DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for lacrimal apparatus disease — screening already-approved drugs against its 32-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleLacrimal apparatus disease maps to a 32-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for lacrimal apparatus disease is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type D (PTPRD) — PTPRD is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet flcdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2YD6 · 1.35 Å · ligand CITRATE ANION (FLC). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction can be primary or secondary. Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction results from inflammation of unknown cause that eventually leads to occlusive fibrosis. Secondary acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction may result from a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic, or mechanical causes. Epiphora is one of the most common problems in ophthalmological practice, caused by dysfunction of the lacrimal pathway. Lacrimal disease can be medically treated in case of acute inflammation or partial obstruction at the beginning of treatment, but surgical treatment is necessary in most cases. Congenital lacrimal fistulas are rare developmental disorders in which there is an abnormal connection of the lacrimal canaliculus or the sac to the skin. In one case report, a 21-year-old male with a pinpoint discharge from the inferomedial aspect of the medial canthus was diagnosed after syringing, fluorescein dye disappearance test, and lacrimal dacryocystography. He was prescribed oral antibiotics, responded well, and refused surgery; he remained symptom free on regular follow-up.
In a 2010 retrospective study of 60 eyes in 57 patients with distal obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system, all underwent endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ECL DCR) by diode laser. Forty-nine patients (86%) were female, 8 (14%) male, age range 3 to 84 years (median 40). After the 60 procedures, 10 patients underwent revision ECL DCR because of persistent epiphora. Patency of the nasolacrimal duct or decrease of symptoms was assigned as success; 83.3% of patients had no symptoms at all. The authors concluded the procedure was easily tolerated, cosmetically preferred because there was no incision and scar formation, and a minimally invasive alternative technique.
Advances in lacrimal duct surgery can now be performed in such a way that structural integrity and normal physiological function of the entire efferent lacrimal pathway is preserved. Transcanalicular endoscopy of the lacrimal tracts allows direct visual examination of their internal surfaces and contents, prompted by the complexity of diagnosis and choice of treatment method. What remains missing are prospective controlled trials comparing surgical techniques with medical management for partial obstructions, standardised patient stratification by aetiology and severity, and funding for long-term follow-up studies that measure functional outcomes beyond symptom relief.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery · 1992 · 235 citations
Acquired Lacrimal Drainage Obstruction
AbstractThe cause of acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction may be primary or secondary. Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction results from inflammation of unknown cause that eventually leads to occlusive fibrosis. Secondary acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction, the theme of this report, may result from a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic, or mechanical causes. An etiologic classification system for acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction is proposed, and it is illustrated by representative patients from the author's practice and discussed with reference to published reports.
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · 2010 · 17 citations
Endocanalicular Diode Laser Dacryocystorhinostomy for Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
AbstractAIM: To evaluate the results, complications, effectiveness, and operative results of the endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ECL DCR) in the distal obstructions of the lacrimal drainage system. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 57 patients who had a diagnosis of distal obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system were evaluated retrospectively in this study. All patients underwent ECL DCR by diode laser between October 2008 and July 2009. Forty-nine patients (86%) were females, 8 patients (14%) were males, and age distribution was between 3 and 84 years old (median, 40 y). The canaliculi were intubated by a silicone tube. The patency of the nasolacrimal system was controlled by lacrimal lavage, loss of epiphora, and endoscopic evaluation of the endonasal rhinostomy site with routine follow-up scheduled at first day and 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month postoperative intervals. RESULTS: After the 60 ECL DCRs, 10 patients underwent revision ECL DCR because of the persistent epiphora. The patency of the nasolacrimal duct or the decrease of the symptoms was assigned as success. There were no symptoms at all in 83.3% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ECL DCR in the treatment of the distal obstructions of the lacrimal drainage system was easily tolerated by the patients, cosmetically preferred because there was no incision and scar formation with high success rates, and a minimally invasive alternative technique.
Journal of Korean Medical Association · 2017 · 1 citations · open access
Definition and treatment of lacrimal drainage disease
AbstractEpiphora is one of the most common problems in ophthalmological practice, and is caused by dysfunction of the lacrimal pathway. The lacrimal drainage system is a continuous anatomical structure consisting of the lacrimal punctum, inferior and superior canaliculi, common canaliculus, lacrimal sac, and nasolacrimal duct. Lacrimal disease can be medically treated in case of acute inflammation or partial obstruction at the beginning of treatment, but surgical treatment is necessary in most cases. This paper discusses the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of various lacrimal diseases through a selective review of the relevant literature. Advances in lacrimal duct surgery can now be performed in such a way that the structural integrity and normal physiological function of the entire efferent lacrimal pathway is preserved.
Modern technologies in ophtalmology · 2022 · 0 citations
The use of transcanalicular dacryoendoscopy in the practice of an ophthalmologist
AbstractThe peculiarities of the topography of the lacrimal apparatus, as well as the complexity of diagnosis and choice of the method of treatment of the lacrimal pathways prompted the search for methods of their direct visualization. Transcanalicular endoscopy of the lacrimal tracts allows for direct visual examination of their internal surfaces and contents. Keywords: lacrimal tracts, dacryostenosis, Nasolacrimal obstruction, transcanalicular endoscopy
Journal of Medical Science And clinical Research · 2019 · 0 citations · open access
Congenital Lacrimal Fistula: A Case Report
AbstractCongenital lacrimal fistulas are rare developmental disorders of the lacrimal drainage system in which there is an abnormal connection of the lacrimal cannaliculus or the sac to the skin. We here report a case of 21 years male who presented with pin point discharge from the inferomedial aspect of medial can thus of his right eye. The discharge was expressed out with the help of cotton buds. A diagnosis of lacrimal fistula was made after performing syringing, fluorescein dye disappearance test and lacrimal dacryocystography. He was prescribed oral antibiotics to which he responded well. He refused for any surgery since it was the first episode and he had no complaints after the course of antibiotic treatment. He is on regular follow up and is symptom free.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
