Effect of Combined Treatment with Cyclosporine A and Cord Serum for Dry Eye Associated with Graft-Versus-Host-Disease

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of combined treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops for severe dry eye associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: Eighteen patients with severe dry eye associated with GVHD were treated with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops (group 1, n = 16), 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops (group 2, n = 10) or artificial tears only (group 3, n = 10). Tear film break up time (BUT), Schirmer test, tear clearance rate (TCR), and keratoepithelio pathy score were measured before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: In group 1, significant improvement was observed in tear film BUT (from 3.25 +/- 1.18 s to 6.63 +/- 0.96 s, p < 0.01), TCR (from 2.38 +/- 0.72 to 3.13 +/- 0.72, p < 0.01) and keratoepithelio pathy score (from 6.31 +/- 2.15 to 0.88 +/- 0.89, p < 0.01) 6 months after treatment. Compared with group 2 and group 3, group 1 showed significant improvement in BUT (3 and 6 months after treatment) and keratoepitheliopathy score (1, 3 and 6 months after treatment). CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops is effective for severe dry eye associated with GVHD.

Therapeutic Effect of Umbilical Cord Serum Eyedrops for Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord serum in the treatment of persistent epithelial defect of the cornea. METHODS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients with persistent epithelial defect that had persisted for at least 2 weeks despite conventional treatment were treated with 20% umbilical cord serum eyedrops six times a day. The images of the epithelial defects were captured using a camera attached to a slit lamp biomicroscope and the areas of the epithelial defects were calculated. Treatment was considered effective for epithelial defect healing within 2 weeks, partially effective for healing within 2 to 4 weeks, and ineffective for healing requiring either more than 1 month or additional measures. RESULTS: Mean duration of epithelial defect before treatment was 7.2+/-6.3 weeks, and mean area was 7.86+/-7.32 mm2. Umbilical cord serum therapy was effective in 6 eyes (42.9%), partially effective in 6 (42.9%), and ineffective in 2 (14.2%). Nevertheless, the epithelial defects in both the ineffective eyes were eventually healed within 8 weeks. Mean healing time in effective or partially effective cases was 2.75+/-1.06 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The use of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of persistent epithelial defect is effective.

Tear Film and Ocular Surface Changes after Umbilical Cord Serum Therapy in Dry Eye Syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of tear film and ocular surface after umbilical cord serum therapy in patients with severe dry eye syndrome. METHODS: Forty-one eyes of 25 patients with severe dry eye syndrome were treated with umbilical cord serum eyedrops. Before and after treatment, symptom score, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, corneal sensitivity, keratoepitheliopathy score, and impression cytology were performed. RESULTS: Before treatment, symptom score, BUT, Schirmer test, corneal sensitivity, and keratoepitheliopathy score were 3.18 +/- 0.50, 3.50 +/- 1.27 sec, 3.24 +/- 0.94 mm, 51.63 +/- 9.29 mm, and 6.13 +/- 2.85, respectively. Two months after treatment, the respective parameters were 1.03 +/- 0.53 (P<0.001), 5.42 +/- 2.79 sec (P<0.001), 3.42 +/- 1.16 mm (P=0.067), 52.87 +/- 7.92 mm (0.071), and 2.10 +/- 1.98 (P<0.001). In impression cytology, the grade of squamous metaplasia and goblet cell density were 2.44 +/- 0.71 and 75.05 +/- 41.81 cells/mm2 before treatment, and 1.47 +/- 0.62 and 165.48 +/- 39.19 cells/mm2 at 2 months after treatment, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical cord serum treatment is clinically applicable and effective in patients with severe dry eye syndrome.

Culture of Dendritic Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood using Umbilical Cord Serum instead of Fetal Calf Serum / 中国输血杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of umbilical cord serum(UCS)during induction of dendritic cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Methods Umbilical cord blood was collected aseptically and interface cells were collected with density gradient centrifugation method,CD34 +cells were purified and collected with Mini-MACS technique. Pro-DC were obtained and were divided into 3 groups:①cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 10%UCS and cytokine,②cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 10%FCS and cytokine③cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 10%FCS .Interleukin-4(IL-4),granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-a)were used in the first 2 groups, but not in control group (group 3). Some cells were collected on the 8th d for phenotypes analysis. Results The expression of CD80 ,CD54 and HLA-DR on the surface of DC cultured in UCS medium had no significant difference compared with that of DC cultured in FCS medium. The expression of surface molecules in UCS-DC group and FCS-DC group were both enhanced compared with the control group. Conclusion Mature DC could be induced from pro-DC derived from umbilical cord blood when cultured with UCS instead of FCS. That provides a new approach for the clinical application of DC.