Prevalence of Keratoconus and Keratoconus Suspect among Patients Seeking Refractive Surgery in Syria.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconus (KC) and keratoconus suspect (KCS) among patients seeking refractive surgery in Syria.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter screening study. The study was conducted in Damascus University, Tishreen University, and Tartous Specialist Eye Center (a private center).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Corneal and Epithelial Thickness Map Parameters to Detect Keratoconus and Suspect Keratoconus.

Aim: To establish the diagnostic accuracy of corneal and epithelial thickness measurements obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in detecting keratoconus (KC) and suspect keratoconus (SKC).

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the data of 144 eyes separated into three groups by the Sirius automated corneal classification software: normal (N) ( = 65), SKC ( = 43), and KC ( = 36). Corneal thickness (CT) and epithelial thickness (ET) in the central (0-2 mm) and paracentral (2-5 mm) zones were obtained with the Cirrus high-definition OCT.

Corneal higher order aberrations by Sirius topography and their relation to different refractive errors.

Purpose: To compare the root mean square (RMS) of anterior corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in ametropic and emmetropic eyes.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia, Syria. Study eyes were divided into four groups based on refractive error: mild-to-moderate myopia, hypermetropia, myopic astigmatism, and emmetropic eyes as controls.

Evaluation of Anterior and Posterior Corneal Higher Order Aberrations for the Detection of Keratoconus and Suspect Keratoconus.

Aim: To investigate the application of anterior and posterior corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in detecting keratoconus (KC) and suspect keratoconus (SKC).

Method: A retrospective, case-control study evaluating non-ectatic (normal) eyes, SKC eyes, and KC eyes. The Sirius Scheimpfug (CSO, Italy) analyses was used to measure HOAs of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces.

Prevalence of Keratoconus in a Population-Based Study in Syria.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and associations of keratoconus (KC) in a university student population in Syria.

Methods: A prospective multicentre cross-sectional cohort study was conducted at two universities in Syria. Student volunteers were recruited from Tishreen University (Latakia governorate) and Damascus University (Damascus governorate).

Corneal higher-order aberration changes after accelerated cross-linking for keratoconus.

Aim: To evaluate changes in corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) following epithelium-off accelerated corneal cross-linking (A-CXL) and to explore the impact on visual acuity.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, 32 eyes of 24 patients with keratoconus (KC) underwent A-CXL. Treatment was delivered at 10 mW/cm for 9 min with a total dose of 5.

Clinical Outcomes of Accelerated Corneal Cross-Linking for Pediatric Keratoconus.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of accelerated corneal cross-linking in the treatment of pediatric keratoconus.

Method: In this retrospective case series, 29 eyes of 20 pediatric patients with keratoconus underwent accelerated corneal cross-linking. Treatment was delivered at 10 mW/cm for 9 minutes with a total dose of 5.

Sensitivity and specificity of Sirius indices in diagnosis of keratoconus and suspect keratoconus.

Aim: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of topographic and tomographic corneal parameters as determined by Sirius (CSO, Florence, Italy) in discriminating keratoconus (KC) and suspect keratoconus from normal cornea.

Method: In this retrospective case-series study, keratoconus screening indices were measured using Sirius tomographer. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the test's overall predictive accuracy (area under the curve) and to identify optimal cut-off points to maximize sensitivity and specificity in differentiating keratoconus and suspect keratoconus from normal corneas.

Long-term visual, anterior and posterior corneal changes after crosslinking for progressive keratoconus.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Method: In this retrospective non-comparative study, forty-five eyes of 31 patients with progressive keratoconus were treated with 30 min "epi-off" corneal cross-linking. The visual, refractive, topographic and tomographic outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at least 10 years after cross-linking.

Eculizumab in paediatric atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome: Lessons learned from a single-centre experience in the United Arab Emirates.

Aim: Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a debilitating condition that can cause significant morbidity and mortality in children if not adequately and promptly treated. This report shares real-world data on the use of eculizumab in children with aHUS.

Methods: We report our experience with the use of eculizumab in 14 children with aHUS.

Iritis, glaucoma and corneal decompensation associated with BrightOcular cosmetic iris implant.

Purpose: NewColorIris cosmetic iris implants have a record of high ocular morbidity and are no longer in use. Newer generation of iris implants, BrightOcular, have patented posterior grooves in order to decrease iris touch and facilitate aqueous flow around the implant. However, little is known about their safety despite their implantations in 10 countries.

Glucocorticoid sensitivity in Behçet's disease.

Objective: Glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity is highly variable among individuals and has been associated with susceptibility to develop (auto-)inflammatory disorders. The purpose of the study was to assess GC sensitivity in Behçet's disease (BD) by studying the distribution of four GC receptor (GR) gene polymorphisms and by measuring in vitro cellular GC sensitivity.

Methods: Healthy controls and patients with BD in three independent cohorts were genotyped for four functional GR gene polymorphisms.

Cataractogenesis after Repeat Laser in situ Keratomileusis.

There has been the unsubstantiated clinical impression that laser refractive surgery accelerates cataract development along with solid experimental data about the cataractogenic effects of excimer laser treatment. We present the first documented case of significant cataract formation in a young myope after repeat excimer laser ablation necessitating phacoemulsification with a posterior chamber implant. Proposed explanations include focusing of the ablation wave on the posterior capsule (acoustic wave lens epithelial damage), photooxidative stress of the lens (ultraviolet and inflammatory oxidative stress), and corticosteroid-induced cataract (lens toxicity).

Genome-wide association study identifies variants in the MHC class I, IL10, and IL23R-IL12RB2 regions associated with Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a genetically complex disease of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks affecting the orogenital mucosa, eyes and skin. We performed a genome-wide association study with 311,459 SNPs in 1,215 individuals with Behçet's disease (cases) and 1,278 healthy controls from Turkey. We confirmed the known association of Behçet's disease with HLA-B*51 and identified a second, independent association within the MHC Class I region.

CTLA-4 polymorphisms are not associated with ocular inflammatory disease.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is regarded with other molecules such as HLA, PTPN22 and CARD15 as genetic master switches of autoimmunity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding these molecules have been associated with autoimmune conditions. We analysed the SNPs -318C/T and 49A/G in CTLA-4 in patients with Behcet's disease (BD), patients with intermediate uveitis and appropriate controls.

The association of the PTPN22 620W polymorphism with Behcet's disease.

Objectives: A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the gene encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase type 22 (PTPN22 620W) has recently been described as a strong common genetic risk factor for human autoimmune disease. We have analysed the association of PTPN22 620W in patients with Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: Genomic DNA was obtained from 270 patients with BD from the UK and the Middle East.

Multifocal tracheal chondromata.

Chondromata of the trachea occur rarely. There are only 10 prior case reports in the literature, all of which have been of unifocal chondromata. We present the first case report, to our knowledge, of multifocal tracheal chondromata in a patient with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Simultaneous repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation does not speed fine movement in PD.

Objective: To reevaluate the effect of subthreshold repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on concurrent fine movement in PD.

Background: A previous study showed a beneficial effect of rTMS on the performance of six patients with PD on the Grooved Pegboard test.

Methods: The authors repeated this experiment in 11 patients with idiopathic PD who performed the test while the stimulating coil discharged continuously at 5 Hz, either over the contralateral motor cortex at just below the threshold for movement, or in the air near the head as a control.

Adenosquamous carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus presenting as pseudoachalasia.

A case of pseudoachalasia resulting from adenosquamous carcinoma arising from the mucous epithelium of a Barrett's esophagus is presented. This case represents an unusual combination of Barrett's esophagus giving rise to an esophageal carcinoma with squamous as well as glandular features, rather than the usual adenocarcinoma and pseudoachalasia.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of bone presenting as chronic back pain.

Objective: To discuss a case of chondromyxoid fibroma presenting with low back pain.

Clinical Features: A 50-yr-old man had an 8-yr history of low back pain. This was diagnosed and treated as arising from the disc and caused by spinal stenosis.

Hot-knife conization of the cervix: clinical and pathologic findings from a study introducing a new technique.

Objective: To introduce an alternative method for conization of the cervix using a Teflon-coated hot knife and to evaluate thermal distortion, adequacy of excision, operating time, blood loss, and short- and long-term effects of this method.

Methods: Between 1987-1993, 88 patients underwent cervical conization using a Teflon-coated hot knife at temperatures ranging from 110-130C. Histopathologic slides were reviewed simultaneously by two pathologists, who assessed thermal distortion, adequacy of excision, and interpretability of the surgical margins.