Generation of Retinal Pigmented Epithelium-Like Cells from Pigmented Spheres Differentiated from Bone Marrow Stromal Cell-Derived Neurospheres

BACKGROUND: Retinal degeneration causes blindness, and cell replacement is a potential therapy. The purpose of this study is to formation of pigmented neurospheres in a simple medium, low-cost, high-performance manner over a short period of time while expressing markers of RPE cells and the activation of specific genes of the pigment cells. Also, these neurospheres have the ability to produce a monolayer of retinal pigment epithelium-like cells (RPELC) with the ability of photoreceptor outer segment phagocytosis. METHODS: BMSC were isolated from pigmented hooded male rats and were immunoreactive to BMSC markers, then converted into neurospheres, differentiated into pigmented spheres (PS), and characterized using Retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 kDa protein (RPE65), Retinaldehyde-binding protein 1 (CRALBP) and orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) markers by immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The PS were harvested into RPELC. The functionality of RPELC was evaluated by phagocytosis of fluorescein-labeled photoreceptor outer segment. RESULTS: The BMSC immunophenotype was confirmed by immunostained for fibronectin, CD90, CD166 and CD44. These cells differentiated into osteogenic and lipogenic cells. The generated neurospheres were immunoreactive to nestin and stemness genes. The PS after 7–14 days were positive for RPE65 (92.76–100%), CRALBP (95.21–100%) and OTX2 (94.88–100%), and after 30 days RT-PCR, qPCR revealed increasing in gene expression. The PS formed a single layer of RPELC after cultivation and phagocyte photoreceptor outer segments. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow stromal stem cells can differentiate into functional retinal pigmented epithelium cells in a simple, low-cost, high-performancemanner over a short period of time. These cells due to expressing theRPELCgenes andmarkers can be used in cell replacement therapy for degenerative diseases including age-relatedmacular degeneration as well as retinitis pigmentosa.

Prevalence of second-eye cataract surgery and time interval after first-eye surgery in Iran: a clinic-based study

To determine the prevalence of second-eye senile cataract surgery [SECS] as a proportion of all senile cataract surgeries and the trend in the interval between first and second cataract operations in a main referral and academic eye hospital. In this cross-sectional study, a list of patients who underwent senile cataract surgery over four consecutive years [2006-2009] was retrieved from hospital computer-based records as the sampling frame. With a systematic random method, 15% of records were selected [1, 585 out of 10, 517 records]. First- and second-eye operations were performed in 1, 139 [71.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 69.5-74.1] and 446 eyes [28.1%; 95% CI, 25.9-30.35], respectively. The proportion of SECS procedures increased from 24.3% in 2006 to 33.4% in 2009 [P- 0.017]. The median [interquartile range] interval between the two operations was 9 [4-24] months, which remained stable during the study period. The SECS rate was 10.4% higher [P - 0.0l] and the time interval was 13 months shorter [P- 0.007] in patients who underwent phacoemulsification than extracapsular cataract extraction. The number of cataract operations in this tertiary eye care setting increased 1.5 fold over the study period. The proportion of second-eye operations also rose from 1/4 to 1/3 during the same time

Vision related quality of life in myopia; photorefractive keratectomy versus nonsurgical optical correction

To compare quality of life [QOL] in myopic patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] with that of myopic spectacle or contact lens users. This observational comparative study was performed on 102 low to moderate myopic patients who had undergone PRK at least 6 months ago and 106 myopic spectacle or contact lens wearers. Vision related QOL and its correlation with demographic variables, visual acuity and refractive status were compared between the two groups. QOL was measured using a validated translated version of the Visual Function Questionnaire [VFQ-25] which contains 25 questions in 12 subscales with a total score of zero to 100. Mean total QOL score was 97.0 +/- 4.4 and 86.1 +/- 10.7 in PRK and nonsurgical groups respectively [mean difference [d]=11, P<0.001]. The difference was independent of age, sex, education or marital status [P>0.05]. Overall, 10 out of 12 QOL subscales were significantly higher in the PRK group [P<0.001] especially general vision [d=23.8], general health [d=22.2], driving [d=19.3], role difficulties [d=14.6], distance activities [d=13.8] and mental health [d=13.7]. Only color vision [d=1.6, P>0.9] and ocular pain [d=3.1, P=0.3] were not significantly different between the study groups. Correction of myopia using PRK is associated with higher QOL scores in most subscales as compared to spectacle or contact lens wear.

Visual outcomes of two aspheric PCIOLs: Tecnis Z9000 versus akreos AO

To compare spherical aberration and contrast sensitivity with two different types of aspheric posterior chamber intraocular lenses [PCIOLs]: Tecnis Z9000 versus Akreos AO. Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients undergoing phacoemulsification for senile cataracts were randomly assigned to implantation of Tecnis Z9000 or Akreos AO PCIOLs. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA], spherical aberration [SA] with 4 and 6 mm pupil diameters and contrast sensitivity under photopic and mesopic conditions at spatial frequencies of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cycles per degree [cpd] three months postoperatively. Mean BCVA was 0.08 +/- 0.08 logMAR in the Tecnis Z9000 group and 0.11 +/- 0.09 logMAR in the Akreos AO group [P=0.33]. SA was less with Tecnis than Akreos AO with 4 and 6 mm pupil diameter [0.14 +/- 0.10 micro m vs 0.28 +/- 0.09 micro m, P < 0.001 and 0.30 +/- 0.18 micro m vs 0.33 +/- 0.08 micro m, P=0.4, respectively]. Contrast sensitivity was significantly higher in the Tecnis Z9000 group at 1, 2, 5 and 10 cpd under photopic and at 1, 2 and 10 cpd under mesopic conditions. Tecnis Z9000 IOL seems to entail better visual outcomes in terms of spherical aberration and contrast sensitivity as compared to Akreos AO