Alternate serotype adenovector provides long-term therapeutic gene expression in the eye.

Purpose: To determine whether the duration of transgene expression from an alternate adenovector serotype, Ad35, can provide advantages over an Ad5 serotype vector following a single intravitreal (IVT) administration.

Methods: To assess the transgene expression profile, mice received one IVT injection of Ad5- or Ad35-based vectors expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), luciferase or pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). At specified time points following vector administration, eyes were monitored for GFP expression, or eyes were harvested and assayed for adenovector genomes, luciferase activity or PEDF levels.

Progressive outer retinal necrosis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: successful management with intravitreal injections and monitoring with quantitative PCR.

Background: Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) is an ocular disease in individuals with AIDS and is associated with substantial morbidity. The optimal management of PORN and its clinical course in the HAART era is unclear.

Objective: We report a case of successfully managed PORN that provides insight into the monitoring and treatment of this disease.

Recruitment of marrow-derived endothelial cells to experimental choroidal neovascularization by local expression of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Purpose: The question of whether adult animals maintain a reservoir of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the bone marrow that is involved in neovascularization is under investigation. The following study was undertaken to examine the potential contribution of EPCs to the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in adult mice and to examine the role of local expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in this process.

Methods: Lethally irradiated, adult female nude mice were engrafted with whole bone marrow isolated from male transgenic mice expressing LacZ driven by the endothelial specific Tie-2 promoter.

Endoilluminators: evaluation of potential retinal hazards.

The potential for retinal photic injury from exposure to endoilluminators was evaluated. The spectral irradiance for each endoilluminator configuration was weighted with the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) aphakic action spectrum. The result was compared with the threshold limit value (TLV) published by the ACGIH and a time to TLV (timeTLV) was calculated for each configuration.

Study of filtered light on potential retinal photic hazards with operation microscopes used for ocular surgery.

There have been numerous reports of retinal photic injury from operation microscopes used during cataract surgery. The risk of injury has been associated with the intensity of the light directed into the eye, short-wavelength emission, user technique, exposure time, and direct axial lighting. We evaluated use of light transmission filters to modify a tungsten-halogen light source spectrum to reduce the risk of retinal photic injury.