Abstract: Provided is a means for identifying cells suitable for transplantation into a cornea, or a means for producing a cell population suitable for transplantation into a cornea using the same. A method for producing a cell population suitable for transplantation into a cornea, the method comprising the steps of (1) preparing a cell population cultured under conditions suitable for inducing differentiation into corneal endothelial cells, and (2) measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of POU6F2, LMX1B, and TFAP2B in the cell population.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus includes a receiver circuit that receives three-dimensional volumetric data of a subject’s eye, and a processor configured to separate portions of the three-dimensional volumetric data into separate segments, perform processing differently on each of the separate segments, and combine the separately processed segments to produce an enhanced three-dimensional volumetric data set. The processor is further configured to generate at least one diagnostic metric from the enhanced three-dimensional volumetric data set, and the processor is further configured to evaluate a pathological condition based on the at least one diagnostic metric. Related methods and computer readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, which method comprises selecting a laminin or a fragment thereof based on binding affinity for the pluripotent stem cells and inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells in the presence of the laminin or a fragment thereof. Here, the binding affinity for cells can be assessed by time-course observation of the survival rate and motility of the cells. According to the present invention, a cell population containing any desired proportion of differentiated cells can be produced from pluripotent stem cells in a simple manner. The cell population obtained by this production method is very useful for cell therapy-based treatment strategies for diseases.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus includes a receiver circuit that receives three-dimensional data of a subject's eye, and a processor configured to separate portions of the three-dimensional data into separate segments, perform processing differently on each of the separate segments, and combine the separately processed segments to produce a segmented three-dimensional data set. The processor is further configured to generate at least one diagnostic metric from the segmented three-dimensional data set, and the processor is further configured to evaluate a pathological condition based on the at least one diagnostic metric. Related methods and computer readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mesenchymal stem cell-derived microparticles having activity that promotes the growth of corneal epithelial stem cells and/or corneal epithelial cells, activity that maintains corneal epithelial stem cells in an undifferentiated state or promotes the formation of colonies thereby, and function that protects corneal epithelium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a corneal epithelial cell population for the fabrication of corneal epithelial cell sheets for transplantation, the method comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a cell population containing corneal epithelial cells; (2) subjecting the cell population prepared in step (1) to magnetic-activated cell sorting and collecting CD200-negative/SSEA-4-positive cells; and (3) bringing the cells collected in step (2) into contact with a laminin selected from the group consisting of a laminin having an ?3 chain, a laminin having an ?4 chain and a laminin having an ?5 chain, or an E8 fragment thereof, and collecting cells adherent thereto.

Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive keratoconjunctival cover sheet that is comfortable and has good oxygen-permeability, contamination-resistance, wettability, handleability, and optical properties, and that can be used for medical treatment, visual correction, a cosmetic application, and the like. The keratoconjunctival cover sheet is constituted by a gel layer that includes metal ions and a water-soluble gelling agent exhibiting a gelation ability in the presence of the metal ions, and has a surface area capable of covering a cornea or keratoconjunctiva.

Abstract: Provided are a virus measuring method, a virus measuring device, a virus determining program, a stress determining method, and a stress determining device. A virus measuring method includes a contact step of bringing a liquid specimen containing a body fluid of a subject and an electrolytic solution into contact with each other via a through-hole portion formed in a separating wall, a current measuring step of applying a voltage to the liquid specimen and the electrolytic solution with respect to the through-hole portion and obtaining a waveform of an ionic current flowing through the through-hole portion, and a virus determining step of determining the kind of a virus contained in the body fluid on the basis of the waveform. In the virus determining step, the kind of the virus is determined by comparing the waveform with waveform information that corresponds to a known virus and is obtained beforehand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for producing a lens to be fitted to an eye in a simple manner at a low cost. In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a method for producing a lens to be fitted to an eye, including the step of: hydrophilizing a surface of a polymer lens by reacting with a compound radical, wherein the compound radical is a radical containing one element selected from the group consisting of Group 15 elements and Group 16 elements, and a Group 17 element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

Abstract: It aims to construct a technology in which the onset or progression of an aging state or a specific disease can be evaluated in an objective and highly reproducible manner, and in particular, to provide a method of detecting conjunctival diseases such as conjunctival MALT lymphoma, and to provide an aging biomarker that serves as an indicator of the aging state.

Abstract: Provided is a method for inducing differentiation into conjunctival epithelial cells, conjunctival goblet cells, and conjunctival epithelial stem and progenitor cells, the method comprising culturing colonies of pluripotent stem cells in a medium containing an epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling activator to induce differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells. The present invention enables differentiation of pluripotent stem cells including iPS cells into conjunctival epithelial cells, conjunctival goblet cells, and conjunctival epithelial stem and progenitor cells and therefore is very useful for, for example, basic research on conjunctival epithelial cells and conjunctival goblet cells, regenerative therapy for intractable ocular surface diseases, and research related to the diseases.

Abstract: A molecular marker expressed specifically in corneal endothelial cells, and a method for producing one or more corneal endothelial cells using the marker and a method for evaluating one or more corneal endothelial cells using the marker are provided. At least one molecule selected from the group consisting of ZP4, MRGPRX3, GRIP1, GLP1R, HTR1D, and CLRN1 is used as a marker specific to corneal endothelial cells.

Abstract: An eye-fatigue examining device and an eye-fatigue examining method capable of examining eye fatigue of a subject's eye regardless of an age of a patient are provided. The eye-fatigue examining device includes: a light quantity difference adjusting unit that increases a light quantity difference between lights respectively incident on right and left subject's eyes; a gaze direction detecting unit that detects gaze directions of the respective subject's eyes while the light quantity difference adjusting unit increases the light quantity difference; and a light quantity difference deciding unit that decides a specific light quantity difference at which a change in the gaze directions due to the increase in the light quantity difference occurs, based on the detection result of the gaze direction detecting unit.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel therapeutic agent that is effective against diseases involving stratified squamous epithelial cells such as dry eye syndrome. The present invention is an agent for promoting normal differentiation/maturation of stratified squamous epithelial cells, which comprises a secretion of mesenchymal stem cells. It is preferable that the secretions not include animal serum, that the mesenchymal stem cells be adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and that the stratified squamous epithelial cells be at least one selected from the group consisting of corneal epithelial cells, conjunctival epithelial cells, epidermal keratinocytes, oral epithelial cells, epiglottic epithelial cells, esophageal epithelial cells, vaginal epithelial cells, vocal fold epithelial cells, nasal epithelial cells, and nasal vestibular epithelial cells.

Abstract: A method for detecting a stressed state, including a step of detecting a stressed state of a subject based on a tomographic image of a choroid of the subject, and a stress detection apparatus including: an image acquisition unit that acquires a tomographic image of a choroid of a subject; a calculation unit that calculates a choroidal thickness or a volume of the choroid based on the tomographic image; and a detection unit that detects a stressed state of the subject based on the choroidal thickness or the volume of the choroid.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a stem cell-derived lacrimal gland tissue, the method comprising isolating SSEA4 and CD104 double positive cells from a self-formed ectodermal autonomous multi-zone (SEAM) cell population derived from pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensionally culturing the isolated cells in a medium with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a ROCK inhibitor to produce a cell population expressing a lacrimal gland-related protein. The present invention provides a lacrimal gland organoid produced from pluripotent stem cells including iPS cells and thus is very useful for cell-based regenerative therapy for lacrimal gland-related diseases and cell-based research on the diseases.

Abstract: Provided are a non-human model animal of a retinal vascular disease that can favorably show symptoms similar to those of human retinal vascular diseases such as human diabetic retinopathy, and a method for producing the non-human model animal. In particular, provided are a non-human model animal that is suitable for establishing a method for treating, preventing, or diagnosing retinal edema, which causes highly impaired vision, and a method for producing the non-human model animal. A method for screening a drug for treating and preventing a retinal vascular disease, the method using a non-human model animal, is provided. Provided are a non-human model animal of a retinal vascular disease in which constitutively active Akt is expressed, a method for producing a non-human model animal of a retinal vascular disease in which constitutively active Akt is expressed, and a method for screening a drug for treating or preventing a retinal vascular disease.

Abstract: The principal purpose of the present invention is to provide a biomarker that makes it possible to conveniently and accurately assess corneal or conjunctival disease, and can use lacrimal fluid as the sample thereof. In addition, a main object of the present invention is to provide a biomarker that makes it possible to conveniently and accurately evaluate central serous chorioretinopathy. The present invention also provides a diagnostic kit containing a reagent capable of detecting the biomarker, and a diagnosis method that uses the biomarker. It is possible to use mitochondrial DNA included in lacrimal fluid as the biomarker for corneal or conjunctival disease.