Chronic refractory uveitis in a patient with childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia.

We report a rare case of chronic refractory uveitis in a patient with childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia (CN). A 19-year-old woman, who had a history of CN beginning at age 2, presented with bilateral chronic nongranulomatous uveitis, complicated cataract, retinal vasculitis, cystoids macular edema, and vitreous hemorrhage. She had recurrent episodes of oral ulcers, tonsillitis, genital ulcers, and folliculitis during neutropenic nadir.

Efficient gene transfer to retinal pigment epithelium cells with long-term expression.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vectors for gene delivery into the mammalian retina.

Methods: A first-generation FIV vector was constructed and administered into rabbit eyes at two different concentrations by intravitreal or subretinal routes. A second-generation FIV vector was also constructed and administered subretinally into both rabbit and rat eyes at the same concentration.

[Retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low birth weight infants: a Tokyo multicenter study].

Objective: To investigate how the increase in survival rate in extremely low birth weight (a birth weight of 1,000 g or less) infants had affected the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the frequency of laser treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 122 surviving premature infants with birthweights less than 1,000 g to determine the severity of ROP observed at 16 neonatal intensive care units in Tokyo between April and October 2002.

Results: The survival rate was 85.

Characterization of a novel intraocular drug-delivery system using crystalline lipid antiviral prodrugs of ganciclovir and cyclic cidofovir.

Purpose: In an earlier study, a novel intraocular drug-delivery system was reported in which hexadecyloxypropyl-phospho-ganciclovir (HDP-P-GCV) was used as a prototype. The hypothesis was that many biologically effective compounds could be modified to crystalline lipid prodrugs and could be delivered directly into the vitreous in a long-lasting, slow-release form. This study was undertaken to characterize this new drug-delivery system further, by using small particles of HDP-P-GCV and hexadecyloxypropyl-cyclic cidofovir (HDP-cCDV).

Ganciclovir release rates in vitreous from different formulations of 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir.

Purpose: To determine the optimal formulation of lipid prodrug, 1-O-hexadecyloxypropyl-phospho-ganciclovir (HDP-P-GCV), for intravitreal delivery.

Methods: Equal concentrations of crystalline or liposomal HDP-P-GCV were exposed to rabbit whole vitreous, core vitreous, peripheral vitreous, human plasma, and heat inactivated rabbit vitreous, and the samples were incubated at 37 degrees C for one week. Aliquots were taken at day 1, 2, 3, and 7 and subjected to HPLC analysis for conversion to GCV.

Predictors of drusen reduction after subthreshold infrared (810 nm) diode laser macular grid photocoagulation for nonexudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine the predictors of drusen reduction in eyes with nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) treated with subthreshold infrared (810 nm) diode laser macular grid photocoagulation. Additionally, to determine the relationship of laser-induced drusen reduction and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 18 months after laser treatment.

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) vector-mediated in vivo gene transfer into adult rabbit retina.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential usefulness of HIV-2 viral vector in in vivo retinal gene therapy.

Methods: An HIV-2 virus based viral vector was constructed and administered subretinally and intravitreally into rabbit eyes. After viral vector administration, the eyes were closely monitored for any adverse effects by slit lamp, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photography.

Effects of preoperative and postoperative epiretinal membranes on macular hole closure and visual restoration.

Objective: To investigate the effects of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) on macular hole surgical results and postoperative visual restoration.

Design: A subgroup analysis arising from a multicenter, controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Participants: Ninety-one phakic eyes with an idiopathic macular hole that underwent standard vitrectomy for macular hole repair with or without ERM peeling.

Treatment or prevention of herpes simplex virus retinitis with intravitreally injectable crystalline 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir.

Purpose: To evaluate an intraocular drug delivery system consisting of the crystalline ammonium salt of 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir (HDP-P-GCV) as a slow-release form of the drug.

Methods: A dosage of 0.885, 1.