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The inherent surface charges and small diameters that confer colloidal stability to gold particle conjugates (immunogold) are detrimental to rapid cell surface labeling and distinct cluster definition in flow cytometric light scatter assays. Although the inherent immunogold surface charge prevents self aggregation when stored in liquid suspension, it also slows binding to cells to timeframes of hours and inhibits cell surface coverage. Although the small diameter of immunogold particles prevents settling when in liquid suspension, small particles have small light scattering cross sections and weak light scatter signals. We report a new, small particle lyophilized immunogold reagent that maintains activity after 42°C storage for a year and can be rapidly dissolved into stable liquid suspension for use in labelling cells with larger particle aggregates that have enhanced scattering cross section. Labeling requires less than 1 min at 20°C, which is ∼30 times faster than customary fluorescent antibody labeling. The labeling step involves neutralizing the surface charge of immunogold and creating specifically bound aggregates of gold on the cell surface. This process provides distinct side-scatter cluster separation with blue laser light at 488 nm, which is further improved by using red laser light at 640 nm. Similar comparisons using LED light sources showed less improvement with red light, thereby indicating that coherent light scatter is of significance in enhancing side-scatter cluster separation. The physical principles elucidated here for this technique are compatible with most flow cytometers; however, future studies of its clinical efficacy should be of primary interest in point-of-care applications where robust reagents and rapid results are important. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of intravitreal implant of 0.7mg dexamathasone in visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME)., Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, study. Seventy-four patients, with a mean age of 65 years, followed for at least 6 months (mean follow-up: 9.8 months) were included in 5 French eye clinics (P 1.5 collective). The mean systolic blood pressure was 138mmHg and the mean HbA1c was 7.2%. We monitored 2 systemic parameters: blood pressure and glycemic balance. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT, Spectralis OCT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract progression are studied at baseline and then at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months., Results: The average CRT decrease was: 239μm at month 2 (M2) and 135μm at month 6 (M6). The mean improvement from baseline of BCVA is 8.5 letters at M2 and 7.6 letters at M6. A gain greater than 15 letters is found in 27% of patients at M6. For naive patients the BCVA is 71 letters versus 60 letters (P<0.05). Patients with a baseline CRT <500mmHg have a BCVA of 66 letters versus 57 letters (P<0.05). The mean rate injections was 1.2 at 6 months with an average of 5.4 months for reinjection. Ocular hypertension greater than 25mmHg, managed by topical treatment, is observed in 13.4% of patients. No glaucoma surgery was necessary., Conclusion: Dexamethasone has an anatomical and functional effectiveness in the treatment of DME. Outcomes for naive patients and lower CRT suggest that the duration of diabetes mellitus and previous treatments are negative factors of recovery. Side effects are rare and manageable. Ozurdex(®) seems to be a treatment for visual impairment due to DME with a favorable safety profile. Patient follow-up must be adapted to half-life of the product with a control before M1 (intraocular pressure) and before M5 (DME recurrence, BCVA)., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Optical coherence tomography has been used for many years, in particular in the field of the retinal imaging, and is a promising technique in the analysis of the anterior segment, providing a similar resolution to histology for ocular tissue., Material and Methods: We present a collection of images obtained with the OCT3 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), with parameters set to obtain good-quality images of the iris and corneal structures., Results: The OCT provides detailed analysis of the cornea, precise assessment of the dimensions and locations of corneal lesions - in the anterior-posterior plane as well as transversally or obliquely - with 10-microm precision, and the study of the iridocorneal angle and its dynamics., Discussion: Using the highly precise OCT3 for retinal imaging, it is possible to obtain good-quality anterior segment imaging, which makes the device highly versatile and thus increases reasons for acquiring this type of apparatus., Conclusions: OCT3 users should not neglect this potential of the device, already in wide use for examining the retina.

Introduction: We report a case of a 66-year-old woman presenting a central retinal artery occlusion with no cardiovascular risk factor, with assessment using supra-aortic artery ultrasonography showing total internal carotid artery thrombosis., Observation: When vascular thrombosis risk factors are absent, more in-depth assessment such as a supra-aortic artery angioscan can provide the diagnosis of arterial dissection on arterial fibromuscular dysplasia., Conclusion: Central retinal artery occlusion is a rare but severe pathology. Therefore it is very important not to neglect the etiological assessment, because it can be the revealing element of a severe pathology.