Neurovascular sequestration in paediatric malaria is visible clinically in the retina.

Retinal vessel changes and retinal whitening, distinctive features of malarial retinopathy, can be directly observed during routine eye examination in children with cerebral malaria. We investigated their clinical significance and underlying mechanisms through linked clinical, clinicopathological and image analysis studies. Orange vessels and severe foveal whitening (clinical examination, n = 817, OR, 95% CI: 2.

Human Conjunctival Stem Cells are Predominantly Located in the Medial Canthal and Inferior Forniceal Areas.

Purpose: The conjunctiva plays a key role in ocular surface defence and maintenance of the tear film. Ex vivo expansion of conjunctival epithelial cells offers potential to reconstruct the ocular surface in cases of severe cicatrising disease, but requires initial biopsies rich in stem cells to ensure long-term success. The distribution of human conjunctival stem cells, however, has not been clearly elucidated.

Severity of retinopathy parallels the degree of parasite sequestration in the eyes and brains of malawian children with fatal cerebral malaria.

Background: Malarial retinopathy (MR) has diagnostic and prognostic value in children with Plasmodium falciparum cerebral malaria (CM). A clinicopathological correlation between observed retinal changes during life and the degree of sequestration of parasitized red blood cells was investigated in ocular and cerebral vessels at autopsy.

Methods: In 18 Malawian children who died from clinically defined CM, we studied the intensity of sequestration and the maturity of sequestered parasites in the retina, in nonretinal ocular tissues, and in the brain.

Does the presence of an epiretinal membrane alter the cleavage plane during internal limiting membrane peeling?

Purpose: To determine whether the presence of a clinically and/or microscopically detectable epiretinal membrane (ERM) alters the cleavage plane during internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.

Design: Retrospective, observational, immunohistochemical study of ILM specimens using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.

Participants: Fifty-one patients who had had ILM excision.

Labeling of stem cells with monocrystalline iron oxide for tracking and localization by magnetic resonance imaging.

Precise localization of exogenously delivered stem cells is critical to our understanding of their reparative response. Our current inability to determine the exact location of small numbers of cells may hinder optimal development of these cells for clinical use. We describe a method using magnetic resonance imaging to track and localize small numbers of stem cells following transplantation.

Neoplastic transformation of ciliary body epithelium is associated with loss of opticin expression.

Background: Opticin is a recently discovered glycoprotein present predominantly in the vitreous humour. It is synthesised and secreted by the ciliary body epithelium (CBE) from the initiation of CBE development in the embryo, and production continues throughout life.

Aim: To determine whether a variety of ciliary body tumours synthesise opticin to characterise further its role in ciliary body health and disease.

Transretinal choroidal tumor biopsy with a 25-gauge vitrector.

Objective: To describe and evaluate transretinal biopsy of choroidal tumors using 25-gauge vitrectomy instrumentation.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series.

Participants: Fourteen patients undergoing choroidal tumor biopsy at an ocular oncology center.

Presymptomatic diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma associated with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation.

A 62-year-old man presented with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferations (BDUMP) and painful flexor contractures of the fingers of both hands. All these features were considered paraneoplastic but extensive and repeated investigations revealed no underlying malignancy. Oral steroids and orbital radiotherapy were ineffective.

The presence of AC133-positive cells suggests a possible role of endothelial progenitor cells in the formation of choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that vasculogenesis as well as angiogenesis occurs throughout the body during neovascularization. The recruitment of circulating stem cells is a key feature of vasculogenesis. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether markers of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are present in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

BRAF mutations are detectable in conjunctival but not uveal melanomas.

Activating mutations in exon 15 of BRAF have been detected in a high proportion of cutaneous melanomas. To determine whether such mutations are a feature of conjunctival or uveal melanomas, we screened DNA from these tumours. Twenty-one conjunctival and 88 uveal tumours were included in the study.

Expression of serotonin receptor mRNAs in human ciliary body: a polymerase chain reaction study.

Background: Previous research has indicated a role for serotonin (5-HT) in the anterior uvea of the eye. The purpose of this study was to examine whether mRNAs encoding particular 5-HT receptors are expressed in the ciliary body and iris of a number of human subjects.

Methods: The presence of mRNA encoding 5-HT receptors in four human ciliary body samples was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction experiments using a standard methodology.

Histopathology of eyes enucleated after endoresection of choroidal melanoma.

Purpose: To demonstrate the histopathologic features of eyes enucleated after endoresection for choroidal melanoma to assess the complications of this treatment and to determine indications for further treatment after endoresection in the setting of possible tumor recurrence.

Design: Retrospective, observational case series.

Participants: Sixty-one consecutive patients who had undergone endoresection for uveal melanoma.

The role of matricellular proteins thrombospondin-1 and osteonectin during RPE cell migration in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that the Matricellular proteins thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), tenascin (TN) and Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) modulate the migration of RPE cells in the epiretinal membranes of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Methods: Ten PVR epiretinal membranes were studied by immunohistochemical methods in which aggregates of RPE cells were identified by their expression of a broad range of cytokeratins. RPE subsets containing migratory RPE cells were detected by immunoreactivity for the monoclonal antibody RGE53 (which detects an epitope on cytokeratin-18 on motile RPE cells).