Ocular involvement in nasal natural killer T-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of a case of paranasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) with ocular involvement. CASE REPORT: In March 2005 the patient presented with a maxillary sinusitis and upper nasal obstruction. In July she underwent a nasal computed tomography (CT) scan and multiple biopsies of the granulomatous tissue in the nasal fossae. The diagnosis was NK/T non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nasal type, stage IV A. Afterwards she presented anterior uveitis. In September after the diagnosis of lymphoma the patient underwent a bone marrow biopsy and thoracic and abdominal CT scan. An ophthalmic examination including visual acuity assessment and fundoscopic examination was made. In October she started chemotherapy cycles. Maxillary CT scan and ophthalmic examinations were performed during the cycles. In January 2006 after severe recurrences of panuveitis a diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. RESULTS: A diagnosis of T-lymphoma cells in the vitreous was made; the tumor was most likely originating from her paranasal NKTL. The condition of the patient deteriorated rapidly and she expired on February 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal and paranasal sinus lymphomas are rare, but aggressive diseases with a tendency to invade tissues and spread to CNS, including the eye. Ocular manifestations prior to systemic ones may be useful to monitor the response to therapy.

Anterior Chamber Inflammation After Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Bromfenac 0.09% to Dexamethasone 0.1.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of bromfenac 0.09% and dexamethasone 0.1% in the treatment of anterior chamber inflammation after uncomplicated cataract surgery. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with senile cataracts and no other ocular comorbidities who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification were randomized 1:1 to receive dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.1% or bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% for 2 weeks. All patients were examined on the day before surgery and postoperatively at day 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 14 and 30. Laser flare photometry was used to quantify anterior chamber inflammation and optical coherence tomography to measure macular thickness. RESULTS: Bromfenac was as effective as dexamethasone in reducing inflammation in the anterior chamber of the eye. Laser flare increased the day after surgery and progressively decreased after starting the treatment with no statistically significant difference between dexamethasone and bromfenac at all time points. Visual acuity improved steadily after surgery in both groups. Mean macular thickness was similar in both the dexamethasone and bromfenac arms at 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term therapy with topical bromfenac alone is as effective as dexamethasone in low-risk cataract surgery patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03317847; EudraCT # 2016-004358-14. FUNDING: Santa Maria Nuova Hospital IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% as an adjunctive therapy to topical steroids after cataract surgery in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To study with laser flare photometry the antiinflammatory effect of bromfenac added to a topical steroid versus a topical steroid alone in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PXF) syndrome after cataract surgery. SETTING: Ophthalmology Unit, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients with cataract and clinical signs of PXF were randomized to dexamethasone 0.1% and tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic solution (Group 1) or with the adjunct of bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% (Group 2). All patients were examined on the day of surgery (baseline) and postoperatively at 1, 3, 7, and 30 days. Laser flare photometry was used to quantify anterior chamber inflammation and optical coherence tomography to measure macular thickness. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included. Postoperatively, the mean flare was 31% lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 at 3 days (11.92 ph/msec ± 8.14 [SD] versus 17.13 ± 9.03 ph/msec; P = .025) and 43% lower at 7 days (10.77 ± 6.17 ph/msec versus 18.72 ± 12.37 ph/msec; P = .003). There were no significant differences in postoperative visual acuity, symptoms, or ocular pain between groups. The mean macular thickness 1 month after surgery was increased in Group 1 but not Group 2; the difference between groups was significant at 4 weeks (P = .03). The incidence of intraretinal cysts was higher in Group 1 (n = 4) than in Group 2 (n = 0). CONCLUSION: The addition of bromfenac to topical steroids after cataract surgery in eyes with PXF was associated with greater reductions in inflammation than steroids alone. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Corneal stromal demarcation line after accelerated crosslinking using continuous and pulsed light.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the depth of corneal stromal demarcation line after accelerated collagen crosslinking (CXL) using continuous and pulsed light ultraviolet-A (UVA) exposure. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Patients with progressive keratoconus were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment protocols using the same irradiation device for accelerated CXL. Patients assigned to Group A received accelerated CXL using continuous UVA light exposure at 30 mW/cm(2) for 4 minutes. Patients assigned to Group B received accelerated CXL using pulsed UVA light with 8 minutes (1 second on/1 second off) of UVA exposure at 30 mW/cm(2) and energy dose of 7.2 J/cm(2). One month after surgery, corneal stromal demarcation line depth was measured by 2 independent observers using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were assessed. Corneal stromal demarcation line was easily identified on AS-OCT scans in all eyes by both observers. The mean depth of stromal demarcation line was 149.32 ± 36.03 µm in Group A and 213 ± 47.38 µm in Group B. The difference in stromal demarcation line depth between groups was statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Using accelerated CXL, the corneal stromal demarcation line was significantly deeper using pulsed rather than continuous light exposure. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Release of extracellular polysaccaride by spondylosium panduriforme (desmidiaceae)

A desmidiacea filamentosa Spondylosium panduriforme tem uma bainha mucilaginosa relativamente grande e consistente. Usando C14 como marcador foi estudada a liberaçäo de polissacarídeo extracellular solúvel e a marcaçäo dos polissacarídeos da bainha durante 28 horas seguidas. O polissacarídeo solúvel pode ser detectado no meio de cultura uma hora após a adiçäo do marcador enquanto o polissacarídeo da bainha pode ser detectado meia hora depois. Os resultados mostram que a viscosidade no meio de cultura desta espécie näo devida dissoluçäo das bainhas de células velhas, como se pensava. Há evidências que o polissacarídeo solúvel pode ser produzido por um ativo processo fisiológico