Pharmacological drug screening to inhibit uveal melanoma metastatic cells either EGF-R, MAPK, mTOR or PI3K.

Aim: To screen five potential pharmacological substances specifically targeting EGF-R, MAPK, mTOR, or PI3K for their antiproliferative effects, possible impact on cell viability, as well as cell death rates on three different uveal melanoma metastasis cell lines .

Methods: Three different uveal melanoma metastasis cell lines (OMM2.5, OMM2.

Supercritical fluid technology for the development of innovative ophthalmic medical devices: Drug loaded intraocular lenses to mitigate posterior capsule opacification.

Supercritical impregnation technology was applied to load acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with methotrexate to produce a sustained drug delivery device to mitigate posterior capsule opacification. Drug release kinetics were studied in vitro and used to determine the drug loading. Loaded IOLs and control IOLs treated under the same operating conditions, but without drug, were implanted ex vivo in human donor capsular bags.

The intraocular lens as a drug delivery device for an epidermal growth factor-Receptor inhibitor for prophylaxis of posterior capsule opacification.

Purpose: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurs as a common complication after cataract surgery. Erlotinib is an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor-Receptor and reduces critical cellular events leading to PCO. In this in vitro study, Erlotinib-modified intraocular lenses (IOLs) employed as a drug delivery device have been evaluated for PCO prevention.

Combined VEGF/PDGF inhibition using axitinib induces αSMA expression and a pro-fibrotic phenotype in human pericytes.

Purpose: Large trials on anti-VEGF/PDGF (vascular endothelial/platelet-derived growth factor) combination therapy have been established to improve management of neovascular activity in age-related macular degeneration. Targeting pericytes, PDGF is thought to induce vessel regression and reduce fibrovascular scarring. The fate of pericytes exposed to anti-VEGF/PDGF combination therapy is not clear.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid as a Slow-Release Drug-Carrying Matrix for Methotrexate Coated onto Intraocular Lenses to Conquer Posterior Capsule Opacification.

Purpose: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) still represents the main long-term complication of cataract surgery. Research into pharmacologic PCO prophylaxis is extensive. One promising candidate drug is methotrexate (MTX).

The Intraocular Lens as a Drug Delivery Device: In Vitro Screening of Pharmacologic Substances for the Prophylaxis of Posterior Capsule Opacification.

Purpose: Numerous pharmacologic substances have been proposed for preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO). The following trial was to compare those drugs to find more suitable options. IOL should then be modified by the pharmaceuticals as a drug-delivery device.

BILATERAL VISUAL FIELD DEFECTS IN A PATIENT TREATED WITH THE MEK AND BRAF INHIBITORS TRAMETINIB AND DABRAFENIB FOR MELANOMA OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN.

Introduction: Although the introduction of BRAF and MEK inhibitors has greatly enhanced treatment possibilities in advanced BRAFV600-mutated melanoma, class-related toxicities are rather frequent and often involve the eye. Ophthalmologic side effects most commonly include central/diffuse serous retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Affection of the optic nerve head however has not been described clinically.

A cell culture technique for human epiretinal membranes to describe cell behavior and membrane contraction in vitro.

Purpose: To introduce a human cell culture technique for investigating in-vitro behavior of primary epiretinal cells and membrane contraction of fibrocellular tissue surgically removed from eyes with idiopathic macular pucker.

Methods: Human epiretinal membranes were harvested from ten eyes with idiopathic macular pucker during standard vitrectomy. Specimens were fixed on cell culture plastic using small entomological pins to apply horizontal stress to the tissue, and then transferred to standard cell culture conditions.

[Newly occurring loss of visual acuity in choroidal osteoma].

Purpose: Approach to loss of visual acuity in a patient with a choroidal osteoma (CO) which had been stable for seven years.

Methods: Fluorescence angiography confirmed a choroidal neovascularization (CNV) as the cause of the loss of visual acuity. Treatment with intravitreal (IVT) injection of ranibizumab.

Incidence of secondary glaucoma after treatment of uveal melanoma with robotic radiosurgery versus brachytherapy.

Purpose: Different modalities of radiation therapy nowadays allow for effective treatment of uveal melanoma combined with the advantage of eye preservation. However, this advantage can secondarily be impaired by radiation-related side effects. After local recurrence, secondary glaucoma (SG) has been described as second most frequent complication leading to need of enucleation.

Combined VEGF and PDGF inhibition for neovascular AMD: anti-angiogenic properties of axitinib on human endothelial cells and pericytes in vitro.

Purpose: Drugs currently approved for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) offer anti-VEGF monotherapy only. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling is pivotal to pericyte-induced stabilization of choroidal neovascularizations (CNV), and causes partial anti-VEGF resistance. No combination therapy for VEGF and PDGF has been approved yet.

Effect of femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery on posterior capsule opacification in the human capsular bag in vitro.

Purpose: To compare posterior capsule opacification (PCO) by observing lens epithelial cell growth in the human capsular bag in vitro between conventional lens surgery using phacoemulsification (Phaco) technique and femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery (FLACS).

Methods: For the in vitro human capsular bag model, 18 cadaver eyes from nine human donors underwent three types of lens surgery. Three groups consisting of six capsular bags were established, that is FLACS, Phaco and extracapsular lens extraction (ECCE).

[Intraocular Lens as a Drug Delivery Device: State of the Art and Future Perspective].

Development of an intraocular lens (IOL) as a drug delivery device has been pursued for many years and is a promising concept in modern cataract surgery. Common postoperative conditions such as posterior capsule opacification (PCO), intraocular inflammation or the rare but severe complications of cataract surgery like endophthalmitis are potential therapeutic targets for a drug-eluting IOL. There are three techniques of pharmacological IOL modification: Firstly, surface modification of the IOL ("coating"); secondly, IOL optic modification ("soaking") and lastly, loading the IOL haptics with a slow release system.

Robotic radiosurgery for the treatment of medium and large uveal melanoma.

The aim of the study was to analyze the local efficacy and eye retention rate after frameless, image-guided robotic radiosurgery against uveal melanoma. A total of 217 patients, mostly with medium and large unilateral uveal melanomas (3% small, 62% medium, and 35% large) were treated. The median age was 64 years (range 21-95 years).

Erufosine, a phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor, to mitigate posterior capsule opacification in the human capsular bag model.

Purpose: To determine whether erufosine alone or erufosine-loaded intraocular lenses (IOLs) can inhibit growth of human lens epithelial cells after a single administration in the human capsular bag model.

Setting: Laboratory for Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

Design: Experimental study.

EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib attenuates posterior capsule opacification in vitro and in the ex vivo human capsular bag model.

Purpose: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurs as a common complication after cataract surgery. Gefitinib is a selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which represents a potential pharmacological target for PCO prevention. In this in vitro study, we assessed the effect and biocompatibility of Gefitinib in PCO prophylaxis.

EGFR-blockade with erlotinib reduces EGF and TGF-β2 expression and the actin-cytoskeleton which influences different aspects of cellular migration in lens epithelial cells.

Introduction: After cataract surgery, residual lens epithelial cells migrate and proliferate within the capsular bag resulting in posterior capsule opacification (PCO). The up-regulation of TGF-β2, EGF and FGF-2 has been identified as a key factor in PCO pathogenesis leading to actin fiber assembly and alterations in the migration pattern. In this in vitro study, the influence of Erlotinib as a selective EGFR inhibitor is investigated on the cellular features indicated, which might promote a future clinical application.

Attenuation of human lens epithelial cell spreading, migration and contraction via downregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Background: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) represents a major challenge in the postoperative management of cataract patients. Spreading, migration and contraction of residual human lens epithelial cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCO. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of the alkylphosphocholine (APC) erufosine on these cellular features as well as on PI3K/Akt, a crucial pathway in PCO pathogenesis.

[Intraocular lens as a drug delivery device].

The development of an intraocular lens (IOL) as a drug delivery device has been the purpose of numerous preclinical studies and might become a future technology in cataract surgery. There are three techniques of pharmacological IOL modification: surface modification (coating), optic modification (soaking) or haptic modification with a slow-release-system. The therapeutic goals are endophthalmitis, postoperative inflammation and posterior capsule opacification.

EGF receptor inhibitor erlotinib as a potential pharmacological prophylaxis for posterior capsule opacification.

Background: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery, leading to a loss of sight if untreated. Erlotinib might be of therapeutic interest as an effective target agent (selective EGF-tyrosin-kinase-1 inhibitor). In this in-vitro study, erlotinib was evaluated for ocular biocompatibility and its effect on cell proliferation, migration, 3D matrix contraction and spreading of human lens epithelial cells.

Hemianopia and visual loss due to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis.

This case describes typical ophthalmic findings as a key feature for diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and its possible differential diagnosis. A 58-year-old female patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis on immunotherapy with natalizumab developed visual disturbance, reading problems, and visual field defects due to PML. PML is a reactivation of latent infection with the John Cunningham virus, which is a type of polyomavirus acquired in childhood or adolescence and is quite common in the general population.

Inhibition of TLR3-mediated proinflammatory effects by Alkylphosphocholines in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE. To elucidate the role of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to investigate the effect of alkylphosphocholines (APCs) on the TLR3-mediated expression of cytokines and growth factors in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS.