Proton radiotherapy in advanced malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva.

Background: The management of conjunctival melanoma is challenging and frequently ends in exenteration. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term results of proton beam radiation with regard to various clinical parameters.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with extended conjunctival melanoma (≥T2) and multifocal bulbar located tumors (T1c/d) were treated consecutively with proton radiotherapy (dose 45 Gy).

Gene Therapy for Modulation of T-Cell-Mediated Immune Response Provoked by Corneal Transplantation.

Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is the most common type of tissue replacement in the world. The increased rate of graft rejection after keratoplasty is a central problem for repeated transplantations and in inflamed host corneas. It has been shown that apoptosis of grafted epithelium has a role in corneal allograft rejection.

Frequent GNAQ, GNA11, and EIF1AX Mutations in Iris Melanoma.

Purpose: The most common malignant intraocular tumors with a high mortality in adults are uveal melanomas. Uveal melanomas arise most frequently in the choroid or ciliary body (97%) and rarely in the iris (3%). Whereas conjunctival and posterior uveal (ciliary body and choroidal) melanomas have been studied in more detail genetically, little data exist regarding iris melanomas.

Clinical outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of acute ocular chemical injury.

Background: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been used in the management of acute ocular chemical burns to promote epithelialisation, reduce inflammation and restore ocular surface integrity. The aim of this study is to analyse the morphological and functional outcomes of patients receiving AMT after ocular chemical burn.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients treated for acute ocular chemical burn between 1998 and 2008 in two participating centres (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany and Royal Victoria Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Newcastle University, UK).

Oncogene status as a diagnostic tool in ocular and cutaneous melanoma.

The majority of human tumours can be easily and correctly diagnosed based on clinical information and pathological assessment. In some cases however, correct diagnosis can prove difficult. In such cases, molecular approaches can be of significant diagnostic value.

Frequent TERT Promoter Mutations in Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia.

Purpose: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia, including intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are one of the most common malignant tumors of the conjunctiva. Little is known of the genetic alterations involved in their pathogenesis. Promoter mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) have been identified in various cancers, including many associated with ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

Analysis of SDHD promoter mutations in various types of melanoma.

Objectives: Recently, recurrent mutations in regulatory DNA regions, such as promoter mutations in the TERT gene were identified in melanoma. Subsequently, Weinhold et al. reported SDHD promoter mutations occurring in 10% of melanomas and being associated with a lower overall survival rate.

Establishment of a Cell Line From Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma: PeCa-UkHb-01.

Purpose: Until now, no epithelial cell line from conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), to our knowledge, has existed; therefore, the establishment of a model cell line would be a useful tool for further studies. In particular, the phenotypic and molecular characterization in comparison to other SCC cells is of high interest because this would enable the development of new treatment options for clinical application in ophthalmic oncology.

Methods: Epithelial cells were isolated from a bulbar conjunctiva SCC obtained from a 74-year-old male, harvested by stepwise trypsinization and named PeCa-UkHb-01.

Trabeculectomy Improves Vessel Response Measured by Dynamic Vessel Analysis (DVA) in Glaucoma Patients.

Purpose: To determine the effects of surgical IOP reduction (trabeculectomy) on retinal blood flow parameters in glaucoma patients using Dynamic Vessel Analysis (DVA).

Methods: 26 eyes of 26 patients with progressive primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) despite maximal topical therapy were examined before and after trabeculectomy. The responses of the retinal vessels to flickering light provocation were measured with DVA the day before surgery and 4 to 6 weeks after trabeculectomy.

Laser cyclophotocoagulation enhances the regulative capacity of retinal vessels in glaucoma.

Purpose: To determine the effects of laser surgical IOP reduction by means of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) on retinal blood flow parameters in glaucoma patients using Dynamic Vessel Analysis (DVA).

Materials And Methodology: 26 patients (average age: 70 years) with a long history of primary open angle glaucoma underwent CPC. The effect on the reactive capacity of retinal vessels was assessed before and 6-8 weeks after CPC by means of the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA) using flicker light provocation.

Aphakia correction with retropupillary fixated iris-claw lens (Artisan) - long-term results.

Purpose: To evaluate the technique, safety, and efficacy of the retropupillary implantation of iris-claw intraocular lenses in a long-term follow-up study.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included 31 eyes of 31 patients who underwent an Artisan aphakic intraocular lens implantation between January 2006 and February 2011 at the University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany and at the Zentrum für Augenheilkunde PD Dr Laube, Düsseldorf, Germany. Preoperative data collected included demographics, etiology of aphakia, previous surgeries, preoperative eye pathology, intraocular pressure, clinical signs of endothelial cell loss, and best corrected visual acuity.

Amniotic membrane transplantation ineffective as additional therapy in patients with aggressive Mooren's ulcer.

Background: Mooren's ulcer is a severe ulcerative inflammation of the cornea. The exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Therefore many therapies of Mooren's ulcer are recommended in literature.

Conjunctival melanomas harbor BRAF and NRAS mutations and copy number changes similar to cutaneous and mucosal melanomas.

Purpose: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare but potentially deadly tumor of the eye. Despite effective local therapies, recurrence and metastasis remain frequent. Once the tumor has metastasized, treatment options are limited and the prognosis is poor.

Comparison of Spectralis-OCT, GDxVCC and GDxECC in assessing retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in glaucomatous patients.

Background: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The defects in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) have been reported to be the earliest sign of glaucoma. We determined the agreement between RNFL thickness assessments from spectral-domain OCT (Spectarlis HRA + OCT; Heidelberg Engeneering, Heidelberg, Germany), scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with variable cornea compensation (GDxVCC; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA), and SLP with enhanced cornea compensation (GDxECC; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) in glaucomatous patients.

Chemosensitivity of conjunctival melanoma cell lines to target-specific chemotherapeutic agents.

Objective: In conjunctival melanoma, local chemotherapy has been based so far on clinical evidence and limited to the therapy of melanoma in situ. Our aim was to define substances that may have the potential to add to therapeutic options in extended local growth and metastatic disease. Two conjunctival cell lines (CRMM-1 and CRMM-2) have been established from recurrent conjunctival melanoma.

Scanning laser topography and scanning laser polarimetry: comparing both imaging methods at same distances from the optic nerve head.

Purpose: To compare the performance of scanning laser topography (SLT) and scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) on the rim of the optic nerve head and its surrounding area and thereby to evaluate whether these imaging technologies are influenced by other factors beyond the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

Materials And Methodology: A total of 154 eyes from 5 different groups were examined: young healthy subjects (YNorm), old healthy subjects (ONorm), patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), patients with open-angle glaucoma and early glaucomatous damage (OAGE) and patients with open-angle glaucoma and advanced glaucomatous damage (OAGA). SLT and SLP measurements were taken.

Chemosensitivity of conjunctival melanoma cell lines to single chemotherapeutic agents and combinations.

Objective: Two conjunctival cell lines (CRMM-1 and CRMM-2) have been established from recurrent conjunctival melanoma. The authors examined the chemosensitivity of these cell lines to cytotoxic substances and combinations to identify substances that inhibit cell growth efficiently in vitro.

Material And Methods: CRMM-1 and CRMM-2 were exposed to cisplatin, mitomycin C (MMC), all-trans-retinoic-acid (ATRA), fotemustine or imatinib for 24 h.

Amniotic membrane induces peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ positive alternatively activated macrophages.

Purpose: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) reportedly improves herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK). Here we studied the role of the amniotic membrane (AM) on macrophages.

Methods: BALB/c mice with necrotizing HSK received an AMT or tarsorrhaphy (TAR) as control.

A new tool for the transfection of corneal endothelial cells: calcium phosphate nanoparticles.

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP-NP) are ideal tools for transfection due to their high biocompatibility and easy biodegradability. After transfection these particles dissociate into calcium and phosphate ions, i.e.

Monte Carlo simulations applied to conjunctival lymphoma radiotherapy treatment.

Introduction: Small radiation fields are increasingly applied in clinical routine. In particular, they are necessary for the treatment of eye tumors. However, available treatment planning systems do not calculate the absorbed dose with the desired accuracy in the presence of small fields.

Amniotic membrane transplantation in the human eye.

Background: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has a long tradition in ophthalmic surgery and has become very popular recently because of newly developed methods of tissue preservation.

Methods: We selectively review the literature on recent developments, mechanisms of action, and established indications of AMT in the treatment of various diseases of the ocular surface. We searched the PubMed database for articles that appeared from 1994 to 2009 with the key words "amniotic membrane," "cornea," and/or "conjunctiva.

Expression of HSP 90, PTEN and Bcl-2 in conjunctival melanoma.

Background: In conjunctival melanoma, little is known about the tumour biology and protein-expression patterns. In this study, the authors analysed the expression of the antiapoptotic oncoprotein B cell leukaemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2), the tumour-suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), and the heat-shock-protein HSP-90 in conjunctival melanoma (CoM) and conjunctival nevi (CoN) by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Material And Methods: IHC was performed on 70 samples of CoM and 12 samples of CoN.

Expression of MCSP and PRAME in conjunctival melanoma.

Background: To analyse the expression of melanoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP) and the preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) in conjunctival melanoma (CoM), lymph node (LN) metastases of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and conjunctival nevi (CoN) by immunohistology.

Methods: Immunohistology was performed in 70 samples of CoM, 25 of LN metastases of CM and 12 of CoN, and assessed by an immunoreactive score (0-12 points). Statistical analysis was performed to disclose relevant differences in the expression pattern.