Human Platelet Lysate Treatment for Exposure Keratopathy: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopy and Anterior Segment OCT Study.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of topical human platelet lysate (HPL) on exposure keratopathy (EK) in a rabbit model, with a focus on its anti-inflammatory and anti-dehydration properties on the cornea.

Methods: Short-term exposure keratopathy was induced in New Zealand albino rabbits by keeping the eyelids open for four hours, followed by eyelid closure for another four hours, during which the treatment was applied. HPL, fetal bovine serum (FBS), or preservative-free artificial tears (PFAT) were administered every 15 minutes, and corticosteroid was applied every one hour during the treatment period.

The effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor and associated peptides on the differentiation of retinal ganglion cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells.

Retinal ganglion cell degeneration is the main cause of irreversible vision loss in optic neuropathies. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and its smaller peptide components (44-mer and 17-mer) have shown neuroprotective effects. In this study, using a stepwise protocol we investigated their effects on human-induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation to retinal ganglion cells.

Hypothermic machine perfusion prevents hyperacute graft loss in pig-to-primate kidney xenotransplantation after 5-hours of cold Ischemia.

Background: Xenotransplantation (XTx) is a promising strategy to address the organ shortage. Clinical application will likely require off-site procurement from designated pathogen-free (DPF) facilities, introducing unavoidable cold ischemic time (CIT). The impact of CIT and organ preservation method on graft function in XTx remains unclear.

NGF-TrkA Axis Enhances PDGF-C-Mediated Angiogenesis in Osteosarcoma via miR-29b-3p Suppression: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy Using Larotrectinib.

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in osteosarcoma (OS) growth and metastasis. While nerve growth factor (NGF) is implicated in cancer progression, its role in OS angiogenesis remains unclear. This study explored NGF's effects on angiogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

C1GALT1 expression predicts poor survival in osteosarcoma and is crucial for ABCC1 transporter-mediated doxorubicin resistance.

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone malignancy with a high propensity for drug resistance and metastasis, leading to poor clinical outcomes. This study investigates the role of core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase 1 (C1GALT1) in osteosarcoma, focusing on its implications in chemoresistance. Our findings reveal that high expression of C1GALT1 is associated with advanced stages, adverse overall survival, and increased recurrence rates.

Routine cold storage leads to hyperacute graft loss in pig-to-primate kidney xenotransplantation; hypothermic machine perfusion may be preferred preservation modality in xenotransplantation.

Xenotransplantation (XTx) is an increasingly realistic solution to the organ shortage. Clinical XTx may require off-site procurement in a designated pathogen free (DPF) facility necessitating a period of cold ischemic time during transportation. This study evaluates the impact of different kidney preservation strategies on early graft function in pig-to-baboon XTx in a series of eight cases of pig-to-baboon xenotransplantation performed after five hours of cold ischemic time and compares these results to six cases of pig-to-baboon xenotransplantation performed with minimal ischemic time.

Prediction of Visual Acuity After Cataract Surgery by Deep Learning Methods Using Clinical Information and Color Fundus Photography.

Purpose: To examine the performance of deep-learning models that predicts the visual acuity after cataract surgery using preoperative clinical information and color fundus photography (CFP).

Methods: We retrospectively collected the age, sex, and logMAR preoperative best corrected visual acuity (preoperative-BCVA) and CFP from patients who underwent cataract surgeries from 2020 to 2021 at National Taiwan University Hospital. Feature extraction of CFP was performed using a pre-existing image classification model, Xception.

Nerve growth factor promote VCAM-1-dependent monocyte adhesion and M2 polarization in osteosarcoma microenvironment: Implications for larotrectinib therapy.

Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent form of primary malignant bone tumor, primarily affecting children and adolescents. The nerve growth factors (NGF) referred to as neurotrophins have been associated with cancer-induced bone pain; however, the role of NGF in osteosarcoma has yet to be elucidated. In osteosarcoma samples from the Genomic Data Commons data portal, we detected higher levels of NGF and M2 macrophage markers, but not M1 macrophage markers.

NAMPT enhances LOX expression and promotes metastasis in human chondrosarcoma cells by inhibiting miR-26b-5p synthesis.

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that emerges from abnormalities in cartilaginous tissue and is related with lung metastases. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is an adipocytokine reported to enhance tumor metastasis. Our results from clinical samples and the Gene Expression Omnibus data set reveal that NAMPT levels are markedly higher in chondrosarcoma patients than in normal individuals.

Fluorescence-based reagent and spectrum-based optical reader for lactoferrin detection in tears: differentiating Sjögren's syndrome from non-Sjögren's dry eye syndrome.

Identification of an early biomarker and effective testing device to differentiate dry eye disease secondary to autoimmune disease (Sjögren's syndrome dry eye disease) from non-Sjögren's dry eye disease are prerequisites for appropriate treatment. We aimed to demonstrate the capacity of a new photo-detection device to evaluate tear lactoferrin levels as a tool for differentiating systemic conditions associated with dry eye disease. Patients with non-Sjögren's and Sjögren's syndrome dry eye disease (n = 54 and n = 52, respectively) and controls (n = 11) were enrolled.

Targeting nerve growth factor-mediated osteosarcoma metastasis: mechanistic insights and therapeutic opportunities using larotrectinib.

Osteosarcoma (OS) therapy presents numerous challenges, due largely to a low survival rate following metastasis onset. Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been implicated in the metastasis and progression of various cancers; however, the mechanism by which NGF promotes metastasis in osteosarcoma has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the influence of NGF on the migration and metastasis of osteosarcoma patients (88 cases) as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, based on RNA-sequencing and gene expression data from a public database (TARGET-OS).

Convolutional Neural Network-Based Prediction of Axial Length Using Color Fundus Photography.

Purpose: To develop convolutional neural network (CNN)-based models for predicting the axial length (AL) using color fundus photography (CFP) and explore associated clinical and structural characteristics.

Methods: This study enrolled 1105 fundus images from 467 participants with ALs ranging from 19.91 to 32.

Acetaminophen overdose-induced acute liver injury can be alleviated by static magnetic field.

Acetaminophen (APAP), the most frequently used mild analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide, is implicated in causing 46% of all acute liver failures in the USA and between 40% and 70% in Europe. The predominant pharmacological intervention approved for mitigating such overdose is the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC); however, its efficacy is limited in cases of advanced liver injury or when administered at a late stage. In the current study, we discovered that treatment with a moderate intensity static magnetic field (SMF) notably reduced the mortality rate in mice subjected to high-dose APAP from 40% to 0%, proving effective at both the initial liver injury stage and the subsequent recovery stage.

NGF facilitates ICAM-1-dependent monocyte adhesion and M1 macrophage polarization in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder in which monocytes adhering to synovial tissue differentiate into the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. Nerve growth factors (NGF) referred to as neurotrophins have been associated with inflammatory events; however, researchers have yet to elucidate the role of NGF in RA. Our examination of clinical tissue samples and analysis of data sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset unveiled elevated expression levels of M1 macrophage markers in human RA synovial tissue samples compared to normal tissue, with no such distinction observed for M2 markers.

Tenon excision with fibrin glue-assisted reattachment of conjunctiva flap (T.E.F.A.R.C) for the treatment of conjunctivochalasis.

To observe the surgical outcome of "Tenon Excision with Fibrin Glue-Assisted Reattachment of Conjunctiva Flap" (T.E.F.

Corneal structural alterations in autism spectrum disorder: An in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit joint hypermobility and connective tissue disorders. However, it remains unclear if ASD individuals also have structural alterations in the connective tissue of the cornea. This study aims to determine whether the Kobayashi structure (K-structure) characteristics differ between adults with ASD and typically developing controls (TDC) and explore the clinical correlates of the K-structure abnormality.

Deficits in neuromuscular control of increasing force in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis.

This study investigated the neuromuscular control of increasing and releasing force in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis (CLE). Fifteen patients with CLE (10 males, 5 females, 46.5 ± 6.

Ophthalmologic diagnoses in youths with autism spectrum disorder: Prevalence and clinical correlates.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a high prevalence of visual dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the rates of amblyopia, refractive errors, and strabismus, as well as their clinical correlates in ASD. This population-based matched-cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Acupoint Thread Embedding Combined With Wenshen Bugu Decoction for the Treatment of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptom Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are recommended as the preferred therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. As a result, aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptom (AIMSS) have become a major problem leading to therapy discontinuation and decreased quality of life in patients receiving adjuvant AIs treatment. Multiple therapies have been attempted, but have yielded limited clinical results.

The versatile roles of lumican in eye diseases: A review.

Lumican is a keratan sulfate proteoglycan that belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family. Research has lifted the veil on the versatile roles of lumican in the pathogenesis of eye diseases. Lumican has pivotal roles in the maintenance of physiological tissue homogenesis and is often upregulated in pathological conditions, e.