Juvenile xanthogranuloma of the corneoscleral limbus: report of two cases.

Purpose: To report the clinical and histopathologic findings of limbal juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) in two children.

Methods: Case report.

Results: Two children (a 9-month old boy and a 4-year old girl) presented with an enlarging yellowish mass at the corneoscleral limbus.

Corneal complications of intraoperative Mitomycin C in glaucoma surgery.

Purpose: To report corneal toxicity of Mitomycin C application during filtering glaucoma surgery in two patients.

Case Reports: An elderly woman, 81 years of age, developed diffuse corneal epitheliopathy with subepithelial stromal oedema seven weeks after a trabeculectomy with Mitomycin C application. Another patient, a 76-year-old man, first developed a central epithelium defect and stromal oedema in the second postoperative week after a similar procedure.

Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor reduces scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery.

Purpose: Filtration failure due to excessive postoperative scarring remains a major problem after glaucoma surgery. The authors have investigated whether glaucoma and filtration surgery are associated with increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and whether a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF, bevacizumab, can reduce postoperative scar formation and improve surgical outcome.

Methods: The levels of VEGF in samples of aqueous humor were measured by ELISA.

Citrullination of CXCL8 by peptidylarginine deiminase alters receptor usage, prevents proteolysis, and dampens tissue inflammation.

Biological functions of proteins are influenced by posttranslational modifications such as on/off switching by phosphorylation and modulation by glycosylation. Proteolytic processing regulates cytokine and chemokine activities. In this study, we report that natural posttranslational citrullination or deimination alters the biological activities of the neutrophil chemoattractant and angiogenic cytokine CXCL8/interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Neuroparalytic keratopathy as the first sign of a cerebral meningioma.

We report a case of a cavernous sinus meningioma in a young woman presenting with a neuroparalytic corneal ulcer as the only sign of the tumour. Clinical ophthalmic examination revealed a trophic corneal ulcer in the left eye of the patient accompanied by corneal anaesthesia and loss of sensation to touch and pain stimuli in the ipsilateral dermatomes supplied by the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve. A MRI scan of the head revealed a left cavernous sinus meningioma.

Late opacification of hydroview intraocular lenses: report of 11 cases.

Purpose: To report on the clinical and light microscopic analyses of Hydroview intraocular lenses (lOLs) explanted for late postoperative IOL opacification.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study of all cases with secondary lensimplantation performed at the University Hospital Leuven during a period of one year (2003-2004) for postoperative opacification of Hydroview IOLs. Further analyses on some of the explanted IOLs included gross and light microscopic evaluation.

Amino-terminal truncation of CXCR3 agonists impairs receptor signaling and lymphocyte chemotaxis, while preserving antiangiogenic properties.

The interferon (IFN)-inducible chemokines, specifically, IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig), and IFN-inducible T-cell alpha-chemoattractant (I-TAC), share a unique CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR3). Recently, the highly specific membrane-bound protease and lymphocyte surface marker CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) was found to be responsible for posttranslational processing of chemokines. Removal of NH(2)-terminal dipeptides by CD26/DPP IV alters chemokine receptor binding and signaling, and hence inflammatory and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activities.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on the rabbit corneal epithelium studied by scanning electron microscopy.

We investigated the effect of 6 commercially available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eye drops on the normal corneal epithelium of rabbits. Each drug was instilled into both eyes of 2 rabbits, 5 times a day, for 5 consecutive days. Two additional corneas of one rabbit, without any treatment, served as control.

Modulation of fibroblast growth factor-2 receptor binding, signaling, and mitogenic activity by heparin-mimicking polysulfonated compounds.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) interacts with high-affinity tyrosine-kinase fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and low-affinity heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in target cells. Both interactions are required for FGF-2-mediated biological responses. Here we report the FGF-2 antagonist activity of novel synthetic sulfonic acid polymers with distinct chemical structures and molecular masses (MMs).

Ocular burn caused by soft brown soap.

Purpose: To report the danger of serious chemical ocular burn caused by common household soap.

Case History: A 20 year old male developed an extensive burn of the right eye after the commonly used soft brown soap (also called floor soap) fell into his face and right eye. The burn caused conjunctival ischemia and necrosis.

Transsclerally sutured versus ciliary sulcus lenses.

We evaluated retrospectively the results of 39 eyes in which the implantation of a lens in the capsular bag was not possible. Due to the loss of capsule a transsclerally sulcus sutured lens (TSSL) was implanted in 9 eyes. In 30 eyes a ciliary sulcus supported lens (SSL) could be implanted using residual capsule support.

Bromovinyldeoxyurdine treatment of outer retinal necrosis due to varicella-zoster virus: a case-report.

In December 1995, a 70-years old male was referred to us because of rapid visual loss in the right eye, one month after a central retinal artery occlusion in the left eye. This renal transplant patient, with limited renal function, was on immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis of bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) due to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of VZV DNA in the aqueous fluid.

Keratoplasty à chaud in severe keratitis.

We have analysed the results of 19 penetrating keratoplasties à chaud performed in 18 patients presenting with imminent perforation or perforated corneas. Infectious disease was eradicated in all cases except in those patients suffering from acanthamoeba keratitis. Secondary bacterial infection was observed in three grafts.

Absence of infectious retinitis after injection of human cytomegalovirus into rabbit eyes.

The rabbit model of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) retinitis was evaluated by preretinal and intravitreal injection of HCMV into rabbit eyes. Ocular disease was evaluated by indirect ophthalmoscopy, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Vitritis, optic nerve congestion, multiple small white infiltrates in the cortical vitreous or on the retinal surface, and retinal detachments were seen.

An ocular model of Adenovirus type 5 infection in the rabbit.

Adenoviruses are a common cause of viral eye disease in humans. Recently, new antiviral drugs have been developed, which possess promising anti-adenovirus activity. In order to test these drugs, an ocular model of adenovirus infection was developed in 10 Hollander rabbits following topical, intrastromal and subconjunctival inoculation with a standard laboratory serotype (Adenovirus type 5 from The American Type Culture Collection).

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 5-thien-2-yl-2'-deoxyuridine analogues.

A number of 5-heteroaromatic-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines were synthesized from 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine using tetraorganotin reagents and palladium complexes as catalyst. The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and stannylated heteroaromatics was optimized for the synthesis of the 5-thien-3-yl-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-furan-3-yl-2'-deoxyuridine. 5-(5-Iodothien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine was used as starting material for the synthesis of 5-(5-methylthien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine, 5-(5-vinylthien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine, and 5-(5-ethynylthien-2-yl)-2'- deoxyuridine.

Evaluation of Maudgal lens six months after implantation.

We studied the implantation and follow-up of Maudgal compressible disc lens in 102 eyes with a follow-up of at least six months. The degree and incidence of decentration of this lens in the bag is remarkably low. A postoperative visual acuity of 5/10 or more was achieved in 96% patients and 7/10 or better in 86.

Characteristics and implantation of Maudgal compressible disc lens.

A 10 mm overall diameter one-piece compressible-disc lens was developed for in the bag implantation after cataract surgery performed by envelop technique or by phacoemulsification. The lens consists of an outer ring connected to a 6 mm diameter optical zone by two compressible loops. The loops and the outer ring are 10 degrees angulated with respect to the optic.

Chronic blepharitis, meibomitis and corneal lesions.

We have observed seven patients with longstanding complaints of ocular irritation who had blepharitis and/or meibomitis associated with corneal involvement. Corneal lesions varied from severe pannus formation, destruction of the limbal structure to marginal infiltrates and peripheral corneal melting. The corneal lesions did not regress until blepharitis was treated.

The use of the first locally manufactured epikeratolens for keratoconus in Leuven.

We adapted a lathe to the production of keratolenses. A cornea is mounted on a chuck and frozen at minus 40 degrees C. Hereafter we can cut the desired posterior radius and diameter.

Acanthamoeba keratitis.

During the last year we came across three cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis. They were all contact lens wearers. The diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis was established by the history, clinical picture and the culture of corneal and conjunctival swabs.

Effects of phosphonylmethoxyalkyl-purine and -pyrimidine derivatives on TK+ and TK- HSV-1 keratitis in rabbits.

The phosphonylmethoxyalkyl derivatives HPMPA [(S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine], HPMPC [(S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)cytosine] and PMEA [9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine] were evaluated as 0.2% eyedrops for their efficacy in the treatment of experimental herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis in the rabbit model. BVDU 0.

(S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl-methoxypropyl)cytosine in the therapy of thymidine kinase-positive and -deficient herpes simplex virus experimental keratitis.

The phosphonylmethoxyalkyl derivative, (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl methoxypropyl)cytosine (HPMPC), was evaluated for its efficacy in the topical treatment of experimental keratitis caused by thymidine kinase-positive (TK+) or thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-) herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strains. The HPMPC 0.2% eyedrops were as effective as the reference compound, (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, (BVDU) 0.