Amniotic membrane

Inhibition of Metastasis by Protease Inhibitors. Cancer metastasis can be inhibited by either synthetic or naturally occurring protease inhibitors. Thus, various synthetic inhibitors of serine proteases have been found to prevent tumor cell invasion through amniotic membranes in vitro and to inhibit cancer metastasis in vivo [for reviews, see Aznavoorian et al. (A4) and Duffy (D6). In... 

In the last decade, several investigations were performed with regard to in vitro reconstruction of corneal epithelium for transplantation. Meanwhile, many studies have also been reported, dealing with the cultivation and transplantation of corneal epithelium grown on amniotic membranes (i.e., the innermost membrane of the placenta), fibrin gels, or temperature-responsive culture dishes [83-85], However, none of these models has been examined for suitability as a model for drug absorption studies. 

Odors can affect the survival of newborn rat pups 100% of pups normally born on gestation day 21 survive, and so do pups delivered by Caesarean section on day 20. If the pups are exposed to odors for 1 hour after birth, the survival rate varies greatly 9% survive in the presence of the odor of amniotic membranes and placenta 80% with dimethyl disulfide (which occurs in rat saliva) 75% with no odor and only 50% with mint odor. In addition to survival, the activity levels of the pups differ. Pups are more active in the presence of odor of amniotic fluid and placenta than they are in the presence of mint odor (Smotherman etal., 1987). 

Duc-Goiran, R, B. Galliot, and C. Chany, Studies on virus-induced interferons produced by the human amniotic membrane and white blood cells. Arch Gesamte Virns-forsch, 1971. 34(3) 232-43. 

D. Amniotic membrane transplantation with or without lim-bal aUogratfs for comeal surface reconstmction in patients with Umbal stem cell deficiency. Arch Ophthalmol 116(4), 431 41 (1998)... 

The transplantation of amniotic membrane does not suffice for the treatment of a severe LSC deficiency due to a bum [37]. In such a case, it needs to be associated with an LSC transplantation. The amniotic membrane is first sutured to the deepithelialized cornea and the limbal graft is set astride the edge of the amniotic membrane [38]. The cicatrization of the comeal epithelium is completed for 75-100% cases within 3 weeks when the LSC deficit is incomplete and for 70% cases when the deficit is complete [39, 40]. 

Used for ocular bums as soon as 1947 by Sorsby [30], the amniotic membrane is a tissue located at the interface of the placenta and the amniotic fluid. It is constituted of an unstratifled epithelium, a basement lamina, and an avascular mesenchyma. The amniotic membrane facilitates the reepithelialization by reducing the inflammatory and cicatricial reaction [31]. It helps the migration of the epithelial cells and the adhesion of the basement cells [32]. It behaves as an actual replacing basement membrane and facilitates the phenotypic... 

Espana, E.M., Grueterich, M., Ti, S.E., Tseng, S.C. Phenotypic study of a case receiving a keratohmbal allograft and amniotic membrane for total stem cell deficiency. Ophthalmology 110, 481 86 (2003)... 

Sorsby, A., Simmonds, H. Amniotic membrane graft in caustic bums of the eye (bums of second degree). Br J Ophthalmol 31, 409-418 (1947)... 

Solomon, A., Pires, R.T., Tseng, S.C. Amniotic membrane transplantation after extensive removal of primary and recurrent pterygia. Ophthalmology 108, 449-460 (2001)... 

Tseng, S.C., Di Pascuale, M.A., Liu, D.T, Gao, Y.Y., Baradaran-Raffi, A. Intraoperative mitomycin C and amniotic membrane transplantation for fornix reconstruction in severe cicatricial ocular surface diseases. Ophthalmology 112, 896-903 (2005)... 

Meller, D., Pires, R.T., Mack, R.J., et ah Amniotic membrane transplantation for acute chemical or thermal bums. Ophthalmology 107, 980-990 (2000)... 

Ucakhan, 0.0., Koklu, G., Firat, E. Nonpreserved human amniotic membrane transplantation in acute and chronic chemical eye injuries. Cornea 21, 169-172 (2002)... 

Hanada, K., Shimazaki, J., Shimurra, S., et ah Multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation for severe ulceration of the cornea and sclera. Am J Ophthalmol 131, 324-3311 (2001)... 

Stoiber, J., Muss, W.H., Pohla-Gubo, G., Ruckhofer, J., Grabner, G. Histopathology of human corneas after amniotic membrane and limbal stem cell transplantation for severe chemical burn. Cornea 21, 482-489 (2002)... 

Shimazaki, J., Yang, H.Y., Tsubota, K. Amniotic membrane transplantation for ocular surface reconstruction in patients with chemical and thermal burns. Ophthalmology 104, 2068-2076 (1997)... 

Gomes, J.A., Dos Santos, M.S., Cunha, M.C., Mascaro, V.L., Barros, J.N., De Sousa, L.B. Amniotic membrane transplantation for partial and total limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to chemical bum. Ophthalmology 110, 466-473 (2003)... 

Shimazaki, J., Aiba, M., Goto, E., Kato, N., Shimmura, S., Tsubota, K. Transplantation of human limbal epithelium cultivated on amniotic membrane for the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders. Ophthalmology 109, 1285-1290 (2002)... 

Bullous keratopathy is a major complication of cataract surgery. In the past, penetrating keratoplasty was considered the most effective therapy for the symptomatic stage of the disease. Other surgical options have included conjunctival flaps, enucleation (reserved for blind, painful eyes) and, more recently, deep phototherapeutic keratectomy and amniotic membrane transplantation. Medical therapy of bullous keratopathy using hypertonic saline (Nad 5%) has been of marginal benefit due to its relatively weak osmotic effect. 

When the calcium plaque is thick, it can be removed by scraping with a scalpel or by performing a superficial keratectomy. Other reported methods include the use of a diamond burr, neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd YAG) laser, lamellar keratoplasty, and PTK. A recent treatment option described the combined use of superficial lamellar keratectomy, NaEDTA chelation, and amni-otic membrane transplantation. In this procedure the calcific lesions were treated with NaEDTA and a blunt superficial lamellar keratectomy was performed. Once a smooth ocular surface was achieved, an amniotic membrane was transplanted to replace the excised epithelium and stroma. The procedure resulted in the... 

More severe burns typically require extensive medical and surgical treatment. Ascorbate and citrate have been shown to reduce the risk of corneal ulceration and perforation.The use of topical sodium citrate 10% and topical sodium ascorbate 10% every 2 hours and oral vitamin C (500 mg) every 6 hours has been recommended fc>r grades n, HI, and IV burns. Oral tetracyclines have also been shown to reduce collagenase activity, decreasing corneal ulceration after chemical burns. Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily is recommended for grades n, HI, and IV chemical burns. Surgical options include conjimctival transplantation, amniotic membrane transplantation, limbal stem cell transplantation, and lamellar keratoplasty. 

Amniotic membrane patching is a treatment option with difficult-to-manage corneal manifestations, such as ulcers. The amniotic membrane acts like a bandage contact lens, stabilizing the epithelium and limiting cytokine and inflammatory cell access to the cornea. 

Takano Y, Fukagawa K, Miyake-Kashima M, et al. Dramatic healing of an allergic corneal ulcer persistent for 6 months by amniotic membrane patching in a patient with atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Cornea 2004 23 723-725. 

Membrane stripping—When the cervix is dilated, a practitioner can use a hand to separate the amniotic membranes from the uterus. This technique has been shown to reduce the need for labor induction. 

Korpela H, Lovenia R, Yrjanheikki, et al. 1984. Selenium concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood, placenta, and amniotic membranes. Inti J Vitam Nutr Res 54 257-261. 

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