Amniotic fluid (AF) and amniotic membrane (AM) have been recently characterized as promising sources of stem or progenitor cells. Both not only contain subpopulations with stem cell characteristics resembling to adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, but also exhibit some embryonic stem cell properties like (i) expression of pluripotency markers, (ii) high expansion in vitro, or (iii...

Introduction. Operations are performed for broader liver surgery indications for a better understanding of hepatic anatomy/physiology and developments in operation technology. Surgery can cure some patients with liver metastasis of some tumors. Nevertheless, postoperative liver failure is the most feared complication causing mortality in patients who have undergone excision of a large liver mas...

Amniotic membrane of human placenta is a source of abundant mesenchymal stem cell (hAMSC) which makes it a potential source of allogeneic multipotent cell for bone healing. However, much has to be explored about its isolation procedure and the osteogenic differentiation potential. The aims of this study are to establish the procurement procedure of human amniotic membrane, the isolation and cul...

BACKGROUND Since constrictive pericarditis is most often idiopathic and the pathophysiology remains largely unknown, both the diagnosis and the treatment can be challenging. However, by definition, inflammatory processes are central to this disease process. Amniotic membrane patches have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties and are believed to be immune privileged. Due to these pr...

To evaluate the efficacy of amniotic membrane in the management of painful bullous keratopathy secondary to the intractable glaucoma and in preventing exposure of drainage devices, we inserted Ahmed valve with amniotic membrane patch graft over the implant itself, and debrided corneal epithelium with amniotic membrane graft over the exposed stroma as a single operation. During the follow-up per...

OBJECTIVE To report a new grading system and surgical outcome by sealing the gap between the conjunctiva and Tenon capsule. METHODS A total of 32 eyes of 30 patients with pterygia were managed at the Ocular Surface Center from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2010. The eyes were consecutively operated on by recession; sealing of the gap; covering of exposed medial rectus muscle by amniot...

Human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC) are formed from epiblasts on the 8th day after fertilization. Because they lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen, human amniotic tissue transplantation has been used for allotranplantation to treat patients with lysosomal diseases. We have provided evidence that HAEC have multiple functions such as synthesis and release of acetylcholine (ACh)...

purpose: to evaluate the role of amniotic membrane transplantation (amt) in acute ocular chemical burns. methods: patients with grade ii-iv (gii-giv) ocular chemical burns (roper-hall classification) of less than two weeks’ duration underwent amt in addition to medical therapy. patients were followed for at least 6 months and evaluated for ocular pain, visual acuity, epithelial defect healing, ...

AIM Treatment of recurrent pterygium associated with symblepharon requires both suppression of fibrosis and reconstruction of limbal barrier. To achieve this, human amniotic membrane was transplanted and limbal autografts performed. METHODS Four patients with severe symblepharon resulting from multiple surgeries for pterygium were treated. Human amniotic membrane was obtained at caesarean sec...