DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for lagophthalmos — screening already-approved drugs against its 34-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleLagophthalmos maps to a 34-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 lagophthalmos 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
N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) — NAT1 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 acmdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2IJA · 1.701 Å · ligand ACETAMIDE (ACM). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
For paralytic lagophthalmos, static periocular surgery — including eyelid weight placement, lower eyelid suspension, and brow ptosis correction — improved quality of life in a series of 37 patients. Mean Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scores rose from 44.1 to 52.7 (P < .001). Patients reported less frequent eye dryness, irritation, or scratchiness (P < .001) and reduced use of artificial tears or ointment (P = .03). Two cases of localised cellulitis occurred, with one eyelid weight extrusion. No control group was included, and follow-up was limited to the postoperative period only.
Levator lengthening by aponeurosis interposition, the Tessier technique, was assessed in 29 patients operated by a single surgeon. The authors state that functional results were identical to those achieved with gold plate implants, but that the technique preserved a natural upper eyelid appearance and avoided the visible implant, risk of exposure, and infection associated with gold plates. No quantitative functional outcomes (lid gap measurements, corneal protection rates) were reported, and no direct comparison with gold plates was performed in the same study.
A direct comparison of temporal muscle transfer (n = 78) and gold plate lid loading (n = 52) found lid loading inferior for improving functional eye closure, though it did protect the cornea from irritation. Among three plate sizes (1.0, 1.2, 1.4 g), the 1.4 g plate gave the most relief from corneal irritation, but differences were not statistically significant. The plate had to be removed in 25% of patients; removal did not worsen the condition. Lid loading allowed unconscious eye closure, and the authors recommended it as first-line treatment, reserving temporal muscle transfer for cases where lid loading failed. In a separate retrospective study of 69 leprosy patients (101 eyes) treated with temporalis muscle transfer, 85% of eyes achieved full lid closure with no measurable gap after postoperative physiotherapy. Mean lid gap on forced closure fell from 4.8 mm preoperatively to 0.2 mm postoperatively; on gentle closure from 7.9 mm to 2.4 mm. Exposure keratitis resolved in 16 of 27 eyes (60%), and epiphora cleared or improved in 31 eyes.
What remains missing are prospective randomised comparisons of surgical techniques using standardised, objective endpoints (lid gap, corneal protection, patient-reported outcomes) with adequate follow-up. No pharmacological treatment for lagophthalmos appears in these abstracts. The evidence base consists entirely of surgical case series and one retrospective comparison; no trial has stratified patients by cause of paralysis, severity of lagophthalmos, or presence of corneal damage. Funding for such trials, and for development of non-surgical interventions, is absent.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery · 2011 · 66 citations
Surgical Treatment of the Periocular Complex and Improvement of Quality of Life in Patients With Facial Paralysis
AbstractOBJECTIVE: A devastating sequela of facial paralysis is the inability to close the eye. The resulting loss of corneal protection can potentially lead to severe consequences. Eyelid weight placement, lower eyelid suspension, and brow ptosis correction are frequently performed to protect the eye. We sought to measure and report the change in quality of life (QOL) after surgical treatment of the periocular complex, using the validated Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) QOL instrument. METHODS: From March 2009 to May 2010, 49 patients presenting to the Facial Nerve Center with paralytic lagophthalmos requiring intervention were treated with static periocular reanimation. Thirty-seven of the patients completed preoperative and postoperative FaCE surveys. RESULTS: Overall QOL, measured by the FaCE instrument, significantly improved following static periocular treatment. Mean FaCE scores increased from 44.1 to 52.7 (P < .001). Patients also reported a significant decrease in the amount of time their eye felt dry, irritated, or scratchy (P < .001). The amount of artificial tears and/or ointment also significantly decreased (P = .03). There were 2 cases of localized cellulitis with 1 eyelid weight extrusion. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first series of postoperative QOL changes following static periocular treatment for paralytic lagophthalmos. Patients report a notable improvement in periocular comfort and overall QOL.
Paul Tessierʼs Technique in the Treatment of Paralytic Lagophthalmos by Lengthening of the Levator Muscle
AbstractAIMS: Lagophthalmos is the major functional complication of facial paralysis because, in the absence of treatment, it can lead to corneal scarring and blindness. This disorder can be treated in a number of ways, including levator lengthening by aponeurosis interposition, a technique developed by Paul Tessier. We assessed the benefits of this technique, and compared the results to those with other techniques, in particular, the use of gold implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 29 patients were operated by the same surgeon using levator lengthening by aponeurosis interposition as described by Paul Tessier. Aesthetic and functional results were assessed according to predefined criteria during patient consultation at 1 year and by the patients themselves (questionnaire). We reviewed other surgical techniques used to treat lagophthalmos and compared findings with previous international studies. DISCUSSION: The use of a gold plate implant remains the most widely used technique for the treatment of lagophthalmos. Although the functional results are good, the implant is always visible, leading to the disappearance of the superior palpebral fold and a risk of exposure and therefore of infection. Levator lengthening, a technique developed by Paul Tessier, allows identical functional results to be obtained, but conserves a natural appearance of the upper eyelid. It is a simple surgical procedure associated with a low morbidity rate. CONCLUSION: The lengthening of the levator by aponeurosis interposition is a simple, reliable, and easily reproducible technique allowing treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos with good results, in terms of both function and aesthetics.
Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery · 1995 · 21 citations
A Comparison of Temporal Muscle Transfer and Lid Loading in the Treatment of Paralytic Lagophthalmos
AbstractTemporal muscle transfer (n = 78) and lid loading with a gold plate (n = 52) were compared in the treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos. Three sizes of gold plate (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 g) were used. Lid loading was inferior to temporal muscle transfer in improving functional ability to close the eye, but it did protect the cornea from irritation. There were no significant differences among the sizes of plate, but there was most relief from corneal irritation when the 1.4 g gold plate was used. The plate had to be removed in 25% of the patients, but this did not make the condition worse than before lid loading. Lid loading has the advantage that patients can close their eyes without conscious effort. We therefore recommend lid loading as the first choice for correction of paralytic lagophthalmos, and that temporal muscle transfer should be undertaken after plate removal in only those patients for whom lid loading has not given a satisfactory result.
Efficacy of Temporalis Muscle Transfer for correction of lagophthalmos in leprosy
AbstractOBJECTIVES: Temporalis Muscle Transfer (TMT) is a surgical technique used to correct lagophthalmos in leprosy patients. We have evaluated the degree of success of TMT in achieving full lid closure, which is important in preventing damage to the cornea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 69 patients who had TMT done, at one centre, on 101 eyes during the period of 1998-2009. Lid gaps on direct gaze and with both gentle and forced closure, as well as voluntary muscle testing of eye lid closure, were assessed using standard measuring techniques by a qualified physiotherapist. Associated problems due to lagophthalmos were recorded both pre- and post- operatively. Data were abstracted on to a special proforma and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS. RESULTS: On completion of post-operative physiotherapy, 85% of the eyes could achieve full lid closure with no measurable gap. The mean (SD) lid gap on forced closure was 48 (2.8) mm pre-operatively and 0.2 (0.5) mm at the end of the in-patient stay. The mean (SD) lid gap on gentle closure was 7.9 (2.6) mm preoperatively and 2.4 (1.8) mm post-operatively. The mean (SD) vertical inter-palpebral distance, during straight gaze, was reduced from 12.6 (1.6) pre-operatively to 9.8 (1.2) postoperatively. Exposure keratitis cleared in 16 of 27 eyes (60%) and Epiphora cleared or improved in 31 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the TMT is a successful option (cosmetically and functionally) for correction of lagophthalmos.
Lluc: revista de cultura i d'idees · 1992 · 0 citations
La dona i la seva condició vistes per un "notable" de la part forana de darreries del segle XVIII
AbstractTemporal muscle transfer (n = 78) and lid loading with a gold plate (n = 52) were compared in the treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos. Three sizes of gold plate (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 g) were used. Lid loading was inferior to temporal muscle transfer in improving functional ability to close the eye, but it did protect the cornea from irritation. There were no significant differences among the sizes of plate, but there was most relief from corneal irritation when the 1.4 g gold plate was used. The plate had to be removed in 25% of the patients, but this did not make the condition worse than before lid loading. Lid loading has the advantage that patients can close their eyes without conscious effort. We therefore recommend lid loading as the first choice for correction of paralytic lagophthalmos, and that temporal muscle transfer should be undertaken after plate removal in only those patients for whom lid loading has not given a satisfactory result.
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.
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