OBJECTIVE We prospectively investigate the relation between baseline circulating endothelial progenitor cells and the subsequent development of restenosis after angioplasty of hemodialysis vascular access. BACKGROUND Effect of angioplasty for hemodialysis vascular access is greatly attenuated by early and frequent restenosis. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of mitomycin-C (MMC) on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphology after trabeculectomy. METHODS In this prospective comparative case series, 31 eyes with glaucoma underwent trabeculectomy with (group I), or without (group II) MMC. Specular microscopy was performed pre-, and postoperatively at months 1 and 3. Outcome measures included central corneal ...

BACKGROUND In the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), life expectancy of HIV-infected patients is the same as that of the general population, resulting in increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in this patient group. AIM To assess the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in HIV-infected patients and to identify factors which affect endothelial function and arterial sti...

KCNK2 was previously shown to regulate immune-cell trafficking into the central nervous system (CNS). Kcnk2-/- mice demonstrated a more severe disease course in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis, due to an increased immune-cell migration into the CNS. An upregulation of the cellular adhesion molecules ICAM1 and VCAM1 on brain endothelial cells in K...

Instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) causes rapid islet loss in portal vein islet transplantation. Endothelial cells are known to protect against complement-mediated lysis and activation of coagulation. We tested composite pig islet-human endothelial cell grafts as a strategy to overcome IBMIR. Porcine islets were cocultured with human endothelial cells in specially modified cul...

OBJECTIVE/METHOD A 50-year-old hyperopic woman requested information about refractive surgery. Vesicle and band lesions at Descemet's membrane and endothelium were suggestive of posterior polymorphous dystrophy (PPD). Lower than normal endothelial cell densities were detected. A corneal refractive procedure was not recommended in this case. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS The presence of vesicles and ban...