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We analyzed 53 historical textile samples from a collection of caftans and brocades dating between the sixteenth and nineteenth century in the Topkapi Palace Museum (TPM) by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Data were collected on the type, dimensions, elemental composition, and level of corrosion. The technique is presented in this work as an efficient and micro-destructive tool for the characterization of the structure of historical metal threads. SEM-EDX analysis for different energies was performed on a selection of gold and silver threads belonging to the historical textiles. The results were interpreted via laboratory prepared samples of gilt Ag and sulfur reacted Ag at different thicknesses for Au and Ag2S layers respectively. A series of Au–Ag alloys for different Au/Ag ratios were prepared for comparative analysis. The threads were made of metal strips wound around a silk core. Metal wires and flat strips were also used. The use of differential energies allowed for differentiating strips and wires made of homogeneous silver and gold alloys from the ones coated with a thin gold layer. Analysis of EDX data revealed that the Au film thickness was very thin (10–60 nm). Formation of Ag2S layers over the thin Au film as thick as 1.5 µm was taking place. Formation of thinner Ag2S layers over non-gilt Ag suggested different reaction mechanisms for gilt and non-gilt cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo present a co-occurrence of familial isolated cherry red spot (CRS) and multiple lens opacities in all siblings from the same family without any other systemic or ocular diseases.MethodsFour siblings from the same family had bilateral punctate lens opacities and bilateral CRS at the macula.ResultsThe oldest one had left eye exotropia and amblyopia, otherwise the other siblings had no additional ocular findings. Systemic investigation, physical examination, and laboratory tests were within normal limits.ConclusionBilateral isolated CRS along with punctate lens opacities were seen in all siblings from the same family without any systemic and ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The MEFV gene encodes pyrin, a protein linked to increased severity of symptoms in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). We consider that inflammation due to MEFV variants would increase eye inflammation and damage aqueous humor regulation. The present study is the first analysis investigating a MEFV (E148Q) variant as a marker protecting from glaucoma., Methods: In this prospective clinical analyze, we performed detailed gene sequencing focusing on 22 specific regions of the pyrin (MEFV) gene. The study involved two distinct groups: individuals diagnosed with glaucoma ( n  = 200) and control subjects without glaucoma ( n  = 100). Both groups were carefully selected to exclude individuals with symptoms or a previous diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). The diagnosis of glaucoma for each participant was rigorously established through comprehensive direct ophthalmic examinations., Results: A significant odds ratio for protection against glaucoma was found in carriers of the subclinical E148Q allele (OR:2.22; 95%CI: 1.098-4.485). No significant differences were found for other variants. One mutant E148Q-allele could decrease the probability of glaucoma development by approximately 68,9%. We observed no differences in the genotype frequency between glaucoma and healthy for the other MEFV gene variants., Conclusion: The pyrin variant of the MEFV gene resulting in a subclinical phenotype appears to reduce the incidence of glaucoma, and heterozygous pyrin (MEFV) E148Q allele carriers confer protection against glaucoma. It is important to consider the limitations arising from the relatively small number of studies conducted on this topic.

Objectives: To analyse the entity of retinal vasculitis, including frosted branch angiitis (FBA), or retina vascular occlusion in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)., Methods: Retrospective collaborative case series using invitation by email to uveitis specialists around the Mediterranean basin. This series was combined with a literature review. Exclusion criteria included infectious diseases, Behçet's disease or other autoimmune diseases., Results: A total of 16 patients (21 eyes) had FMF and retinal vasculitis (FBA 11 patients, mild retinal vasculitis 5 patients). The mean age at onset of vasculitis was 29.5 ± 13.4 (range 9-62) with a female to male ratio of 9 to 7. In 19 eyes treated with various forms of corticosteroid and/or immunosuppression, the mean initial spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved from 6/194 to 6/10.5 at the last mean follow-up of 29.0 ± 34.9 months (p < 0.001). The most common FEVR mutations were M680I and M694V. In addition, retinal vascular occlusions included one case of central retinal artery occlusion and one case of branch retinal artery occlusion., Conclusion: FBA and milder forms of retinal vasculitis are associated with FMF. Therapy involves an increase in colchicine dosage in early cases, a long period of oral corticosteroid, intravitreal dexamethasone implant or periocular corticosteroid in select cases, and combination therapy with systemic immunosuppression in severe cases. FMF needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of retinal vasculitis., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.)

This study attempts to review whether the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is transmitted through the ocular surface and examine the symptoms and signs of ocular disease. Considering that COVID-19 is transmitted by airborne droplets and close contact with infected individuals, we will also review the conditions to which eye clinics and ophthalmologists should pay attention to prevent the transmission of the disease. Although some researchers have argued that COVID-19 transmission cannot occur through the ocular surface, most of them are of the opinion that the ocular surface is a potential pathway of transmission. Until date, ocular signs and symptoms have been rarely reported in the COVID-19 patients. However, there are case reports of conjunctivitis as the first, and rarely, the only clinical symptom of the disease. In addition, low coronavirus RNA positivity can be detected in the ocular surface samples. Further laboratory and clinical investigations are needed to ascertain whether the ocular surface is one of the potential transmission pathways through which severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 can gain entry into the human body.

Purpose: To compare anterior segment parameters in patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) who underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in one eye and no corneal surgery in the fellow eye., Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 28 eyes of 14 patients with FED who underwent DSAEK in one eye at least one year prior (DSAEK group) and no corneal surgery in the fellow eye (control group). Each eye was analyzed with the anterior segment optical coherence tomography, specular microscopy, and Scheimpflug imaging systems. Data were compared between the two groups., Results: The mean age of the patients was 76.9 ± 7.0 years. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean central corneal thickness (CCT), central anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle parameters, cylinder and keratometry values between two groups (all P -values > 0.05). The paracentral corneal thickness, corneal volume, endothelial cell density, and hexagonal cell ratio measurements were statistically significantly higher in the DSAEK group than the control (all P -values < 0.05), and anterior chamber volume in the DSAEK group was significantly less than the control ( P = 0.046). While posterior and total corneal densitometry values in the DSAEK group were statistically significantly lower than the control ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively), there were no statistically significant differences in the anterior or middle corneal densities ( P = 0.108 and P = 0.134, respectively)., Conclusion: We found that total corneal densitometry value decreased in DSAEK group. Although DSAEK surgery did not affect the anterior chamber angle parameters, it reduced the anterior chamber volume and increased the corneal volume and paracentral corneal thickness due to the addition of the DSAEK graft., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Karadag et al.)

Inconsistent data exist regarding the diagnostic value of acanthosis nigricans (AN) or skin tags as clinical markers for obesity or diabetes. In an outpatient department-based prospective study, we designed a scoring for AN severity (SCANS) to evaluate AN and skin tags, their correlation with obesity or diabetes. Quantification of AN in six anatomic sites, in consideration of the affected skin surface areas, texture changes, number of skin tags, leads to a total severity score between 0 and 46. Among 336 adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with AN, a higher BMI was associated with AN (r = 0.299, P < .001), but not with diabetes (P = .43), as compared with 243 age- and sex-matched controls without AN. Among nondiabetics, AN scores were significantly correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.131, P = .024) and total cholesterol levels (r = 0.155, P = .04). Skin tags alone in the absence of AN were not associated with obesity (P = .333) or diabetes (P = .164). The total AN scores were positively correlated with the presence of skin tags (r = 0.132, P < .001), and the involvement of anterior neck (r = 0.668, P < .001) and axilla (r = 0.793, P < .001). Knuckles and groins were unaffected in our series. Our results indicate that combination of AN with skin tags can be used as clinical marker for obesity, but not for diabetes. Large-scale studies on patients of different ethnic background are required to further validate our proposed scoring., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Eyelid tumours mostly originated from skin and its appendeges. External carcinogens like UV radiation causes cell damages in the eyelid skin and contributes to carcinogenesis. Apoptosis is a very important mechanism to prevent these damage and probable neoplatic change., Aim: To compare caspase-3, p53 and Bcl-2 levels between patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the eyelid and healthy individuals., Material and Methods: Pathology archives from October 2012 to April 2015 were scanned for BCC biopsies of the eyelid and tissue removed during blepharoplasty and entropion procedures. A total of 36 specimens were found. The specimens were divided into two groups: BCC group and controls (consisting of eyelid tissue removed during routine blepharoplasty). The pathology specimens were then stained using p53, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 stains and the intensity of staining was graded on a 0-3 scale., Results: Samples from a total of 36 patients were included in the study. Eighteen (50.0%) patients were female. There were 13 patients in the BCC group and 23 patients in the control group. The mean age was 66.0 ±10.8 years in the BCC group, and 65.61 ±11.22 years in the control group. The caspase-3 staining was lower in the BCC group than in the control group. No significant differences were found between the BCC group and the control group in terms of p53 levels or Bcl-2 levels (both of them, p = 1.000)., Conclusions: The caspase-3 level was lower in the BCC group. This result suggests that these enzymes can play a significant role in carcinogenesis of eyelid BCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Termedia Sp. z o. o.)

In this paper, we describe two adult patients who presented with double lacrimal puncta: one of them was asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed, and the other complained of epiphora. In both patients, unilaterality, preference for the lower lid, and location medial to the normal punctum were common features of the accessory punctum. In the asymptomatic patient, irrigation revealed no obstruction in the punctum or the nasolacrimal drainage system. By contrast, the other patient's nasolacrimal drainage system exhibited obstruction. Therefore, dacryocystorhinostomy surgery and silicone tube intubation were successfully performed. Double lacrimal puncta may be associated with epiphora or dry eye. These manifestations can easily be missed in a routine examination. This report was written to emphasize that unilateral epiphora of dry eye symptoms may be related to supernumerary punctum or canalicular systems and can easily be diagnosed with lid eversion.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular side effects associated with systemic isotretinoin histopathologically., Methods: In this multicenter study, a total of 15 male and 15 female rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups according to the oral dose of isotretinoin they were administered: 0 mg/kg/d (group A), 7.5 mg/kg/d (group B), and 15 mg/kg/d (group C). Biopsy specimens were taken from the globe conjunctiva, cornea, and eyelid conjunctiva. Expression levels of human beta-defensin-1, human beta-defensin-2, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, and TLR-4 were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods., Results: The number of goblet cells in eyelid conjunctiva was significantly lower in group B than that in group A and group C (P = 0.002). The sizes of meibomian gland acini were significantly smaller in group B and group C than those in group A (P < 0.001). Fibrosis of eyelid conjunctiva was significantly higher in group C and group B than that in group A (P = 0.002). The levels of staining of TLR-4 in the cornea with group B were significantly lower compared with group C (P = 0.035)., Conclusions: Our study suggests that isotretinoin in the early period affects eyelid conjunctiva and meibomian glands without affecting the globe conjunctiva and cornea. Occurrence of the initial symptoms of isotretinoin on the eyelids, especially on the meibomian glands, suggests that the symptoms of patients occur because of evaporative dry eye.

Purpose: To evaluate causes and management of congenital corneal opacities (CCO) diagnosed in a tertiary care eye center and to compare the data with a previous study at the same institution., Methods: Computerized medical records in all patients with congenital corneal opacities diagnosed in the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Children aged 12 years and younger at the first visit were included in the study. Patients' demographics, ocular diagnosis, laterality, associated ocular abnormalities, other ocular surgery performed prior or subsequent to the first visit, and their treatment were extracted from the medical records., Results: A total of 77 eyes in 56 patients were examined. The mean age at presentation was 32.8 ± 44.2 months, with the mean follow-up period of 26.7 ± 30.1 months. The most frequent diagnosis was Peters anomaly (53.2%), followed by limbal dermoid (13.0%), aniridia with glaucoma and microphthalmos (6.5%), sclerocornea and congenital glaucoma (5.2%), idiopathic (3.9%), Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly and Hurler syndrome (2.6%), and microcornea (1.3%). Primary keratoplasty was performed in 26 eyes, with the outcome rate in the clear cornea of 76.0% during the follow-up., Conclusion: Peters anomaly is the most common cause of congenital corneal opacities encountered at our institution. Penetrating keratoplasty is the most frequent choice of corneal surgery to treat congenital corneal opacities. Additional interventions during penetrating keratoplasty were moderately positively correlated with graft failure. This study also shows the rates of some etiologies of that changed over the recent decades in our tertiary care Cornea Service. Although Peters anomaly remains the most common presenting reason for congenital corneal opacities, its rate appears to be increasing over the recent decade. Congenital corneal opacities due to birth trauma, which is one of the preventable causes, were observed in a previous study in our clinic; however, no new cases were noted in this study.

Objective: To report a new technique for Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in aphakic and vitrectomized eyes. Case description: A 56-year-old man presented with corneal decompensation in the left eye after combined pars plana vitrectomy and lensectomy for the management of a traumatic eye injury. DMEK graft and recipient bed were prepared as regular. The posterior half of the donor stroma was dissected with a crescent knife to form a temporary stromal barrier tissue. The prepared donor stromal tissue was implanted into the anterior chamber (AC) to form a barrier over the iris and pupilla. Then, the endothelial graft was safely injected into the anterior chamber and deployed by gently tapping on the corneal surface. Air tamponade was applied into the AC for 10 minutes to allow the graft to attach. Afterwards, the stromal barrier tissue was removed through the main incision and the AC was refilled with air tamponade. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications during 1-month follow-up. Conclusion: Insertion of a temporary posterior stromal tissue as a barrier over the iris and pupilla successfully provided AC stability and prevented posterior dislocation of the graft or air tamponade. This new technique was a safe and effective approach for DMEK in aphakic and vitrectomized eyes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Karadag et al.)