Intra-operative ocular ultrasonography of iodine-125 brachytherapy plaques in patients with uveal melanoma.

Purpose: Brachytherapy with iodine-125 (I) has been extensively used as a conservative treatment for uveal melanoma (UM). Surgical technique for correct placement of episcleral radioactive plaques (ERP) in UM cases with posterior choroidal location and/or small size can be difficult and inaccurate. In this study, the correct positioning of plaques was assessed by intra-operative ultrasound control.

Blood Biomarkers of Uveal Melanoma: Current Perspectives.

The detection of metastases in patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma (UM) is a controversial issue. While only 1% of the patients have detectable metastases at the time of diagnosis, up to 30% of them will develop liver metastases within 5 years of treatment. UM spreads hematogenously, therefore, blood biomarkers may be helpful for prognosis and monitoring the disease progression.

Generation of Organotypic Multicellular Spheres by Magnetic Levitation: Model for the Study of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Microenvironment.

Background And Objective: The characteristics of human hematopoietic stem cells are conditioned by the microenvironment of the bone marrow, where they interact with other cell populations, such as mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells; however, the study of this microenvironment is complex. The objective of this work was to develop a 3D culture system by magnetic levitation that imitates the microenvironment of human HSC.

Methods And Results: Human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord blood-hematopoietic stem cells and a non-tumoral endothelial cell line (CC2811, Lonza) were used to develop organotypic multicellular spheres by the magnetic levitation method.

Vasoproliferative tumors of ocular fundus: ultrasonographic characteristics.

The aim of this work is to describe ultrasonographic features in vasoproliferative tumors of ocular fundus (VPTOF). The charts of eight patients were retrospectively studied. Clinical data obtained by complete ophthalmologic examination and ultrasonographic findings were analyzed.