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Biomedical subjects

S U Stechschulte

Publications and source records attributed to S U Stechschulte.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Amniotic membrane inlay and overlay grafting for corneal epithelial defects and stromal ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on persistent corneal epithelial defects (PEDs) and to compare the efficacy between inlay and overlay techniques. METHODS: Thirty patients (30 eyes) underwent AMT for PED. The use of AMT was restricted to patients in whom all previous measures, including bandage contact lens and tarsorrhaphy, had failed. The amniotic membrane was placed on the surface of the cornea in overlay (group A) or inlay (group B) fashion. RESULTS: The PED healed after the first AMT in 21 eyes (70%) within an average of 25.5 days after surgery and recurred in 6 eyes (29%). Among the 22 eyes treated with an overlay AMT (group A), the PED healed after the first AMT in 14 eyes (64%) within an average of 24.5 days and recurred in 4 eyes (29%). Among the 8 eyes treated with an inlay AMT (group B), the PED healed within an average of 27.4 days after AMT, which did not statistically significantly differ from group A (P = .72). The PED healed after the first AMT in 7 eyes (88%) and recurred in 2 (29%) of 7 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The AMT can be helpful in the treatment of PED in which all other conventional management has failed. However, the success rate in our study was not as high as that previously reported, and our results showed a high incidence of recurrences of epithelial defects. We did not find any difference between overlay and inlay techniques in terms of healing time and recurrence rate.

Adult↗

Rapid ocular angiogenic control via naked DNA delivery to cornea.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of naked plasmid gene therapy to the corneal stroma and epithelium. METHODS: Naked plasmid DNA was injected under pressure into the cornea of mice. The expression of genes coding for beta galactosidase (beta-gal), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and soluble Flt-1 (s-Flt) was recorded and measured with regard to dose, time course, and bioactivity. RESULTS: LacZ gene expression of the protein beta-gal was demonstrated as early as 1 hour, with expression persisting for 10 days. Plasmid-injected corneas remained clear and free of inflammation. EGFP was bicistronically expressed with VEGF to demonstrate the practicality of simultaneous in vivo analysis of gene expression and growth factor bioactivity. Corneal injection of a plasmid containing VEGF cDNA induced corneal and anterior chamber neovascularization. Moreover, corneal injection of plasmid containing the cDNA for the soluble form of the VEGF receptor Flt-1 effectively prevented corneal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The cornea is readily accessible for gene therapy in the laboratory and in the clinic. The method described is safe, effective, titratable, and easily monitored. Naked DNA delivery to the cornea has the potential to alter the treatment of a wide variety of corneal and anterior segment diseases.

Animals↗

Tuberculous neuroretinitis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a patient with tuberculous neuroretinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case report. RESULTS: We describe a 43-year-old otherwise asymptomatic woman with a known exposure to tuberculosis who had unilateral optic disc edema and a partial macular star (neuroretinitis). This was followed approximately 1 year later by the development of an exudative retinal detachment in the setting of bilateral multifocal choroiditis. Laboratory testing revealed a marked positive cutaneous reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD). Treatment with antituberculosis medicine alone resulted in prompt resolution of the choroidal infiltrates and complete flattening of the exudative detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with neuroretinitis.

Adult↗

Primary meningeal extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma: case report.

A 25-year-old man presented with a suspected right-sided subdural hematoma after a skiing accident. A large hemorrhagic mass was found and was evacuated. Histological studies demonstrated a highly cellular neoplasm with extensive hemorrhage. Further histological, immunohistochemical (including staining for Ewing's sarcoma cell surface antigen), and ultrastructural analyses of the tumor were consistent with Ewing's sarcoma. Search for other foci of this neoplasm by bone scan, full body computed tomographic scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans of the spine, and a bone marrow aspiration with biopsy failed to detect any soft tissue or bony involvement outside the cranium. This case appears to represent the first report of a primary extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma occupying the cranial subdural area.

Adult↗