Intestinal trefoil factor/TFF3 promotes re-epithelialization of corneal wounds.

Disorders of wound healing characterized by impaired or delayed re-epithelialization are a serious medical problem. These conditions affect many tissues, are painful, and are difficult to treat. In this study using cornea as a model, we demonstrate the importance of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3, also known as intestinal trefoil factor) in re-epithelialization of wounds. In two different models of corneal wound healing, alkali- and laser-induced corneal wounding, we analyzed the wound healing process in in vivo as well as in combined in vivo/in vitro model in wild type (Tff3(+)(/)(+)) and Tff3-deficient (Tff3(-)(/)(-)) mice. Furthermore, we topically applied different concentrations of recombinant human TFF3 (rTFF3) peptide on the wounded cornea to determine the efficacy of rTFF3 on corneal wound healing. We found that Tff3 peptide is not expressed in intact corneal epithelium, but its expression is extensively up-regulated after epithelial injury. Re-epithelialization of corneal wounds in Tff3(-/-) mice is significantly prolonged in comparison to Tff3(+/+) mice. In addition, exogenous application of rTFF3 to the alkali-induced corneal wounds accelerates significantly in in vivo and in combined in vivo/in vitro model wound healing in Tff3(+/+) and Tff3(-/-) mice. These findings reveal a pivotal role for Tff3 in corneal wound healing mechanism and have broad implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies for treating nonhealing wounds.

A brief exploration of neurological art history.

The invention of realistic portraiture to reveal "inner life" is attributed by some art historians to Jan van Eyck who worked in Flanders from 1420 onwards. We show, using clinical neurological examination of the gold mask of Agamemnon dating from 1550-1500 BC and of the portraits of Henry III and his son Edward I -- important English royals -- painted between 1216 and 1307, that realistic portraits were made well before the 15th Century. Thus artists unwittingly used neurology as part of their realistic approach to the presentation of the face. Because neurological diagnosis is often visual, neurology, in turn, has a rich potential to unveil examples of realism in art. We consider the art pieces examined here also pertinent to art historians, as they assess the role of art in documenting history.

[Gore-tex(r) patch in immunologically conditioned corneal ulcer]. / Gore-Tex(R)-Patch-Aufnähung bei immunologisch bedingten Hornhautulzerationen.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of immunological corneal disease and melting is still a challenge for any ophthalmologist. Adequate systemic treatment as well as the surgical intervention with an allogeneic corneal graft needs time. In case of emergency a gore-tex(R) patch is an alternative option. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We report on the pre- and postoperative courses of six eyes suffering from rheumatic corneal ulcer resp. immune mediated descemetocele treated by a gore-tex(R) patch. Follow-up ranged between 6 to 30 months. RESULTS: In all cases corneal perforation could be prevented, the artificial graft kept the anterior chamber tight. No infection or graft extrusion developed. DISCUSSION: Different surgical methods are optional in the treatment of rheumatic and immunologic corneal diseases (lamellar or penetrating keratoplasty à chaud, conjunctival flap, amniotic membrane transplantation, contact lenses with adhesive). Another possibility, the gore-tex(R) patch, is an easily available and easy-to-handle tissue, which allows stabilisation of the situation and saves time.