Gap junctions from rat liver and fiber junctions from bovine lens have similar septilaminar profiles when examined by thin-section electron microscopy and differ only slightly with respect to the packing of intramembrane particles in freeze-fracture images. These similarities have often led to lens fiber junctions being referred to as gap junctions. Junctions from both sources were isolated as ...

A thorough understanding of normal ocular anatomy is critical to define pathologic anatomic conditions, to delineate surgical goals, and to develop and utilize surgical tools to optimize patient outcomes. The anatomy of the eye and orbit can be broadly categorized as extraocular structures (including the eyelids, lacrimal gland, canalicular system, conjunctiva, and extraocular muscles) and intr...

Astaxanthin (ASTX), a carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties, exists naturally in various plants, algae, and seafoods. In this study, we investigated the in vitro ability of ASTX to protect porcine lens crystallins from oxidative damage by iron-mediated hydroxyl radicals or by calcium ion-activated protease (calpain), in addition to the possible underlying biochemical mechanisms. ASTX (1...

Members of the TGFbeta superfamily of growth and differentiation factors, including the TGFbeta, BMP, activin and nodal families, play important signaling roles throughout development. This paper summarizes some of the functions of these ligands in lens development. Targeted deletion of the genes encoding one of the BMP receptors, Alk3 (BMP receptor-1A), showed that signaling through this recep...

A MODIFICATION of the original Ridley acrylic implant suggested in a previous communication (Epstein, 1957) comprised a biconvex lens of larger diameter (9.4 mm.) and thinner central thickness (1 5 mm.), and with a naturally tapering edge instead of a relatively thick square edge. It was found that such a lens facilitates centration, and adjusts itself almost automatically after insertion, litt...

A low-cost method to 3D print and metalize circular waveguide components is demonstrated using polylactic acid (PLA) aluminum adhesive backed tape. gradient index (GRIN) lens, an externally metalized thin-walled conical horn, a WR90 rectangular linearly polarized transition are simulated, fabricated, measured. The horn lens were both monolithic prints that metallized simplify the metallization ...

The equivalent dose rate per positron fluence for the human eye lens is calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation code, EGS5, with two mathematical models (a computational head voxel phantom and a simple eye model). The eye lens doses for medical staff and carers as received from a radiopharmaceutical such as F-FDG, which is used in PET examinations, when spilled on the floor, and from positron...