Publications by authors named "Carol Karp"

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the management of chemoimmunotherapy-resistant ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) with iodine-125 (I-125) brachytherapy.

Methods: A 36-year-old man presented to the clinic with biopsy-proven OSSN that covered ∼70% of the corneal surface and extended to the 6 o'clock position of the inferior limbus of the OS. The visual acuity was 20/20 in the OD and 20/40 in the affected OS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Protein S (PROS1) has recently been identified as a ligand for the TAM receptor MERTK, influencing immune response and cell survival. The PROS1-MERTK interaction plays a role in cancer progression, promoting immune evasion and metastasis in multiple cancers by fostering a tumor-supportive microenvironment. Despite its importance, limited structural insights into this interaction underscore the need for computational studies to explore their binding dynamics, potentially guiding targeted therapies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The human cornea is essential for vision, providing structural integrity and refractive power to the eye. Recent advancements have deepened our understanding of the corneal molecular composition, yet the role of intrinsically disordered proteins within the cornea is unexplored.

Methods: We analyzed 3,250 corneal proteins identified by Dyrlund et al, focusing on the epithelium, stroma, and endothelium layers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare neoplasm with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Traditional management includes surgical excision and cryotherapy, followed by adjuvant therapy as needed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including nivolumab, are a targeted treatment option with improved survival rates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on conjunctival keratoacanthomas, rare eye lesions, by analyzing patient data from 2005 to 2023, including clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.
  • Out of nine patients identified, most were middle-aged Hispanic males, with lesions commonly found in the right eye and on the temporal conjunctiva, showing rapid growth and specific imaging features.
  • Histopathological examination revealed distinct features such as keratin-filled lesions, and after surgical removal, most patients (except two lost to follow-up) showed no recurrence over an average follow-up period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aims to compare the levels of intrinsic protein disorder within the human lens and zonule proteomes and investigate the role of aging as a potential influencing factor on disorder levels. A cross-sectional proteomic analysis was employed, utilizing a dataset of 1466 proteins derived from the lens and zonule proteomes previously published by Wang et al. and De Maria et al.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • High-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) helps doctors see detailed pictures of eye surface problems, making it easier to diagnose and treat them.
  • It can show different types of issues like tumors and helps tell them apart, even when they look similar.
  • HR-OCT is important for doctors because it allows them to check how well treatments are working and keep an eye on any tumors that might grow back.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The vitreous is a vital component of the eye, occupying a substantial portion of its volume and maintaining its structure. This study delves into the presence and significance of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) within the vitreous, utilizing a dataset of 1240 vitreous proteins previously discovered in the vitreous proteome by Murthy et al.in five healthy subjects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the response of a papillomatous ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) to the intramuscular (IM) 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine after failed medical and surgical interventions.

Methods: A 79-year-old White man with a conjunctival lesion underwent a biopsy which revealed OSSN and positivity for high-risk HPV. Initially treated with medical therapy and surgical excisions, the patient developed a recurrence and refused further surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To present the first known cases of punctal and canalicular stenosis following topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) eye drops for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with OSSN receiving topical 1% 5-FU eye drops as a primary or adjuvant treatment between 2013 and 2021 was performed. Individuals diagnosed with punctal or canalicular stenosis during or after topical 5-FU use were included in this study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Chronic inflammation is a predisposing factor for metaplastic changes and ultimately dysplasia. We describe cases of OSSN occurring in the setting of chronic ocular surface inflammation.

Methods: Sixteen eyes from 14 individuals were included from one ocular oncology clinic between 2010 and 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose Of Review: To provide an up-to-date review of the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options for conjunctival nevi (CN).

Recent Findings: Around 17.2%-42% of all conjunctival tumors have been found to be CN, which most frequently present in White individuals between the first to early third decade of life, with equal distribution between males and females.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report clinical observations suggesting the efficacy of topical 1% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in treating Demodex -associated blepharitis.

Methods: An observational retrospective review of 13 eyes from 13 individuals with conjunctival neoplastic lesions and concomitant Demodex lash infestation that received topical 1% 5-FU eye drops. Patients underwent slit-lamp examination at each follow-up visit.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The aim of this review was to elucidate treatment preferences for ocular surface squamous neoplasia and to examine the changes in treatment modalities over the past 2 decades.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to members of The Cornea Society, Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, and 4 international corneal specialist listservs. Questions examined medical and surgical treatment preferences, and results were compared with surveys administered in 2003 and 2012.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the genetic causes of Lisch epithelial corneal dystrophy (LECD) through a multicenter cohort involving 27 individuals from 17 families.
  • Researchers found nine rare variants of the MCOLN1 gene in 23 patients, indicating that mutations in this gene lead to LECD and potentially other conditions like mucolipidosis IV (MLIV).
  • The findings suggest that while MCOLN1 haploinsufficiency is the main contributor to LECD, there is variability in how strongly the condition manifests, highlighting a complex relationship between genetics and disease expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) findings between corneal ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and corneal pannus.

Methods: Retrospective study of 9 individuals, 3 with lesions histologically confirmed to be OSSN, 3 with lesions histologically confirmed to be pannus, 1 with lesions histologically confirmed to be OSSN followed by pannus, and 2 with long-standing, nonchanging lesions clinically diagnosed as pannus. All individuals presented to the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center eye clinic or Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 2015 and 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma (PRAME) protein has been shown to be an independent biomarker for increased risk of metastasis in Class 1 uveal melanomas (UM). Intrinsically disordered proteins and regions of proteins (IDPs/IDPRs) are proteins that do not have a well-defined three-dimensional structure and have been linked to neoplastic development. Our study aimed to evaluate the presence of intrinsic disorder in PRAME and the role these structureless regions have in PRAME( +) Class 1 UM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: We aimed to characterize the proteome of human tears and assess for the presence of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs, despite lacking a rigid three-dimensional structure, maintain biological functionality and could shed light on the molecular interactions within tears.

Methods: We analyzed a dataset of 1475 proteins identified in the tear film of three healthy subjects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Class 2 uveal melanomas are associated with the inactivation of the BRCA1 ((breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein)-associated protein 1 (BAP1)) gene. Inactivation of BAP1 promotes the upregulation of vitamin K-dependent protein S (PROS1), which interacts with the tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MERTK) receptor on M2 macrophages to induce an immunosuppressive environment.

Methods: We simulated the interaction of PROS1 with MERTK with ColabFold.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • AL amyloidosis is a serious disease caused by the buildup of misfolded immune proteins, and birtamimab is an experimental antibody aimed at treating it by targeting toxic protein aggregates.
  • The VITAL clinical trial tested birtamimab in 260 newly diagnosed patients compared to a placebo, focusing on survival and hospitalization rates, but was halted early due to lack of significant overall benefits.
  • However, a post hoc analysis showed promising survival improvements for a subset of high-risk patients (Mayo stage IV), leading to further investigation in a new trial (AFFIRM-AL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is the most common non-melanocytic tumour of the ocular surface. Surgical excision with wide margins using the "no-touch" method was originally the most popular treatment for OSSN. However, in the past two decades, the use of topical medications for OSSN treatment has gained a reputation amongst ophthalmologists for being an effective alternative to surgical excision.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Infectious scleritis is a potentially devastating condition that can result in severe vision loss. When traditional management fails, a subpalpebral antibiotic lavage system (SAL) can be considered to bathe the infected area with a high volume and concentration of antibiotics. Several reports show that this method can be curative for infectious scleritis, otherwise refractory to care.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF