Conjunctival transdifferentiation, the process in which conjunctival epithelium transforms into a cornea-like epithelium with the loss of goblet cells during the healing of a total corneal epithelial defect, can be retarded or reversed by corneal neovascularization. We have previously shown that this process normally occurring on non-vascularized corneas can be retarded or reversed by topical r...

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of inflammatory cytokines on the activity of the human MUC5AC promoter in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Conjunctival epithelial cells transfected with MUC5AC-luciferase plasmids challenged with different cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8) at various concentration (1, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the improvement in subjective symptoms of conjunctivochalasis after bipolar coagulation. METHODS Forty-three eyes of 26 patients (average age, 75.7 ± 8.4 years) were included in this study. The inferior conjunctivas were cauterized between April 2009 and June 2010. Surgery involved pinching the excess conjunctiva and performing bipolar cauterization after subconjunctival i...

Marginal zone lymphomas have been associated with several infectious agents covering both viral and bacterial pathogens and in some cases a clear aetiological role has been established. Pathogenetic mechanisms are currently not completely understood. However, the role of chronic stimulation of the host immune response with persistent lymphocyte activation represents the most convincing explanat...

In present study, we are to test the relationship between cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and angiogenesis in pterygium tissues from a group of Chinese patients. Here forty-five primary pterygium tissues and twenty-three normal bulbar conjunctival tissues were obtained during ophthalmologic surgeries. The primary pterygium samples were treated for the immunohistochemical evaluation of COX-2, CD31 and ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Antimicrobial activity in tears prevents infection while maintaining a commensal bacterial population. The relation between mucin and commensal bacteria was assessed to determine whether commensals possess mucinolytic activity, how degradation depends on mucin integrity, and whether mucins affect bacterial replication. METHODS Bacteria were sampled from healthy eyes and contac...

AIM To investigate the interrelationships between pre- and postoperative microbiological changes by taking samples from both eyes of 40 patients who underwent septoplasty due to septal deviation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients diagnosed with septal deviation who underwent a septoplasty operation under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. The study was conducted on 40 patients...

Erythropoietin (Epo) induces physiological activities such as cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in Epo receptor (EpoR)-expressing vascular endothelial and tumor cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated that growth factor-independent proliferation is frequently observed during the cell transformation process. Pterygium is a fibrovascular proliferating tissue that includes transfor...

PURPOSE A pterygium shows tumor-like characteristics, such as proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Previous reports suggest that tissue factor (TF) expression is closely related to the EMT of tumor cells, and subsequent tumor development. In this study, we analyzed the expression and immunolocalization of TF in pterygial and normal conjunctival tissues of humans...

PURPOSE Pterygium was traditionally regarded as a degenerative disease, but certain characteristics suggest that pterygium is probably premalignant tissue. The human WWOX gene, encoding the WW domain containing oxidoreductase (WWOX, FOR, or WOX1), is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. In this study, we investigated the WWOX gene and protein expression in pterygium. METHODS Pterygium tissues w...