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Intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance are frequent causes of cancer eradication failure. Thus, long-term cis-diaminedichloroplatine(II) (CDDP) or cisplatin treatment is known to promote tumor cell resistance to apoptosis induction via multiple mechanisms involving gene expression modulation of oncogenes, tumor suppressors and blockade of pro-apoptotic mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. Here, we demonstrate that CDDP-resistant non-small lung cancer cells undergo profound remodeling of their endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteome (>80 proteins identified by proteomics) and exhibit a dramatic overexpression of two protein disulfide isomerases, PDIA4 and PDIA6, without any alteration in ER-cytosol Ca2+ fluxes. Using pharmacological and genetic inhibition, we show that inactivation of both proteins directly stimulates CDDP-induced cell death by different cellular signaling pathways. PDIA4 inactivation restores a classical mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, while knockdown of PDIA6 favors a non-canonical cell death pathway sharing some necroptosis features. Overexpression of both proteins has also been found in lung adenocarcinoma patients, suggesting a clinical importance of these proteins in chemoresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is implicated in both pathological and physiological processes throughout the body. Its imaging in vivo with intravenous radiolabelled-annexin V has been heralded as an important advance, with around 30 clinical trials demonstrating its application in the early detection and monitoring of disease, and the assessment of efficacy of potential and existing therapies. A recent development has been the use of fluorescently labeled annexin V to visualize single retinal cells undergoing the process of apoptosis in vivo with ophthalmoscopy. This has been given the acronym DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells). DARC so far has only been used experimentally, but clinical trials are starting shortly in glaucoma patients. Results suggest that DARC may provide a direct assessment of retinal ganglion cell health. By enabling early assessment and quantitative analysis of cellular degeneration in glaucoma, it is hoped that DARC can identify patients before the onset of irreversible vision loss. Furthermore, in addition to aiding the tracking of disease, it may provide a rapid and objective assessment of potential and effective therapies, providing a new and meaningful clinical endpoint in glaucomatous disease that is so badly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective trial of topical antiprostaglandins versus placebo in the treatment of postoperative fistulising surgery followed up for 12 months is described. It is concluded that antiprostaglandins have little place in the management of these cases. A photographic record of evolution of the fistulising bleb is described, together with a scoring system devised for the evolution of the successful fistulising bleb. A comparison is made between appearance and function of the fistulising bleb based on the use of the water drinking test and tonography together with intraocular pressure as tests of bleb function. It is concluded that the appearance of the established bleb alone is an insufficient guide to function, particularly if further surgery--for example, cataract extraction--is required. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Posterior nasal space carcinoma has a high mortality and most patients are treated with radiotherapy. Radiation retinopathy was encountered in 7 out of 10 survivors included in this study. Five of the affected patients lost vision as a result of the retinopathy. One patient required laser photocoagulation and responded well to this treatment. There was a variation in the severity of the retinopathy among the patients studied despite the fact that all patients received a similar dose of radiotherapy. We suspect that previously unrecognised factors in the planning of radiotherapy fields may explain this difference. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the treatment of retinoblastoma careful case selection is essential. Each eye is assessed individually; the worse affected eye is no longer routinely enucleated in bilateral cases. One hundred and sixteen patients were reviewed to assess the overall visual prognosis. 50% achieved a final acuity of 6/12 or better in one eye at the age of 8 years, and 2 patients had acuities of 6/12 or better in both eyes. Various methods of treatment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The prognosis following treatment of uveal melanomata depends not only on factors such as cell type and degree of mitotic activity, size and location of the tumour, and the age of the patient, but also on the method of enucleation, as surgical manipulation of the neoplasm may potentiate the shedding of malignant cells into the blood stream. One hundred and thirty-one patients treated by different methods of enucleation were reviewed and the mortality patterns assessed. The numbers of deaths over the first 5 years differed significantly between the different groups. A specific method of enucleation used for tumour-containing eyes is described and its importance emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A case of bilateral primary choroidal melanoma is described in a 51-year-old white male. Histological confirmation followed enucleation of the left eye and local excision in the right. A careful systemic evaluation failed to demonstrate any other primary or secondary melanomata. This case is the first bilateral primary choroidal melanoma reported in the United Kingdom and the first to be described in which histological confirmation was obtained as a result of local excision of one of the tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study was to assess whether patients have their ocular drops correctly prescribed during non-ophthalmic admissions to hospital. A retrospective review of notes of patients who were admitted to hospital for general medical or surgical care, while on regular eye drops at the time of admission was performed. Twenty two patients were on regular ocular medication when admitted. Only seven out of 22 patients had their eye drops correctly prescribed. Furthermore, six patients had been prescribed topical beta-blockers, yet suffered from medical conditions that may have been aggravated by these drops. These findings demonstrate that the majority of patients on drops do not have their medication correctly prescribed during non-ophthalmic admissions to hospital. Also topical beta-blockers continue to be inappropriately prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoblastoma occurring in four successive generations is described, followed by a brief discussion on the mode of inheritance of these tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]