The Pattern of Uveitis in Sri Lanka.

Purpose: To describe the pattern of uveitis at a tertiary uveitis referral clinic in Sri Lanka.

Methods: Consecutive charts identified from a registry between January 2010 and December 2014 at the Mediclinic Hospital, Colombo were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Among 750 patients, anterior uveitis (AU) was the most common (285, 38%), followed by posterior uveitis (187, 25%), intermediate uveitis (150, 20%), and panuveitis (128, 17%).

Direct Observation of Interactions between Nanoparticles and Nanoparticle Self-Assembly in Solution.

Hierarchically organized nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique properties and are relevant to various technological applications. An important "bottom-up" strategy for building such hierarchical nanostructures is to guide the individual NPs into ordered nanoarchitectures using intermolecular interactions and external forces. However, our current understanding of the nanoscale interactions that govern such self-assembly processes usually relies on post-synthesis/assembly or indirect characterization.

Sulfur vacancy-induced reversible doping of transition metal disulfides via hydrazine treatment.

Chemical doping of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has drawn significant interest because of its applicability to the modification of electrical and optical properties of TMDCs. This is of fundamental and technological importance for high-efficiency electronic and optoelectronic devices. Here, we present a simple and facile route to reversible and controllable modulation of the electrical and optical properties of WS and MoSvia hydrazine doping and sulfur annealing.

Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis Following Topical Cyclosporine A.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis and endotheliitis occurs among immunocompetent individuals and may manifest as Posner-Schlossman syndrome or Fuchs uveitis syndrome. The condition may first present following ophthalmic surgery, the use of a fluocinolone-sustained steroid drug delivery implant, or the use of topical prostaglandin analogues for the treatment of glaucoma. We report the first case of a non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected individual who presented with CMV anterior uveitis after the use of topical cyclosporine A 0.

Analysis of competency in phacoemulsification trainees using the cumulative sum analysis.

Purpose: To determine the number of cases required to achieve competency in phacoemulsification in terms of the posterior capsule rupture rate.

Setting: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Tumor biology remains the main determinant of prognosis in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a 14-year single-center experience.

Aim: To review our experience in the management of retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPSs) in a single institution, with a predominantly Asian population, and identify associated prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence.

Materials And Methods: All RPSs diagnosed and managed at our center between January 2000 and March 2014 were included. Exclusion criteria included patients whose medical records were untraceable and patients who underwent biopsy but did not undergo resection.

A Scalable Epitope Tagging Approach for High Throughput ChIP-Seq Analysis.

Eukaryotic transcriptional factors (TFs) typically recognize short genomic sequences alone or together with other proteins to modulate gene expression. Mapping of TF-DNA interactions in the genome is crucial for understanding the gene regulatory programs in cells. While chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is commonly used for this purpose, its application is severely limited by the availability of suitable antibodies for TFs.

Inflammatory eye disease: Pre-treatment assessment of patients prior to commencing immunosuppressive and biologic therapy: Recommendations from an expert committee.

Aim: To outline recommendations from an expert committee on the assessment and investigation of patients with severe inflammatory eye disease commencing immunosuppressive and/or biologic therapy.

Method: The approach to assessment is based on the clinical experience of an expert committee and a review of the literature with regard to corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drug and biologic therapy and other adjunct therapy in the management of patients with severe sight-threatening inflammatory eye disease.

Conclusion: We recommend a careful assessment and consultative approach by ophthalmologists or physicians experienced in the use of immunosuppressive agents for all patients commencing immunosuppressive and/or biologic therapy for sight threatening inflammatory eye disease with the aim of preventing infection, cardiovascular, metabolic and bone disease and reducing iatrogenic side effects.

Molecular Responses of Human Retinal Cells to Infection with Dengue Virus.

Recent clinical reports indicate that infection with dengue virus (DENV) commonly has ocular manifestations. The most serious threat to vision is dengue retinopathy, including retinal vasculopathy and macular edema. Mechanisms of retinopathy are unstudied, but observations in patients implicate retinal pigment epithelial cells and retinal endothelial cells.

Is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC) sarcoma nomogram useful in an Asian population?

Aim: A nomogram for prediction of 12-year sarcoma-specific survival has been developed based on patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC). We aim to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the MSKCC sarcoma nomogram in a cohort of patients treated at an Asian institution. This has not been validated in an Asian population and thus its universal applicability remains unproven.

Controversies in ocular tuberculosis.

Ocular tuberculosis still remains a presumptive, clinical diagnosis in the presence of supportive clinical signs and investigations, while in the absence of other possible causes of uveitis. The purpose of this review is to discuss three controversies of ocular tuberculosis today. First, it is unclear from many reports on how the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis was defined, and if they included 'probable' or 'possible' diagnoses.

EcoFlex: A Multifunctional MoClo Kit for E. coli Synthetic Biology.

Golden Gate cloning is a prominent DNA assembly tool in synthetic biology for the assembly of plasmid constructs often used in combinatorial pathway optimization, with a number of assembly kits developed specifically for yeast and plant-based expression. However, its use for synthetic biology in commonly used bacterial systems such as Escherichia coli has surprisingly been overlooked. Here, we introduce EcoFlex a simplified modular package of DNA parts for a variety of applications in E.

The Spectrum of Uveitis in Southern Vietnam.

Purpose: To describe the pattern of uveitis among Vietnamese at two eye hospitals in Southern Vietnam.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 212 consecutive uveitis cases that presented to two eye hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from July 2011 to February 2015. The patients were identified from a database maintained by the hospitals.

Management of Severely Subluxated Cataracts Using Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: To assess the role of femtosecond laser technology in the management of severely subluxated cataracts.

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: All eyes with subluxated cataract seen between July 2012 and June 2015 were assessed for suitability for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, with the use of capsular tension devices.

Brown discoloration of acrylic hydrophobic intraocular lens.

Objective: We report a case series of brown discoloration of Abbott Medical Optics, USA, acrylic intraocular lens (IOLs; AABOO, ZCBOO, and ZMBOO) after cataract operation.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Participants: Patients with brown discoloration of their IOLs postoperatively during the period from March 2013 to October 2013 at the Singapore National Eye Centre were consecutively identified.

Linker-Mediated Self-Assembly Dynamics of Charged Nanoparticles.

Using in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we visualized a stepwise self-assembly of surfactant-coated and hydrated gold nanoparticles (NPs) into linear chains or branched networks. The NP binding is facilitated by linker molecules, ethylenediammonium, which form hydrogen bonds with surfactant molecules of neighboring NPs. The observed spacing between bound neighboring NPs, ∼15 Å, matches the combined length of two surfactants and one linker molecule.

The Pattern of Uveitis among Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore.

Purpose: To describe the pattern of uveitis among Chinese, Malays, and Indians at a tertiary referral institution in Singapore.

Methods: Charts between January 1997 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Charts between January 2014 and December 2014 were prospectively reviewed.

Combination of ciclopirox olamine and sphingosine-1-phosphate as granulation enhancer in diabetic wounds.

Granulation tissue formation requires a robust angiogenic response. As granulation tissue develops, collagen fibers are deposited and compacted. Forces generated in the wake of this process drive wound contraction to reduce the wound area.

Mycophenolate Mofetil for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis-associated Uveitis.

Purpose: To report the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated uveitis.

Methods: In this retrospective, interventional case series, patients with MS-associated uveitis who were treated by MMF as an adjunct therapy to systemic corticosteroid were studied. Patients' demographics, clinical course, response to treatment, and complications were assessed.

Diagnosis of Ocular Tuberculosis.

Ocular tuberculosis remains a presumptive clinical diagnosis, as the gold standard tests for diagnosing ocular tuberculosis are often not useful: Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures require weeks to process on Lowenstein-Jenson media and have low yield from ocular samples; while acid-fast bacilli smears or polymerase chain reaction detection of M. tuberculosis DNA have low sensitivities. Thus, diagnosis is often based on suggestive clinical signs, which are supported by positive investigations: tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assays; chest X-ray findings suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis, and/or evidence of associated systemic tuberculosis infections in the absence of other underlying disease.

Smartphone patient monitoring post-laser resurfacing.

Background/objectives: Patients should be monitored post-laser resurfacing for reassurance and the early detection of adverse events. Smartphone monitoring in the post-laser resurfacing setting is an efficient and convenient tool that is well accepted by patients and dermatologists. The objective was to identify the benefits and barriers of, and patient attitudes towards, smartphone monitoring in the post-laser resurfacing setting.

Impact and Challenges of Early Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Very Low Birth Weight Neonates in a Developing Country.

Background: Early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (EnCPAP) therapy after birth for very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,500 g) neonates has been reported to be beneficial in developed countries. Its benefits in developing countries, such as Malaysia, are unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine EnCPAP rates in 36 neonatal intensive care units of the Malaysian National Neonatal Registry (MNNR) in 2013, to compare the outcomes of VLBW neonates with and without EnCPAP, and to determine whether the availability of CPAP facilities and unit policies played a significant role in EnCPAP rates.

Comparison of Enhanced Depth Imaging and Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Assessment of Choroidal Thickness in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

Purpose: To compare enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT) and swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in assessment of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods: All consecutive VKH patients seen at Singapore National Eye Centre during 2012-2013 were imaged using both modalities. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured by one masked trained observer.

Avoiding drug resistance through extended drug target interfaces: a case for stapled peptides.

Cancer drugs often fail due to the emergence of clinical resistance. This can manifest through mutations in target proteins that selectively exclude drug binding whilst retaining aberrant function. A priori knowledge of resistance-inducing mutations is therefore important for both drug design and clinical surveillance.