Ex vivo distribution of gold nanoparticles in choroidal melanoma

Mozhgan Rezaei Kanavi,1 Somayeh Asadi,1,2 Hamid Ahmadieh2 1Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, 2Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranStudies on combined radiotherapy and nanoparticles (NPs) have shown that a greater therapeutic ratio can be achieved using gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as radiosensitizing agents within the tumor.1 Recent Monte Carlo studies demonstrated that GNPs enhance the absorbed dose by choroidal melanoma during brachytherapy with sources such as 103Pd and 125I.2 Given that the energy range of these sources is low, NPs with high atomic number can be suitable to yield a higher absorbed dose when used alongside the mentioned sources.3 Although it has been a long time since the merit and priority of using NPs in treating cancer by low-energy sources has been studied, regarding eye cancers a major concern has been the way these NPs would be spread in the ocular tissues. A principal question is the form and method by which the NPs disperse within the intraocular tumor after intralesional injection. Will the NPs be also absorbed by the nearby healthy tissues

Ex vivo distribution of gold nanoparticles in choroidal melanoma [Corrigendum]

Kanavi MR, Asadi S, Ahmadieh H. Ex vivo distribution of gold nanoparticles in choroidal melanoma. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2017;12:8527–8529.Affiliation 1 should have been presented as:Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranRead the original article

Specificity of in vivo confocal cornea microscopy in Acanthamoeba keratitis

PURPOSE: To report on the presence of 4 different structures visualized by confocal microscopy in patients whose clinical presentation suggested infection by Acanthamoeba. METHODS: Data and charts of 28 consecutive patients were analyzed in a retrospective study. Four types of structures were recognized by confocal microscopy performed with HRT II Rostock Cornea Module: trophozoites, double-walled cysts, signet rings, and bright spots. The 28 patients (mean age 30.8 years, range 17-61 years, 10 male, 18 female) were divided into 4 groups according to the diagnosis established later by microscopic examination of smear, culture, response to therapy, and the course of keratitis. The 4 groups were Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), Acanthamoeba suspect (AK-suspect), bacterial keratitis (BK), and fungal keratitis (FK). RESULTS: The rate of patients in AK, AK-suspect, FK, and BK groups where bright spots were found were 100%, 100%, 40%, and 55%, respectively. The sensitivity of presence of bright spots in the in vivo confocal microscopy in Acanthamoeba keratitis was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 73.5% to 100.00%) and specificity was 50% (CI 24.7% to 75.4%). When cases where the only signs of Acanthamoeba were bright spots were excluded, and only those cases were counted where any of cysts, trophozoites, or signet rings were also found, the sensitivity was 67% (95% CI 34. 9% to 90.1%) and the specificity was 94% (95% CI 69.8% to 99.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high rate of bright spots in non-Acanthamoeba keratitis challenges the assumption that bright spots seen by confocal microscopy are a specific indication of Acanthamoeba keratitis

In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Evaluation Of Keratic Precipitates And Endothelial Morphology In Fuchs' Uveitis Syndrome

Purpose To evaluate the endothelial cell layer in patients with Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS) with respect to the type and distribution of keratic precipitates (KP), endothelial cell morphology, and endothelial cell density (ECD), using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Methods Forty eyes of 40 patients (mean age of 32.2 +/- 12.5 years) with the clinical diagnosis of FUS were evaluated with IVCM (Confoscan 3.0, Vigonza, Italy). KP were classified as type I (small, round), type II (stippled), type III (dendritiform), and type IV (globular). When >1 KP type was present, differentiation between the predominant and less frequent KP was made as 'primary' and 'secondary'. ECD was measured and compared with age-matched 60 control subjects. Endothelial blebs were classified as small (3-10 mu m) or large (> 10 mu m). Results In 36 (90.0%) cases with FUS, more than one KP type was observed with IVCM. Type III (dendritiform) KP was the most frequently observed primary KP type (85.0%), followed by type II (stippled) KP (15.0%). Secondary KP included type 11 (58.3%), type IV (globular) (27.8%), and type III (13.9%). The mean endothelial cell density of eyes with FUS (2588 +/- 396 cells/mm(2)) was significantly lower than that of control subjects (2930 +/- 364 cells/mm(2)) (t-test; P < 0.001). Eyes with FUS had lower proportion of hexagonal cells and higher percentage of polymegethism compared with the uninvolved contralateral eyes. Endothelial blebs (21 small, 16 large blebs) were observed in 37 (92.5%) eyes. Conclusions FUS is characterized by dendritiform KP and is associated with decreased ECD and altered endothelial cell morphology. Eye (2012) 26, 119-125; doi:10.1038/eye.2011.268; published online 4 November 2011WoSScopu

Current Concepts in the Management of Unique Post-keratoplasty Infections

As corneal transplantation has evolved, the spectrum of post-surgical infection has changed and often presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Lamellar techniques hold the potential of improved outcomes and decreased post-operative complications, however, they create a lamellar interface, which is a potential space for sequestration of infectious organisms. In addition, while keratoprosthesis offers vision to patients who are poor candidates for traditional keratoplasty, infectious complications can be severe and sight threatening. Although antimicrobials remain the mainstay of treatment, definitive management often requires surgical intervention