Pathologic Features of Tumor Activity and Stability in Uveal Melanoma Specimens after Fractionated CyberKnife Radiosurgery.

To evaluate uveal melanoma cell activity and pathologic features after stereotactic CyberKnife radiosurgery in specimens from five patients. Specimens from five patients treated by CyberKnife radiosurgery in three fractions were included in this study. Because of persistent retinal detachment in 3 patients, tumour endoresection was performed at four, seven and ten month after CyberKnife radiosurgery.

Frequent and Yet Unreported GNAQ and GNA11 Mutations are Found in Uveal Melanomas.

Malignant melanoma of the uvea is the most common primary malignant tumor in the eye. We aimed to analyze GNAQ and GNA11 mutations in uveal melanomas using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material and correlate the results with clinicopathological parameters. Tumor tissue was microdissected followed by amplification of GNAQ exon 4 and 5, GNA11 exon 4 and 5, and finally analyzed by Sanger sequencing.

Spatial analysis improves the detection of early corneal nerve fiber loss in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) has revealed reduced corneal nerve fiber (CNF) length and density (CNFL, CNFD) in patients with diabetes, but the spatial pattern of CNF loss has not been studied. We aimed to determine whether spatial analysis of the distribution of corneal nerve branching points (CNBPs) may contribute to improving the detection of early CNF loss. We hypothesized that early CNF decline follows a clustered rather than random distribution pattern of CNBPs.

Focused Tortuosity Definitions Based on Expert Clinical Assessment of Corneal Subbasal Nerves.

Purpose: We examined agreement among experts in the assessment of corneal subbasal nerve tortuosity.

Methods: Images of corneal subbasal nerves were obtained from investigators at seven sites (Auckland, Boston, Linköping, Manchester, Oslo, Rostock, and Sydney) using laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy. A set of 30 images was assembled and ordered by increasing tortuosity by 10 expert graders from the seven sites.

Frequency and profile of Parkinson's disease prodromi in patients with malignant melanoma.

Objective: The results of register studies suggest an association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and melanoma. We studied the frequency and profile of early markers of PD in patients with malignant melanoma.

Methods: 100 participants were enrolled in a prospective observational study, of whom 65 had a history of high-risk cutaneous (n=53) or uveal (n=12) melanoma (31 women; age, 61.

Diabetic foot syndrome and corneal subbasal nerve plexus changes in congolese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: To study the severity of diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and grades of diabetic foot syndrome for correlations with corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SBP) changes in Congolese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methodology/principal Findings: Twenty-eight type 2 diabetes patients with diabetes-related foot ulceration were recruited in a diabetic care unit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Corneal SBP was investigated by confocal laser-scanning microscopy to analyse nerve fibre density (NFD) [µm/ µm²], number of branches [n] and number of connectivity points [n].

Normative values for corneal nerve morphology assessed using corneal confocal microscopy: a multinational normative data set.

Objective: Corneal confocal microscopy is a novel diagnostic technique for the detection of nerve damage and repair in a range of peripheral neuropathies, in particular diabetic neuropathy. Normative reference values are required to enable clinical translation and wider use of this technique. We have therefore undertaken a multicenter collaboration to provide worldwide age-adjusted normative values of corneal nerve fiber parameters.

Early detection of nerve fiber loss by corneal confocal microscopy and skin biopsy in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

We sought to determine whether early nerve damage may be detected by corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), skin biopsy, and neurophysiological tests in 86 recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients compared with 48 control subjects. CCM analysis using novel algorithms to reconstruct nerve fiber images was performed for all fibers and major nerve fibers (MNF) only. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) was assessed in skin specimens.

In vivo confocal microscopy of the ocular surface: from bench to bedside.

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is an emerging technology that provides minimally invasive, high resolution, steady-state assessment of the ocular surface at the cellular level. Several challenges still remain but, at present, IVCM may be considered a promising technique for clinical diagnosis and management. This mini-review summarizes some key findings in IVCM of the ocular surface, focusing on recent and promising attempts to move "from bench to bedside".

Changes in the micromorphology of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in patients after plaque brachytherapy.

Background: To quantify the development of radiation neuropathy in corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) after plaque brachytherapy, and the subsequent regeneration of SNP micromorphology and corneal sensation.

Methods: Nine eyes of 9 melanoma patients (ciliary body: 3, iris: 2, conjunctiva: 4) underwent brachytherapy (ruthenium-106 plaque, dose to tumour base: 523 ± 231 Gy). SNP micromorphology was assessed by in-vivo confocal microscopy.

Imaging and quantification of subbasal nerve plexus in healthy volunteers and diabetic patients with or without retinopathy.

Background: The alterations of subbasal nerve plexus (SBP) innervation and corneal sensation were estimated non-invasively and compared with the values in healthy volunteers. Additionally, this study addressed the relation of SBP changes to the retinal status, glycemic control and diabetes duration.

Methodology/principal Findings: Eighteen eyes of diabetic patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy aged 68.

Characteristic quantities of corneal epithelial structures in confocal laser scanning microscopic volume data sets.

Purpose: Fully automated quantification of the morphologic features of different epithelial cell layers in healthy human corneas.

Methods: In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed on the unilateral eyes of 6 healthy volunteers. Stacks of 160 images (400 × 400 μm) with an interslice distance of 0.

Evidence of endothelial cell migration after descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that adult corneal endothelial cells can migrate after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Methods: Five patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were examined 1 year after uneventful DMEK.

Image reconstruction of the subbasal nerve plexus with in vivo confocal microscopy.

Purpose: To overcome the anterior corneal mosaic (ACM) phenomenon in in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and to reconstruct undistorted images of the subbasal nerve plexus (SNP), facilitating morphometric analysis in the presence of ACM ridges.

Methods: CLSM was performed in five healthy volunteers. An original image processing algorithm based on phase correlation was used to analyze and reduce motion distortions in volume scan image sequences.

The lid wiper and muco-cutaneous junction anatomy of the human eyelid margins: an in vivo confocal and histological study.

The inner border of the eyelid margin is critically important for ocular surface integrity because it guarantees the thin spread of the tear film. Its exact morphology in the human is still insufficiently known. The histology in serial sections of upper and lower lid margins in whole-mount specimens from 10 human body donors was compared to in vivo confocal microscopy of eight eyes with a Heidelberg retina-tomograph (HRT II) and attached Rostock cornea module.

Results of confocal microscopy examinations after collagen cross-linking with riboflavin and UVA light in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Purpose: Keratoconus is a predominantly bilateral form of corneal degeneration that is associated with central thinning and cone-shaped bulging of the cornea usually accompanied by a progressive reduction in visual acuity. A recent therapeutic option is cross-linking, a procedure designed to prevent the progression of keratoconus by the photochemical cross-linkage of collagen fibers.

Patients And Methods: Eight eyes in 8 patients with progressive keratoconus were treated by the photochemical cross-linking method using riboflavin and UVA light.

Short-term corneal response to cross-linking in rabbit eyes assessed by in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy and histology.

Purpose: Corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus has been tested in animal trials and proven clinically. A combination of in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and histology was used in rabbit corneas to assess early modifications at the cellular level after corneal cross-linking.

Methods: Twelve New Zealand male rabbits were tested; in each case, the right eye was the study eye and left eye was the control eye.

Real-time mapping of the subepithelial nerve plexus by in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Aim: To produce two-dimensional reconstruction maps of the subepithelial nerve plexus (SEP) in living cornea by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy in real time.

Methods: In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph II in conjunction with the Rostock Cornea Module) was performed on normal eyes (n=6) and eyes after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) (n=4). Source data (frame rate 30 Hz) were used to create large-scale maps of the scanned area in Automatic Real Time composite mode.

Influence of benzalkonium chloride on langerhans cells in corneal epithelium and development of dry eye in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on corneal Langerhans cells (LCs) and on the development of dry eye.

Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was performed in 20 healthy volunteers. One eye of each subject was treated with a 0.

Structural-functional correlations of corneal innervation after LASIK and penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To compare corneal subbasal nerve fiber distribution and corneal sensation in healthy humans with findings obtained in regenerated subbasal nerves after LASIK and penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

Methods: In a comparative case series study, in vivo confocal laser-scanning microscopy was used to investigate subbasal nerve fiber bundles in healthy individuals and at various time points after surgery in patients who had undergone LASIK and corneal grafting. Corneal sensation was measured (Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer).

In vivo confocal microscopy, an inner vision of the cornea - a major review.

The demands of modern ophthalmology have evolved from descriptive findings from the slit lamp to in vivo assessment of cellular level changes. Nowadays, the latter can be provided by in vivo confocal microscopy. This article gives an overview of confocal principles using tandem scanning, scanning slit and laser scanning techniques used in ophthalmology.

The microstructure of cornea verticillata in Fabry disease and amiodarone-induced keratopathy: a confocal laser-scanning microscopy study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe cornea verticillata in Fabry disease and in amiodarone-induced keratopathy and to compare the corneal microstructure of both types.

Patients And Methods: Ten eyes from ten normal subjects, 28 eyes from 22 patients with Fabry disease confirmed by molecular genetic studies, and 16 eyes from 11 patients receiving amiodarone were examined by slit-lamp microscopy and in-vivo confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) with following three-dimensional reconstruction of the individual corneal layers. Five patients with Fabry disease were monitored during the course of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Corneal and conjunctival findings after mitomycin C application in pterygium surgery: an in-vivo confocal microscopy study.

Purpose: To perform a qualitative assessment of the topical side-effects of mitomycin C on cornea after pterygium surgery.

Methods: In-vivo confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II in combination with the Rostock Cornea Module) was performed in 10 patients with unilateral primary pterygium. Mitomycin C 0.