Corneal endothelial expansion using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived conditioned medium.

Rabbit corneal endothelial cells are frequently used in pharmacological experiments and are useful for corneal transplant experiments. We performed the present study to analyze the effect of conditioned medium (CM) derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) on the growth of rabbit corneal endothelial cells (RCECs) and to establish a program for expansion of RCECs in vitro. RCECs were cultured using a CM derived from HUMSCs (HUMSCs-CM) in vitro. The proliferation ability of RCECs cultured in the presence of HUMSCs-CM was evaluated by conducting 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, colony formation, and scratch migration assays. The proliferation ability of RCECs maintained in HUMSCs-CM was significantly enhanced as compared to RCECs cultivated in the control group. Immunofluorescence indicated that zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and N-cadherin were located at intercellular junctions. Real-time PCR and western blot analyses demonstrated that the CEC-relative functional markers were expressed in RCECs maintained in HUMSCs-CM. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that HUMSCs-CM promoted the G0/G1 entrance to the S phase in RCECs. Our results demonstrated that HUMSCs-CM induced the proliferation of RCECs in vitro and maintained the necessary characteristic phenotypes. The expanded RCECs may provide a promising cell source for experimental research and clinical therapy.

Comparison of Idiopathic Macular Hole Interventions Using Frequency Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Objective: We aimed to determine the efficacy of different idiopathic macular hole treatment methods to improve recovery time and patient outcomes using Frequency Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Methods: This retrospective study included patients with idiopathic macular hole who were admitted to our hospital between 1st January 2019 and 31st October 2021. The control group was treated with internal limiting membrane tamponade, and the study group was treated with clamshell therapy. Treatment conditions (internal limiting membrane treatment duration and hole closure rate), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after surgery, OCTA measurements, and SD-OCT were assessed. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) thicknesses were also analyzed. Results: The treatment time and hole closure rate of the internal limiting membrane in the study group were higher than those in the control group. The curative effect of the study group was better than that of the control group. The postoperative DCP blood vessel density in both groups was higher than that before operation, and the study group was higher than the control group. The FAZ area and circumference were lower than those before surgery, and the study group was lower than the control group. At 3 months after operation, the thickness of DIOA, nasal temporal RNFL, and GCL were decreased in both groups, and the observed values in the study group were lower than those in the control group. At 3-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in RPE thickness between the two groups. Conclusion: Flip and cover therapy is the most effective treatment. SD-OCT and OCTA provide an objective basis for clinical intervention by comparing the effects of different procedures on the retinal condition of patients.