Pterygium epithelium abnormal differentiation related to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in vitro.

Aim: To investigate whether the abnormal differentiation of the pterygium epithelium is related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in vitro.

Methods: The expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (P-ERK), keratin family members including K19 and K10 and the ocular master control gene Pax-6 were measured in 16 surgically excised pterygium tissues and 12 eye bank conjunctiva. In colony-forming cell assays, the differences in clone morphology and in K10, K19, P-ERK and Pax-6 expression between the head and body were investigated.

[Study on microsurgical procedures for pterygium operation and its therapeutic effects].

Objective: To study the microsurgical procedures for the treatment of large primary pterygium and their therapeutic effects. To observe the recurrence rate, the changes of visual acuity after microsurgery and the pathological relationships between pterygium and cornea/sclera under the surgical microscope.

Methods: Forty-six eyes of forty-one patients with pterygium which invading the cornea over the pupil border were included.

[Management of corneo-conjunctival malignant melanoma with "no touch technique" surgical excision and corneoscleral lamellar keratoplasty].

Objective: To study the management of "no touch technique" surgical excision and corneoscleral lamellar keratoplasty in the treatment of corneo-conjunctival malignant melanoma.

Methods: Surgical excision for corneo-conjunctival malignant melanoma in six cases, from October 1989 to January 2004 in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, were performed. The entire tumors were removed in one piece without touching the tumor (no touch technique).