• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.803-808
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• 2010

Poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid (${\gamma}$-PGA) is a natural edible polypeptide in which glutamate is polymerized via ${\gamma}$-amide linkages. First, we assessed the eye irritancy potential of ${\gamma}$-PGA in rabbits. Additionally, we studied the effects of ${\gamma}$-PGA on corneal wound healing, due to the anti-inflammatory properties and water retaining abilities of ${\gamma}$-PGA. In this study, the effects of ${\gamma}$-PGA on corneal wound healing after an alkali burn were evaluated. Thirty eyes wounded by alkali burning in 30 white rabbits were divided into three groups: group A was treated with 0.1% 5,000 kDa ${\gamma}$-PGA for 2 days; group B was treated with 0.1% hyaluronic acid; and group C was not treated, as a control. The area of corneal epithelial defect was examined at 12, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 h after corneal alkali wounding to determine initial wound healing. We found that ${\gamma}$-PGA promoted corneal wound healing, compared with controls, and showed similar effects to hyaluronic acid. These results indicate that ${\gamma}$-PGA stimulates corneal wound healing by an anti-inflammatory effect and enhancing cell migration and cell proliferation. ${\gamma}$-PGA is a promising biomaterial that may be a substitute for hyaluronic acid in corneal wound healing treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 2001

To investigate the modulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) during corneal epithelial wound healing and the effect of topical NGF on corneal epithelial wound healing in dogs. An axial epithelial defect was created in the right eye using 6mm axial corneal mechanical debridement while the left served as an unwounded control. The tears were collected from both eyes during 1 week and the corneal epithelium was processed for the measurement of NGF at day 0 and 7. The NGF content of tears and corneal epithelium was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In another experiment, the animals were divided into 3 groups. The right eyes in each group were treated every six hours with 200 ug/ml of recombinant human (rh) NGF, murine NGF, or 600 ug/ml of anti-NGF blocking antibody. The left eye of each animal was treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to serve as controls. Wound healing was analyzed using NIH image software. Tear NGF was markedly increased in the wounded eyes, relative to tears from control eyes during the early healing period. The NGF content of the corneal epithelium was elevated in the wounded eye (p=0.024). Time to wound closure and rate of epithelial migration were not significantly different between the NGF treated or the NGF antibody treated, and the control BSA treated eyes. Corneal epithelial wounding increased NGF content only on the wounded side during the early healing period. Neither topical recombinant human or murine NGF affected corneal epithelial wound healing in the normal dog.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.800-805
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• 2009

This study investigated the effect of subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, on processes involved in corneal wound healing after alkali burn injury. Mice were divided into three groups: Group 1 was the saline-treated control, group 2 received subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab 1hr after injury and group 3 received bevacizumab 1 hr and 4 days after injury. Cornea neovascularization and opacity were observed using a slit lamp microscope. Corneal repair was assessed through histological analysis and immunostaining for CD31, $\alpha$-SMA, collagen I, and TGF-$\beta$2 7 days post-injury. In group 3, injection of bevacizumab significantly lowered neovascularization and improved corneal transparency. Immunostaining analysis demonstrated a reduction in CD31, $\alpha$-SMA and TGF-$\beta$2 levels in stroma compared to group 1. These results indicate that bevacizumab may be useful in reducing neovascularization and improving corneal transparency following corneal alkali burn injury by accelerating regeneration of the basement membrane.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 2023

In this study, we have investigated the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on corneal wound healing, using a low-power light-emitting diode (LED) at different wavelengths. We found that LEDs with wavelengths ranging from 623 to 940 nm had no significant cytotoxic effects on corneal epithelial cells. The effect of PBM on promoting cell migration was analyzed by scratch assay, and it was found that PBM at 623 nm significantly increased cell migration and promoted wound healing. Furthermore, the expression of genes related to cell migration and wound healing was analyzed, and it was found that PBM at 623 nm upregulated the expression of the genes FGF-1 and MMP2, which are known to promote cell proliferation and extracellular matrix degradation. These findings suggest that PBM with low-powered light at specific wavelengths, particularly 623 nm, could be utilized to treat corneal injury.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Ocular alkali burns cause severe damage to the ocular tissues and vision loss. Solcoseryl is a standardized calf blood extract that normalizes the metabolic disturbance and aids in maintaining the chemical and hormonal balance and has been used to treat burns in various tissues. This study examined the effects of Solcoseryl on a rat corneal alkali burn model. Materials and Methods Twenty rats were assigned randomly to four equal groups, including alkali burn, hyaluronic acid, Solcoseryl eyedrop, and Solcoseryl gel. A corneal alkali burn was induced by a NaOH-soaked paper disc. The treatments were given twice a day, every day. The wound area was measured after 24 and 48 hours, and the degree of neovascularization and corneal opacity were scored every week. The rats were sacrificed after three weeks for immunohistochemistry (IHC) to compare the level of inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The thickness of the retinal layers was compared to observe any changes in the retina. Results The use of Solcoseryl on corneal alkali burn accelerated wound healing with less neovascularization, greater opacity, and less cataract. IHC showed that the inflammation of the cornea was controlled by both the hyaluronic acid and Solcoseryl treatments. On the other hand, the inflammation had spread to the retina. When the dosage forms were compared, eyedrops were more effective on corneal inflammation, while the gel-type had a greater effect on retinal inflammation. Conclusion Solcoseryl was effective in accelerating the wound healing rate on a corneal alkali burn but could not prevent the spread of inflammation from the cornea to the retina. Eyedrops were more effective on inflammation in the cornea, and the gel was more effective in the retina.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.198-203
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• 2020

Synovial fluid (SF) contains various factors which may be helpful for corneal stromal healing, such as cytokines, growth factors, hyaluronic acid, and proteins. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of SF on proliferation and migration in canine keratocytes. In order to evaluate the degree of proliferation and migration, canine keratocytes were cultured in DMEM containing 1%, 3%, 5%, or 10% SF. Real-time PCR was performed in a control group and the group treated with 5% SF, in order to measure the expression levels of factors associated with corneal wound healing. These factors included interleukin-1α (IL-1α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA-α). Proliferation assays demonstrated that proliferation was significantly enhanced in groups treated with greater than 3% SF, as compared with that of the control group. In addition, migration in all SF-treated groups was significantly increased as compared with migration in the control group, as measured by migration assays. mRNA expression of IL-1α and HGF was significantly increased and mRNA expression of TGF-β and SMA-α was significantly decreased in the cells treated with 5% SF. These findings suggest that SF may promote corneal wound healing.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.356-358
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• 2015

When severely large corneal perforation occurs, penetrating keratoplasty is a treatment of choice alternative to enucleation. A twelve-year-old male Shih Tzu was referred with perforated corneal ulcer secondary to keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Perforated cornea was directly sutured using 10-0 non-absorbable suture material, and rotational conjunctival flap was performed. However, re-perforation of cornea by wound dehiscence was observed at 1 month after operation. The yellowish lens escaped outside the orbit during corneal re-perforation, the diagnosis was re-perforated corneal ulcer, moderate corneal edema, moderate KCS (STT; 6 mm) and endophthalmitis caused by escaped lens outside orbit. Accordingly, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and evisceration through corneal recipient site and intrascleral silicone ball prosthesis were carried out as the planned treatment, and resulted in good cosmetic improvement compared to enucliation. However, exposure of silicone ball occurred at the 9 months after the surgery due to the irritation of implant, thus enucleation was performed. In perforated large corneal ulcer with severe intraocular damage, evisceration with silicone ball insertion with PK would be alternative treatment choice to improve the cosmetic appearance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2017

This study aimed to compare the cellular toxicities of three clinically used dry eye treatments; 3% diquafosol tetrasodium and hyaluronic acid at 0.3 and 0.18%. A methyl thiazolyltetrazoiun (MTT)-based calorimetric assay was used to assess cellular proliferation and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay to assess cytotoxicity, using Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) exposed to 3% diquafosol tetrasodium, 0.3% hyaluronic acid (HA), or 0.18% HA or 1, 6 or 24 h. Cellular morphology was evaluated by inverted phase-contrast light microscopy and electron microscopy, and wound widths were measured 24 h after confluent HCECs were scratched. Diquafosol had a significant, time-dependent, inhibitory effect on HCEC proliferation and cytotoxicity. HCECs treated with diquafosol detached more from the bottoms of dishes and damaged cells showed degenerative changes, such as, reduced numbers of microvilli, vacuole formation, and chromatin of the nuclear remnant condensed along the nuclear periphery. All significantly stimulated reepithelialization of HCECs scratched, which were less observed in diquafosol. Therefore, epithelial toxicity should be considered after long-term usage of diquafosol and in overdose cases, especially in dry eye patients with pre-existing punctated epithelial erosion.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.618-623
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• 2015

FK506 binding protein 12 (FK506BP) is a small peptide with a single FK506BP domain that is involved in suppression of immune response and reactive oxygen species. FK506BP has emerged as a potential drug target for several inflammatory diseases. Here, we examined the protective effects of directly applied cell permeable FK506BP (PEP-1-FK506BP) on corneal alkali burn injury (CAI). In the cornea, there was a significant decrease in the number of cells expressing pro-inflammation, apoptotic, and angiogenic factors such as TNF-α, COX-2, and VEGF. Both corneal opacity and corneal neovascularization (CNV) were significantly decreased in the PEP-1-FK506BP treated group. Our results showed that PEP-1-FK506BP can significantly inhibit alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation in rats, possibly by accelerating corneal wound healing and by reducing the production of angiogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that PEP-1-FK506BP may be a potential therapeutic agent for CAI.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.4
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• 2023

A 10-year-old, spayed female, Maltese dog presented with a 2-day history of severe left eye squint. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed a deep corneal defect stained into a doughnut shape together with hypopyon in the anterior chamber. Based on these results, a diagnosis of descemetocele and uveitis in the left eye was made. Deep keratotomy combined with a nictitating membrane flap effectively resolved the descemetocele without complications. The surgical procedures performed on this patient were easy and effective, and could be used as an alternative to graft surgery for descemetocele treatment.