Selective antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of chlorinated hemicyanine against gram-positive bacteria.

Antibiotic-free therapies are highly needed due to the limited success of conventional approaches especially against biofilm related infections. In this direction, antimicrobial phototherapy, either in the form of antimicrobial photothermal therapy (aPTT) or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), have appeared to be highly promising candidates in recent years. These are local and promising approaches for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections and biofilms. Organic small photosensitizers (PSs) are extensively preferred in antimicrobial phototherapy applications as they offer a great opportunity to combine therapeutic action (aPTT, aPDT or both) with fluorescence imaging on a single molecule. In this study, the bactericidal effect of cationic chlorinated hemicyanine (Cl-Hem)-based type I PS, which can function as a dual aPDT/aPTT agent, was investigated on both planktonic cells and biofilms of different gram-positive (E. faecalis and S. epidermidis) and gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae) with and without 640 nm laser irradiation. Cl-Hem was shown to induce a selective phototheranostic activity against gram-positive bacteria (E. faecalis and S. epidermidis). Cl-Hem exhibited both dose and laser irradiation time dependent bactericidal effect on planktonic and biofilms of S. epidermidis. These results clearly showed that highly potent Cl-Hem can treat resistant microbial infections, while allowing fluorescence detection at the same time. High biofilm reduction observed with combined aPDT/aPTT action of Cl-Hem together with its non-cytotoxic nature points out that Cl-Hem is a promising PS for antibacterial and antibiofilm treatments.

Role of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for primary optic nerve sheath meningioma.

Background: Optic nerve sheath meningiomas (ONSM) are rare tumors potentially causing visual deficits. This study aims to report the anatomic and visual outcomes of patients with primary ONSM treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HF-SRT). Methods: Data of 36 patients treated with HF-SRT between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively collected. The clinical target volume (CTV) was equal to the gross tumor volume and a 2 mm was added for the planning target volume. All responses other than progression were accepted as local control (LC). The VA grading was performed under 3 groups to provide an even distribution; 20/400 or worse, 20/40-20/400, and 20/40 or better. Results: Median HF-SRT dose was 25 Gy and the median CTV was 1.94 cc. After a median of 106 months of follow-up, the tumor regressed in 23 (64%), was stable in 9 (25%), and progressed in 4 (11%) eyes. The overall rate of LC was 89% with 2-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year rate of 100%, 94%, 84%, and 84%, respectively. Treatment-related late toxicity rate was 11%. The VA was stable in 27 (75%) eyes, improved in 5 (14%) eyes, and worsened in 4 (11%) eyes, respectively, after HF-SRT. Female gender was the only independent predictor of an improved VA. Conclusions: Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is a safe and satisfactory treatment option for primary ONSM without severe toxicity. It may be advisable to commence treatment before an established visual deficit of 20/400 or worse occurs, to make the most of the functional benefit.

Comprehensive analysis of orbital lymphoma in a Turkish cohort: clinical characteristics, histological subtypes, treatment modalities, prognostic factors, and implications for management.

The study analysed the clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and survival outcomes of 97 consecutive patients with orbital lymphoma (OL) over a 25-year period at. The median age of the patients was 57.6 years, and 59.8% (n = 58) were male. Marginal zone lymphoma constitutes the most prevalent subtype, accounting for 67% of cases, whereas other common subtypes include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and T-cell lymphomas. Unilateral involvement was observed in the majority of cases (72.3%). Common clinical presentations included mass (30.9%), swelling (26.8%), and epiphora (11.3%). Of the patients, 7.2% received rituximab alone, 14.4% received radiotherapy alone, 48.5% received chemotherapy, 27.8% received radiotherapy plus rituximab, 22.7% received radiotherapy plus chemotherapy, and 5.2% underwent surgery as the first-line treatment. During a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 15.5% of patients experienced relapse or disease progression. The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 84.1% and 79.1%, respectively. This study contributes to our understanding of OLs and provides a foundation for further investigations in this field. Male gender, presence of B symptoms, advanced stage, secondary orbital lymphoma, aggressive histological subtype, and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were associated with poorer (either inferior or worse) progression-free survival.

Black Henna Deposits Masquerading a Melanoma of the Plica Semilunaris.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe a rare case of conjunctival black henna accumulation that was clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma. METHODS: This retrospective case report reviewed the clinical findings and histopathologic features of a pigmented plica semilunaris lesion excised from a 63-year-old woman. The patient had a history of regular use of black henna in her childhood. The conjunctival pigmentation was present since her early teenage years but started to grow only recently. RESULTS: There was a darkly pigmented mass mainly covering the plica semilunaris of the right eye with additional irregularly scattered pigmentation in the medial bulbar conjunctiva. Excisional biopsy of the plical tumor revealed nodular pigment deposits with lymphocytic infiltration. There were no neoplastic cells. The specimen stained negative for pan-keratin, CD68, and CD34. Melanin bleaching was also negative. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to black henna as a hair dye may lead to subconjunctival accumulation and mimic melanoma.

Modulation of AMPK Significantly Alters Uveal Melanoma Tumor Cell Viability.

INTRODUCTION: Uveal melanoma (UM) responds poorly to targeted therapies or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a pivotal serine/threonine protein kinase that coordinates vital processes such as cell growth. Targeting AMPK pathway, which represents a critical mechanism mediating the survival of UM cells, may prove to be a novel treatment strategy for UM. We aimed to demonstrate the effects of AMPK modulation on UM cells. METHODS: In silico analyses were performed to compare UM and normal melanocyte cells via Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The effects of AMPK modulation on cell viability and proliferation in UM cell lines with different molecular profiles (i.e., 92-1, MP46, OMM2.5, and Mel270) were investigated via XTT cell viability and proliferation assays after treating the cells with varying concentrations of A-769662 (AMPK activator) or dorsomorphin (AMPK inhibitor). RESULTS: KEGG/GSEA studies demonstrated that genes implicated in the AMPK signaling pathway were differentially regulated in UM. Gene sets comprising genes involved in AMPK signaling and genes involved in energy-dependent regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin by liver kinase B1-AMPK were downregulated in UM. We observed gradual decreases in the numbers of viable UM cells as the concentration of A-769662 treatment increased. All UM cells demonstrated statistically significant decreases in cell viability when treated with 200 µm A-769662. Moreover, the effects of AMPK inhibition on UM cells were potent, since low doses of dorsomorphin treatment resulted in significant decreases in viabilities of UM cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values confirmed the potency of dorsomorphin treatment against UM in vitro. CONCLUSION: AMPK may act like a friend or a foe in cancer depending on the context. As such, the current study contributes to the literature in determining the effects of therapeutic strategies targeting AMPK in several UM cells. We propose a new perspective in the treatment of UM. Targeting AMPK pathway may open up new avenues in developing novel therapeutic approaches to improve overall survival in UM.

Fimbria targeting superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles enhance the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of ciprofloxacin against quinolone-resistant E. coli.

High quinolone resistance of Escherichia coli limits the therapy options for urinary tract infection (UTI). In response to the urgent need for efficient treatment of multidrug-resistant infections, we designed a fimbriae targeting superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) delivering ciprofloxacin to ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) coated SPIONs (BSA@PAA@SPION) were developed for encapsulation of ciprofloxacin and the nanoparticles were tagged with 4-aminophenyl-α-D-mannopyrannoside (mannoside, Man) to target E. coli fimbriae. Ciprofloxacin-loaded mannoside tagged nanoparticles (Cip-Man-BSA@PAA@SPION) provided high antibacterial activity (97.1 and 97.5%, respectively) with a dose of 32 µg/mL ciprofloxacin against two ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates. Furthermore, a strong biofilm inhibition (86.9% and 98.5%, respectively) was achieved in the isolates at a dose 16 and 8 times lower than the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of ciprofloxacin. Weaker growth inhibition was observed with untargeted nanoparticles, Cip-BSA@PAA@SPIONs, confirming that targeting E. coli fimbria with mannoside-tagged nanoparticles increases the ciprofloxacin efficiency to treat ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli. Enhanced killing activity against ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli planktonic cells and strong growth inhibition of their biofilms suggest that Cip-Man-BSA@PAA@SPION system might be an alternative and/or complementary therapeutic option for the treatment of quinolone-resistant E. coli infections.

Image-Guided Enhanced PDT/PTT Combination Therapy Using Brominated Hemicyanine-Loaded Folate Receptor-Targeting Ag2S Quantum Dots.

Tumor-targeting nanoparticles and phototherapies are the two major trends in tumor-specific, local cancer therapy with minimal side effects. Organic photosensitizers (PSs) usually offer effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) but require enhanced solubility and tumor-targeting, which may be provided by a nanoparticle. Near-infrared (NIR)-emitting Ag2S quantum dots may act as a delivery vehicle for the PS, NIR tracking agent, and as a phototherapy (PTT) agent. A combination of the two provides luminescent dual-phototherapy agents with tumor-specificity and image-guided and enhanced cytotoxicity as a result of synergistic PDT and PTT. In this study, brominated hemicyanine (Hemi-Br), a photosensitizer, was loaded onto folic acid (FA)-tagged, glutathione (GSH)-coated Ag2S quantum dots (AS-GSH QDs) to provide enhanced phototoxicity via a photodynamic and mild photothermal effect in folate receptor(+) cancer cell lines at clinically relevant 640 nm irradiation. Final particles (AS-GSH-FA/Hemi-Br) had a hydrodynamic size of 75.5 nm, dual emission at both 705 and 910 nm, and a 93% light-to-heat conversion efficiency under 640 nm laser irradiation. In vitro cytotoxicity studies were conducted with folate receptor (FR)-positive HeLa and -negative A549 cell lines to differentiate receptor-mediated uptake. Enhanced phototoxicity on HeLa cells was observed with AS-GSH-FA/Hemi-Br compared to free Hemi-Br and AS-GSH-FA QDs due to increased uptake of the photosensitizer via active targeting and combination therapy, which is especially visible at the safe dose of single agents. Upon irradiation with a 640 nm (300 mW, 0.78 W/cm2) laser for 5 min, the viability of the HeLa cells decreased from 64% to 42 and 25% when treated with free Hemi-Br, AS-GSH-FA, and AS-GSH-FA/Hemi-Br, respectively. Overall, AS-GSH-FA/Hemi-Br provides image-guided enhanced PDT/PTT, which may be adopted for different FR(+) tumors.

Every other day stereotactic radiation therapy for the treatment of uveal melanoma decreases toxicity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report the long-term results of stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS/FSRT) in patients with uveal melanoma (UM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the results of patients treated between 2007 and 2019. The primary endpoints were local control (LC), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), enucleation-free survival (EFS) and treatment toxicity. RESULTS: 443 patients with 445 UMs were treated via CyberKnife®. According to the COMS classification, 70% of the tumors were small/medium and 30% were large. Median total RT dose was 54 Gy, median BED10 was 151 Gy. After a median 74-months follow-up, SRS/FSRT yielded an 83% overall LC rate. The 5- and 10-year LRFS rate was 74% and 56%, respectively. Patient age and the COMS size were prognostic for all survival endpoints. An increased SRS/FSRT dose was associated with higher LRFS and EFS rates. SRS/FSRT-related toxicity was observed in 49% of the eyes. Median visual acuity (VA) significantly deteriorated after SRS/FSRT in 76% of the treated eyes. The overall eye preservation rate was 62%, and the 5- and 10-year EFS rate was 64% and 36%, respectively. The delivery of FSRT every other day resulted in a significantly lower rate of toxicity and enucleation compared to FSRT on consecutive days. CONCLUSION: A total dose of ≥45 Gy and BED10Gy ≥ 112.5 SRS/FSRT is associated with a higher LC rate in patients with UM. Despite the favorable outcomes, treatment toxicity is the major limitation of this treatment. Toxicity and enucleation can be minimized by treating the eye every other day.

Spontaneous Partial Regression of Bilateral Grade III Corneal Dermoids Associated With Fetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe a rare case of a child with bilateral central corneal dermoids (grade III) in association with fetal valproate spectrum disorder (FVSD) and to report the spontaneous regression of these tumors. METHODS: Clinical records of a 14-month-old child whose mother took sodium valproate all along her pregnancy were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of FVSD was made based on phenotypic features and associated congenital malformations. Facial features included trigonocephaly, flat nose bridge and small upturned nose, cleft palate and lip, and micrognathia. Systemic anomalies included bilateral radial defects and club hands, pes equinovarus, hypospadias, secundum atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and aortic insufficiency. Cytogenetic studies were normal. RESULTS: Ocular findings included bilateral central corneal dermoids sparing the limbus and peripheral cornea, bilateral aphakia, absence of left anterior chamber, and bilateral mass-like vitreal opacities. A computed tomography scan suggested minimal left microphthalmia. Owing to the high-risk category for general anesthesia and prioritization of other severe systemic anomalies, no ocular surgical intervention was performed. Over 5 years of follow-up, spontaneous partial regression of the corneal tumors was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The development of bilateral grade III corneal dermoids in a child with FVSD may be more than fortuitous and enlarges the list of ocular anomalies associated with FVSD. Corneal dermoids may regress spontaneously.

Management of cataracts secondary to intravitreal chemotherapy injections for retinoblastoma seeding.

PURPOSE: To report our experience in the management of cataracts presumably due to intravitreal chemotherapy administration in eyes with vitreous disease associated with retinoblastoma. METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of a cohort of five eyes of five retinoblastoma patients who developed cataracts secondary to intravitreal chemotherapy administration and who then underwent cataract surgery. All patients underwent lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy with/without intraocular lens implantation via clear corneal approach. All cases were administered intraoperative intravitreal melphalan (35-40 mcg) and topotecan (10-20 mcg) at the end of cataract surgery as a preventive measure against retinoblastoma spread. Injections were repeated as needed in monthly follow-ups. Main outcome measures were enucleation rate and disease-free survival time. RESULTS: The age at surgery ranged between 5 and 10 years. Follow-up time varied from 12 to 16 months. Treatment-free period before surgery ranged between 3 and 20 months. Time from last injection to cataract detection was: 2, 2, 10, 6, and 7 months; and time from last injection to cataract surgery was: 8, 3, 20, 7, and 15 months in cases 1-5, respectively. None of the eyes required enucleation. Tumor control was achieved in all patients at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Injection of melphalan and topotecan into anterior parts of the vitreous may lead to cataract formation. This can be safely managed with lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy and the use of intravitreal administration of melphalan and topotecan at the conclusion of the surgery as a precautionary measure against the potential risk of extraocular spread.

Periocular apocrine adenocarcinoma presenting as an orbital mass: clinicopathological features and management in four patients.

PURPOSE: Apocrine adenocarcinoma is a cutaneous adnexal malignancy which can rarely arise from ocular structures. In this retrospective study, we report our experience with four patients who had primary periocular apocrine adenocarcinoma initially presenting with an orbital tumor. METHODS: Data extracted included demographics, clinical, imaging, and histopathological features, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The definitive diagnosis was established after an incisional biopsy in all cases. Two patients were then managed with exenteration. The third patient underwent local resection followed by radiotherapy but had to be exenterated because of new tumor formation 7 years later. The fourth patient had to be managed with oral bicalutamide which kept the tumor stable for 3 years. Recurrence-free survival for the radical surgical treatment group was 10, 6, and 7 years respectively. CONCLUSION: Periocular apocrine adenocarcinoma may insidiously develop as an orbital mass without any clinically detectable primary eyelid skin or conjunctival lesions. This tumor must be in the differential diagnosis of medially located ill-defined orbital masses in patients over 50 years of age. Orbital exenteration appeared as an effective treatment of apocrine adenocarcinoma with orbital extension. Anti-androgenic treatment in an androgen receptor-positive tumor provided temporary local tumor control.

Radiotherapy-induced alterations in vitreous humor: A new potential critical structure.

Vitreous humor (VH) is not considered as a critical structure in the radiotherapy planning process. In the present study, an experimental animal model was performed to examine the effects of radiotherapy on VH. The right eyes of twelve New Zealand rabbits were irradiated to 60 Gy in 3 fractions in accordance with the scheme used in the treatment of uveal melanoma in our clinic, and contralateral (left) eyes were considered as control. Weekly ophthalmologic examination was performed after irradiation, for three months. At the end of the third month, enucleation and vitreous collection were conducted. The vitreous samples were subjected to metabolomic analyses, ELISA analyses, viscosity measurements, and electron microscopic examination. In control and experimental vitreous samples, 275 different metabolites were identified, and 34 were found to differ significantly between groups. In multivariate analyzes, a clear distinction was observed between control and irradiated vitreous samples. Pathway analysis revealed that nine pathways were affected, and these pathways were mainly related to amino acid metabolism. A significant decrease was observed in the expressions of type II, V, and XI collagens in protein level in the ELISA. There was a non-significant decrease in type IX collagen and viscosity. Electron microscopic examination revealed disrupted collagen fibrillar ultra-structure and dispersed collagen fragments in the experimental vitreous. An intact vitreous is essential for a healthy eye. In this study, we observed that radiation causes changes in the vitreous that may have long-term consequences.

Primary Ciliary Body Marginal Zone Lymphoma Presenting as Hemorrhagic Hypopyon.

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report a patient with primary unilateral ciliary body marginal zone lymphoma who initially presented with hemorrhagic hypopyon. METHODS: Retrospective review of the clinical, imaging, and immunohistopathological features of the case was performed. RESULTS: A 59-year-old man was referred with right anterior uveitis of unknown etiology which was unresponsive to systemic treatment. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed normotensive hemorrhagic hypopyon in that eye. Anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed an iridociliary mass lesion. Because an anterior chamber paracentesis was noncontributory, a diagnostic cyclectomy was performed. Histopathological evaluation showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for CD20, lambda light chain, and BCL 2. BCL 6, CD10, CD5, SOX11, kappa, and Cyclin D1 stains were negative. The final diagnosis was extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the ciliary body. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, ciliary lymphoma may be a cause of intractable anterior uveitis. Repeat biopsies could be carried out when there is a high level of clinical suspicion.

Recurrence of a Totally Excised Cavernous Venous Malformation 25 Years Later.

Recurrence of cavernous venous malformation is exceedingly rare. In 1995, a 16-year-old woman was referred for left axial proptosis. Her left visual acuity was 20/200, and there were choroidal folds in the OS. MRI studies showed a well-circumscribed retrobulbar intraconal mass in the left orbit. The tumor was totally removed with intact capsule through a transconjunctival orbitotomy and proved to be a cavernous venous malformation. In 2020, at the age of 41 years and 25 years after the operation, she again presented with left proptosis. Imaging results were very similar to those at first presentation. This tumor was also extirpated in its entirety via an inferior forniceal orbitotomy with the histopathologic diagnosis of a cavernous venous malformation. Her final left visual acuity remained 20/50. Women with orbital cavernous venous malformations, especially those who undergo surgical removal at a relatively young age are advised to have long-term follow up complemented with occasional imaging studies.

Current Management of Conjunctival Melanoma Part 1: Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Histopathology.

Conjunctival melanoma is a rare disease which makes up approximately 5% of ocular melanomas. The lesion may occur de novo or originate from a pre-existing nevus or primary acquired melanosis. Biomicroscopy is of paramount importance in diagnosis and follow-up of the disease, while other diagnostic modalities serve as supplementary tools. Many clinical and histopathological risk factors have been reported for prognosis. This review aims to address the clinical findings, differential diagnosis, diagnostic tools, prognostic factors, and staging of this disease.

Comparison of intravitreal melphalan with and without topotecan in the management of vitreous disease in retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes and enucleation rates after intravitreal melphalan (IVM) alone and after IVM combined with intravitreal topotecan (IVT) for the treatment of vitreous disease, and to a lesser extent subretinal and retrohyaloid seeds, in patients with retinoblastoma. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 77 eyes of 72 consecutive patients. METHODS: Demographic data, classification of tumors, seed type (dust, sphere or cloud) before injection and at the end of follow-up, injection type (IVM or IVM+IVT), doses of IVM and IVT, number of injections, follow-up time, enucleation status and side effects were recorded. Cox regression analysis and log-rank test for Kaplan-Meier curves were performed. RESULTS: Of 77 eyes, 40 received IVM alone (group 1) and 37 received IVM+IVT (group 2). Enucleation rates were 62.5% (n=25) in group 1 and 10.8% (n=4) in group 2 (p=0.001). Median eye survival was 23.6 months in group 1 and 25.6 months in group 2. Mantel-Cox test revealed statistically significant differences between Kaplan-Meier curves of group 1 and 2 (p=0.022). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed a significantly elevated enucleation rate associated with: IVM only treatment group (p=0.019) and pre-injection cloud type of seeding (p=0.014). CONCLUSION: The combined use of intravitreal melphalan and topotecan provides significantly better results in terms of avoiding enucleation and vitreal and subretinal seed control.

Current Management of Conjunctival Melanoma Part 2: Treatment and Future Directions.

Conjunctival melanoma is a rare disease which requires tailored management in most cases. The mainstays of treatment can be classified as surgery, topical chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and other emerging treatment modalities. Herein we review conventional approaches as well as more recently introduced treatment options, together with advances in molecular biology in this particular disease.

INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE (OZURDEX) IMPLANT FOR RADIATION MACULOPATHY SECONDARY TO STEREOTACTIC RADIOTHERAPY FOR POSTERIOR UVEAL MELANOMA.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.7 mg intravitreal dexamethasone implant in the treatment of radiation maculopathy after stereotactic radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of seven eyes of seven consecutive patients was performed. Extracted data included age, sex, initial and follow-up visual acuities and central macular thickness values, intraocular pressure, follow-up time, number of implants, and time elapsed from radiotherapy to implantation. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and central macular thickness. Glaucoma, cataract formation, or systemic side effects, if any, were recorded. RESULTS: Female to male ratio was 4:3. Mean age was 49.9 ± 17.0 (range: 27-73). Initial mean visual acuity was 20.4 ± 12.5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters and initial central macular thickness measured 514.1 ± 135.1 µm on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. All patients except one showed improvement in visual acuity and a mean improvement of 7.4 ± 6.2 letters was observed in the whole group (range: 0-16). The mean reduction in central macular thickness was 226.7 ± 157.0 µm after a mean 9.1 ± 3.4 months of follow-up. On average, implantation of intravitreal dexamethasone was performed 35.2 ± 16.5 months after radiotherapy. Four patients were treatment naive and three had previous intravitreal bevacizumab injections with limited response. Ozurdex reimplantations were performed in four patients and the mean number of injections was 1.7 ± 0.8. Mean time to reimplantation was 5.0 ± 2.12 months. Only one patient developed posterior subcapsular cataract and all patients had intraocular pressures within normal limits. No systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: In our experience, intravitreal implantation of 0.7 mg dexamethasone is an anatomically, and to a lesser extent functionally effective procedure for radiation maculopathy after stereotactic radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.

Retrospective analysis of primarily treated group D retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), intravenous chemotherapy (IVC), and their combination in the management of group D retinoblastoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective, interventional, comparative, and non-randomized clinical study, including all eyes with primarily treated group D retinoblastoma managed in a single institution from February 2010 to July 2016. Patient demographics, treatment modality (primary enucleation, intravenous chemotherapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy alone or intravenous, and intra-arterial chemotherapy), additional need for consolidation treatments or intravitreal melphalan (IVM) injections, and follow-up time were recorded. The main outcome measure was ocular survival rate after various treatment modalities. RESULTS: Of 87 eyes of 83 consecutive cases, 9 eyes (10.3%) were primarily enucleated, 37 (42.6%) eyes received IVC, 30 (34.5%) eyes had IAC, and 11 (12.6%) eyes were treated with IVC followed by IAC. After a mean 81.1 ± 75.2 weeks of follow-up, enucleation rates were 56.8% in the IVC group, 23.3% in the IAC group, and 36.6% in the IVC + IAC group (p = 0.021). There was no significant difference of ocular survival estimates among these 3 groups at 2 or 5 years (p = 0.998, p = 0.986). With logistic regression analysis, age; gender; disease laterality; administration of IVM, TTT, or cryotherapy; mean dose of IVM; follow-up time; and number of IAC or IVC cycles were not significantly related to the enucleation rate (p > 0.05 for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience showed that in group D patients, primary IAC achieved ocular survival in 76.7% of eyes, and less need for local consolidation treatments, whereas following primary IVC ocular survival was 43.2%.

Bilateral optic disc pathologies as an accompanying feature of comitant strabismus in children.

PURPOSE: To describe and report accompanying bilateral optic disc pathologies in children with comitant strabismus. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (16 female, 12 male) aged between 1 and 12 years who had comitant strabismus and bilateral optic disc pathologies were included in the study. Visual acuity, refractive errors, amount of deviation and types of optic disc pathologies were all recorded. Each patient underwent complete neurological and ophthalmological examination. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients, 14 (50.0%) had esotropia and 14 (50.0%) had exotropia. The mean age was 4.18 ± 3.03 years. The mean deviation angle was 35.30 ± 13.26 prism diopters (PD) (20-70 PD). Optic atrophy as being the most common pathology was found in nine (32.1%) patients. Six (21.4%) patients had temporal disc pallor, six (21.4%) patients had optic nerve hypoplasia, and seven (25%) patients had other optic disc anomalies (tilted disc, megalodisc, disc coloboma, peripapillary staphyloma). Optic disc pathologies were found to be isolated in 12 patients. Nine of 13 patients with congenital optic disc pathologies had esotropia, whereas 10 of 15 patients with optic atrophy or optic disc pallor had exotropia. CONCLUSION: Comitant strabismus in children can be associated with congenital or acquired optic disc pathologies. It is worthy of note that esotropia was more common in patients with congenital optic disc pathologies, whereas exotropia was more frequent in patients with optic atrophy or optic disc pallor. The findings of the present study show that complete ophthalmological examination including fundus evaluation should be carried out in all patients with strabismus even though the cause of ocular misalignment is obvious.