Applications of Non-Coding RNAs in Patients With Retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in childhood. In the carcinogenic process of neoplasms such as RB, the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been widely demonstrated recently. In this review, we aim to provide a clinical overview of the current knowledge regarding ncRNAs in relation to RB.

PARK7/DJ-1 inhibition decreases invasion and proliferation of uveal melanoma cells.

Introduction: PARK7/DJ-1 is an oncogene that is associated with tumorigenesis in many cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of DJ-1 in the origin and development of uveal melanoma (UM). We present an analysis of the role of the DJ-1 protein in UM cells, especially in its effect on proliferation and migration.

Role of somatic mutations and chromosomal aberrations in the prognosis of uveal melanoma in a Spanish patient cohort.

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) has a high tendency to cause liver metastases. Metastatic disease is fatal, with a low survival rate. There are two large groups of UMs that, according to their risk of metastatic disease, can be divided into risk subgroups based on histopathological, cytogenetic and molecular characteristics.

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Uveal Melanoma.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adulthood. Approximately 50% of patients develop metastatic disease, which typically affects the liver and is usually fatal within one year. This type of cancer is heterogeneous in nature and is divided into two broad groups of tumors according to their susceptibility to develop metastasis.

Treatment of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Systematic Review.

Introduction: More than 50% of patients with uveal melanoma end up developing metastases. Currently, there is no standard first-line treatment that facilitates proper management of the metastatic disease.

Methods: A systematic review of the last 40 years in PubMed with an exhaustive and strict selection of studies was conducted, in which the unit of measurement was overall survival (OS) expressed in Kaplan-Meier curves or numerically.

Intercellular Trafficking of Gold Nanostars in Uveal Melanoma Cells for Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy.

Efficient plasmonic photothermal therapies (PPTTs) using non-harmful pulse laser irradiation at the near-infrared (NIR) are a highly sought goal in nanomedicine. These therapies rely on the use of plasmonic nanostructures to kill cancer cells while minimizing the applied laser power density. Cancer cells have an unsettled capacity to uptake, retain, release, and re-uptake gold nanoparticles, thus offering enormous versatility for research.

Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents and antibiotic prophylaxis for endophthalmitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether the use of local antibiotics is a beneficial prophylactic treatment for endophthalmitis in patients treated with anti-VEGF agents. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, and the Cochrane Library over the period January 2007 to December 2016. The search terms used included "Endophthalmitis", "Antibiotic" and "Intravitreal injection".

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN THE VITREOUS OF PATIENTS WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION TREATED WITH INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR INJECTIONS.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the relationship of repeated intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, the main treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration, with changes in vitreous ultrasonographic findings in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 41 patients (41 age-related macular degeneration eyes, 41 control eyes) on age, sex, number of injections, and type of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (ranibizumab, aflibercept). Ocular ultrasonography was performed with open eyelids, under topical anesthesia, and using carbomers as ultrasonographic gel.

EVALUATION OF VITRECTOMY AND REIMPLANTATION FOLLOWING LATE DISLOCATION OF THE INTRAOCULAR LENS-CAPSULAR BAG COMPLEX: A 3-Year Follow-up Study.

Objectives: To study the predisposition factors for dislocation of the intraocular lens (IOL)-capsular bag complex and analyze the results of subsequent reimplantation surgery.

Methods: The exclusion criteria were complicated cataract surgery and minor dislocations that appeared in the first year after cataract surgery. Thirty-six months of monitoring of the reimplantation surgery was required.

ME20-S as a Potential Biomarker for the Evaluation of Uveal Melanoma.

Purpose: We previously identified the presence of the melanocyte-specific secreted (ME20-S) glycoprotein in secretomes of uveal melanoma (UM) cultures. The aim of this study was to test for the presence and levels of ME20-S in the serum of patients with choroidal nevi and UM and correlate these levels with individual clinical data.

Methods: Serum ME20-S levels were determined by ELISA in 111 patients distributed into four categories (53 choroidal nevi, 30 untreated UM, 11 10-year disease-free [DF] UM, 17 hepatic metastatic UM) and 32 age- and sex-matched controls.

Detection of circulating melanoma cells in choroidal melanocytic lesions.

Purpose: To detect and quantify circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood of patients with uveal melanoma primary non-metastatic tumours, and to analyze the possible relationship between CTCs and clinical risk factors.

Methods: Prospective study with two clinical groups: 4 patients diagnosed with choroidal nevus and 8 patients with choroidal melanoma prior to treatment. A single sample of 7.

Relationship between macular bending and foveoschisis in myopic patients.

Purpose: To investigate factors associated with myopic foveoschisis and macular bending and to determine how the presence of macular bending affects the development of myopic foveoschisis.

Methods: In a prospective study of 194 eyes of 105 patients with high myopia, we performed complete ophthalmic examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and A-scan ultrasounds. Patients were divided into three groups according to the OCT results.

Serum DJ-1/PARK 7 is a potential biomarker of choroidal nevi transformation.

Purpose: There is substantial evidence that intraocular melanomas arise from benign nevi in the uveal tract. Previous studies performed by the authors revealed that uveal melanoma cells secrete the oncoprotein DJ-1/PARK7 into the extracellular environment and circulation. The aim of this study was to determine whether circulating DJ-1 serum levels correlate with known clinical risk factors of nevi growth.

Bilateral, symmetric and simultaneous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Predisposition or coincidence? A case report.

The following is a case report of a 65-year-old patient who had previously been diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma and who was experiencing a sudden loss of both visual acuity and of superior visual field in both eyes. In the ophthalmological examination, a bilateral, symmetric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that affected the inferior quadrants of both eyes was detected. The retinal detachment was caused by a retinal horseshoe break located at the equator of 6 h in each eye.

The characterization of the invasion phenotype of uveal melanoma tumour cells shows the presence of MUC18 and HMG-1 metastasis markers and leads to the identification of DJ-1 as a potential serum biomarker.

Uveal malignant melanoma (UM) is the most frequent primary intraocular tumour in adult humans. Because the survival rate of patients with UM has changed little in the past few decades, a better understanding of the molecular events governing UM development and the identification of markers indicating the potential for metastasis at the time of diagnosis are necessary to design improved and more specific treatments. In this study, we investigated UM tumour development by comparing two recently established UM cultures with different invasion potential by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Proteome analysis of a human uveal melanoma primary cell culture by 2-DE and MS.

We present here the first proteomics analysis of uveal melanoma (UM) cells. These cells represent a good model for the identification of polypeptide markers, which could be developed as diagnostic tools. UM is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults.

The bovine vitreous-derived lipid factor (bVLF) is a powerful inhibitor of retinal pigmented epithelial (hRPE) cell proliferation.

Human retinal pigmented epithelial cell (hRPE) proliferation plays a significant role in various proliferative diseases associated to the retina that leads to loss of vision, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In the current study, the role of the bovine vitreous lipid factor (bVLF) in hRPE cell proliferation has been investigated. bVLF is a bioactive lipid isolated from the bovine vitreous body with strong Ca(2+)-mobilizing activity in fibroblast.

Abnormal cell cycle regulation in primary human uveal melanoma cultures.

Uveal malignant melanoma is the most frequent primary intraocular tumor in adult humans. The cellular events leading to neoplasic transformation of normal uveal melanocytes are not well known when compared to other cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of G1 and G1/S regulatory proteins of the cell cycle in human uveal melanoma (UM) primary cell cultures, since these proteins are common targets in tumor development.

Amniotic membrane as support for human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell growth.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to culture human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cells over human amniotic membrane (hAM). Human AM was studied for its viability as an adequate support for transplantation of an hRPE cell monolayer with preserved cell polarity to the subretinal space.

Methods: Human AM was obtained from pregnant women during caesarean section.