Prolidase Enzyme Activity in Conjunctiva and Pterygium Tissues

Serum prolidase, malondialdehyde and catalase levels for the evaluation of oxidative stress in patients with peripheral vertigo

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate oxidative stress in patients with peripheral vertigo by measuring serum prolidase, malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase levels.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients (age: 60 <) with peripheral vertigo and 30 healthy subjects were recruited. Blood samples were collected from both groups and serum prolidase levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MDA and catalase levels were measured by the spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS

The most common cause of vertigo was BPPV (53.3%), followed by Ménière's disease (16.6%), vestibular neuritis (13.3%), lateral semicircular canal fistula (3.3%), and idiopathic vertigo (13.3%). Mean serum prolidase activity and MDA levels were significantly higher in the vertigo patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in mean serum catalase levels between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that serum prolidase and MDA levels may be used as markers of oxidative stress in patients with peripheral vertigo.

[New approaches to ocular surface reconstruction beyond the cornea]

BACKGROUND

Reconstruction of the conjunctiva is an essential part of ocular surface reconstruction. Clinically applied and experimentally tested tissue- and stem-cell-based approaches are presented and evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Current literature and our own results will be presented.

RESULTS

Autologous conjunctiva, mucous membrane of the mouth or nose, and amniotic membrane are routinely used for conjunctival reconstruction. Limitations are limited availability, involvement in autoimmune diseases, donor heterogeneity, and degradation in an inflamed environment. Experimentally tested matrices as tissues made from extracellular matrix proteins, synthetic polymers, temperature-sensitive culture dishes, and decellularized conjunctiva have been tested in vitro and partly in vivo. To replace conjunctival cells, cells of conjunctiva and mucous membrane of mouth and nose have been evaluated and show progenitor cell properties as well as secretory capacity (goblet cell differentiation).

CONCLUSIONS

Although different matrices are available for conjunctival reconstruction there is-due to specific limitations of existing tissues-a need for the development of new therapies for conjunctival replacement. Matrices produced in the laboratory have already been partly investigated in vivo and may thus be clinically applicable in the near future. Adult mucous membrane cells show many properties of conjunctival epithelium after expansion in vitro and thus are a promising cell source for conjunctival tissue engineering. Other stem cells sources require further evaluation.