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- Tashbayev, Bezhod, et al.
(author)
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Utility of Tear Osmolarity Measurement in Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease
- 2020
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The prevalence of dry eye disease is high worldwide and poses a great burden on patients daily lives. Accurate diagnosis of the disease is important, and it requires application of various methods. Hyperosmolarity is believed to be the disease marker and thus measuring it provides useful information. In this study we investigated utility of tear osmolarity measured with TearLab osmometer, along with other diagnostic tests (Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, Tear film break-up time, Ocular Protection Index, Ocular Surface Staining, Schirmer I test, Meibomian gland functionality in 757 patients (1514 eyes) with dry eye disease and 29 healthy controls (58 eyes). Statistical differences between the patient group and the control group were observed for all the tests apart from tear osmolarity, regardless of cut-off value (>308 mOsm/L, >316 mOsm/L, and inter-eye difference >8 mOsm/L). Moreover, in the receiver operating characteristics curve analyses tear osmolarity measurement could not discriminate dry eye disease pathological scores. Therefore, our study suggests that tear osmolarity measured with TearLab osmometer cannot be used as a key indicator of DED.
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- Aabel, Peder, et al.
(author)
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Transcription and microRNA Profiling of Cultured Human Tympanic Membrane Epidermal Keratinocytes
- 2018
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In: Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology. - : SPRINGER. - 1525-3961 .- 1438-7573. ; 19:3, s. 243-260
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The human tympanic membrane (TM) has a thin outer epidermal layer which plays an important role in TM homeostasis and ear health. The specialised cells of the TM epidermis have a different physiology compared to normal skin epidermal keratinocytes, displaying a dynamic and constitutive migration that maintains a clear TM surface and assists in regeneration. Here, we characterise and compare molecular phenotypes in keratinocyte cultures from TM and normal skin. TM keratinocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured in vitro. We compared global mRNA and microRNA expression of the cultured cells with that of human epidermal keratinocyte cultures. Genes with either relatively higher or lower expression were analysed further using the biostatistical tools g:Profiler and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Approximately 500 genes were found differentially expressed. Gene ontology enrichment and Ingenuity analyses identified cellular migration and closely related biological processes to be the most significant functions of the genes highly expressed in the TM keratinocytes. The genes of low expression showed a marked difference in homeobox (HOX) genes of clusters A and C, giving the TM keratinocytes a strikingly low HOX gene expression profile. An in vitro scratch wound assay showed a more individualised cell movement in cells from the tympanic membrane than normal epidermal keratinocytes. We identified 10 microRNAs with differential expression, several of which can also be linked to regulation of cell migration and expression of HOX genes. Our data provides clues to understanding the specific physiological properties of TM keratinocytes, including candidate genes for constitutive migration, and may thus help focus further research.
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- Badian, Reza A., et al.
(author)
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Comparison of novel wide-field in vivo corneal confocal microscopy with skin biopsy for assessing peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes
- 2023
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In: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 72:7, s. 908-917
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a serious complication of diabetes, where skin biopsy assessing intraepi-dermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) plays an important diagnostic role. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus has been proposed as a noninvasive diagnostic modality for DPN. Direct compari-sons of skin biopsy and IVCM in controlled cohorts are lacking, as IVCM relies on subjective selection of images depicting only 0.2% of the nerve plexus. We compared these diagnostic modalities in a fixed-age cohort of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes and 36 healthy participants using machine algorithms to create wide-field image mosaics and quantify nerves in an area 37 times the size of prior studies to avoid human bias. In the same partici-pants, and at the same time point, no correlation between IENFD and corneal nerve density was found. Corneal nerve density did not correlate with clinical measures of DPN, including neuropathy symptom and disability scores, nerve conduction studies, or quantitative sensory tests. Our findings indicate that corneal and intraepidermal nerves likely mirror different aspects of nerve degeneration, where only intraepidermal nerves appear to reflect the clinical status of DPN, suggesting that scrutiny is warranted concerning methodologies of studies using corneal nerves to assess DPN.
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- Badian, Reza A., et al.
(author)
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Region of interest and directional analysis of subbasal nerves in wide-area corneal nerve plexus mosaics in type 2 diabetes mellitus
- 2020
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) imaging of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SBNP) is a clinical imaging modality gaining popularity for the diagnosis and follow-up of corneal neuropathy in various conditions such as diabetes mellitus. There remain, however, major limitations to the method, hindering its widespread clinical use. Finding the same exact area of the central cornea to standardize image acquisition is difficult without a reference point. Alternatively, creating wide-area mosaics of the SBNP is resource-intensive and has not yet been developed for routine clinical use. Here, we investigated whether IVCM analysis of the corneal SBNP in a predetermined, anatomically standardized region of interest (ROI) could be applied as an equivalent substitution for wide-area SBNP mosaic generation and analysis. Furthermore, we investigated nerve patterns outside the central corneal region for a possible relationship to type 2 diabetes mellitus status using a publicly available dataset. We found that corneal nerve fibre length density (CNFL) based on the ROI underestimated the mosaic-based CNFL by an average of 34% in 90% of cases (150 eyes), and did not exhibit a significant reduction with diabetes, as seen in the full SBNP. Outside the central cornea, nerve orientation differed depending on the anatomic region (left, central or right superior plexus, P<0.001). Moreover, in long-term type 2 diabetes mellitus (>= 10 years, 28 subjects), nerve density in the left superior sector of the SBNP was decreased (P<0.001) while that in the central superior SBNP increased (P=0.01) relative to 35 age-matched healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance. These results indicate that subbasal nerve degeneration in type 2 diabetes mellitus can vary according to anatomic location, and regions with potential diagnostic value outside the central SBNP may warrant further investigation.
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- Badian, Reza A., et al.
(author)
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The pattern of the inferocentral whorl region of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus is altered with age
- 2021
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In: The Ocular Surface. - : Elsevier. - 1542-0124 .- 1937-5913. ; 22, s. 204-212
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: To describe the pattern of the nerves in the inferocentral whorl region of the human corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SBNP) in health and diseases known to affect the subbasal nerves. Methods: Laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was used to image the SBNP bilaterally in 91 healthy subjects, 39 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and 43 subjects with Parkinsons disease (PD). Whorl regions were classified according to nerve orientation relative to age and health/disease status. Results: Of 346 examined eyes, 300 (86.7%) had an identifiable whorl pattern. In healthy subjects, a clockwise nerve orientation of the whorl was most common (67.9%), followed by non-rotatory or seam morphology (21.4%), and counterclockwise (10.7%). The clockwise orientation was more prevalent in healthy subjects than in T2DM or PD (P < 0.001). Healthy individuals below 50 years of age had a predominantly clockwise orientation (93.8%) which was reduced to 51.9% in those over 50 years (P < 0.001). Age but not disease status explained whorl orientation in T2DM and PD groups. Moreover, whorl orientation is bilaterally clockwise in the young, but adopts other orientations and becomes asymmetric across eyes with age. Finally, we report reflective dot-like features confined to the whorl region of the subbasal plexus, sometimes appearing in close association with subbasal nerves and present in 84-93% of examined eyes regardless of disease status, eye or sex. Conclusion: Subbasal nerves in the inferocentral whorl region are predominantly clockwise in young, healthy corneas. With aging and conditions of T2DM and PD, counterclockwise and non-rotatory configurations increase in prevalence, and bilateral symmetry is lost. Mechanisms regulating these changes warrant further investigation.
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- Badian, Reza A., et al.
(author)
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Wide-field mosaics of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in Parkinsons disease using in vivo confocal microscopy
- 2021
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In: Scientific Data. - : Nature Portfolio. - 2052-4463. ; 8:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique facilitating real-time acquisition of images from the live cornea and its layers with high resolution (1-2 mu m) and high magnification (600 to 800-fold). IVCM is extensively used to examine the cornea at a cellular level, including the subbasal nerve plexus (SBNP). IVCM of the cornea has thus gained intense interest for probing ophthalmic and systemic diseases affecting peripheral nerves. One of the main drawbacks, however, is the small field of view of IVCM, preventing an overview of SBNP architecture and necessitating subjective image sampling of small areas of the SBNP for analysis. Here, we provide a high-quality dataset of the corneal SBNP reconstructed by automated mosaicking, with an average mosaic image size corresponding to 48 individual IVCM fields of view. The mosaic dataset represents a group of 42 individuals with Parkinsons disease (PD) with and without concurrent restless leg syndrome. Additionally, mosaics from a control group (n = 13) without PD are also provided, along with clinical data for all included participants.
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- Fries, Fabian N., et al.
(author)
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Early ocular surface and tear film status in congenital aniridia indicates a supportive treatment window
- 2024
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In: British Journal of Ophthalmology. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 0007-1161 .- 1468-2079. ; 108, s. 30-36
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AimTo evaluate changes in the ocular surface and tear film with age and mutational status in congenital aniridia. Methods45 participants with congenital aniridia (89 eyes) in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Whole-exome sequencing identified the causative mutation. Examinations included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, blink rate, Schirmer I test, Oxford Staining Score (OSS), tear film break-up time (TFBUT) and Ocular Protection Index (OPI). ResultsThere were age-dependent increases in OSDI (beta=0.34, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.66; p=0.030), blink rate (beta=0.18, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.27; p<0.001) and OSS (beta=0.05, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07; p<0.001) and age-dependent reductions in tear production (beta=-0.23, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.02; p=0.029) and TFBUT (beta=-0.10, 95% CI -0.17 to -0.04; p<0.001). Perturbed OSDI, OSS, blink rate, tear production and TFBUT were noted after the age of ten and OSDI, OSS, blink rate and TFBUT correlated with deficient corneal nerves and limbal stem cell function. OSDI, blink rate, Schirmer, OSS, TFBUT and OPI were not associated with type of PAX6 mutation, but OSDI, OSS and blink rate associated with grade of aniridia-associated keratopathy. ConclusionsOcular surface damage and dry eye signs appear in congenital aniridia regardless of mutation, appearing after 10 years of age and progressing thereafter. An early treatment window may exist for therapies to protect the ocular surface homoeostasis and limbal function, to possibly delay keratopathy development and progression.
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- Hikage, Fumihito, et al.
(author)
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NF-kappa B activation in retinal microglia is involved in the inflammatory and neovascularization signaling in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization
- 2021
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In: Experimental Cell Research. - : ELSEVIER INC. - 0014-4827 .- 1090-2422. ; 403:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: To evaluate Nuclear Factor NF-kappa B (NF-kappa B) signaling on microglia activation, migration, and angiogenesis in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: Nine-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to IMD-0354 treated or untreated groups (5 mice, 10 eyes per group). CNV was induced with a 532-nm laser. Laser spots (power 250 mW, spot size 100 mu m, time of exposure 50 ms) were created in each eye using a slit-lamp delivery system. Selective inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKK2) inhibitor IMD-0354 (10 mu g) was delivered subconjunctivally; vehicle-treated mice were the control. The treatment effect on CNV development was assessed at five days post-CNV induction in vivo in C57BL/6 and Cx3cr1(gfp/wt) mice by fluorescent angiography, fundus imaging, and ex vivo by retinal flatmounts immunostaining and Western blot analysis of RPE/Choroidal/Scleral complexes (RCSC) lysates. In vitro evaluations of IMD-0354 effects were performed in the BV-2 microglial cell line using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Results: IMD-0354 caused a significant reduction in the fluorescein leakage and size of the laser spot, as well as a reduction in microglial cell migration and suppression of phospho-I kappa B alpha, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), and Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2). In vivo and ex vivo observations demonstrated reduced lesion size in mice, CD68, and Allograft inflammatory factor 1 (IBA-1) positive microglia cells migration to the laser injury site in IMD-0354 treated eyes. The data further corroborate with GFP-positive cells infiltration of the CNV site in Cx3cr1(wt/gfp) mice. In vitro IMD-0354 (10-25 ng/ml) treatment reduced NF-kappa B activation, expression of COX-2, caused decreased Actin-F presence and organization, resulting in reduced BV-2 cells migration capacity. Conclusion: The present data indicate that NF-kappa B activation in microglia and its migration capacity is involved in the development of laser CNV in mice. Its suppression by NF-kappa B inhibition might be a promising therapeutic strategy for wet AMD.
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- Islam, Rakibul, et al.
(author)
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Tissue Harvesting Site and Culture Medium Affect Attachment, Growth, and Phenotype of Ex Vivo Expanded Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells
- 2017
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transplantation of cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) is a promising treatment strategy for limbal stem cell deficiency. In order to improve the culture method, we investigated the effects of four culture media and tissue harvesting sites on explant attachment, growth, and phenotype of OMECs cultured from Sprague-Dawley rats. Neither choice of media or harvesting site impacted the ability of the explants to attach to the culture well. Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium/Hams F12 (DMEM) and Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 medium (RPMI) supported the largest cellular outgrowth. Fold outgrowth was superior from LL explants compared to explants from the buccal mucosa (BM), HP, and transition zone of the lower lip (TZ) after six-day culture. Putative stem cell markers were detected in cultures grown in DMEM and RPMI. In DMEM, cells from TZ showed higher colony-forming efficiency than LL, BM, and HP. In contrast to RPMI, DMEM both expressed the putative stem cell marker Bmi-1 and yielded cell colonies. Our data suggest that OMECs from LL and TZ cultured in DMEM give rise to undifferentiated cells with high growth capacity, and hence are the most promising for treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency.
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