate and severe groups contained 720, 111 and 70 patients, respectively; the mean IVF MD in each group was −1.4, −8.5 and −17.9 dB. Significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to age, IVF MD, visual acuity (VA), education level, income level, number of glaucoma medications prescribed and follow‐up period. The most influential factor associated with VRQOL according to glaucoma severity was VA. The VA of the better eye was much more influential on VRQOL than the VA of the worse eye in the moderate and severe defect groups, and the impact of VA on VRQOL was more prominent in advanced glaucoma. Conclusions: Visual acuity is the most influential factor on VRQOL in patients with glaucoma. Preservation of VA should be strongly prioritized to maintain good VRQOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of prostaglandin analogues preserved with either 0.015% or 0.001% benzalkoium chloride (BAK); or 0.001% polyquad (PQ) on the ocular surface of rabbit eyes. Methods: Forty white rabbits were randomized to receive four-times daily instillation of either 0.0015% tafluprost (TF) preserved with 0.001% BAK (TF-BAK); 0.004% travoprost (TR) with 0.015% BAK (TR-BAK) or 0.001% PQ (TR-PQ); or preservative-free artificial tears in one eye for a 4-week period. Tear samples collected from the 40 rabbits were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to identify the presence of inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 on day 14. Subsequently, harvested cornea and bulbar conjunctiva were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: IL-6 was significantly increased in TF-BAK and TR-BAK groups compared to controls and TR-PQ group (p = 0.005); however, IL-1β level was not significantly different among four groups (p = 0.360). Rabbits treated with TR-BAK showed decreased goblet cell density of bulbar conjunctiva and increased pyknotic change and vacuolization of corneal epithelial cells on light microscopy; similar change occurred but was less severe in TF-BAK group. The TR-PQ group showed similar results as the controls. The destruction of the microvillar architecture of bulbar conjunctiva and cornea was most prominent in the TR-BAK group. Conclusions: Preservatives included in the anti-glaucoma eye-drops showed different ocular surface changes according to the concentration and type in the rabbits. Prostaglandin analogues preserved with higher level of BAK may cause more harmful effects on the ocular surface than PQ-preserved medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the morphological changes of horizontal cells after postnatal photoreceptor degeneration in the developing FVB/N mouse retina, using immunocytochemistry with anti-calbindin D-28K. From postnatal day 14 (P14) onwards, processes emerging from horizontal cells descend into the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and ramify mainly in stratum 1 of the IPL. Electron microscopy revealed that the descending processes make synaptic contacts with bipolar cells in the outer plexiform layer. Our results clearly demonstrate that loss of photoreceptor cells induces the reorganization of horizontal cell processes in the retinas of FVB/N mice as they mature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]