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Gelatinase expression was upregulated in the tear fluid of RCE patients. The presence of gelatinase in the affected eye during the remission phase as well as in the nonaffected fellow eye indicates that gelatinase expression in the tear fluid may be related to the recurrence of corneal erosion.

Amidine-type peptide bond isosteres were designed based on the substitution of the peptide bond carbonyl (C=O) group with an imino (C=NH) group. The positively-charged property of the isosteric part resembles a reduced amide-type peptidomimetic. The peptidyl amidine units were synthesized by the reduction of a key amidoxime (N-hydroxyamidine) precursor, which was prepared from nitrile oxide components as an aminoacyl or peptidyl equivalent. This nitrile oxide-mediated C-N bond formation was also used for peptide macrocyclization, in which the amidoxime group was converted to peptide bonds under mild acidic conditions. Syntheses of the cyclic RGD peptide and a peptidomimetic using both approaches, and their inhibitory activity against integrin-mediated cell attachment, are presented.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is associated with a short-term risk of limb loss. Multidisciplinary teams are often involved in CLTI treatment; however, in Asian countries, multidisciplinary teams that include podiatrists specializing in foot wounds and vascular surgeons who can perform distal bypass surgery are lacking. We investigated predictive factors for limb salvage and foot ulcer recurrence in patients with CLTI treated by a Japanese single-center intensive multidisciplinary team over 6 years. We retrospectively investigated 84 patients with CLTI and foot ulcers who had undergone revascularization and wound treatment between October 2013 and December 2019. Following postrevascularization treatment, including undertaking minor amputations, the healing rate was 77.8%, and the average wound healing time was 75 ± 68 days. To achieve adequate blood supply, 17.7% of patients were treated using a combination of endovascular revascularization and bypass surgeries. Thirty-three (44%) patients had wound recurrence and there was wound recurrence within 6 months in 58.9% of these patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that postrevascularization skin perfusion pressure was significantly associated with wound healing (odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.033-1.243, P = .0078). Diabetes mellitus (OR 9.72, 95% CI 1.855-50.937, P = .0071), and heart disease (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.052-11.693, P = .0411) were significantly associated with wound recurrence ( P < .05). Treatment within a single-center intensive multidisciplinary team resulted in good patient outcomes. Our study indicates that the revascularization endpoint of CLTI treatment should be marked by attainment of adequate blood supply and wound healing. The timing of revascularization and debridement is of utmost importance for the successful treatment of CLTI wounds.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of human relaxin on apoptosis in the human trophoblast derived HTR-8/SV neo cell line, which is a possible model of human extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). HTR-8/SV neo cells, cultured in phenol red free RPMI1640 medium, were treated with different doses of human recombinant (rH2) relaxin in serum-deprived conditions. RT-PCR was used for evaluating relaxin receptor: RXFP1 and RXFP2 expression in HTR-8/SV neo cells. The cell death was examined by TUNEL assay. Furthermore, we investigated caspase-3, cleaved PARP and Bcl-2 expressions by Western blot analysis to recognize the translational effects of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. RXFP1 and RXFP2 mRNA expression was observed in HTR-8/SV neo cells. Compared with untreated control cultures, treatment with rH2 relaxin, decreased TUNEL-positive rate in HTR-8/SV neo cells was observed. Western blot analysis revealed that treatment with rH2 relaxin decreased the expression of caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, but in contrast increased Bcl-2 expression in those cells. These results suggest that rH2 relaxin has anti-apoptotic effects on HTR8/SV neo cells by decreasing pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and cleaved PARP expression and up-regulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression.

TACE-dependent ectodomain shedding of sTNFR1 was recognized in corneal epithelium. In the inflamed ocular surface, TNFR1 was expressed in the corneal and conjunctival epithelia after alkali burn treatment. sTNFR1, released from the ocular surface, may play an anti-inflammatory role in the inflammatory condition.

Neurokinin B (NKB) regulates the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) via activation of the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R). We evaluated the biological stability of NK3R selective agonists to develop novel NK3R agonists to regulate reproductive functions. On the basis of degradation profiles, several peptidomimetic derivatives were designed. The modification of senktide with (E)-alkene dipeptide isostere generated a novel potent NK3R agonist with high stability and prolonged bioactivity.