PURPOSE We investigated the expression of laminin-5 and integrins, and the ultrastructure of the interface between basal cells and the basement membrane in the keratoconus cornea. These findings were compared to those in normal central cornea and limbus. METHODS Frozen sections of the normal cornea (center and limbus) and the keratoconus cornea were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies ag...

PURPOSE Keratoconus is characterized by bilateral asymmetrical corneal ectasia that leads to inferior stromal thinning and corneal protrusion. There is currently a lack of consensus regarding the most efficacious method for fitting contact lenses in patients with keratoconus, given the various topographical patterns and evolution grades observed in affected populations. The purpose of the prese...

Keratoconus management has significantly changed over the last two decades. The advent of new interventions such as cornea cross-linking, intrastromal corneal ring segments, and combined treatments provide corneal clinicians a variety of treatment options for the visual rehabilitation of keratoconus patients. This review summarizes current evidence for these treatments and highlights their plac...

BACKGROUND Keratoconus is characterized as a bilateral, progressive, non-inflammatory thinning of the cornea resulting in blurred vision due to irregular astigmatism. Keratoconus has a multifactorial etiology, with multiple genetic and environmental components contributing to the disease pathophysiology. Several genomic loci and genes have been identified that highlight the complex molecular et...

In this paper, the sources of K and Na in vanadium-nitrogen (VN) alloys their effects on furnace structure were studied. The results show that are mainly present as counter-ions decavanadate dodecanadate ammonium polyvanadate (APV) vanadium trioxide (V2O3). production process VN, concentration scab produced kiln is 25 times higher than raw material, 15 degree enrichment stronger Na. Additionall...

Collagen crosslinking is a relatively new treatment for structural disorders of corneal ectasia, such as keratoconus. However, there is a lack of animal models of keratoconus, which has been an obstacle for carefully analyzing the mechanisms of crosslinking and evaluating new therapies. In this study, we treated rabbit eyes with collagenase and chondroitinase enzymes to generate ex vivo corneal...

PURPOSE To compare long-term keratometric changes after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 168 corneas after PK for keratoconus (85 eyes of 63 subjects) and Fuchs dystrophy (83 eyes of 60 subjects). Patients were examined after final suture removal at 12 months after PK to 30 years after surgery. Operations were p...

BACKGROUND Several case-control studies have been performed to examine the association of genetic variants in lysyl oxidase (LOX) with keratoconus. However, the results remained inconclusive and great heterogeneity might exist across populations. METHOD A comprehensive literature search for studies that published up to June 25, 2015 was performed. Summary odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence i...

The oxidation of cyanide (CN-) to a much less toxic thiocyanate (SCN-) is the main in vivo biochemical pathway for CN- detoxification. SCN- is excreted mainly in urine. This study was performed to investigate the effect of lipoic acid (LA) on the urinary excretion of thiocyanate (SCN-; rhodanate) in rats. Groups of the animals were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) as follows: group 1: potassium...

The present work was aimed at evaluating the effects of maternal exposure to potassium cyanide (KCN) during lactation in goats. Twenty-seven lactating female goats were orally dosed with 0 (control), 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 mg KCN/kg body weight/day from lactation days 0 to 90. After this period, all male kids and one mother from each group were killed for a pathological study. Cyanide treatment promo...