Large upper eyelid full-thickness defects reconstructed only with an anterior lamella.

Background: The purpose of this study is to report a surgical procedure that only uses anterior lamella structures (muscle and skin) to reconstruct large upper eyelid full-thickness total defects.

Patients And Methods: The study design is a non-comparative retrospective interventional small case series. Three patients with upper eyelid full-thickness (anterior and posterior lamellae) total-defect (horizontal extent: > 3/4 length, vertical extent: > 15 mm) after tumor excision (basal cell, squamous cell, or Merkel's cell carcinoma).

Lentiviral-vector-mediated expression of murine IL-1 receptor antagonist or IL-10 reduces the severity of endotoxin-induced uveitis.

Uveitis is a sight threatening inflammatory disorder that remains a significant cause of visual loss. We investigated lentiviral gene delivery of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) or interleukin (IL)-10 to ameliorate murine endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). An human immunodeficiency virus-1-based vector containing the mIL-1ra or mIL-10 cDNA demonstrated high expression of biologically active cytokine.

[Lower eyelid reconstruction of traumatically caused cicatricial entropion with amniotic membrane or mucosal membrane grafts].

Background: A retrospective evaluation was undertaken of eyelid reconstruction with amniotic membrane or oral mucosal membrane transplantation in patients with lower lid cicatricial entropion after orbital surgery.

Patients And Methods: Seven patients (four women) were treated with a scar tissue dissection and an amniotic membrane or mucosal membrane transplantation between 2003 and 2006 (Five amniotic membrane grafts and two oral mucosal membrane grafts). In selected cases additional procedures like a lateral tarsal strip operation, a tarsal fracture, or the reinsertion of the lower lid retractors were performed.

Assessment of ocular transduction using single-stranded and self-complementary recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2/8.

To date adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are the only gene therapy vectors that have been shown to efficiently transduce photoreceptor cells and have thus become the most commonly used vector for ocular transduction. Various AAV serotypes have been evaluated in the eye, the first of which was AAV2, which is able to transduce photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinal ganglion cells. AAV serotypes 1 and 4, as well as AAV2 pseudotyped with these capsids, only transduce the RPE.

[Amaurosis fugax with elevated acute phase proteins].

Case report of a 66-year-old woman with episodes of amaurosis fugax and hemicranic headache with otherwise normal ophthalmologic and neurological examinations and normal imaging. While ESR was in the normal range for patient's age, acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and fibrinogen) were elevated. Giant cell arteritis was proved by temporal artery biopsy.

Glaucoma phenotype in a large Swiss pedigree with the myocilin Gly367Arg mutation.

Aims: To characterize genotype, phenotype, and age-related penetrance in a Swiss pedigree with juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG).

Methods: In a large Swiss family with history of glaucoma and 82 living members of four generations, we conducted molecular analysis and a detailed phenotype characterization in 52 family members. Mutation analysis was carried out using single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequence analyses of the suspected candidate gene, myocilin (MYOC).

Uveitic glaucoma and Rosai-Dorfman disease (sinus histiocytosis).

Purpose: To report a novel association of uveitic glaucoma with Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 67-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a chronic bilateral granulomatous uveitis which did not respond to conventional topical steroid therapy.

[Pars plana vitrectomy for idiopathic vitreous floaters].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with persistent vitreous floaters (VF) in phakic (56.7 %) or pseudophakic (43.3 %) eyes.

Local administration of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing IL-10 reduces monocyte infiltration and subsequent photoreceptor damage during experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Autoimmune posterior uveitis is a chronic, potentially blinding inflammatory disease of the eye. It is commonly treated with immunosuppressive drugs that have adverse long-term effects. Advances in gene transfer techniques have enabled long-term, stable transduction of retinal cells following subretinal injection with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors.

Vitrectomy for juvenile uveitis: prognostic factors for the long-term functional outcome.

Purpose: This study evaluated the long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in children and adolescents with chronic uveitis on visual function, anatomical outcome, and the requirement of systemic treatment. Further, predictive preoperative factors associated with a beneficial visual outcome were assessed.

Methods: Retrospective review of 29 eyes of 23 consecutive paediatric and juvenile patients below 20 years of age with chronic uveitis who underwent a PPV for visually significant opacities in 25 eyes, vitreous haemorrhage in three eyes, and retinal detachment in one eye.

Effect of steroidal and non-steroidal drugs on the microglia activation pattern and the course of degeneration in the retinal degeneration slow mouse.

Background: In hereditary retinal degeneration, microglia cells become activated, migrate through the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and accumulate in the subretinal space. Although this inflammatory process is not likely to be responsible for the onset of photoreceptor apoptosis, cytotoxic substances secreted by activated microglia could potentially accelerate and perpetuate the degenerative process. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to modulate the microglia response in neurodegenerative disorders and potentially ameliorate the disease progression in various animal model systems.

Determination of microdot stromal degenerations within corneas of long-term contact lens wearers by confocal microscopy.

Purpose: To ascertain whether a relationship exists between the presence of microdot deposits within the corneal stroma of long-term contact lens wearers as seen by confocal microscopy and the contact lens wear time, material, or other patient variables.

Methods: Thirty-six myopic patients with a 15- to 43-year history of hard, rigid gas-permeable, or soft hydrogel contact lens wear and 12 age-matched emmetropic or spectacle-corrected myopic volunteers were included in this study. The numerical density and size of microdot deposits within the anterior, mid, and posterior stroma were determined with the confocal microscope, and the data were subjected to multiple regression statistical analysis.

[First experience with amniotic membrane transplantation].

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the outcome of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) performed at the University Eye Clinic Bern during the last 12 months.

Patients And Methods: Nine men (62.4 +/- 16.