The hidden salmon patch: ocular lymphoma mistaken as Vogt Koyanagi disease

Ocular inflammation from various causes may have similar clinical presentation thus careful clinical evaluations are mandatory particularly when the disease appear to be resistant to treatment. This paper reports a case of ocular lymphoma which was initially treated as Vogt Koyanagi Harada disease at a different centre. A 65-year-old Sudanese man complained of gradual worsening left eye vision. Careful ocular and slit lamp examination revealed a conjunctival lesion with choroidal infiltration as well as exudative retinal detachment. Computed tomography scan (CT scan) showed left eye axial proptosis, and a homogenous enhancing mass at the posterior coat of the globe. Tissue biopsy of the conjunctival lesion revealed marginal Zone B cell (MALT type), low grade, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. AS the ocular signs and symptoms progressed, chemotherapy was initiated. The proptosis, exudative retinal detachment, disc hyperemia and swelling improved after chemotherapy. The post treatment CT scan showed reduction of the posterior ocular coat mass. The possibility of malignant lymphoma should be considered in patients with resistant uveitis despite administration of corticosteroid. Ocular lymphoma is an indolent tumour with good prognosis. Careful ocular examination, adequate imaging studies followed by early surgical biopsy will contribute to early diagnosis

Increased CD4 ؉ Expression and Decreased IL-10 in the Anterior Chamber in Idiopathic Uveitis

PURPOSE. To compare cell types and cytokines in aqueous humor from patients with uveitis either occurring in association with a systemic disease or apparently isolated and not associated with a systemic disease. METHODS. Cells were collected by centrifugation of fresh aqueous humor from uveitis and controls, and immunofluorescence techniques were performed with markers for T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Cytokines were measured in the aqueous supernatants, and serum samples were assayed for soluble interleukin-2 receptors. RESULTS. When aqueous samples from idiopathic uveitis were compared with those from uveitis associated with a systemic disease, there were increases in CD3 ϩ , CD4 ϩ (p ϭ 0.001), and activated CD4 ϩ T cells (p ϭ 0.02) and a decrease in B cells (p ϭ 0.0013). This was not reflected in the peripheral blood where there were no differences in the cell types or in soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels. No cells were obtainable from control aqueous. Interleukins-10 and -12, interferon-␥, and transforming growth factor-␤2 were detected in aqueous supernatants. Interleukin-10 was reduced (p ϭ 0.024) in uveitis in comparison with controls

Successful visual outcome following vitrectomy for complication of ocular tuberculosis

A 24-year-old Chinese gentleman presented with two weeks history of sudden floaters in his right temporal visual field associated with blurring of vision. This ex-smoker also reported chronic, bloody cough for two years and recent pleuritic chest pain. Examination revealed a thin patient with right eye visual acuity of 6/18 associated with optic nerve dysfunction, optic disc swelling and macula star, retinal vasculitis and retinitis. Despite anti-tuberculosis medication and corticosteroids, he developed neovascularisation. Subsequent vitreous haemorrhage necessitated trans pars plana vitrectomy, membrane peeling, endolaser and silicone oil injection. Final visual acuity was 6/9 with quiescent retinopathy

An evaluation of the effectiveness of volunteer community health workers in visiual acuity screening amongst residents residents aged 40 years and above in Beranang, Selangor

A cross-sectional study on a household member aged 40 years and abov~ from households of 5 randomly sampled villages in Beranang, Hulu Langat Selangor between August 2000 to December 2000 was carried out to determine the effectiveness of volunteer community health workers in performing visual acuity screening as well as the prevalence of visual disabilities. It was found that the sensitivity and specificity of visual acuity screened by volunteers was 92.9% and 97.5% respectively when compared with health personnel. The prevelance oflow vision was 21.5% with the majority (55.4%) of those with low vison having cataracts

Economic Movements Within Sufism in Java: a Case Study on Qadiriyah and Naqsyabandiyah Sufi Orders

This study aims at elaborating the relationship between Sufism and economics. It shows that Sufism does not totally abstain from getting in touch with worldly issues. Furthermore, it attempts to develop the thesis of Webber – that religion motivates its adherents to improve work ethics and economic development– into Sufism. The method bases on grounded research by qualitative approach. It employs constant analysis. This research involved three Pesantrens; a) Pesantren Suryalaya West Java; b) Pesantren Darul Ulum Jombang East Java; and, c) Pesantren Futuhiyah Mranggen Demak, Central Java, as representatives of the economic movements of Qadiriyah wa Naqsyabandiyah Sufi orders (TQN) in Java. The findings confirm that the economicmovement in TQN is dynamic for it depends on teachers\u27 views. The strongest economic Movement is TQN of Pesantren Suryalaya, followed by TQN of Pesantren Darul Ulum Jombang. The strength of economic activity at TQN of Futuhiyah Mranggen is not that obvious

Behaviour and speciation of mercury in the Scheldt estuary (water sediments and benthic organisms)

Surface waters, sediments and the polychaete Nereis diversicolor were sampled in the Scheldt Estuary between 1990 and 1994. In surface waters particulate Hg (Hgp) concentrations ranged from 350-1610 ng g-¹. They are essentially controlled by physical mixing of polluted fluvial particulates with relatively unpolluted marine particulates, but unaffected by seasonal changes. Dissolved Hg species, on the other hand, show large seasonal variations essentially controlled by the redox conditions in the estuary, as well as by bacterial and phytoplankton activity. Total dissolved (HgTD) concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 ng l-¹ with 10 to 90% as reactive Hg. High concentrations of HgTD are found in the upper estuary in the winter and decrease rapidly with increasing salinity. In summer HgTD concentrations are low in the anoxic upper estuary and increase as oxygen is restored in the estuary. Significant variations were observed in dissolved monomethyl Hg (MMHg) concentrations with concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.120 ng 1-¹ in the winter and 0.08 to 0.6 ng 1-¹ in summer and autumn. Particulate MMHg ranged from 2 to 6 ng g-¹ in winter and from 4 to 10 ng g-¹ in summer and accounted for 20 to 80% of the total MMHg. Hg° concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.130 ng l-¹and are higher in summer than in winter. In the lower estuary a positive correlation between Hg° and phytoplankton pigments was observed. Sediments and the polychaete N. diversicolor were sampled on the intertidal flat Groot Buitenschoor. HgT concentrations in surface sediments ranged from 144 to 1890 ng g-¹ and MMHg from 0.8 to 6 ng g-¹ accounting 0.4 to 0.8% of the total mercury present. Both total Hg (HgT) and MMHg concentrations increased with increased organic matter content and anoxic conditions. On the other hand, accumulation of HgT and MMHg was her in N. diversicolor living in coarse grain sandy sediments than in muddy sediments. MMHg concentrations N. diversicolor ranged from 2.2 to 20.9 ng g-¹ accounting for an average of 18% of the HgT. Seasonal variations significantly affected Hg speciation in sediments and N. diversicolor. Higher HgT concentrations were found in the sediments in autumn and winter, whereas MMHg concentrations increased in spring and summer. Likewise, higher MMHg concentrations were also observed in N. diversicolor in spring and summer

Correlation of serum insulin like growth factor-I with retinopathy in Malaysian pregnant diabetics

AIM: To study the association of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with diabetic retinopathy. ·METHODS: Serum IGF-1 levels were measured in 25 pregnant diabetic patients and 25 pregnant non-diabetic patients who were matched for age, ethnicity, parity and period of gestation. Fundus examination was performed in both groups at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. ·RESULTS: The serum IGF-I level was significantly elevated in pregnant diabetics compared to pregnant non-diabetics (366± 199滋g/L 184± 89滋g/L, ( =0.0001) at 24 weeks, 535± 251滋g/L 356± 89滋g/L, ( =0.007) at 32 weeks and 404± 166滋g/L 264± 113滋g/L, ( =0.003) at 36 weeks of gestation). The pregnant diabetics with established diabetes had significantly higher IGF-1 level than gestational diabetes at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. The serum IGF-I level in pregnant diabetics with retinopathy was significantly higher than in those without retinopathy at all periods of gestation