Table of Contents - WOC 2012

New Therapeutic Approaches in Glaucoma
Sun 19 Feb 13:30 - 15:00 Hall 11
IS-GLA-SU 303 (1)
Mitochon Drial Medicine
Olarte Marcelo
Abstract not available
IS-GLA-SU 303 (2)
Treating the Central Nervous System
Gupta Neeru (1)
1. University of Toronto/St. Michael›s Hospital
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease of the visual system. In addition to
the loss of retinal ganglion cells in the eye, there is injury to major visual
pathways of the brain. These central visual system changes are critical
to understanding human glaucomatous neural degeneration and disease
progression. Compelling evidence suggests that in addition to lowering
intraocular pressure, targeting central visual system degeneration is an
opportunity to slow disease progression and prevent vision loss in glaucoma.
IS-GLA-SU 303 (3)
Targeting the Lymphatics in Glaucoma
Yucel Yeni
Abstract not available
IS-GLA-SU 303 (4)
Nanomedicine for the Delivery and the Stabilization of Therapeutics
to the Eye and Central Nervous System
Ellis-Behnke Rutledge (1)
1. Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg
Drug delivery in a time-release fashion is difficult to achieve in the eye and the
central nervous system (CNS). We have previously described a synthetic
polypeptide that self-assembles in the presence of physiological solutions.
Several proteins and chemicals have been used to assemble the highlycharged
self-assembling peptide (SAP) and the release characteristics have
been defined biochemically. In this study, the characteristics of the SAP, for
delivery of large and small molecules, were explored in vitro. We chose to
model time-release Drug delivery by trapping a variety of molecules in the
SAP: from a large and complex protein, a secondary antibody conjugated with
Alexa 488 (75 Kd), to a small dye, (0.7 Kd). All of the molecules tested were
retained within the SAP from a 1-hour to a 72-hour time point. Given these
data, we believe that the SAP will be able to deliver therapeutically relevant
molecules over an extended time period. Additionally, due to the nature of the
breakdown products (e.g. amino acids) of the SAP complexes, by-product
toxicity in the CNS should be avoidable. Thus, the SAP appears to offer a
new means of time-release delivery of therapeutic agents to the eye and the
CNS. We have also found that the materials will stabilize the three dimensional
structure of the target therapeutic and thus will remain viable for over 9 weeks
at body temperature.
IS-GLA-SU 303 (5)
Regeneration of the Visual System in Glaucoma
Martin Keith (1)
1. University of Cambridge
As no current treatments can restore vision lost to glaucoma, effective
regeneration of the optic nerve remains a key challenge. An important
barrier is the limited regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells, but recent
research has revealed a number of macrophage and glial-derived factors
that can enhance RGC regeneration. The inhibitory nature of the optic nerve
environment for regeneration is another key challenge, but again the barriers
are being identified and overcome.
WOC2012 Abstract Book
IS-GLA-SU 303 (6)
Rho-Kinase Inhibitors and Other Treatments in the Glaucoma
Pipeline
Kaufman Paul (1)
1. University of Wisconsin
Myosin light-chain kinase inhibitors, rho kinase inhibitors, caldesmon and
marine macrolides (e.g. latrunculins) increase outflow facility in non-human
primates by inhibiting contractility of the trabecular meshwork. Several such
compounds in clinical trials reduce IOP in ocular hypertensive patients. Others
in the glaucoma therapeutics pipeline include prostanoid EP receptors, nitric
oxide, adenosine and Wnt signaling agonists.
Ptyergium
Sun 19 Feb 13:30 - 15:00 Hall 1
IS-COR-SU 304 (1)
Update: Pathogenesis of Pterygium: Lessons from Genome-Wide
Expression Analysis
Beuerman Roger (1)
1. Singapore Eye Research Institute
Pterygium is a common fibrovascular ocular surface disease. The mechanism
of pterygium formation remains ambiguous, and current treatment is surgical
excision, with a significant risk of recurrence. Gene expression studies have
shown that aberrant DNA methylation and upregulation of genes associated
with inflammation are characteristic for pterygial tissues.
IS-COR-SU 304 (2)
Update: Modern Concepts of Pterygium Surgery
Murube Juan (1)
1. Spanish Society of Ophthalmology
Despite a plethora of existing surgical strategies in pterygium surgery, which
include simple bare sclera surgery, the use of adjunctive treatments such as
intraoperative or postoperative mitomycin C and beta-irradiation, amniotic
membrane transplantation, and more experimental forms of application of antiangiogenic
agents, modern pterygium surgery still pivots on the conjunctival
autograft as the gold standard for pterygium removal. Recent variants of
conjunctival autografting include the extensive PERFECT technique of Hirst,
and the use of fibrin adhesives.
IS-COR-SU 304 (3)
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Pterygium: Current Treatment
Concepts
Gomes Jose (1)
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo
The etiopathogenesis of pterygium is multifactorial and may be related to
chronic injury of the limbus and conjunctiva by solar UV radiation, actinic
keratoconjunctivitis, inflammation, viral infection and genetical factors. All
these factors may induce partial stem cell deficiency and progression of the
vascularized progressive lesion over the cornea. In this presentation, the
relation between limbal stem cell deficiency and pterygium will be reviewed.
Based on this review, current treatment options will be presented and
discussed.
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