Reappearance of limbal pigmentation post-simple limbal epithelial transplant

We report the repigmentation at the limbus in patients who underwent simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET) for uniocular chemical injury. The first case is of an 8-year-old child who presented with grade 4 chemical injury, with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) corresponding to 6 o' clock till 11 o' clock. He was managed by amniotic membrane graft in the acute stage and SLET after 6 months of the initial injury. The second case is of a 15-year-old female who presented with lime injury, which had resulted in 6 o' clock of limbal involvement (10 o' clock till 4 o' clock). The patient was managed on similar lines with amniotic membrane graft (AMG) in the acute phase and SLET after 6 months of injury. The ocular surface was stable in both the patients post-SLET. The effected limbus showed pigmentation at 8 months of follow-up which eventually became distinct and remained stable. We speculate that the pigmentation at limbus could be attributed to proliferation and movement of melanocytes from limbal biopsy in SLET. These may be capable of supporting the proliferation of limbal epithelial cells and modulation of corneal wound healing

Scleral lens for keratoconus: technology update

Varsha M Rathi,1 Preeji S Mandathara,2 Mukesh Taneja,1 Srikanth Dumpati,1 Virender S Sangwan1 1L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India; 2School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia Abstract: Scleral lenses are large diameter lenses which rest over the sclera, unlike the conventional contact lenses which rest on the cornea. These lenses are fitted to not touch the cornea and there is a space created between the cornea and the lens. These lenses are inserted in the eyes after filling with sterile isotonic fluid. Generally, scleral contact lenses are used for high irregular astigmatism as seen in various corneal ectatic diseases such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or/and as liquid bandage in ocular surface disorders. In this article, we review the new developments, that have taken place over the years, in the field of scleral contact lenses as regard to new designs, materials, manufacturing technologies, and fitting strategies particularly for keratoconus. Keywords: keratoconus, scleral lens, technology update, PROS

Performance of tall wheat under different sowing times and methods using various nutrient sources in western Haryana

To study the effect of different sowing times, methods and nutrient sources on the growth and productivity of tall wheat, a field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The analysis of data revealed that tall wheat crop sown in the last week of October on FIRBS recorded significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (at different growth stages), yield attributes, grain yield (2599 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7212 kg ha-1) as compared to conventionally sown wheat crop in 1st and 2nd week of November. Among the different nutrient sources, the recommended doses of chemical fertilizers provided significantly higher values of growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield (2658 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7426 kg ha-1) compared to organic fertilizers/ biofertilizers. Maximum temperature showed a significant and positive correlation with yield and yield attributes. In light of the results to maximize the productivity of tall wheat, it may be sown in the last week of October on FIRBS supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers on the basis of soil test

Technique of cultivating limbal derived corneal epithelium on human amniotic membrane for clinical transplantation

Background : The technique of transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelium rather than direct limbal tissue isa novel method of "cell therapy" involved in reconstructing the ocular surface in severe limbal stem celldeficiency [LSCD], caused by chemical burns. Aim : To describe a simple feeder-cell free technique of cultivating limbal epithelium on human amniotic membrane[HAM]. Materials and Methods : The limbal tissues (2 mm) were harvested from patients with LSCD. These tissueswere proliferated in vitro on HAM supplemented by human corneal epithelial cell medium and autologousserum. Cultures covering more 6550% area of 2.5x5 cm HAM were considered adequate for clinical use. Thecultured epithelium was characterized by histopathology and immunophenotyping.Results: A total of 542 cultures out of 250 limbal tissues were cultivated in the laboratory from January 2001through July 2005. The culture explants showed that clusters of cells emerging from the edge of the explantsin one-three days formed a complete monolayer within 10-14 days. In 86% of cultures (464 of 542), thegrowth was observed within one-two days. Successful explant cultures were observed in 98.5% (534 of 542cultures) with 91% explant cultures showing an area of 656.25 cm2 (6.25 - 12.5 cm2 range). The cultivatedepithelium was terminated between 10-14 days for clinical transplantation. The problems encountered wereinadequate growth (2 of 542) and contamination (2 of 542). Conclusions : We demonstrate a simple technique of generating a sheet of corneal epithelium from a limbalbiopsy. This new technique could pave the way for a novel form of cell therapy