Effect of indocyanine green and illumination on gene expression in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose: To investigate the biological effects of indocyanine green (ICG) and acute illumination on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

Methods: Three concentrations (0, 0.25, and 2.

Phylogenetic study and identification of human pathogenic Vibrio species based on partial hsp60 gene sequences.

The use of hsp60 gene sequences for phylogenetic study and identification of pathogenic marine vibrios was investigated. A 600-bp partial hsp60 gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced from 29 strains representing 15 Vibrio species within the family Vibrionaceae. Sequence comparison of the amplified partial hsp60 gene revealed 71-82% sequence identity among different Vibrio species and 96-100% sequence identity among epidemiologically distinct strains with the same species designation.

Indocyanine green assisted retinal internal limiting membrane removal in stage 3 or 4 macular hole surgery.

Aims: To determine surgical outcome in primary idiopathic stage 3 or 4 macular holes with indocyanine green (ICG) assisted retinal internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.

Methods: A prospective, consecutive, interventional case series with 41 eyes of 40 patients was included. No patient defaulted follow up.

Pars plana vitrectomy in the management of retained intravitreal lens fragments after cataract surgery.

Purpose: To assess the outcome of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for retained lens fragments after cataract surgery.

Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive cases with pars plana vitrectomy performed for retained lens fragment was conducted. Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients were included in the study.

Truncation mutations in ABCA1 suppress normal upregulation of full-length ABCA1 by 9-cis-retinoic acid and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol.

Mutations in ABCA1 uniformly decrease plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduce cholesterol efflux, yet different mutations in ABCA1 result in different phenotypic effects in heterozygotes. For example, truncation mutations result in significantly lower HDL-C and apoliprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels in heterozygotes compared with nontruncation mutations, suggesting that truncation mutations may negatively affect the wild-type allele. To specifically test this hypothesis, we examined ABCA1 protein expression in response to 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol (22-R-OH-Chol) in a collection of human fibroblasts representing eight different mutations and observed that truncation mutations blunted the response to oxysterol stimulation and dominantly suppressed induction of the remaining full-length allele to 5-10% of wild-type levels.

Vision-threatening complications of nasal T/NK lymphoma.

Purpose: Nasal T/NK lineage lymphoma, previously known as lethal midline granuloma, is common among Oriental, Native-American, and Hispanic patients and is invariably associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Nasal localization, local necrosis, angioinvasion, and aggressive behavior are hallmarks of the disease. Ophthalmologic symptoms and signs may precede lymphoma diagnosis or complicate its disease course.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Chinese patients.

Aims: To report the clinical features and outcomes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Chinese patients with or without laser treatment.

Methods: A consecutive series of 204 indocyanine green angiographies (ICGA) performed for patients with a provisional diagnosis of age related macular degeneration were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were ICGA with angiographic features of PCV and patients of Chinese ethnic origin.

Graft-vs-host-disease-associated conjunctival chemosis and central serous chorioretinopathy after bone marrow transplant.

Purpose: To describe bilateral conjunctival chemosis and central serous chorioretinopathy in a patient with graft-vs-host disease after bone marrow transplant.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 45-year-old Chinese woman developed blurring of vision 16 days after bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma.

Reconsideration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(7) receptor distribution using [(3)H]5-carboxamidotryptamine and [(3)H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetraline: analysis in brain of 5-HT(1A) knockout and 5-HT(1A/1B) double-knockout mice.

The characterization and anatomical distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(7) receptor binding sites in brain tissue has been hampered by the lack of a specific radioligand. In the present autoradiographic study, we took advantage of 5-HT(1A) knockout and 5-HT(1A/1B) double-knockout mice to revisit the pharmacological characterization and anatomical localization of 5-HT(7) binding sites in mouse brain using [(3)H]5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) and [(3)H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetraline (8-OH-DPAT). The distribution pattern of [(3)H]5-CT binding sites (2 nM) in the brain of mice lacking the 5-HT(1A/1B) receptor was scarce and confined to the septum, globus pallidus, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, cortex, and substantia nigra.

The change in ocular refractive components after cycloplegia in children.

Purpose: To study the change in ocular refractive components after cycloplegia in children.

Methods: Anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous chamber length, and ocular axial length were measured in 135 Chinese children (270 eyes) before and after cycloplegia. The corneal curvatures of 136 selected eyes were studied before and after cycloplegia with a computerized video keratoscope.

Outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in myopes of five or more diopters.

Objective: To analyze surgical outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in high myopes.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 201 patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgeries for primary retinal detachments were reviewed. Fifty-two eyes of 51 patients with at least 5.

Endophotocoagulation to retinal pigment epithelium as an adjuvant therapy in the management of retinal detachment caused by a highly myopic macular hole.

Retinal detachment secondary to a highly myopic macular hole remains a particular surgical challenge. Pars plana vitrectomy, endophotocoagulation at the base of a macular hole in conjunction with fluid-gas exchange was performed in 4 consecutive patients with a mean refraction of -13.8D (range, -8D-(-)18D).

An in vitro study of ceftazidime and vancomycin concentrations in various fluid media: implications for use in treating endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To investigate the precipitation process of a mixture of vancomycin and ceftazidime by equilibrium dialysis and determine its subsequent effect on the level of free antibiotics for treatment of endophthalmitis.

Methods: Concentrations of vancomycin and ceftazidime in an equilibrium dialysis chamber were measured during the equilibrium process by high-performance liquid chromatography. Normal saline (NS), balanced salt solution (BSS), and vitreous were used separately as the medium of dialysis.

ABCA1 mRNA and protein distribution patterns predict multiple different roles and levels of regulation.

Mutations in ABCA1 cause the allelic disorders familial hypolipoproteinemia and Tangier Disease. To identify where ABCA1 was likely to have a functional role, we determined the cellular and tissue-specific patterns of murine ABCA1 expression. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis on dissected murine tissues demonstrated broad expression of ABCA1 mRNA and protein in many tissues with prominent protein expression in liver, testis, and adrenal tissue.

Efficacy of lignocaine gel for outpatient laser treatment in inflamed eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical 2% lignocaine gel in providing analgesia during outpatient transpupillary or trans-scleral laser treatment of inflamed eyes.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out of consecutive eligible eyes undergoing laser treatment using 2% lignocaine gel as a topical anaesthetic and a coupling medium. At the conclusion of each procedure, patients were asked to grade a pain score (0 = no discomfort, 1 = mild discomfort, 2 = mild pain, 3 = moderate pain, 4 = severe pain).

Molecular diagnostics for retinitis pigmentosa.

Background: At least 1 million people worldwide have retinitis pigmentosa (RP), making it relatively common among the inherited forms of blindness. Mutations in many genes may cause RP. The most common known mutation, Pro347Leu in rhodopsin, is found in no more than about 1% of unrelated patients, implying the impracticality of a diagnostic test which would screen only for a few, common mutation sites.