Transmembrane Mucin Response in Conjunctival Epithelial Cells Exposed to Wall Shear Stresses.

Human conjunctival epithelium cells (HCEC) line the inner surface of the eyelid and cover the sclera and are continuously subjected to wall shear stresses (WSS). The effects of external forces on the conjunctival epithelium are not fully known. The conjunctival epithelium contains stratified squamous cells that synthesize the membrane-spanning mucins MUC1 and MUC16, which play important roles in protecting the ocular surface. Alterations in both gel-forming and membrane-tethered mucins occur in drying ocular surface diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanobiological characteristics of transmembrane mucin secretion and cellular alterations of primary HCEC exposed to airflow-induced WSS perturbations. We exposed the HCEC to a steady WSS of 0.5 dyne/cm2 for durations of 15 and 30 min. Cytoskeletal alterations and MUC1 secretions were studied using immunohistochemically fluorescent staining with specific antibodies. We investigated for the first time an in vitro model of membrane-tethered mucin secretion by HCEC in response to WSS. The exposure of HCEC to WSS increased the polymerization of F-actin, altered the cytoskeletal shape and reduced the secretion of membrane-tethered MUC1.

Kelly Punch Punctoplasty and Simple Punctal Dilatation Are Equally Effective for Punctal Stenosis: A Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical, imaging, and histopathologic differences between Kelly punch punctoplasty and punctal dilatation, both with mini Monoka stent insertion. METHODS: This is a prospective, comparative clinical study. Patients with bilateral punctal stenosis and for whom surgery was advised participated in the study. The right eye underwent Kelly punch punctoplasty and the left eye simple punctal dilatation, both with mini Monoka stents were participated. Data were collected and analyzed before and 3 months following the procedure and included the degree of epiphora (Munk score) and punctal size as measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AC- OCT). All specimens removed by the Kelly punch punctoplasty were sent for histopathologic evaluation, including Masson's trichome muscle staining. RESULTS: The study included 46 eyes of 23 patients (4 males and 19 females) whose mean age at presentation was 60.43 ± 14.81 years (range 19-84 years). There was a significant decrease in the Munk score after both punctoplasties compared with baseline values (P < 0.01, matched pairs). There were no significant differences between groups in the delta Munk score. There was a significant increase in punctal size after both procedures compared with baseline values as measured by AS-OCT. Horner-Duverney's muscle was visible in only 3 of the 23 (13.04%) specimens from patients who underwent the Kelly punch punctoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The Kelly punch punctoplasty and the simple dilator punctoplasty, both with stents, are equally effective treatments for epiphora due to acquired punctal stenosis. Only a few specimens removed during the Kelly punch method show muscle fibers.

An Unusual Presentation of Conjunctival Dermolipoma With a Skin Tag.

Dermolipoma is considered the second most common benign conjunctival tumor in children after nevus. Usually, dermolipoma located just deep in the superotemporal bulbar and forniceal conjunctiva. The authors describe an uncommon presentation of dermolipoma that arise in the conjunctiva as well as in the skin of the lateral canthus. A 5-month-old baby with lateral limbal lesion involving the conjunctiva and the skin underwent excision biopsy. The pathological examination found a dermolipoma in the conjunctiva as well as in the dermis. The outcomes of the excision were satisfactorily functional and cosmetic.This is only the second case of dermolipoma in the dermis in normal baby that described those far in the literature. This case should raise the awareness that dermolipoma should be considered in differential diagnosis of lesions of the lateral cantus and the periocular skins near it.

The Epidemiological, Clinical, and Histopathological Characteristics of Lacrimal Gland Biopsies in a Tertiary Care Center in Israel.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of pathology and clinical characteristics of lacrimal gland diseases are different in different areas of the world. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence rate, patient characteristics, and indications for surgical intervention of lacrimal gland lesions in a tertiary care center in Israel. METHODS: All biopsied or surgically removed lacrimal gland lesions at the Goldschleger Eye Institute from 2009 to 2015 were identified. The following data were collected: age, gender, indications for surgical intervention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: We evaluated 28 lacrimal gland biopsies from 26 patients (11 men, 15 women). Mean age at biopsy was 47.5 years old. The most common presenting symptoms were: eyelid swollenness (57.14%), ptosis (32.14%), and proptosis (10.71%). All patients underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In 28 cases, infiltrations of the lacrimal gland were found. In nine cases infiltration of muscles or orbital extension were found. The most common pathologies were non-specified inflammation (44.82%), lymphoma (20.68%), and immunoglobulin G4-related disease (10.34%). The treatment was diverse according to the patient diagnosis. Prognosis of lacrimal gland disease was good; however, in five patients the systemic disease progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Lesions of the lacrimal gland comprise a wide variety of pathological findings that require different treatment strategies. Lacrimal gland biopsies enable physicians to precisely recognize the pathology; therefore, it is important to consider this surgical method in any patient with lesions in the lacrimal gland.

Protein phosphatase magnesium dependent 1A governs the wound healing-inflammation-angiogenesis cross talk on injury.

Protein phosphatase magnesium dependent 1A (PPM1A) has been implicated in fibrosis and skin wounding. We generated PPM1A knockout mice to study the role of PPM1A in the wound healing-inflammation-angiogenesis cross talk. The role of PPM1A in these processes was studied using the ocular alkali burn model system. In the injured cornea the absence of PPM1A led to enhanced inflammatory response, stromal keratocyte transactivation, fibrosis, increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, elevated expression of transforming growth factor-ß-related genes (including Acta2, TGF-ß, Col1, MMP9, and VEGF) and subsequently to neovascularization. Augmented angiogenesis in the absence of PPM1A is a general process occurring in vivo in PPM1A knockout mice upon subcutaneous Matrigel injection and ex vivo in aortic ring Matrigel cultures. Using primary keratocyte cultures and various experimental approaches, we found that phospho-p38 is a favored PPM1A substrate and that by its dephosphorylation PPM1A participates in the regulation of the transforming growth factor-ß signaling cascade, the hallmark of inflammation and the angiogenic process. On the whole, the studies presented here position PPM1A as a new player in the wound healing-inflammation-angiogenesis axis in mouse, reveal its crucial role in homeostasis on injury, and highlight its potential as a therapeutic mediator in pathologic conditions, such as inflammation and angiogenesis disorders, including cancer.

Periocular pilomatrixoma: a retrospective analysis of 16 cases.

PURPOSE: Pilomatrixoma is a benign tumor of the hair follicle, occurring more frequently in the head and neck. There are relatively few published large case series in the ophthalmic literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate additional case series of patients with periocular pilomatrixoma, treated in the institute from 1995 to 2011. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all cases with periocular pilomatrixoma treated during 16 years was made. Data were collected regarding the age at the time of excision, gender, tumor location, tumor dimensions, suspected clinical diagnosis before biopsy, gross appearance, histopathological features, treatment, recurrence, and other syndromes related and family occurrence. RESULTS: Only 16 cases with pilomatrixoma were treated during 16 years. Most of the cases (69%) presented in the first 2 decades of life with female predilection (62.5%). The most common affected site was the upper eyelid (62.5%). All patients were asymptomatic. Various diagnoses were suspected clinically prior to surgical removal and histopathological confirmation of the tumor, and only in 18.75%, pilomatrixoma was suspected. Simple resection was carried out in all cases. No recurrence or malignant transformation was reported. CONCLUSION: Pilomatrixoma is a relatively infrequent periocular tumor, which isn't usually recognized clinically. The findings of the current case series, which is one of the largest published thus far in the ophthalmic literature, are in concordance with the other series of pilomatrixoma, confirming the epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathological features of this tumor in the periocular region.

[THE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS OF PERIOCULAR MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM].

INTRODUCTION: Periocular molluscum contagiosum nodules typically appear in a classical presentation. However, the presentation can be different. This makes the diagnosis and the decision on treatment difficult. AIM: To report different clinical presentations of periocular molluscum contagiosum and to examine their epidemiological, clinical and histopathological features. METHODS: For all patients who were diagnosed with periocular molluscum contagiosum during the years 1995-2014, the following data was extracted from the patients' files: gender, age at the time of diagnosis, location of the lesion, number and dimensions of lesions, clinical presentation, histopathological features, suspected clinical diagnosis before histopathological diagnosis and treatment. A classification according to different presentations was suggested and the epidemiological, clinical and histopathological features of each presentation were examined. RESULTS: Molluscum contagiosum was diagnosed in 30 patients: 10 males (33.33%) and 20 females (66.66%). The mean age of diagnosis was 19.3 years old, one patient was immunosuppressive and 29 patients were immunocompetent. Six different clinical presentations were seen: Typical, umbilicated dome shaped lesion (19 cases), big lesion (4 cases), conglomerated lesions (4 cases), erythematous lesion (1 case), inflamed lesion (1 case), and pedunculated lesion (1 case). In all cases the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination and the treatment was surgical excision. CONCLUSION: According to this case series of periocular molluscum contagiosum, which is one of the largest published thus far in the ophthalmic literature, six distinct different clinical presentations are suggested. These lesions should be suspected not just in children and in immunosuppressive adult patients but also in immunocompetent patients of all ages.

[Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) under local anesthesia].

INTRODUCTION: Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is performed using an external or endoscopic endonasal approach under general anesthesia (GA) or under sedation. In our department these operations are performed mainly under local anesthesia (LA) without sedation. PURPOSE: To examine the intraoperative and postoperative success rates of primary DCR under LA and GA using the external or endonasal approach. METHODS: The study group of this retrospective research included all patients who underwent a primary DCR in our department in 2009-2012 due to an acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The main outcome measure was postoperative success defined as complete or significant improvement in tearing and a patent ostium. Intraoperative success rate was defined as the ability to complete the operation under LA. RESULTS: The study group included 139 patients. The success rate was 87.1% (121 patients). Success rates were similar for the external and endoscopic approaches (88.6% vs. 82.4%, respectively, p = 0.348). The success rate for surgeries performed under GA was higher than LA (96.7% vs. 84.9%, respectively, p = 0.019). The mean age of patients who were operated under GA was significantly younger than those under LA (43.6 vs. 65.7 years, respectively, p < 0.005). Conversion GA was only needed in 1 patient (0.7%). CONCLUSION: Most DCR surgeries can be performed under LA without sedation. Success rates found in our study are comparable with previous publications, similar for external or endoscopic approaches, and better under GA than LA. This difference may be related to the age difference between the two groups.

Transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as a thin subretinal layer ameliorates retinal degeneration in a rat model of retinal dystrophy.

Vision incapacitation and blindness associated with retinal degeneration affect millions of people worldwide. Cell based therapy and specifically transplantation of human adult bone marrow-derived stem cells (hBM-MSCs) present possible treatment strategy. Subretinal transplantation of human or rat BM-MSCs was shown previously to improve retinal function in Royal College Surgeons (RCS) rats. In those studies cells were transplanted via a transscleral-transchoroidal approach, creating a localized subretinal bleb. Limited number of cells could be injected and photoreceptor rescue was restricted to areas in proximity to the injection site. Here we describe a new surgical method for subretinal transplantation that facilitates uniform distribution of transplanted cells as a thin layer along most of the subretinal space. We assessed the therapeutic effect of hBM-MSCs on RCS rats when transplanted either subretinally or intravitreally. We also examined whether a second transplantation can prolong the therapeutic effect. A cell suspension of 2.5 × 10(6) cells in 5 µl was injected subretinally or intravitreally in RCS rats at 28 days postnatal. In the subretinal group, hBM-MSCs were transplanted posterior to the limbus in the superotemporal part of the eye through a longitudinal triangular scleral tunnel reaching the choroid. In the intravitreal group, the cells were injected into the superotemporal part of the vitreous cavity. In cross sections of subretinally transplanted eyes, removed 2 h following transplantation, hBM-MSCs were distributed as a near-homogenous thin layer along most of the subretinal space. In some animals the cells were also detected in the choroid. In the intravitreal injection group, hBM-MSCs were clustered in the vitreous cavity. Transplanted cells could be detected up to 2 weeks after transplantation but not at later time points. Retinal function and structure were assessed by electroretinogram (ERG) and histology analysis, respectively. Six weeks post transplantation, the mean maximal scotopic ERG b-wave amplitude response recorded in RCS control eyes was 1.2 µV. By contrast, in transplanted eyes mean responses of 56.4 µV and 66.2 µV were recorded in the intravitreally and subretinally transplanted eyes, respectively. In the subretinal group, retinal function was significantly higher in transplanted compared with control eyes up to 20 weeks following transplantation. By contrast, in the intravitreal group, rescue of retinal function persisted only up to 12 weeks following transplantation. Histological analysis revealed that 8 weeks following subretinal transplantation, the retinas of control eyes were dystrophic, with outer nuclear layer (ONL) containing a single cell layer. An extensive photoreceptor rescue was demonstrated in transplanted eyes at this time point, with 3-4 cell layers in the ONL along the entire retina. A second subretinal transplantation at 70 days postnatal did not enhance or prolong the therapeutic effect of hBM-MSCs. No immunosuppressants were used and long-term safety analysis demonstrated no gross or microscopic adverse effects. Taken together our findings suggest that transplantation of hBM-MSCs as a thin subretinal layer enhances the therapeutic effect and the safety of cell transplantation.

Computer-aided diagnosis of eyelid skin tumors using machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an automated, new framework based on machine learning to diagnose malignant eyelid skin tumors. METHODS: This study used eyelid lesion images from Sheba Medical Center, a large tertiary center in Israel. Before model training, we pretrained our models on the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) 2019 dataset consisting of 25,332 images. The proprietary eyelid data set was then used for fine-tuning. The data set contained multiple images per patient, aiming to classify malignant lesions in comparison to benign counterparts. RESULTS: The analyzed data set consisted of images representing both benign and malignant eyelid lesions. For the benign category, a total of 373 images were sourced. By comparison, for the malignant category, 186 images were sourced. For the final model, at sensitivity of 93.8% (95% CI 80.0-100.0%), the model has a corresponding specificity of 73.7% (95% CI 60.0-87.1%). To further understand the decision-making process of our model, we employed heatmap visualization techniques, specifically gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping. DISCUSSION: This study introduces a dependable model-aided diagnostic technology for assessing eyelid skin lesions. The model demonstrated accuracy comparable to human evaluation, effectively determining whether a lesion raises a high suspicion of malignancy or is benign. Such a model has the potential to alleviate the burden on the health care system, particularly benefiting rural areas, and enhancing the efficiency of clinicians and overall health care.

Reoperation for congenital ptosis: characteristics, success rates, and predicting factors.

OBJECTIVE: Reoperation for congenital ptosis has added morbidity. The purpose of the current study was to examine the risk for redo ptosis surgery in patients with congenital ptosis, as well as to find predictive factors for reoperation. METHODS: This is a retrospective, cohort study. Analysis of all patients with congenital ptosis who underwent their first ptosis correction surgery between 2012 and 2021 at Sheba Medical Center was performed. RESULTS: Sixty patients (36 male and 24 female) underwent ptosis surgery for congenital ptosis Twenty nine patients (48.33%) underwent frontalis sling (FS), 13 patients (21.67%) underwent levator muscle (LM) surgeries, 9 patients received levator resection (LR), 4 patients received external levator advancement (LAA), and 18 patients (30%) underwent Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR). Eighteen patients (30%) underwent a second ptosis surgery. The unadjusted risk of second ptosis surgery was almost four-fold among males with ptosis relative to females with ptosis (HR, 3.90; 95% CI, 3.67-547; p = 0.033) and higher among younger individuals (HR, 4.23; 95% CI, 3.33-5.62; p = 0.042). Older age was protective against the risk of second ptosis surgery (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.21-0.60; p < 0.001), whereas male sex was associated with an increased likelihood of second ptosis surgery (adjusted OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.64-3.98; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of failure of the first surgery was found among male patients, younger patients, and patients with more severe ptosis before the first surgery. Awareness of those factors is beneficial for clinicians and parents.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the orbit: pediatric case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, imaging characteristics, and treatment of pediatric orbital Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Children with orbital LCH. METHODS: Children with orbital LCH who presented to 4 different centres over the past 10 years. Demographic details, presenting features, imaging, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and management outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were reviewed. The mean age of presentation was 6.56 ± 4.38 years (range, 1-18 years). Eyelid swelling was the most common presenting feature (13, 81%), followed by proptosis (1, 5%), eyebrow swelling (1,5%), and temple swelling (1, 5%). Imaging revealed superior orbital lesions with osteolytic defects of the orbital roof in 13 (72.2%) patients. Frontal and zygomatic bones were the most commonly affected. All the orbital lesions were extraconal. All patients in the study were diagnosed with LCH from orbital tissue biopsy. Three patients also demonstrated extra-orbital involvement. Two patients (12.5%) had intraoperative steroid injection with curettage, and 1 patient (6.25%) underwent curettage only. The remainder of the patients (n = 13, 81.25%) received systemic steroids and chemotherapy after undergoing biopsy. All patients had complete remission of disease without any signs of recurrence, except for 1 case of refractory LCH. CONCLUSIONS: LCH is a rare disorder of the orbit and should be considered in the differential diagnosis for osteolytic lesions involving the superior orbit among the pediatric age group. Histopathologic confirmation is mandatory. Although optimal treatment remains controversial, complete removal of unifocal orbital LCH is recommended and may be achieved through excision and curettage.

Topical tacrolimus for the management of acute allergic conjunctivitis in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Acute allergic conjunctivitis is a constantly challenging condition that often requires steroids for effective management. Alternative treatment options are needed due to the potential side effects of steroids. Tacrolimus has been used for vernal/atopic conjunctivitis. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of topical administration of 0.03 % tacrolimus (eye drops or ointment) in comparison to 0.1 % dexamethasone in a mouse model of acute allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: BALB/c mice were sensitized by an intraperitoneal injection of 10 µg/0.2 ml ovalbumin (OVA) absorbed on ALUM (2.0 mg) on days 1 and 8. They were challenged by topical instillation of 2 µl of 15 % OVA (absorbed in 10 % glycerol) twice daily, on days 15-21. Treatment was administered twice daily on days 17-21. Mice were randomly assigned topical treatment groups: Group 1, 0.1 % dexamethasone drops; Group 2, 0.03 % tacrolimus drops; Group 3, 0.03 % tacrolimus ointment; Group 4 PBS drops (control). On day 22 all mice underwent clinical evaluation, blood sampling for IgE levels, and conjunctivas were removed for eosinophil counting. RESULTS: IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels were similar among all groups, demonstrating induction of allergic reaction in all mice. Significantly lower clinical scores were found among all treated groups as compared to controls (P < 0.001), while no significant difference was found among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05). Conjunctival eosinophil counts were significantly lower in Group 1 (P < 0.05) as compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of topical 0.03 % tacrolimus was similar to 0.1 % dexamethasone for acute allergic conjunctivitis.

[Congenital orbital teratoma].

Congenital orbital teratoma is a rare benign tumor, composed of all three germ cell layers. The Lesion presents clinically as uniLateral proptosis in the newborn. In order to diagnose the tumor correctly a multidisciplinary approach is needed, including ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, pediatrics, radiologists, and pathologists to eventually diagnose the lesion. Early detection and treatment is needed in order to prevent mechanical destruction of adjacent tissues, and blindness from mechanical pressure on the optic nerve. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. We present a case report of a newborn, diagnosed with congenital orbital teratoma, and discuss the clinical and histological characteristics of the tumor.

Staphylolysin is an effective therapeutic agent for Staphylococcus aureus experimental keratitis.

BACKGROUND: Therapy of S. aureus keratitis is increasingly challenging due to emerging resistant strains. Staphylolysin (LasA protease) is a staphylolytic endopeptidase secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purpose of the current study was to study the effect of treatment with staphylolysin on experimental keratitis caused by various Staphylococcus aureus strains. METHODS: The therapeutic effect was studied in a keratitis model induced in rabbits by intrastromal injections of 10(3) S. aureus cells of three different methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains and one methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strain (MSSA). Topical treatment with either staphylolysin or bovine serum albumin (BSA; control) was applied every half hour for 5 h, starting at 4 h after infection. Corneas were removed for bacterial quantification. Histopathological analysis was performed on MSSA-infected rabbits, killed at either one or 84 h after completion of treatment and on uninfected eyes 1 h after treatment termination. RESULTS: The number of bacteria in the staphylolysin-treated corneas was significantly reduced in all infections with the four S. aureus strains studied as compared to controls: the staphylolysin-treated eyes infected with MRSA strains were either completely sterilized or showed a 3-4 orders of magnitude decrease in the number of cfu/cornea (p = 0.004 to 0.005); all of the staphylolysin-treated MSSA-infected eyes were sterile. Histopathological analysis of the methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) strain-infected eyes at 84 h after completion of treatment showed moderate inflammation in the staphylolysin-treated eyes as compared with extensive abscess formation in the control group. The uninfected corneas showed only mild stromal edema in both the staphylolysin and BSA-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylolysin provided long-lasting protection against several strains of S. aureus, evident by both its strong anti-bacterial activity and beneficial histopathological results of treatment.

Intravitreal saline injection ameliorates laser-induced retinal damage in rats.

PURPOSE: Injury to the central nervous system has been shown to trigger a physiologic response in the form of some degree of natural self-repair. This beneficial reaction may be boosted by appropriate preconditioning via a reversible injury to the retina. Here we report the ameliorative effect of intravitreal saline injection on laser-induced retinal damage. METHODS: Standard argon laser lesions (514 and 544 nm, 200 µm, 0.1 W, 0.05 seconds) were induced in the eyes of 36 Dark Agouti pigmented rats and immediately followed by injection of saline either intravitreally (5 µL) or intravenously (0.5 mL). Lesions were evaluated histologically and morphometrically after 3, 20, and 60 days. RESULTS: At all 3 time points, the eyes of rats injected intravitreally showed less laser-induced retinal cell loss (P < 0.05) and smaller lesion diameters (P < 0.05) than those of intravenously injected rats. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal saline injection evidently has a neuroprotective effect on the rat retina. The mechanism of action of this effect should be further elucidated and its clinical applicability tested.

Mechanobiology of conjunctival epithelial cells exposed to wall shear stresses.

The human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCEC) line the inner sides of the eyelids and the anterior part of the sclera. They include goblet cells that secret mucus into the tear film that protects the ocular surface. The conjunctival epithelium is subjected to mechano-physical stimuli due to eyelid movement during blinking, during wiping and rubbing the eyes, and when exposed to wind and air currents. We cultured primary HCEC under air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions in custom-designed wells that can be disassembled for installation of the in vitro model in a flow chamber. We exposed the HCEC after ALI culture of 8-10 days to steady and oscillatory airflows. The in vitro model of HCEC was exposed to steady wall shear stresses (sWSS) of 0.5 and 1.0 dyne/cm2 for lengths of 30 and 60 min and to oscillatory wall shear stresses (oWSS) of 0.5 and 0.77 dyne/cm2 amplitudes for a length of 10 min. Cytoskeletal alterations and MUC5AC mucin secretion in response to WSS were investigated using immunohistochemically fluorescent staining and enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA), respectively. The results revealed that both exposure times and sWSS values increased the polymerization of F-actin filaments while mucin secretion decreased. However, after a recovery of 24 h in the incubator we observed a decrease of F-actin fibers and mucin secretion only for exposure of 30 min. The length of exposure was more influential on cytoskeletal alterations than the level of sWSS. The very small effect of sWSS on mucin secretion is most likely related to the much smaller amount of goblet cell than in other mucus-secreting tissue. The results for both oWSS amplitudes revealed similar trends regarding F-actin and mucin secretion. Immediately post-exposure we observed an increase in polymerization of F-actin filaments while mucin secretion decreased. However, after 24-h recovery we observed that both F-actin and mucin secretion returned to the same values as for unexposed cultures. The results of this study suggest that WSS should be considered while exploring the physiological characteristics of HCEC.

Development and recovery of laser-induced retinal lesion in rats.

PURPOSE: Laser-induced retinal lesions undergo primary and secondary degeneration followed by a partial reduction of the lesion size. To evaluate treatment effects, detailed data regarding the changes of the lesion over time are essential. The purpose of the study is to describe the histologic changes in an argon laser-induced retinal lesion over a period of 60 days. METHODS: Argon laser lesions were produced in retinas of pigmented rats. The lesions were examined by light microscopy 1 hour and 1, 2, 3, 20, and 60 days after the exposure. RESULTS: The diameter of the lesion increased 24 hours after photocoagulation and then decreased by day 20. Most pyknotic nuclei seen in the outer nuclear layer 1 hour after lasering disappeared 3 days later. Remodeling began 3 days after lasering. By day 60, partial filling in of the empty area with sliding of adjacent nuclei was observed. Recovery was also seen in the other retinal layers. CONCLUSION: The course of a laser-induced retinal lesion is gradual: the photoreceptors are damaged first and the damage then spreads to other layers and to the adjacent retina. By day 3, the damage spreading stops, and adjacent cells begin to fill in and remodel the area of the lesion.

The distribution of relaxin receptors in the anterior segment of primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Purpose: Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone produced by the corpus luteum and the decidua in females and by the prostate in males. It has vasodilatory and antifibrotic effects. In the past, it has been reported that injection of relaxin hormone has caused a reduction in the intraocular pressure although its mechanism has not yet been fully understood and the expression of relaxin receptors has not yet been evident in the human eye. Therefore, the purpose of this current study was to examine the presence of relaxin receptors in the human eye anterior segment. Methods: This is an interventional non-randomized study. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy were recruited. During the surgery, a punch biopsy (including the cornea, sclera, trabecular meshwork, and Schlemm's canal) was taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemistry staining for relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1). Results: A positive staining was noted for RXFP1 in the inner uveal, corneoscleral, and cribriform meshwork and Schlemm's canal's endothelium. Negative staining for RXFP1 was noted in the cornea and sclera. Conclusion: RXFP1 is present in the anterior segment drainage system of the human eye. Therefore, this receptor may have an active role in regulating the outflow facility and in the reduction of intraocular pressure.