Millions of people suffer mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) every year, and there is growing evidence that repeated injuries can result in long-term pathology. The acute symptoms of these injuries may or may not include the loss of consciousness but do include disorientation, confusion, and/or the inability to concentrate. Most of these acute symptoms spontaneously resolve within a few hours or days. However, the underlying physiological and cellular mechanisms remain unclear.

Aim To evaluate the potential biostimulatory effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on a primary culture of human pulp cells. Methodology Human molars were used to obtain the primary pulp cell culture and 0.5‐mm dentine discs. For GSE direct exposure, dose–response (0.0065–6.5%) and time response (1–60 min of contact) were examined. For transdentinal exposure, 0.65% of GSE was tested for 24 h. Cellular metabolism, nitric oxide and collagen production, and cell morphology alterations were assessed at periods of 24 and 72 h. After cell differentiation and direct exposure to GSE, the total protein production (TP), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and formation of mineralization nodules (MN) were assessed. The results were analysed by parametric tests or non‐parametric tests (α = 0.05). Results The lower concentration of GSE tested (0.0065%) was associated with an increase in cellular metabolism, a reduction in the production of nitric oxide and an increase in extracellular matrix synthesis (collagen). Distinct behaviours were observed for the different concentrations, without a reduction of cellular metabolism >10% compared with the control, either when applied directly or transdentinally. SEM revealed no significant change in cell morphology, except for the positive control (H2O2). There was no difference in TP, ALP or MN between the control group and the group exposed to GSE. Conclusions Treatment with grape seed extract, even at the highest concentration and longest period, caused neither direct nor transdentinal cytotoxic effects on human pulp cells. Grape seed extract components may play a biostimulatory role and protect dental pulp cells when in direct contact.

Primary cultures of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) are an important model system for studying the pathophysiology of corneal endothelium. The purpose of this study was to identify and validate an optimal primary culture model of normal and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) endothelial cells by comparing cell morphology and marker expression under different media conditions to in vivo donor tissues. Primary and immortalized HCECs, isolated from normal and FECD donors, were cultured in proliferation media (Joyce, M4, Bartakova) alone or sequentially with maturation media (F99, Stabilization 1, M5). CD56, CD73 and CD166 expressions were quantified in confluent and matured cell lines by flow cytometry. HCECs that were allowed to proliferate in Joyce’s medium followed by maturation in low-mitogen containing media yielded cells with similar morphology to corneal endothelial tissues. Elevated expression of CD56 and CD166 and low expression of CD73 correlated with regular, hexagonal-like HCEC morphology. CD56:CD73 > 2.5 was most consistent with normal HCEC morphology and mimicked corneal endothelial tissue. Immortalization of normal HCECs by hTERT transduction showed morphology and CD56:CD73 ratios similar to parental cell lines. HCECs established from FECD donors showed reduced CD56:CD73 ratios compared to normal HCECs which coincided with reduced uniformity and regularity of cell monolayers. Overall, a dual media system with Joyce’s medium for proliferation and a low-mitogen media for maturation, provided normal cultures with regular, hexagonal-like cell morphologies consistent with corneal endothelial cells in vivo. CD56:CD73 expression ratio >2.5 was predictive of in vivo-like cellular morphology.

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Précis When comparing patients on systemic immunosuppressive therapy to those without, there was no difference in IOP early after SLT; however, at one-year following SLT, IOP was higher in the immunosuppression group compared to controls. Purpose: To determine whether patients taking systemic immunosuppressive medications have a different intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering response to selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared to a control group of patients. Patients and methods: All patients who underwent SLT at Mayo Clinic 2017–2021 were identified. Patients on systemic immunosuppressive medications at the time of SLT were compared to control patients not receiving systemic immunosuppressive medications. The primary endpoints of this study were the percentage IOP reduction at 1–2, 3–6, and 12 months. Additional analyses included percentage of patients who did not require additional therapy at each time-point. Results: There were 108 eyes of 72 patients that underwent SLT in the immunosuppressed group and 1997 eyes of 1417 patients in the control group. There was no significant difference in age-adjusted change in IOP between groups at the first post-operative visit 1-2 months following SLT (−18.8±20.7% vs. −16.0±16.5%, P=0.256) or 3–6 months following SLT (−15.2±21.6% vs. −18.3±23.2%, P=0.062). However, at 12 months following SLT, the IOP reduction in the immunosuppressive therapy group was significantly less compared to the control group (−15.1±21.2% vs. −20.3±22.9%, P=0.045). There was no difference between groups in number of additional treatments during the study intervals. Conclusion: Patients in the systemic immunosuppressive therapy group showed equivalent early IOP-lowering after SLT compared to a control group, but the treatment response was diminished at one year. Further studies investigating IOP regulation after SLT in immunosuppressed patients are needed.