We studied the ultrastructural features of four consecutive subfoveal neovascularmembranes (SFNM) associated with age-related macular degeneration. Cellular components of the membranes included retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, endothelium-lined vascular channels, macrophages, myofibroblasts, fibrocytes, glial cells, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes. Extracellular interstitial constituents included collagen fibrils, basal laminar deposits, fibrin and young elastic fibrils. These findings show that SFNMs consist of various cells originating from surrounding tissues and vessels. Among these RPE cells and macrophages are the main cellular components and in conjunction with various extracellular matrix, especially collagen, may play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the membranes.
Basement Membrane/surgery/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/complications ; Microscopy, Electron ; Retina/*ultrastructure ; Retinal Neovascularization/etiology/*pathology/surgery

Two cases in which postoperative hepatic necrosis followed by halothane(fulthane) anesthesia are presented. Case 1 was 3 dar-old neonate who was performed corrective surgery for jejunal atresia under the halothane anesthesia. He was placed with hyperalimentation just after operation, and was relatively well. He died on postoperative 11 days. Necropsy matrial was obtained from liver. Histologic finding of liver disclosed massive cental hemorrhagic necrosis. Case 2 was a 17 year-old boy who was performed corrective open heart surgery for TOF under the halothane anesthesia, He developed oliguria just after operation. On postoperative 1 day, hepatocellular and renal dysfunction were found, and peritoneal diaysis performed. He died on postoperative 3 day. Necropsy matrials were obtained from liver and kidney-Liver disclosed massive central hemorrhagic necrosis. Kidney showed intact glomeruli and proximal and distal convoluted tubular cells were degenerated. The configuration of tubular basement membrane was not clear. These considered to be acute tubular necrosis, ischemic type.
Adolescent ; Anesthesia* ; Basement Membrane ; Halothane* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Atresia ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Massive Hepatic Necrosis* ; Necrosis ; Oliguria ; Thoracic Surgery

To report three cases in which reorganization of the photoreceptor layer on optical coherence tomography (OCT) was concurrent with long-term visual recovery after macular hole surgery. Serial OCT scans of three eyes in which visual acuity continued to improve for 1 or more years after successful macular hole surgery were reviewed. Case 1. At postoperative four weeks, visual acuity was 20/100 with disorganized photoreceptor layer on OCT. The photoreceptor layer had been reorganized and visual acuity had improved to 20/25 by 1 year. Case 2. Two weeks after the operation, visual acuity was 20/125 and disorganization of the photoreceptor layer was noted. Visual acuity improved to 20/50 by four months. The photoreceptor layer had been partly reorganized and had appearance of a broken line. Visual acuity had improved to 20/40 and the photoreceptor layer had been reorganized further with a residual defect on OCT by 15 months. Case 3. Visual acuity at two weeks was 20/100. OCT revealed disorganization of the photoreceptor layer. Six months after the operation, the partly reorganized photoreceptor layer appeared as a broken line and visual acuity had reached 20/80. Visual acuity had improved further to 20/40 by 1 year, concurrent with improved organization of the photoreceptor layer. The reorganization of the photoreceptor layer plays a part in long-term improvement of visual acuity after macular hole surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Basement Membrane/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/*physiology ; Regeneration/*physiology ; Retinal Perforations/*surgery ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity/*physiology ; Vitrectomy

Human amniotic membrane isolated from the placenta contained basement membrane components such as type IV collagen, laminin, and 6 and 4 integrins, all of which remained detectable while preserved in glycerin for one week. One month after the n-heptanol removal of the total corneal epithelium and the limbal lamellar keratectomy, all rabbit eyes carried features of limbal deficiency, including conjunctival epithelial ingrowth, vascularization and chronic inflammation. Ten control eyes then received a total keratectomy, and 13 experimental eyes received an additional amniotic membrane transplantation. Three-month follow-ups revealed that all control corneas were revascularized to the center with granuloma and retained a conjunctival phenotype. In contrast, in the experimental groups, 5 corneas became clear with either minimal or no vascularization; the rest had either mild peripheral (5) or total (3) vascularization and more cloudy stroma. Using monoclonal antibodies for epithelial markers and matrix components, we concluded that the success correlated with the return of a cornea-like epithelial phenotype and the preservation of the amniotic membrane, whereas the failure maintained a conjunctival epithelial phenotype and the amniotic membrane was either partially degraded or covered by host fibrovascular stroma. Measures taken to facilitate the former might prove this procedure clinically useful for ocular surface reconstruction.
Amnion/chemistry/*transplantation ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane/chemistry/pathology ; Cornea/pathology/*surgery ; Corneal Neovascularization/pathology/*prevention & control/surgery ; Epithelium/pathology/surgery ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/analysis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Rabbits

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical outcomes of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment caused by a macular hole. Nineteen, consecutive, highly myopic eyes with full thickness macular hole with retinal detachment were treated by vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal, endolaser photocoagulation on the center of the hole and fluid gas exchange. In five eyes with other peripheral breaks, scleral buckling (3 cases), encircling (1 case) and barrier laser (1 case) were combined. In 15 eyes (79.0%) the macular hole was closed after the initial surgery. In 4 eyes (21%) the macular hole was reopened, but these were successfully treated with fluid gas exchange (1 case) or macular buckling (3 cases). The visual acuity was improved in 15 eyes (79.0%). In conclusion, these results suggest that the removal of the perifoveal internal limiting membrane may be an important adjuvant in the treatment of the myopic macular hole with retinal detachment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Basement Membrane/surgery ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia, Degenerative/*complications ; Retinal Detachment/etiology/*surgery ; Retinal Perforations/*complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy/*methods

No abstract available.
Adult ; Basement Membrane/*pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Lasers, Gas/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/etiology/*surgery ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; *Valsalva Maneuver ; Vitreous Hemorrhage/diagnosis/etiology/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic process of basement membrane remodeling after the combined grafting of xenogenic acellular dermal matrix with autoskin.

METHODSThe rat skin wounds were covered with xenogenic porcine acellular dermal matrix overlaid with razor thin autoskin. The skin samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 16 post-grafting weeks. The changes in laminin expression in the basement membrane and the ultrastructure of the basement membrane at 12 post-grafting weeks were observed by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The results were compared with those in simple thin autoskin grafting as the control.

RESULTSThe laminin expression in the combined grafting was higher than that in control. At 12 post-grafting weeks, the basement membrane in combined grafting rats was clear and continuous and the hemidesmosome was relatively more in amount and distributed evenly. While in the autoskin group, the lamina densa in the basement membrane was blurred and discontinuous with a decrease in and uneven distribution of hemidesmosome.

CONCLUSIONThe increased expression of laminin in the basement membrane in the combined grafting rats might be beneficial to the remodeling of the basement membrane and to strengthening the connection of epithelium to the dermis, thus wound healing quality would be improved.

Animals ; Basement Membrane ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Burns ; surgery ; Dermis ; transplantation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Swine ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Wound Healing