Utility of tissue elafin as an immunohistochemical marker for diagnosis of acute skin graft-versus-host disease: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The skin is the most common organ involved in acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Because histopathology has limited utility in ruling out clinical mimics of acute skin GvHD, more accurate diagnostic techniques are required. AIM: To evaluate the utility of elafin expression in skin by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for accurate diagnosis of acute skin GvHD. METHODS: Consecutive allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients during a 6-month period who developed rash within the first 100 days post-transplant were recruited. Skin biopsies were taken on the day the rash developed. IHC for epidermal elafin was performed and interpreted by a pathologist blinded to the histopathological diagnosis. Staining of ≥ 50% of epidermis was considered positive. Final diagnosis of the rash was assigned using clinical features supported by histopathology. The accuracy of elafin IHC in predicting the final diagnosis of acute GvHD was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 23 patients (20 male, 3 female; median age 16 years, range 3-53 years) with 27 episodes of skin rash were recruited. Skin rash post-HSCT occurred at a median of 20 days (range 5-45 days). A diagnosis of GvHD was made in 16 episodes (59.26%) while the remaining 11 episodes (40.74%) were judged to be non-GvHD rash. Elafin IHC was positive in all patients with GvHD. Of the 11 episodes of non-GvHD rash, elafin was negative in 8. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of elafin IHC for predicting acute skin GvHD was 100% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tissue elafin is a useful immunohistochemical marker for acute skin GvHD. However, larger studies are needed to validate these results.

Evaluation of imprecision, bias and total error of clinical chemistry analysers.

Context Two Biosystems analysers are used in our laboratory, a fully automated A25 and a semi-automated BTS-350. Internal quality control is done for both but external quality control only for A25. As BTS-350 is used for backup, it is important that the results of both analysers are not just comparable but also within predefined limits of systematic, random and total error (TE). Aim To evaluate the imprecision, bias and TE of the two Biosystem analysers. Materials and Methods Biosystems level-1 quality control sera lot number 70A was run in duplicate for 32 days on both the analysers. Between day imprecision (measured by the coefficient of variation), bias and TE were calculated for ten analytes and were checked to see whether they are within the acceptable minimum limits, desirable limits and optimum limits of allowable error based on specifications on Westgard's website updated in 2014. Results On both the analysers, all the analytes except alkaline phosphatase were within the acceptable minimum limits of TE and most analytes were within the desirable limits of TE. Only TG on A25 was within the optimum limit of TE. Conclusion The two Biosystem analysers performed comparably with errors within acceptable limits for most analytes. BTS-350 was found to be a suitable and ready backup analyser for A25.

Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus among Voluntary Blood Donors.

BACKGROUND: Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent host is self limiting infection, leading to latency of virus. However congenital CMV and CMV infections in immunocompromised patients are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Transfusion transmitted-cytomegalovirus (TT-CMV) infection in low birth weight neonate and immunocompromised transfusion recipients is being increasingly reported. Studies recommended transfusion of CMV free or CMV safe blood in prevention of TT-CMV. In this background, the study was undertaken to assess the CMV seroprevalence in blood donor. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in which 431 voluntary blood donors were screened for CMV IgG and IgM by EIA (Enzyme Immuno Assay). RESULT: A total of 379 (87.9 %) voluntary blood donors were seropositive for CMV IgG. There was no statistical difference of CMV seropositivity and age. Further, seven (1.6%) subjects were both CMV IgM and IgG seropositive. CONCLUSION: High seroprevalence of CMV in our donor population is a threat to the blood safety. Strategies in reducing the risk of TT- CMV are discussed. Use of prestorage leucodepleted 'CMV safe' blood components along with judicious use of blood is recommended in prevention of TT-CMV in high risk recipients.

Early treatment of acute submacular haemorrhage secondary to wet AMD using intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator, C3F8, and an anti-VEGF agent.

PurposeAcute submacular haemorrhage secondary to wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has a poor prognosis for which there is currently no 'gold standard' treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of early treatment using intravitreal triple therapy of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), expansile gas, and an anti-VEGF agent.MethodsThis retrospective case series included eight patients presenting with acute submacular haemorrhage involving the fovea. All patients received treatment with 50 µg (0.05 ml) tPA, 0.3 ml 100% perfluoropropane (C3F8), and an anti-VEGF agent (0.05 mg Ranibizumab or 1.25 mg Bevacizumab in 0.05 ml) administered via intravitreal injection. An anterior chamber paracentesis post injection or vitreous tap was performed before injection to prevent retinal vascular occlusion secondary to raised intra-ocular pressure. Outcomes assessed were visual acuity, change in macular morphology, and complications.ResultsPatients presented promptly with delay between symptom onset and clinic review being 1.9±0.6 days (mean±SD). Treatment was delivered quickly with interval from presentation to treatment being 1.1±1.2 days. Symptom onset to treatment was 3.0±1.0 days. Subfoveal haemorrhage was effectively displaced in all patients. LogMAR visual acuity improved from 1.67±0.47 at presentation to 0.63±0.33 at final follow-up (P<0.0001), a mean of 7.9±4.8 months after treatment. Central retinal thickness improved from 658.1±174.2 µm at presentation to 316.6±142.4 µm at final follow-up (P=0.0028).ConclusionsEarly treatment of submacular haemorrhage using intravitreal tPA, C3F8, and anti-VEGF was effective in significantly improving visual acuity in this series of patients who presented soon after symptom onset. Treatment was well tolerated in this group of elderly and potentially frail patients.

Acute monoblastic leukemia with abnormal eosinophils and inversion (16): A rare entity.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant hematopoietic stem cell disorder which is sub-classified based on bone marrow morphology and the presence of specific genetic abnormalities. One such cytogenetic abnormality is the pericentric inversion (inv) of chromosome 16 which is typically seen in AML M4 with eosinophilia and is associated with a favorable prognosis. We report the inv (16) in a young woman with AML M5 and abnormal eosinophils. This is a rare entity with only about 20 cases being reported till date.

Role of the 5-HT1A receptor in development of the neonatal rat brain: preliminary behavioral studies.

Serotonin exerts an influence on the prenatal development of rat brain. However, later developmental times may be more applicable to the understanding of the role of serotonin in human developmental disorders. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to gain preliminary information on the postnatal effects of serotonin on rat brain development. As the 5-HT1A receptor has been shown to be involved in much of the developmental functions of serotonin, an agonist for this receptor, 8-hydroxy-DPAT (8-OH-DPAT), was used. Neonatal rat pups at three ages (postnatal days, PNDs) 3-10, 10-17 or 17-24) were injected daily with 1 mg/kg 8-OH-DPAT and evaluated for behavioral consequences. The youngest group showed accelerated incisor eruption and eye-opening, a possible consequence of 5-HT1A receptor interactions with epidermal growth factor (EGF). Behaviorally, the animals were more anxious. Animals treated from PND 10-17, showed no change in craniofacial development but showed greater behavioral maturity in measures of spontaneous alternation and activity in the open field. The oldest animals (PND 17-24) showed no behavioral alterations, suggesting that this time length is beyond the critical period for serotonin's influence in brain development.

Near drowning in cold water.

Drowning and near drowning is a common cause of accidental death all over the world; specially in road traffic accidents over bridges, swimming pool and boat tragedies. Cold water drowning resulting in hypothermia can lead to instant death before actual drowning. Five cases of near drowning (ND) in cold water, who presented with varied clinical picture like coma with decerebrate rigidity and fixed dilated pupils, hypertension with coma and delayed pulmonary oedema (Secondary drowning) are reported. Energetic management with continuous positive airway pressure was very rewarding in all patients with ND except in one who had transient organic psychosis persisting for two weeks followed by minimal cognitive defect in the form of slow mentation, lack of drive and mild irritability (Bender Gestald Test Score of 53). We have tried to analyse some of the clinical features of ND and the sequel associated with it. The management as well as recent developments in the field are also discussed.

Near drowning in cold water.

Drowning and near drowning is a common cause of accidental death all over the world; specially in road traffic accidents over bridges, swimming pool and boat tragedies. Cold water drowning resulting in hypothermia can lead to instant death before actual drowning. Five cases of near drowning (ND) in cold water, who presented with varied clinical picture like coma with decerebrate rigidity and fixed dilated pupils, hypertension with coma and delayed pulmonary oedema (Secondary drowning) are reported. Energetic management with continuous positive airway pressure was very rewarding in all patients with ND except in one who had transient organic psychosis persisting for two weeks followed by minimal cognitive defect in the form of slow mentation, lack of drive and mild irritability (Bender Gestald Test Score of 53). We have tried to analyse some of the clinical features of ND and the sequel associated with it. The management as well as recent developments in the field are also discussed.

Microincision cataract surgery combined with vitrectomy: a case series.

AIM: The objective of this study was to present the results of combined phacovitrectomy using 1.8 mm microincision cataract surgery (MICS) with special emphasis on the anterior segment complications in this group. METHODS: Retrospective, single-centre case series involving consecutive patients undergoing phacovitrectomy in a single centre in the United Kingdom during a 6-month period. RESULTS: A total of 52 eyes underwent combined MICS and pars plana vitrectomy. Intraoperative complications included posterior capsule rupture (n=2), minor iris trauma during phacoemulsification (n=1), iatrogenic retinal tears (n=2), and entry site break (n=1). Postoperatively two cases had significant inflammation, one of which resulted in 360° posterior synaechiea, iris bombe, and raised intraocular pressure. Other complications included mild posterior synaechiae (n=2), posterior capsular opacification (n=3), cystoid macular oedema (n=1), and hyphaema (n=1), which spontaneously resolved. There were no cases of intraocular lens decentration. Two patients who underwent surgery for retinal detachment repair subsequently redetached. Among those having surgery for macular hole, non-closure was seen in one patient and one patient developed a retinal detachment. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, sub-2 mm MICS is a safe and effective technique in dealing with vitreoretinal disorders necessitating cataract surgery at the same time.

Ophthalmic injuries in British Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

AIM: British military ophthalmologists have not been deployed in support of operations since 2003. Eye injuries in British forces receive definitive treatment on return to the United Kingdom. We report the injury patterns, management strategies, and outcomes for eye injuries in British Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. METHODS: Retrospective consecutive case series of eye injuries in British Armed Forces in Iraq or Afghanistan from July 2004 to May 2008. Outcomes assessed by final best-corrected visual acuity (VA; few patients lost to follow-up), rates of endophthalmitis, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). RESULTS: There were 630 cases of major trauma, 63 sustained eye injuries (10%), and 48 sustained significant eye injuries. There were 21 open-globe injuries: 9 ruptures and perforating injuries, of which 7 were enucleated/eviscerated; 11 intraocular foreign body (IOFB) injuries, of which 1 was eviscerated. Primary repair was combined with posterior segment reconstruction in 9/11 cases with IOFB. Mean time to primary repair was 1.9 days (range 0-5). Intravitreal antibiotics were given at primary repair in five cases. All cases received early broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics. Median final VA was logMAR 0.25 excluding evisceration/enucleations. There were two cases of PVR and none of endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: The number of eye injuries as a proportion of all casualties is lower than recently reported. The injuries are more severe than in civilian practise. The outcomes were comparable with previous reports, this demonstrates that, in certain cases, primary repair can be safely delayed beyond 24 h in the patient's best interests, in order to optimise the conditions for treatment.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the orbit.

A 75-year-old woman presented with orbital and ethmoidal metastases from an esophageal adenocarcinoma 6 months after diagnosis of the primary.

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma of the eyelid in a young male.

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma of the eyelid is an adenocarcinoma of the eccrine glands. It is rare and locally aggressive but the prognosis following local excision, confirmed with tumour-free margins, is good. This tumour is usually described in the elderly. We present the occurrence, clinical and histological features, and management of this tumour in a young male.A 36-year-old male presented with a small cystic right lower lid lesion, which had increased in size and pigmentation over two years. He underwent excision biopsy for diagnostic purposes followed by Moh's micrographic surgical removal. The defect was repaired with an upper eyelid skin graft. A full oncological screen including whole-body computed tomography scan excluded the presence of primary mucinous carcinoma elsewhere and any metastatic spread. There has been no recurrence of tumour 18 months following excision. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the occurrence of this tumour in a younger age group than previously described. Moh's micrographic surgery is the most suitable method of treatment following exclusion of both distant primaries and metastases.

Medication use among children with asthma in East Harlem.

PURPOSE: To examine daily use of antiinflammatory medication among children with asthma in East Harlem, where hospitalization rates for asthma are among the highest in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed parent/guardian reports of medications used by children with current asthma (defined as physician diagnosis and wheezing during the previous 12 months) identified from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2 elementary schools. RESULTS: From an overall sample of 1319 children, 298 with current asthma were included in this analysis. Most of those with asthma were Puerto Rican (136 [46%]) or black (98 [33%]), 168 (57%) were boys, and the median age was 8 years old. Overall, 65 (22%) were using antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. A subgroup of 107 children with asthma had been hospitalized during the previous 12 months or had used beta(2)-agonist on a daily basis, suggesting persistent or severe asthma. Of these 107 children, 42 (39%) were taking antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. Multivariate analysis of these 107 children revealed that daily use of antiinflammatory medication was associated with using a spacer tube (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3. 08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27,7.47) and having seen a physician in the past 6 months (AOR: 3.46; CI: 1.01,11.9). Compared with Puerto Ricans, blacks (AOR:.32; CI:.12,.89) or children of other races/ethnicities (AOR:.27; CI:.09,.85) were less likely to use antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. CONCLUSION: Daily use of antiinflammatory medication for children with persistent or severe asthma in East Harlem was underused. Differences in access to care may explain some findings; however, reasons for ethnic differences in use remain unclear. Both community interventions and additional provider education are needed.