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Purpose: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency play an important role in tumour progression and response to treatment.Both markers have been studied in some ocular tumours but little is known about these markers in orbital tumours. This pilot study reports on PD-L1 expression and MMR mutations using next generation sequencing (NGS) in specific orbital tumours., Methods: We reviewed surgical specimens from patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and biopsy negative tissue from orbital tumours used as a control. immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue using a PD-L1 antibody. DNA was extracted for targeted gene panel NGS of the MMR genes PMS2 , MLH1 , MSH6 and MSH2 ., Results: The study included 17 orbital specimens. Scattered membrane PD-L1 staining was noted in 3/6 rhabdomyosarcoma specimens without an accompanying lymphocytic infiltrate. PD-L1 immunostaining was absent in 3/3 ACC, and 5/6 PA specimens. PD-L1 immunostaining was not detected in 2/2 control specimens. 4/17 samples shared the same pathogenic mutation in the MLH1 gene, including 3/6 rhabdomyosarcoma and 1/3 ACC samples. 1/6 PA samples had a mutation in MSH6 ., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated scattered, non-quantifiable or absent PD-L1 staining in a limited sample of orbital tumours suggesting that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy may not be useful in treatment of malignant orbital tumours (rhabdomyosarcoma and ACC) when refractory to conventional therapy. Our pilot study suggest that PD-L1/MMR axis might not play a major role in the pathogenesis of primary orbital tumour.

Purpose: Pigmented basal cell carcinomas (PBCC) is an uncommon variant of basal cell carcinoma of the periocular region with limited information in the literature. We highlight the clinicopathological profile and somatic mutations in periocular PBCC., Methods: The clinicopathological features and somatic mutations in patients with periocular PBCC were examined and compared with periocular non-PBCC reported in the literature. Next-generation sequencing panel analysis for the excised tumors identified somatic mutations., Results: In a total of 31 patients, PBCC was common in females (54%; p = 0.03); as a unilateral lower eyelid (n = 22; 71%), solitary mass (n = 30; 98%). Pathologic subtypes were variable. Most were nodular or mixed variants (n = 23; 74%). During the follow up (2.5-4.5 years), 1 patient (3.5%) had a recurrence. The clinical and pathologic features of PBCC were similar to those reported in nonperiocular locations. Somatic mutations detected in 25/31 tumors. Variants in 50/161 genes in the panel were noted. PTCH1 (14/31), TERT (12/31), and SMO (7/31) variants were common. Fifteen patients had novel drivers, including POLE, FANCD2, and CREBBP. SMO mutations were significantly more common in females (7/7), lower eyelid (5/7), and TERT mutations were more common in nodular subtype (10/12)., Conclusions: In this large cohort of a relatively uncommon variant of BCC, the clinicopathological features and tumor behavior of PBCC was similar to periocular non-PBCC. The somatic mutation spectrum of PBCC resembles that reported in nonperiocular cutaneous BCC with novel drivers identified. We identified several potential actionable mutations that could be targeted with molecular therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

Background: Orbital inflammatory disease (OID) encompasses a wide range of pathology including thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), sarcoidosis and non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI), accounting for up to 6% of orbital diseases. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of OID can improve diagnosis and help target therapy., Aims: To test the hypothesis that shared signalling pathways are activated in different forms of OID., Methods: In this secondary analysis, pathway analysis was performed on the previously reported differentially expressed genes from orbital adipose tissue using patients with OID and healthy controls who were characterised by microarray. For the original publications, tissue specimens were collected from oculoplastic surgeons at 10 international centres representing four countries (USA, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia). Diagnoses were independently confirmed by two masked ocular pathologists (DJW, HEG). Gene expression profiling analysis was performed at the Oregon Health & Science University. Eighty-three participants were included: 25 with TAO, 6 with orbital GPA, 7 with orbital sarcoidosis, 25 with NSOI and 20 healthy controls., Results: Among the 83 subjects (mean (SD) age, 52.8 (18.3) years; 70% (n=58) female), those with OID demonstrated perturbation of the downstream gene expressions of the IGF-1R (MAPK/RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), adipocytokine and AMPK signalling pathways compared with healthy controls. Specifically, GPA samples differed from controls in gene expression within the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R, PI3K-Akt (p=0.001), RAS (p=0.005)), PPARγ (p=0.002), adipocytokine (p=0.004) or AMPK (p=<0.001) pathways. TAO, sarcoidosis and NSOI samples were also found to have statistically significant differential gene expression in these pathways., Conclusions: Although OID includes a heterogenous group of pathologies, TAO, GPA, sarcoidosis and NSOI share enrichment of common gene signalling pathways, namely IGF-1R, PPARγ, adipocytokine and AMPK. Pathway analyses of gene expression suggest that other forms of orbital inflammation in addition to TAO may benefit from blockade of IGF-1R signalling pathways., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JTR has in the past consulted for Genentech/Roche and was a coinvestigator on a study funded by Genentech to evaluate the use of rituximab for orbital inflammatory diseases. JTR, RAD, BSK, DOK, and GJH are consultants to Horizon Pharmaceuticals which manufactures teprotumumab. JTR receives research support from Horizon Pharmaceuticals., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Although most commonly benign, neurofibromas (NFs) can have devastating functional and cosmetic effects in addition to the possibility of malignant transformation. Orbitofacial NFs, in particular, may cause progressive, disfiguring tumors of the lid, brow, temple, face, and orbit, and clinical evidence suggests that they may have increased local aggressiveness compared to NFs developing at other sites. The purpose of this study was to identify biological differences between orbitofacial NFs and those occurring at other anatomic sites. We performed RNA-sequencing in orbitofacial (n = 10) and non-orbitofacial (n = 9) NFs. Differential gene expression analysis demonstrated that a variety of gene sets including genes involved in cell proliferation, interferon, and immune-related pathways were enriched in orbitofacial NF. Comparisons with publicly available databases of various Schwann cell tumors and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) revealed a significant overlap of differentially expressed genes between orbitofacial versus non-orbitofacial NF and plexiform NF versus MPNST. In summary, we identified gene expression differences between orbitofacial NF and NFs occurring at other locations. Further investigation may be warranted, given that orbitofacial NF are notoriously difficult to treat and associated with disproportionate morbidity., (© 2021 The Authors. Brain Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Neuropathology.)

To evaluate and compare the clinical and histopathological profile of primary and recurrent orbital-periorbital plexiform neurofibromas (OPPN) in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. We retrospectively evaluated 43 primary or recurrent neurofibroma (NF) specimens from 26 patients (2002 to 2018) at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Demographics, clinical presentation, and surgical intervention data were collected. Histopathological specimens were studied with hematoxylin-eosin, Alcian blue, and immunohistochemical markers; S-100, CD44, CD117, smooth muscle actin (SMA), neurofilament, and Ki-67. Of the 43 NFs specimens, 20 were primary and 23 recurrent tumors. For primary NF, the ratio of plexiform to the diffuse type was 13:7, however in recurrent tumors was 3:8 after the first recurrence, and 1:5 after multiple recurrences. Of the 17 patients with primary tumors that had paired recurrent tumors, 12/17 (70.6%) primary NFs were plexiform and 5/17 (29.4%) were diffuse. However, when tumors recurred, 13/17 tumors (76.5%) were diffuse and only 4/17 tumors (23.5%) had a plexiform pattern. The odds of a tumor having a diffuse pattern in recurrent NF was significantly higher than the plexiform pattern [OR = 7.8 (95% confidence interval 1.69:36.1) P = 0.008]. Primary plexiform NFs underwent an excision at a significantly younger age than the diffuse type. Recurrent NFs had significantly higher CD44, CD117, and neurofilament labeling (P = 0.02, P = 0.01 and P<0.001 respectively) but had significantly decreased Alcian blue, and S-100 labeling (P = 0.03, and P = 0.02 respectively) compared to primary tumors. SMA and Ki-67 proliferation index were not different between primary and recurrent NFs (P = 0.86, and P = 0.3 respectively). There appears to be a high risk for primary plexiform NFs to develop a diffuse histologic pattern when they recur. Immunohistochemical staining suggests a role of mast cells (CD117) and expression of infiltration makers (CD44) in the transformation of plexiform tumors to the diffuse phenotype., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic values of the T classification of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee of Cancer staging system and compare it to the 7th edition., Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients with eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma. The primary outcome measure was the differences between outcomes when tumors were staged with either 7th or 8th edition. The measures evaluated included presenting features, management, histopathology, metastasis, recurrence, and mortality., Results: Of the 60 patients (median age 73 years), 31 (51.7%) were females. A change in T staging occurred in 39 patients (65%) when the 8th edition was applied. Advanced categories (T3/T4) were significantly associated with nodal metastasis ( p  = 0.037) using the 8th edition criteria but not with the 7th edition ( p  = 0.066). The 8th edition T categorization significantly correlated with eye survival ( p  = 0.022) while the 7th edition did not ( p  = 0.058). Applying the 8th edition, category T4 at presentation was associated with a higher risk of nodal metastasis ( p  = 0.037) but not associated with local recurrence, distant metastasis, or tumor-related death ( p  = 0.281, p  = 0.737, p  = 0.319, respectively). T3/T4 category tumors were significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation ( p  = 0.001), and papillary histologic pattern ( p  = 0.024) but not with pagetoid spread ( p  = 0.056)., Conclusion: The application of the 8th edition AJCC staging system for eyelid SGC may accurately predict nodal metastasis. Local recurrence and distant metastasis were not significantly associated with T classification, using either edition. Poor tumor differentiation and papillary pattern were associated with T3/T4 categories suggesting that pathological features may assist in determining prognosis.

Importance: Although a variety of well-characterized diseases, such as sarcoidosis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis, affect the lacrimal gland, many patients with dacryoadenitis are diagnosed as having nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI) on the basis of histology and systemic disease evaluation. The ability to further classify the disease in these patients should facilitate selection of effective therapies., Objective: To test the a priori hypothesis that gene expression profiles would complement clinical and histopathologic evaluations in identifying well-characterized diseases and in subdividing NSOI into clinically relevant groups., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study, gene expression levels in biopsy specimens of inflamed and control lacrimal glands were measured with microarrays. Stained sections of the same biopsy specimens were used for evaluation of histopathology. Tissue samples of patients were obtained from oculoplastic surgeons at 7 international centers representing 4 countries (United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Taiwan). Gene expression analysis was done at Oregon Health & Science University. Participants were 48 patients, including 3 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 28 with NSOI, 7 with sarcoidosis, 4 with thyroid eye disease, and 6 healthy controls. The study dates were March 2012 to April 2017., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was subdivision of biopsy specimens based on gene expression of a published list of approximately 40 differentially expressed transcripts in blood, lacrimal gland, and orbital adipose tissue from patients with sarcoidosis. Stained sections were evaluated for inflammation (none, mild, moderate, or marked), granulomas, nodules, or fibrosis by 2 independent ocular pathologists masked to the clinical diagnosis., Results: Among 48 patients (mean [SD] age, 41.6 [19.0] years; 32 [67%] female), the mclust algorithm segregated the biopsy specimens into 4 subsets, with the differences illustrated by a heat map and multidimensional scaling plots. Most of the sarcoidosis biopsy specimens were in subset 1, which had the highest granuloma score. Three NSOI biopsy specimens in subset 1 had no apparent granulomas. Thirty-two percent (9 of 28) of the NSOI biopsy specimens could not be distinguished from biopsy specimens of healthy controls in subset 4, while other examples of NSOI tended to group with gene expression resembling granulomatosis with polyangiitis or thyroid eye disease. The 4 subsets could also be partially differentiated by their fibrosis, granulomas, and inflammation pathology scores but not their lymphoid nodule scores., Conclusions and Relevance: Gene expression profiling discloses clear heterogeneity among patients with lacrimal inflammatory disease. Comparison of the expression profiles suggests that a subset of patients with nonspecific dacryoadenitis might have a limited form of sarcoidosis, while other patients with NSOI cannot be distinguished from healthy controls.

Objectives: To establish the overall and anterior Bolton ratio among a sample of Qatari population and to investigate whether there is a difference between males and females, as well as to compare the result obtained by Bolton., Materials and Methods: The current study consisted of 100 orthodontic study participants (50 males and 50 females) with different malocclusions and age ranging between 15 and 20 years. An electronic digital caliper was used to measure the mesiodistal tooth width of all maxillary and mandibular permanent teeth except second and third molars. The Student's t -test was used to compare tooth-size ratios between males and females and between the results of the present study and Bolton's result., Results: The anterior and overall ratio in Qatari individuals were 78.6 ± 3.4 and 91.8 ± 3.1, respectively. The tooth size ratios were slightly greater in males than that in females, however, the differences were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the overall ratio between Qatari individuals and Bolton's results ( P > 0.05), whereas statistical significant differences were observed in anterior ratio ( P = 0.007)., Conclusions: Within the limitation of the limitations of the present study, definite conclusion was difficult to establish. Thus, a further study with a large sample in each malocclusion group is required., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest.

Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma is a malignancy of the ocular surface. The molecular drivers responsible for the development and progression of this disease are not well understood. We therefore compared the transcriptional profiles of eight snap-frozen conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas and one in situ lesion with normal conjunctival specimens in order to identify diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets. RNA was analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays, and a wide range of transcripts with altered expression identified, including many dysregulated in carcinomas arising at other sites. Among the upregulated genes, we observed more than 30-fold induction of the matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-9 and MMP-11, as well as a prominent increase in the mRNA level of a calcium-binding protein important for the intracellular calcium signaling, S100A2, which was induced over 20-fold in the tumor cohort. Clusterin was the most downregulated gene, with an approximately 180-fold reduction in the mRNA expression. These alterations were all confirmed by qPCR in the samples used for initial microarray analysis. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the overexpression of MMP-11 and S100A2, as well as reductions in clusterin, in several independent in situ carcinomas of conjunctiva. These data identify a number of alterations, including upregulation of MMP-9, MMP-11, and S100A2, as well as downregulation of clusterin, associated with epithelial tumorigenesis in the ocular surface.

Background/aims: To clarify the pathogenesis of fibrosis in inflammatory orbital diseases, we analysed the gene expression in orbital biopsies and compared our results with those reported for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis., Methods: We collected 140 biopsies from 138 patients (58 lacrimal glands; 82 orbital fat). Diagnoses included healthy controls (n=27), non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI) (n=61), thyroid eye disease (TED) (n=29), sarcoidosis (n=14) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) (n=7). Fibrosis was scored on a 0-3 scale by two experts, ophthalmic pathologists. Gene expression was quantified using Affymetrix U133 plus 2.0 microarray., Results: Within orbital fat, fibrosis was greatest among subjects with GPA (2.75±0.46) and significantly increased in tissue from subjects with GPA, NSOI or sarcoidosis (p<0.01), but not for TED, compared with healthy controls (1.13±0.69). For lacrimal gland, the average score among controls (1.36±0.48) did not differ statistically from any of the four disease groups. Seventy-three probe sets identified transcripts correlating with fibrosis in orbital fat (false discovery rate <0.05) after accounting for batch effects, disease type, age and sex. Transcripts with increased expression included fibronectin, lumican, thrombospondin and collagen types I and VIII, each of which has been reported upregulated in pulmonary fibrosis., Conclusions: A pathologist's recognition of fibrosis in orbital tissue correlates well with increased expression of transcripts that are considered essential in fibrosis. Many transcripts implicated in orbital fibrosis have been previously implicated in pulmonary fibrosis. TED differs from other causes of orbital fat inflammation because fibrosis is not a major component. Marked fibrosis is less common in the lacrimal gland compared with orbital adipose tissue., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Biopsies and ANCA testing for limited forms of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) are frequently non-diagnostic. We characterized gene expression in GPA and other causes of orbital inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that a sub-set of patients with non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI, also known as pseudotumor) mimics a limited form of GPA. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded orbital biopsies were obtained from controls (n=20) and patients with GPA (n=6), NSOI (n=25), sarcoidosis (n=7), or thyroid eye disease (TED) (n=20) and were divided into discovery and validation sets. Transcripts in the tissues were quantified using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays. Distinct gene expression profiles for controls and subjects with GPA, TED, or sarcoidosis were evident by principal coordinate analyses. Compared with healthy controls, 285 probe sets had elevated signals in subjects with GPA and 1472 were decreased (>1.5-fold difference, false discovery rate adjusted p<0.05). The immunoglobulin family of genes had the most dramatic increase in expression. Although gene expression in GPA could be readily distinguished from gene expression in TED, sarcoidosis, or controls, a comparison of gene expression in GPA versus NSOI found no statistically significant differences. Thus, forms of orbital inflammation can be distinguished based on gene expression. NSOI/pseudotumor is heterogeneous but often may be an unrecognized, localized form of GPA., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although thyroid eye disease is a common complication of Graves' disease, the pathogenesis of the orbital disease is poorly understood. Most authorities implicate the immune response as an important causal factor. We sought to clarify pathogenesis by using gene expression microarray., Methods: An international consortium of ocular pathologists and orbital surgeons contributed formalin fixed orbital biopsies. RNA was extracted from orbital tissue from 20 healthy controls, 25 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED), 25 patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI), 7 patients with sarcoidosis and 6 patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Tissue was divided into a discovery set and a validation set. Gene expression was quantified using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays which include 54,000 probe sets., Results: Principal component analysis showed that gene expression from tissue from patients with TED more closely resembled gene expression from healthy control tissue in comparison to gene expression characteristic of sarcoidosis, NSOI, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Unsupervised cluster dendrograms further indicated the similarity between TED and healthy controls. Heat maps based on gene expression for cytokines, chemokines, or their receptors showed that these inflammatory markers were associated with NSOI, sarcoidosis, or GPA much more frequently than with TED., Conclusion: This is the first study to compare gene expression in TED to gene expression associated with other causes of exophthalmos. The juxtaposition shows that inflammatory markers are far less characteristic of TED relative to other orbital inflammatory diseases.

Importance: Sarcoidosis is a major cause of ocular or periocular inflammation. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is incompletely understood and diagnosis often requires a biopsy., Objective: To determine how gene expression in either orbital adipose tissue or the lacrimal gland affected by sarcoidosis compares with gene expression in other causes of orbital disease and how gene expression in tissue affected by sarcoidosis compares with gene expression in peripheral blood samples obtained from patients with sarcoidosis., Design, Setting, and Participants: In a multicenter, international, observational study, gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed biopsy specimens, using GeneChipp U133 Plus 2 microarrays (Affymetrix), was conducted between October 2012 and January 2014 on tissues biopsied from January 2000 through June 2013. Participants included 12 patients with orbital sarcoidosis (7 in adipose tissue; 5 affecting the lacrimal gland) as well as comparable tissue from 6 healthy individuals serving as controls or patients with thyroid eye disease, nonspecific orbital inflammation, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In addition, results were compared with gene expression in peripheral blood samples obtained from 12 historical individuals with sarcoidosis., Main Outcomes and Measures: Significantly differentially expressed transcripts defined as a minimum of a 1.5-fold increase or a comparable decrease and a false discovery rate of P < .05., Results: Signals from 2449 probe sets (transcripts from approximately 1522 genes) were significantly increased in the orbital adipose tissue from patients with sarcoidosis. Signals from 4050 probe sets (approximately 2619 genes) were significantly decreased. Signals from 3069 probe sets (approximately 2001 genes) were significantly higher and 3320 (approximately 2283 genes) were significantly lower in the lacrimal gland for patients with sarcoidosis. Ninety-two probe sets (approximately 69 genes) had significantly elevated signals and 67 probe sets (approximately 56 genes) had significantly lower signals in both orbital tissues and in peripheral blood from patients with sarcoidosis. The transcription factors, interferon-response factor 1, interferon-response factor 2, and nuclear factor κB, were strongly implicated in the expression of messenger RNA upregulated in common in the 3 tissues., Conclusions and Relevance: Gene expression in sarcoidosis involving the orbit or lacrimal gland can be distinguished from gene expression patterns in control tissue and overlaps with many transcripts upregulated or downregulated in the peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis. These observations suggest that common pathogenic mechanisms contribute to sarcoidosis in different sites. The observations support the hypothesis that a pattern of gene expression profiles could provide diagnostic information in patients with sarcoidosis., Competing Interests: Disclosures: All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Dr Rosenbaum has consulted for Genentech and was a coinvestigator on a study funded by Genentech to evaluate the use of rituximab for orbital inflammatory diseases. No other disclosures were reported.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features, and explore the treatment outcomes of synchronous, or metachronous second primary malignancies (SPM) in conjunction with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC)., Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 823 DTC patients treated between 2000 and 2012 at 2 tertiary care hospitals (King Fahad Medical City and King Khalid University Hospital) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Forty-one (5%) DTC patients were found to have SPM (61% metachronous and 39% synchronous). These patients with SPM were studied for clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes., Results: The patients with DTC and SPM were older (median age: 54.3 years) than those without SPM (median age: 43.2 years); p=0.04. The frequency of SPM was breast (51.2%), colon (12.2%), kidney (7.3%), astrocytoma (7.3%), parotid (7.3%), rectum (4.9%), lymphoma (4.9%), nasopharynx (2.4%), and stomach (2.4%). Median follow-up was 8.05 years. Ten-year disease free survival, and overall survival (OS) rates were lower in DTC patients with SPM (56.1% for 10-year survival, and 71.7% for OS) than without SPM (95.5% for 10-year survival, and 97.8% for OS); p=0.0001. Metachronous SPM had better 10-year disease free survival rates (60.2%) than synchronous SPM (45%)., Conclusion: The co-occurrence of SPM with DTC affects long-term disease free survival and OS rates.

Purpose: Little is known about the molecular alterations that drive formation and growth of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). We therefore sought to identify genetic changes that could be used as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets., Methods: The DNA extracted from 10 snap-frozen cSCC tumor specimens and 2 in situ carcinomas was analyzed using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), and further examined with NanoString and quantitative PCR., Results: The number of regions of DNA loss ranged from 1 to 23 per tumor, whereas gains and amplifications ranged from 1 to 15 per tumor. Most large regions of chromosomal gain and loss were confirmed by NanoString karyotype analysis. The commonest alteration was amplification of 8p11.22 in 9 tumors (75%), and quantitative PCR analysis revealed 100-fold or greater overexpression of ADAM3A mRNA from 8p11.22 locus. In addition, recurring losses were observed at 14q13.2 and 22q11.23, both lost in 5 (42%) of the 12 tumors, and at 12p13.31, lost in 4 (33%) of the 12 samples. Of the eight loci associated with the DNA damage repair syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum, three showed loss of at least one allele in our aCGH analysis, including XPA (9q22.33, one tumor), XPE/DDB2 (11p11.2, one tumor) and XPG/ERCC5 (13q33.1, three tumors)., Conclusions: Conjunctival SCC contains a range of chromosomal alterations potentially important in tumor formation and growth. Amplification of 8p11.22 and overexpression of ADAM3A suggests a potential role for this protease. Our findings also suggest that defects in DNA repair loci are important in sporadic cSCC., (Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.)

Objective: IgG4-related disease is an emerging clinical entity which frequently involves tissue within the orbit. In order to appreciate the implications of IgG4 immunostaining, we analyzed gene expression and the prevalence of IgG4- immunostaining among subjects with orbital inflammatory diseases., Methods: We organized an international consortium to collect orbital biopsies from 108 subjects including 22 with no known orbital disease, 42 with nonspecific orbital inflammatory disease (NSOI), 26 with thyroid eye disease (TED), 12 with sarcoidosis, and 6 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Lacrimal gland and orbital adipose tissue biopsies were immunostained for IgG4 or IgG secreting plasma cells. RNA transcripts were quantified by Affymetrix arrays., Results: None of the healthy controls or subjects with TED had substantial IgG4 staining. Among the 63 others, the prevalence of significant IgG4-immunostaining ranged from 11 to 39% depending on the definition for significant. IgG4 staining was detectable in the majority of tissues from subjects with GPA and less commonly in tissue from subjects with sarcoidosis or NSOI. The detection of IgG4+ cells correlated with inflammation in the lacrimal gland based on histology. IgG4 staining tissue expressed an increase in transcripts associated with inflammation, especially B cell-related genes. Functional annotation analysis confirmed this., Conclusion: IgG4+ plasma cells are common in orbital tissue from patients with sarcoidosis, GPA, or NSOI. Even using the low threshold of 10 IgG4+ cells/high powered field, IgG4 staining correlates with increased inflammation in the lacrimal gland based on histology and gene expression.

Purpose: To describe six cases of anterior orbital and adnexal amyloidosis and to report on proteomic analysis to characterize the nature of amyloid in archived biopsies in two cases., Materials and Methods: The clinical features, radiological findings, pathology, and outcome of six patients with anterior orbit and adnexal amyloidosis were retrieved from the medical records. The biochemical nature of the amyloid was determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy archived paraffin-embedded tissue in two cases., Results: Of the six cases, three had unilateral localized anterior orbit and lacrimal gland involvement. Four of the six patients were female with an average duration of 12.8 years from the time of onset to presentation eyelid infiltration by amyloid caused ptosis in five cases. CT scan in patients with lacrimal gland involvement (n = 3) demonstrated calcified deformable anterior orbital masses and on pathological exmaintionamyloid and calcific deposits replaced the lacrimal gland acini. Ptosis repair was performed in three patients with good outcomes. One patient required repeated debulking of the mass and one patient had recurrenct disease. Proteomic analysis revealed polyclonal IgG-associated amyloid deposition in one patient and AL kappa amyloid in the second patient., Conclusion: Amyloidosis of the anterior orbit and lacrimal gland can present with a wide spectrum of findings with good outcomes after surgical excision. The nature of amyloid material can be precisely determined in archival pathology blocks using diagnostic proteomic analysis.

Brittle cornea syndrome (BCS; MIM 229200) is an autosomal recessive generalized connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in ZNF469 and PRDM5. It is characterized by extreme thinning and fragility of the cornea that may rupture in the absence of significant trauma leading to blindness. Keratoconus or keratoglobus, high myopia, blue sclerae, hyperelasticity of the skin without excessive fragility, and hypermobility of the small joints are additional features of BCS. Transcriptional regulation of extracellular matrix components, particularly of fibrillar collagens, by PRDM5 and ZNF469 suggests that they might be part of the same pathway, the disruption of which is likely to cause the features of BCS. In the present study, we have performed molecular analysis of a cohort of 23 BCS affected patients on both ZNF469 and PRDM5, including those who were clinically reported previously [1]; the clinical description of three additional patients is reported in detail. We identified either homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in ZNF469 in 18 patients while, 4 were found to be homozygous for PRDM5 mutations. In one single patient a mutation in neither ZNF469 nor PRDM5 was identified. Furthermore, we report the 12 novel ZNF469 variants identified in our patient cohort, and show evidence that ZNF469 is a single exon rather than a two exon gene., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The preparation of new three trans-[RuCl(2)(dppb)(N-N)] with mixed diamine (N-N) and 1,4-bis-(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) ligands, starting from RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3) as precursor is presented. The complexes are characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, (1)H, (13)C and (31)P{(1)H}NMR, FAB-MS, TG/DTA and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complex (2L(1)) crystallizes in the monoclinic unit cells with the space group P2(1). The catalysts are evaluated for their Cinnamic aldehyde hydrogenation. The catalysts show excellent activity and selectivity for the unsaturated carbonyl compound under mild conditions., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Medulloepithelioma is a rare intraocular embryonal neuroepithelial tumour. The study aims at identifying the causes for the delay in diagnosis and treatment., Design: A retrospective study of all cases with histopathologic diagnosis of medulloepithelioma over a period of 25 years., Participants: Six patients with intraocular tumour in 6 eyes., Methods: A data collection sheet is used for clinical and radiologic information based on charts review. The histologic sections are reviewed by a single pathologist., Results: All cases presented initially in childhood with equal sex distribution. There was a delay of up to 5 years until final diagnosis and management. The most common clinical findings were high intraocular pressure and/or cataract in 4 cases, visible mass/uveitis/iris neovascularization and buphthalmos each presenting in 50% of the patients. The diagnosis was established clinically in 2 cased and by ultrasound in 4 cases. The tumour was mostly malignant (4/6) and 2 cases were classified as teratoid (1 benign and 1 malignant). All patients were successfully treated by enucleation with a follow-up period up to 18 years., Conclusions: Medulloepithelioma is a rare intraocular tumour often misdiagnosed and treated as glaucoma or uveitis. Ultrasonography is a useful additional tool for diagnosis. Enucleation seems to be an appropriate method of treatment specially when diagnosis is delayed and malignancy is suspected. Ophthalmologists need to be more familiar with this tumour to allow early clinical recognition and diagnosis., (Copyright © 2011 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor of adipose tissue. Considered the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults, orbital liposarcoma is extremely rare. Most cases of orbital liposarcoma are primary and rarely metastatic. We report two cases of primary orbital liposarcoma with clinical presentation, radiologic studies (available for one case), and detailed histopathologic features. A brief review of primary orbital liposarcoma is also presented.

The brittle cornea syndrome (BCS) is a generalized connective tissue disorder characterized by corneal rupture following only minor trauma, keratoconus or keratoglobus, blue sclerae, hyperelasticity of the skin without excessive fragility, and hypermobility of the joints. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait but the underlying genetic defect remains undetermined. We present 23 patients (11 male) from 13 nuclear families followed at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aged 3-28 years at last follow-up. A total of 28 events of corneal rupture were noted in 17 patients (eight male), among whom nine had had bilateral ruptures, and eight had had unilateral ruptures (four of the right cornea), while two had experienced re-rupture 2 and 4 years, respectively, after surgery; six patients (aged 3-21 years) had had no ruptures. We describe the natural history of our cases and discuss them together with those others reported in the literature. Because of similarities between the BCS and the kyphoscoliotic type of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS VI), both disorders tend to have been confounded. Here, we show that all of our BCS patients tested in this regard had biochemical findings reflective of normal activity of lysyl hydroxylase, characteristically deficient in EDS VI, such as normal urinary total pyridinoline ratios and/or normal electrophoretic migration of collagen chains produced by dermal fibroblasts. The BCS is, therefore, an entity distinct from the kyphoscoliotic type of EDS, which has a much poorer prognosis., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: The authors reviewed the clinical features, diagnostic workup, and management of patients of penetrating orbital injuries with retained organic foreign bodies., Design: Retrospective, noncomparative case series., Participants: Nineteen patients (15 males, 4 females) with penetrating orbital injuries due to organic foreign bodies., Results: The series included 15 (78.9%) males and 4 (21.1%) females who ranged in age from 6 months to 40 years (mean = 14.6 years); 12 (63.2%) patients were younger than 12 years of age. Twelve (63.2%) right and 7 (36.8%) left orbits were involved. Time between injury and presentation varied from a few hours to 9 months. Most common injury site was the superior orbit in 11 (57.9%) patients leading to abnormal extraocular motility (84.2%), proptosis (68.4%), and upper lid ptosis (47.4%). Associated pathologies also included acute cellulitis in 11, orbitocutaneous fistula in 5, and osteomyelitis in 2 patients. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified the foreign bodies in 42% and 57% of the patients, respectively., Conclusion: Preoperative identification of the foreign material in the orbit was found to be very helpful for patient management but was only possible in approximately 50% of our cases with the use of CT and MRI. The vision in our patients usually improved shortly after treatment; the long-term complications more often included extraocular muscle and eyelid motility problems and periorbital scarring.

When basal cell carcinoma develops cystic change, its clinical and radiological features vary, leading to confusion in differential diagnosis We report four cases with cystic formation of 62 patients with orbital and adnexal basal cell carcinoma encountered during the last 12 years. The salient clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of these cases are presented and differential diagnosis of large cystic lesions in the orbit is discussed. When the basal cell carcinoma develops cystic changes it mimics other orbital cysts, including inclusion cysts due to penetrating injury, mucoceles, and necrotic metastatic tumors.

One hundred and thirty unrelated patients with recurrent deep venous thrombosis were studied over a period of 4 years (1986-1990) in order to determine the possible etiology. Protein C levels were estimated in plasma both by chromogenic substrate assay and by immunoassay. Protein S levels in plasma was determined by immunoassay using antisera to human protein S. Antithrombin III (AT-III) was assayed using monospecific rabbit antiserum to human AT-III. Fifteen patients were found to have hereditary protein C deficiency (11.52%). Family studies revealed autosomal recessive inheritance in one patient and a dominant pattern in the remaining 14 patients. Protein S deficiency was found in eight cases (6.1%), AT-III deficiency was established in five cases (3.8%) and a fibrinolytic defect in 33 cases (25.4%). Thrombosis of visceral and cerebral vessels and a positive family history were more frequently found among patients who had hereditary deficiency of one or the other antithrombotic factor. Thrombophlebitis of superficial veins was found to be very common in patients with protein C and protein S deficiency and virtually absent in AT-III deficiency. The high frequency of protein C and protein S deficiency in this ethnic group is attributed to the high frequency of consanguinity.

Two patients with extruded implants postevisceration were assessed and managed with room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone implants placed in the retroscleral-intraconal space. The technique described is an alternative and simple surgical method that provides utilization of the remaining sclera, anterior support for the implant, and adequate volume replacement. The postoperative follow-up is relatively short, and clinical and radiologic (CT scan) investigations support the efficacy of the procedure. To the best of our knowledge, such a surgical alternative has not been reported.

Congenital nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction, the most common cause of congenital epiphora, occurs in approximately 5% of newborns. Before the advent of canaliculodacryo intubation, management of most cases of partial lacrimal obstruction that failed conservative management and probing necessitated bypass surgery such as dacryocystorhinostomy. Noninvasive closed system lacrimal intubation improved the success rate and provided a non-surgical therapeutic alternative. We present 129 eyes with congenital NLD obstruction managed with silastic lacrimal intubations. Early management is recommended with a minimum of 7 months' retention of the stents. Statistical assessment of results and management of complications is presented.