Keratocyne(R) is the complex of cystine and vitamine B6. Cystine is collagenase inhibitor and vitamine B6 is essential to the metabolism of cystine. We administered Keratocyne(R) orally combined with specific topical therapy to investigate its healing effect on various corneal diseases. The results were as follows: 1. The cases which improved after Keratocyne(R) administration were 15 patients out of 22 patients. 2. No untoward side effects were observed. We concluded that Keratocyne(R) was effective on certain corneal diseases which released collagenase.
Collagenases ; Corneal Diseases* ; Cystine ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Vitamins

This study was performed to investigate the changes of tear film and ocular surface in diabetic patients, as well as the ocular and systemic factors related to these changes. We assessed the scoring of keratoepitheliopathy, corneal sensitivity test, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, and conjunctival impression cytology in 94 eyes of 47 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and in 60 eyes of 30 normal subjects. The degree of keratoepitheliopathy was severe, and the corneal sensitivity, BUT, and tear secretion were significantly reduced in the diabetic patients. Conjunctival impression cytology showed a higher grade of conjunctival squamous metaplasia and lower goblet cell density in the diabetic patients. All parameters were related to the status of metabolic control, diabetic neuropathy, and stage of diabetic retinopathy. We think that diabetic patients with poor metabolic control, neuropathy, and advanced stage of retinopathy should be examined for tear film and ocular surface changes.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Corneal Diseases/etiology/*metabolism ; Diabetes Complications/*metabolism/pathology ; Epithelium, Corneal/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Goblet Cells/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Tears/*metabolism

Opacification of the cornea due to the deposition of lipids may be primary without evidence of previous corneal vascularization, or secondary to either preexisting corneal disease or systemic disturbances of lipid metabolism. If the deterioration of vision continues, penetrating keratoplasty may be needed. We evaluated a 19 year-old female patient referred to our department due to progressive corneal opacity in the left eye. She did not have significant past or family histories of corneal diseases. Ocular examinations revealed the whitish corneal deposits with deep stromal vascularization in her left eye. For confirmation of the diagnosis, lamellar keratectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation was performed and deep stromal vessels were photocoagulated using an argon laser. Histologic findings were compatible with lipid degeneration. The corneal opacities reduced markedly and did not show any evidence of recurrence during the follow up period of six months. Therefore, we report this case with the review of the literature.
Amnion* ; Argon ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Opacity ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Light Coagulation* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

This essay explains the essential principle for the determination of oxygen permeability by the FATT method, and introduces the specific testing procedure and the method for data processing.
Algorithms ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic ; standards ; Corneal Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Permeability

The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare the ultrastructural changes occurring during the in vivo cultivation of corneal epithelium on amniotic membrane (AM) at several different time points. Corneal burn patients (n=7) with a corneal epithelial defect and severe limbal damage were selected. Initially, AM transplantation with limbal autograft was performed at the acute stage of corneal burn to reconstruct the damaged ocular surface. One to six (mean interval; 3.3+/-1.2) months later, the central part of AM containing an in vivo expanded corneal epithelium was excised and retransplanted in adjacent lesions. The excised epithelium with AM was examined by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical study. By electron microscopy, one and two months after expansion, cultivated epithelium on AM showed an undifferentiated epithelium and an incomplete basement membrane (BM). But, after three months, the cultivated epithelium began to differentiate into a multilayered epithelium with a continuous BM with increased hemidesmosomes. These findings were further confirmed by immunohistochemical study, that cytokeratin K3 was expressed in the cultivated corneal epithelium and newly formed BM was partially positive of collagen IV at three months. At least 3 months may be needed for the proliferation and differentiation of in vivo cultivated corneal epithelium on AM.
Stem Cells/cytology ; Stem Cell Transplantation/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Microscopy, Electron ; Male ; Keratin-3/biosynthesis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Humans ; Epithelium, Corneal/cytology/*metabolism/*pathology/*transplantation ; Corneal Diseases/*therapy ; Burns/*surgery/therapy ; Biological Dressings ; Amnion/*ultrastructure ; Adult

Mammalian epithelia produce the various antimicrobial peptides against the bacterial or viral infection, thereby acting as the active immune modulators in the innate immunity. In this study, we examined the effects of the various proinflammatory cytokines or LPS on cell viability and antimicrobial beta-defensin gene expressions in human corneal epithelial cells. Results showed that the cytokines or LPS did not exert severe cytotoxic effects on the cells, and that beta-defensin 1 was constitutively expressed, while beta-defensin 2 was specifically induced by IL-1beta, supporting the idea that these cytokines or LPS involve the defense mechanism in the cornea. Furthermore, the reporter and gel shift assay to define the induction mechanism of beta-defensin 2 by IL-1beta demonstrated that the most proximal NF-kB site on the promoter region of beta-defensin 2 was not critical for the process. Data obtained from the normal or patients with the varying ocular diseases showed that our in vitro results were relevant in the clinical settings. Our results clearly demonstrated that beta-defensin 1 and 2 are important antimicrobial peptides in the corneal tissues, and that the mechanistic induction process of beta-defensin 2 by IL-1beta is not solely dependent on proximal NF-kB site activation, thus suggesting that the long distal portion of the promoter is needed for the full responsiveness toward IL-1beta.
Binding, Competitive ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Corneal Diseases/metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Epithelium, Corneal/drug effects/*immunology/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interferon Type II/metabolism/pharmacology ; Interleukin-1/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism/pharmacology ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/drug effects/genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism/pharmacology ; beta-Defensins/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism

We report two cases of band keratopathy who were treated with thick amniotic membrane that contained a basement membrane structure as a graft, after ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelation with trephination and blunt superficial lamellar keratectomy in the anterior stroma. In each case, basement membrane was destroyed and calcium plaque invaded into anterior stroma beneath Bowman's membrane. The calcified lesions were removed surgically, resulting in a smooth ocular surface, and the fine structures of band keratopathy were confirmed by pathologic findings. After that, amniotic membrane transplantation was performed to replace the excised epithelium and stroma. Wound healing was completed within 10 days. Stable ocular surface was restored without pain or inflammation. During the mean follow-up period of 13.5 months, no recurrence of band keratopathy was observed. This combined treatment is a safe and effective method for the removal of deep-situated calcium plaque and allowing the recovery of a stable ocular surface.
Amnion/*anatomy & histology/*transplantation ; Calcium/metabolism ; Chelating Agents/*therapeutic use ; Cornea/pathology/surgery ; Corneal Diseases/*drug therapy/pathology/*surgery ; Edetic Acid/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged